God With Us

Wednesday, December 23, 2009
According to my advent calendar there's 8 days to Christmas. Wait, that can't be right, it's December 23.

Guess who's getting a handful of gross chocolate when he gets home?

Regardless, we're nearing Christmas day. I've watched the specials, done my shopping, and begun indulging in holiday treats. Sheena bought a scale a couple weeks ago to track the progress this year. Last year I had to guess at how much weight I gained: Sheena helped. I sat on her and she judged how much more painful it was than usual.

There are better holiday traditions than "Honey guess how much I've gained." One popular one is watching Christmas themed movies. Charlie brown is a favourite in my household, but mostly because Sheena like to compare her husband with the title character.

Monday night a bunch of the youth guys and I gathered to watch "A Christmas Story." Quotes are used because I'm referring to the delightful holiday tale captured on film called "A Christmas Story."

I don't know for certain, but I suspect that the producers of the film went with "A Christmas Story," over "The Christmas Story," to avoid confusion and the wrath of God.

"A Christmas Story" shares very little of the truth behind "The Christmas Story."

The Christmas Story is all about Emmanuel God with us, and involves Mary, Joseph, shepherds, wise men, a stable, a full inn, A star, a king on a rampage, and a baby who is God. It's wonderful.

A Christmas Story has none of those things.

Instead, "A Christmas Story" is all about Boy without BB Gun, and involves his parents, mother, brother, dealing with school bullies, abandoning your friends in their moment of need, frozen flag poles, Santa, grand prizes, holiday parades and more. It's also wonderful, but for different reasons.

Some people watch the film and can't figure out what it's all about. It's simple really, the story is about a boy who wants a certain BB Gun and has to overcome many obstacles, who are all convinced he'll shoot his eye out, to get it.

It's really that simple.

It's about that one thing that we all want, and the lengths to which we are willing to go to get it.

Whereas "A Christmas Story" is about what a boy wants to receive, "The Christmas Story" is about what God gave. And He gave himself.

I've been really caught up by the name Emmanuel this advent season. Emmanuel: God with us.

What a wonderful truth: God is with us. God didn't just arrive on the scene for a few years and then ditch us. He continues to be with us.

God is with us.

May those words resonate with you this Christmas.

God is with us.

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