¶ Joy of Advent and Favorite Movies
Hey , george Sound , this is Maverick , it's Jake , it's . Yeah , see , we're getting so good at that . I probably shouldn't mention it because I think it ruins it every time I've gotten so good at saying my name . It's about time it's been a problem , it's really been a problem .
Anyways , guys , if you've been listening to the podcast or you just looked at the title , you know we're talking about Advent , and we have been the past couple of weeks , because one Advent is just a really important time .
Advent means arrival , or coming , the first coming of Christ , and it just helps us look and get into the season of Christmas and what it's truly about , because we , even as Christians , can get so lost in the weeds Trust me , already been Black Friday shopping , wrapping presents the whole nine yards but it's also a good time to just really focus on how important
Advent is . And so , jake , what is this week's of Advent ?
Well , you know the topic for this week is a really good one , because this is that time where kids are ready to be out of school , people are ready to have a few days off , depending on your line of work , and it's hard not to want to just look forward and not be focused on where you're at .
And that is the thief of joy , because the reality is in Christ , there's joy offered to us every day and that's the theme of today's joy , the joy that Jesus brings to our lives on a daily basis because of saving us from our sin . But he also was , you know , the Christmas on joy to the world , which we didn't talk about .
That in our and you know what's crazy is I'm , I'm . I planned on mentioning it on this podcast and I can't believe we didn't mention on the song one . But here's the coolest thing even if you do not know how to play piano , there's a great video and I'll try to encourage that we . We watch it as a church and or , if not , I'll post it on the reach .
But you can play the eight white notes from from A to A and if you play with the right pauses , it literally is joy to the world . The Lord has come , isn't ?
that awesome , it's crazy , it's awesome . Good song . It is joy is the focus and um . Are you gonna read us a passage ?
Yes . So I'm gonna read the passage for this advent . I say it's 12 , 2 through 6 , and says behold , god is my salvation . I will trust and not be afraid for the Lord . God is my strength and my song and he has become my salvation .
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation and you will say that day give thanks to the Lord , call upon his name , make known his deeds among the people , proclaim that his name is exalted , sing praises to the Lord for he has done gloriously . Let this be known in all their shout and sing for joy .
Own habit of Zion , for Great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel .
Have you noticed that there is nowhere in this passage that says that we draw joy from ourselves , in our own circumstances ? Yeah , it's crazy . And yet how often is that ? Where we try to find our joy is in what we're doing and through our circumstances . But he says draw from the well of your salvation .
And um , that's what we're trying to do today is be reminded that Jesus is the source of all of our joy , not some of our joy , but all of our yes , every single bit of it .
And it's this passage again . I always mention it . I always always mention it , and you could be tired of , but Isaiah was written 700 years before Christ would even be born .
And and just these verses , these prophetic verses , yes , are speaking to Jesus's first coming , but it's also like it's speaking about what he's going to do with us , like the Lord is my strength in my song and he will become my salvation .
Jesus is our Salvation and we should be joyful and we should be singing for it speaking of finding joy in your own circumstances .
It's like these people that think that die hard to Christmas move . I'm gonna mention that today . Like what in the world are people thinking ? That's just not where you find joy .
I thought we would be in disagreement on that . I am so happy that we're in agreement .
I just really loved the segue , but the reality is , I've never seen die .
I know , I know , maybe next year .
I'll have seen die hard so that is actually crazy so . I enjoy a good argument though .
So joy , yes , we found joy in in Christ Absolutely , and Jake will be preaching that sermon on it , and I hope we all found joy in the circumstance , in the midst of chaos , you know stuff .
But one thing that I just love and me and Jake actually both love we love movies , and so the fun topic that we're gonna talk about today is Just our favorite and our least favorite Christmas movies .
Yes , and you know , I Know some things in life , but 92% of the jokes that come out of my mouth are quoting a show that I've seen , which is great for people like me , but for people like my wife , it is time to roll your eyes now gets great joy .
Yes , and the Lord . But also because she's been with me long enough , she will guess the movie and if she's right , she's like are you proud of me ? Yes , I said , yes , I am .
I've trained you well , well what's funny is , Trisha will start to make joke jokes like I do and I've realized that over time I have slowly dumbed her down .
Oh yeah , oh yeah .
Not that Trisha's dumb , she's the smartest person I know but but I'm like , oh wow , she is officially laughing at the things I'm laughing . I don't know if that's a good thing . Yeah , it's a .
Christmas movies , christmas movies . So I'm gonna go ahead and ask you because I've written some down . So I am a nerd about a few things and I'm showing my age . I showed my age in the songs because I just think it's fun , and I'm showing my age in movies .
If you've known me , you know movies are a big part of just my life and even a little bit of my testimony , and so I'm very serious about this topic .
I know you're sitting here across from me like more prepared for this than I've ever seen you for a certain I'm kidding .
That's not true . That's not true . It's a joke . Not true at all .
You're prepared , you've got things written down and , man , I'm just enjoying my
¶ Favorite Christmas Movies
life . I'm just gonna tell you my favorite movies . I mean , I guess , to each their own .
I guess To each their own . That's right . So what are some of your favorite movies ?
Well , it's kind of a weird thing because now that I'm a dad , there's movies that my family enjoys together . So if you were to ask , like what is probably our favorite Christmas movie to watch together , I would probably have to say something like you know , kind of like I know Brett loves the Grinch .
We enjoy watching that movie together .
One of our favorite movies to watch as a family is Home Alone yeah , Classic . But personally I love National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation . I quote that movie all year long . You may be saying you serious , Clark , you know that there's an RV and don't go falling in love with it because we're taking it with us when we leave here next month .
I love that movie , but I will say every year by myself , I'll put my kids to bed and I will watch . It's a wonderful life . Sometime in the month of December and it just . There's just something about that movie . It just captures me and it gives me joy . My wife and I , we watched the Nativity movie .
Okay , every Christmas .
Eve we watched the Nativity movie and now we watch it with our children , and every year I watched my wife cry at the same part every single year . So movies have always been a big part of my upbringing and for right or for wrong , but we love Christmas movies . So what about you ? What are some of your favorite ?
So I'm gonna go up the list and we're just gonna see if you agree or disagree . So I have the top five and number five and I have a little . I'll share a little story with each of them , not a whole long , but number five is a Christmas story and I kind of mentioned this on the family tradition ones .
Is this like back when cable was massive on TBS they'd play it for 24 hours straight . They still do . And you know what's funny is I don't think I've ever sat down and watched it from beginning to end , but because it would just play on repeat . I've seen that movie probably a hundred times , from beginning to end , just like in Little Spurts .
Well , when I was a kid , I could not understand why Ralphie's dad was so deranged . And now as a dad . I identify with Ralphie's dad more than anyone in the movie Fred G Lay .
All right , the next one is . So I have a few romcoms in here , because I don't like romcoms , but when there's a good one , it's a good one . So for Christmases with Vince Vaughn , I've never seen it in my life .
I have no opinion on the matter .
I love it . So they go to church and it's bad Like it's , but they play Mary and Joseph and it's just a really like it's a funny Vince Vaughn playing Joseph . He plays Joseph and it's fantastic . It's a great movie , it's just fun , it's fun .
I'm a Vince Vaughn guy .
I'm gonna have to watch that this month , number three , a great family one is a year without Santa Claus . I've never seen it before , oh my goodness , what are you doing ?
I guess I like good movies .
I don't know . This one's a great one , so it's like the clay . Oh , it's a claymation one , so it's like it's old .
It's old , but it's oh okay . I think I know what you're talking about .
So they have to go talk to the , the cold miser and the heat miser , and they end up talking to mother nature and like they're trying to , it's a great movie .
Okay , it's a great movie . A year without Santa Claus , yes , I feel like this podcast isn't fun , cause I've seen them . I know what is what is ?
I told him a movie again . Number two is how the Grinch saw Christmas , that is . That is when I watch a year round . Animated or Jim Carrey so the animated one technically is how the Grinch stole Christmas . The animated one's called the Grinch , okay . So , it's Benedict Cumberbatch , it's called the Grinch . So there's the difference .
Yes , so that is the second one and honestly I love that movie so much because how Like I've always liked that movie , but how much my wife loves that movie makes me really love that movie .
Well , it's a great movie because your children can enjoy it , but it also just has a really good message , because I've met some grinsh's in my life .
Yes , and they talk about why . They talk about a true meaning of Christmas , and it's not the biblical one , but they do . I like the ones that don't focus on the gifts . Yes , and that's kind of the whole premise , is they get so lost in the gifts that they forgot just about spending time together .
Yes , but it's one of the few movies my wife quotes and so again , I love it . Now here's some honorable mentions .
Oh wow , we're not on number one . No , no , no . Honorable mention .
So it's a wonderful life as an honorable mention . Just a fantastic Christmas movie watched every time and the main honorable mention one . And if you haven't seen the year without Santa Claus or for Christmas , you definitely haven't seen this one . It's called Last Christmas . Seen it , no way Green Latifa . No no .
OK , then I guess I haven't seen it . Oh , my goodness , see , see the joy in my voice . This is compelling audio .
I know so Last Christmas is . It's based on the song you know Last Christmas that gave you my heart and it's a rom-com and I love it and I like it , I don't know .
Wow , it's like a British movie , but we're not even talking about American Christmas .
Yeah , I know , I know we should have talked before this . So the number one is Christmas Vacation . Ok , because that's just the best Christmas movie all time . If this tastes as good as it looks , then I think we're in for a real treat . Oh my God . So maybe you'll have more opinions on the worst , OK ?
Could you please say Grace ?
Grace , she died 10 years ago . Now blessing
¶ Christmas Movie Preferences and Dislikes
.
All right , before we get to some maybe dishonorable mentions , let me share just some movies that are great for the family that you haven't seen . All right , so this is not a movie , but the Andy Griffith show .
Oh yeah .
There is a Christmas episode about a man that just hates Christmas . He's kind of a scrooge and I would encourage you look up the Christmas episode of Andy Griffith . OK it is so good and it's only 22 minutes long .
So if you're a person that doesn't like a long movie , it's really , really , really good If you want a movie that your family can enjoy that has elements of Christ , but it is truly just a fun movie to watch . It's called the Star yes , that one's fantastic Dreamworks , yes , and it's about the story of Jesus's birth , but from the life of the animals .
And if you're a person , that goes well . That's not in the Bible .
It's not OK we don't know what the donkeys actually thought .
But there are some phenomenal lines in the movie and I would encourage you to go and see that . And then I have just a personal favorite . That's not like a big well-known movie . You've probably seen it , because I guess you've seen everything but Jingle All the Way with .
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a great movie . I love that one .
When I was , when I was a kid , I was at Universal Studios and it was being filmed while I was there .
No , way to see anything they didn't let us on there .
But I remember going oh my goodness , I got to go see this movie . But great , great movie , but what about those movies that people say they love . But you're like I don't , Don't you have any of those ?
I have a lot . So number five is Die Hard because I don't think it's a Christmas movie . Yeah , bruce Willis Literally said it's not a Christmas movie . It's not a Christmas movie . It happens during Christmas , but nothing about action , just screams Christmas .
I guess I need to watch the movie , but my , you do . But I do feel like people are very divided on that topic .
Very , very much so , and that's all . I'm surprised we're not divided , but it helps that you haven't seen it .
I haven't seen it , but I do like to make people mad over stuff .
Number four , we're going to be in agreement . Number four any Hallmark movie , it's the same movie over and , over and over again Y'all .
I have sat through a lot of things in my life that were not very much fun , and trying to watch a Hallmark movie ranks very high on that list . I put it on the same as having to go to Hobby Lobby .
Same . Oh , my goodness .
Yes .
Number three Elf . That's a controversial . I'm not a big elf guy .
You don't like elf .
I quote it I don't want , I don't like watching it .
I , I , I need you to understand that if you tell any of my children what you just said , they may want to not become a Baptist anymore because they don't want to have to go through your youth ministry .
The youth disagree with me completely on that one Like . But there's some funny lines like bye buddy , hope you find your dad .
Oh , you know , I absolutely love Elphan . I think you're you're wrong . It's fine , it's in my top five so number two Santa Claus with Tim Allen .
Here's my main . Okay , here's my main point , you ready ?
This time next year we may have a new face .
Let me tell you why , and this goes for a lot of Christmas movies . If Santa's real in your universe , then why on earth do the parents not believe they go to the store ?
They don't buy Christmas presents , and every year on Christmas there's just presents underneath the tree and they look at each other thinking I didn't buy that , you didn't buy that , I didn't buy that .
If you would watch this , you would know exactly why .
I've seen it and it's not .
I think you haven't watched it correctly . That's a wonderful movie . It's got Tim Allen in it , who is amazing Tim is and it's just . It's just such a well done movie and my wife would literally be so offended by what you just said . I like if you're listening . I'm so sorry .
I like . The third one Is that where Jack's the worst one . It's sad , it's so sad , it's so sad . It is but Santa Claus . First one , your number two .
I've never been more offended by anything in my life .
Number one , ready Jermro . Please polar express . Oh my goodness , if you like that movie , I judge you a little bit .
It's , it's , it's just . It's kind of like you got to be in a state of mind to watch it , Cause this kid in the movies asleep and he wakes up and you don't know if it's a dream or if it's real and it just seems like a sleepy movie the whole time .
They literally they wrote a character and they're like hey , the writers in the room , this is what they're like . They're like hey , we need a rights , the most annoying character you could ever imagine and we need to put them in our movie .
And that's what they did with that , with that kid with glasses and a yellow shirt , see when I was in first grade the book came out . Oh , books , Great Our librarian .
Miss Kitty , by the way , that's . I don't know if it's a real name , but yeah , miss Kitty , everybody called her . Read us . The polar express in the book was captivating .
Oh yes .
And I think what it really is is Hollywood said hey , everybody likes this book , let's write , let's make a movie .
And Tom Hanks is going to play everybody .
I don't hate it , but it is definitely not even remotely on my list . It's kind of one of those movies I'm like yeah , all right , that movie's on and things like that we don't want that one at Christmas .
I don't like it at all . I don't have any honor in which to do that one . I feel like that . That list is bad enough . You can judge me , it's okay .
I think , for for me it's like a Christmas movie . What makes a movie great is did I watch it as a kid ? Does it give me some nostalgia ? But now , as a parent , I'm going . Can I watch this movie with my children ?
Yes .
Um , but I don't really . I mean , there's movies that I mean you mentioned a few that I don't think are the best , but I can't think of any Christmas movie that I just absolutely hate . But , like , I agree with you about the hallmark thing .
The hallmark one is bad .
Like clearly they just want people to watch and buy greeting cards .
Yeah , I look forward to the day where me and Mal have kids and I get to show them the claymation ones that those are the . We actually have a DVD where it where it has most of them like your the classics , rudolph the red nose , reindeer , frosty the snowman , a year without Santa Claus . Uh , they even have the little drummer boys .
What about ? What about the Charlie Brown Christmas ?
Love it . You know , the first time I watched that , though , was here . Um Brett played it for the , for the kids , for doing one of their parents sign up .
It's one of the things A few times on network television you will see scripture , red , um and and I've just waited for the year that it's not included , but but it's . It's such a great movie and again , it's a short one , so if somebody doesn't want to sit and watch a long movie , it's phenomenal to watch .
And if you're wondering why that's not Melissa's cause , it's technically a TV show okay , tv special , so I guess that is my favorite TV special Christmas One going back to the hallmark thing , my wife will say that a movie is boring and not watch it .
But she will watch British television and hallmark movies and act as if it's the most it's act as if it's diehard .
It's actually , it's fantastic and it's not I like . I'm married to a wife who doesn't like hallmark movies , so well , I don't need it .
I don't know if Trisha likes hallmark movies , because I just don't go into room or hallmark movies are being played . She may love them , that's true , you mentioned British .
I'll say this one joke . It said , uh , is British food really that bad ? And the comment underneath it said if cooked correctly , it is that bad .
Anyway , so , people , I don't know if you've enjoyed this month or not , but uh , we want you to know that , uh , that we've got people in our church that find Christmas movies great fine Christmas movies , whatever they feel , but thank you for giving us an outlet to have this conversation , but I'm really concerned about the Santa Claus thing .
That really bothered me . It's awful movie .
It starts with Santa falling off a roof . You know , traumatizing that was as a kid , yes , but Tim , I don't know .
It's a kid , yes , but Tim Allen's so good he's good . No , I'm just kidding
¶ Excitement for Advent and Special Guests
. Merry Christmas everybody .
Anyways , we absolutely love you guys .
Thank you so much just for letting us , yes , talk about Advent and , as Jake preaches for that , I always get really excited about Advent and I love reading the old Isaiah scriptures for it and then next week we'll talk about uh , a scripture and Luke , and we're going to have some special guests on that , so I hope you look forward to that .
And by guess we mean special guests , special guests .
I don't think we ever had two special guests , but we do next week . So , anyways , we love you guys and we look forward for the season . I hope you have an absolutely Merry Christmas and we hope to see you guys soon . Bye , take care .