Marley was dead.

That's an odd way to begin a Christmas story, but it's how Charles Dickens opens A Christmas Carol. Written to pay off a debt, the story of Scrooge being haunted by three ghosts is one of the world's most enduring Christmas tales. It has been told in dozens of movies and TV specials. (Some insist that the 1938 film with Reginald Owen is the definitive version, while purists like myself prefer the 1962 version with Mr. Magoo in the lead role.) Ebenezer Scrooge, who cares more about money than people, is visited by three spirits who show him the error of his ways.

You're almost certainly not a Scrooge--but a bit of the old "Bah Humbug" can creep into our lives as the rush of the semester's end gives way to the commercial and social demands of the Christmas season. This year, be sure to take some time to focus on the real Christmas story--one that has a stable instead of a counting house, and wise men instead of spirits.

For the ghost of Christmas past, remember the tiny baby in the manger. Remember that God cared enough to send His very best--and to send Him in a package we could understand and relate to.

For the ghost of Christmas present, reflect on the role Jesus plays in your life today. Remember that the babe of Bethlehem is alive today, and working through His people. Jesus was called "Immanuel," which means "God with us," and that's a truth that continues to this day.

And for the ghost of Christmas yet to come, realize that even as we're remembering Jesus quietly slipping into the world more than 2,000 years ago, we can also look forward to a significantly more noticeable return someday. Jesus came once, He's here with us now, and He's coming again. That's more than enough reason to be merry this Christmas.