Of Magic and Mangers is a collection of poignant and heart-warming short stories celebrating the true spirit of Christmas. As if looking into some magical mirror, you will see yourself in the characters of these stories; and as story characters grapple with real-life issues, you will surprisingly discover that your real-life issues intersect with those addressed in the age-old biblical story. As each story ends, the hope, love, joy, and peace that surrounded Bethlehem's manger will come to rest in your heart. While children will be fascinated by these well-told tales, adults will detect the treads of deeper meaning running through each story. Parents may choose to read these stories aloud at family Christmas gatherings, and church leaders will discover that these stories freshly convey the true spirit of Christmas when read aloud in services of worship. Regardless of the setting, these stories touch the heart as they magically bring Bethlehem's story to the reader's front door. As you work your way through these engaging stories, you will laugh, cry, and, at times, become angry at the injustices faced by characters who have been misunderstood or mistreated. And after following each story's twists and turns, these stories will freshly reminded all who read them that the events that took place in first-century Bethlehem are still relevant for all of us today. While you will enjoy reading and rereading your own copy of this book, you will discover that the book can serve as a thoughtful gift, especially when given to others during the Christmas season.