"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:13-14, KJV).

With all the great new translations of the Bible on the market, I still insist on reading the story of Christ's birth from the majestic King James Version. Am I part of a vanishing breed? Probably. But there's just something about those turns of phrases in antiquated English that seems appropriate in contemplating the birth of the King of Kings.

I'm in the minority when it comes to something else at Christmastime. In our family we take what the heavenly host said seriously. We use the phrase "good will toward men" as a guide to our gift giving. Even though the seraphim in that skybox over Bethlehem weren't really thinking of thrift stores like Goodwill, St. Vincent de Paul or the Salvation Army, the meaning of Jesus' birth is all about redemption. In Christ, God bought back our worn-out world because He knew it was worth saving. And if you've ever purchased something at a secondhand store that you can't believe somebody gave away, you know the thrill He had.

Why not discover the joy our family has found? This Christmas why not buy gifts for your family and friends from a thrift store in town? Consider the benefits: you'll spend a fraction of what you normally would, and the money you do spend will be used by Goodwill Industries or some other agency to help people with special needs. Here are some gifts you might have fun hunting for in a place you aren't accustomed to looking:

1. Picture frames. You'd be surprised how many unused (or slightly used) frames you can find complete with matting. A great gift to give along with a photo.
2. Books. They're bound to impress. You'll find $30 books in mint condition for a buck or less.
3. Board games. Sorry, computer games still don't have a Monopoly on Life. These games you play on the kitchen table are making a comeback. (But make sure all the pieces are in the container.)
4. Vintage magazines. Find a Time or Life magazine from the week that corresponds to a family member or friend's birthday. Your special someone will get a kick out of the way that yellowing periodical chronicles what the world was like when he or she was born.
5. Retro clothes. Flared jeans. Tie-dyed shirts. Funky hats. They are great for a '60s party at school, but also just for fun.
6. Coffee mugs. As long as they're not chipped, you can give these with a tin of hot chocolate mix or chai tea.
7. Photo albums. Some may still be in their cellophane wrappers. Add a fresh roll of film for a perfect gift.
8. A framed poster. This is for a friend who doesn't have a lot of hang-ups.
9. Christmas ornaments. Start someone you like on his or her very own personal collection.
10. Jewelry. From earrings to pendants to watches, you'll be surprised what people have never worn (items given to them as gifts) that fit just fine.

Obviously, these suggestions are only intended to get you thinking. There are all kinds of items found in a thrift store that are worth wrapping up and giving to a special someone. Use your imagination as you browse the Goodwill store. The popularity of television shows like Antiques Roadshow underscores the fact that valuable and sentimental possessions aren't always found in cellophane wrappers.

And when the time comes to give that unique present, tie on a gift tag on which you have explained your approach to shopping this year. You could write something like, "Although this gift is far from new, it was fun to choose it just for you. I found it at the kind of store that gives its proceeds to the poor." Or, you can write, "As you will soon discover, this gift is from a place where most Christmas presents aren't purchased. But given the fact that the Lord instructed us to provide for the poor, I have a feeling it's the kind of place where Jesus would have shopped."

Or when you hand that gift-wrapped "treasure" to the person for whom it's intended, you may just want to say with a smile, "I really hope you like it. This year we decided to take our cues from the angels and give good will toward all men. We did our shopping at the Goodwill and Salvation Army. The money we saved went to the ______________ fund at church. And the money we spent went to help the disadvantaged people for whom Christ came into the world."

Happy Goodwill hunting!