I don't know which is more unintentionally amusing -- Truth for Youth's Hairy Polarity and the Sinister Sorcery Satire, a Chick Publications-style comic intended to remind young people and their parents that the Harry Potter books are a primrose path to hell (which you may have already learned about via World O'Crap), or the Halloween page at Pat Robertson's CBN.com, a jam-packed collection of writings from which we learn that interest in the supernatural can mutate into an addiction and is inextricably linked to suicide and drug abuse, even though, as it turns out, poltergeists are real. Don't worry, though, it's not all gloom and doom -- if you're looking for an alternative to trick-or-treating, CBN recommends this "Fun Family Prayer Adventure":

Pass around a bag or bowl of M & M's the next time your family is gathered for prayer. Let each person take a handful, but don't let anyone eat the candies yet. Explain that the color of the candies will indicate the direction of the families' prayers. Lead your family in prayer using this guide and stopping for prayer after explaining each color.

Say:

* For every green M & M you chose, pray for your spouse (present or future) or some other significant person in your life. This is a great way to get kids thinking about what qualities they want to find in a future mate. Encourage them to pray for this person’s safety, spiritual and physical growth, and so on).

* For every red M & M you chose, pray for a member of your family by name (a parent, son, daughter, brother, sister, grandchild, niece, nephew, cousin, aunt, uncle, and so on).

* For every orange M & M you chose, pray for a teacher in your life (a co-worker, a professor, a pastor, a Bible study leader, a child’s school teacher, a mentor, or another teacher)....

Woo-hoo! That sounds like way more fun than TP-ing a neighbor's trees!

Special bonus column by Chuck Colson -- with a scary goth-looking photo of Chuck!



(Hey, isn't that an outtake from the Nine Inch Nails "Closer" video?)