What are your top Christmas movies? The website Moviefone and America On Line have ranked what they consider to be the top 25 Christmas movies. It is an interesting list.

I was not too shocked about the top five:

#1 A Christmas Story

#2 It's a wonderful life

#3 Miracle on 34th Street

#4 Scrooged (1988, Bill Murray)

#5 White Christmas

Although I would not have put Scrooged on the top five, this is a reasonable ranking of Christmas fare.

But there were some shockers.

For example, #9 on the list was "Babes in Toyland". Not the kitchy 1961 classic with Annette Funicello, Ray Bolger and Ed Wynn, but the 1930 black and white version with Laurel and Hardy. I didn't even know there was a 1930 version! I am going to have to look for it.

But Moviefone is wacked-out with some of these entries. Coming in at #16 is "Die Hard"  and #21 is "Gremlins". You've got to be kidding me! It is true that these movies take place around Christmas time and don't get me wrong, I like both movies. But in my book these are NOT a Christmas movies. They don't even come close! This is a huge oversight.

But the biggest oversight was in those movies that didn't make the list. A Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer are must-sees in my book. They weren't included because they are not full-length films. So what? These animated half-hour cartoons bring back a flood of memories of Christmas past. They should be on the list.

This brings up another subject. What memories do you have of Christmas? What makes you all warm and cozy at the celebration of Christ's birth? Well, you can share those memories on Christmas Day. During the service, I will be reading your stories of Christmas. I am looking for any memory that brings home to you the memories of past Christmases. No memory is too quaint. No story is too small. Some of you experienced Christmas in a different time and place. We would all love to hear what that was like. Share some pictures, too.

Christmas is not only a time to remember the birth of Jesus, but it is also a time to remember His love through Moms, Dads, kids, friends, and others in our past. This Christmas, consider sharing those memories with us. We really would like to hear them.

Blessings,

Pastor David Hook