Jesus' prayer on halloween

Well, we had no trick-or-treaters. And we actually remembered to buy candy this year. That means we can eat what's left of the mini three musketeers and snickers (yippee). We did have our Wednesday night BS group. Tonight we looked at Jesus' prayer in John 17. Dr. Gary Burge was our video teacher, and we had a really good discussion - even with just the 8 of us.

I used to have a very dualistic concept of things. I believe that's the term. I thought there were two sides: 'Christian' or 'other.' When our kids were younger, and after we had become Christians, we didn't take them trick-or-treating or let them dress up for halloween. We didn't want them participating in the "devil's holiday." I am still very guarded and aware of the influence of evil in our world.... But I've come to believe that things are not all or nothing. There isn't a "good" and an "evil." There is us and God. And God can use many of those people/things I used to see as only evil. Just like those I used to believe to be wholly good can also do bad. In all of it though - God is sovereign; and he asks us to love everyone, no matter how much in them is good or bad. Because we're all the same aside from him.

I love John 17. It is a beautiful prayer. You can click the link to read the whole thing, but here is a snippet from verses 22-23:

I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

We talked about the fact that there is so little unity in the North American church, but in places where Christians have had to face persecution it seems to grow; and Christianity seems to grow. One could think that what we need in America is more persecution. Or.... we need to work at love and unity all that much more.

I dunno. We didn't have a big party for the neighborhood kids, we didn't do anything fun, but it was a really nice time for me thinking about Jesus praying for us all those years ago. Pretty wild - that he prayed for you and me. Hmm.

Peace out; peace in.