A Tribute to the students at Sandy Hook

What you are about to read is an email that is circulating around schools in Ohio. My brother, a teacher at Tallmadge, passed it on to me. It is worth passing on! May we continually look for ways to share the true hope to a lost world!

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When I arrived at school  this morning an Instructional Assistant here at WPS, had put the following poem on my desk. It was definitely great timing on her part, for me to  read it this morning before our Staff Christmas Breakfast. As a staff, we then prayed for the families and our colleagues in Connecticut.  I wanted to pass the poem on to you as you leave for Christmas vacation. As we each enjoy our families and celebrate Jesus' birth, let's also remember that some are mourning and pray for them. The poem was written by Cameo Smith who lives in Penn.

twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38

when  20 beautiful  children stormed through heaven's gate.

their smiles  were contagious their laughter filled the air.

they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.

they were filed with such joy they didn't know what to say

they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.

"where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.

"this is heaven." declared a small boy  "we're spending Christmas at God's house."

when what to their wondering eyes did appear,

but Jesus, their Savior, the children gathered hear.

He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.

then He opened His arms and He called them by name.

and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring.

those children all flew into the arms of their King

and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,

one small  girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.

and as if He could read all the questions she had

He gently whispered to her, I'll take care of mom and dad."

then He looked down on earth, the world far below

He saw all  of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe

then He  closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,

"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"

"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"

"I'm taking back my nation.  I'm taking back my schools!"

then He and the children stood up without a sound.

"come now my children, let me show you around.
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.

all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.

and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,

"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

I know there are grammatical and punctuation errors, but perhaps the author intended it to be that way in light of the fact that 6 and 7 year olds would have written a poem this way. I consciously did not make the corrections. 

May each of you have a Very Merry Christmas as you celebrate Jesus' birth with your family and friends.

 Karen

Principal

Woodridge Primary School

A Very Mayan Christmas?!

“The End is Near!” Well at least that is what the doom and gloom headlines are reporting as Friday, December 21, 2012 draws near. If you haven’t been paying attention to the latest media craze and the hype that has been building for a couple of years now, you maybe asking what is so significant about Friday?

According to some ancient Mayan calendar, the world will end on Friday, or at least that is one argument. Others simply agree that they ran out of space on the stone circle in which it is engraved. Regardless, they myth has been circulated, the movies have been made and many people are scared that the world will end on Friday.

I was talking to a young Christian teen that grew up in a Christian home and attended church all her life. She told me all her friends were getting “freaked out about Friday!” I asked her how she responded to her friends and she said “I don’t know, just I hope the world doesn’t end, because I want to celebrate Christmas.”

What is or response to the fears and speculations of our world? 1 Peter 3:15 says we need to always be ready with an answer of the hope that is in us! The fear of the end of the world presents a perfect opportunity for us to share with others the Hope we have in Jesus Christ. Its almost perfect that it falls on this time of year as we celebrate the First Coming of Jesus we can point others to His Second Coming!

In light of all the speculations, how should we respond? We need to remember that the Bible speaks clearly that a time will come when people will gravitate to such ridiculous stories (2 Timothy 4:2-4). We saw this with Y2K and Harold Camping. Jesus told us that we will have trials in this world but we shouldn’t be fearful because He has overcome (John 16:33; Matthew 28:18-20).

Though the Bible speaks about many things concerning the end times, two things are very clear. The first, is that Jesus is going to return for us (Acts 1:7). He will return to rescue His people, to set all things right and to make all things new! Secondly, no one knows the timing of His return except the Father (Mark 13:32). When people start speculating you can walk away with confidence knowing what the Word of God tells us. Don’t fall prey to the superstitions of the world, but run to the Scriptures and trust the Word of God.

Remember the message of Christmas, that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1-3, 14). It is He who gave us His Word that we might have life (John 10:10) and this is the message that we want to share with the world. So in light of the Mayan Calendar scare, share the good news that Jesus Christ is coming again! It is this truth that should lead us to live a life that is obedient to His Word and draw others to Him (Matthew 5:16).

May you have a Merry Christmas!

The Voice of Ramah Echoes Again

“A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

(Matthew 2:18 ESV)

Catching a glimpse of today’s headline brought a chill down my spine. I have read and reread several articles in disbelief. My heart breaks for the families of that school in Connecticut who woke up thinking this would be like any other day and sent their child off to school, only find that they will never see their child alive again. I cannot comprehend the grief and pain that they must feel at their loss and how overwhelming this must seem. Or the questions they will live with forever all because of one man’s malicious actions.

What would possess a person to go into a school and shoot children? The answer to this question will never be known in full. The media will jump to psychological disorders and need for medication. Some will quickly turn this into political gun control discussions. Yet they will miss the heart of the issue. As Pastor Mark Driscoll said, “’Evil’ and ‘demonic’ are words we have to keep in our vocabulary.” What was done today is purely evil and rests in the sin sick heart of the attacker.

No amount of medicine or political maneuvering will rescue us from the reality of sin in this world. When our first parents, Adam and Eve, first chose themselves over obedience to God, their selfish act brought sin and to all of us (Romans 5:12). My heart is broken for this young man that he has been swept into eternity not knowing the true hope and forgiveness that Jesus can bring.

I find myself also thinking “why this time of the year?” This is the Christmas season. It is supposed to be filled with expectations of hope and joy. We are supposed to be celebrating with our friends and family the baby born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. Yet these families will forever look at Christmas time as a reminder of when their child was ripped from their arms.

Taking a moment to read the Christmas story in the book of Matthew shows that tragedy and suffering were just as much a part of that story as they are to today’s headlines. In Chapter 2 we see an evil and demonic man, king Herod, killing dozens to hundreds of babies. To which Matthew quotes Jeremiah’s prophecy “Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”  

This is the world Jesus entered. A world where wicked men will slay the young for their own evil intent. This is a world that would be utterly hopeless if left on its own. Yet God didn’t leave us alone, He sent His Son, Jesus, to come to our rescue! “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10 ESV).

The beauty of the Christmas story is not freedom from trials and adversity, but the promise that Christ has overcome sin! Jesus said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 ESV). One day Jesus will do away with sin and evil and make all things new (Revelation 21:5).

Until then, He has left to us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:8). That means as ambassadors for Christ, we need to live in such a way that demonstrates the hope and forgiveness of Jesus. We need to take the Gospel to the streets. We need to celebrate the Christ of Christmas in a way that reflects the Jesus of the Bible. We need to passionately plead and pray to God for these families and others like them around the world. We need to put hands and feet to the Gospel and care for these families. We need to love our families and see that every day is a gift from God and not to take them for granted. We cannot allow anger and bitterness to reign in our hearts, but must ask God for the strength to forgive. Remembering always that God has forgiven us so much.

Looking back to the prophet Jeremiah we see the hope that we do have in our God as we live a life of faith.  When He finally makes things right, “Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow” (Jeremiah 31:13 ESV).

Today as our hearts are broken and spirits are sick at seeing the heinous display of sin and the voice of Ramah echoes once again in our streets, may we remember that God has not sat idly by as a spectator. No He jumped into the melee of this world to provide a way for us to be reconciled to Him. He has given us hope and His promise that all will be made right one day. Until then, let us be comforted in His Word and encourage one another to stay faithful to it.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV).

It's All In The Title

"It is certain that man must utterly despair of his own ability before he is prepared to receive the grace of Christ."

 - Martin Luther

I just saw this quote on Facebook, posted by, my good friend and former youth group member, Matt Vargo. Just wanted to say thanks to Matt for the quote! It reminded me that I want to share with you why I called my blog “Limitations meet Lofty Thoughts.” 

There are three parts to my title: "Limitations," "Lofty," and "Lofty Thoughts."

Part 1: The aforementioned quote gets at the heart of my meaning of “Limitations.” This is a reminder to me every time I read it of my own inability to comprehend God, my own sinfulness and my desperate need of a Savior. It is a reminder to me of Paul’s words “as such were some of you,” when he referenced the list of sins. It is a reminder to me to look back before looking forward. It’s admitting that I limited and need to look to Jesus for hope.

Part 2: Lofty is a play on words for me. My youth group is called Loft. It initially began as a reference to “The Room Upstairs Where the Youth Group Meets” or TRUSWTYGM as per David Keiper. Since TRUSWTYGM is too hard to say, we called it “Loft.” Recently Abby Reichenbach has recommended that it refer to “Living Our Faith Together,” which I really like. But Lofty is to remind me of my youth group. Putting part 1 and 2 together it’s a reminder to me that on my own I don’t deserve to be what I am, but that being the youth pastor of this group is a true gift from God!

Part 3: “Lofty Thoughts” is my reference to the Word of God. This blog is the results of my wrestling with my own limitations as I learn to conform to the Word of God. Many of the thoughts have been developed in working with my youth group and teaching them. Sometimes they will be the over flow of lesson prep and other times just the random things God lays on my heart.

So there you have it! I am deeply humbled that you would read my blog, but I hope you find it encouraging and helpful. As with my teaching and preaching, so to my blog will only be of value as it is submitted to the authority of the Word of God. May it ever point to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

4 X 1

With great joy, expectation and anticipation Advent Season has come. I love this time of year as the Holidays bring refreshing time with family and friends. There are meals with our favorite foods, special church services, Christmas music playing everywhere that proclaims Christ to the nations. I love Christmas time!

Yet I am also very much conflicted in this time of the year. Maybe you are too. Do you ever look at the world you live in and wonder “what is going on?” As a local radio talk show host says frequently, “I am living in a world I don’t understand!” I think it was two weeks before Thanksgiving when all the stores I went to had their Christmas line out and the music was playing. I would like to think they are in the Christmas spirit, but truth be told, they are in the money making spirit.

I feel like I am getting sucked in the vortex of commercialism and cannot escape it. I look around and see materialism overtaking the culture. Christmas becomes less about Jesus each year and more about “what I can get.”

I was asked recently by a youth pastor friend of mine “would children be scarred if they didn’t get a Christmas gift?” As a single guy with no kids, my response was easy “nope.” But my friends with kids were slower to respond. Not that I am saying to get rid of gift giving for Christmas, but I think gifts become the object of worship and Jesus takes a back seat.

Why do we give gifts at Christmas? Some respond that it is because the three wisemen gave gifts to Jesus. Others say its because of God’s gift of Jesus to us. Whether it was one of these or both, there is a good beginning to the tradition. The wisemen sacrificially gave to worship the Savior. God gave sacrificially to a rebellious alienated people in order that they may be reconciled to Him. We give out of love of our families in honor or Jesus…or do we?

For the past several years I have been thinking about this over and over. I am deeply saddened and convicted because each year I recognize the desire in my own heart to bow down at the alter of materialism instead of kneeling at the manger. I look for ways each year to help me see the Christ in Christmas and not just a slogan. I try to avoid getting caught up in what I am going to get and see more what can I give to better others around me.

This year I began the “4 Gospels in 1 Month” challenge. I wanted to spend extra time in the Nativity Narrative, but decided that what Christmas is about is the first Advent of Jesus, that is, His first coming. It’s not just about the cradle but also the perfect life of Christ, the rejection of Jesus, the substitutionary atonement Jesus paid on the Cross and His resurrection. So with 3 chapters a day, I am reacquainting myself with my Savior. Straight through Matthew, Mark, Luke and then John. This Christmas I want to spend more time with Jesus, I want to love Jesus more and I pray that I have opportunity to give Jesus to others. I want Christmas to be about Christ.

They Speak of Jesus

In a recent sermon I was enthralled again by the truth that the Old Testament was given to point us to Jesus. It was great having a conversation with a lady after who was so amazed at how there is this thread in the Scriptures that ties it all together in the person of Jesus. We should read the Bible and be amazed at the Divine Authorship that leads us to a loving, merciful, forgiving Savior!

Today I want to link to Pastor Mark sharing these very thoughts. I think you will be encouraged by this video. Consider the end "Here is how you know you are understanding the Bible is...you love Jesus, you love Jesus. His salvation leads to your celebration. If you open the Bible and you end up somewhere else, you took a wrong turn. The whole Bible is about Jesus." Amen!

How He Loves Us

Oh how much we have to be thankful for. Check out this video sermon jam. David Crowder singing "How He Loves Us" and pastors Matt Chandler and John Piper describing God's great love!

In Other News...

Opening up the Internet browser to my home page to see the “top stories” around our world today for this Thanksgiving week bring some very interesting and revealing truths about our society. Here are just a few of the headlines: “Official: Israel, Hamas reach agreement,” “Taylor Swift tweaks her long blond hair,” “Most notorious political sex scandals,” “Expiration date for Twinkies extended.”

And we all wait with baited breath to see what might pop up next, right? I mean seriously people, only one of these so called “Top Stories” are really important, maybe two depending on the spin the writer puts on it. The bombing in Israel should all have us praying for peace in the Middle East. The closing of Hostess saddens me, not because I would be missing Twinkies, but because many people lost jobs in an already horrible economy. But the rest of the headlines show that more people today are concerned with celebrities and scandals then real news. And that my friend is tragic.

However, the headlines do not diminish my joy as I prepare for this Thanksgiving week. I have so much to be thankful for and I hope you do too. I am thankful that I live in a country that I don’t have to worry about rockets being hurled across our borders constantly. I am thankful that my family and I have meaningful employment and are not fearing the closing of our work place. I am thankful that my parents just celebrated their 42 year of faithful, loving marriage. I am thankful I have hair to tweak if I so choose, haha. (Nothing against bald people for “bald is beautiful!”)

Most of all I am thankful that God is still on the throne of Heaven, ruling with His loving kindness toward mankind, continually making provisions for us to know Him through Jesus Christ.

“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Psalm 107:1 ESV)

“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100 ESV)

In the early first century, there was a term for the top stories, the headline news to be declared to the people, specifically dealing with the emperor, or king. Whenever the king was on the move or made a decree there would be headlines released all over with the “top story” title “euangelion,” that is “good-news” or “gospel!” It was news that was worthy of all in the empire to hear.

When the Apostles wrote the books of the New Testament, they recognized the truth that the King has come and they announced the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the Good News of the King of kings and Lord of lords, that forgiveness of sins and peace with God is available through the finished work of Jesus Christ!

No longer do we have to wait in lines at a Temple for a sacrifice to temporarily cover our sins. No! We have a perfect High Priest who offered His own blood on the cross for our sins, once and for all. Now that is good news!

Therefore, this Thanksgiving and everyday, I am thankful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! For His great love that he has showed us through his tremendous sacrifice for us. Do you know Him? The offer still stands today and will for all eternity.

I pray that this Thanksgiving you know the hope and peace that only Jesus can provide and you can share that with those you love. Only in knowing Christ can you fully appreciate the abundance of God’s mercy!

            “In Jesus we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ…”(Ephesians 1:7-9 ESV)

In Every Culture it’s still Relevant

Have you ever been on a missions trip? Taking a trip for the cause of Christ is very powerful and opens your eyes to the needs, both spiritual and physical, of this world. As a fifteen year old, I had the privilege of going with Teen Missions Int’l to Ireland for the summer. On that trip, our leaders had us read for 30 minutes a day from a collection of Christian books they brought. I chose two books that I still highly recommend: “Bruchko” and “Peace Child.”

Today, I want to link a video that I was made aware of through the Desiring God blog. This video is a follow up to the book “Peace Child.” The Richardson have the opportunity to go back to the village of the Sawi people 50 years after they first took the Gospel to these people. What a powerful testimony of how the Gospel transcends culture and is absolutely relevant! 

Never the Same from Pioneers-USA on Vimeo.

Seek to be faithful in the ministry Jesus has called you to and just imagine what the celebration might be like 50 years from now!

We Have This Hope on Election Day 2012

With the passing of Election Day there is much to be thankful for. At the time of this writing I have no idea who has won this election, and yet I am thankful. I am thankful because it doesn’t matter to me who wins. True, I am biased and I hope the guy I voted for wins, but when it comes down to it, I know that a higher power than American politics is at work.

The Prophet Daniel wrote many years ago:

            “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter.” (Daniel 2:20-23 ESV)

These verses capture my heart every time I am tempted to worry about what happens. If you listen to the political pundits or talk radio, they will try to convince you that if their guy doesn’t win, it is the end of America as we know it. Yet this passage tells me that just as the seasons change according to the will of God, so also does political powers. That whoever wins ultimately is being placed there by God to accomplish His purposes, which are far beyond our understanding.

The government we have is a gift from God to teach us to continually rely upon Him. Too often we get caught up in the fear of our politics. We worry that one person will get to much power and then we will all suffer. Jesus spoke to the political ruler Pontius Pilate and reminded him that the power he has is only because God granted it to him (John 19:11).

No we are not to fear American politics, but we are to fear God. Don’t fear the government who can only take away your freedoms, money and even your life, but fear God who controls the destiny of your soul (Matthew 10:28). We should have confidence in what God is doing, knowing that His plan will come to fruition. “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” (Job 42:2 ESV)

Sure I did my part, I got up early and went to my designated polling station. This year that was fun, because I was assigned to my old Elementary School that I haven’t been to in years, but that is another story. I cast my vote according to my convictions and went about my day. I share this because I want you to know that I believe God has a plan, but I also believe He gives us the responsibility to faithful carry out our duties in obedience to Him.

So this Election Day, instead of bowing to the altar of American politics, lets get on our knees before the King of kings and the Lord of lords in worship. Trust that He is working things out according to His plan. Seek to walk in obedience to His revealed plan and trust that the Holy Spirit will guide you in all your decisions.

         

   “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

(Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV)

A "Snap Shot" to believe in...

I was just asked to write a brief testimony about coming to faith as a child. I hope this post is both a blessing to you and an encouragement to share the Gospel with children, you never know what kind of impact you can have on their life.

It was August of 1980 and I was three years old. The details of that day are sketchy in my mind, but a few things seem to be clear in my mind, like a snapshot: it was a sunny afternoon, I was sitting on the back stoop with my mom under the cherry tree, and it was a day to do yard work. Now thanks to my mom taking good notes in my baby journal I know a few more things that went on that day. I began to ask my mom questions about God. One that she wrote down, that I find hilarious today, went like this “mom, are there two Jesuses?” Then mom asked what I meant and I responded “one up there (pointing to the sky) and one down there (pointing to the ground)?” It was at this point my mom shared the Gospel with me and I received Jesus as my Savior.

Why do I believe that I was truly saved that day? Well another note mom wrote was that as she finished sharing the Gospel, I bowed my head and began praying on my own accord to receive Jesus. The excitement that ensued concerning my new faith was evidenced in the way I began sharing Christ with my friends. Even one time I trapped my friend up the tree and told him “Jesus loves you!” (Just a note, this is not a witnessing technique I recommend, haha)

A lot has changed since those early days when I first received Jesus. In my teenage and adult years, sometimes the enemy has tried to get me to doubt how sincere a young child can be. It is at those times I am so thankful that my parents believed that children can understand the Gospel. I have seen the notes that mom wrote about my life changing and I have seen the work of Christ in my life ever since. I believe God has given me the “snapshot” in my head about that sunny day with mom under the tree and I rejoice in His faithfulness.

Today I am a youth pastor with a theological education. Part of me laughs at myself when I see the funny questions I asked as a child, but I also stand in awe of a God that chose to reveal Himself to a little child many years ago. God placed a question on my heart then that continues to be a question that I grow in each and every day, “who is Jesus?” Truly, this is a question that we need to answer even as the disciples where confronted with this question in Matthew 8:23-27. Jesus calms the storms of the raging sea and they ask, “what manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” Who is this man that controls the storms? Who is this man that lived a perfect life? Who is this man that was willing to show His love for us by dying on a tree? Who is this man that claimed power over death and rose from the grave? Who is this man that intercedes for us in the throne room of heaven? His name is Jesus, my Lord and Savior!

That is it; daily we must confront our belief about who Jesus is! One day, as I was pursuing a theological education in seminary, I read a verse that changed the trajectory of my life. It’s a simple verse, but a verse that brought me back to the faith I had as a child. This verse was John 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Somewhere along the road, I had thought God wanted me to be a super smart theologian, with all the right answers and who writes a lot of books. But as I sat in my dorm room, this verse broke my heart (in a good way) and has been the foundation of my ministry ever since. True life, eternal life, is knowing Jesus. It is developing a relationship with, spending time with and talking to Jesus. Like when we spend times with a best friend, before we know it we start dressing a like, talking alike and thinking alike. This isn’t just factual information; this is a living relationship with the Son of God. From that first day in August of 1980 to today, I need to grow in a deeper knowledge of Jesus and spend time with Him in His Word, and by His grace, I will.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

(Philippians 1:6)

Halloween and Holy Living

Halloween is a holiday obsessed with death. It is filled with zombies, mummies and demons. There are many questions about its beginnings, some point back to ancient Roman pagans, others to ancient Celtic practices, and others to early Christian superstitions. Though the beginnings maybe unclear, what is clear is our cultural perception of it. A holiday that is dedicated to scary, horror saturated fun! Though there are costumes of witches, warlocks, werewolves and demons these are less spiritual confessions then commercial marketing. Our materialistic culture has stripped the holiday from its roots to the point that if you were to ask the average person in our community “what is Halloween truly about?” the responses would be varied but have one thing in common…they wouldn’t have to do with some Satanic worship experience. No, mostly it would be about parties, fun and candy.

So what am I to do with Halloween as a Christian? To understand this, first I must ask you a question; what is your belief about Jesus’ place in culture? Do you believe Jesus is against culture and therefore you must defy culture at every opportunity? Do you believe He is in culture and therefore you are free to participate in cultural activities? Or do you believe Christ is over culture and therefore you must redeem culture?

We see in Colossians 1:18 that Jesus is “preeminent” in everything. As a believer we must see Christ at the center of everything, we must change our perspective to align with His reality.

Halloween is a materialistic holiday obsessed with death. How do we see Christ over this Holiday in a redeeming fashion? We preach the Gospel! The Bible is full of stories that use God’s power over death to point us to Jesus. The Bible deals extensively with death. The human predicament is that we will all die, and Halloween can be looked at a way that we try to dismiss the reality by dressing it up in costume. Yet we are not left on our own to answer these tough questions. God has given us the answers in the Bible.

Halloween reveals a passion and desire in mankind that desires the superstitious, the fantastic and unexplainable. We often think that these myths and legends belong to the pagans and we should leave them alone. Have you read the Bible? Wow, God understands this, or as I believe, we desire these things because of how He has written on our hearts a desire for Him. He has placed in His Word story after story that draw us in and point us to Him.

Halloween is a time where we can deal with those weird passages of the Bible that we may not fully understand or see how they fit in. The stories of the “Nehphelim” or the “witch of Endor” certainly seem seasonably appropriate. Or how about the story of those who came to life at the crucifixion in Matthew 27? Wow that is weird! Yet what does it teach us? God has power over death! As believers we have this hope that Christ rose from the dead and therefore we look forward to a future resurrection.

We shouldn’t get caught up in the silly controversies that often arise with this holiday; instead we should look for ways to communicate the Gospel to our culture in a way that makes Jesus look appealing!

Does running a campaign against “jack-o-lanterns” make Jesus look glorious or petty? Does closing your doors on “beggar’s night” make Jesus look glorious or stingy? Does passing out Bibles or tracts but no candy draw people to the Word or make them feel ripped off? We know that the Word of God, the Gospel Message, is more to be desired then gold, let alone a Snicker bar, but the culture doesn’t realize this.

Let’s use Halloween as a way to show that Jesus is truly Lord over all. That we serve a loving and kind God who is abundant in mercy and generous. Let’s show how God doesn’t get caught up in the trivial, but has sent us out on a mission to live out His message. Maybe if we stop arguing and protesting over the stupid and mundane, and start living out the Gospel in our life then the culture around us will “see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven!”