November 1 Thoughts

     "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in him." ( 1 John 2:15) Last night North Americans celebrated Halloween. As a young boy i did too. Once i was a cowboy, and another time i was a pirate and i reveled in the hoard of candy that i received, which i could have one per day per parental instruction until it was finished. Many decades later this holiday is adamantly pagan. Everything is witches or werewolves or whatever. Many employees dress up in costume, and supposedly it is the third best time for retailers. The whole thing is demonic, and the only one laughing is the devil. How can any true follower of Jesus Christ celebrate this?
     "For all that is in the world- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life- is not of the Father but is of the world." ( 1 John 2:16) The night before the Boston Red Sox baseball team won their third world championship of the past decade. As a child i was decidedly unathletic, but i collected baseball cards, memorized the statistics and was as avid a fan as anyone. This continued into my thirties when I believe that God showed me that all of this was just another species of idolatry- something that i was giving my time, energy, money and affection to that was not of Him but of the world. What eternal difference does it make who wins any sports championship in any given year? And isn't there an empty feeling once the season concludes?
     "And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." (1 John 2:17 NKJV) I am rejoicing to learn that two brothers with young families whom i know that live on the west coast have submitted their lives to a spiritual father for accountability and instruction.
     A widely circulated note given to allegedly obese children who came trick or treating urging their parents to moderate the children's intake of sweets causes me to wonder whether the author works for the government. When a nation abandons God something or someone must take His place in our hearts.