HALLOWEEN: CHRISTIAN-STYLE Carla Brown is an original member of Chos3n, the Kingdom Impact Theater Ministries women’s music ensemble. She and her husband, Eric, are the parents of seven children, three of whom are in college. Carla homeschooled her children until feeling the call of the classroom herself. She divides her Chos3n service with her day-to-day occupation: as a bilingual teacher in suburban Dallas.
H
alloween!!! A word that strikes fear and excitement in children everywhere. For me, as a kid, I definitely looked forward to this fun day. Think about it, you get to dress up in the most creative, crazy, funky way you want without being mocked, run the streets well after the street lights come on, and, THE single most driving factor of them all...FREE CANDY!!! I participated in this ritual all the way through my senior year in high school (best costume - BABY because I could wear pajamas to All dressed up for free candy! How can school!!!) There was little thought as they possibly have cavities? to the origin and history of Halloween...until...I began to hear speak of the “evil” of the holiday; the unholy meaning behind this day of fun costumes and free candy. As a youth I was slightly confused, yet understood what was going on. My mother taught me about the things of God and I believed them, but, I truly didn’t see the big deal about dressing as an angel or a baby or a princess and spending time with family and friends while acquiring FREE CANDY!!
Being a Christian mom and teacher does not demand that I eliminate everything from my life. It does demand that I am responsible .
— Carla Brown (with husband, Eric)
F
ast forward to me, as a mom. I was excited to share the celebration rituals with my own kids. I did not want to deprive them of the joys the day had brought me as a kid per say, however, based on the evolution of Halloween in my life, I developed a list so my kids could enjoy the fun without experiencing the “scary parts.” I even explained that Halloween comes from something “bad,” but we would just have fun; make costumes based on inanimate objects, fun sayings, or even Bible characters. See, Halloween: “Christian-style.” Now, as a teacher, I have to be very careful with everything I say and do. So, when Halloween comes around, I am once again conflicted. When I was in elementary school, I looked forward to this time of year. Why? Because we got to dress up, the teacher would do some fun activities that disguised learning brilliantly, and...you guessed it...TREATS!!!! Those days were memorable and made school fun...at least for that day. How can I now, an elementary school teacher myself, deprive my students of that experience? Please turn to “Carla Brown, Teacher,’” on Page 5
UPDATING MARATHON M’AM Dear Friends: Thank you for patiently receiving my updates about my Chicago Marathon run on behalf of St. Jude's Children's Hospital. It was been an amazing experience and I think the best is yet to come. Not the easiest, but the best! I wanted make a few prayer requests for the race and days throughout the month. Thank you in advance for remembering me in prayer for my next journey on and off the course: Please pray that my body holds up through the race. I have some pain in my left knee that I am currently treating with physical therapy. Things can get a little crazy after 10 miles. Pray I can pace myself and work through any pain that may come. Two days after the race, I am having an important surgery. Please pray I treat myself well in recovery after the race so my body is ready for "the second marathon!" Generous donations in September got me to 75% of my pre-race fundraising goal. Pray I connect with other generous patrons who are able to give so I can uphold my commitment to raise funds to support the families walking through the horrors of childhood cancer. I may receive donations even after the Marathon. If you’re somoved, follow this link: tinyurl.com/VikkiStJude Thank you! I know prayer is an investment of time, so I really appreciate it, even popcorn prayers. It all makes an impact! Blessings to you, and I will be sure to follow up with you on race day! Warmly, Vikki
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