http://www.kingstreet.org/index.php/blog en katherina@kingstreet.org Copyright 2010 2010-07-01T06:56:25+00:00 http://www.kingstreet.org/main/relationships_are_the_spice_of_life/ http://www.kingstreet.org/main/relationships_are_the_spice_of_life/#When:07:56:25Z         I was “kidnapped” last night. In the spirit of celebrating my birthday, some good friends blindfolded me and took me to my new favourite Thai restaurant and then served a delicious dessert at a picnic on the beach. As I sat at the beach and looked around, I couldn’t help but be filled with appreciation for such an incredible group of friends: some of whom I had known for years and some who I had only recently gotten to know. They had all taken time out of their increasingly busy schedules to plan and attend this celebration. Being the recipient of such sacrifice and love, I could not be more blessed. As human beings, relationships play a very significant role in our lives, and this birthday experience for me was a perfect example as to why they should.         As I write this, high school students are reveling in the new-found freedom of being finished school, and middle schoolers are counting down the minutes to the final bell announcing that summer has officially begun. With the warmer weather comes the emergence of people who have been hibernating for the past several months and the start of spontaneous soccer and baseball games. The barbecues come out of hiding and the smell of campfires and freshly paved driveways fills the air.         I am a big fan of summer for a number of reasons. I love the warm weather, the sunny days, and afternoons cooled with summer rain. Most of all, I love how people seem to become more relaxed as the temperature rises. Summer is a great time to celebrate and appreciate one another. Now you can invite people over for a backyard cookout without having to worry about how clean your house is or how to keep all the kids occupied. With the arrival of summer comes the opportunity to build relationships with others. It is a proven fact that people who regularly socialize with others live longer than those who mostly keep to themselves. We were created to be relational.         You might be thinking, “Sure, I have my summer, but I kind of just want to take this time for myself and my family.” Great - do that! But also try and take the opportunity to connect both with the people you already share a relationship with and those whom you have yet to get to know. Take advantage of the opportunity to invite your neighbours over for a barbecue or a backyard bonfire. Offer to assist in coaching the soccer team your kids play on. Arrange a family fun day at the beach with a couple of other families. Meet a friend for coffee in the evening or afternoon. Get some friends or a few families together and help clean up the beach or the park for a few hours. You can even volunteer at some of the community initiatives happening at King this summer, such as the $1.00 car wash, Vacation Day Camp, or Summer Camp. Sit out on your deck, join a local running club, join a sport’s team, or plan to join a small group.         The first step to getting connected is intentionally getting involved. Take that first step and get to know those around you. The great thing about relationships is that more often than not, you get back what you put in. The more you invest in others, the more your own life will be enriched.         If you are thinking that you don’t have time, consider the “unnecesseties of life” that can be cut in order to make room for healthy, strong relationships with others. Consider using Facebook or texting as a way to initiate a connecting point, but then go beyond the technology and meet that person for coffee or invite them and their family over for dinner. There is something to be said about meeting with others in person rather than in a virtual realm. As theology professor Howard Hendricks says, “you can impress people from a distance, but you can only impact them up close.” Make the time, take the time, and you won’t be disappointed. Go ahead and allow yourself to be “kidnapped” this summer and surround yourself with friends who can help you grow and who can grow with you. Make time to build and invest in relationships this summer and I guarantee you will be glad you did! 2010-07-01T07:56:25+00:00 http://www.kingstreet.org/main/three_cheers_for_canadian_healthcare/ http://www.kingstreet.org/main/three_cheers_for_canadian_healthcare/#When:07:00:33Z Several weeks ago my younger son was feeling very ill and, since it was on the weekend, we decided to bring him into emergency. The pediatrician who was on call that evening carefully observed and tested my son and decided to send us home without any medication. To our surprise, two days later that same doctor phoned our home to see how our son was doing. He mentioned that he kept thinking about our son and thought he would give us a call. He did in fact proceed to prescribe some effective medication that quickly helped our son recover. My wife and I were amazed! This doctor, who only met us once felt the need to phone us to see how we were doing. With all the patients he cares for, he stopped and made time to personally care for my family. In that very moment, my wife and I thanked the Lord for doctors like this and a medical system like the one we have in Canada. Yes, there may be times where unfortunate things happen in our medical system. Yes, the long line-ups and waiting lists can be a problem – but let’s face it, as Canadians we have one of the best health care systems in the world! Let’s make it a point to thank and be grateful towards the health care workers that we all come in contact with. Health care workers include doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and the list goes on and on. Always remember that they are ordinary people like ourselves who deal with grief and stresses on a regular basis. This is exactly why on Sunday, June 6th our church here on King Street is hosting a Health Care Workers Appreciation Day! We plan on honoring and expressing our appreciation to all those who work in the health care sector. Three Cheers for Canadian Health Care workers!  2010-06-01T07:00:33+00:00 http://www.kingstreet.org/main/thank_god_for_our_moms/ http://www.kingstreet.org/main/thank_god_for_our_moms/#When:04:35:12Z We all have a special place in our hearts for our moms! Growing up, it was always my mom who knew me the best, spoiled me constantly, put up with my adolescent attitudes, gave me counsel when I was stuck, and nurtured me the way a mother could only do. Whenever I was sick, my mom was always there with a cup of Chicken noodle soap. If I needed help with a school assignment, my mom was quick to jump in and offer support. When I was stressed out about finances during Post-secondary, my mom was always there to calm the nerves. My mom has been a special person in my life. But moms aren’t perfect… although my moms pretty close! Moms do occasionally mess up and say the wrong things. They might get on your nerves or embarrass you in front of your friends. Moms might even give poor advice at times and cause frustration. But one thing is often very true of moms… their selfless! Moms always tend to put the needs of others (especially their family) before their own. They have such a caring way about them; a way that should be honoured and celebrated on a regular basis. In fact, the Bible gives us clear instructions to make it a regular practice to honour our mothers. Exodus 20:12 says “Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” There seems to be a connection between honouring our parents and living a long life. Those who choose to honour their parents, even if their parents haven’t been the ideal parents, position themselves to receive the blessing of life. And whether your mother has been excellent, mediocre, or absent, God invites you to make a life long commitment to honour your mom and prefer her knowing that your life will be so much richer and fulfilled by doing so… So don’t forget to thank God for your Mom on a regular basis. Tell your mom how much they mean to you and how they have impacted and influenced your life. Tell your mom that you appreciate her and that you recognize her selflessness. Be the kind of person that takes every opportunity you have to honour your mom and bless her, because she’s spent a lifetime blessing you. Yours to honouring and preferring Mothers, Pastor Josh 2010-05-01T04:35:12+00:00 http://www.kingstreet.org/main/why_resurrection_matters/ http://www.kingstreet.org/main/why_resurrection_matters/#When:05:04:08Z It has often been said that the resurrection of Christ is one of the central truths of the gospel message; the key to the Christian faith. It is a belief that the majority of the current culture adopts as their own and deserves to be explored by both those who would call themselves followers of Christ and even those who may assume the title ‘questioners of Christ’.  However, before we proceed with a deeper exploration as to why the resurrection matters so much to such a predominant faith group, I believe a look at another cornerstone in the Christian faith is crucial. The suffering and death of Christ preempts the idea of resurrection and begs a second, third, and hundredth look.  God on a cross. The ultimate act of creative compassion. The Creator being sacrificed for the creation. God convincing man once and for all that he would give anything to pay the price to save his children. He could have given up. He could have turned his back. He could have walked away from the wretched mess the world became, but he didn’t. God didn’t give up on us. Jesus’ prayer on the cross was about you. His pain on the cross was for you. His passion that brought him there, was you. Before he went to the cross, Jesus went to the garden. And when he spoke with his Father, you were in his prayers. As Jesus looked into heaven, you were in his vision. As Jesus dreamed of the day when we will be where he is, he saw you there... After laying in the grave for three days, the body of Christ was raised from the dead; an occurrence deemed in any culture - modern or ancient - as spectacular, even miraculous. What is even more miraculous about this resurrection is that it was predicted, long before Jesus ever took on human form, through various prophecies throughout the Older Testament and foretold by Jesus himself, prior to his trial and death.  The resurrection of Christ affirmed the centre-point, or ‘crux’ of the Christian faith – legitimizing Jesus’ repeated claim to be the Son of God. However, the question may remain, ‘What does the resurrection of Jesus Christ mean for me to today?’ For one, if we believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead then we also believe that Jesus is who he claimed to be. In John 11:25, Jesus tells a mourning Martha and Mary that, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who lives in me and believes in me will never die”. The resurrection of Christ also means that Jesus did what he promised to do. Author and speaker, Max Lucado, comments: “Jesus’ death was not a tragic surprise. Calvary was not a knee-jerk response to a world plummeting toward destruction. It was not a patch-up job or a stopgap measure. The death and resurrection of the Son of God was anything but an unexpected happening. No, it was part of an incredible plan. A calculated choice” (“The Cross”, 28).  Christ knew all along what lay in store for him; what extreme hardships he would succumb to and what great triumphs he would conquer.  By Christ rising from the dead, it meant that Jesus had the power he claimed to have. No other ‘human’ or mortal less than God could have raised himself from the dead or have predicted his own death and resurrection. His resurrection was the climax of his miraculous capabilities. Upon death, he took on him the faults and evils previously deemed ‘unforgivable’ and forgave them. Upon resurrection, he made a way for our faith, not our works, to be enough. Colossians 2:14 says, “He [Jesus] cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it on the cross” (NLT).  The resurrection matters because it means that Jesus is alive and fully present to offer guidance, comfort and wisdom with all of life’s decisions. On our own, it is impossible to handle all that life sends, but God can handle it if we offer control of our lives to him. He then returns it, with a brand new perspective. The death and resurrection of Christ allowed for believers to be met with the Spirit of Jesus, who provides hope in hopeless times, grace in times of unforgiveness, comfort in times of struggle and strength in seasons of weakness. The resurrection matters because, through Christ’s sacrifice and eternal life, our future can now be secure. Because of his resurrection, we can be certain of our own resurrection. The promise of an eternal life (heaven) is offered to all who choose to believe that Christ Jesus is who he said is and accepts the unmerited forgiveness, grace, and love that he offers.  Why does resurrection matter, you ask? Because without it, our lives would end with the grave. No hope. No redemption. No everlasting love of a Father God.  Why does resurrection matter? Because, regardless of our behavior, despite our sins, no matter how bad we are, we can have that undeniable hope of an eternal residence with the One who took it all away. That is why there was a cross. That is why there was a sacrifice. That is why there was a resurrection. And that is why it matters.  2010-04-01T05:04:08+00:00 http://www.kingstreet.org/main/morality_and_following_jesus/ http://www.kingstreet.org/main/morality_and_following_jesus/#When:13:55:10Z It’s been said that all of life’s important lessons are learned, in some shape or form, before the age of 10 and I don’t think that’s too far-fetched. Now, I’m not saying that we stop learning when a certain hormone flush is introduced to our pre-pubescent selves, but I am saying that, as a child, I was taught that it’s important for me to eat everything on my plate. Everything. Even squash. The problem wasn’t that I couldn’t hear my parents’ words. “Dave, it’s good for you, buddy. Here, let me ‘doctor it up’ for you a bit.” (...which just meant there would be more butter and salt added and squished around in the same hard-to-swallow veggie-mush.) No, the problem wasn’t that my parents neglected to inform me of its goodness, the problem was … well, I didn’t want to. I didn’t care if it was good for me! It was a vegetable! Blech! Okay, let’s be honest here. We’ve all had moments in our lives when preference has interfered with our health. Can you imagine if my parents just said, “Alright bud, that’s fine. If you don’t like vegetables, you can just eat what you like best. Hmm, my very strong preference for Macaroni and Cheese would have seen me grow into a very malnourished, very orange young man. Thankfully, my parents understood that long-term health (and avoidance of potential pigment-alteration), is the result of healthy short-term eating decisions. As a follower of Christ, healthy short-term decisions involve more than just my body. And, more importantly, these decisions are either for or against Christ. (This may seem very black-and-white at this point, but follow me here and we’ll talk about the ‘grey’ in a second.) The life of a Christ follower is not something fragmented that I can pick and choose at; buffet style. It’s something I swallow whole, I deny my self, take up my cross and follow him (Mark 8:34). There’s no space for preference here. If I select which parts of scripture I adhere to and practice and neglect others, I’m not denying myself and I’m certainly not picking up my cross. Notice, it’s ‘my’ cross – there are going to be things that I struggle with doing, that my friend does not, but that doesn’t change the fact that we’re both called to participate fully in a lifestyle of complete devotion to our Savior and the shedding of all that would hinder following him. When we decide to live our lives for Christ, we decide to become walking, talking sacrifices (Rom. 12:1). We willfully give up the right to buy into cultural relativism and just ‘opt in and out’ as we see fit. That’s the way ‘everyone’ does it. But as Christians, we don’t have it better, we have it ‘more’ – a full and whole life (John 10:10). We give ourselves over to the only one that we can trust ourselves fully to – a God who will do nothing but watch out for our best interests. Now, here’s the ‘grey’ area, and I’m going to use food as an example again … (can you tell I haven’t eaten dinner yet?). Morally, I may not take issue with eating meat. But if I’m having a vegetarian friend over for dinner, and they believe that killing animals for our consumption is a direct affront to God, well … I’ll serve a delicious salad so that I don’t put my buddy in an awkward position. It’s not that I share his sentiment regarding animals, but I do share in his intentions to honor Christ. So I honor God by honoring my friend. (If you’re looking for more on this topic, the apostle Paul expands on this in chapter 14 of his letter to the Romans.) It’s the full and whole life, where morality and ethics are beautifully tangled up in how we treat those around us and how we live for God. Now, I think it’s time for some food! And I don’t know exactly what I’ll have just yet, but something feels very right about having some vegetables in the mix. 2010-03-01T13:55:10+00:00 http://www.kingstreet.org/main/why_marriage_beats_cohabitation/ http://www.kingstreet.org/main/why_marriage_beats_cohabitation/#When:08:00:02Z One of the great myths of our day is that couples who want to be certain of compatibility can find confirmation by living together. In many ways it is an ‘experiment’ or ‘test drive’ to see if a specific partner is marriage material. There is no question that it is important to be sure and to avoid mistakes with such an important decision, yet I see this as one of the great myths of our culture as poll after poll confirms the chances of divorce are higher when couples have chosen to cohabit before deciding to be married (see article here). It is an astonishing statistic, but it’s the truth. From a Christian perspective, God desires that sexual relations be experienced by a man and a woman who have committed themselves in Holy Matrimony. Sexual relations outside marriage, including sex prior to marriage, are explicitly forbidden in Scripture (Acts 15:20; 1 Cor. 6:9,13,18; Gal. 5:19; Eph. 5:3; Col. 3:5; 1 Thess.4:3). Why this boundary? Because sexual relationships before marriage damage the fulfillment of God’s purposes in marriage. We need to remember that sex was, and is God’s idea; that sex is not a ‘dirty’ word, but a beautiful gift that is to be experienced between a husband and a wife to deepen the bond of a fully committed relationship. The primary purpose in marriage is oneness – mutual fulfillment, exclusive loyalty, and intimate identity in all of life (Genesis 2:18, 24; Ephessians 5:21-32). There are several negative consequences to cohabitation, one of which is barriers that are built up between us and God when we choose to ignore His standards and do our own thing. Furthermore, there is possibility that an unwanted pregnancy can occur as well as many heartbreaking experiences when individuals who have been intimate with us decide to leave us. Marriage gives us the opportunity to experience a human relationship that is like no other. It gives us an opportunity to know and be known on an intimate level. Marriage gives us the opportunity to commit and be loyal to one another in sickness and in health, whether in riches or in poverty as long as we live on this side of heaven. There is tremendous safety and blessing when we keep matrimony ‘holy’ and not simply an ‘experiment’ or ‘test drive.’ I conclude with this powerfully inspired Scripture: LOVE is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never ends… 2010-02-01T08:00:02+00:00 http://www.kingstreet.org/main/real_change_happens_when/ http://www.kingstreet.org/main/real_change_happens_when/#When:06:03:55Z Change is a word that is dreaded by many. It’s one of those words that causes many people to cringe when they hear. Maybe it’s because change brings uncertainty; or change is uncomfortable; perhaps it’s because change requires something different. For whatever reason, change is tough and many resist it. But change is necessary for new things to grow and emerge. When we change, we take a step forward into opportunity. Change helps us position ourselves well for the new adventures that lay ahead. As Christ followers, change should be a word that is used often in our vocabulary. We are changing people! We’ve entered into a relationship with God that requires us to change the way we live and act. And although sometimes we may resist change, it is necessary for us to develop and grow the way God wants us too. So how does real change happen? How do we go about allowing change to occur in our lives? Well… Real change happens when we… Recognize that pain, suffering, and difficulties lead to a transformed life. Life brings pain, suffering, and difficulties. When we realize that every life, including our own, will have some element of hardship, we position ourselves for real change. When we recognize that God sometimes takes us down a difficult path in order to grow us, we can experience real change. Understanding that God’s grace is enough and that we are made strong when weak is a truth that results in real change [2 Corinthians 12:9-10] Rely on the Bible to be our life manual Everything these days comes with a manual. I was recently trying to change a setting on my GPS. I struggled searching for the right combination of buttons to hit until I finally had the bright idea to look at the GPS manual. Life is the same way. As we journey through life, often looking for the right setting so our lives will be changed, we simply need to turn to the Bible to help us change the way God wants us to. [1 Timothy 3:16] Humbly submit to God through prayer and devotion Change is hard to accomplish when we don’t think we need to change. When we look at ourselves as a finished products we question why change would ever need to take place. But we know that we aren’t finished. We know that we all fall short [Romans 3:23]. We know that real change happens when we lay our pride down and humbly submit to God through prayer and devotion [1 Peter 5:5] Surround ourselves with friends who call us to a higher standard I remember the first time a friend pulled me aside and corrected for me for a wrong I had committed. Initially, I was upset. “How dare he tell me I was in the wrong!” I thought. But as his words stayed with me and I thought more about my actions, I knew that he was calling me to something higher. He was looking out for me. When we surround ourselves with friends who love and care for us and call us to a higher standard, we position ourselves for real change [Proverbs 17:27]. Regularly meet as the collective church Meeting together as the collective church is one of the healthiest ways to experience real change. Whenever we are given opportunity to express our hearts through songs to God and allow ourselves to be challenged by the teaching of God’s word, we give opportunity for reflection and encouragement to happen and real change to occur [Hebrews 10:25]. Change will always be uncertain, change will always be uncomfortable, and change will always require something different. But change will always give opportunity to take those steps towards being more like Christ. As Christ followers, let’s embrace real change; the kind of change that see hearts transformed and people moving towards God. 2010-01-01T06:03:55+00:00 http://www.kingstreet.org/main/gift-giving_obligation_or_delight/ http://www.kingstreet.org/main/gift-giving_obligation_or_delight/#When:06:16:21Z Merry Christmas!! Tis the season to deck halls, sing carols, and be jolly! … and by ‘jolly’ I mean like Santa … and by ‘like Santa’ I mean scrambling around the world to get everyone the gift that will make them dance around the Christmas tree with complete abandon – delight on their face – clutching the highly desirable item to their chest – the very thing that they wished for! The present they so desperately wanted that they’ve been hounding you for months on end to the point where you have no choice but to … Woah, wait a minute, that’s not right. Things took a turn for the worse somewhere around ‘delight’ … let’s try that again. Have you ever witnessed the frantic Christmas shopping of a chronic procrastinator?  Gift purchasing all-too-suddenly becomes a December 23rd visit to Insanity-ville via the local mall. It should be no surprise that the mad scramble for passable gifts (that may or may not have been thoughtfully considered for a specific recipient) looses its potential as an exercise of peace and goodwill in all the hustle and bustle. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about, after all, if you were there on December 23rd to witness it … you may very well be a chronic procrastinator yourself! Either way, it’s obviously no fun. So, why give gifts at all? Well, whether we buy or make them, there’s definitely a cultural expectation here, which means that our gifts are often wrapped in obligation. But, let’s take a step back from that and ask – why do we even give in the first place? We give to express love, of course! Not just an expression of love because you’re assured of receiving love in return, but the most genuine kind of love that loves wholly, regardless of what the response is. That’s why we wrack our brain for the ‘perfect gift’. We twist our minds into awkward shapes as we consider what that special someone would appreciate. We don’t consider ‘what I want them to have’, but instead ‘what they would appreciate’. Not because we have to, but because we want to express love. If we’re giving out of a sense of obligation, love is removed from the equation. That’s why, when we’re considering a gift for someone, we ask ourselves, “What will show this person that I love them?” And what is love? Love is sacrifice – to truly want God’s best for them. Thoughtful gift-giving includes considering what will genuinely benefit the recipient. Maybe even a need as opposed to a want. (Mom, this is not license to get me more socks. Though, if you do get me socks, I will recognize them as a sweet expression of love from my darling mother.) So, this Christmas, I’m going to give as I’ve done in years past, out of an expression of love. And I’m going to receive gifts with appreciation for the gift giver. I may not even like the gift, but ‘it’s the thought that counts’ and when that thought and intention is to express love, well … it’s delight-full. I thank God for the chance to delight in the expression of love – to delight in the person that love has been expressed through – and, most of all, to delight in the God that loved us first and fully so that we have something precious to give away. May God bless you as you give for the sake of delight this Christmas! 2009-12-01T06:16:21+00:00 http://www.kingstreet.org/main/making_time_for_family_devotions/ http://www.kingstreet.org/main/making_time_for_family_devotions/#When:08:00:28Z Family devotions are going to take on different shapes and forms depending on your family dynamics, which only you will be able to most accurately gauge. For many Christian families, making time for family devotions is one of the most challenging parts of being a parent. It truly takes discipline and creativity to find ways to help your children engage in faith discussions—but it is not impossible! You are never too far along in the game to start doing ‘family devotions’.  If your children are older, it might take a little more effort and it might be slow at first but it is well worth it, so don’t lose heart! Keep in mind that the younger your children are, the briefer your devotional time will be. Also, you may want to use a devotional Bible or a story book with more pictures so that your kid’s attention is held longer. All humans are creatures of habit, so try and stick to a regular “family devotion time” if possible, as this will help to ensure that time together is spent well and not pushed off the daily schedule. Encourage your children to discuss the Bible passage that you have read and to ask questions. If your children are older, encourage them to read the passage along with you or even have them prepare and lead a devotional. This will encourage them to research the passage and will cause them to become more engaged in what they are reading. If your child is old enough to read, be sure to provide them with a Bible translation that is easy enough to read and understand. If the Bible translation that you have chosen requires your son or daughter to consult a commentary at every second verse, the likelihood of them remaining interested in the Bible will not be as likely. I would recommend translations such as the New International Version (NIV), New International Reader’s Version (NIRV), New Living Translation (NLT), or The Message. Always keep in mind, family devotions do not simply consist of pulling out the family Bible and discussing scripture, it can and should be extremely practical. For example, family devotions should also mean the devotion that you show to your family. When you show you’re devoted to your kids, they’ll be drawn to you and your life—including your faith. There may be times when your family devotions move past a regular rhythm of reading Scripture and rather come through acts of love and consideration, reflecting the heart of God. Not only do these actions demonstrate your love for your kids, they also show your love for God without forcing something artificial on them. I am not suggesting that your family shouldn’t read the Bible together or discuss spiritual things; rather, I am suggesting that the thing that matters the most is giving your family the opportunity to see you living your life in such a way that they know that your faith is real. Real faith happens in real life settings!  Walking around Wonderland, flying a kite together, riding your bikes, or throwing the Frisbee are all opportunities and settings to ‘bring our faith’ (Deuteronomy 6). My family had somewhat of a strange tradition when it came to family time and family devotions. My parents used to join my sister and I in our room each night and my dad would read a chapter or more, depending on how much my sister and I begged, of a novel ranging from “Little House on the Prairie” to the newest prose from Jeanette Oak. There was nothing really special about the books that my sister and I craved to “read”, the pages of these books were often filled with more words than pictures and even the pictures that provided only a glimpse into the plot the written words explored, but rather it was the time spent reading together. We would always cap off bedtime reading rituals with a passage of Scripture and a time of thanking God and bringing any questions or problems to Him. Some may not consider such a practice to be family devotions, as more time was spent listening to my Dad read the chapters from those books than reading the Bible together. However, those times together have helped to create a firm spiritual foundation in the lives of me and my sister. I encourage you to make time for family devotions—whether that means setting aside time after dinner three times a week to discuss a passage from the Bible or taking opportunity to pray and connect with your kids on different topics and issues with a Christ-centered perspective. The most important thing is to spend time together making devotion to your God and with your faith your top two priorities. 2009-11-01T08:00:28+00:00 http://www.kingstreet.org/main/what_about_halloween/ http://www.kingstreet.org/main/what_about_halloween/#When:06:00:00Z The month of October marks the beginning of the fall season … it is one of my favorite times of the year especially on those clear, cool, sunny, Ontario days. The two main celebrations in the month of October are Thanksgiving and, of course, the controversial date on the calendar – Halloween! Halloween has been a controversial event for many years … and in many ways rightfully so. There is no doubt that Halloween can be traced to distinctly pagan sources. It is reasonable, then, that many followers of Christ would find some aspects of its celebration disturbing. I agree with them in that regard. The ‘traditional’ emphasis upon occult, witches, death, and evil send messages to our kids that godly parents assuredly respond with caution. There is clearly no tolerance in the Christian community for this ‘darker side’ of Halloween. In saying this, there may be room for harmless fun. I don’t know about you, but my kids enjoy to dress up and play pretend. If Halloween focuses on dressing up and having fun rather than the occult, it is harmless. Take the opportunity to make costumes for your children and represent fun characters such as ‘Hannah Montana’ or better yet ‘Lightning McQueen.’ This side of Halloween can be thoroughly enjoyable for the entire family. At the end of the day I realize it is a controversial topic among the Christian community … I’m sensitive to that. As parents I think we need to make some of these decisions based on ‘our own convictions.’ As for me and my family … October 31st marks the birthday of my youngest son – so this date on the calendar will always be a celebration. October 31st also marks a monumental shift in church history – it was October 31, 1517 when the Reformer Martin Luther pinned the 95 Theses on the cathedral doors that changed the course of the present day church. So who knows, in my house on Halloween we may be collecting candy, blowing out candles, and thanking God for Reformers like Martin Luther who helped us remember that the Christian faith is based on grace rather than works. 2009-10-01T06:00:00+00:00