I would fully understand if you told me that the scripture lesson read today is not found in your top ten list of favorite Bible passages. This reading from the word of God doesn't allow us to be "cozy and comfortable" about the reaction of King Herod to the birth of Christ in the drama of world history. We often place all our attention on the three kings who traveled from afar to the birthplace of Christ--we fail to devote any significant time to the one king who doesn't present himself to worship the Christ child.

I believe everyone in the sound of my voice today realizes that there is another side to the Christmas story which we don''t find on all our Christmas cards and gifts.

A few years ago a well-known newspaper columnist named Mike Royko shared the other side of the Christmas sto…