'Tis the Season

I love the holiday season.  It's great.  You eat, you see family, you eat, and you get to witness the absurd.  At what other time of year can you read about the trampling of a Wal*Mart employee? Or fist fights over Barbies?  Truly absurd.  Aren't we civilized?

As Christians we live in a constant dichotomy between the birth of Christ and American consumerism.  It is difficult to find a balance, and we oftentimes seem to stray too far to one side or another.  I saw something today that reminded me of the challenge.

I drove by a church that had a huge sign out front encouraging folks to, "Keep Christ in Christmas."  Not a bad thought.  Right next to this sign was another encouraging folks to attend their annual Christmas Party/Festival;  where they could get a photo with Santa.  

'Tis the season!