Costumes

The stupidest Halloween costume I've ever worn was actually a decent costume - just wildly inappropriate.
 
And no, it wasn't a toga.
 
I'm guessing I was 11 or 12 years old when I decided to put on my heaviest winter coat, a pair of swimming goggle with large individual eye pieces, a knit cap & my for-real camping/hiking backpack (stuffed with newspaper)... to be a climber. It actually was a pretty good looking costume, if I don't say so myself.
 
The only problem is where I was wearing these layers of heat-trapping stuff - in southern California on a particularly warm Halloween night. It was like being trapped in a sweat factory of my own making.
 
It's an apt metaphor for the masks most of us where around 24/7 - the "I've got it all together" and/or "I'm a Christian so nothing is wrong in my life, no sirree" layers of protective costume we try to hide behind when our worlds are actually coming apart at the seams.
 
It's time for us to do emotionally & spiritually what I did physically that night - acknowledge that the candies of this life are just not worth it... and turn around & go home so we can strip this monstrosity off.
 
Home, btw, is a place where God is real and you are safe to explore the dangerous message of Christ's grace. In other words, NewLife Community Church can be home.
 
Think about it.
  
Quote of the Week
 
Don't mistake the Source of your salary with the avenue that God uses to get it to you...
     Wayne Cordiero