A Christ follower living in a secular world: The trouble with all Hallow's Eve

A Christ follower living in a secular world: The trouble with all Hallow's Eve: As we are at the end of October and people are celebrating this most unholy of events what is a Christian supposed to do? For our struggle...

The trouble with all Hallow's Eve

As we are at the end of October and people are celebrating this most unholy of events what is a Christian supposed to do?

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

As a believer I am convinced there is a spirit world. People dressing up as Zombies and Vampires all in the name of "fun" is not good. They hold mock seances and cast spells. They call on dark forces and often get very loose with their morals. The drink flows, the party goes into the wee hours of the morning, and for some it is a chance to do some random vandalism. It is one of the busiest(probably the busiest) times of the year for law enforcement along with the Fire Department. There is lots of violence and general debauchery. Firecrackers and fireworks getting lit continuously with little to no concern for safety. It is quite literally a glimpse of hell.

Then there is what this is teaching the children. I'm not a parent so I don't have to deal with that aspect of it but I feel sympathy for Christian parents. Do you banish your kids from all Halloween activities? I really don't have an answer to that. It would be easy to say yes of course but it seems kind of mean to not allow your daughter to dress up as a princess and get some candy from your neighbours. It is a dilemma. I guess it would have to depend on your situation but I think you have to embrace the good aspects but prepare for it with prayer and protection for you and your little ones.

Then there is the church, do they have a "family fun night" instead of a Halloween party with treats and bobbing for apples and the like. It is a great opportunity for outreach but should a Christian organization be taking advantage of an opportunity the Devil provided? At one time I would have said no but now I believe so. I don't hand out candy only because I don't have the location for it. If I did then I would. Candy really isn't good for you but sometimes you have to let kids be kids. As for having a costume themed party I don't have a problem with it so long as they are in good taste. Dress up as a sports hero, or cowboy or thousands of other non evil characters. There is nothing wrong with dressing up so long as it is appropriate.

So to believers out there I say measure your actions carefully. Don't fall into the Devils trap. To the nonbelievers I say think about what you are doing. Do you really want to be calling the dark forces out? If you do then expect to get what you ask for. A nasty hangover, some regrets and possibly a whole world of hurt.

I don't celebrate the day but I do pray over it.

God bless you and keep you safe!!

A Christ follower living in a secular world: Apology accepted?

A Christ follower living in a secular world: Apology accepted?: Did you ever notice that when you've done something wrong and apologized for it people will accept it. Or at least they say they do but late...

Apology accepted?

Did you ever notice that when you've done something wrong and apologized for it people will accept it. Or at least they say they do but later, when something totally unrelated happens, they bring up this previous incident as if it wasn't forgiven at all and you now have a new offense added to the list. Well of course you do, anyone who has lived in social situations, has had a situation like this. Unless you lived your whole life in a cave you have probably had situations like this. Likely you've played both roles. I know I have.

It's okay too, I'm only human and going through this process is how you learn. However, staying in that way of being is a lack of maturity. There is a difference between forgiving and forgetting. If someone has stolen from you it is good to forgive them. Holding a grudge isn't good for you and it really doesn't have much, if any, effect on the other person. That being said to put them in a position where they can steal from you again isn't wise. Unless they have showed a real change of character you shouldn't be leaving yourself vulnerable to the same thing being repeated.

Years ago I worked for a company and people I was responsible for made an error. I was held responsible for that error. I put new safeguards in place to prevent that from happening again. My crew did good work and I was praised for my/their efforts. I was forgiven for the error and life moved on. 2 years later another error occurred. Totally unrelated to the earlier blunder and when I was reprimanded for this the much earlier incident was brought up like it had just happened. Truth is it was never forgiven at all. I haven't work there in a long time now. I went to visit my old boss a couple of years back and he had now forgotten the incident but when I started talking about it in passing I could see the fire in his eyes glow. I went there to say hello but I realized I had to forgive him for his lack of forgiveness.

The bottom line on forgiveness is that it really isn't for the other person. The unforgiving heart is full of bitterness and may lead to seeking revenge in some way or another. Leading to an attitude of you against the world. Which turns the person into a pessimist where they don't trust anyone. Carrying the weight of other peoples stuff is a burden and if you add enough of that weight it will break you. Be free with forgiveness and you'll live in the light.

All that being said there is one who forgives and forgets all. Of course he knows what's in your heart when others can just guess. God is loving and forgiving. When you repent of your sin God will blot it out. Isaiah 43:25 reads..

 I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.

So you see, unlike humans, God is able to see the sincerity inside of us and can instantly forgive our transgressions. If God can forgive me for all I've done then I should be able to forgive the person who cuts me off in traffic or even the one who stole from me. Even without an apology but even more so with a sincere effort to make things better. So the next time you think about dragging old issues into a new issue think twice then drop it. Live in the present and let the past stay there.

Blessings, James

A Christ follower living in a secular world: You only get what you give.

A Christ follower living in a secular world: You only get what you give.: The title of the one and only hit from an obscure pop band called the New Radicals is very true. Generally people expect blessings without p...

You only get what you give.

The title of the one and only hit from an obscure pop band called the New Radicals is very true. Generally people expect blessings without putting in the effort but what they end up with is usually what they deserve. This of course is not always the case and at times people get undeserved windfalls or hardships but 99% of the time where you end up is exactly where you were aimed.

In recent times I have been working very diligently on my character defects. Every time I find an issue and start working to resolve it another issue starts becoming more obvious to me. I've been working on accepting authority and being as compliant as possible to those placed above me. It is working and I can see progress in that area. However, I like to think of myself as a thoughtful person but at times I can show a total lack of discretion with my tongue. I offer up my personal opinion on people and situations I have no right to be speaking on. Even after recognizing this earlier this week and realizing my need to change it I found myself doing this over and over again. I don't mean breaking a confidence. When people tell me things, deep personal things, I am very good at keeping that to myself. What I'm talking about is my judging of people I barely know. Using my God given talent of perceiving and wasting it. Tearing others down instead of building them up.

Now I speak positively about others for the most part but not always. So if I only get what I give then I can expect others to be judging me. Seeing a small portion of my personality and mocking it instead of holding back their personal take until they have more fact to base it on. I certainly don't like that prospect so I have to commit to deepening my commitment to hold my tongue. The book of James has many great teachings and in one of them he talks about the tongue....

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.  James 3:9-12

As you see, this is not a new issue for people. Apparently 2000 years ago people were battling this problem.

I resolve to be a spring of encouragement. Anyone I've ever met has had at least one good quality if I have got to know them good enough. I'm pretty good at getting along with people and finding the positives in people. I just want to focus my energies on those positives and concentrate on those. If someone asks me about somebody else I should only share what is uplifting about that person if I share anything at all. Perception becomes reality so putting positive vibes out their can reap a harvest of positive results.

So that is my task because you really do "get what you give" in life.

So I humbly suggest to you to be quick to listen but slow to speak(James 1:19). Measure your words carefully and thoughtfully. This I am continuing to learn and integrate into my life and I hope it is an encouragement to you also.

Blessings!

A Christ follower living in a secular world: Thanksgiving can more than just a day off.

A Christ follower living in a secular world: Thanksgiving can more than just a day off.: In Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving day in early October and in the US it is celebrated at the end of November. A lot of people consider it ...

Thanksgiving can be more than just a day off.

In Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving day in early October and in the US it is celebrated at the end of November. A lot of people consider it a time to eat and drink and be merry with family and friends. Which it is for a great many of us but it is a lot more than just that for me. In the days leading up to Thanksgiving I do a little reviewing of the previous year and look at where I am now versus a year ago. I set goals, mostly about character improvements but also social and financial goals too. Last year God placed it on my heart to be more content in my circumstances like what Paul talks about in Philippians 4:10-11...

...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

I used these verses as a model for me to meditate on and I did for quite some time over the last year. It is easy to grumble when you see others that you deem less deserving with more than you. It is easy to ponder why things are so unfair. It is oh so easy to feel sorry for yourself. It is harder to put that out of your head but with man what seems impossible God makes possible. To judge other people is wrong and I know that. It is good and proper to measure progress by looking into your own life. Where was I, where am I now and where am I trying to get to?

Well, looking back, my life is so much better now than it was. Better than a year ago, much better than 5 years ago, much much better than 10 years ago. I am not in need and not dwelling on what I don't have. I'm building relationships, working hard and saving for the future. I'm content and comfortable with who I am. I make mistakes and don't always do the right thing but I continue to learn and strive for better. The truth is there are no failures but only opportunities for growth.

Now saying I have achieved the goal of contentment would be rather naive but I have attained a level that previously seemed unlikely at best. I will continue to strive for a deeper level but, moving forward, I am turning my major focus on a new goal that God has impressed upon me. Accepting the decisions of authority. It is easy to accept directives when you are in total agreement with them. The fair and just decisions(in my opinion) made by those above me are easy to follow. When decisions are made that I don't agree with is where I find difficulty. It is okay to discuss alternatives with the decision maker but at the end of the day I must accept their decision. Not just accept it but take it without any blustering of childishness. Sometimes people make decisions without much thought of the big picture but it is not my cross to bear. Frankly it is not worth me getting upset over. Other than anything that is immoral or illegal my goal is to be the best servant I can be. I'm not just talking about vocationally but also socially, in my Church, in my Family and in any of my daily affairs. This is what Paul was talking about in many of the letters to the 7 Churches including this from Ephesians 6:5-7 ...

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. ⁶ Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. ⁷Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,


So Thanksgiving has come and gone for another year. For me everyday is Thanksgiving, a blessing and an opportunity. In fact Thanksgiving is much more than a day but a way of life. May it be for you also!

God bless you, James