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Saving Christmas [Transcribed]
(C) Kirk Cameron, CamFam Studios, etc Nov2014

Transcribed October 2014 by the FEDBP team,
Purpose: for discussion among the body of Christ (not for sale in any form)

 

[After brief theatrical intro, the scene shows Kirk next to a fire, with classical music behind him, as he's sitting in a big red chair, in front of a tree, surrounded by gifts, etc]

Kirk: Welcome everyone. I am so glad you are here.
I love Christmas. I admit it. I love everything about Christmas time. I love the cookies. I love the fire. I love the presents. I love the stockings. I love the tree. I love the fudge. I love the lights. It's a great time for growing out the winter beard. I love everything about it. I love the music. I love the carols and the hymns. I love the kids.
And I love the spirit in the air at Christmas time. Wherever you go. There's something that makes people want to be more kind . At Christmas, they want to be more compassionate - more helpful - more generous. Donations go up all around the world. Something that makes people want to grab others in from out of the cold and help them, clothe them, feed them. And best of all, I think there's something about Christmas that all of us sense - deep inside that says: something big happened. And because of it, everything is going to be okay. And I love hot chocolate.
But have you noticed, there's some people who would love to put a big wet blanket on all of this. They don't want us to love Christmas so much, and celebrate the way we do.
There's this one group over here hey, if you want to sing your songs and do your stuff at Christmas-time, that's fine, just tone it down. Don't sing so loud. Right? Just you take your private stuff and just keep it in your house. Don't let it spill out into the public and bother the rest of us. Just keep it tucked in and private.
And then, there's this other group, over here, who's actually on the inside. Who's telling us: You know, everything your doing, all this stuff - the images the characters, the traditions, it's all wrong. It has nothing to do with Christmas. As a matter of fact, you should just take all of that, wrap it up, and throw it out the door, because it's all bad. You know? What are they going to do next? Tell us that hot chocolate is bad for us? That the druids invented it?
So, what are we supposed to do? I mean, it can get pretty confusing. And all this bickering is definitely not doing anything good for our kids.
Maybe, we need a word from the outside. A voice. Someone who can remind us of the true meaning of Christmas. Because, maybe somewhere along the way, we lost sight of the real story. Maybe we've got it wrong. Or maybe we're listening to wrong people. Or, maybe, just maybe, someone like santa claus is actually on the team?

 

[The scene changes to introducing CamFam Studio's creative robot-like clip]

[Then the scene has a low-sounding stringed instrument creating an eerie backdrop as the screen focuses on a young lady talking to an older man]

Young Lady: Sir.

The older man: Go away.

Young lady: He's here, sir.

The older man: Where?

Young lady: Here. At the tavern.

The older man: Grab my coat.

[The young lady runs to get his coat, and the violin starts. And the camera watches this older man slowly walk through the falling snow, as Kirk explains his next note.]

 

Kirk: Stories are a tricky thing. Especially the ones that we've heard lots of times. There was a time, when we didn't mind hearing the stories over and over again. In fact, when we were children, we insisted on hearing them - on an endless loop. In fact, we'd even beg or plead with our parents, until they either gave up, or gave in.
Then we got older, and we though t: maybe it's time for some new stories. We wanted to be surprised. We wanted more twists and turns, and we'd roll our eyes if something ever got too predictable. But then we had kids of our own, and we found ourselves telling them the same stories our parents told us. Only we thought that maybe the stories were too scary. We got nervous that the wolf or the witch might actually give them nightmares. So, we eased off on the bad-guys, or  even left them out entirely. Our heroes got tamed and cut down to more manageable size. They needed to be less intense, more jolly. But the stories we hear and the stories we tell shape us. The teach us how to live, by showing us how to live.

You and I are in a story right now. And how we enter this story - matters.

 

[Next scene is the guy we're about to meet, named "Christian White" startling us by opening both of the front French doors. And he's clearly thinking, yet excited about something - which we find out later. He stands there and looks around for a minute before the next scene changes.]

 

[At minute 7, we watch a two-minute interlude while they play the intro credits, the main names, and who helped produce the film, etc. - with the backdrop of a sped-up version of  'Retooning the Christmas Story' with a ska-styled version of 'Silent Night' speedily playing in the background.]

 

[Next scene opens to a party with lots of December holiday decorations and people everywhere talking and such. 'Hark the Herald' is playing lightly as background music]

[As the camera scans different groups talking and eating light snacks, etc, the camera stops and pauses on Kirk in the kitchen.]

Narrator Kirk: Hey everybody. That's me - enjoying the party.
[Camera glances over to Kirk's sister, Bridgette Ridenour] And, that's my sister - she's throwing the party. No one loves a Christmas party more than her.

 

Kirk [to Bridgette]: As always [she laughs]. Amazing! [Bridgette just smiles as she's busy cleaning and drying dishes.]
Hey, you really stepped it up this year. You got santa claus!. Where'd you find him? What do you have to pay a guy like that?

Bridgette: It's Uncle Bill.

Kirk: Oh, maybe it was the beard. I didn't see it. [Bridgette smiles and chuckles] Hey does Uncle Bill work. Does he have a job?

Bridgette: No, that's why we hired him.

Kirk: No. [Bridgette smiles and nods] Hey, uh, where's "Christian"?

Bridgette: Oh, he's in the other room.

Kirk: Yeah? How's he doing? Is he okay?

Bridgette: Yeah! Yeah, yeah, he's fine.

Kirk: You sure?

Bridgette: Yeah... I don' t know.

Kirk: Woah... woah, woah, woah, woah. [Kirk goes over to his sister to talk better] Do I need to break some lights? Is he not treating you right?

Bridgette: No.... [as she laughs]

Kirk: 'Cuase I'll take him out in the back right now.

Bridgette: No, no, he's fine, really. He's just.. He's just not into Christmas this year, that's all.  [She says with a smile, then walks out of the kitchen]

[Kirk looks puzzled, but quickly decides to help the party keep going]

Kirk:  All right, who wants hot chocolate? Hot chocolate guys... [As we watch a variety of people are coming over for hot cocoa, mostly children, Kirk explains his next note]

 

Narrator Kirk: Remember how I said earlier that you and I are in the middle of a story? The difference between our story and the stories we heard as kids is that we get to help write ours. And we can choose to be the hero or the villain. We can be the wise man, or the fool. We can be "Tiny Tim" or "Uncle Scrooge' [two imaginary characters from Charles Dicken's 'A Christmas Carol']. Even "Uncle Scrooge" has a story, and he has his reasons. Problems don't take a break just because it's Christmas-time. Maybe someone missed his 'Christmas bonus' this year. Or maybe he lost his job. Or even a loved one. Or maybe, just maybe, he just doesn't like Christmas under any circumstances. [The camera focuses on "Christian"] And that's: "Christian". My brother-in-law. My sister wasn't exaggerating - he is not into Christmas this year.
You just don't know someone's story, until you see what's going on inside his head. Where some see youthful joy, others see phony smiles spoiled bratty kids. Where some see laughter and holiday cheer, others see pretense and obligations. Where some see festive decorations, others see perverted symbols with hidden meanings. Where some see innocent toys, others see pointless distractions. Where some see generosity and the joy of giving, others see needless spending and bad stewardship. Commercialism. Greed. Holiday junk. Materialism. Paganism. Elf-worship. The list goes on and on. Some people are determined to see the worst in even the best of things. A big slap in the face to the true meaning of Christmas. [the camera has been playing haunted type slow-mo version of the party, now goes to scary, creepy sounds. Interrupted by DeAndre.]

 

DeAndre: My man, Christian. How you doing?

"Christian": 'Sup DeAndre? How you been?

DeAndre: You know me - blessed and highly favored.

"Christian": And?

DeAndre: Saved and sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost and that with a burning fire.

"Christian": And?

DeAndre: Made that by speaking in tongues. Of course! [laughs and raises hand for a high-five, but 'Christian' didn't even try to do a high-five. Just sat there, friendly, but sort of 'moping'.]

"Christian": [shaking his head and chuckling] You guys and your verses. Really need to work on your exegesis.

DeAndre: Extra Jesus? Man, I've had my extra Jesus since I was baptized for the second time [charismatic chaos lies hinted here]. You gonna give me some...? [holds up hand for a high-five, still no return, so he puts his hand back down]

"Christian": [still smiling, shaking his head] That's not what I meant by exegesis.. [lets his sentence trail off].

DeAndre: You get that memo?

"Christian": About what?

DeAndre: No more 'Crazy shirt Fridays'?!

"Christian": From who?

DeAndre: The man. Corporate. They think they're going to tell us what to do. Well, we're going to go to HR. I'm going to take it straight to HR. You gotta read your emails. If we don't have 'Crazy Shirt Friday' it's the end for us - man, that's all we got. What else do we get? Floor two? I don't want Floor Two. You know what happens down on Floor Two? I don't. Don't want to find out. Because I'm on Floor 4. And I like it that way. We're going to keep it that way. We're going to march if we have to. Straight power - me and you. My people have been through enough.
First they come in, start telling us what we gonna do. And then they start taking over. Telling us we can't have Fridays. Then we can't have Thursdays. Then you can't have Wednesdays. And what's left Wednesdays - hump day. That's already a day. That's not our day. We need a day for us. 'Crazy Shirt Fridays'. Do you know how many crazy shirts I got that my wife gave me for Christmas? What am I going to do with those?...

["Christian " had been somewhat paying attention till this point, then he trails off in thought, while DeAndre keeps his humorous, confused rant going. After spinning around and singing - though all we hear is a fancy trumpet style of 'Deck the Halls', DeAndre looks at "Christian" and says]

DeAndre: Are you listening to me?

"Christian": [Zoning back in] What? Huh?

DeAndre: I'm going to get some hot chocolate. I'll send you in the email again. All right? I'm out.

["Christian"  goes back to thinking.. as Kirk talks more about the next part or his 'story'.]

 

Narrator Kirk: And when we see someone struggling around Christmas, we should - reach out.

Kirk: [walks in the room all 'jolly'] Hey! Christian!... [looks around] Nope. Not here. Just Bill on the couch. [pauses, thinking, and looking around a little more.]

Narrator Kirk: And if that person goes missing from the Christmas party, especially if it's at his own home, a good place to look would be - somewhere quiet. Free from Christmas. Ah yes, the car in the driveway. See? If this were a story, that is exactly where you'd expect him to find him. And you would know that this character needs, an intervention.

[As he's narrating, the movie actor Kirk shows him spotting "Christian", giving the 'slightly disappointed' look, then going over to the car. He then notices that apparently "Christian" is taking a nap or at least has his eyes closed. So Kirk studies him, and then opens the door, waking "Christian" up.]

["Christian", just spooked out of sleep, looks over]

 

Kirk: Hey.

"Christian": Hey.

Kirk: [gets in the car and settles into the front passengers' seat]
I was wondering where you were?

"Christian": Just, you know. Taking a break.

Kirk: [giving the 'puzzled' then 'slightly disappointed looks] You okay?

"Christian": Yeah. Yeah, it just gets noisy... [slightly imitates the tones from a line from the music of the 'Carol of the Bells', a Christmas carol, and trails off]

[Kirk looks puzzled, but says nothing, hoping "Christian" will explain. And he does]

"Christian": I was driving home today, and uh... you know, right on Main St. Everything's lit up. And, I'm driving by a store and I see - I see a little girl and her Mom. The little girl's got this look on her face like 'wah, wah, wah,  I want...'And her Mom's looking at her like - 'it's okay...' And you know Mom's got bags with her. They've been shopping. And that little girl is just so upset. Because obviously whatever she wants, she's not gettin'.  Everyone just wants stuff. And then, and then I come here - and I look at it. I look at the food. I look at, like the ham, I don't where we get a ham that big. I see the presents. I see tree. I see... I see Santa. It's like - what are we going to do? We're going to open those presents. The nieces and nephews are going to be all excited. They're going to tear through - and it's like 3 weeks from now, no one's going to be playing with it.  And that money spent... how many kids could we have fed? How many wells could we have dug? Yeah. Yeah, that's Christmas.
Don't, don't... Dude. I love your sister. I love her to death. And she loves - she loves doing this. She loves putting all the lights up. But, I look - I look at what Christmas is, and I think to myself: This cannot be what God wants.  [pauses... as they both think.]
And deep - deep in the corner, stuck in the corner, will be: a little snow-globe. A little nativity scene. A little baby Jesus. We stick it somewhere in the corner. You don't really see it. And its.. It's a trinket. While a big ole Christmas tree just - walala - I'm the big tree - I'm the big center... I'm the big centerpiece of all of Christmas. And santa's over there... Over here, and put Jesus in the corner. Put Him right there. And put a little glass thing around Him. Shake it upside down - it's winter. Snow falls all over - all over baby Jesus. And by the way, He was not born in December.  
This is not what Christmas is all about.

Kirk: I hear ya. I get it.

"Christian": My man.

Kirk: But, this is all wrong.

"Christian": This is all wrong.

Kirk: No. You're all wrong.

"Christian" About what?

Kirk: About everything you just said.

"Christian": I said a lot.

Kirk: Yeah, and it's all wrong. I think you mean well, but you've got the whole thing wrong. You drank the koolaid. You - you... took the bait - hook, line, and sinker. You swallowed the whole thing. Guess what? Everything you see inside there. It's all about "Christmas" - it's all about Jesus. And you're spoiling the whole thing. Not just for your wife. But for everybody inside your house. You're listening to the wrong people.

"Christian": [puzzled then asks] Are we seeing the same party? Are we seeing the same everything that's going on in there?

Kirk: Yeah.

"Christian": Okay, so what...? So. Explain to me how when I walk into that Christmas party - which is going on all over the world.

Kirk: [nods] Mhm.

"Christian": Explain to me how that Christmas party honors and glorifies Jesus - cause I'm not seeing it. Where do I start?

Kirk: Let's start with your snow globe. The nativity. I want you to visualize this. Close your eyes and visualize this.

"Christian": Okay. All right. I'll play. I see it.

Kirk: A baby is born.

 

[21:45 minute mark] [Camera first stares at a nativity snow globe, then to a cave, with an instrumental of 'O Come, Come, Emmanuel' playing softly in the background, as Kirk weaves his story.]

 Narrator Kirk: If you had to pick one valuable thing in all of the decorations around your house at Christmas time, it would probably be your nativity set. But, "Christian" I don't even think you see what's so amazing about that scene. Because to think that it's only valuable because the baby Jesus is there, misses a huge part of what's going on. The birth of the baby is valuable because of the story He enters into.
I want you to see a cave. Not a stable, or some little prairie farm thing. First of all, a manger is a feeding trough.  And it's probably going to carved out of a rock. It's going to be in a cave. And upon that rock, you would feed your animals. Now move beyond the cute and traditional, where everything is safe and soft. Where everyone is light skinned and clean clothes.
See a cave. See a place for food. Now let's get this story right. This was a Child that was born into a world where the world power wanted to kill Him, just for being born. I want you to think of soldiers surrounding them. You need to think of Herod's soldiers moving through the streets, finding babies and murdering them. And mothers weeping for their children. Let's set the stage.
We're very careful about having Mary there, kneeling by her newborn miracle. Joseph is there, surely amazed at what had just happened. Baby Jesus is there. And the Bible draws our attention to something that we would usually think of as just a prop. Let's take everything away for a moment. Let's take away Joseph, leaving just a young girl and her newborn infant. Now, let's take away Mary, leaving the Baby. Let's even take away the Baby Himself for just a moment. Now don't panic. It's not because He isn't the most important Person in the story - He is. But, because by getting a look at this prop, we'll get a better idea of why He was born in the first-place. Swaddling cloth. What is this swaddling cloth? Is it just a blanket for a Baby?
We usually only think of the Baby Jesus wrapped in cloths, but the Bible brings these cloths back into the story one more time. At His tomb, when they rolled that stone away. The cloth in the tomb was empty because it could not hold the Body wrapped inside. Jesus escaped death as a Baby, by the Hand of God. And He conquered death as an adult by that very same Hand. And because that cloth could not hold Him, death still cannot win. Did you ever wonder why the wise-men brought frankincense and myrrh at Jesus' birth? Those are burial spices. Why would they bring burial spices to a Baby shower? The birth scene is a picture of a coming burial scene. The soldiers don't get to kill the Baby, though. He came to die, but it was according to the Father's plan, in His timing, and on His terms. The death of Jesus was not the tragic end to the story. It was the plan all along - to offer up His body as bread for the hungry, and to shed His blood to cover the sin of the guilty. Now, put Jesus back into that cloth, and let that image paint the picture  for you. A Baby who came to die. But not until the appointed time. Yes, that's the reason for the season, right there.  

 

[Back to Kirk and "Christian" talking in the parked car]

"Christian": I've got to admit, I never saw the whole swaddling cloth thing. [pausing in amazement] Woah...

Kirk: I didn't either.

"Christian": But that's my point. Like, I can open the Bible. I can look right there and I can go - Oh! There it is! I didn't see that! - That stuffs blows my mind. Like, that. That's all I'm saying. And, Herod's soldiers and kind of looking at that whole thing. That's. I kind of feel like we need to have like little Herod's soldiers all around... you know, the nativity, for you to be able to see like this is what's going on.

Kirk: [Kirk's been nodding and smiling] Right.

 

[Camera switches back to inside the house, where the party is. And follows DeAndre for another conversation with a guy name Raphi.]

 

[DeAndre walks in to sit on the couch near Raphi, with a disco version of 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas' in the background]

 

Raphi: My man, DeAndre. What's happening?

DeAndre: You get that memo?

Raphi: Oh, you know I got that memo. [DeAndre smiles and chuckles to himself] It's not a laughing matter though. You know what's really going here?

DeAndre: Yes... [Nods... then shakes his head] No. No, no, no. No I don't.

Raphi: Three words. War. On. Christmas. Oh yeah. I think it would be in our best interest before we go any further [looking around for imaginary 'spies'] You have to be really careful. You never know who's listening, or watching. [Turns a santa figure away from 'watching' them.] Cups up.
[starts a 'spoken-word' rap-style]

All right man, check this out. We gotta go on the offensive. It's like the rapper, SugarFree said, 'If you stay ready, you ain't got to get ready'. They're already taking away our freedom of speech. I can't say 'Merry Christmas' at work no more. I have to say 'Happy Holidays'. But, I am not in a daze, I'm wide awake. Its' deeper than that, though, You've heard about Area 51? What about Area 52? That's where they're keeping all the mangers and trees and nativity scenes they keep taking down. Speaking of down, you know why the Pope really stepped down? Da Vinci code, right? Wrong. There's a whole Picasso Code. I'm actually still working on that one more. Common on man, they've got fluoride in our water. [pauses for a second and looks suspiciously at his cup of coffee, then starts again]

I'm saying that's got to cause at least Asbergers. Speaking of burgers, you probably ain't even had one in years. That ain't no ground beef, homey - that's pink slime. I seen that on YouTube, look it up. You know what you gotta do? Get like me and wifey, strictly ostrich and emu-meat, homey. Delicious and exotic.

Come on, man, you've got the chemtrails and HAARP trying to control the weather, with the 'Waump, Waump, Waump' sounds [as he's tapping on his head]. And the GMOs and pesticides. You know there's a huge honey-bee shortage, right? Exactly. Carbon-Collapse-Disorder. [DeAndre is starting to looked stressed out and fidgety]

Oh, that rhymes with New World Order. Coincidence? I think not. I saw 'Loose Change'. I know what's up, with the whole: Coke brothers, Halliburton, Dick Cheney,  ENRON, Fannie Mac, Freddie Mae, tye-in, but that's obvious. Look, man, I saw it on Fox News, so you know it's true. War on Christmas. It's everywhere.

[Unseen Lady's voice interrupts right then] Hey! Who needs more coffee?

Raphi: [both them look toward the door and smile] Oh no. We're good. Delicious though. [gives thumbs up... then they both hold their cups back up to 'disguise' their conversation]

All right man, I think we're cool. Cups down. [Both pause and think for a second] So you know what we gotta do, right? [DeAndre half-nods, then half-shakes-his head as he is almost biting his lips.]

DeAndre: [in a half-whisper] What?

Raphi: The only thing we can do.

[They both pause in thinking... screen changes back to Kirk and "Christian" in the parked SUV in the driveway conversation.]

 

"Christian": Christmas trees. [chuckles to himself] Newsflash. Christmas tree. Not in the Bible. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. Deuteronomy - did I miss it? I miss, I miss Leviticus sometimes. But, I'm pretty sure it's not in there. And that's the big thing I've got sitting in my house right now. Is a big Christmas tree. That's a pagan... That's a pagan, idol, symbol, worshippy-thing. You know that right? That's what they would worship the 'god' with. You know, the 'gods'.

Kirk: What 'gods'?

"Christian": The 'gods'.

Kirk: Which 'gods'?

"Christian": Thorsis... Thorsiris... Thor... Thor... it's always a Norwegian... it's a - that's what they would do. It was the 'Winter'... ''Winter Solstice'. Newsflash. It is December. Jesus was not born in December. And we're celebrating His birthday in December. Hello?

Kirk: When was He born?

"Christian": Probably... He was... Probably.. Probably... Spr... *shrugs* I don't know, but he wasn't born in December.  Everyone knows that. So, we're celebrating that...

Kirk: And the trees are like... it's about like the evergreen trees. That represents eternal life, and fertility. Fertility 'gods'.

"Christian": Wikipedia. Yeah.

Kirk: And people would worship these symbols, and they believed that if they worshipped these symbols and they laid down their offerings and their gifts, that they would inherit eternal life.

"Christian": There you go - you know this.

Kirk: And this is all idolatry.

"Christian": Yes, it's idolatry - in my house. How do your kids react every morning, on Christmas. What do they do? Tell me. What do they do?

Kirk: I make my kids wait at the top of the staircase. I don't let them come down the stairs, until my wife and I get everything ready at tree. And the anticipation builds, and they run down the stairs when I tell them they can. And they run out to the tree, and they are just blown away by all the presents sitting at the base of the tree.

"Christian": That's exactly what the druids did.

Kirk: Right...

"Christian": Druids. You can look this up. This is all history. So, where - I ask again, where are Christmas trees in the Bible. 

Kirk: I'm glad you asked.

"Christian": I'll close my eyes again. Here I go. I'm waiting. Okay, what's the chapter? What's the verse? Do you have a weird obscure verse in Numbers? Where... Where... Where am I going? [Kirks just laughing to himself]. Where do I start in the Bible? Christmas trees? I'm waiting. Where do I go?

Kirk: I'm glad my sister married you. This is awesome. [Christian starts singing the tune of 'Jeopardy'] Bro. Bro, look at me.

"Christian": Where are we going in the Bible?

Kirk: Genesis.

 

[Scene switches to a visual of a yard area where lots of fir trees are being sold, and the camera focuses first on the sign that reads 'Tree Lot', as a vocal harmony version of 'Ding-Dong Merrily on High is playing the background. Then Kirk talks over the singing and continues to weave his story.]

 

Narrator Kirk: [minute 33]

The whole Biblical story starts in a tree lot. The 'Garden of Eden' was full of trees. Adam and Eve were given the fruit of these trees to eat. But, the story calls our attention to two of these trees in particular. First, the 'Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil'. And then, later, the 'Tree of Life'. One tree was off limits, because, by eating it - man would surely die. But, Adam ate from the first tree and was thrown out of the Garden so that he couldn't eat from the second. Mankind would have to wait until the path to that tree was reopened. But, I'm getting ahead of myself. We'll come back to that later. Let's talk about that evergreen tree in your house, decorated with stylized fruit and lights that's making you so nervous. You're anxious because you can't find it in the Bible. Well let me help you.

When God created the world, he filled it with trees. He hung fruit on the trees. When it was time to build His "House" [referencing the Jewish Temple] and make it beautiful, God brought trees inside. The walls of His Temple were frescoed with images of trees. The lampstand in His Tabernacle, was an Almond Tree. And guess what He placed on the branches of the tree in His house? Lights. Beautiful green trees, decorated with fruit, shimmering with lights, inside a house. That's God's idea. Not the druids. And the early church had plenty of good reasons to celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25th, and it had nothing to do with the 'Winter Solstice'. By the way, last I checked, it was God who made the 'Winter Solstice', when He set the planets on their path around the sun. And it's actually quite fitting that we celebrate the birth of Jesus, in the bleak mid-winter, when the world appears to be sleeping and dying - the darkest and coldest time of the year. Right then, at that time, we're proclaiming the turn of history from darkness to light, from coldness to warmth, and from death to life. So enough with what pagans want us to see. Let's look at what God wants us to see.

Let's go back to our story. As I was saying, Adam stole the fruit from God's tree and ate it. Now, when you steal something, you're required to put it back. But how could he? Adam had already eaten it. It had gone down inside and become a part of him. The only way Adam could put the fruit back on the tree, would be - as crazy as it sounds - he would have to put himself up on that tree. Now think: What did Jesus do? He was the "last Adam". Jesus was able to do what Adam could not do. He put Himself up on a tree,  making us right with God. Jesus was God's blessed fruit, hung on His blessed tree.

Remember that swaddling cloth? It comes back into the story again, at Jesus' burial. Nicodemus brings all the funeral preparations - Frankincense, Myrrh, Aloe... and cloth. And why is he bringing the cloth? To wrap the body of our crucified Savior. Jesus - put to death on a tree. The Bible begins with trees. Adam stole the fruit from God's tree and ate it. The fruit that the first Adam stole, was put back on the tree by the Last Adam, when He Himself hung on a wooden cross.

So, when you walk into a Christmas tree lot, I want you to see hundreds of crosses that will never be used because of Jesus' finished work. He paid the price that we could never have paid. He took the curse that was rightly ours. He reconciled us to God. He is the Light of the World that has pierced the darkness.

So, when you see empty Christmas trees, see an empty cross. And when you see the empty cross, see the empty cloths lying in an empty tomb. And when you see an empty tomb, do what the disciples did - turn and run to tell the story that Jesus is alive. [scene ends as the girl who had been looking at the cross runs off the screen to go tell this story (apparently)]

 

[Scene switches back to the conversation with "Christian" and Kirk in the car parked in the driveway.]

"Christian": [thinking and awed by that story] That's pretty cool.

Kirk: It's awesome.

"Christian": Just... I wasn't. I almost feel bad... I wasn't looking, closely enough at... I just didn't... I didn't see that. I didn't...

Kirk: Hey. I didn't see it either. That's why I'm sharing it with you.

"Christian": [his mind shifts to the next topic] Santa Claus. In the Bible. Unless I missed somewhere in the Bible, where God sends his only begotten...

Kirk: Elf. [laughs]

"Christian": Elf. Santa-dude. Like... [laughs]

Kirk: Reindeer pulling a sleigh.

"Christian": Just tell me right now that you're not going to pull like...

Kirk: Sliding down a chimney.

"Christian": Zephaniah 4. [Kirk laughs] Or like, 3rd Corinthians 15. Like.. oh, there's santa claus - I didn't even see it right there. - Just tell me right now... we're good right? That's not going to happen, right?

Kirk: No. [Kirk wants to talk, but he lets "Christian" talk first.]

"Christian": Hold on, Hold on... So, I'm safe in saying that there is no santa claus in the Bible. Right? [nervously braces for answer]

Kirk: No, there is no santa claus in the Bible. But...

"Christian": [overtalks him] Okay. [Kirk tries to speak] Hey, Hey, Hey!

Kirk: Just hold on.

"Christian": Hold on. Hold on. Just think about it. Think about it for one minute. That's the guy - santa - that's, obliterated Jesus. Jesus is gone. The reason for the season is santa claus. What the kids are saying all across the world is not 'I'm so excited to celebrate the birth of Jesus!' - No, they're saying, I'm so excited to get my picture taken with santa claus. And, he's going to give me presents... s-a-n-t-a, rearrange the letters: satan. santa. satan. same letters. Right?

Kirk: Right.

"Christian": Coincidence? [Kirk shrugs] Yeah. Okay. And who's completely gotten rid of Jesus?  satan. santa. Ho, Ho, Ho. Where's - Ho, Ho, Ho - in the Bible? Ho, Ho, Ho - Bible.

Kirk: [somewhat sings] You better watch out, you better not pout, you better not cry I'm telling you why [now, they're singing together], santa claus is coming to town.

"Christian": And what's the next line?

Kirk: [Continues singing] He knows when you are sleeping. He knows when you are awake.

"Christian": Right. Omniscience.

Kirk: He knows when you are good or bad, so be good for goodness sake.

"Christian": Omniscience. Omnipresence.

Kirk: He rewards the good and punishes the bad.

"Christian": Last I checked, that was God. And by the way, this is works based. Last I checked, saved by grace. [Kirk gives a baffled look for a second] This is a complete hijacking... This is a high-jacking, high-handed, high-jacking, handedness, jacking. It's like a car-jacking, but like of our religion. And guess what? santa got in the car, kicked Jesus out, and was like 'rolling, rolling, rolling', and took, and took it. Gone. Christmas is gone. It's all about santa. [Kirk starts to talk...] Where in the Bible? Where in the Bible? Flip, flip, flip, flip... Red letter, red letter, red letter.... Where is it. Okay, so. Hold on. I can't... hold on. I can't wait for this one. Here we go - here we go. I'm ready - eyes are closed. I'm looking it... I see him. Hold on - I see his face. [screen shows a blurry version of a gruff santa for a second] Oh, I see his face [face on screen again]

Kirk: What do you see? You see a little elf? And he's in a sleigh with a little red cap and little red outfit. He's got a sack over his back... and he's being pulled by a team of reindeer. [Christian has verbally agreed to all these points along the way.]  

"Christian": Not in the Bible.

Kirk: And he's going to land on a roof, and he's going to slide down a chimney, and he's going to fill stockings and put presents around the base of a tree. Right?

"Christian": Right.

Kirk: Okay. [screens shows this image of this odd-santa getting closer in an eirie image, then switches to "Christian" with his eyes closed, as he takes a deep breath.] Let me tell you about the real santa claus.

"Christian": Oh, I'm ready.

Narrator Kirk: [minute 43]

The real santa claus was a real bad, bad dude. And, when I say "bad", I mean bad in the good way. So "Christian", you want Christmas to be all about Jesus? You think you're fighting the good fight by scowling at decorations and scoffing at presents and mocking Christmas trees? Let me show you how a real defender of the faith does it. Now if I tried to show you how this really happened, you'd see a lot of guys in robes, wearing tall hats, carrying scepters and swinging incense everywhere - it'd be a mess. I want you to imagine this a little more... Lord-of-the-Ringsy...

 

[Scene switches to the clip we saw earlier with the young lady and the older gruff man.]

Young Lady: Sir.

The older man: Go away.

Young lady: He's here, sir.

The older man: Where?

Young lady: Here, at the tavern.

The older man: Grab my coat.

 

Narrator Kirk: [the scene switches to this older gruff man in the snow looking down the hill at something, while Kirk weaves the next part of his story. The background music is dramatic, dark, sinister, and heavy on the low gruff electric guitar sound... it might be the 'All is Hell that Ends Well' song mentioned in the credits.]

His real name was Nicholas. He was a devout Christian. He was the [Catholic] bishop of Myra, a city in modern-day Turkey. He was left with a large sum of money when his parents died. And he became famous for his kindness toward the poor, and his generous giving of gifts to children. [wolf howls] He was there at the Council of Nicaea, in AD 325. One of the most important events of church history, because one of the most important doctrines of the faith was being challenged. There were leaders in the church that had begun to deny the deity of Christ - the doctrine that confessed Jesus as the Son of God, God in the flesh. Nicholas did not take kindly to those who wanted to reduce Jesus to a mere man. The Council of Nicaea ended up producing what is known today as the Nicene Creed. A [catholic] profession of faith used by churches all around the world. The creed affirmed the deity of Christ, and the three persons of the Trinity. But that affirmation didn't happen, without Nicholas, and a fight. [wolf howls again] He was a real man, who fought for a real truth, against a real enemy of the faith.

[Next scene shows this gruff man walking into the upper lit room where Kirk is describing the story - a man in fancy clothes passionately teaching something, and this gruff guy walks in and sits behind him at first.]

Leading the charge in this heresy, was a bishop named Arias. He was known as a charismatic and compelling speaker. He was traveling from region to region spreading his heresy like a plague. Saying Jesus was less than God. Nicholas had heard enough of Arias's babbling. He would be the shepherd that protects his sheep from the wolves.

[Scene shows this gruff man puts his hand on the shoulder of this fancy-clothes guy - to get his attention. Then this gruff guy slams his shepherd's staff on the table and sits down next to this fancy-clothes guy.]

 

The older man: [as the fancy-clothes guy is nervously listening, the gruff man says] In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 

Narrator Kirk: The official record says that at a critical moment during the council, Nicholas put the heretic Arias to shame, not only in word, but also by deed - smiting him on the cheek. [The next scene plays out with the gruff man punching the fancy-clothes guy, and then dragging him outside and supposedly beating him with the shepherd's staff. The dramatic music in the background is meant to hyper the intensity of this 'fight scene'. And this plays out for a couple of minutes while Kirk keeps weaving his story.]

Now, of course, not everyone was happy with his less than jolly actions. In fact, they were so displeased, they removed his title as bishop. But, he was so loved by the people, that they gave it back to him. In fact, he was even "sainted" [Vatican system]. That's why we call him 'Saint Nicholas'. Those were difficult and desperate times. Truth was on the line. And it was not the time for this 'pastor' to go soft on truth or stay quiet for the sake of being politically correct. Nicholas was a hero that became legendary. And the legend became larger than life and reached mythic proportions. [The scene is now watching gruff-guy coming back to his home and the young lady watching for him with her lantern, as Kirk continues to weave his story.] In France, he was called 'Piere Noel'. In Sweden, he was 'Tomten'. In Norway, he was 'Julnissen'. In the Netherlands, he was 'Sinterklaas'. Everyone wanted a piece of him.

[The gruff-guy is back at home and still has the look of rage on his face. The young lady speaks first.]

 

Young Lady: Oh! Look who it is! Better? You get that out of your system? Come on, we've got work to do. [Camera shifts to seeing two white horses, a sleigh, and a red suit. The gruff-guy still has his 'rage' look on for another 15 seconds or so, but the music is changing to a disco song of some sort, and the gruff-guy smiles really big and then replies.]

The older man: Come on. Let's go bless some kids tonight. We've got gifts to give. Ho. Ho. Ho. Ho. [The look on the gruff-guy's face is a mix of excitement and crazy-man. It's just a little odd. - Scene switches to someone in the santa outfit (Kirk or Bill, I can't tell which). And Kirk continues to weave his story.]

Narrator Kirk: So "Christian", the guy you think is distracting everyone from the birth of the Christ child is actually the defender of the faith, you want to be. [Scene switches to the conversation in the car between Kirk and "Christian". "Christian" has the look of being blown away by Kirk's story.]

"Christian": Santa... is the man.

Kirk: Yeah, he is. [Both pause, lost in thought.] Bro, let me just say this. I know you love my sister. I know you love Christ. I know you love Christmas. And you want it to be all about what it's all about. But all this is good! All this is what it's all about. You just need to see it, with new eyes.

"Christian": I've missed it. I've absolutely missed it. [Kirk is pleased that he's made his point well, and he just lets "Christian" think.] Ah, dude... I am... I'm that guy in the story. I'm a jerk. Oh dude, this is bad. This is bad. I'm that guy. Ah, dude, I'm staying in this car all night. This is horrible. Do me a favor, go back in, and say like - 'Christian got a rash'... or something, I got a r... like I broke out in something... and like I had some eggnog that I had no idea that I was allergic to... I was like - agh... and like I couldn't breathe...

Kirk: Some spiked eggnog.

"Christian": Acid, flastic something. Rev... gas. And I, and I had to go - I had to go get eggnog shot. Whatever they give for that. Nogshot.

Kirk: No. There's a better way to end this story. You know what you need to do? You need to be the guy who walks back into your house, walks back up to your wife, and says 'I was wrong. I blew it.' [Both pause in thought again.] You know what you need to do.

"Christian": What if you did that. Nah, you're right, I should do it. Or you - she's your sister. No it's me. It's my wife.

Kirk: Your wife.

"Christian": It's me. It's me.

Kirk: The best ending to this story is you being the guy that everyone roots for. You be the guy who saves Christmas. You being the guy who's all in.

"Christian": I'm going to be that guy. [repeats himself multiple times as he psyched himself up. Kirk high-fives him.]

[With building symphony music, the scene switches to a dramatic scene with "Christian" abruptly opening the front double doors and surprising everyone.]

 

DeAndre: Woah. [Crowd just stares. Bridgette looks over from the kitchen and just watches.] Looks like someone's having a moment. Mmm...

 

Narrator Kirk: So take it all in. All the glory of Christmas. ["Christian" closes his eyes for a moment... then reopens them.]

Kirk: [to "Christian"] Now see Christmas through new eyes.

[Christian smiles]

DeAndre: Woah, woah - back up everybody!

[Christian runs and dives onto the floor and slides into the gathering of packages at the base of the tree.]

DeAndre: Work Holy Spirit. Can I get an amen?! [Crowd says 'amen'.] The scales are falling off... Glory - ah, glory. Mm..

 

Narrator Kirk: ["Christian" stays on the floor just staring at everything around him for a minute. The camera looks at each thing that's Narrator Kirk mentions as Kirk weaves his story.] Sometimes you have to be brought low to be humbled as a little child to get the right perspective on Christmas. Look at the presents that surround your tree. When you see them from this perspective, see how they look like a city skyline. Imagine the New Jerusalem - a Heavenly city, whose builder and architect is God. And the wall of the city was adorned with all kinds of precious stones. And what's at the center of that city? A tree. The Tree of Life, made available by the conquering blood of Jesus to all who believe. This Tree, full of healing leaves. This Tree, full of fruit. This Tree, full of lights that shine in the darkness. Lights that shine over the city. So, see the lights, the stars over Bethlehem, announcing the birth of the Prince of Peace. Less lights, that remind us that Jesus is the Light of the world, and that we are to let our light shine before men.

And there's another thing. Look at those presents again. Stacked and wrapped and made beautiful. Waiting to be torn open. This isn't bad stewardship. This is doing what God does. He has always been giving gifts to His children at the base of trees. Abraham was given the gift of a son at the oaks of Mamre. The cedars of Lebanon were given as materials for Solomon's Temple. Our salvation was given at the base of a tree. ["Christian" stands up, staring at the tree.] So does this tree belong in your house? Should it be loaded with fruit and lights and presents?

DeAndre: Woah, woah - Part the red sea!

Narrator Kirk: ["Christian" looks over at 'santa' and runs over as people are scrambling out of the way and flops down next to 'santa'.] And now that you know who the real santa is, I've got a question for ya: would you like to take a picture with him? [The next couple of minutes are a goofy stream of still-shots where people are coming and going for pictures with santa, wrapping up with a large group shot with almost everyone in it. Background music is a dramatic music from one of the songs on the accompanying CD, I think.]

[Bridgette is playing her part well as shocked that her 'husband' is now acting so differently. The scene shows a little of her watching, as Kirk and the camera look back at "Christian' and Kirk keeps weaving his story.] Our Christmas traditions are so rich and so full, if only we had eyes to see them. It's time to step out of the car. Out of the quiet and safe place, where we've been hiding. It's time to tell everyone that every inch of this creation belongs to Jesus. So, you're out of the car - are your eyes open? What do you see? A soldier? [Camera looks at the nativity globe, then to a 'nutcracker' statue.]

We need to make traditions of our own. We need to infuse old symbols with new meaning. We need to rearrange our lives and our homes so that every single thing point to Jesus. [Camera watches as "Christian" moves a nutcracker-soldier closer to the nativity globe.] We need to tell our children new stories. We need to be bold. Remember those soldiers at the nativity? These were Herod's strongest warriors, doing his bidding. Every toy soldier can be a reminder of the whole story. Of how a Baby was spared in His infancy to become the warrior that ensured death finally was killed. So bring the soldiers close. Let them be near the nativity. And remind your children that every character in God's story has a place.

["Christian" looks now over at his 'wife' Bridgette, and walks over to her in an odd slow-mo. And Kirk keeps weaving his story.] And if you've been that guy. If you've spent the holidays terrorizing your family and your friends, scowling at santa, frustrating your wife, it's time to make it right. Christmas, after all, is ultimately about making all things right.

 

Bridgette: [Gives a friendly yet questioning look to "Christian" who is now standing next in front of her, in the kitchen.] Are you okay?

"Christian": Honey, I've been a bit of a jerk this Christmas season.

Bridgette: Yeah, yeah, you have.

"Christian": You deserve so much better than. And this Christmas, I'm going to give you something that I've been wanting to give you for a long time.

Bridgette: What have you got in mind, Big Papa?

Narrator Kirk: [1 hr, mark. Camera freezes looking at "Christian"] Now what happens in most stories at this point. I mean, if you were writing this story right now, what would you want to have happen? The cliché kiss, right? But, if we've learned one thing in all of this, let's not forget that sometimes, our heroes do the unexpected. [Screen sound for un-pause and "Christian" tells her his next idea.]

"Christian": I went ahead and organized a hip-hop dance routine that encompasses joy and gospel burst and excitement that I alone as one man just cannot express. [Bridgette has a comical questioning look.] No really, I did. Hit it DeAndre!

DeAndre: [looks out from behind a laptop] Ah, man, I've got just the track for you! How about some Family Force Five? Angels We Have Heard On High. Come on people, let's do this! Yeah... I want to see a choir in here. Ah, God Squad - you know how we do. Woap. Matt Defaus [spelling?] is in the house. Kicking it old school. Theonomy. You know how we do it. How about some sopranos and tenors. Let's do this, baby! Mmm! [song starts and 'God Squad' does their choreography, then everybody dances... this takes about 5 minutes of the movie screen time.]

 

Kirk: [Runs into the scene and yells] All right everybody! Let's feast! [Everybody cheers and goes in to eat.]

Bill: Well, that's why I show up for these parties. [gingerly sips his hot cocoa with lots of whip-cream on top.]

 

Narrator Kirk: [Pleasant music in the background as the camera watches everybody get food and eat and laugh and drink wine, etc. And, yes, Kirk continues to weave his story.]

So, this is Christmas. Pull out your best dishes. Your finest linens. Your nicest silverware. The biggest ham. Every side dish you can possibly imagine, and the richest butter. It's time to feast. Invite your neighbors, your co-workers, your friends and your family, and make the most of Christmas. Fill your table with laughter and stories and songs. Don't miss a single opportunity to pass along the joy of the season. And don't buy into the complaint about materialism during Christmas. Sure - don't max out your credit cards, or use presents to buy friends. But, remember - this is a celebration of the eternal God taking on a material body. So, it's right that our holiday is marked with material things - things we can see with our eyes and touch with our hands, and look upon. Ribbons, decorations, hot chocolate, lights, presents, giants hams, stuffing, fudge, Christmas cards, and more hot chocolate piled high with whipped cream. How could we possibly capture all of the joy that Christmas is? We could eat until we split at the seams. We could smile until our cheeks hurt. And laugh until our bellies ache. We could sing until our voices grew hoarse, and we would not have even scratched the surface of this glorious day.

[Everybody toasts their wine glasses.] Throw your doors open and invite the world into the story of this King and His Kingdom. This is our story. Our city. Our tree. Our lights, our presents, our songs, our Saint Nick. Our hope, our future, our Savior. My brother-in-law is seeing it for the first time. And once your eyes have been opened, you can't go back.

All the best to you and your family this Christmas.

[Kirk and his sister Bridgette are looking at each other smiling, as the camera watches both.]

I have to say things have improved around here.

[Ending scene has Kirk giving a wink to his sister - and sort of to the camera.]

 

[Credits. And lots of them. A new song from Steven Curtis Chapman plays ('Christmas Time Again'), as does another song called 'Joy' by a young all-girl band, 'One Girl Nation'.]

>>> [Why am I still writing? Because there are things toward the end of the credits.] :)

 

Bloopers. Among the credits are lots of Bridgette's family, as well as Kirk's, and Darren's ["White Christian"]

 

[Camera clip picks up where the convo with Raphi and DeAndre stopped in the movie.]

Raphi: So you know what we gotta do, right?

DeAndre: [Nods, then shakes his head] What?

Raphi: There's only one thing we can do. We gotta call Kirk Cameron. Get him involved. Make a movie about it. Then we got ourselves a movement.

DeAndre: You know I love movements. [starts beep-box for Raphi to rap by.]

Raphi: It'd be the movement, improvement.

They say the new world order.

Flipping in the air, just like a quarter.

How's your daughter? How's your father?

How's your sister? Excuse me mister

How do you do? You want some coffee?

My name is Raphi. Baby of James Worthy.

Maybe you've heard of me.

Maybe it's whopping like this.

Swiss Miss. Stuff is cocoa.

You know. No no. Yes, yes.

West, West. All day, every day.

Every which way.

Look at what the plants say.

I listen to nature.

Mother Nature, Father Nature.

Your father hates you.

Oh, I'm sorry, Dad. What did I do?

You know what you did.

Call you crew. Call your friends.

And dress up in some, baby blue.

Come back. Write an essay.

Tonal rats. That's what they say.

Sway, sleigh, pray - every day.

Essentials. Monumental.

Environmental.

HAARP, control, they want to take your soul

They want to beat solid gold, I'm on a roll.

They want to say things and think about them

I doubt 'em [they clink cups] Bing!

Cause you know what it is.

Music. Cameron. Music. Movie Biz.

[background voice chiming in to help this rap finish right] \

Kirk, Kirk, Kirk Cameron.

Kirk, Kirk, Kirk Cameron.

It's be the, be the, CamFam

Kirk, Kirk, Kirk Cameron.

Kirk, Kirk, It ain't James.

Kirk, Kirk, Kirk Cameron.

[Beatbox groove ends]

DeAndre: We don't stop baby. All day, every day.  

[Finis]

 

*** ** ***

 

>>> That's the end. Thanks for reading, caring, praying and joining the Biblical discussion about the content Kirk including in his movie. Please look for future notes and analysis from the team here. We are concerned that Kirk mixed Biblical teaching with the false teachings, confusions and myths of the world, and we pray for honest Biblical discussion on these topics in the time to come.