move over, obama

I am the new anti-christ. My writing prompt proved controversial once again. I aim for "cute and entertaining" and end up with "shocking". My journal entry was "How would Christmas be different if it were celebrated on July 25th?" A devout Baptist raised her hand, "But Jesus only had one birthday. It can't be another day. I don't know what church you go to, but we would never say anything like that at ___________ Baptist Church."

I said, "Nowhere in the Bible does it say that Jesus was born on December 25th. It says he was born during a census in the time of Herod...blah, blah, blah."

She muttered, "I have no idea what church you go to. I'll bring my Bible and show you Baby Jesus was born on December 25."

I need to learn how to tread gently and honestly between the theology I hold and the one they do. Over at Table four, they embraced my question. One boy said, "Santa would ride a Harley instead of a sleigh... and he'd have a hot chick riding behind him." And another piped in with "He'd wear a bathing suit." This comment was greeted with a lot of "gross" and "yuck" comments. Then we started talking about there would be shorter lines of parents getting their childrens picture with Santa if he were in trunks. We chatted about Christmas hot dogs and hamburgers instead of ham and turkey. It was fun.

I would love to get into the take over of reinventing Saturnalia and how Xtnty has a way of baptizing preexisting symbols and holidays. But, I'm afraid that it would be taken the wrong way.

Oh, I got to spend my planning in professional learning: 2007 powerpoint and excel. It was really cooly, but I had so much work to do. Then, tonight I had to go to another work party. It was pleasant, but stressful because of all the stuff I need to be doing. I am a Grinch!

I wonder if my kids are learning anything. Which leads into the question of significance I chatted on the phone about with a kindred spirit. She's a book friend; we adore the same books and authors. When we hang out, it's as if Jack Lewis, Larry and Wendell are there drinking coffee thinking too. Where is God in "all of this" both micro and macro speaking. We trust He's there, but it's just we'd like to understand a more fully. But, to dissect something requires it to be dead. That's the problem with studying theology in lieu of living it.