• Delightful pictures tell the story.

A Chicago journalist finds himself in a small Texas town on Christmas eve. Lonely and alone, he encounters old faces and new facts…a hand carved manger, a father's guilt, a young girl's faith. The trip into the past holds his key to the future, and a scarlet cross shows him the way home.

This Christmas treasure, formerly titled The Christmas Cross now repackaged and redesigned, is quickly becoming a Christmas classic.

The book takes place in three different settings with four main characters. The film has expanded to include nearly 69 locations, 347 set-ups, 34 speaking parts and over 300 extras.

The Christmas Child is directed by Bill Ewing, the former Senior Vice-President of Sony Pictures, whose last films included Men in Black II and Spiderman. The film is produced by Tom Newman of Impact Productions and Penelope Foster, producer of Free Willy, Rosewood and many more.The main character, Jack, is played by William Moses (of Perry Mason and Falcon's Crest). His wife, Meg, is played Megan Follows (of Anne of Green Gables). Also features Steven Curtis Chapman as the town's minister.

If we look at what works and does not work in fiction, THE CHRISTMAS CHILD should not work. It is sappy, sentimental, and predictable. One of these characteristic in a book meant for an adult can work, two of these characteristics would be a maybe at best; all three would be fatal flaws for a book. Yet this work has all three characteristics and all three work together rather well. When a person reads this story about redemption and forgiveness, it is easy to be moved to tears. Lucado has a gift at touching the heart through his writing, and in doing so teaches the essential message of Christianity. The author of this little volume understands the miracle of the Christmas story, but knows that human nature has been weekend by sin, an ever present reality even at Christmas, and that the true miracle of Christmas is the redemption offered through the child born in a manger. Lucado demonstrates this through two very human people: a Chicago journalist who has been having marital problems and a church maintenance worker who has known great tragedy through mistakes he has caused.

Some could call THE CHRISTMAS CHILD a CRIPPLED LAMB or JACOB'S GIFT (two Lucado books intended for children) for adults. To put this work in the same category as THE CRIPPLED LAMB and JACOB'S GIFT is a compliment. All three works move the heart and retell the wonderful story of Christmas and how the Christmas message applies to our lives all through the year.

10 of 10 found the following review helpful:


Comfort and Joy  Feb 26, 2004 By Gary Eastin
Entertaining, comforting and joyous. Leaves the reader feeling good.

3 of 3 found the following review helpful:


A bit long, but very good.  Apr 18, 2007 By Rev Burt
Max Lucado may not be the best theologian out there, but when it comes to turning out a heart-warming story he knows how to hit the mark. Another great book by Lucado on Christmas.

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:


HEARTWARMING CHRISTMAS STORY Audio Unabridged 2cd  Dec 23, 2008 By Barbara Lane "Audio Books only"
THE CHRISTMAS CHILD 5 star 1 cd
A Chicago journalist who has been having marital problems decides while his wife wants a break from the marriage he will go and find out about his birth mother and why he was adopted. His adopted father was sent a photo of a Lutherian Church in the town where he was born. A church maintenance worker who has known great tragedy through mistakes he has caused meets the journalist. He starts to tell the tale of the carved baby Jesus in the nativity scene why it went missing at christmas many years ago.

This is a moving predictable story but I couldn't help having a smile of my face through most of the story knowing that all the answers to his adoption will come out.

What a wonderful feel good story, just wish the story was a lot longer than 1 cd.

COSMIC CHRISTMAS 2 star, Narration 4 star 1 cd
Loosely based upon the scriptures, the story tells of Gabriel being summoned by the Lord to go to Earth and deliver a great message. A scheming satan, battling angels and a bettle between good and evil. The most poignant scenes are when Gabriel does arrive on Earth and actually is protecting Mary from Satan just before the birth of the Messiah - this is, of course, a fictionalized account.

The narration of Cosmic Christmas is as good as if its a Star Wars production incredible sound affects and voices. Wow. Brilliant job