November 2, 2006

Greetings everyone in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There are times I think to myself that it would be better for our church to
be in a more visible location (as opposed to being tucked into the
residential neighborhood we are).  Well, do you know that there is one day
each year - 1 in 365 - that FBC's building is in the best spot in town for a
church?  Do you know what day that is?  Of all things, Halloween.  Or
Trick-or-treat, more specifically.  Every year since I've started, I've sat
outside on the steps and given out candy; but I never put much thought into
it - just kind of at the last minute grabbed a little candy and sat out
there.  This year, I finally decided to get ready in advance.  I ordered
some tracts (little coins with the 10 Commandments on one side and a
gospel presentation on the other), attached them individually to Reeses Cups,
prayed and asked the Lord to bless the whole thing.  When the day arrived, I
was not 100% strong, but how much strength do you need to do this?
Well, the weather was fabulous for late October, and the neighborhood was just
crawling with trick-or-treaters and their parents.  I swung the doors to the
church wide open, had all the lights on, went outside and had at it. Before
the night was over, all the candy was gone, all the tracts were gone, I had
witnessed to a few parents, had people committed to visit both the
coffeehouse and church on Sunday, and just had a good old time.  The
comments from people were things like "that's so nice, for a church to do
this", and "that's a really beautiful church", and "you have a really big
house mister!"...  A couple of people even said to each other "Is that
father Tom?" and knelt down and made the sign of the cross... Hehehe ;)
"Father Tom" must be some guy, whoever he is!  Anyway, it was "a
beautiful day in the neighborhood", as Mr. Rogers would croon.

And then I thought about it some...

What a dummy I am to take five years to figure this out!

Do you think there's a connection between the preparation and prayer and the
result?  Duh.

This extends to ministry for all of us.  We are called to have our lives'
doors wide open and the lights shining brightly.  We are called to have the
gospel prepared for all, attached to the Reeses Cups of good works if need
be.  And we're called to be out on the front steps, there for the many who
will cross our paths.  And we are called to stay ready, and pray.  Pray that
God will use us in reaching the lost, pray that God will soften the hearts
of those who are perishing in their ignorance of Him.

And it all happened one Halloween.  Go figure.

All praise and glory to our great God and Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.

May God bless you as you trust and surrender to Him and follow and obey Him.

In Messiah Jesus, looking for His glorious appearing,

Pastor Lou (a.k.a. "father Tom" hehehe)