So at dinner time tonight, i was just browsing through the ads/coupon magazines we received in the mail. Many of them, or in fact, most of them, are promoting Halloween costumes, candy, other "scary" stuff, decorations....etc. As I thought about Halloween- a few interesting thoughts came to my mind.
1) It's interesting that the media portrays Halloween as a party to play dress up. Obviously, they just want your money- but most often times- no one in the media never says what Halloween is really all about. I bet if they did, then hopefully people would be a lot less likely to dress up and go trick-or-treating.
2) In the costume aspect: it seems to me that the little kid costumes and possibly up to 5th grade- those costumes are cute and cool. But if you're a mom or an older female- either the costume choices are inappropriate, or your costume is ragged. If you're a dad, your costume is either someone who's in jail or something ridiculous.
3)What is this fascination with dressing up like people coming back from the dead? AND, if that's not enough- people are always wondering about the afterlife and if there really is a heaven or hell and OH NO- what happens when i die? i don't want to die!!!. that just seems strange to me.
The other thing i began to realize is that for some holidays- (Valentines day, St. Patrick's day, Easter,Halloween, Christmas) (i know i missed a bunch- but i'm using those i listed as an example)
it seems like the media and malls- present everything else BUT the true meaning in those holidays.
It's like- oh Valentines day- here's a little cupid, some candy, some paper valentines..etc
AND
oh St. Patrick's day- here's a ton of 4-leaf clovers, and a leprechaun, and some pots of gold
AND
oh Easter- here's a BUNNY (?????), some eggs, some candy, some grass, some flowers...etc
AND
oh Halloween- here's some costumes, some more candy, some pumpkins, some odd decorations that are supposed to "scare" you.
AND
oh here's Christmas- here's some snowflakes, some reindeer, some Santa figures, some snowmen, and other little knickknacks.
don't get me wrong- some of those things i listed really do have to do with the holiday- although i KNOW that there was no bunny on Easter morning (unless there was one munching on some nearby grass- but the bible doesn't say that)...and eggs!?! why is that associated with a bunny? Anyway, all that to say that I wish that the media would present the REAL meaning of those holidays. and i'm glad for those people who do teach their kids the real meaning of those holidays.
Anyway, that's just some things i thought about tonight. what do you think?
Sunday, October 23, 2011
hey it's a blog from me!
The real reason I'm doing another blog is so that people who missed my lesson today, in Sunday school, can read what i was talking about and be caught up! (and it's also for anyone else who wants to read it)
My lesson today was about 1 John 1:5-10.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
The first thing i talked about was just a general overview of what it means to walk in darkness and to walk in the Light.
Sources: christnotes.org/commentary
desiringgod.org
a small book called Discipleship Explored
Walking in Darkness: (physically and spiritually)
-it's like being alone (if you are truly alone)
-not knowing what to do
-not knowing how to live in a right manner--> lieing, blindness
-denying our sin cuts us off from fellowship with God
- (christnotes) God holds no heavenly fellowship or intercourse with unholy souls
-no truth in their profession; their practices show its folly and falsehood
Walking in the Light:
-fellowship with others
-(discipleship explored) walking in the light apparently needs the purification of the blood of Jesus
-this can't mean being perfect (walking in the light)
-Christs' blood purifying us from all sin
(christnotes) "The great God should be represented to this dark world as pure and perfect light".
-(desiringgod) confessing our sin opens a channel for truth of forgiveness and cleansing
So, having said all that- let's jump in to the verses.
FYI-John wrote this book. (also notes from desiringgod)
John lays a foundation in verse 5 as he sais that God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (i love the "..at all" part.)
In verse 6-7 it's the Application. If we walk in darkness, we lie and we are not living with the truth. If we walk in the light we have fellowship with God and other believers- Jesus' blood cleanses us from all sin.
In verses 8-10: the claim of sinlessness --> self-deception. Instead of denying our sin, we need to confess it- no matter how ugly or real it is.
Going back to verse 9- confessing out our sins- God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.
Then specifically verse 10 the clarification: "The claim of sinlessness is not only self-deception; it is also blasphemy. The sentense, "I am without sin" amounts to the sentence, "God is a liar".
So, let's recap.
1) Foundation: God is light. (vs. 5)
God is light and in him is no darkness at all. His truth is bright and hopeful for all who come to Him.
2) Application: Walk in the Light (vs. 6-7)
Therefore, let us walk in the light of God so that we can enjoy his fellowship and experience the cleansing of Christ's blood.
3) Clarification: Don't claim to be without sin (vs. 8-10)
Nevertheless, do not presume to claim sinlessness as you walk in the light, but confess your sins to God.
one more thing- if u've read this far haha- when the word "clarification" was used above- i don't think it meant to sound like the bible wasn't clear enough- which it is. It's meaning to make a finer point and make sure that the reader clearly understands the concept.
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