Celebrating Evil?

"And this is the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."  John 3:19

As a kid I enjoyed Halloween, not for the costume dressing up part, but for the candy part.  My friends and I would sprint from house to house to get as much candy as we could.  I can still picture the pile of candy on the kitchen table that I would joyfully sort through.
I have always known that the holiday was about ghosts and witches and vampires, but never really focused on the evil.  Even after becoming a Christian I didn't think on the dark side of Halloween, I just sort of ignored it.  As parents we would usually take our kids out to dinner and a movie and let the day just pass by.
As the days we live in have gotten darker I have had a harder time with Halloween.  I guess it still doesn't bother me if you carve a pumpkin or dress up the kids and get candy.  My struggle comes with the idea of celebrating evil or making light of darkness, as if it were cute.  There is nothing worth celebrating in real evil, and nothing cute about true darkness.  Our Jesus died to destroy evil, He was crucified to rid us of darkness, and we should never ever take that lightly.
So have fun carve a pumpkin and get some candy, but as you do that, stop and remember the great sacrifice of our God.  Let this day be a day of remembrance of the hope we have in Jesus, for because of His cross the day will soon come when evil and darkness will be banished forever!

True Power

"Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one, like a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, like a flood of mighty waters overflowing, who will bring them down to the earth with His hand."  Isaiah 28:2 

I heard a television commentator describing the importance of our upcoming election.  He said that the candidates were battling to see who would hold the most powerful office in the world.  He wasn't making a huge exaggeration, we all understand that the President of the United States is a powerful position.
Amazingly a week before this historic election, our east coast, including Washington D.C., is bracing to be pounded by hurricane Sandy.  This huge storm being nicknamed Franken-storm, is 700 miles wide and packing powerful winds and rain.  The biggest fear seems to be the storm surge which is predicted to be 8 to 10 feet.
Think about it, at a time when our nation is fixed upon the election of a man who will hold tremendous power, we are all being reminded of true power, and who holds that power.  I don't think the timing of Franken-storm is an accident, I believe the Lord is once again reminding us to get our focus off of man and back on Him.
Let's remember to be praying for those who will be affected by this powerful storm.  And let us also be praying that the church and our nation will repent, awaken, and turn to our God, who holds all power.