White Christmas - a song by Tim Palmquist

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White Christmas
Copyright 1989 by Tim Palmquist

You should hear the music for this song as you look at this page. If you don't hear the music, click here to directly access the MIDI music file.

I see the tinsel and garland,
Surrounding your nativity scene.
You're having a feast and a party tonight,
You say that it's in honor of Me.
You dream of dozens of presents,
Good times with family and friends.
Outside the snow is falling; you're so excited!
Not me; I'm looking inside...

And I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,
When you'll throw away your Christmas tree,
And you'll have no time for tinsel and garland,
For your eyes are focused only on Me.

While you were tending your garden,
I've been murdered again and again.
You read the news, and said "what a shame!"
But what have you done in My Name?
I'm a slave in a faraway land,
Longing for something to eat.
Inside you want to help, but you just don't know how.
Just ask me, I'm looking outside...

And I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,
When all slaves are freed and the hungry have been fed,
And your hands have been cleansed from all the innocent blood,
For I'm living in your heart and not just in your head.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,
When you'll throw away your Christmas tree,
And you'll have no time for tinsel and garland,
For your eyes are focused only on Me.

I will wash your wicked heart,
Whiter than snow.
Let my justice flow through you,
And soon all the world will see...

That I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,
When My righteousness flows like a stream,
And the flood of justice covers My whole creation,
And all of my children come to Me.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,
When all slaves are freed and the hungry have been fed,
And your hands have been cleansed from all the innocent blood,
For I'm living in your heart and not just in your head.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,
When you'll throw away your Christmas tree,
And you'll have no time for tinsel and garland,
For your eyes are focused only on Me.

I'm dreaming of you... whiter than snow.
I will wash you whiter than snow.
I'm dreaming of you... whiter than snow.
I will wash you whiter than snow.
I'm dreaming of you...
...whiter than snow.

Tim Palmquist
12/25/89

Back in 1989, I heard a new song from a popular Christian group. It was their rendition of the traditional song, "White Christmas." It broke my heart. Maybe it shouldn't have; after all, there have been plenty of secular Christmas songs recorded by Christian artists, and certainly there's nothing wrong with having wistful thoughts about the beauty of snowy scenery around Christmastime. But I thought, "is this really what a 'White Christmas' is, from a Christian perspective?"

Isaiah 1:15-18 came to mind, where God says He will wash us 'whiter than snow.' (Although this verse is often quoted, it is almost never put in context. According to the context, the reason God needs to wash us is that our hands are full of innocent blood.) I also thought of Amos 5:23-24, where God expresses His desire for justice to roll down upon His people.

This will never be a popular Christmas song. It will offend far too many people. Nevertheless, I believe that it properly represents what God may focus on when he "dreams" of a "white Christmas."

A footnote to the writing of this song: the day this song was written also happened to be the day that our oldest son, Andrew, asked Jesus into his heart.

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