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Hi everyone! I hope you’re having a great week. It’s nice to see a little sun this morning, and to enjoy the ongoing fall colors even as we near the end of October. 

There were lots of colors to enjoy as I drove the side streets on the way to drop Diane off for work today. There were some other rather odd sights on people’s lawns and houses along the way, too. One moment, it was red and yellow leaves dancing and shining brightly; the next moment, it was skeleton hands poking out of the ground next to styrofoam tombstones, skeletons hanging from trees, and giant inflatable witches floating around broomsticks sticking out of the ground. What an odd combination!

I suspect that these sights must seem especially weird for those who have newly arrived in Canada. What on earth happened to those nice Canadian neighbors who seem so normal for the rest of the year? Suddenly, for a few weeks, dads are out with their little kids, spreading fake cobwebs between the tree branches, and putting up some of the ugliest decorations imaginable around the yard. What’s going on? And how does all this stuff turn into Christmas cheer so quickly, a few days later?

For those who are new both to Canada and to the church, it must seem even weirder to learn that some of these practices actually grew out of ancient traditions developed by church-going people. Read up on the history of Halloween and we find that it began, at least in part, with the All-Saints Day festival celebrating men and women who were martyred for their faith, that it was tied to belief in purgatory and the conviction that Christians should pray for their dead relatives’ deliverance, and to other half-Christian-and-half-pagan practices to ward off evil spirits and to do spiritual battle with the devil. How very odd indeed! And what a vivid reminder to make sure that our teaching and practice are well-grounded in Scripture. Careless traditions that dance a little too closely with popular superstition can turn into something very un-Christian over time.

Now I should say that, though I think this is an important caution, my intention this morning is not to write a long criticism of this or that Halloween activity. Read a little on the history of Halloween and you quickly discover that today’s practices grow out of many very different historical roots, some better and some worse. And of course, people’s celebrations and intentions on October 31 vary widely. For everyone who takes the occasion to dabble in dark spirituality or to get into mischief under cover of night, there’s a family that is just trying to have a little fun with their kids and friends. Nothing wrong with that—our family found ways to have fun on Halloween too.

To me, the lesson that hits home as I drive past all those neighborhood ghost displays is the reminder that our minds set the direction for our lives. Over and over, the Bible tells us to be transformed “by the renewing of our minds,” and to think on “whatever things are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, reputable, virtuous, and praiseworthy”! I’m not scared by a skeleton in someone’s yard, but I do find myself wondering where my neighbor’s thoughts are focused. When they think about spiritual things, do they focus on what is good and life-giving, or on what is dark and unhelpful? (Did you know that according to the National Retail Federation, Americans spend more than $10 billion a year on Halloween stuff each year? What does that say about where a typical American’s interests lie?)

I hope the families in our neighborhoods have a lot of fun tomorrow evening. I hope that they keep the fun clean and constructive, and safe. I pray that those who have darker intentions will have their plans rearranged. Most of all, I pray that the Christians in our communities will be a great example of setting our minds on things that are good and right and helpful, modeling the belief that it’s more fun to celebrate what is bright and beautiful than things that are dark. May we point our neighbors toward what is true, honorable, and right.

Well, that was a heavy reflection, wasn’t it? I guess that’s what happens when you spend time driving by rows of foam coffins and flying black cats. It’s all good—Jesus is still on the throne!

On other fronts, this Sunday we’ll be back in Colossians. We’ll finish Paul’s (very long) introduction to the letter, looking at his comments about his own ministry in 1:23b through 2:5. It’s a thought-provoking passage, and worth reading ahead of time. If you want to get the full effect as we close off this introductory section, you might consider doing a quick read-through starting at 1:1 and continuing to 2:5.

Also, a quick reminder: this is the week that Daylight Savings Time ends and we “fall back” an hour. So, we all get an extra hour to sleep, eat a leisurely breakfast, or whatever you wish. It’s OK to come to church an hour early, too, if you want, but the music will start at the adjusted time.

Meanwhile, have a wonderful weekend. May you be blessed with a sense of the presence of the holy and good Spirit of God.

—Pastor Ken