March 20, 2008:Traditions	Just a few more weary days and then... I'll fly away... And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
	December 29, 2007:New Year's 2008
	November 3, 2007:How To Be Successful in Christian Ministry
	October 23, 2007:Salmon

Halloween and the Gospel Message William H. Haller

I had another dream on 24-Sep-2003/29-Sep-2003

It would be hard to describe, but I was impressed with the immediacy of Christ's return (or how short a time I have left). Like I said, it would be hard to describe. At the end of the dream, people were singing Christian songs in the street - "It will be worth it all, when I see Jesus...", "He set me free! Yes, He set me free! He broke the bonds of prison for me...". Then, they were going door to door, and two people were giving a demonstration of how to witness.

The 29-Sep addition was a dream of the time of the Nazis where people were being taken to their death in stock cars and trucks. If you could prove you were a Christian you might escape. But you had to give the children of the people kneeling in the trenches back to them. You couldn't save the children without saving the parents as well. I know this isn't a perfect analogy to the Jewish people's plight at that time, as mere ancestry would get you killed with virtually no chance other than fleeing, but the message was clear for today. You can't reach the children without the parents' support.

After I woke up, it got me to thinking about witnessing. I would like to suggest that the Christian churches of the United States, or anywhere for that matter, take a different approach this Halloween. A lot of people have tended to stay locked away in their homes with their lights out because they don't want to be bothered with the little kids trick or treating. Churches have instituted their own functions to protect their kids from the appearance of evil. None of this spreads the word.

This year, I would suggest that all members of all churches use this Halloween as an opportunity to pass out Bibles, tracts, Gospel messages, and information sheets about their churches to anyone who comes to the door. If there are older kids, they could pass out information the other direction as they went door to door or at any community get together where they are welcome. It is the one time of the year when the kids and parents are out in force coming to your door wanting something. It is the one time of the year when many people willingly open their doors to you.

Why not give them what they need (along with a piece of candy, of course). The little kids will be upset if all they get is a tract. Give them a hearty "Christ is coming soon, May Jesus Christ watch over you..." and mean it. Be ready to lead someone to Christ. Send the kids home with their bags filled with Gospel tracts to read. Send the parents home with information about Christian churches around the city. Remember that the little kids probably can't get to church without someone to take them. Try to get clearance from the parents to give out the tracts first so the parents don't feel ambushed. It is time to start winning our neighborhoods to God. There should still be time for participating churches to get materials ordered and distributed to people based on the number of expected kids each household usually has. Then we could all pray for good weather for a change.

Even if you can't pass out information, encourage your members to proclaim the name of Christ. It is important in this era where any religion but Christianity can be studied in the school system under the name of culture that kids realize that this is a Christian country. There is much division in our ranks. But take this day to proclaim yourself as a Christian. Not as an Episcopalian, Catholic, Methodist, Pentecostal, Independent, ..., but as a Christian. It will give you more reason to act like one the rest of the year if the kids in the neighborhood are watching you to see what a Christian is like.

So I hauled myself out of bed to come down and e-mail this to our pastor and post it on the website, and my computer monitor wouldn't come on. I felt like I should try cycling unplug it in the back and plug it back in there. This time it came on (and it hasn't given me any problems since). So you can take that as God saying this isn't a good thing, or Satan trying to keep the message from going out and God giving a solution. Each church pastor should pray about it to see if it is right for them or their community.