Why Celebrate Halloween?

Ghosts, goblins, witches, zombies and other things that go “bump in the night,” those are the things that define Halloween. Children in costumes ranging from favorite characters to ghosts and witches also define, but my question is “why celebrate?” For most of my adult life I have vacillated on this question, often returning to the same answer, I don’t celebrate. I have to ask in this world full of terrorism, Ebola, genocide and such, do we escape reality by glorifying death and hell? Maybe people don’t believe in ghosts, witches, hell, the devil and demons; but if you don’t believe in those things, why spend so much time and money in portraying them? Or maybe people do and this is their way of laughing in the face of something so real.

Over the years I've made no excuses for my Christian faith, but please don’t discount me as being a religious zealot about this, hear me out. I simply do not understand the fun in being scared or glorifying “the underworld” and death If someone wants to dress up on a costume, fine. A costume party would be fun to attend If someone wants to give candy out, great; I love good chocolate But, why are these two activities associated with ghosts, goblins, witches, zombies, ax murderers, and stalkers…etc.? Is there not enough darkness in the world?

As I said earlier, I'm not trying to come across as a religious zealot, I just don't understand the attraction to this “celebration.” As always, it's my opinion and that and $2.50 will get you a pumpkin coffee. Stay safe out there.

Dump picking

There is a running joke in my family and close friends concerning dump picking. Whenever someone asks me “where did you get that?” Inevitably, it will be followed with “no wait let me guess, the dump?” The transfer station for my town is wonderful, they have a “swap shop” where people bring used clothing, dishes, books, computer supplies, sports equipment...etc. Items that are no longer of use to them. A couple of week's ago I stumbled upon a LL Bean down vest in perfect condition, my coffee press is from there, as is a queen size air mattress that holds air better than any other I have paid full price for. Absolutely amazing, one man's trash is another man's treasure!

Back before recycling centers and swap shops, my father was a notorious “dump picker.” If something happened to catch his eye, he might actually dig for it. I can almost hear my mother's voice, as he returned home, saying “Donald, what did you pick up now?” The Internet is filled with pictures and articles about making trash into functional, useful products.

Yet the whole idea of dump picking is nothing new. Using what most consider trash and worthless for a new purpose is an idea older than the Bible. GOD had Nehemiah use the burnt, worthless stones to rebuild the walls of the temple. Nehemiah's opposition scoffed at him saying: “...Do they actually think think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap- and charred ones at that?” (Nehemiah 4:2B, NLT) Prostitutes, adulterers, liars, cheats, people with physical disabilities and mental disorders, are all part of the foundation of the Christian church.

More and more people talk about how their lives are “in the dumper” or someone's life is “trashed.” Economic ruin, marital unrest, problems with children, isolation, depression, anxiety, substance abuse...etc. You name it, it happens regardless of the depth of one's personal faith, regardless of church affiliation or upbringing. Oh we all gasp in surprise when we learn of a fellow believer stumbling, some may even wag their heads and cluck their tongues, but life does not get easier the older you get. Many resign themselves to living as a piece of trash, believing they are worthless or so fallen from grace they can never be used again. I'm going to step out on a limb here and say even those people who have a “positive, optimistic” outlook on redemption and grace struggle with feeling like a piece of worthless trash when they've fallen short or hit a hard pothole in life.

But Jesus is the original dump picker, the original dumpster diver. Psalm 139: 7-8 (NASB) “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.” I really like what Calvin wrote in his commentaries about this Psalm “....God is not confined to heaven, indulging in a state of repose, and indifferent to human concerns, ….. and that however far off we may be from him, he is never far off from us.” (http://biblehub.com/commentaries/calvin/psalms/139.htm)

If I were to summarize this I would simply say, no matter how stale, moldy, stinky, or covered in “gunk” you are, you are not beyond the reach of the ultimate dump picker. Many years ago I wrote a song called “Don't give up on me,” which speaks to the idea of God making us into HIS image. I want to end this post with the last verse; a promise from me to anyone who finds themselves in the dumpster of life.

“... I won't give up on you, until He's through working on your heart. For now we see with human eyes, when will we realize He sees us as we will be.” (The Truth, Simple Truth 1997)

A daily dance

It never fails that when I go to get out of the car, my purse strap tangles on the gear shift or gets caught on the seat lever. When I use my earphones, even though I have carefully wound them so as to undo easily the next time, they get tangled.

This is the third attempt at writing this post, which started as “the persistence of Life.”  I had begun by reflecting on the scripture in Job “Yet man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward.”  Job 5:7. Seems like the older I get the truer this rings. It’s the little things that make me sigh; making me feel, “old and tired.” I have difficulties keeping a positive attitude on a daily basis. I don’t know about you, but I have to remind myself to look for the good. I have to spend much time in prayer, throughout the day to keep a modicum of godly perspective. I’m not given to daily piety as in having a set “quiet time” in the morning; LORD knows I have tried, but this particular discipline has escaped me all these many years.  I even tried doing an evening quiet time, but that waned. My life in Christ is more of a daily dance with changing rhythms and a running conversation.  

Almost three years ago I wrote a post called “Radically Thankful.” (This & $2.50 – November 2011) In that post I wrote about being thankful when I was stuck in traffic, because I had a place to go; had to wait in the line at the store, because I was healthy enough to be out in public and money to buy things; when I burnt my fingers with hot water, because I had oil in the tank and a furnace that worked. I’m not there yet (being radically thankful), for certain.

Where I am at, is being okay with dancing daily on a moment by moment basis, carrying on the conversation my beloved dance partner. It’s pretty easy to be self-condemning when I fall short of the mark and stumble, however life’s not meant to be perfect, a fact I have to remind myself of - I am a work in progress. So long as I don’t let go of my beloved’s hand or end the conversation I can continue to dance through the sparks.

 One last thought, another scripture I am fond of is Matthew 6:34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” I attended a wedding many years ago that had a live band at the reception. The father of the groom was an excellent dancer and asked if I would dance, little did I foresee what would happen when I accepted.  The dance began very orderly; we went back & forth across the floor as I learned how to follow his lead. A slight pressure to one hand told me a change of direction; a subtle turn of his body told me a change of step. We began to move in unison, at which time the band caught on and began to change the tempo. The movements became faster and more complex, I had to focus on the cues to remain on my feet as we spun and reeled across the floor, I could no longer focus on what was coming next.  Little did I know when I accepted the call of Christ on my life the tempo would change as we danced in closer unison. 

Life is a dance and some days are fox trots while others are slow, closely held dances. Whatever dance you are dancing, hold tight to your beloved’s hand, hear what HE says, don’t think about what’s coming and dance through the sparks for that is what you were born for.

God must have known – October 2010

Written in 2010, I felt compelled to post this here tonight. I don't know who may need to hear this word, but I pray it reaches you where you are. Sometimes a simple unconscious uttering can reveal a great deal about our thoughts and true beliefs. I can't remember what was happening at this point in my life, but obviously something was "brewing." Blessings to you, whoever and wherever you are.

“God must have known” I needed what happened today. I got very good news that made me happy. I received two compliments on two separate pieces of work. “God must have known” I say…but wait, what am I saying…OF COURSE GOD KNEW! I have to stop and wonder, why am I saying that, do I believe that God is surprised by something or would NOT know what I needed?

This simple turn of phrase is something that many people, people of faith use when describing something good that has happened to them. Do we not believe Jeremiah when God says “the thoughts that I think toward you,... thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end”? (Jer. 29:11) Throughout this past week I was able to believe that God had a sense of humor and irony, but I’ll admit I had difficulty believing HE had thoughts of good toward me, giving me a future and a hope. Why is that? What do I question about God’s nature and love toward me that makes it hard for me to believe HE did not see what was coming?

Although I am looking through a glass dimly, I am able to acknowledge that God is not finished completing what HE is working in me through this job. I can see that there are others that he wishes to bless through me, when I am ready to admit that and release the baggage I carry. I am beginning to see that HE has used the consternation of the past week to raise to the surface of my consciousness, my need to believe that HE is working all things for my good (Rom. 8:28); that HE thinks good thoughts toward me and has a bright future, but most of all that “HE knows the way that I take and when HE has tried me I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)

I am challenged by the realization that I did not fully rely on God this week. Although it is understandable, I will own up to the fact that I wallowed in self-pity and disappointment for a bit too long. I cannot always change the way I feel, but I can always change the way I allow myself to think.

Father, I acknowledge my lack of faith in Your goodness toward me. I ask for forgiveness for not taking my thoughts captive, but allowing myself to dwell on the negative and entertaining thoughts and feelings of inadequacy and despair. I ask for forgiveness for wanting to whine and gain the pity of others for the challenge you set ahead of me. I thank you that you love me enough to place challenges ahead of me that raise my consciousness of Your will and Your plan for me. And I thank you for placing me, where I am with the promise that I have been brought to the kingdom for such a time as this.

John 6:9

John 6:9: “There is a lad here, which hath 5 barley loaves, and 2 small fishes: but what are they among so many?” 

Barley loaves and Anchovies, food of the poor. Yet, Jesus chose this seemingly insignificant boy, with seemingly insignificant food to perform a miracle noted in all four of the gospel accounts. Over the past few years I've written a blog called “This and $2.50”; using it as a forum to write about things that have struck me, it's full of random thoughts and musings. But over the past year I have become increasingly burdened with the thought of needing a place to share my more “spiritual”, scriptural writing. I have had people ask about the stories behind the songs I've written: the reason, the impetus, the deeper meanings and the scripture references. I have megabytes of writings about scriptures that have “hit” me while reading or hearing a sermon; thoughts that don't make into a song. I have desired a place to be able to share this information with others without going so far as to publish a book, so here it is... A sister blog to “This and $2.50” called “5 & 2”.

The name is based on John 6:9 (posted above.) Many years ago, I heard a sermon on this scripture, and the point that stuck with me all these many years is “God delights to use the insignificant.” I don't consider myself a great theologian, not even a mediocre one; I don't know Hebrew or Greek. The writing you will find here are those of a seemingly insignificant person bringing barley loaves and anchovies to the Master in hopes HE can use something of mine to feed others. It will be clearly Christian; scripture based and Christ centered. I am a “Trinitarian,” believing fully in the God Head Three in One. I say all of this now, so those who read my following posts will understand where I am coming from, and what I believe. I also believe in freedom of choice and informed choice, so here is the information... you are free to take it or leave it. You may not agree with everything I write, which is fine for we are all pilgrims sojourning in a foreign land.  All I would ask is for you to respectfully consider these writings, the heart from which they come and to whom they are offered (Jesus Christ, my LORD.)

In closing I want to turn the mirror away from me and ask you to look at this scripture. Do you consider your life insignificant? Do you feel all you have to offer the Master is 5 small barley loaves and 2 anchovies? I'm certain the little lad did not set out that morning with the thought “I bet my lunch is going to be a miracle remembered down through history”, he just wanted to see and hear Jesus. I'm pretty certain he did not have a plan to feed 4 thousand, but that is exactly what Jesus did with the little boy's willingness to give. “For God delights to use the insignificant; the little things that make up our lives. And though your life may be full of ordinary, God will make a miracle.” (J. E. – an unfinished song.) You just never know what Jesus will do with your seeming insignificance.