The Origins of the Story

It was an annual holiday tradition as I grew up: every Christmas season I would draw close to the black and white television and watch with delight as "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" played again. When it got to the climactic part where the Grinch's heart grew, I always misted up and got a lump in my throat.

Over the years I still appreciated the story but I always felt that it lacked something: the truth about Christmas, and the Christ of Christmas who was the only one that could change a man's heart.

Some years ago, I wrote a poem inspired by the Dr. Seuss story, but with important differences: it took place in a realistic setting, with realistic people instead of cartoon creatures, and it told the story of one man's discovery of what worship was all about. It doesn't focus on Christmas, but on the One that came to earth at Christmas.

Named "The Great Church Robbery," it was recorded and released to radio in December of 1998, and each year I get more and more requests for copies as it is brought out and played on stations across the country for Christmas. It has become a holiday tradition in its own right already, and is on the Prime Example album entitled "Comedy Skits and Songs" which you can get by going to the ordering page. The soundtrack for your own performance or dramatic reading is available on the Soundtracks page, as part of the Triple Feature Christmas CD #3.

However, the actual story doesn't take place at Christmas, so it can be performed at any time, as the message is timeless. A version of the story that takes place at Easter is also available.

I have had many people who heard the recording tell me they were very moved by the conclusion (I heard one announcer refer on-air to the "chill-bumps" she got every time she played it). I present for your enjoyment, and perhaps church performance, the prose version: I hope you are touched by it as well.


To hear the entire recorded version, click on this MP3 file.

Click here for the year-round use or Christmas script!

Click here for the Easter version of the script!

Just want a copy of the recording to listen to? Click here to find out how to buy the CD with the radio version, and many other skits and songs!