The celebration of Christmas in the twenty-first century is wrapped in nostalgia and infused with hopes and dreams. The sweetest of these dreams is peace--peace between nations, peace between family members, and peace with ourselves. But Christmas is often a time of disappointment, as hopes and dreams go unfulfilled. The gap between our hopes and the reality has led to a quest for the real meaning of Christmas and the peace we all hope to know. "There is only one way to turn the dream of peace into reality," says Dr. Stephen J. Nichols. "If we are looking for permanent and ultimate good will, love, and peace, we must look beyond our gift-giving, get-togethers, and office parties.

We must look to no other place than to a manger." It was Jesus Christ, the baby who was laid in that manger, who conquered sin and misery, establishing peace between God and man for all who trust in Him. In Peace: Classic Readings for Christmas , Dr. Nichols reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas and the earth-shaking implications of Christ's appearance.