Granted, there are those, including my wife, who are fine with the fact that few stores say "Merry Christmas" anymore. And, really, it isn't that much of an issue for me. I do think that stores who've initiated policies against the "C" word are being extreme... and silly... and extremely silly. But I agree with Wendy and with others who've said that K-Mart and Target aren't really the place to find the real meaning of the season anyway.

Still, it's undeniable that we live in a culture that shuns, mocks, and deplores Christianity. Most movies depict Christian characters as backwards and ignorant. Most news stories about Christians focus on the nutty remarks of the Pat Robertsons and Jerry Falwells, rather than the charity, hard work, and love of Christians (both individually and as groups) around the world. Christian ideals are seen as outdated and even portrayed as "dangerous" by the left fringes... and even the mere mention of Christian faith is enough to get you branded a "theocrat" or a "Bible bigot" ... or simply an idiot.

Every Friday when I go pick up my son for weekend visitation, I drive past a Bojangles chicken restaurant in Daleville, Virginia. I never pay much attention to the restaurant or the sign out front, I'm always focused on picking up my son and coming home. This last weekend as I made the trip, however, the sign at Bojangles caught my eye... and made my day. I took a quick digital picture of it, that's it to the right.

Yeah, it's no big deal in the greater scheme of things... but I couldn't help but be impressed. The owner of this Bojangles restaurant, apparently, is willing to risk losing business and drawing negative attention from secularists in order to proclaim his faith. You don't see that much anymore. In fact, I can't remember the last time I did see a sign this forthright in front of a business. Let alone one in Daleville, which is little more than a row of fast food joints and gas stations on the way to Roanoke, Virginia. (Just to give you an idea of what Roanoke is like, the city is known for it's gay nightlife. Sure, it's a southern city, but many who live there find it oh-so "progressive".)

Again, I know, it's not a big deal. Still, the sign put a smile on my face and prompted me to call the store and tell the manager how much I'd enjoyed their sign. He thanked me for the call and said that it meant a lot to the store employees to get positive feedback about the sign. (If you're moved to call them yourself, grab your cell phone and punch in the number, 540 - 966 - 1440. I'm sure they'll be glad to hear from you.)

I'm not trying to say that a Bojangles chicken restaurant is the lone spot of Christian faith in a great heathen mecca. I'm not trying to say this restaurant is taking sides in the so-called "war on Christmas," and I don't believe that they intend the sign to be provocative or offensive to anyone. Still, I saw the sign as a good-faith expression of Christmas sentiment from one Christian to the others who might pass by... and it was nice. It made my day.

I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.
Luke 12:8