Christmas is rapidly approaching. We have already been subjected to the “day after” sales that had people camping out in retail parking lots for the 5:00 a.m. openings, the beginning of the holiday movie season, and the ringing of the Salvation Army bell. Soon we will be enjoying more and more Christmas lights, Christmas sights, and Christmas sounds as we go about our daily business. Put on a happy face. This is the time that makes our existence as a church unique—the birth of Christ.

I love Christmas movies. I'm looking forward to a number of them to brighten the holidays.

I've already seen my first Christmas movie of the year--the third installment of the Santa Clause saga. This time (following the original "Santa clause" and the "Mrs. clause") we are introduced to the "Escape clause," a means by which Santa (Tim Allen) can make time go back so that he is no longer Santa, opening the way for Jack Frost (Martin Short) to take over as the new Santa Claus. The story combines ideas from the first two movies with Christmas classics like It's a Wonderful Life (what would the world be like if . . .) to draw in the viewer. This is decidedly the best of the three movies, though it requires the back story of the first two to lend it creedence.

I also intend to see The Nativity Story. I undestand that there are already those who are trying to develop controversy around the movie, but I've been impressed with the trailers which seem to indicate that it will be a pretty good handling of the Story itself.

I'm also looking forward to cozying up in front of the television with the family to re-introduce the kids to some of my favorites: It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street (Natalie Wood version), White Christmas, and others. What are your favorites? Do you enjoy a good holiday story? I was disappointed the other night in the Hallmark offering Candles on Bay Street because I was expecting Christmas faire, and found only your everyday garden Hallmark tear-jerker. This is not bad in and of itself, but is disappointing when you want to weep to a story centered around either the Christmas story or the emotion of the season.

What is the must-see classic for you? Does it center on the Birth of Christ, the legend of Santa? Is it a tear-jerker, a show-stopper, or a knee-slapper?

I came home from the office this evening to our first disaster for this Christmas. The children had been playing on our enclosed porch and knocked over our small pre-lit tree. I was relieved that it was not the 7' tree in the front room.

With children you expect disasters during the holidays. Just remember--you knocked over the tree once or twice yourself.

Every holiday is filled with family traditions—those things that you do because your family has always done them. Christmas is one of the biggest traditional holidays. It is chock full of traditions that make the holiday become Christmas for people. For some the traditions center on the tree—what kind, how and when gifts are exchanged and opened. Others focus their Christmas traditions on the meal—do we eat turkey (again), or ham, or even goose? Will there be stuffing or dressing and cranberry sauce? There may even be some special dish or desert that makes Christmas happen. Still others base their Christmas traditions on the story—decorations are studded with “Jesus is the reason for the season” and “Don’t take Christ out of Christmas”.

Some people have added a new crèche to their holiday supply, one which has Santa Claus (in all his red glory and fur) bowing in prayer to the Babe in a manger. Others have even included a birthday cake in their celebrations, singing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus and allowing the smallest children to extinguish the candles. What makes Christmas for you and your family?

I recall making the best gifts—and receiving the best gifts (which were handmade). I recall our tradition of asking for only one “big” present each year. I remember when we were introduced to ‘White Christmas Salad’ and ‘Pretzel Salad’ as staples in our holiday feast.

As I became an adult, I remember starting my own heirloom nativity to which I still try to add a new figure to each year. One tradition I cannot seem to kick is Christmas movies—I love movies based in and around Christmas, whether comedy, heartwarming romance, or stories based on the Story of Christmas, I just love them. I try to see new Christmas movies as often as I can, buying at least the better ones when they arrive on DVD or VHS. I love the music of Christmas, I love the books that come out at Christmastime.

One tradition we have added to our family is the homemade cranberry sauce which my wife tried out on me during our second or third holiday season—Christmas ain’t Christmas without it. I also love the Christmas Eve candlelight service at the church.

So what makes Christmas feel like Christmas for you? How do you stand on the issue of Santa Claus? What about trees and decorations? Do you have one special tradition that you wouldn’t be able to enter the new year if it disappeared from your home during the Christmas season? Respond—tell me about it. I’m always up for new traditions.

We are told that the early settlers to America enjoyed a harvest feast that they shared with natives who lived nearby, that everyone contributed some of their own bounty to the occasion, and that the banquet was one which set the standard for our groaning tables filled with rich blessings from our larder.

We are given the impression that even presidents have referenced the Creator when establishing Thanksgiving as a holiday. (See Danny Sims' excellent work on this subject.) While all of America pauses to give thanks on Thursday, the question arises—is it really a religious holiday?

If so, then why do people who are not religious celebrate it?

If not, then why do we acknowledge God as we gather with family?

If religious, why do only the Americans offer thanks (Canadians have set aside a day in October for giving thanks)? Why not all religious people in the world?

What do you think? Is thanksgiving a religious observance? Or is it just a great time to take another long weekend, start Christmas shopping, enjoy a feast fit for royalty, and relax with a parade or game?

As I think about the ninth commandment, I am reminded of this simple instruction given me long ago—maybe by my parents, maybe my grandparents, perhaps even a teacher or Sunday school teacher along the way. It reminds us to always tell the truth, always be polite, and always be uplifting. What else could civil mean? As we go through the next weeks, let us all “keep a civil tongue.”

This week, as you keep a civil tongue in your head, remember to do it especially with your family as you share with them a time of Thanksgiving. Be thankful this week for your family, for your church, for your country, for (you fill in the blank). Then after the holiday is passed and you are looking forward to Christmas, be thankful once again.

Some of the best advice I’ve ever heard was, “Hold your tongue.” Now as a kid I was apt to follow that instruction literally and try to capture my tongue between the thumb and forefinger and follow-up by asking the advisor, “Li’ diff?” But as I grew older, I discovered that it is sometimes better to hold one’s peace for a time rather than speak out immediately. Why? Because we all have a tendency to say more than is necessary at all times.

James addresses it this way: “the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. . . .The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. . . . no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” (3:5-8)

We really need strength to control our speech—keeping us from boasting, lying, gossiping, name-calling, and all sorts of hate-mongering. Some people pride themselves on having a sharp tongue, but find that they are driving away friends. Others feel they are gifted with a golden tongue, but often discover that pyrite has moved in to replace the real thing. Here is another piece of advice that should stand us all in good stead, “Think before you speak.”

The old wag has said, “God gave us two ears and one mouth, we should use them accordingly.” How often do we need to listen, to get all the information, before joining the conversation? When we are told not to “give false testimony against [our] neighbor,” we need to be sure that we are doing several things:
 Always speaking the truth
 Refraining from any malice in anything that we do tell
 Gathering all the facts before opening our own mouths
 Lifting up, not tearing down

We do not have to participate in gossip sessions, nor are we required to listen when falsehoods are being spread about our neighbor. On the contrary, we should make sure that we have all of our facts straight when joining a discussion and challenge others to do the same. How long has it been since you interjected a note of defense for a brother or sister who was being torn down by the crowd? Sometimes the sin of silence is worse than the sin of participation. Are we holding our tongues when we ought? Are we speaking when it is right? And when we speak, are we speaking the good word?

Thanks to Tim Rice for this quiz:

Check out the new blog Psalm 51:10 where my ministry associate takes everyday items and finds ultimate meaning.

When the world tells us that it is normal, natural, and even desirable to engage in promiscuous living, is it any wonder that we live in a society set on its edge with AIDS, venereal disease, unwanted pregnancy and divorce? Our young people—even those in our churches—do not understand that marriage is sacred because of the societal shouting and the church’s silence. Let us no longer be silent. Marriage is one man with one woman for life without looking elsewhere. To keep marriage pure, we must remain faithful to our spouse, both before and after the wedding ceremony. What the Bible says is normal, natural and even desirable leads us to clean living and permanent love. Hold out for the best.