Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

I think I view Halloween very differently from most Americans, and my different perspective first started due to safety rather than religious reasons.

I remember my mom was always on edge on Devil’s Night (the night before Halloween). We weren’t allowed outside after dark on October 30th. She grew up in Detroit, and fires would rage on Devil’s Night. Flint is another Michigan city notorious for arson on Devil’s Night. (Ironically, I was one of six infants baptized on Devil’s Night at my church.)

During my early childhood, we lived in a suburb of Detroit, and one year, my mom had taken my younger sister and me trick-or-treating when I was about five. The next day, there was a report in the newspaper that kids were held up for their candy by kids with guns. It was on the street next to ours. I don’t remember this. I do remember my parents going through my candy and throwing out any pieces that were not completely sealed in case someone stuck needles in the candy for me to bite into or injected the candy with drugs. It was simply not worth the danger to go trick-or-treating.

When I was older, my church started doing a Harvest Festival. Kids and adults were invited to come dressed in non-scary costumes. I remember everything was decorated in fall decor, and there were kid-sized cardboard houses set up like a neighborhood throughout the large church building. In the gym were games, and the cafeteria had snacks. After a few hours of doing games and snacking, the trick-or-treating procession began. Kids of all ages formed a line, and we went from “door” to “door” of all the “houses,” collecting candy. There were literally hundreds of kids. It was fun, and it was safe. One year, my family did a Wizard of Oz theme. I was Dorothy; my mom was the Scarecrow, my dad was the Tin Man, and my sister was the Cowardly Lion. I remember vacuuming up all the crushed candy after the festival, since my parents volunteered for clean up duty.

I don’t feel like I missed out on Halloween, but I also don’t have all the traditional memories most people have of their childhood Halloweens, so I’m just not very attached to the holiday.

I do get excited about history, and being the nerd that I am, I decided to look up the history of Halloween. Being the Christian that I am, I started wondering if I wanted to celebrate Halloween. (There is a whole history with how Halloween also came from All Hallow’s Eve [something hallowed is holy], and the history between Halloween and All Saint’s Day. I’m not including it in this entry, but it is interesting stuff to look into.)

Halloween has its roots from a festival concerning the dead. The festival is Celtic (pronounced “keltic”) in origin. The festival is called Samhain (prounced “sah-win”) and celebrates a time when the seasons change. At this time, the Celts (“kelts”) prepared for winter. The Celts were people who lived throughout Europe, and Samhain (“sah-win”) is found in literature from as early as the 10th century.

In this festival, people performed animal sacrifices and wore masks to appease or hide from evil spirits. These people believe that the worlds of the living and the dead overlap on this night “because the souls of those who had died during the year traveled into the otherworld” (Halloweenhistory.org). These spirits sometimes caused chaos, so bonfires were lit to help guide the spirits to the world of the dead and keep them away from the living.

Today, thousands of witches, wizards, Wiccans, Druids, and other pagans celebrate Samhain. This is done by setting a place at the table for the dead, using tarot cards (prounced “tair-row”) or other forms of divination, setting up altars or shrines for the dead, and more. These people do not practice Halloween as a secular holiday; they celebrate Samhain as a religious holiday, and they believe the spirits and divination to be real. As a teenager, I had many pagan and Wiccan friends, and I know these religions are still quite popular today.

As a Christian, I believe in the existence of God and angels. Therefore, I also believe in the existence of Satan and demons. I find the latter to be truly terrifying and nothing to joke about. I wasn’t always so firm in this belief until I had some unfortunate experiences in my teen years that really opened my eyes. I’m not sure I want to celebrate a holiday that has such strong ties to the occult when I know how real the occult is. In fact, sometimes I feel like celebrating Halloween would be hypocritical of me.

On the other hand, there is something in me that makes me cringe when I hear a Christian immediately shoot down Halloween traditions. Once, when I was at a church, I heard someone ask, “Are we doing anything for the kids on Halloween?” Another person gasped and replied, “Absolutely not! We don’t celebrate that in our church!” The conversation came to an abrupt end.

I think it is great when a church does a festival on Halloween for several reasons:
– It gives kids a way to trick-or-treat safely (especially if offered on October 31st).
– It provides a fun evening no matter what the weather is like.
– It gives kids an opportunity to dress up in costumes, but it encourages non-scary costumes.
– It provides a family/community event.
– It brings people into the church doors. (What better way to do that than pass out free food and have no commitments attached?)

Throughout my young-adult life, I have celebrated on October 31st by celebrating Reformation Day. I am a Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Christian, and I love celebrating the brave acts of Luther in his attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church in the 1500s. Luther wasn’t perfect, but he really taught some important things, the most important of them being that we are saved by Jesus Christ simply by having faith.

On November 1st, I celebrate All Saints’ Day, when I remember my loved ones who have died and think of the joy they have in heaven. It always hurts to miss someone, but it is incredible to think about how one day, I will see those loved ones again.

Tonight, I am passing out candy (for the first time, since I finally don’t live in apartment). I’ll be passing out a Bible verse with the candy (hopefully no parents sue me). I don’t look down on people who dress up or go trick-or-treating. I do not think Christians should dress in violent, sexual, or demonic themed costumes, and I strongly believe Christians should not participate in occult activities. If I ever have children of my own, I will probably allow them to dress up in appropriate costumes and get candy or go to a church festival. In any case, I will always celebrate my baptismal birthday on October 30th, Reformation Day on October 31st, and All Saints’ Day on November 1st, and these will always have precedence over Halloween in my house.

Bible verse going out with my candy:
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.” – John 3:16-17

Sources for Halloween/Samhain history:
History of Halloween
Halloween: The Fantasy and Folklore of All Hallows
Celebrating Samhain

Hellish Headaches vs. Knowing Neurologist

Most of my friends and family know I have been dealing with several health problems, especially tension, headaches, dizziness, and TMJ issues.

I am a firm believer in chiropractic care. When we moved to the Quad Cities for my husband’s vicarage assignment, I made the mistake of not finding a chiropractor right away. My issues with dizziness increased until it got to the point I would get so dizzy from making the bed, I would have to lie down. I would do a chore, lie down. Do another chore, lie down. I saw a family doctor who said I had severe vertigo and needed a CT Scan. She said she would refer me. I never received a referral, but I decided I wanted a second opinion before spending that kind of money.

Then the headaches kicked in. Each day starts with terrible tension in my neck, which creeps up the back of my head and into my jaw, and then after several hours, the pain goes from dull to severe. I normally feel yucky by 3 or 4pm and completely miserable and useless by 7pm. For the headache to go away, I have to take 4 Advil Liquigels and 5mg of Flexeril (a prescription muscle relaxer).

Every few weeks, I get one of these unbearable headaches where I feel like my eyes will explode, like my teeth have been shoved through my head, and my face is fracturing into tiny pieces. I gag from the pain and dizziness. Last September, nothing helped, and I ended up in the hospital on Toradol, Morphine, Benadryl, Zofran, and Phenergan. This almost happened again last weekend, but the drugs finally started to dull the pain two hours after I took them.

Desperate, I started an intense Google search for chiropractors. Luckily, I am in the Quad Cities, which is where Palmer College is located; there is no shortage of chiropractors here. One search had interesting results, and I decided to check him out for these reasons:
– He is both a chiropractor and a neurologist
– He is a professor of neurology
– He has received several awards
– There were several patient testimonies
– His clinic offers a free consultation
– He has an insurance specialist figure out all your payment needs for you
– He treats conditions such as migraines, vertigo, and is able to manipulate extremities in addition to spinal adjustments
– He gives referrals to specialists for patients who have conditions he is unable to treat

My husband came with me to the free consultation. The insurance specialist called our insurance company with us present, and asked all these questions I would have never thought to ask. Once we knew what my insurance would cover, we talked to the doctor. He listened to my symptoms and confirmed that I have a condition he is equipped to treat. He even started the process of the first examination that day. I was there for over two hours, and I was being worked with the entire time; there was no waiting around.

Some of the tests seemed silly. He pointed his finger at me and brought it closer to my nose to make me cross-eyed. I got so dizzy I had to step back, and I nearly threw up. He had me walk across the room while reciting every other letter of the alphabet. I could not do it. I had to stop walking because I couldn’t remember what letter I had just spoken. He did several other tests where I had to look at one object a certain distance away, then look at another object that was closer or farther away, or I had to watch a moving object. He checked my eyes. He used a tuning fork to test which hand is more sensitive. He noted that my hands and feet have a huge temperature difference than my body.

One test, I had to wear a mask that completely blacked out my vision. I sat in an office chair, and he spun me to the right, then stopped, then spun me to the left. He did this a few times, then took off the mask. My husband said, “Wow! That was so cool!”
“What?” I asked.
“That mask was an infrared camera, and we could see your eyes the whole time! When you spun to the right, your eyes reacted and moved back and forth. When you spun to the left, you just stared straight ahead.”

The doctor took the weekend to review the results and go over the notes I had written up for him. When I went back in on Monday, he explained to me what was going on.

To put it very, very simply: My brain is forcing me to be in a perpetual “Fight or Flight” mode.

To explain with a little more detail: My neurons are misfiring. Part of my brain stem is overstimulated, while other parts of my brain are shutting down to compensate for the work the brain stem is doing. During all the vision-movement tests, my eyes could not follow movement correctly. They are also over-dilated and don’t dilate and contract together at the same time.

Because I am in fight or flight mode, my body acts like there is a threat, and it gets ready to flee or to defend. My blood vessels constrict, which is what causes my hands and feet to feel icy because I’m not getting the correct circulation. The constriction of blood vessels is also what is creating the intense headaches. This is also why my eyes are dilated. I become hyper-aware of sensations, especially light and sound.

The doctor then named some digestive issues, and I had to admit that I struggle with them but have never sought help due to finances and always focusing my medical care on the headaches. During fight or flight, the body slows down digestion because it isn’t going to waste energy digesting. Since I am always in this mode, I digest very slowly. I’m not getting the nutrients I need even though I’m eating all the right things. This is why I feel exhausted all the time.

He asked if my heart ever feels erratic. I told him that my heart often flutters or feels like it skips beats. Again, this is my body prepping to fight or run. Since I don’t need to fight or run and remain still, my heart starts freaking out.

Then came the big question. He asked if I struggle with anxiety and depression. He was interested to know that I have struggled with depression ever since I can remember (the earliest being age 4). I’ve been on medication, which helps, and have even been through a placebo test to prove that it is the medication that helps rather than the thought of taking medication. There is definitely an imbalance of chemicals in my brain, without a doubt. He said that he expects to greatly decrease my depression and anxiety – to the point that I might be able to lower my dose of my medication.

But what astounds me the most are the little things he was able to guess correctly about me:
– I can’t handle the sound volume in theaters. (I have to wear ear plugs.)
– I can’t handle an alarm in the morning because it startles me to the point I feel like throwing up.
– I often need to dim the lights.
– I am picky about how soft and comfortable my clothing is.
– New situations are terrifying because I take in all sensations at once (like the sound of the air moving through the vents).
– Talking on the phone is terrible because I feel the voice vibrating in my ear more than I can hear the words.

He started naming all these things that often bother “normal” people but drive me insane until I feel so overwhelmed. I suddenly felt like a doctor understood me for the first time. Finally, someone understands that just going through a normal day makes me want to run and hide for a week, and there is a reason for this, and it’s because part of my brain is working too hard while other parts of the brain can no longer function. And I didn’t have to tell him any of this about myself. He guessed, and he guessed correctly every time.

While in counseling once, my counselor had me read “The Highly Sensitive Person” by Elaine N. Aron Ph.D. This book explained that people who are emotionally sensitive are often more sensitive to physical stimuli as well. I have always been told that I am too emotional, too sensitive – that I need to grow a thicker skin and stop wearing my heart on my sleeve. This book in combination with the findings of my neurologist help me understand that I am literally wired to be sensitive in every way.

The treatment? Right now, I have to rest and not do too much in a day. I need to limit stimuli – lights, sounds, etc. I have to come into his office for three sessions of treatments. (So far, I have had two.) The treatments consist of doing light exercises to stimulate my left brain, especially the frontal lobe. Basically, I lie on the table, and he moves my right arm, my right leg, massages my right shoulder, and moves my fingers while I stay limp. Then he has me sit and do some vision exercises. I have to do things like watch his finger, which starts right in front of my face, and then keep my eyes on it until he gets to the wall. Then I keep my eyes on the wall, and as soon as he gets back to me and the tip of his finger is back in my view, I have to change from looking at the wall (far away) to his finger (close up). These make me dizzy sometimes, but they’re getting easier.

After two treatments, I was able to go 60 hours without both prescription and over-the-counter pain medication because I only had a dull, barely-there headache. That hasn’t happened in over two months.

After my third treatment, Frank and I will meet with him and discuss what the long-term treatment will be and go over finances and insurance again.

For the first time in a long time, I have hope.

Oh, and my neurologist said I don’t need a CT scan.

Chapter 5 – Journey through Genesis

Genesis Chapter Five

(Note: Genesis chapter five is a genealogy, which is a family history. Genealogies were important in this culture, and because of that importance, accuracy was imperative. The genealogies throughout the Bible line up, and this accuracy testifies to the accuracy of the Bible. Not all biblical genealogies list the firstborn, but they do list those through whom The Promise came.)

1. Review and compare what the Cainites were known for (4:17,22) versus what the Sethites were known for (4:26). 
Cainites were shepherd people, city builders, tool makers. The Bible only lists worldly pursuits, no godly pursuits.
Sethites were people who “called on the name of the Lord.” They were godly. The Bible does not list any worldly pursuits. The Promise of Salvation would continue through the line of Seth.

2. Read Genesis 2:4 and Genesis 5:1. How does Moses organize the book of Genesis?
Moses uses the Hebrew word “toledothe” which means “to bear” and is translated as “generations.”  (Different English translations of the Bible may use words such as “account,” “history,” or “genealogy” in place of “generations.”) Moses uses the word “toledothe” to distinguish different sections. Genesis 5:1 begins a new section detailing the descendants of Adam who shared his spirit, who were faithful, through whom the promise would descend, in contrast to the wickedness of Cain and his descendants. 

3. How does one interpret the longevity of people in this genealogy?
It is to be interpreted literally. Notice the difference in lifespan before and after The Flood (see charts at end of entry).
There are a number of theories to account for the longevity of people at this time:

• The climate before the flood could have supported longer life; the size of animals in the fossil record certainly indicates a different climate capable of supporting unique animals.
• The human body, being so recently removed from its perfect state in the garden, and so close generationally to Adam and Eve, may have been less susceptible to degradation.
• Perhaps God simply made life longer for the first people to support the population of the earth.
• The Canopy Theory (The Creation Account describes God watering the earth through mist and by having water bubble up from the ground. Rain is not mentioned until The Flood. Some theorize that the cloud canopy was thicker before The Flood, blocking more harmful rays, allowing less damage on the human body. Once the first rain came in The Flood, the cloud canopy had thinned enough to allow more sun damage, thus lowering the lifespan of people.)

4. Could this genealogy be referring to clans?
Some speculate that the names in this genealogy are the names of clans rather than the names belonging to individuals. This theory does not makes sense. The statement of the age of each father when he begot a son does not allow for this theory. In addition, why would a listing of clans say a clan had “other sons and daughters”?  These names belonging to clans rather than individuals would also mean that an entire clan named Enoch was raptured as opposed to the one man named Enoch. The language makes sense only when we assume these names refer to individuals rather than groups of people.

5. What is the significance of Genesis 5:3? (Seth was “in (Adam’s) own likeness, after (Adam’s) image.”) 
God created man in His perfect image. Adam created man in imperfect image. We are still created in the image of God, but it is tainted by sinful nature.

6. What does it mean that Enoch “walked with God”?
A literal translation is appropriate here. We may presume that God still physically manifested himself upon the earth at this time, similar to His presence in the Garden. Take note of the preposition; elsewhere in scripture people walk before God, or after God, but only Enoch and Noah (Genesis 6:9) and the priests (Malachi 6:9) walk with God.
Enoch followed God’s will so closely that he was spared death. Enoch is one of two people in the Bible to be raptured.
Enoch was the seventh from Adam in Seth’s family. (Remember, seven is a significant number.) In contrast, Lamech was the seventh from Adam in Cain’s family. Lamech was an evil man who boasted about the murders he committed and started the first polygamous relationship.

Genealogy graph source: Lambert Dolphin’s Library

Life Span graph source: Christianity Stack Exchange

Note: My husband, DH, is teaching a weekly Bible study on the book of Genesis during his vicarage (internship). These are my notes from his classes. Questions, comments, and respectful debate are welcome.

DH has a B.A. in religious studies and biblical languages. 
I have a B.A. in English, history, and Lutheran education.

 

Migraine Methods and Myths

In my journey with migraine headaches, I have come across some helpful tips and some distracting myths (including the myth of caffeine creating relief). I wanted to share some of what I have learned.

Before I start, let it be known that I am not a doctor and have no medical training. I am only speaking from my experiences as a migraine patient. If you suffer from frequent, severe headaches or suspect you are experiencing migraines, keep a log of your headaches and how you treated them, then visit your doctor. If your pain during a migraine is severe, go to the emergency room. 

What is a migraine?
I hear the word “migraine” thrown around loosely… and often spelled incorrectly. While all headaches are terrible, migraines are a different kind of terrible. Migraines cause extreme pain that are accompanied with symptoms that make them different from regular headaches.

What are signs a migraine is coming?
– changes in vision such as floaters, flashes of light
– tingling in an arm or leg
– neck stiffness

What are migraine symptoms?
– severe head and/or neck pain
– pain on only one side of the head/face
– pain that moves back and forth
– blurred vision
– dizziness
– nausea and vomiting
– extreme sensitivity to light and/or sound
– Feeling exhausted or drained after a migraine

What are some methods used to prevent  migraines?
– balanced nutrition and no skipping meals
– 8-9 hours of sleep per night
– drink plenty of water every day
– replace simple carbohydrates with complex carbohydrates
– avoid sugar, alcohol, and caffeine (see below)
– regular visits to a chiropractor and/or massage therapist (I have had immense success this way.)

What are some methods used to treat migraines?
– Lay still in a dark, quiet room to reduce sensory stimuli.
– Try using essential oils. Personally, I have tried Deep Blue by dōTERRA. I get mine for a cheaper price by buying from a consultant. I have heard good reports on lavender oil and peppermint oil also.
– I have used Vicks VapoRub on my temples, jaw, and neck and found it to be helpful.
– I have had relief with Aspercreme when applied to my jaw and neck. (I get TMJ related migraines.)
– Thermotherapy (heat) can help relieve tension because it opens up the blood vessels. Use moist heat if you can. Never heat for more than 20 minutes. My favorite way to use thermotherapy is with a lavender rice pack similar to this one.
– Cold therapy can help relieve pain by reducing blood flow, which causes a decrease with inflammation. Use an ice pack on the painful area for 10 minutes and never longer than 20 minutes. Last time I was certified in first aid back in 2010, I was told not to wrap the ice pack in a towel. My favorite way to ice is with an Elasto-Gel Ice Pack and a lavender eye pillow.
– Medications for pain can help. Tylenol can help relieve pain. Advil can help relieve inflammation and pain. Personally, I take 4 Advil Liquigels for a migraine. You can also talk to your doctor about migraine prescription medication, such as Imitrex.
– If your migraines are like mine and involve a lot of tension and TMJ issues, talk to your doctor about getting a prescription for Flexeril, which is a muscle relaxer.
– Medications for nausea can help. Emetrol helps stop stomach spasms.  Coke syrup, ginger, and Benedryl will help with nausea. If the nausea is severe, see a doctor about trying Phenergan or Zofran. My favorite way to rehydrate is with Pedialyte.

What can make a migraine worse or more frequent?
– Strong smells such as perfumes. If this is a huge trigger for you, be careful with aromatherapy.
– Sugar is a huge trigger. My headaches are worse around holidays that involve candy and dessert.
– Aged cheese
– Certain food dyes
– Certain food additives, especially aspartame (Artificial sweetener causes a migraine almost instantly for me.)
– Alcohol. I know it is so tempting to have a bottle of beer or a glass of wine to relieve that tension, and while alcohol may provide temporary relief, it will make the headaches and migraines so much worse later on.
– Caffeine. American culture tells us that caffeine is a great way to relieve headaches. However, caffeine is addictive, and your body not only wants you to keep up your current caffeine intake, but it wants you to increase it. Because of this, caffeine withdrawal headaches start up and trigger migraines. Limit caffeine – and yes, this includes Excedrin. You may be temporarily miserable, but those constant headaches will decrease in frequency. Every doctor I have seen for migraines has told me to steer clear of caffeine.

Helpful Sources:

• ACHE: caffeine and migraine
• MayoClinic: migraine
• The Migraine Trust: factsheet