A couple of years ago I figured out why kids dress up in costumes for going out for trick-or-treat night. Their parents make them.
And their parents make them dress up for a reason. You see, the parents probably don’t mind the kids going door to door getting candy, they just don’t want anyone to know that it is their kid.
Also, have you ever noticed that the parents typically stay away from the house and just send the kid to the door? Or if the kid is young, the parents will usually dress up too?
That’s so those at the door won’t recognize the kids or the parents. The parents don’t want people to know that their kids have gone out for trick-or-treat, and for very good reason.
It goes against what they taught their kid and might put them in a bad light as a bad parent. You see, parents usually teach their kids not to go up to a stranger and definitely not to take candy from a stranger. Then, on one night a year, all of that teaching goes out the window. They take their kids to strangers’ houses and let them take candy.
In short, in order to not get caught sending their kid out to a stranger’s house, and violating the “don’t take candy from strangers” teaching, parents make their kids dress up in costume for going out for trick-or-treat.
October 27, 2011
October 23, 2011
Visit from some Jehovah's Witnesses
So, on Saturday, just as I was adding some comments about the Jehovah’s Witnesses to my sermon (on the Rapture in 1 Thess 4:13-18), guess who shows up in my driveway? Well, as much as I wish it was Publisher’s Clearing house, with a big check, God had something better in mind. That’s right, we got a visit from the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
After greeting them at the door and exchanging greetings, I listened, almost impatiently, as they went through their opening. I say impatiently, since I knew who they were and what they wanted. I also know what I wanted to share with them (the good news of the Gospel). But I didn’t want to be rude and interrupt. After the guy got to a stopping point, I asked if he would mind me stepping inside and getting a Bible. He said he didn’t mind.
So, I went in and returned with a copy of my Greek New Testament and a copy of the New World Translation of the Scriptures. Now, why would I use such a bible and not a KJV, NKJV, NASB, NIV, and any other Bible? Why would I use a bible that I knew was faulty? Because I didn’t want the translation to be a stumbling block to my presentation of the gospel. I know from past experience that if you point out something to them from the Bible, and don’t use their version, they will simply say that your Bible is faulty and dismiss your point. (As a sidenote, at one point, as I pointed something out – no, I don’t remember what – the guy said, “well that’s what your King James says.” I said, “no, I’m using your translation, not the King James.”) [Also, isn’t this one way of “becom[ing] all things to all men, that I might by all means save some”? (1 Cor. 9:22.)]
After going back and forth with the guy, with each of us trying to prove our Gospel, he finally asked what I thought the good news was. What an awesome question! I said that the good news is that Jesus died on the cross, was raised to life, and that by believing in Him as my Lord and Savior, I know I have a home in heaven and am saved.
I also learned a few other interesting things from the guy about their beliefs:
One question that the guy didn’t give an answer to (nor could a JW up north) was this:
John 20:28 says, “And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’”
Then I stepped them through the Greek NT and showed them that it literally says, “the Lord of me and the God of me” showing that Thomas called Him God. Then I asked, if Jesus was not God, why didn’t He rebuke Thomas or correct Thomas?
Now that I think about it, I think that this shakes their belief. Since Jesus didn’t say anything to correct Thomas, than 1 of 2 things have to be true. Either 1) Jesus is God, and no correction was needed or 2) Jesus, in not correcting Thomas, sinned and is less than perfect.
Anyway, I let them leave the second time the guy said that he could see they were not getting anywhere and neither was I. As they were leaving, I said I would pray for them. They said it wasn’t necessary. I asked if I could pray for them then and there and they said no.
I do pray for them, that God will open their eyes.
After greeting them at the door and exchanging greetings, I listened, almost impatiently, as they went through their opening. I say impatiently, since I knew who they were and what they wanted. I also know what I wanted to share with them (the good news of the Gospel). But I didn’t want to be rude and interrupt. After the guy got to a stopping point, I asked if he would mind me stepping inside and getting a Bible. He said he didn’t mind.
So, I went in and returned with a copy of my Greek New Testament and a copy of the New World Translation of the Scriptures. Now, why would I use such a bible and not a KJV, NKJV, NASB, NIV, and any other Bible? Why would I use a bible that I knew was faulty? Because I didn’t want the translation to be a stumbling block to my presentation of the gospel. I know from past experience that if you point out something to them from the Bible, and don’t use their version, they will simply say that your Bible is faulty and dismiss your point. (As a sidenote, at one point, as I pointed something out – no, I don’t remember what – the guy said, “well that’s what your King James says.” I said, “no, I’m using your translation, not the King James.”) [Also, isn’t this one way of “becom[ing] all things to all men, that I might by all means save some”? (1 Cor. 9:22.)]
After going back and forth with the guy, with each of us trying to prove our Gospel, he finally asked what I thought the good news was. What an awesome question! I said that the good news is that Jesus died on the cross, was raised to life, and that by believing in Him as my Lord and Savior, I know I have a home in heaven and am saved.
I also learned a few other interesting things from the guy about their beliefs:
- They believe that Jesus was not God but a sinless man
- They believe all people are born with a sin nature (no, I didn’t get to ask if Jesus was a man, was He born with a sin nature, making Him less than perfect?)
- They believe that Jesus’ death on the cross paid our ransom
- They don’t believe in a New Heaven and New Earth as the Bible states
- They didn’t explain what it meant to them to be “saved” – other than just said we need to study the Bible and live according to it
One question that the guy didn’t give an answer to (nor could a JW up north) was this:
John 20:28 says, “And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’”
Then I stepped them through the Greek NT and showed them that it literally says, “the Lord of me and the God of me” showing that Thomas called Him God. Then I asked, if Jesus was not God, why didn’t He rebuke Thomas or correct Thomas?
Now that I think about it, I think that this shakes their belief. Since Jesus didn’t say anything to correct Thomas, than 1 of 2 things have to be true. Either 1) Jesus is God, and no correction was needed or 2) Jesus, in not correcting Thomas, sinned and is less than perfect.
Anyway, I let them leave the second time the guy said that he could see they were not getting anywhere and neither was I. As they were leaving, I said I would pray for them. They said it wasn’t necessary. I asked if I could pray for them then and there and they said no.
I do pray for them, that God will open their eyes.
October 18, 2011
Yesterday’s CCM and Today’s CCM
I find it interesting that the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) that I grew up on is connected with today’s CCM.
Here’s an example of what I mean:
Today’s CCM Yesterday’s CCM
TobyMac DC Talk – which was Michael Tait, Toby Mac, and Kevin Max
Newsboys w/ Michael Tait DC Talk – which was Michael Tait, Toby Mac, and Kevin Max
Newsboys w/ Sean Taylor Steve Taylor – Sean’s father (of and Steve still produces their stuff)
Steven Curtis Chapman Steven Curtis Chapman
Phillips, Craig, and Dean Phillips, Craig, and Dean
Michael W. Smith Michael W. Smith
Amy Grant Amy Grant
It is neat to see how some of these artists (like SCC, Smith, etc) are still going strong for the Lord with their music. It is also neat to see how some of the other older CCM helped pave the way for today’s CCM. Steve Camp had a good career and it seems his son has picked right up in his shoes. Despite DC Talk’s break, it is great to see Toby Mac and Michael Tait still singing for the Lord. Also, it’s great to see Steve Taylor’s influence in Newsboys, both when his son was in it, and still today. He’s even had a few bit parts in some of their songs, like Not Ashamed and In The Belly Of The Whale. (BTW, if you have never heard some of Steve Taylor’s material, you are certainly missing out).
Here’s an example of what I mean:
Today’s CCM Yesterday’s CCM
TobyMac DC Talk – which was Michael Tait, Toby Mac, and Kevin Max
Newsboys w/ Michael Tait DC Talk – which was Michael Tait, Toby Mac, and Kevin Max
Newsboys w/ Sean Taylor Steve Taylor – Sean’s father (of and Steve still produces their stuff)
Steven Curtis Chapman Steven Curtis Chapman
Phillips, Craig, and Dean Phillips, Craig, and Dean
Michael W. Smith Michael W. Smith
Amy Grant Amy Grant
It is neat to see how some of these artists (like SCC, Smith, etc) are still going strong for the Lord with their music. It is also neat to see how some of the other older CCM helped pave the way for today’s CCM. Steve Camp had a good career and it seems his son has picked right up in his shoes. Despite DC Talk’s break, it is great to see Toby Mac and Michael Tait still singing for the Lord. Also, it’s great to see Steve Taylor’s influence in Newsboys, both when his son was in it, and still today. He’s even had a few bit parts in some of their songs, like Not Ashamed and In The Belly Of The Whale. (BTW, if you have never heard some of Steve Taylor’s material, you are certainly missing out).
October 14, 2011
Sardine Festival
[gallery]
Looking for an unusual outing? Look no further than the annual Sardine festival.
Friday, October 14, 2011, my wife and I ventured over to Aberdeen, NC for the festival. We arrived as the people were setting up everything. We got our tickets for the food and listened to the live bluegrass music while we waited until they were ready to serve the food. (The food was free, but donations were welcomed*).
Knowing Hilary does not like sardines, we brought some extra food along. In line, I got 1 can of sardines and crackers for me, moonpies and diet cheerwine for both of us. The sardines were not as good as I remembered, so after eating alittle more of them, I was glad we brought extra food along with us.
Around noon, some of the past Sardine Queens arrived in 2 convertibles, attired in semi-fancy dress with strange hats. One hat was a shark, another had a crown on top of a cowboy hat, and still another had a whole lunch attached to the outside of it (pack of butter, sardines, moonpie, and mountain dew).
The new Sardine Queen arrived in a firetruck. After a speech by the new queen, we listened to some more bluegrass music. There were some t-shirt giveaways, as well as t-shirts and hats for sale. (They kept saying these “19th Annual Sardine Festival” shirts make good Christmas gifts….hmmm).
All in all, it was a great time of good clean fun (that smelled alittle fishy).
Oh – You might be like me, wondering how something like this gets started, huh?! I mean isn’t it strange to have an annual 3-hour festival based around sardines in a town that isn’t famous for sardines?!
Well, here’s the backstory, according to the Pilot News:
The late Randall Moss started the festival as a joke. One day, his daughter forced him to eat his sardine lunch across the highway from his office at Aberdeen Lake Park because she couldn’t stand the smell. Moss invited his friends to join him and, just like that, a festival was born.
*According to the Pilot newspaper article: Last year, the event raised $2,500, which was donated to local youth organizations, including local Boy Scouts and a local little league team.
Looking for an unusual outing? Look no further than the annual Sardine festival.
Friday, October 14, 2011, my wife and I ventured over to Aberdeen, NC for the festival. We arrived as the people were setting up everything. We got our tickets for the food and listened to the live bluegrass music while we waited until they were ready to serve the food. (The food was free, but donations were welcomed*).
Knowing Hilary does not like sardines, we brought some extra food along. In line, I got 1 can of sardines and crackers for me, moonpies and diet cheerwine for both of us. The sardines were not as good as I remembered, so after eating alittle more of them, I was glad we brought extra food along with us.
Around noon, some of the past Sardine Queens arrived in 2 convertibles, attired in semi-fancy dress with strange hats. One hat was a shark, another had a crown on top of a cowboy hat, and still another had a whole lunch attached to the outside of it (pack of butter, sardines, moonpie, and mountain dew).
The new Sardine Queen arrived in a firetruck. After a speech by the new queen, we listened to some more bluegrass music. There were some t-shirt giveaways, as well as t-shirts and hats for sale. (They kept saying these “19th Annual Sardine Festival” shirts make good Christmas gifts….hmmm).
All in all, it was a great time of good clean fun (that smelled alittle fishy).
Oh – You might be like me, wondering how something like this gets started, huh?! I mean isn’t it strange to have an annual 3-hour festival based around sardines in a town that isn’t famous for sardines?!
Well, here’s the backstory, according to the Pilot News:
The late Randall Moss started the festival as a joke. One day, his daughter forced him to eat his sardine lunch across the highway from his office at Aberdeen Lake Park because she couldn’t stand the smell. Moss invited his friends to join him and, just like that, a festival was born.
*According to the Pilot newspaper article: Last year, the event raised $2,500, which was donated to local youth organizations, including local Boy Scouts and a local little league team.
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