I haven’t done a T-shirt design in a while, so it was kinda fun to work on this one for the PCC Student Ministry. I haven’t had a bunch of teenagers walking around wearing one of my designs since I was a teenager myself, so it was great to know that they actually liked them. The 80’s are back, people. These look like something one of my older brothers would’ve worn when they were in high school (especially the pink ones).

Edit: The site is now live here: http://www.laketravisfootball.com/

We met with a representative of the Lake Travis High School football program today to begin work on their new website. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun to do, so keep your eye(s) peeled here for the design in the next couple of weeks or so.

This is a new initial design that I did through faithhighway.com for a church in St. Paul. It’s a slight step away from my typical style, so I thought it’d be interesting to share. I assured the pastor that I would do something with no Green and Yellow, so as not to offend his fellow Minnesotans (Minnesotites? Minnesotians? Minnosites?). Click the image for larger version.

Thank you for your e-mail.

It was good of you to share your thoughts on our “Stand for Christmas” campaign. We’re on the same page in many ways — it’s not words, names, or commercial practices that ought to occupy our primary attention at this time of year, but rather the true meaning of the season.

That said, given that most Americans favor the use of the word “Christmas” and celebrate this special day, we feel it’s important to let businesses know that consumers care about this subject. It’s a matter of showing respect for the Christmas tradition and recognizing that Americans aren’t just exchanging gifts to mark a non-descript “Winter Holiday.”

Granted, many people don’t view Christmas from a Christian perspective, and we’re not trying to mandate that businesses acknowledge Christmas. Nevertheless, if a corporation makes the decision to exclude the word “Christmas” from their stores and ads, then why shouldn’t we as Christians be allowed the choice in return to take our business elsewhere? In doing so, we may be able to make a point and impact future corporate decisions.

Some people we’ve heard from maintain that a better course of action would be to simply refrain from any participation in the modern “materialistic mania” that Christmas largely has become in our culture. There may be something to this observation. At the same time, the giving of gifts has long been a traditional aspect of the celebration of Christmas, and we see no reason to stop that practice completely.

Thanks again for writing. While we cannot address all your concerns, we hope this response provides you with a clearer understanding of our purpose. Merry Christmas!

Jordan Solomon
Focus on the Family Action

I already understood some of their perspective, but I didn’t really feel like this is what was presented on the website.

What do you think?

For my first post, here’s a note I sent to Focus on the Family about their new debacle that is standforchristmas.com.

The entire text of the note that I sent them on their support site – I will update this post if I ever see a response:

What is the motivation behind this website? I’m probably about to say some things that are likely to fall on deaf ears at FotF, but I hope that someone will respond to me.

I am a Christian, I’ve served in the local church for years, I love the Church, and I love Christ. What I don’t understand is the motivation for something like this. I don’t understand the mentality that we need to correct the world’s behavior in lieu of leading them to the saving Grace of Jesus Christ.

This is not the approach that Jesus used in the Bible. He never asked someone to correct their behavior before he healed them physically or spiritually. Grace always came first, then the He and the Holy Spirit reserve the right to give people a heart of conviction for their sins.

I just don’t understand why we should expect people to behave like Christians when they are not. I don’t understand why we would condemn others for exercising their religious freedoms, and then claim that their right to say whatever they want is hindering our right to share the love of Christ with the world.

Christmas is, by and large, a consumer holiday. Why should I be offended that some underpaid kid behind the counter at Gap rings up my over-priced jeans that were made by some small child in a sweat shop overseas and then wishes me a “Happy Holiday” as I leave? Would it be better for him to pretend to be a Christian, assume that I am, and wish me a “Merry Christmas?”

Aren’t there more important issues in the world than this? Is chastising people and companies for not treating Christians as the elite of the world really the best way to reach the lost?