December 24, 2013
“Dear 8 pound, 6 ounce Newborn Infant Jesus”
A Message from Ron Prentice, Chief Executive Officer
The title of today’s piece comes from fictional character Ricky Bobby in the movie Talladega Nights. In his pre-meal prayers, Ricky
Bobby always referred to “baby Jesus.”
This is the entire line: “Dear 8 pound, six ounce newborn infant Jesus, don’t even know a word yet, just a little infant and so cuddly, but
still omnipotent, we just thank you for all the [Nascar] races I’ve won and the 21.2 million dollars – Whoo!”
Ricky is corrected more than once at the dinner table that “Jesus did grow up,” and “had a beard,” but Ricky replies that he likes “the
Christmas Jesus best.”
Yet the REAL Christmas story is that Jesus the Son was with the Father at the Creation! Colossians 1:16 says that, “by Him (Jesus) all
things were created, in heaven and on earth.” The great truth of Christmas is that the Son of God gave up equality with his Father,
taking on the form of a human being – Philippians 2:5-7.
The real Christmas story begins at the Creation, and baby Jesus in the manger is one instance, of many, of the length and depth our
God will go to offer forgiveness and relationship with Him.
At Christmas time, we consider the humble act of God choosing to be made in our likeness, supernaturally born of a virgin, entering
into time from eternity. We rejoice in this free, necessary gift to us! However, the whole story is much bigger.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father. Phil. 2:9-11
The directors and staff of California Family Council wish you a Christmas season full and overflowing with the evidence of
God’s grace, mercy, and salvation.
Ron Prentice