Fabulous Gifts that Won't Break Your Budget...

... or the tension between Black Friday and Buy Nothing Day as Christmas season perspectives.

The Black Friday Hysteria:

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, is historically the busiest retail shopping day of the year. Many consider it the "official" beginning to the Christmas season. Most retailers open very early and usually provide massive discounts on their products, and offer doorbuster deals to draw people to their stores.

The Buy Nothing Day Idealism:

Buy Nothing Day is an informal day of protest against consumerism observed by social activists. It was founded by Vancouver artist Ted Dave and subsequently promoted by the Canadian Adbusters magazine. Participants refrain from purchasing anything for 24 hours in a concentrated display of consumer power. The event is intended to raise awareness of what some see as the wasteful consumption habits of First World countries. Activists may also participate in culture jamming activities like the Whirl-Mart and other forms of radical expression. It is also used to protest materialism and bandwagon appeals.

We Christians talk a great deal about keeping the point of Christmas. I think we know it's not about the spending, instead it's about the giving. I think we have all hashed that out sufficiently. We've all heard all about how to have an inexpensive Christmas, how to keep the meaning and all that jazz. I hear about how we should give our Christmas budget $$ to the poor rather than giving our family and friends things we can't afford and they don't need. I understand those who rail against the consumeristic disease we all seem to get this time of year. I have seen it get ugly, we all have.

I don't think it's wrong to want to give, I don't think anyone does. However, I also don't think it's wrong to shop or buy during this season. I don't even think it's wrong to get pleasure out of it. Christmas is a celebration of the Ultimate Gift, and I don't think God has a problem with us wanting to celebrate by buying or giving, as long as we have planned ahead for it and can manage it without debt.

What 's your perspective on buying and giving during this season? And on a sidenote, what do you think about Wal-Mart's decision to use "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays" this year? Does it matter to you? Do you even shop at Wal-Mart?