Fear is Not a Factor... A Christian Halloween Party

Halloween was approaching and I had recently read
the Apostle Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus

(reminding me of an old episode of "Fear Factor")

Paul...

you have fought a good fight
you have finished your course
you have kept the faith

Fear is obviously NOT a Factor for you!

And that's when I decided to host a "Fear is NOT a Factor" Party

invite a few of our friends
grab some candy and
plan a few games

to remind everyone that we have absolutely nothing to fear...

Baby Food Tasting and Identification

Contestants were to taste and name the two ingredients in each section
(1.Sweet Potato/Corn  2.Apple/Cherry  3.Pear/Pineapple)

Eat a Cricket

The contestants used the popper to get a number...

1, 2, or 3
Eat that number of crickets

4 or 5
Try again

6
Skip the cricket table altogether!

After the initial shock that they were eating actual crickets, contestants agreed
that they tasted similar to sunflower seeds and this game was the hit of the party!

Next, it was time to give the kids something to wash down all of those crickets and baby food so we...

-set out cupcakes for them frost and decorate

-headed outside for glow-in-the-dark bowling and
-listened to a fireside story while warming by the outdoor fire pit

Then it was time to head back in for more games...

Pasta and Skeletons 

Small rubber skeletons were buried with

cooked bowtie pasta and placed in a sensory table  

The table was covered with a black table cloth, contestants spun the wheel, and

were given one minute to reach in and save a life or two...or whatever number they had spun 

(Contestants who pulled out pasta instead of a skeleton were disqualified)

Hand in Ice 

Contestants were instructed to hold one hand in ice water for 2 minutes

(Remove your hand and get disqualified)

And I am so grateful that our...

"Fear is Not a Factor" party
had so much teaching potential

and the children
had so much fun proving

Halloween is more than candy and costumes, but
can also lend itself to lessons in gratitude and grace

So what did we learn in all of this?

Let's recap...

Baby Food Tasting and Identification taught us to distinguish flavors.  We come into this world ignorant to God and His plan for our lives, but when we learn to eat at His table and appreciate the nourishment He provides, it allows us to mature in Christ.  Then we learn what we should and should not eat and can distinguish the flavors set before us.

Eat a Cricket shows us that life is full of trouble, but Jesus has already tasted death for every one of us.  Abide in Him and some of us will even get to skip the cricket table altogether!

Pasta and Skeletons were used to remind us that once we become alive in Christ, God uses us to go back and get others.  We become fishers of men as we attempt to pull other dead men and women out of the black hole and bring them into the light.

and finally...

Hand in Ice is a testament that although life can be cold sometimes, there is a reward waiting for those of us who endure