3 Dec, 2008
In this scene from the 1983 film 'A Christmas Story,' Peter Billingsley is shown as Ralphie, the main character.
CLEVELAND - Fans of the holiday classic "A Christmas Story" are celebrating the film's 25th anniversary with a convention and trips to the house where the movie was made.
The 1983 film, an adaptation of Jean Shepard's memoir of a boy in the 1940s, was set in Indiana but largely filmed in Ohio. The movie starred Peter Billingsley as Ralphie Parker, a young boy determined to get a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas.
The film was a modest theatrical success, but critics loved it. It eventually joined "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street" as a Christmas cult classic.
"It's a film about being a kid and looking back," said Brian Jones, who owns the house where the movie was shot and the neighboring museum dedicated to the film.
About 4,000 fans are attending the convention at Cleveland's Renaissance Hotel, where they'll meet some of the film's actors, watch three documentaries made about the film and see the original 1938 fire truck from a famous scene in the movie involving a child's tongue stuck to a frozen pole.
"It is unbelievable that a movie has touched the lives of millions of families," said Phil Gillen, son of the late actor Jeff Gillen who played the movie's worn-out Santa Claus. He traveled from Miami with his family to attend the convention.
Avid fans Mark and Becky Tompkins also traveled to the meetup with their children, Madison, 9, and Brandon, 5.
"It's a Christmas movie that you can watch and relate to," Mark Tompkins said. "Everyone, whether they want to admit it or not, really wanted a special gift one holiday."
(Article provided by http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,459299,00.html)
The Christmas Story
1 Peter 2:2-3
2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (ESV)
What does God's Story scripture teach us about getting back to the basics?
With my family the Holiday season doesn't really begin until we have watched "A Christmas Story" (in fact my dad got a leg lamp for Christmas last year). Watching this Christmas Classic is one thing that reminds me of laughter shared with my family and the love we have for one another.
The writer of this letter, Peter, is sending word to Christians scattered all over the place. As they are facing persecution Peter wants to remind them where their story started and where their focus needs to be. He wants them to hang on to the basics. The things that remind them of joy they have shared and God's deep love for them.
From the day we are born we consume milk to help us grow and become strong. Peter is encouraging Christians to get back to those basics, to cling to the roots of their faith.
Peter wants the basics to be a source of joy and growth for us.
* Pause right now and ask God to begin restoring the joy you felt in the beginning of your story with Jesus.
* Reread the Christmas story early in the day (Use the Gospel of Matthew)
* Reread the Crucifixion and Resurrection stories later in the day. (Use John's Gospel)
* Before you go to bed spend a few minutes thanking God for the "basics" (you know God taking on human flesh, dieing on cross for us, then coming back to life).
* This can serve as a launching point for traditions you and your friend have in common.
* Share with your friend why the birth of Jesus is an important basic for you.
* Don't be shy about sharing the joy you find in the basics of your faith story.
- February 2012 [5]
- January 2012 [18]
- December 2011 [20]
- November 2011 [15]
- October 2011 [15]
- September 2011 [14]
- August 2011 [22]
- July 2011 [19]
- June 2011 [21]
- May 2011 [20]
- April 2011 [20]
- March 2011 [21]
- February 2011 [20]
- January 2011 [21]
- December 2010 [21]
- November 2010 [21]
- October 2010 [21]
- September 2010 [22]
- August 2010 [21]
- July 2010 [22]
- June 2010 [20]
- May 2010 [18]
- April 2010 [21]
- March 2010 [23]
- February 2010 [19]
- January 2010 [22]
- December 2009 [22]
- November 2009 [21]
- October 2009 [22]
- September 2009 [21]
- August 2009 [20]
- July 2009 [21]
- June 2009 [22]
- May 2009 [18]
- April 2009 [15]
- March 2009 [7]
- February 2009 [17]
- January 2009 [20]
- December 2008 [23]
- November 2008 [19]
- October 2008 [22]
- September 2008 [22]
- August 2008 [19]
- July 2008 [22]
- June 2008 [11]
- May 2008 [19]
- April 2008 [22]
- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [18]
- January 2008 [20]
- December 2007 [18]
- November 2007 [15]
- October 2007 [19]
- September 2007 [18]
- August 2007 [12]
- July 2007 [12]
- June 2007 [9]
- May 2007 [11]
- April 2007 [10]
- March 2007 [11]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [7]
- December 2006 [4]
- November 2006 [13]
- October 2006 [17]
- September 2006 [11]
- August 2006 [16]
- July 2006 [10]
- June 2006 [3]
