Halloween – Do we have to?

It’s Halloween, and the kids will be out tonight to done their costumes and stock pile hordes of candy that they will never finish eating (and we’ll eat too much of!). I did it as a kid to, and my boys enjoy dressing up to go up and down the street and then to see Grandma and Pop Pop. However, as I’ve grown older I just can’t get into this holiday. Give me guitars, a good beat, and worship music any day and I’ll take it over the ghost, ghouls, costumes, and even the candy. Halloween may have fun at its heart for many people, but it just doesn’t focus on “whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable.” (Philippians 4:

Pray for Prop. 8 (California)

I caught a snibbit of the Focus on the Family radio show this afternoon at lunch. Dr. Dobson was speaking to Pastor Jim Garlow of Skyline Church in San Diego in regards to Proposition 8, the initiative measure on the California ballot for this year’s election. In short, this is a vote on the validity of gay marriage. A vote of “yes” would amend the California State Constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. A vote of “no” would affirm the State Supreme Court’s July 2008 decision upholding the State Constitution’s current gender neutral language and allow same-sex couples to continue to wed.

Without getting into the issue on the ballot (at least not at this time,) I wanted to relate some of what Pastor Garlow said (Focus on the Family has the audio feed on their website.) There has apparently been significant aggression against those who support this ballot initiative – lots of signs supporting the amendment being stolen, pastors’ cars being keyed, car windows smashed, etc.

Obviously this is an emotionally charged issue and that always increases the risk for violence on either side. But it is disturbing to hear of an election being preceded by violence in this country. I encourage you to pray for the vote on this initiative. Pray that the voters and leaders on both sides of this issue will be kept safe, and pray we as a country will be able to disagree without the need for violence to support our position!

Proverbs 16:4a – “The Lord works out everything for His own ends…”