ARE YOU FEELING OUT OF PLACE THIS CHRISTMAS?
There are many great Christmas movies. Some of your favorites may include The Nativity Story, The Santa Clause, Home Alone, Fred Clause, and The Grinch that Stole Christmas. Debate about the “best” Christmas movie is unavoidable among movie lovers. Some of us are never too thrilled about the annual “A Christmas Story” 24 hour marathon tradition on cable television. My wife thinks the movie is silly and utterly unwatchable. Others, like myself, could watch the film over and over and over again, and occasionally during the Christmas break we do just that.
I believe that one of the best Christmas movies of all time is: ELF. It’s a great family friendly film that reminds us that “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is by singing loudly for all to hear.” This one stars Will Farrell as Buddy the Elf. He takes a journey from the North Pole to New York City to meet his real father. Buddy takes the trip because of his discovery that he is actually “a human raised by elves.” As akward as Buddy is socially, he makes up for it with his childlike acceptance of all people, love for new experiences, and contagious fun loving attitude. One of the best lessons that we take away from this family comedy is that being yourself is not always easy… especially when you feel a bit out of place (much like an elf from the North Pole finding himself in a cynical fun drained city as depicted in the movie).
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul 1 Peter 2:11. 1 Peter was written as an encouragement to suffering Christians. Those that were dedicated followers of Jesus in the first century were persecuted greatly for their beliefs. For some middle and high school students they face a different kind of persecution. If a student has a passion for God, and that student is living a life which seeks to fulfill God’s purposes, then they will undoubtedly face an uphill battle in their day to day living. Experiencing discomfort & pain because of our less than Christ-centered environment, facing a world of sin, facing the battlefield of adolescence as a follower of Jesus, and seeking truth in a world that is full of deception and lies are all quite monumental tasks. I write you this Christmas season to say… if you feel a bit out of place (like our North Pole friend: Buddy in New York City), from time to time, during the holiday break from school… even if you feel like an “alien and stranger in the world”, maybe you are right where God wants you to be. Remember to continue spreading the cheer of Christmas (that is of the joy of the birth of this Bethlehem baby: Jesus). Have a wonderful Christmas break.
SEE OUR NOVEMBER 2008 NEWSLETTER (THIS GENERATION) ON THIS WEBSITE FOR IMPORTANT DATES REGARDING FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH YOUTH MINISTRY ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS FOR THIS MONTH (DECEMBER 2008).
