Goulish Gluttony

There are many articles floating around about the Halloween pros and cons. I have posted a few links to such articles as well as some of my own thoughts here and here and here. Mars Hill posted a great article about Halloween here. It is packed full of historical information but the most helpful part of the article is the last paragraph. It says,

Lastly, for parents, don’t forget that gluttony is a sin. Be careful not to force your kids to learn this the hard way: lying on an altar of plastic wrap and tin-foil, holding their bulbous stomachs. If you participate in Halloween, it might be the perfect time to introduce the concept of moderation.

There may be pros and cons about celebrating Halloween but there aren't any pros to the evil of gluttony. This is quite overlooked in our obese nation.

Hey kids, here is a tip from Uncle Vince - don't eat too much candy and get fat. Thanks.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween IS evil

If you need proof that Halloween is, in fact, an evil holiday - here you go.
*Due to the graphic nature of the photographs below, viewer discretion is advised.

Yummy

Comments on Halloween Article

After reading this I have decided to post my comments about the previously quoted article. Tim Challies says,

"I do not foresee [Halloween] as a time when the people coming to your door are likely to be saved. But I do think it is a time that you can prove to your neighbors that you care about them, that you care about their children, and that you are glad to be in this world and this culture, even if you are not of this world or this culture."

This is an area of failure for many of us. We think "if it does not directly lead to an evangelistic presentation then it is not worthwhile." That's wrong. It may be a time to prove to our neighbors something we should have been proving all year - that we care about them and want to build relationships with them. I wonder how Paul would have treated Halloween. I wonder if he would have turned off his lights and retreated to the local harvest party. What say ye?

Thanks Joel

Dear Dave,
Do you still love me?
Sincerely
Joel Zumaya

I love you Dave!

Why do you say such hurtful things? Dave, are we breaking up?

Here we go again.

Here is an excerpt from an article about Halloween. It is a great article and it would be worth your time to read the entire article at Challies Dot Com.
(To be fair, I made a comment about a section of the quote here on 10.26.2006).

The truth is that I have several convictions regarding Halloween. I despise the pagan aspects of it. I am convicted that my children should not dress as little devils or ghosts or monsters. But I am also convicted that there could be no worse witness to the neighbours than having a dark house, especially in a neighbourhood like ours which is small and where every person and every home is highly-visible. We know that, if we choose not to participate, the neighbors will notice and will smile knowingly, supposing that we feel too good to participate. We have nothing to fear from our neighbours or from their children. So my children will dress up (my son as a police officer and my daughter as a princess) and we will visit each of our neighbours, knocking on their doors and accepting their fistfuls of candy. Either my wife or I will remain at home, greeting people at our door with a smile and a handful of something tasty. If the kids are deemed too old to trick-or-treat, they'll be forced to sing a song to merit any handouts. Our door will be open and the light will be on. And we trust that the Light will shine brightly.

My encouragement to you today is to think and pray about this issue. I do not see Halloween as a great evangelistic occasion. I do not foresee it as a time when the people coming to your door are likely to be saved. But I do think it is a time that you can prove to your neighbors that you care about them, that you care about their children, and that you are glad to be in this world and this culture, even if you are not of this world or this culture. Halloween may serve as a bridge to the hearts of those who live around you who so desperately need a Savior.

The Cheesiest!

I've started a new blog. Enter at your own risk but comment if you enter.

300,000,000

"At 7:46 (ET) Tuesday morning, the United States became a nation of 300 million people, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated. Fueled by an estimated net gain of one person every 11 seconds..." (read full story)

If my math is correct that is a "net gain" of 7854.54 persons every day. I wonder if that .54 of a child has a difficult time in Jr. High.

The Hitchin'

Last Saturday (October 7th), Holly lost her Black-ness and became a Phillips. It was a beautiful wedding! They will be making their way to Nearly, Canada this week. We look forward to being with them soon.

Rob & Holly Phillips (10.7.2006)

Asher & Aunt Holly


Other Black People

The men of the wedding

Voddie Baucham

Desiring God posted excerpts from the 2006 National Conference. Here is an audio clip of Voddie Baucham. It is just over 3 minutes in length and well worth those minutes.

The Supremacy of Christ In Education

Wedding Update

Everyone who needed to say "I do" said "I do." More details later.

Phillips/Black - 10.7.2006

Desiring God Conference Audio

Justin Taylor has just posted links to all of the audio from the 2006 Desiring God National Conference here. The "Conversation with the Pastors" and "Speaker Panel Q & A" links are quite helpful. These are well worth the listen and they are FREE.

You Supply the Caption - #1