Halloween? has never? been a good holiday for me in ministry.? Every fall, I fear? I’ll step once again? into the proverbial? pile of steaming pumpkin pulp.? ?

Here’s a list of 5 things? I wouldn’t do (again)? during October…which may or may not end with what some may or may not call a holiday that may or may not glorify something or someone other than God.? (I feel like? throwing-up just typing this sentence. I’m gonna? get? letters;? I just know it.)

1) “Danger, Danger, Will Robinson!” Word of advice: don’t? invite a practicing wiccan to talk with your youth group. Trust me on this.? (#epic fail: Should have asked the pastor and parents first. They would have said “no,” btw.)

2) Seemed like a good idea at the time: I guess showing a clip from a Harry Potter movie during worship was? a poor choice.? (#epic fail: Other clips would have worked? just as well and I would have avoided offending a few people.)

3) Perhaps it wasn’t? wise of a much younger me to tell a Sunday school class of? youth parents? that they were? sinners? for taking their kids trick-or-treating.? (#epic fail? for lack of? wisdom and respect for my elders? in matters that were none of my business.)

4) Equally? unwise to tell the preschool director and all her teachers that the preschool wasn’t? a godly place? because they decorated for Halloween. (see #epic fail above. Same year;? I was going through an exceptionally judgemental early 30′s phase.)

5)? WAY over-the-edge? LAME? idea!! For? the? first big event in your first? yuth ministry? PAYING job,? don’t go too far the other way? in fear of celebrating All Saint’s Eve? by making your alternative? event a “Come Dressed As Your Favorite Reformation Character” party instead.? ? (I don’t even need to say why this was? an epic fail.)?

Moral of the story: Get the flu somewhere around 10/29 and don’t get? better till? 11/1.

Teaser for tomorrow’s story in one word:? MANHUNT.

S