Halloween? Not this year, mate.

It always makes me laugh.

I'm no fan of Halloween. It might be fun to see what Americans get up to for Halloween when we're watching commercial television, but that's about it. I'm not worried about children turning into crazed Satan worshippers, it just doesn't look like a sensible thing to celebrate. If you want to think a bit more about this, then you might like to have a look at what Krish Kandiah has to say in his article "Why I've changed my mind about Halloween." It's worth your time and your consideration.

But 2017 is a year that we should be focussing on greater things.

This year in Australia we commemorate 100 years since one of the greatest cavalry charges in history, and most certainly the last great cavalry charge - the charge of the Light Horsemen in Beersheba. You can read a bit of it here, or take a bit of time to enjoy the Landline special. It is enjoyable, and the videography is stunning.

It is also a very significant year for Christians around the world. History tells us that on Oct 31 in 1517 (500 years ago) a bloke named Martin Luther nailed a letter to a church door looking for people to debate with him on some concerns he had about the church. He didn't intend to begin something that would have dramatic ramifications throughout Europe and far beyond.

But it did.

We call it 'The Reformation' and I am one of those who is happy to celebrate that moment in history and all that it represents.

If you are a follower of Jesus, forget the plastic spiders and skulls. Instead, give a prayer of thanksgiving for people like Martin Luther who find hope in the Scriptures and shine the light for others to see.

If you enjoy the chance to read the Bible for yourself, forget the sickly sugary sweets that already overweight children will be eating. Instead, sit with the Bible in hand and read Romans 1:1-17 IN YOUR OWN LANGUAGE. Be thankful for Luther, and Tyndale, and Wycliffe and others who suffered to make the word of God available to people like you.

If you enjoy democracy, abandon the witches and goblins and be pleased that Luther was born in a time when what he did pressed the right buttons for people so that many - including civic leaders - came with him on this journey.

It is also the anniversary of my parent's wedding. That's worth a lot more than anything to do with Halloween. 

Halloween? Not this year.