Today, the streets will be filled with costumed trick-or-treaters collecting candy by the bagful. There will be vampires, zombies, ghosts, and demons—and oh my, actual Christians! Why are there so many Christians this year pretending to be something they are not?
I find that my position on Halloween is not one that wins a lot of support. Both the unbelievers and the Christians I know often disagree with me on this topic. I don’t celebrate Halloween in my home because there is nothing about it that celebrates what I believe in. As Christians, we are the light of the world. I’m not a fan of a holiday that is consumed by darkness.
If you’re still reading this ☺, here are some things to consider…
One of the things that I can appreciate about the holiday is the creativity that goes into it. The elaborate design of some of the handmade costumes and intricate makeup is just breathtaking. And as a kid, I loved wearing costumes and pretending to be someone or something else for a day. Currently, I even admire the work that goes into the house in the middle of town which—taking full advantage of its location—puts out a display that looks like a Hollywood set. Yet, it still doesn’t sit right with me that some of the images (for example, a guy hanging himself) are part of the “fun” of the holiday.
I also have a serious sweet tooth. So the idea of FREE CANDY is seductive enough to get me sucked in. Yet, isn’t that how the enemy works? Temptation begins with, “Aw, that doesn’t look so bad,” and ends in death. I love candy. But not enough to rot in hell for it. I’m just saying.
And trust me, I’m not caught up in the fact that it was based on a pagan holiday, because I understand that my lovely Christmas tree and those really fun Easter egg hunts also have pagan roots.* It’s more than that. Think about it—this year Halloween falls on a Sunday. I’ve heard quite a few Christians say, “It just doesn’t seem right to go to church, then go home and go trick-or-treating.” A town in Alabama decided to celebrate Halloween on Saturday this year because the officials even felt that it was a conflict to do it on Sunday. If something in your spirit is telling you it’s not right…don’t you think you should listen?
Romans 12 tells us, “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.” Unfortunately, there are so many Christians who make compromises—such as masquerading as those who follow the patterns of this world—that they are unable to see what God’s perfect will is for their daily lives.
I refuse to hide myself behind masks and costumes today—I’d prefer to hide behind the cross every day of my life!
* By the way, the reason pagan traditions found their way into Catholic celebrations (such as Christ’s mass, or Christmas) is because there was at least some parallel that could be drawn between the native culture’s celebration and the Christian observance. But there is nothing about Halloween that is even remotely familiar to Christianity. For more information about other Christian perspectives on Halloween, please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween#Christianity.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
What Are You Thinking???
I was recently reminded that what we think about could have a direct impact on what we do and how we respond to situations in life. Remember The Little Engine That Could? Even when all seemed lost, he said, “I think I can, I think I can,” until he reached success. What are you thinking these days?
When we are faced with a challenge, we are often confronted with the negatives: Why something can’t be done. Who’s fault it is—or will be. What went wrong in the first place. We may forget that the battle starts from within. We have a spiritual enemy that can’t wait to present us with the reasons we cannot overcome a situation. And he will flood our mind with the negatives.
Effective problem-solvers will tell you that you have to look at all sides of a problem in order to overcome it. You have to understand where the limitations are in order to get past them. However, too often we get stuck focusing on the limitations only. We have to remember that when you dwell ON the negative, you have a great chance of ending up dwelling IN negativity.
In Philippians 4:8, while giving encouragement to believers, Paul wrote, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” His advice could be summed up by something we used to say in my neighborhood back in the day: “Get your mind right!”
Think about a challenge you’re facing right now. Maybe it’s a family issue. Maybe it’s unemployment. Maybe it’s poor health or depression. Now think about how you have been thinking about the situation. Stop and say a prayer. Turn it over to the Lord and ask Him—who is and has been with you all along—to help you think about anything that is excellent and praiseworthy surrounding that challenge. Think about those things and watch what happens!
I’m thinking that it’s time for a change in my life—and with the help of the Lord, I know it’s going to happen!
When we are faced with a challenge, we are often confronted with the negatives: Why something can’t be done. Who’s fault it is—or will be. What went wrong in the first place. We may forget that the battle starts from within. We have a spiritual enemy that can’t wait to present us with the reasons we cannot overcome a situation. And he will flood our mind with the negatives.
Effective problem-solvers will tell you that you have to look at all sides of a problem in order to overcome it. You have to understand where the limitations are in order to get past them. However, too often we get stuck focusing on the limitations only. We have to remember that when you dwell ON the negative, you have a great chance of ending up dwelling IN negativity.
In Philippians 4:8, while giving encouragement to believers, Paul wrote, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” His advice could be summed up by something we used to say in my neighborhood back in the day: “Get your mind right!”
Think about a challenge you’re facing right now. Maybe it’s a family issue. Maybe it’s unemployment. Maybe it’s poor health or depression. Now think about how you have been thinking about the situation. Stop and say a prayer. Turn it over to the Lord and ask Him—who is and has been with you all along—to help you think about anything that is excellent and praiseworthy surrounding that challenge. Think about those things and watch what happens!
I’m thinking that it’s time for a change in my life—and with the help of the Lord, I know it’s going to happen!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Victory Celebration!
Imagine going though—or think about the last time you went through—a terrible situation in your life. Think about spending hours on your knees praying over the situation, asking God for guidance and deliverance. Think about humbly reaching out to loved ones, prayer partners, and others to ask for support during our trying times…. Now think about overcoming the situation. Think about the joy that comes with deliverance! What comes next? My brothers and sisters in Christ, we need more Victory Celebrations!
I recently attended a wonderful affair hosted by a lovely married couple, friends of the family. It was a Victory Celebration—a thanksgiving for God’s goodness and awesome saving power. The attendees were friends and family members who have been witnesses to the couple’s testimony. It was an event unlike any other I’ve ever attended under circumstances that few of us would ever imagine. Let me explain…
Over the last several years, this family has been plagued by financial problems, job loss, even threat of criminal prosecution. They have faced devastation that many of us would shudder just thinking about. Yet through it all, they held to their faith in God and continued to weather each terrible storm together, with nothing but trust in the Lord to get them through. Family members and friends also prayed and lent any support they could through the trying times. And about a month ago, they received relief from their most recent trial. It was a major win for the family and an event definitely worth celebrating.
Psalm 34:19 tells us, “a righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.” Often, we hear about the troubles of those around us. We have prayer lists in our church bulletins and prayer requests from people we know. But how often do we hear how the Lord “delivers him from them all”? Not that we need confirmation for every prayer we send up, because we trust that the Lord is always faithful to answer our prayers. But sometimes it is nice to see that He is still in the miracle business!
During the Victory Celebration, the couple offered words of wisdom about the lessons learned during their trying times. I got a lot out of it, but one of the most important things I learned wasn’t just from what they said but what they demonstrated: When times are dark and the future is uncertain, we can reach out to loved ones, prayer partners, and even professional help—but when the clouds clear away and you are able to enjoy the light again, have them all join in as you GIVE GOD THE GLORY!
Matthew 6:6 tells me that when I pray in secret, the Lord will bless me openly—I’m inviting all those who prayed with me to join my Victory Celebration and share in the blessing!
JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST: Each week, notification is sent out to our valued readers, letting them know that a new blog has been posted. Don’t be left out—to become part of our circle of valued readers, send your email address to info@vocabllc.com. Just write ADD ME in the subject line.
I recently attended a wonderful affair hosted by a lovely married couple, friends of the family. It was a Victory Celebration—a thanksgiving for God’s goodness and awesome saving power. The attendees were friends and family members who have been witnesses to the couple’s testimony. It was an event unlike any other I’ve ever attended under circumstances that few of us would ever imagine. Let me explain…
Over the last several years, this family has been plagued by financial problems, job loss, even threat of criminal prosecution. They have faced devastation that many of us would shudder just thinking about. Yet through it all, they held to their faith in God and continued to weather each terrible storm together, with nothing but trust in the Lord to get them through. Family members and friends also prayed and lent any support they could through the trying times. And about a month ago, they received relief from their most recent trial. It was a major win for the family and an event definitely worth celebrating.
Psalm 34:19 tells us, “a righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.” Often, we hear about the troubles of those around us. We have prayer lists in our church bulletins and prayer requests from people we know. But how often do we hear how the Lord “delivers him from them all”? Not that we need confirmation for every prayer we send up, because we trust that the Lord is always faithful to answer our prayers. But sometimes it is nice to see that He is still in the miracle business!
During the Victory Celebration, the couple offered words of wisdom about the lessons learned during their trying times. I got a lot out of it, but one of the most important things I learned wasn’t just from what they said but what they demonstrated: When times are dark and the future is uncertain, we can reach out to loved ones, prayer partners, and even professional help—but when the clouds clear away and you are able to enjoy the light again, have them all join in as you GIVE GOD THE GLORY!
Matthew 6:6 tells me that when I pray in secret, the Lord will bless me openly—I’m inviting all those who prayed with me to join my Victory Celebration and share in the blessing!
JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST: Each week, notification is sent out to our valued readers, letting them know that a new blog has been posted. Don’t be left out—to become part of our circle of valued readers, send your email address to info@vocabllc.com. Just write ADD ME in the subject line.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
More Than a Feeling
Did you ever wake up and just feel like not doing anything? Maybe you were under the weather. Maybe you were tired from “overdoing it” the day before. Or maybe, you were just feeling a little down and out. The truth is, sometimes the way we feel dictates our actions. Thank goodness our salvation isn’t based on feelings!
As Christians, we may not always “feel” like doing things we know we should. We might not feel like reading our Bible on a daily basis. We may sit out a few Sundays from church because we don’t feel like going. We may even find ourselves entrenched in sin, because we simply don’t feel like doing the right thing. If it were left up to us, our feelings would eventually lead us into some very dark and dangerous places.
During His time on earth, Jesus had feelings. He became weary. He felt hunger and thirst. He even demonstrated feelings at the hearing of the death of a friend (“Jesus wept.”). However, His divine nature would not allow feelings to get in the way of His purpose. In the garden of Gethsemane, just prior to His crucifixion, Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39) Jesus demonstrated perfect submission—overcoming any personal feelings He may have had so that He could completely serve the will of God.
We should always follow Christ’s example and yield to the will of God. That’s because God’s grace saves us from the chaotic nature of our feelings. He cares for us even when we are careless with own lives. He watches over us, even when we take our eyes off of Him. He loves us even when we are unlovable.
I’m going to do my best to do His will—even when I don’t really “feel” like it!
As Christians, we may not always “feel” like doing things we know we should. We might not feel like reading our Bible on a daily basis. We may sit out a few Sundays from church because we don’t feel like going. We may even find ourselves entrenched in sin, because we simply don’t feel like doing the right thing. If it were left up to us, our feelings would eventually lead us into some very dark and dangerous places.
During His time on earth, Jesus had feelings. He became weary. He felt hunger and thirst. He even demonstrated feelings at the hearing of the death of a friend (“Jesus wept.”). However, His divine nature would not allow feelings to get in the way of His purpose. In the garden of Gethsemane, just prior to His crucifixion, Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39) Jesus demonstrated perfect submission—overcoming any personal feelings He may have had so that He could completely serve the will of God.
We should always follow Christ’s example and yield to the will of God. That’s because God’s grace saves us from the chaotic nature of our feelings. He cares for us even when we are careless with own lives. He watches over us, even when we take our eyes off of Him. He loves us even when we are unlovable.
I’m going to do my best to do His will—even when I don’t really “feel” like it!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Get Some Rest
“The city never sleeps.”
“We’re here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
“If you snooze, you lose.”
With so much business to attend to, personal interests to pursue, and the buzz of so much social energy, there seems to be hardly any time for rest. But taking time out is part of the natural order of things. Without rest, we find ourselves in an ongoing cycle that leads to becoming burnt out, sick, and just plain exhausted.
God created the world in six days. After putting forth all the energy and detail into creating the earth we live in, He took a seventh day to rest (Genesis 2:2-3). When leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, God directed His people to follow His example and set aside a Sabbath day for rest and worship (Exodus 20:8-11).
Today, the pressure is on. For many people, in order to be the best at what they do and get the things they want—or even just to keep up—means putting in extra hours and putting personal needs aside. This leads to a cycle of people working late, working weekends, and working themselves to death. Literally.
The saying, “I’m sick and tired,” is actually very revealing. Studies have proven that a lack of sleep can wear down the body’s immune system. The more tired you are, the more vulnerable you become to getting sick. Rest is essential to good health.
On another note…”the city that never sleeps” is also the city that has one of the highest crime rates. Ever wonder why residential neighborhoods with hardly any illicit activity are called, “sleepy towns”? Because when almost all of the residents are in bed at 9 p.m., there’s not a lot of criminal activity going on!
Rest is also important to our spiritual health. A weary mind gives way to low impulse control, leading us more susceptible to sin. And when we neglect to set aside time for worship, we not only disobey God’s ordinance to keep the Sabbath holy, but we don’t get the rejuvenation we need to stay spiritually refreshed.
I’m taking another look at the importance of rest in my life—and adjusting my schedule accordingly!
“We’re here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
“If you snooze, you lose.”
With so much business to attend to, personal interests to pursue, and the buzz of so much social energy, there seems to be hardly any time for rest. But taking time out is part of the natural order of things. Without rest, we find ourselves in an ongoing cycle that leads to becoming burnt out, sick, and just plain exhausted.
God created the world in six days. After putting forth all the energy and detail into creating the earth we live in, He took a seventh day to rest (Genesis 2:2-3). When leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, God directed His people to follow His example and set aside a Sabbath day for rest and worship (Exodus 20:8-11).
Today, the pressure is on. For many people, in order to be the best at what they do and get the things they want—or even just to keep up—means putting in extra hours and putting personal needs aside. This leads to a cycle of people working late, working weekends, and working themselves to death. Literally.
The saying, “I’m sick and tired,” is actually very revealing. Studies have proven that a lack of sleep can wear down the body’s immune system. The more tired you are, the more vulnerable you become to getting sick. Rest is essential to good health.
On another note…”the city that never sleeps” is also the city that has one of the highest crime rates. Ever wonder why residential neighborhoods with hardly any illicit activity are called, “sleepy towns”? Because when almost all of the residents are in bed at 9 p.m., there’s not a lot of criminal activity going on!
Rest is also important to our spiritual health. A weary mind gives way to low impulse control, leading us more susceptible to sin. And when we neglect to set aside time for worship, we not only disobey God’s ordinance to keep the Sabbath holy, but we don’t get the rejuvenation we need to stay spiritually refreshed.
I’m taking another look at the importance of rest in my life—and adjusting my schedule accordingly!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
What Would YOU Do?
You are walking down the street and you hear the sound of a baby’s cries coming from inside a locked car on a hot day…. You are shopping at a local store and you hear the cashier making derogatory comments to someone who is disabled…. You see someone who appears to be stealing a bike from the local park…. What would you do? A television show—armed with hidden cameras—seeks to answer that question.
It is so interesting to see human psychology at play while watching this program. What Would You Do, which airs on ABC, exposes the absolute worst and the very best of our natural response to various situations. And week after week, the program brings to life the parable of the Good Samaritan, found in Luke 10:25-37.
While almost all of us celebrate the humility of the man who would help someone in need—even going so far as to do it at his own personal expense—the fact is that many people have a hard time putting this into practice. And there are plenty of reasons, too. Sometimes, we are too caught up in our own lives and oblivious to the needs of others. Sometimes we are afraid for our own personal safety. And sometimes we just don’t know what to do.
A couple of years ago, the popular phrase, “What Would Jesus Do?” was everywhere. As Christians, the Spirit of Christ is in us. So what WE do should actually be a reflection of what HE would do. If the hidden cameras caught our response to any of the situations proposed by the program, would the Christ in us shine through?
What would you do?
It is so interesting to see human psychology at play while watching this program. What Would You Do, which airs on ABC, exposes the absolute worst and the very best of our natural response to various situations. And week after week, the program brings to life the parable of the Good Samaritan, found in Luke 10:25-37.
While almost all of us celebrate the humility of the man who would help someone in need—even going so far as to do it at his own personal expense—the fact is that many people have a hard time putting this into practice. And there are plenty of reasons, too. Sometimes, we are too caught up in our own lives and oblivious to the needs of others. Sometimes we are afraid for our own personal safety. And sometimes we just don’t know what to do.
A couple of years ago, the popular phrase, “What Would Jesus Do?” was everywhere. As Christians, the Spirit of Christ is in us. So what WE do should actually be a reflection of what HE would do. If the hidden cameras caught our response to any of the situations proposed by the program, would the Christ in us shine through?
What would you do?
Sunday, September 12, 2010
“Bring Another Race to Church Sunday”
Okay, so the idea was a bit heavy handed, but the pastor wasn’t completely off his rocker. Ministering to a large inner-city congregation, he wondered aloud why he didn’t see more diverse faces in the pews. Certainly the members had coworkers, neighbors, friends, and acquaintances of different backgrounds and nationalities. Why weren’t members of the congregation extending the invitation to their house of worship?
Truth be told, many of us attend racially and culturally segregated churches. Of course, there is a difference between de jure segregation (which is mandated by law) and de facto segregation (which happens by coincidence)—and I would believe that there are very few churches left in this country that would openly denounce the mixing of races in the pews. But in this day and age, having just one or two families in the church who don’t fit the congregation’s racial or cultural majority isn’t enough. A true multicultural worship experience still lacks in many churches.
One may cite language barriers, denominational differences, or simple fear of the unknown as factors that prevent more interracial worship. But as Christians, we need to simply get over it. It is concerning that there are more churches that are willing to travel abroad to reach people of different races than go into a local community to do the same. As the saying goes, “Charity begins at home.” Charity, by the way, is another word for Love.
The Great Commission is found in Matthew 28:19-20, where Jesus says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
In Christ, there should be no cultural fear, no racial hatred, and no ethnic discrimination. As the song goes, “When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!” I tend to believe that the rejoicing will take place among people of all nationalities, cultural backgrounds, languages and traditions. Why can’t we start here on earth?
I believe it’s important to fellowship with all Christians—including those who don’t look like me!
Truth be told, many of us attend racially and culturally segregated churches. Of course, there is a difference between de jure segregation (which is mandated by law) and de facto segregation (which happens by coincidence)—and I would believe that there are very few churches left in this country that would openly denounce the mixing of races in the pews. But in this day and age, having just one or two families in the church who don’t fit the congregation’s racial or cultural majority isn’t enough. A true multicultural worship experience still lacks in many churches.
One may cite language barriers, denominational differences, or simple fear of the unknown as factors that prevent more interracial worship. But as Christians, we need to simply get over it. It is concerning that there are more churches that are willing to travel abroad to reach people of different races than go into a local community to do the same. As the saying goes, “Charity begins at home.” Charity, by the way, is another word for Love.
The Great Commission is found in Matthew 28:19-20, where Jesus says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
In Christ, there should be no cultural fear, no racial hatred, and no ethnic discrimination. As the song goes, “When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!” I tend to believe that the rejoicing will take place among people of all nationalities, cultural backgrounds, languages and traditions. Why can’t we start here on earth?
I believe it’s important to fellowship with all Christians—including those who don’t look like me!
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