A KNOCK AT THE DOOR

Let's face it: Halloween is dying a slow and agonizing death in the Bible Belt. Trick-or-treating is fast becoming a lost art.

We're being surrounded by "Harvest Festivals" and "Costume Parades" without one mention of the All Hallowed Eve whatsoever. All the fun has been sucked dry from the holiday--completely unaided by vampires. Halloween has become a symbol of evil and darkness and crime. (Thanks a lot "Hell Week" participants.)

I say it's time to "take back the night". It's time to give trick-or-treating a good name again. It's time to celebrate what is good about October 31.

And what is that? Why the costumes and goodies of course! What better way to stretch a young imagination than by transforming a child into a make-believe creature of some sort? What better way to reinforce how visiting your neighbors can be a good thing than by freely giving out candy one night a year?

Maybe that's not quite what I meant--but I hope you can see there is some good to be had by knocking on doors on Halloween. On one particular All Hallowed Eve--the night before All Saints' Day in 1517--a man named Martin Luther, dressed in a monk's robe, knocked on one particularly large door at the Cathedral of Wittenberg.

Luther wasn't exactly begging for candy. He was asking for the church fathers to clean up their act and stop bilking the poor, illiterate populace of what little money they possessed by selling indulgences touted as "tickets to heaven". He wanted to tell others of the tremendous joy he felt when he read how God's love was freely given to all who believed in His Son as stated by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:8-9:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. . .(NIV)

The "works righteousness" concept disseminated by the Roman Catholic church at that time was invalidated simply by studying Scripture Luther discovered. His "trick" was to nail a long list of grievances (95 of them to be exact) for discussion on the church door the night before one of the most attended services of the year.

His defiant act started the Protestant Reformation whose repercussions can be felt to this very day. And all because he wasn't afraid to get dressed up and knock on a door.

So, let's stop being "Halloweenies." Why should we be afraid of October 31? Christ has effectively silenced our accuser, the devil.

Let's embrace the significance of the holiday by celebrating the fact that the "old ghosts" of "working your way into heaven" were driven away starting on that very night. Driven away by one strong knock on a door.

(Click here for helpful links for hurricane relief.)

More links to how to help Hurricane Katrina survivors

TO HELP HURRICANE KATRINA VICTIMS

Photos of children separated from their parents by Hurricane Katrina have been posted on a Web site by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in an attempt to reunite families.


Photos of more than two dozen children found in Louisiana were posted on the organization's Web site (http://www.missingkids.com/), together with sometimes scanty information available about them.
For those unable to access Internet in areas where Katrina knocked out electricity, the center has set up a telephone hotline (888-544-5475) for families separated during the hurricane.


Rebuild the Coast Fund: http://www.RebuildTheCoastFund.org

Contributions also can be made at any BancorpSouth branch; or by sending a check or money order to BancorpSouth, c/o Rebuild the Coast Fund Inc., P.O. Box 789, Tupelo, MS. 38802 or Rebuild the Coast Fund, P.O. Box 4500, Tupelo, MS. 38803. Make checks payable to: Rebuild the Coast Fund Inc.
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WHAT YOU CAN DO SOS America via Romantic Times magazine

For suggestions on what donated items are needed, here is a small list supplied by relief organizations. This is not complete, many other items are also needed, particularly underwear for adults and children, summer clothing, TOWELS.

Aspirin
Baby Powder
Batteries
Bedding
Bottled Drinking Water
Bowls, plastic, paper
Cable Ties
Calamine Lotion
Canned Food
Clorox Bleach
Clothes
Clothes Pins
Cutlery, Plastic Utensils

Diapers, Disposable size 12-24 lbs.
Disposable Razors
Duct Tape

Enema Kits
Envelopes, Manila
Exam Gloves
Face Masks
Facial Tissues
Fire Extinguishers
First Aid Kits
Flashlights
Folding Chairs

Gatorade Packets

Generators Hot and Cold Cups, Paper
Ibuprofen Tablets

Ladders
Towels
Mops
Paper Napkins
Paper Towels

Pens, Black and Blue
Plates, plastic, paperPower Cords, Electrical Outdoor 50/100ft.

Reading Glasses
Rope
Safety Glasses
Scissors
Soap, Antibacterial

Stapler
Staples
Step Stools
Sterile Water For Injections
Straws

Tape
Toilet Paper
Tools
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Towelettes, Antimicrobial
Trash Cans
Visine Eyedrops

What To Do For Survivors?
ADOPT A REFUGEE.....OR ADOPT A FAMILY

WHAT IS NEEDED?

Money / Supplies.

If you have usable TOWELS, UNDERWEAR, summer clothes, toys, pack them up. New, used, it doesn't matter. They don't have anything.

Children's clothing, toys, baby things, cosmetics, hygiene products, underwear for men and women, night gowns, pyjamas, summer clothes, sandals.

If so, let me know if you want to sponsor/adopt someone. Indicate the number you, your office, or school groups can take on.

Your contribution is deductible if the check (made out to SOS AMERICA, INC). Please sent to:

RT BOOKclub Magazine
SOS America, Inc.
55 Bergen St.
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Nancy will send you a receipt. She can also take your credit card for donations.
1 800 989 8816 (ext 12)

SEND ALL SUPPLIES TO ADDRESS BELOW.

Checks sent directly to Texas should be made out to Kathryn Falk. If you benefit from a tax deduction, make out check to SOS America,Inc., and send to Brooklyn address, Nancy wil make the transaction.

KATHRYN FALK
10218 COUNTY ROAD 941B
RR 1 BOX 134
ALVIN TX 77511-6839

My cell:347 432 2714

If you want to help with underwear and children's supplies in Houston, you can send money or supplies to:
JO CAROL JONES
1122 GLENBAY COURT
LAPORTE, TEXAS 77571
SOSAmericaInc.org.
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Donate to The Orphan Grain Train www.orphangraintrain.org
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Support the American Red Cross just by searching the web...

You already use a web search engine, so why not switch to one that shares half of the profits with the American Red Cross? Now you can search the web while making a difference in your community. Allgive.com makes it simple and easy for you to search the web, save your favorite links, and comparison shop online.

For more information, please visit http://www.allgive.com


For information on how you can help out charitable and volunteer organizations assisting in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina go to:

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18473

You can also send your monetary donations to:
American Red Cross
National Disaster Relief Fund
P.O. Box 37243
Washington, D.C. 20013

When mailing a check, please indicate your designation on the check's memo line. (National Disaster Relief Fund)

Other web sites where you can find out how you can assist those who are hurting:

American Red Cross
www.redcross.org

Mercy Corps
www.mercycorps.org


Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) - Hurricane Response
www.fema.gov

Charity Navigator
www.charitynavigator.org

Habitat For Humanity International www.habitat.org

The Humane Society of the US: www.hsus.org


For those in Australia who wish to donate to the Red Cross:
https://www.redcross.org.au/Donations/onlineDonations.asp

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The Salvation Army has a ham radio network set up to search for information on those who are missing. It's called SATERN, and their addy is www.satern.org
They have a form to fill out right on the main page with as much info as you have, and you e-mail it to them. Hopefully, they will be able to find information for you.

To donate online to the Salvation Army:
https://secure.salvationarmy.org/donations.nsf/donate?openform&projectid=USN-hurricane05

To donate by phone, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

To donate by mail, send checks, earmarked 'Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief,' to PO BOX 4857 JACKSON, MS 39296-4857.

Visit your local Wal-Mart or Sam's Club to donate to The Salvation Army's Hurricane Katrina relief effort.
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Fallen Angel Reviews is coordinating an effort to collect books for children and adults, including coloring books and crayons, to be donated to the people displaced by Hurricane Katrina. If you would like to be involved and contribute either money or books, email
Jaymi at jaymi@houston.rr.com or email JoAnn at joann@fallenangelreviews.com


God’s blessings to all our friends affected by this terrible storm. Stay safe. :)