THEME: Satan is not a gruesome Halloween figure. Rather, he is remarkably attractive, very much like us, and frequently not only fools, but also uses us for his own devious purpose.

SETTING FOR THE SERMON MONOLOGUE: The lectionary called for a sermon on Job. The book of Job invites us to explore the problem of evil. People are fascinated by evil. Why not? It's in them. It's in their environment. Some watch horror shows about him. He seems like a Halloween figure. The Biblical Satan is not always so sinister in appearance. Indeed, he can be quite attractive when he wishes to be. To understand Satan is in a measure to understand ourselves. This may not be -- almost certainly is not -- my best sermon -- but it has provoked more talk than any other.

Surprised to see me in church? There are a…