What’s your favorite Christmas movie? Are you a fan of the holiday classics? Movies like It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story.  Maybe you prefer the other holiday classics like Elf and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. You might prefer the heart-warming flicks such as Miracle on 34th Street or A Christmas Carol or maybe you just relate more to Scrooged and the Grinch. Perhaps you are a fan of the animated shows such as A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman and you watch them every year even if you have already seen them 30 times. Or perhaps you will watch Die Hard again this year and belly laugh at Home Alone even though you know what’s coming.

My guess is you can engage in some pretty remarkable conversations about Christmas movies. Everybody has their favorites. You and your spouse probably don’t even agree on your preference. If my wife has the remote control, she’s curled up on the sofa with a cup of coffee totally lost in a Hallmark movie. Give me the remote control and I’ll also take the sofa but with a Dr. Pepper and a good bowl game (that’s Christmassy right?). I’m guessing you will be spending Christmas with family where it may be difficult to decide on which movie everyone should gather around to watch. And I bet you can also participate in some pretty interesting conversations at the work water cooler over the best Christmas movies. Just try it!

Whether you prefer sappy or action-packed, animated or onscreen, black and white or color, there is something we can all concede to – Christmas movies only exist because of the simple, down-to-earth birth of a peasant boy over two thousand years ago in the Middle East. Regardless of your background, religion, or life circumstances we recognize that billions of people set aside their normal routines this time of year to decorate their homes, buy gifts, go to Christmas parties, attend church services, sing Christmas songs and yes, watch Christmas movies.

You probably see the world very differently than those you live with, spend Christmas with, work with or those you just randomly rub elbows with. You probably vote differently. You land on opposing sides of “hot-topic” issues. You view the world and solutions to humanity’s problems through different lenses. You can’t even agree on the best Christmas movie for crying out loud. So, as you dig into the food, the opening of presents and yes, the Christmas movie watching binge, put those differences aside and focus on the reason for the season – Jesus. Beneath all the visible sights and sounds of Christmas is a simple yet profound truth that can transform our lives more than any present you will receive or movie you will watch. It’s not in It’s a Wonderful Life or Elf, it’s in a baby boy born in a manger. Let’s focus on Him this Christmas!

I’m a much better player from the couch. I call the plays blamelessly from the bleachers. I never would have made that pass. And the day after the game, they should just hire me I’m so good.

I can do it better. Or at least I would do it different. I would do it my way. And it would be excellent.

How about you?

How about the Christmas story? I would have done it different. God could have used my help. Jesus was born in a feed trough. That wasn’t the way it should have happened. The witnesses to the birth of the Savior stood on four legs and mooed. Is this the way it should have taken place? Not if I was calling the plays. It would certainly have been more extravagant with much more splendor.

And there were lots of others who thought so too. Those living in the first century had long been awaiting the Messiah. And guess what – they missed Him. They missed Christmas. They missed what God was doing in the world. They missed what God was doing in their own life. Why? Because it’s not the way they wanted it to happen.

I wonder how often we miss things that God is up to in our lives because we are looking for something else. Because we would call the plays a different way. Because it doesn’t fit our schedule. Because it’s not convenient for us. Because there’s not enough pomp and circumstance. Because it’s not happening the way I want it to happen.

I think I can do it better. Or at least I would do it different. I want it my way. And I would miss it.

How about you?

One of my most endearing memories is Christmas Eve at Granny’s house. Big family. Small house. Lots of people. One bathroom. A smorgasbord of food. Not enough places to sit. It was loud and chaotic. But there was always that one instance – that one time during the evening when everyone would get quiet. It was the moment everyone crowded around the Christmas tree. Granny would sit on the floor in front of the tree with all the grandkids and great grandkids sitting right in front of her. And Granny would tell the Christmas story.

What a treasured moment. All talking ceased. The inhaling of food was halted. Rules for personal space were broken as everyone crowded in to listen to the Christmas story. Priceless.

Now, all hell broke loose after the telling of the Christmas story.  Packages were distributed. Everyone began to rip into them. Wrapping paper went flying everywhere. But for those few minutes of time, it was all about the Christmas story.

I was three months old my first Christmas. I’m sure that was the first time I heard the Christmas story at Granny’s house. And I’ve heard it every year since then. And here’s what I’ve discovered. The story never changes. But God speaks through it in new and fresh ways every time I hear it. Same story. Different message.

This year, studying through the Christmas story, the questions in the narrative stuck out at me:
Zechariah asks, “How will I know?”
Mary’s response to the angel is “How can this be?”
Elizabeth visits Mary and exclaims, “Why has this happened to me?”
The crowd at John’s dedication want to know, “What will this child become?”
And the wise men inquire, “Where is the child?”
Questions that I have certainly asked from time to time. And I’m guessing they are questions you may be familiar with as well?

I encourage you this Christmas season to read through the Christmas story. It may be your first time  to hear it or you could be studying it for the 100th time. Either way, God has something for you!  Same story. Different message. Take advantage of those moments. Steal some time away from the noise and chaos. Break the rules. Sit in front of the tree and hear the Christmas story. Priceless.