"Over the Top" - Our theme for Christmas

A lot of people decorate for Christmas according to a theme. Kind of like a Martha Stewart special. "This year we're doing silver and white..." "Our home is toy-themed this year..." or, "We're doing green in the living room, red in the family room, and gold in the entry..."

Well, at least that's what they say on H&GTV.

So anyway, Rebekah and I were dragging out the boxes of Christmas paraphernalia this week and our niece, Faith, asked what our theme was going to be.

Well that was easy. I knew right away where this Christmas was going. I could see the sparkle in Rebekah's eyes.

"Our them for 2010 is 'Over The Top'," I said in all seriousness. Of course what I really meant was "Our theme is Jesus." I mean, what other emphasis could there possibly be or what would be the point?

But "Over The Top" pretty much sums up how we're going about the celebration over here at Maul Hall. Really, what other option is there? Isn't the arrival of Jesus into this world worth going over the top for....?

Generally, Rebekah and I are fairly low-key when it comes to home decor. We use a muted palette of colors, we tend to ere on the side of comfort, and we have always made sure we have a very livable space.

But Christmas is fun! We can go over the top and still stay true to the story. We're happy to jazz it up a little because we want to illustrate what a radical difference the Prince of Peace makes in our lives, in our home, in the world. We want our home to say something fairly loud about Jesus, a message that is echoed in the way we live our lives and how we present our faith.

• "What on earth is that scrawny ugly angel doing on top of an otherwise lovely tree?" Well, sit down for a moment and let us tell you her story...
• "You have how many manger scenes scattered around the house?" That would be 12; but there's a reason for that...
• "Bumble bees? On a Christmas tree? What?" Now that's a great story....

Here's an idea. I'll take some pictures over the next three weeks and share some of the stories that go with them. Stay tuned.

In the mean time, today rounds out the Advent week of HOPE. Are you feeling it yet?

"But when the fullness of time had come," Paul wrote to his friends at the church in Galatia, "God sent his Son" (Gal 4:4). Now there's some hope....

- DEREK