So, last Saturday, I found myself watching the SEC championship football game between Alabama and Florida.  It was the first time I ever pulled for Florida.  Sandra was out shopping and I had a friend over, as did each of my children.  The house was buzzing with the playful noises of a house full of children and the moans I made every time Alabama did something right.  I only had one rule:  NO KIDS IN FRONT OF THE TV!!!!  I'll give them an A- for effort.

Near the end of the game, Julia (who had been playing with her friend Hayden in the world of Dora the Explorer and plastic kitchen sets) came up to me and offered me a gift.  It was wrapped in a paper towel.  "DADDY!  I MADE A GIFT FOR YOU!"  Her sincerity and enthusiasm was inspiring.  She really believed that this was the world's most perfect gift.  "Ok..."  I thought, "this ought to be good."  I unwrapped it from the paper towel and the extra Kleenex that surrounded it.  There in my hand was a plastic champaign glass and a miniature plastic chair.  She just beamed.  Her sincerity, passion, and faith was amazing....

The gift wasn't.  In truth it was useless.... a plastic cup with a chair in it....  I love my little girl, but she missed the boat on this one. 

I wonder how many people in our culture see the church's offering of Christmas to the world in the same way.

We are enthusiastic.  We are sincere.  As faithful believers we really do believe that the birth of that little boy in Bethlehem mattered.  It changed the world.  The gap of sin between us and God would be removed.  Peace becomes possible.  Mountains can be moved.  Miracles happen.  The blind will see and the deaf will hear.  The dead will be raised.  The world would be ever different because of Emmanuel- God with us.

However, I have some friends who are not Christian believers.  What I have heard them say about the church resonated with my feelings as Julia gave me that plastic cup with a chair in it. 

I think the outsiders to the faith, our message of Christmas as the best thing in the world may look a little simple and naive.  I think they are asking, "How can Christmas help me find a job?  How does the baby Jesus help me with my own children who struggling with drugs and alcohol?  How does this event help me restore my relationship with my spouse?  How can I make my house payment this month and buy my kids a Christmas gift?"

I would ask that as those on the inside, that we join the shepherds in making and impressive witness.  I believe that Mary and Joseph's story is one of a couple in distress that makes it.  I beleive that the shepherds teach us that God invites ALL people to his party, especially those who don't think that they matter.  I believe that wise people still look for signs of the messiah's coming.  I think we are all little Herod's that don't want to have another king in our life.  I think we are all angels who have the power to invite the world to come and see what God is doing in the world.  I think that, like the inn keeper, we all have a little more room for giving birth to good news.  I think that the story still matters... a lot!

Make sure that you share Christmas with someone in a way that matters.   It is much more important than bows and Christmas trees.  It is a matter of life and death.  It is the matter of life at its fullest.  Enjoy the presents, the traditions, and time off from work, but also find your place in the story.  Take the Christmas story from the Manger to Main Street.

Merry Christmas

Jack