A Scary Compromise for Christians?

This is the time of year that has often generated very interesting conversations with other Christians. A simple question of “What will your kids be for Halloween?” has led to great debates about how we should view this holiday as people of God.

According to the Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween) Halloween traces its roots from an Irish tradition that began as a harvest festival, innocently enough. Yet it quickly took a more insidious turn as the pagan (non-Christian) celebrants created bonfires to ward off the evil spirits that threatened to ruin their livestock and crops, donning costumes and masks to appease the demons. This practice later preceded All Saints’ Day (still celebrated in many places throughout the world), which is a European holy day of religious festivities. Falling the eve before All Saint’s Day, the true origin of the name Halloween comes from “All Hallow’s Even” (the night before All Hallow’s Day, which is All Saints’ Day).

Since the time my children were of the age to do so, we decided they would not participate in trick or treating or any other Halloween festivities. When questioned about this, we would always reply that there is nothing about Halloween that celebrates Christ, so there was no reason for us as Christians to celebrate the holiday. In recent years, many churches and Christian organizations have introduced “Hallelujah Parties” in lieu of Halloween celebrations. My family’s stance has remained steadfast, because even a watered-down version of this holiday is unacceptable. I’ve heard the protest of many other Christians:

“Oh, let your children be children and have some fun like the other kids!”
“Forget the history, now it’s all about dressing up and eating candy!”
“I’m a Christian, too, so my kids don’t dress up as anything scary or demonic. They get to be angels and princesses!”

The Bible tells us in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” In my opinion, compromising ourselves to celebrate things that are not of God couldn’t possibly be His good, pleasing and perfect will.

What are your thoughts on Halloween? Leave a comment!

Quality, Quantity, Quickly

In my early days of advertising, I had a Creative Director who displayed a sign in his office that read, “Quality. Quantity. Quickly.” He explained that you could always have one of those three variables. Sometimes you were lucky enough to get two. But it was very rarely that you would ever get all three.

I have seen over the years how this truth has played out in various areas of life. Things that are created very fast and by the truckload are not usually of great quality. It takes great care and lots of time to create items of great value. For example, cars that are built one-by-one in a lengthy, painstaking process are worth far more than the thousands that fly off the factory line.

Take a look at your local bookstore. Authors who have works that were written with fine attention to detail and who, perhaps, have only a few titles to their names tend to be regarded as literary giants. Yet, writers who swiftly crank out volume after volume in their genre usually provide a couple of good reads, but work that is rarely considered classic.

Re-read the first chapter of Genesis when you get a chance. When we reflect on how wonderfully He created everything in the world and how fast He did it, we realize that only an awesome God could produce such quality in great quantity so quickly.

What are your thoughts? Leave a comment!

Do the Right Thing...at the Right Time

I once heard a powerful sermon preached by Rev. William D. Watley, Ph. D. of St. James A.M.E. Church in Newark, NJ. He really hit close to home when he declared, “If you do what you have to do when you have to do it, then you can do what you want to do when you want to do it.”

Many of us find ourselves inundated with the “have to dos.” We have to do the laundry. We have to get the car inspected. We have to finish that next chapter of the novel. The list goes on. And too often, we find ourselves putting off these things until later. Then we wonder why we often feel so overwhelmed, stressed out, and pressed for time.

The truth is, there is a time for everything, as a popular passage tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:1–8. Remember—whenever we put off a responsibility, we may lose out on an opportunity for ourselves or miss a chance to be a blessing to someone else.

I’m going to do what I have to do when I have to do it, so I can do what I want to do when I want to do it.

Take a Break!

We live in a fast paced, go-and-get-‘em society. Our days are filled with appointments and scheduling and responsibilities and duties. We have to-do lists, and have-to-do lists, and absolutely-must-do lists. But when do we have time to spend with ourselves and God?

It is absolutely imperative to carve out a little personal time each day and to set aside some extended “me time” every now and again. My personal time usually begins when I open my eyes in the morning and lasts for about a half hour. That’s my time for prayer and meditation, reading and reflection.

But that’s not it. Do you realize the importance of the lunch hour? (Or lunch half-hour for some of my corporate brothers and sisters.) While, of course, there are days when stepping away from your desk is impossible, let’s just say that eating at your desk should be the exception, and not the rule. Take your lunch break every day by doing any of the following:

• Eat. Away from your desk.
• Leave the building. You might just walk around the grounds.
• Take a 20 minute nap. (Yes, I’ve done this in my car.)
• Run personal errands (like picking up that book you’ve been wanting to read).
• Call a friend and chat while they’re on lunch, too.
• Use the time to pray and talk to God.

When you return to your work, I can assure you that you’re more likely to feel recharged, refreshed, and refocused. And don’t even get me started on sick days and vacations. Let’s just say that if your Human Resources director understands the importance of taking a break, so should you.

During His ministry here on earth, we find a couple of examples of Jesus taking some “Me time” of His own. Luke 5:15-16 tells us that crowds of people were constantly seeking Him out, “but Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Having been here on earth and having lived a busy, productive life, Jesus understands your need for rest. In Matthew 11:28, he gives us the invitation, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

I’m taking a break and spending some quality time with Jesus this week. What about you?

Which Body Are You?

There is a famous story of four people named Every Body, Some Body, Any Body, and No Body. There was an important job to be done and Every Body was asked to do it. Any Body could have done it, but No Body did it. Some Body got angry about that, because it was Every Body's job. Every Body thought Any Body could do it, but No Body realized that Every Body wouldn't do it. Consequently, it wound up that No Body told Any Body, so Every Body blamed Some Body.

Paul wrote in Romans 12 that as Christians, we are all part of the body of Christ. Just as our own body is comprised of parts with their own special function, each of us has our own special purpose. Paul lists ministering, teaching, and prophesying as examples. I would add writing, public speaking, and being creative to the list.

When a task is at hand, are you waiting for Every Body, Any Body, or Some Body to do the job that you could do yourself? Remember, if you don’t do it, there’s a chance No Body will.

I’m trying to be a productive part of the body of Christ. What about you?

Do You Have the Right Attitude?

A classic test in psychoanalysis is the one where a person must respond to an image of a glass of water. “Is the glass half empty or is the glass half full?” the analyst asks. A “half empty” response reveals an overwhelmingly pessimistic attitude. But “half full” shows that the person looks toward the brighter side of things.

When writing, or approaching anything else in life, our attitude toward it makes all the difference. Are you pessimistically looking at the obstacles or optimistically anticipating the outcome?

A surprising reward is that being optimistic is contagious. All it takes is a little enthusiasm to get others around you to respond the same way. Pretty soon, you have an outpouring of “positivity” around you, which can give you the energy you need to get things done. (Recently, I added a little “Yay!” to the end of all of my meetings. Pretty soon, my team joined me in this corporate cheerleading—and our work has gone to a whole new level.)

The Bible instructs that as Christians, we are to have an optimistic attitude in all things. Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” The message is clear—a positive attitude brings life, and a negative one is destructive.

I’m choosing the right attitude. How about you?

The 80/20 Rule

Ever feel like you’re doing most of the work, even though you have a whole group of people who are supposed to help get the job done? Congratulations! You are part of the Terrific Twenty!

It is a well-known principle in business and practical sciences that for many situations, “80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.” In other words, the greatest results come from only a few members of the group. Does this sound familiar? Does the 80/20 Rule apply to your job, organization, or church?

Throughout the Bible, we see evidence of the 80/20 Rule in effect. In Matthew 9:37, we find Jesus telling his disciples, “…The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” Who are these workers? They are the ones who may sometimes feel overlooked or taken for granted. Is this you? Don’t feel defeated. Keep in mind that the laborer’s reward is great. Jesus tells the parable where the servant who worked hardest for his master received the biggest reward in the end. (Matthew 25:14-30)

So if you ever feel like you’re putting in a little more time or effort than most of the other folks in your group, the truth is that you very well may be. Of course, this doesn’t let the other 80 percent of the group off the hook. They have a responsibility to accomplish at least the bare minimum of what’s required of them. But prayerfully, you’ll find satisfaction in knowing that your great efforts have helped make a great difference.

I’m proud to be part of the Terrific Twenty. What about you?