HAPPY HOLIDAYS

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OK, I admit it.  When I know some store has made "Christmas" off-limits, it makes me more Christmasy than ever.  I go into a Starbucks and automatically wish everyone behind the counter a "MERRY CHRISTMAS" a minimum of 12 times per visit, just because I know they're not supposed to say it.  I purposely rub their noses in Christmas.  I find it quite exhilarating.  Call it, Tom's Ultimate Christmas Challenge.

 Face it, we Christians take our Christmas seriously.  No Happy Holidays for us.  In fact, daily, I receive an email from one Christian organization telling me where I should and shouldn't shop this year, based on what their ads read.  If they use the big "C" word, they're on the Nice List...go spend yourself into oblivion.  If they use the dreaded "H" word, then they are to be avoided like the plague.  Naughty, Naughty, Naughty List.

 I find that at Christmas, it becomes a lot more work to be a Christ-Follower.  You can't just go buy all the stuff for your kids that they don't need.  All your possible shopping destination have to be vetted based on what they call this particular time of the year, whether they allow bell-ringers outside their doors, how politically incorrect they may be willing to be....oh, and I just heard another one.  Almost forgot.  Whether they use Christmas carols or, God forbid, scripture, in an improper way to sell their junk.  Like the beer company that's add read, "For those not-so-silent nights".  Have they no sense of decency?!?!

OK, here's the deal...I have 3 simple rules:

1.   Christmas is too stressful and tiring already.  As far as I'm concerned, the over-commercialism of Christmas lands everyone on the Naughty List.  I don't have the time, nor the energy to determine what list every vendor lands on.

2.  I don't expect LOST PEOPLE to act like FOUND PEOPLE.  That never ends well.

3.  Christians already get a bad rep for always being "against" something.  The world views us as a bunch of folks with a a list of Thou Shall Nots that would put Santa's list to shame.  It's not a rep we want to accentuate.  In fact, it's one we should be trying to lose.

NEWS FLASH:  The World doesn't get it.  I'm pretty sure.....No, I'm totally sure, we can't boycott them into loving Jesus the way we say we do.  Didn't Jesus tell us this?  Maybe this Christmas we should read less Christmas ads, and more scripture.  Just a suggestion.

Merry Christmas.  Happy Holidays.  And have a blessed Whatever Doesn't Offend You Day!

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