Perhaps more than any other story, the story of the first Christmas has connected with people for millennia. Every year, we tell of the baby born in a manger, with angels announcing his birth to shepherds and men traveling long distances to see him. Why has it connected so profoundly with millions of people? What was society like at the time? And what is the significance of the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Messiah being born alongside livestock?  Commissioner Kenneth G. Hodder, who leads The Salvation Army in the Western U.S. as Territorial Commander, is back on the podcast today to share more about this story of peace and goodwill—a story ultimately of love. You will remember Commissioner Hodder from episode 6, when he shared more about The Salvation Army’s work to double its efforts on homelessness. Today, he explores what the gift of Jesus Christ means in our lives, why this story still matters, and how we can best mark this Christmas in appreciation for all the story has to offer. Find show notes for this episode and more at caringmagazine.org/podcast.