Showing posts with label Girdwood. Show all posts

To a new blogging home.

This blog is continuing over at WordPress.  You can find me now at www.epistleofjim.com.

I'm closing out my week with the recognition that I live in one of the most beautiful places on earth.  It's drop-dead gorgeous here, causing my wife to often proclaim, "WE LIVE HERE!!!!" as we pass by a beautiful sight.  So, here's a distinctly Alaskan, mostly Girdwood list for Thankgiving:

1. The mountains...all the mountains...particularly the mountains right around here
2. The many mountain streams, including the little ones that go by our house
3. Snowfall
4. Long summer days and long winter nights (esp
5. Seeing belugas in Turnagain Arm and eagles flying overhead
6. How the rainy days so often bring rainbows
7. Walking in peat fields that feel like mattresses
8. Crisp fall days
9. The paths up Alyeska
10. The Bird-to-Gird trail

(This was written last night, near the beginning of a 4.5 hour power outage.)

It's quiet when the lights goes out at night.  It's not just lights, of course, it's everything electric.

It's very quiet.

There's not a hum.

There's not a buzz.

I close my eyes and try to make out the various sounds I do hear.  There's the "tick" of the one clock whose time won't have to be reset.  There's the "click" of the gas fireplace going on and off.  There's the cough of one of our girls upstairs.  The dog shakes and I hear the tags rattle on his collar.

Beyond that, it's quiet.

While everyone else has gone to bed, I've opted to stay up, at least for a little bit.  In the quiet I've been able to get some work done.  The worship bulletin is ready to copy.  The first sermon draft is complete.  And I'm working on this blog post.

May as well be productive in the dark.

I've stayed up in the hope that this is a short outage.  Then I'll be able to make sure the lights are off when the power goes back on and, perhaps, make sure that alarms are set for tomorrow morning.  As of now, everything hinges upon one cell phone alarm.  With seven people to get up at various times and move on out of the house, that doesn't seem like enough alarm clock power. 

And so I wait.

We lose power pretty often in our neck of the woods.  I wish it happened a whole lot less frequently than it does.  I get tired of setting clock after clock after clock when power is restored.  I remember, shortly after moving here 12 years ago, back when the outages were more frequent, how one church member who only came down on weekends said that he took expected to set every clock in their place every Friday.

I'm sure that this latest outage has to do with the snowfall we've had today.  It's probably pulling down some power line somewhere.  But it's dark up and down the road.  The lights are out.

One of the interesting things about losing power is finding all of the various things you've left on when the power comes back. We live in a very connected age and we have so many things plugged in at all times that having the VCR, the Microwave, the Stove, the Computer, the Chargers, the Stereo all click on at the same time is kind of a sensory overload.  Add to this the blinding light of of the overhead lights and it's amazing we're able to function at all with no power.

Perhaps the power outage can serve as a sort of wake up call, reminding us of our "plugged-in" lives and the importance of "unplugging" and remembering the One who gives us real power.

Then again, I'm looking forward to getting plugged in as soon as I can.

Well, to be honest, they weren't actually "zombies."  They were persons acting like zombies.  And, to be clear, they weren't the "Night of the Living Dead" - type zombies either.  They were very much alive, but infected by some horrible virus that turned them into rabid monsters.

But, why were they in church?

A new outreach program?

An odd sermon illustration?

The result of a particularly bad worship experience?

Not exactly.

I have always thought it best for clergy folk to hang out with non-Christian, or at least non-church going people.  Too often we can get wrapped up in our own religious worlds and forget that there are folks out there who believe differently or believe nothing at all.  And it's a good thing for us to find a group of people we like to interact with who aren't going to be the people you see in the pews (or chairs, as it were) on Sunday morning.  They have different expectation and can offer different perspectives that aren't so rooted the usual religious stuff.  It's not so much about evangelism as it is relationship and friendships.

I like hanging out at the coffee shop.  It's "The Grind" and is run by a guy known as "Gator."  I like sitting there, coffee in hand, iPad on lap, interacting and chatting with the folks who make their way down to get a latte or Americano or just to tap into some WiFi.  Gators's a great guy and I've loved the staff he's had work in his shop.  So, I go and sit and make small talk.  The point, really, is not evangelization, but friendship and keeping me from being so insular in the work of being a pastor.  I enjoy those folks.  I call them "my coffee shop friends" and I do care about what they have going on in their lives, how their various businesses are going, and what brings them joy.  And I truly believe they care about me and what I have going on.  I love it.

Well, Gator is a creative guy.  He's somewhat of a nerd and a fan of pop culture, things about which we have wonderful discussions.  Well, he's also a man obsessed with making a movie.  He has a storyboard that flows through several notebooks, each scene mapped out entirely.  It started, first, as kind of an Alaskan wilderness survival movie, since that's something he knows a few things about.  But, it evolved into something more than that.  The reason persons were trying to survive in Alaska is that there has been an outbreak of some virus that causes those infected to turn into rabid-Zombie-like creatures. 

I got involved because Gator said he'd like me in his movie.  He wanted to have a scene with zombies breaking in the door of the church were I and some others have gathered for safety.  I would be all dressed up in my clergy attire...what Gator calls my "uniform."  The scene was to have me holding back the door with zombie hands trying to get through.  And then three zombies would breach the door and run towards the folks gathered at the front of church where we we have a couple of guns and an ax.  There would be, he assured, no zombie contact.

I didn't want to do this in the new church since I'm not sure I could have handled the imagery in that space I've worked so hard for.  But I also didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to support Gator and his friends and participate in something that was going to pull in community members I've only shared coffee with and, frankly, whose company I enjoy very much.

So, Sunday night we filmed the scene in the old church.  We had two of my girls with me.  We had four other church folks and several of the coffee-shop crowd, including three zombies.  The zombies had chocolate syrup for blood, since it was filmed in black and white.  People acted frightened behind me.  I learned more about holding a shotgun than I'd ever learned before.  And, in the end, the zombies never touched us.  It was over in 90 minutes and then Gator apparently spent all night piecing together 90 seconds of video.

In advance, I did tell a couple of our church leaders that I was going to do this at the old church.  I thought I should explain myself to a few folks first.  I'm not sure everyone would have appreciated this.  But I had fun and I think some of my non church friends appreciated that the church was able to help them out.  I got to share some of my life and what's important to me while they got to share some of their life.

That's why zombies attacked our church on Sunday night.

And it was a blast.

Oh, victory in Jesus, My Savior forever
He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood

He loved me ere I knew Him and all my love is due Him
He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood

We had worship at 9 AM, then followed it with a "sending out" at 10 AM.  We were engaged in several "verb-like" activities.

• A "Bathroom Brigade" went out with cleaning buckets to clean bathrooms in area businesses, just because we love them.
• Children, with adult leaders, were unleashed on Forest Fair Park and the playground to collect garbage...and were rewarded with an unscheduled trip to the Ice Cream Shop.
• Our "Cookie Flingers" went out into the community with about 130 bags of homemade cookies with notes inside saying "Just a simple way to share the love."  This is something we do several times a year.
• We had persons working on a mosaic on a planter along Alyeska Highway.
• We had food being collected for our Food Pantry at the Crow Creek Mercantile and we had food being distributed at the Chapel.
• Back at the church, several persons stayed behind and textured the walls of the Narthex to get them ready for primer this week.
• We had a small change in schedule as we had originally hoped to be cutting wood for a local person in need.  That, however, will have to wait.

Overall, it was an awesome day.  What a blessing it is to go out in the community and just "love" it in acts of service.

See pics below.

There was a community meeting Monday afternoon, called "The Mayor's Meeting" since it had the mayor's staff from Anchorage at it.  Ironically...no mayor.

On the agenda was our town daycare where there are serious structural issues and it has been declared unsafe for the snow load we normally get...even though, the historical evidence is that it can hold a bunch of snow...including the 10 foot load 10 years ago.

I have two kids in the daycare, "The Short Louds," (my 4 year old twins).  And, 10 years ago, we had our two older twin girls in the daycare as well.  So, we've gotten a lot of use from it.  We're pretty passionate about it.  My wife and I were at the meeting.

Well, the meeting progressed with lots of complaints...who's at fault...is this "big government" coming down us.  There were, of course, good comments thrown in.  The long and short of it was this:

1. The Municipality of Anchorage owns the old building the daycare uses and has been providing maintenance.
2. The Muni now has an engineering report that says the building is unsafe for the snow and they can't, in good conscience (or without a fear of a massive lawsuit should a collapse happen) let the building be used.
3. There are three possible solutions that seemed doable and would keep the daycare functioning:  1) Use another community building -- which would eliminate its use by other groups, 2) Fix the roof -- which sounds great but can in no way be done this year, or 3) Have a licensed and bonded business contract with The Muni and the Daycare to clear the roof of any snow, absolving the Muni and the Daycare of liability if "something" were to happen.
4. THE SNOW IS COMING WITHIN SIX WEEKS OR SO!!!

This doesn't give us a lot of time and, frankly, the blame-game wasn't helping and wonderful ideas that were going to take years to materialize weren't helping either.  I got up to speak and began with Whitney Houston's "The Greatest Love of All."  I didn't sing it...but I should have.



Oh...shortly after my impassioned speech, it was decided that they'd go the contract route and the daycare would not have a gap in service.

And...really..."I believe that children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way..."

OK, the book of Job is not the most uplifting book in the Bible.  I know folks use the phrase "the patience of Job" pretty freely, but it sure seems like that guy was a bit of a whiner...not that he didn't have anything to complain about.  Let's face it.  He had it rough.  But my favorite part of the book is towards the end when Job's so-called "friends" fade away and God really makes an appearance, to be confronted by (and to confront) Job.  In Chapter 38, it's God who questions the questioner who has the audacity to ask why bad things happen to good people...namely Job.

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind:
² ‘Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
³ Gird up your loins like a man,
   I will question you, and you shall declare to me.

⁴ ‘Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
   Tell me, if you have understanding.
⁵ Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
   Or who stretched the line upon it?
⁶ On what were its bases sunk,
   or who laid its cornerstone
⁷ when the morning stars sang together
   and all the heavenly beings^* shouted for joy?

⁸ ‘Or who shut in the sea with doors
   when it burst out from the womb?—
⁹ when I made the clouds its garment,
   and thick darkness its swaddling band,
¹⁰ and prescribed bounds for it,
   and set bars and doors,
¹¹ and said, “Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
   and here shall your proud waves be stopped”? 

And, over the next verses, God proceeds to ask Job just who it is that has control over all living creatures...the goats, the wild ass, the hawk, the horse, etc.   This is the Lord God Almighty talking here and Job needs to remember his place in creation and be grateful for it.  God's God.  Job's not.  Get over it.

Occasionally, I get reminded of "my place" in this creation of God's.  Bears have done this for me over the last three days.

First, on Thursday evening, I finally was going to get out on a bike ride.  It had been a few days.  My bike had a new crank set and cartridge and I was ready to head on out to Bird Point for a quick 18 mile ride.  I was moving.  It was good to be out.  I was just about ready to ride on down a hill to the turnaround point when a black bear appeared on the bike path.  I slammed on my breaks about 40 feet away.  I yelled.  I picked up my bike.  I was very polite about it, but I made it clear that I wanted to proceed down the hill.  I'd worked 8 miles to get there.  But the bear wouldn't budge.  I then saw a cub in a tree behind it.  The bear wasn't going to move.  I figured this was a sign that I should just turn around and deal with a 16 mile ride.  It was a good ride.  But I was reminded that I'm really not in control of this life of mine.  I'm not even in control of the bike ride.

Then, on Friday, my wife and I went up Alyeska for a hike.  Again, it was going to have to be a little short but it was good to be out.   We had just made it back down to the bottom when a biker pointed out a bear up the hill.  There was a cub with this one as well.  We watched for a few minutes as they wandered around a clearing and then it was time to go home.  I was reminded of the wildness of the place we live.  Creation is all around us.

But, Saturday was the one that really reminded me what part of the food chain I am around here.  I went out in our very tiny lawn to get the garden hose with the hopes of knocking down a hornets nest that has been built under the edge of our roof.  I was in the yard and heard a very forceful "GRUNT."  There was a rather large black bear 10-15 feet away from me.  The grunt was meant for me.  It watched very carefully as I hurriedly made my way down our porch steps away from it.  I'd never had a bear grunt at me before.  Then again, I'd never gotten that close to one without there being a fence or glass between it and me.  While the bear wasn't doing anything besides being a bear, it made me realize I was out of my league.  This was a big bear.  His grunt clearly pointed out that he was boss at that moment.

Look, pride gets the best of all of us at some time or another.  For some of us, it's a more regular occurrence.  But in the end, God, either answering "out of the whirlwind" or sending a few bears our way, reminds us that we are merely some of his creatures in this great world of us.  We may be loved and forgiven creatures, but we're just creatures all the same.

What reminds you of your place?  What does God use to bring out some of your humility?

photo © 2007 Javier Prazak | more info (via: Wylio)



Last week I was headed out for a bicycle ride.  That, in and of itself, is not unusual.  But, it had been about 6 days since I had gone on a good ride because of my schedule with a work team here and lots of baseball games to attend for my daughter.  So I was really pumped about going.  I was excited.  I had the time to spend 2.5 hours riding and I was ready.  I got on my biking clothes, my biking shoes, my biking glasses, my biking gloves, my helmet...everything.  And I hopped on.

I started off down the street.  We live on a hill so I can hit a pretty good speed just down from our house.  I was off.

But...then...a dog came at me.

This was a brown pit-bull dog.  It's a big dog.  This is new to our street as we have some new neighbors who have some friends who come and bring their dogs and leave them untied out in front of their house.  Loose dogs are a dime a dozen in our community.  Yes, there is a leash law.  But, when you're 45 minutes from Anchorage, it's more of a suggestion than a law.  And, really, most dogs who are off leash are quite well behaved and problems are rare. 

The neighbors have only been here a few weeks, really, and already these dogs have a reputation on the street as being aggressive.  No, they haven't actually bitten anyone or any other dogs as far as I know.  But at least 4 other people have been chased by the dogs when walking on past or riding bikes or whatever.  One neighbor has taken to going a "back way" through the woods to avoid the dogs.  I had been chased a little by the two dogs before, but yelling at them drove them away quickly.  That time I was headed up hill on my bike and, therefore, going v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y.

However, this time I was going by fast and the dog came at me fast.  This dog did not have a "hey-biking-looks-like-fun-would-you-take-me-with-you" approach.  Hackles were raised.  Teeth were bared.  And the dog was on my heels quick. 

It's amazing what happened to my emotions.  It was instantaneous.  Immediately I was furious.  I could feel the anger burst within me.  And I was scared.  I could feel the adrenaline kick into gear and I SLAMMED on the brakes, nearly falling off the bike (thank God I hadn't clipped my shoes into the pedals yet).   I dropped the bike to the ground after leaving a thirty foot skid mark on the dirt road.

I turned to the dog and I yelled.  I yelled loudly.  I'm sure I had an ugly face.  "NO.  NO.  NO.  NOT TODAY YOU DON'T.  YOU WILL NOT CHASE ME.  YOU WILL NOT DO THIS.  NO.  NO.  NO."  And I aggressively moved the dog back to his house.  (I might have mentioned that I was mad.)

And I was going to tell SOMEONE that this was NOT acceptable.  By this time a young woman with four young children appeared on the porch.  I know her.  I know the kids.  And I left no room for doubt at how mad I was.  I yelled, "THIS CAN'T HAPPEN.  THESE DOGS HAVE TO BE TIED UP OR SOMEONE ELSE IS GOING TO DO IT FOR THEM.  THEY CAN'T CHASE EVERYONE WHO COMES UP OR DOWN THIS STREET.  IT CAN'T HAPPEN.  IT'S NOT SAFE."

The woman, mother to a couple of the kids I think, said they weren't even her dogs but she'd tell the owner...who was coming by frequently and leaving the dogs out.  She said they were "nice dogs."

I didn't respond to this, but I'm sure in my head I said, "I'M SURE THEY'RE NICE TO YOU.   I'M SURE THEY'RE CUDDLY AND GOOD WITH THE KIDS.  BUT NICE DOG DON'T AGGRESSIVELY CHASE PEOPLE, MAKING NEIGHBORS FEEL UNSAFE."  I didn't say this.  Perhaps I wanted to.  I was becoming surprised at how mad I was feeling.

THEN, at this point, I started feeling guilty at how mad I was and how I had expressed all of what was going on.  There I was, standing there, looking at the young kids and wondering how I appeared to them.  I'm a pastor.  I'm sure I didn't have a very pastoral face.  I said, "Look, I apologize for being as livid as I am.  But these dogs have scared me and it's not the first time.  It needs to change."  I was furious.  But at least I was calm enough not to yell now.

Then she said it.  She said, "Have a nice ride."

Those words didn't sink in until I had gone about 20 miles or so -- and, with my adrenaline pumping because of the dog, they were the fastest 20 miles I'd ever had.  But on the way back home I realized how gracious those words were when I was as angry as I was.  It may have taken 20 miles, but the words were disarming.  I was touched by them.  Each time I've been by the house I've looked to see if the woman is there to tell her thanks for kind words when I was not even in a state of mind to receive them.  And I want to tell her that, despite how it began, it was a "nice ride."

So, I'm thinking...

This has given me a lot to think of.

I've had some talks with neighbors about my confrontation with the dog.  I'm not the only one who's said something.  I feel bad about how adrenaline and fear and anger moved me to a pretty ugly place very quickly, but everyone I've talked with has said those feeling are very natural when in a situation like that.  I don't know.

But...I know that I have not seen those dogs outside for a few days.

This road is about 6 miles uphill to the Crow Pass Trailhead.  About 15 miles round trip from home.  Good workout.  I crashed going down it in 2005 and ended up in the hospital.  Didn't crash today.  And today is just about the first time since that crash I felt comfortable going "a little bit faster than I know I should" while coming down.  Good ride to start the day.

Image via WikipediaIt's gearing up to be another beautiful day here.  It's 5:53 AM and the sun is already out, although it's behind some mountains right now.  The sky is clear and blue.  It's going to be a beautiful day.  This is a problem...on two levels.

First, on a personal level, when it's this beautiful out, I don't want to get any work done.  Even when I'm doing work, I find myself looking out the window, wondering if I can squeeze in a bike ride or a long walk.  I think I should get the dog out and tell myself it's too nice NOT to take him to get some exercise.  As my wife's a teacher, I know that, on these beautiful summery -- not quite "summer" -- days, the kids' at school find it hard to focus. I have some of that going on in myself.  It's hard to sit at the computer when there's so much I should be doing outside.

Secondly, and not personal at all, beautiful days are somewhat of a rarity for us.  We live in a rain forest.  We get a lot of rain.  In the winter, we get a lot of snow.  In short, we're used to a lot of precipitation.  Our ground is used to a lot of precipitation.  Our plants are used to a lot of precipitation.  But after a light snow year this winter, and this spell of sunshine, our ground is quite dry out there.  That increases our fire danger dramatically across the state.   This could be very bad for some people.

So, forgive me if I'm hoping we get a little rain pretty soon.

Until then, I gotta' find some way to enjoy the day today.

To THIS in the afternoon.

God's in charge here.

Spring is in the air.

I love where I live.

photo © 2004 Dave Gilbert | more info (via: Wylio)



Carlos Whitaker posts:

When I was in the Dominican with Compassion International I saw that the local church was literally the lifeline for the community. 7 days a week. Hustling and bustling. Never empty. Actually. Always FULL.

I thought…”Man. I’m pretty sure most churches back home are ghost downs on a Tuesday at 1pm. Seems like a waste of prime space.”

In what ways can the local church use it’s prime real estate and building to give back to the community 7 days a week rather than 2?

I’m sure some of your churches are a good example.

How can we do this?

Los

This is what we're trying to do and be at Girdwood Chapel.  We're a long way from it.  But I'd love to see our church in this way.  Right now we're barely even offices...with a lot of building sitting empty for a lot of the time.

Image by mtsofan via FlickrFour days of meetings last week.  They can be wearing.  They can be soul-exciting.  I love my colleagues and I love talking theologically and Scripturally with them rather than filling in forms or planning yet more meetings--doing the "business" of the church. 

I am amazed, at times, of the business that winds in and through my life here in Girdwood.  I am no wandering preacher, out among the people.  My "people time" is carefully planned in the schedule of my days, if I can squeeze it in between the work time, the family time, the me time.

On these days, as I sit in my office, something I've not had the pleasure to do for 10 years since I really had no office, I look outside and wonder if I'm missing something.  I may be here in Girdwood and have been for years...but sometimes I feel as if I'm not really "present" with the people.  What is my ministry of presence here?

Leave it to Henri Nouwen to get at some of this struggle in ministry:

More and more, the desire grows in me simply to walk around, greet people, enter their homes, sit on their doorsteps, play ball, throw water, and be known as someone who wants to live with them. It is a privilege to have the time to practice this simple ministry of presence. Still, it is not as simple as it seems.

My own desire to be useful, to do something significant, or to be part of some impressive project is so strong that soon my time is taken up by meetings, conferences, study groups, and workshops that prevent me from walking the streets. It is difficult not to have plans, not to organize people around an urgent cause, and not to feel that you are working directly for social progress. But I wonder more and more if the first thing shouldn’t be to know people by name, to eat and drink with them, to listen to their stories and tell your own, and to let them know with words, handshakes, and hugs that you do not simply like them, but truly love them.

-  Henri Nouwen

Cover of Indigo GirlsThis is the conversation that I was in today in the community when I saw someone who I'd heard got to spend some time with the Indigo Girls when they were in the Anchorage and Girdwood areas around New Years.  The person with whom I was speaking knows me quite well.

ME:  "Say, I heard you got to spend some time with the Indigo Girls when they were up here.  How was that?"

OTHER PERSON:  "You mean, because they're gay?

ME:  Umm....no....that's not what I was saying at all.  I was....um...just wondering what it was like to hang out with some kinda' famous musicians....

We continued to talk a for a little big and I did find out some details on the visit, but, for me, the conversation was pretty much over when he said, "You mean, because they're gay." 

I have been here for over 10 years.   I've known this person for most of that time.  Have I, in any way, shown that thing I'd want to talk about concerning the Indigo Girls is their sexual orientation or sexual preference or any of that?  Can't I just want to talk about their visit because I can't help but sing along with "Closer to Fine" on the rare occasions that I actually hear it anymore?  Can't I just be a little bit jealous that you got to spend some time with one of the kinda' famous people who come up to Alaska and I want to share your excitement?  I think it's cool and I'd love to hear how they were as people("very nice") and if they traveled with an entourage or posse or peeps ("yes").

The mere fact that he went THERE showed me yet again how the matter of homosexuality and the church's stance can get in the way of not only evangelism but just casual conversation.  This bothered me...and not on the big, grand scale of social justice and biblical interpretation and hospitality and holiness.  But it bothered me on the much more intimate scale of just wanting to make some small talk and share a little life with an individual.  Even when it's not the issue, it can become the issue.

Yes, it bothered me.  Enough that I wanted to write about it while I was still kind of sorting it out.

Don't know what I'll do with it now.

Anyway...

Now enjoy the video of my favorite song of theirs:

Image via WikipediaOur local school has decided not to have caroling this year.  Now "caroling" is really an exaggeration.  In the past, for about 15 minutes for three different mornings kids were invited (not required) to attend a sing-a-long of holiday themed songs in the music room or the gym or wherever the designated gathering place was.  And, in between "Frosty the Snowman" and "Let It Snow" (sung with great gusto in our ski-loving community) there was usually one...one...Christian themed song.  This is not that much different than our holiday concert with mostly secular music, but a Jewish and African American one there along with the lone Christmas carol.

But, alas, the school-time caroling is no more...at least not during school hours.  There will be an after school caroling party today.  And this change is for the usual reasons: 

We have a couple of Jewish students and one family that it Buddhist and "we" want to be sensitive.  True.

We have a principle who can be a stickler for rules and regulations and anything that could possibly end up in a complaint or, worse, a legal issue, must be avoided.   This does not make the principal anti-Christmas or anti-Christian or anything.  Perhaps just a bit too cautious.

We have a couple of persons who have expressed concern that the school would be endorsing one religion over others...while proponents of caroling say it's all cultural and no one is evangelizing or anything.  Admittedly, this gets tricky.

Could it be that the "War on Christmas" has come to Girdwood?

Maybe.  But let's think about this.

I have not been involved in the caroling debate.  I've shown up at school to sing with my kids because it's fun...not because I've had any role in planning this or defending it.  Because I'm a pastor, I try very hard to keep my nose out of religious issues at the school.  My kids still need to go there.  My wife teaches there.  And there are just "good parent" things I want to be involved in without having to go into the school only being seen as "Here comes the minister."   But I have put some thought into the caroling issue and how "The War on Christmas" is perceived.  Here are some of them:

• Every holiday song has a point of view, a perspective, a theology, we might say.  We don't "do" Santa at our household.  We talk a lot about the birth of Jesus but Santa doesn't make an appearance.  There is a mythology...a religion, as it were...surrounding Santa.  It comes complete with rituals and beliefs and morals.  And, I think it's in contrast to Christianity.  So, my wife and I avoid it and we tell our kids Santa doesn't exist.  I know you may do it differently in your house.  God bless you.  But, if our understanding of faith is that Santa doesn't exist, should we be offended that our kids sing about Santa at school?  A lot of the argument against caroling is that it pushes a religion (Christianity) on non-Christian kids.  I want to argue that the other songs about Santa push a religion as well...but on Christians.  I think it's helpful to see that.

• Taking Christian caroling songs out of the school does not weaken Jesus Christ or the message of the church.  If we're relying upon our schools to teach the message of Jesus to kids, then we need to be concerned about how weak the church has become.  If we can sing "Santa Claus is Coming To Town" and "I'm Gettin' Nuttin' For Christmas" and follow it with "Silent Night" and not see a problem in those mixed messages, then perhaps we need to look more closely at our understanding of the "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" who comes to bring salvation to the world.

• I know a lot of "The War on Christmas" seems to be aimed at retailers, such as Wal-Mart, where persons now say, "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas."  Sure, this is not about "the holidays" for me but about Christmas.  But we need to understand that most retail places, if they thought it would increase their revenue, would tell you to "May the Force Be With You" as you entered the store.  They're out to get $$$$ from you this "Holiday Season" or "Christmas Season."  I don't want my understanding of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, to be defined by what Wal-Mart can tell me at the door.  They already own everything else.  Why should I be bothered that they've loosened their grip on Jesus?  I'm happy to say "Merry Christmas" to the greeter because that's who I am.  I think them saying "Happy Holidays" is more truthful to who they are.  (Now, if they'd just say, "Happy Holidays, please buy a bunch of stuff you don't need" that would probably be more truthful).

Look, in a little over an hour, I'm going to take our 4 year old twins to the school to join up with our 13 year old twins and a bunch of students to sing Holiday Songs.   We'll sing some traditional carols.  We'll sing Santa stuff.  We'll sing about snow.  There will be hot chocolate and it will be fun.  I know some people are mad that we won't be doing it during school hours.  I'm really not mad about that.  If there are some non-Christian, secular, Santa-loving kids who hear "Away in a Manger" and start asking questions about "the little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay"... great.   If there are some folks of other religions who hear us singing and, while they may not join us, appreciate that they aren't made to feel forced upon by the Christian faith this time of year...great. 

While there are folks who still believe that we're a Christian nation, I'm not one of them.  It doesn't mean I love this country less than anyone else.  It just means that, instead of viewing this place as a Christian nation, I view it as a nation with a lot of Christians in it.  We have some great Christian (or Deist) based ideals in our founding documents because those ideals shaped our founders.  Yet we are in a constant struggle to determined how to live most faithfully in a multi-cultural environment.  And as many persons fight back against The War on Christmas, I think we need to be clear about what Jesus we're fighting for.  Is it the God of the Old and New Testaments.  Or is it Jesus-lite...a mix of secularism, nationalism, capitalism, Santa and the sweet baby in the manger.

Now...I need to get ready for some caroling fun.  I can't wait to hear how loudly the kids sing "Let It Snow."