BCL Online Picks — December 18, 2025
Image Credit: It’s a Wonderful Life; image courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures, from moviestillsdb.com
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The “Mary problem” in It’s a Wonderful Life, three gifts of prayer, regrets at Christmastime, favorite Christmas hymns, and more are featured in this week’s online picks!
1. There Is No Mary Problem in “It’s a Wonderful Life”
In the beloved film It’s a Wonderful Life, one puzzling question lingers: Why does Mary Hatch end up as a single small-town librarian if George Bailey never existed—especially when she was so attractive, charming, and pursued by wealthy Sam Wainwright? It doesn’t seem to add up. Over at The Bulwark, author Clare Coffey not only unpacks this mystery but also helps us appreciate Frank Capra’s masterpiece even more. Keeping reading here →
2. Christmas Is a Great Time For Regrets
In this Stuff I’m Thinking About Substack post, Keith Lowery considers why Christmas can be an unexpected time for regret—and why that’s not a bad thing. By pointing us to the reconciliation God has accomplished in Christ, Lowery shows how honest regret can lead to humility, repentance, and genuine restoration. Keep reading here →
3. Three Gifts We Are Guaranteed in Prayer
In this Gospel Centered Discipleship article, Brianna Lambert revisits the familiar saying that God answers prayer with “yes, no, or wait,” gently challenging how it can reduce prayer to a question-and-answer exchange. She invites readers to rethink what prayer is for and to consider three gracious gifts God gives his children as they draw near to him. (Many thanks to The Aquila Report for bringing this article to our attention.) Keep reading here →
4. The Government is Upon HIS Shoulders
When atrocities occur, what should we think about God? In this Substack post, Australian pastor Campbell Markham offers a timely exposition of Isaiah 9:6–7 in the wake of the Bondi massacre. With frank honesty about the darkness of our world, Markham points readers to the surpassing light of the promised King whose rule—unlike anything human governments can offer—rests perfectly upon his shoulders. Keep reading here →
5. When Christmas Finds You Far from Home
In this Desiring God article, T. Kim reflects on what it’s like to celebrate Christmas far from the familiar comforts of home and community. Writing from her own experience serving overseas, she reminds readers that the incarnation itself began with a family far from home and that the true hearth of Christmas is found not in traditions but in Christ’s presence with his people, even in the midst of loneliness and loss. Keep reading here →
6. The Redeemed Man Serving in His Church
In this Clearly Reformed article, Kevin DeYoung reflects on what it means for a redeemed man to belong to and serve in his local church. Grounded in the everyday realities of pastoral life and clear biblical conviction, DeYoung reminds readers that being a Christian involves more than attendance or consumption—it means committing to a specific congregation and actively serving the body of Christ in humble, faithful ways. Keep reading here →
7. The Rich Theology of Christmas Hymns and Carols
Do you have a favorite Christmas hymn or carol? If so, please share it in the comments below! In this Sola Media video, Core Christianity podcast host Adriel Sanchez reflects on the rich theology woven into some of our most beloved Christmas hymns. These songs proclaim the deep truths of the incarnation, helping us sing our faith as we rejoice that Christ has come! Watch here →
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