Top Three Christmas Movies…

As a father of a a six and seven year old, the majority of my Christmas television watching is occupied with countless kid’s Christmas specials.  Not that I have anything against Rudolph and The Grinch, but one of my favorite things to do during this season is watch my favorite Christmas movies.  

Question: what are your top three Christmas movies of all time?    

                                                                          

Mine: 

1. It’s a Wonderful Life
2. Going My Way
3. A Christmas Story

My family just returned from our second year celebrating Christmas at Silver Dollar City in Branson Mo.  

I know that enjoying Silver Dollar City is not cool.  

I have to confess however: I really enjoy it.

Humility and Unity

Reflecting on our conversation Sunday at Beggars Table I can’t help being amazed at Paul’s insight into human nature.  If you’re dealing with a community that’s falling apart at the edges; becoming unglued due to outside pressures and circumstances, how do you deal with it?  What steps do you take to bring about unity once again?  

We really don’t have to look much further than our own family life, church life, or the Sports section of the newspaper for possible answers.  Unfortunately in my family I often take the position that saying the same things only louder will bring about unity.  Churches too often seem to think that if they just say the same things it will bring about unity.  Looking at the Royals and Chiefs – two franchises that know about pain – it seems like replacing personal is the answer.  Don’t you sense a renewed spirit of unity within the Chief’s fan-base as a result of firing Carl Peterson?

Paul knows that these things don’t ultimately work.  They don’t cut to the core of what’s needed for any kind of community to function.  He bypasses all these “easy” answers and “quick fixes”.  Instead he introduces the concept of humility.  Want to be a united and healthy community even in the face of trials?  Learn to do these things: Set aside your own ambitions, consider others before you consider yourself, and consider others interests before your own.  

The only drawback to this amazing insight.  It’s not easy.  I confess that after being a Christian for most of my life, I really don’t know how to do what Paul suggests…

Apologies…

Shortly after Thanksgiving my computer received a virus that made it virtually impossible for me to get on-line (I had to borrow a friends laptop in order to conduct some church business).  Needless to say, I haven’t been able to blog until now.  You see, we had our home computer fixed – only $130 – and I finally bought my own laptop.  Now I should be free to blog wherever and whenever I want. 

I realize that no one may check my blog anymore since I’ve “been away” but if you do – I am glad to inform you that I am virus free and writing again!