I never thought I'd see the day when I longed to see this old "abbreviation." For years I used to complain about it. "How dare they take 'Christ' out of 'Christmas,'" I used to say. I used to think that it was a gross inconsideration of the One whose birth is the whole cause for celebration this time of year. Now I yearn for the "good old days" when the holiday was spelled wrong but pronounced correctly, and nobody got their nose out of joint when you wished them a "Merry Christmas."

As an aside, it may be interesting to note that the use of "X" in the spelling of "Christmas" is not necessarily a slight to the Christ-Child. Centuries ago, "X" was used as a symbol for Christ. It is, after all, the first letter of the word "Christ" in Greek – not an "ex," but a "chi." Transliterated, the word "Christ" in Greek is spelled "Xristos." So I don't always presume that the formulation "Xmas" is showing disregard for the Savior. It may be, but it may not be as well.

At any rate, "back in the day," so to speak, we didn't realize that one day we'd have bigger fish to fry – that wishing someone a "Merry Christmas" might become taboo. In the same way, "back in the day," we didn't worry too much about the use of "Happy Holidays," because the "Happy Holidays" were Christmas and New Year's, unless you were Jewish, and then it might refer to Hanukkah. Nowadays, political "correctness" dictates that you include every holiday imaginable or risk ticking someone off.

But you know what? I'm tired of it. I'm not gonna do it anymore. No more "Happy Holidays" for me. It's "Merry Christmas." And if you don't like it ... tough! I don't care. It's the Holy Day I celebrate. It's the whole POINT of having any festivities at all, and if someone doesn't like it, then they just need to get a life. Accept the good wishes and be glad I wished them.

By the same token, I'm not going to get bent out of shape if someone wants to wish me a "Happy Whatever-it-is-they-celebrate." I'm just going to be glad someone thought kindly enough to wish me happiness, for whatever reason. So, if you want to wish me a Merry Christmas – super! Right back atcha! Or if you want to wish me a "Happy Hanukkah," that's fine too. I'll also accept good wishes for Eid al-Fitr, Kwanzaa, and even Shiva Puja and Amitabha Buddha Day. Heck, I won't even get too worked-up if you wish me a "Merry Xmas."

But be prepared. You're gonna get a "Merry Christmas" in return!

What a wonderful few months it has been!  Since completing the writing phase of my album, I've started work on a number of other projects, all of which have been delightfully surprising to me.

Well, it's a new month, and, therefore, it's time to upload another song demo.  This one was written back in September after a rather difficult Summer, during which there was a major controversy going on at our church.  If you read some of my past blogs, you'll know the one to which I refer.  After seeing God truly working "all things together for good," it seemed to me like He was indeed a Master puzzle solver.  So I wrote this little ditty to express some rather heavy feelings in a considerably lighter setting.  Listen to the song by clicking the link at the bottom of the "Me" Stuff page.