Gerald Chester Posted this description of the history of Halloween. Thanks Gerald! I have posted it in its entirety. 

Halloween According to Wikipedia, the word “Halloween” is a contraction of “all hallows’ evening”. “All hallows’” is derived from an old English phrase that meant “mass-day of all saints”. The origin of the Halloween is also tied to the fall harvest and pagan festivals of the dead. So there appears to be a confluence of themes associated with Halloween.

Today Halloween is largely a pagan celebration. There is little connection to Christ except for the fact that on October 31, 1517 the Reformation was born. So I like to think about today as Reformation Day.

The Reformation was a benchmark event in Christian history that marked a return to sound doctrine. The church in the 16th Century had become very dualistic and money-driven. The clergy used the laity for their own agenda.

Martin Luther was a Roman Catholic priest who began to read and study Scripture. What he discovered, among other things, was the truth of justification by faith through Christ as the sole means for salvation.

The church was not teaching this doctrine, but rather using fear and manipulation to control the laity. The laity bought the right to be saved by money and loyal service to the clergy.

Martin Luther responded to this doctrinal corruption by writing a protest and posting it for public discussion on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany on this date in 1517.

What followed was a return to holistic biblical truth regarding the true nature of salvation, the authority of Scripture, the priesthood of all believers, dignity and value of work, and the calling of all believers. This is worthy of celebration.

Attached is an article that touches on some of these themes.

Happy Reformation Day!

Martin Luther's View of Faith & Work | Institute for Faith, Work & Economics Blog blog.tifwe.org What was Martin Luther's view of faith & work? Luther initially rediscovered the biblical doctrine o...

Left, Right, Middle = Fallible!

Systems are fallible because those of us who administer them are fallible. We screw up systems that could work. It may be true some systems may be better than others.

The problem throughout history remains the same. As humans we are selfish and look out for ourselves. The left looks out for the left. The same is true for the right. People are people. Most think they are right and others are wrong. What if most were wrong? We are busy making villan's of others and seeing ourselves as the sole supply of truth. Maybe we are unable to see the forest for the trees.

We take comfort in others of our own mind. The know little if anything about the other side but our friends stroke our egos and eagerly take our side.

Oh yes, I too have an opinion. Mankind is flawed. He is screwed up. He is sick inside. Jesus the Christ came not to foster the rise of capitalism nor to defend the constitution or any other institution. (things I love I might add) He came to save sinners like me . Do Christians always do the right things? Certainly not. Often they find themselves part of the problem.


I love the expressions by Phillip Yancy when he announces in his book What's So Amazing about Grace. There is nothing you can do to make God love you more. Then Yancy turns the statement around. He says, " There is nothing you can do to get God to love you less". That's just amazing!

We talk about unconditional love but God wrote the book on it. We make attempts at it but GOD has done it in his Son. So left or right, it all comes to naught. But God is eternally faithful to his promises.

His promises are a free gift to those who thankfully and graciously receive them.