What Would You Give Up?

What in the world would you give up to be closer to Jesus?

Today is Halloween.  It will mark the 18^th consecutive year that we have not participated in Halloween with our kids.  They have never trick or treated.  They have never dressed up for Halloween, nor have they ever been to a Halloween party.

Guess what?  That doesn’t necessarily make me closer to Jesus?

Would I hold to that again if I was starting now as a parent?  I don’t know.  We may have been a bit over-protective or legalistic regarding Halloween.  I have been asked by some if I didn’t think I deprived my kids by not letting them “do” Halloween.  My answer?  No, no really.

Jesus told Peter and Andrew and James and John to follow Him and He would make them fishers of men.  They dropped their  nets, gave up their careers and vocations to follow Him.  They turned their backs on what the world offered, instead looking to what Jesus offered.  They gave up the world to follow Jesus.

Jesus told a rich, young ruler to sell everything, give it away and follow Him.  Jesus sadly watched him walk away, unwilling to part with what he had.  He couldn’t give up the world.

There are other cases that could be examined.  And that’s the rub.  We can justify sticking with what we want or like by saying that we are “in the world, but not of the world.”  The problem is that, too often, we used those words to justify some behavior and  have a salve for our conscience handy.

Our problem is not that we are deprived from the world.  I have never, to my knowledge, ever had that problem.  My problem has always been that I have given in to the world too easily.

Would I let my kid do Halloween if I had it to do over again?  That is probably the wrong question.  The better question might be how I would do things differently so that we would follow Jesus stronger than we do.

Ultimately, that’s the bigger question for all of us, isn’t it?

What in the world would you give up to be closer to Jesus?

Something About Halloween

(Google Images)

What should I write about Halloween?  I can go a couple of ways.  I can either be adamantly opposed to it or I can write about participating in Harvest Festivals and Hallelujah Nights.  I could even mention Judgment Houses.  Judgment Houses are a nice alternative to Haunted Houses, right?  Corn Mazes are popular, so I could write about them.  Which way am I supposed to go in my post today?

How about I tell you that my children have never trick or treated?  We made that decision before we had children.  Would I do it again?  I can’t really answer that.  I can’t say that I regret it.  Someone once asked my daughter if she felt deprived for not ever “doing” Halloween.  I think her answer was wise.  She said, “I can’t really miss something that I never had.”  If my children decide to do Halloween with their children, I won’t be upset or mad.  That is for them and their spouses to decide together before the Lord.  If they feel liberty to do so, then I will be satisfied with that.

All of that really isn’t the main thrust of what I want to talk about today.  Halloween has recently become the official start to “The Holidays”.  That in itself will anger some folks.  There are people who are snarling their noses at the very thought of Halloween.  They will say that it’s the devils holiday.  Not me.

I was inspired by something I read this week.

What if we decided to make the entire Halloween experience an opportunity to love others and give life to others.  Or maybe a better way to put it, what if we give Life as best we can during this experience?

I don’t know what that means for you.  I don’t know even really know what it means for me.  All I know is that I am looking at this day differently than I have in the past.  I hope that you will too.

Can we take Halloween back for the Lord?  How would you do that?

The Black Jersey

I don’t usually write a full-fledged post on Saturday anymore, but today I am.

Two years ago today, Tennessee played South Carolina on Halloween night.   The previous week, UT has suffered a heartbreaking loss at Alabama after having a last chance field goal attempt blocked.  After a week of speculation, Tennessee came out wearing black jerseys.  While I’m sure the players would have been excited to play anyway, the black jerseys seemed to give the players an extra spark and excitement.  Tennessee ended up dominating the game and winning.
This week against South Carolina, Tennessee will be starting a new, freshman quarterback, Justin Worley.  After losing starting quarterback Tyler Bray, Matt Simms had come in to play the position.  Simms has tried the best he could for two years now, but he simply cannot perform at the level needed to be successful in the SEC.  So, while this year Tennessee will not be wearing black jerseys, they will have a black jersey this year.  Justin Worley is the black jersey.

I say all of that not really thinking about football today.  I say all of that to ask you (and me) a question.

What’s your black jersey?

Let’s face it.  We all need an extra spark from time to time.  We all get into a rut.  We all go into a slump.  Physically.  Emotionally.  Spiritually.

What is sparking you in your life?  What change do you need to make to take you to another level, to get you off the plateau?

Maybe you need to go feed the homeless.  Maybe you need to go on a mission trip.  Maybe you need a new bible study plan.  I don’t know exactly what you need.

I do know one thing.

Sometimes you need a black jersey.