Away with the Manger: A Spiritually Correct Christmas Story

by Chris Fabry

This story of Christmas in the culture wars reveals a town thrown into mayhem by rhetoric on all sides when everyone from the town's leading atheist, Diedra Freep, to Pastor Marty is drawn into the debate over the manger scene.

96 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1996

About the author

Chris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live on Moody Radio. He is also heard on Love Worth Finding, Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, and other radio programs. A 1982 graduate of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, now live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children.

Chris' novels, which include Dogwood, June Bug, Almost Heaven, Not in the Heart, Borders of the Heart, Every Waking Moment, The Promise of Jesse Woods, Looking into You, Under a Cloudless Sky, and A Piece of the Moon, have won five Christy Awards, an ECPA Christian Book Award, and two Christianity Today Book Awards of Merit, but it's his lyrical prose and tales of redemption that keep readers returning for more.

Chris has also published more than 70 other books, ranging from nonfiction and film novelizations, including the Kendrick brothers' War Room and Overcomer, to novels for children and young adults. He coauthored the Left Behind: The Kids series with Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, as well as the Red Rock Mysteries and The Wormling series with Jerry B. Jenkins. RPM is his latest series for kids and explores the exciting world of NASCAR.

Visit Chris' website at www.chrisfabry.com.

Reviews

[Teresa Merriman]

A very quick read but packed with lots of humor and a wonderful message. I highly recommend it!

[Su]

Generally speaking, I go with Goodreads' descriptions for what rating I choose. This time, I didn't. I only thought this book was OK and did not go as far as actually liking it. However, 2 stars seems a bit harsh for a book that wasn't bad, so this 3-star rating is more like a 2.75.

Someone loaned me this book after hearing my thoughts on the "War on Christmas" that's now become a yearly tradition for some. I did a considerable amount of giggling over the painfully accurate depictions of small-town life, but spent most of the book dreading the inevitable change of heart that had to be coming at the end. I was at least surprised by the pastor's apology, and I'll also say to the story's credit that it wasn't quite as schmaltz-y as I was expecting it to be.

Heartwarming and easy-reading though it may be, this is not a book that will make its way onto my yearly Christmas reading list.

[Rick]

Hilarious! Have reread. Sweet Christmas time reading.

[Natalie]

I read this one every year- kinda my own little tradition. :)