I had a most unusual dream that awakened me early this morning. I feel compelled to share it here. I've had many spiritual dreams, but I think that this one was the oddest one I've ever had. I know it was a dream from the Lord, because of it's vividness and it was quite out of nowhere.

The dream:
I was with a friend back in the frontier days. We had traveled into the deep woods to visit an explorer and his wife who were doing research on this wild frontier. This young couple had built a rustic log home in a clearing, but they would often travel along a path that led to where "the indian camp" was located. They wanted to take my friend and I to look at the indian camp from a distance. As we walked along, it grew dark. I was wondering in my mind several things. First, I was wondering if we were going to spend the night out in this wilderness. Second, I knew that Indian camps always have scouts or lookouts surrounding their camp, so I figured they knew we were there. About the time I had that thought, the wife of the explorer (she was far ahead of us and out of sight) came runnimg back. She said that the indian lookouts had just come to her with a message from the indian cheif inviting us to spend the night in their camp. She said the warriors were drinking around a campfire. At this point, I was thinking several things: first, how it would be impossible for us to decline their invitation as that would be an insult that would make them angry with us. Second, how dangerous it would be to spend the night in a camp full of drunken, indian warriors. We knew we had to go with them, but I was full of trepidation. As we walked along with out "escorts", I was thinking about the effects of alcohol that I know so well. I was thinking about how alcohol separates your soul from your spirit and thus drives one into a state of carnality and poor judgement that is extrememly dangerous. I was thinking to myself, that, of course, I would not drink. I would remain sober. I was picturing in my mind the possible mayhem that could erupt in the middle of the night. I knew they would drink all night and we would be required to sit with them.I knew that they would expect us to drink with them and continue urging us to drink and I was trying to think of a way to look as if I had drank a sip without actually swallowing. End of dream.

I see many worldly parallels, but I just wanted to share this here. If anyone has insight or something to say, please do. Love, Dian.

I think that God may have given me the interpretation of the dream, but I want to pray about it for a while before I post anything, possibly I will post tomorrow or the day after.

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Benjamin Williams

I would dare not say that this is an interpretation from God.

In the frontier days, knowing who your enemy was simple - cowboys verus indians. Today it's not so simple.

The researcher friends you visited were simply careless because you cannot keep going out to view the enemy and expect not to be drawn in.

Careless with the enemy was the first thing that came to me.

God bless,

I'm going to cut to the quick here.

That whole thing about not wanting to offend - of it mattering more what these strangers might think, than what God would think - reminds me of a bit in a sermon by Carter Conlon called The Witness of Truth.

At one point he lists about five things you would not say to a prospective employer, if you hoped to get the job. One of them was 'I promise to loiter around the water cooler... ' When he returned to that point later, he said (I'm paraphrasing) 'No you won't (loiter), you will go back to your desk and do what you're supposed to be doing... That's the Witness of Truth.'

I'm just musing here... but I'll do so aloud.... Another thing I noticed as I read your account, was that the wife of your host (your hostess), was neither keeping pace with her husband, nor attending to her guests. She had raced off ahead. Perhaps I'm convicted because I used to do this... always feeling that others should be as eager as I was to take risks... but actually, she had her own agenda (a closer encounter with the enemy) and thereby was putting the whole party in danger by not staying close to her leader.

Also, I think one of the reasons you didn't all go back when it first got dark, was you were not all together in the same place (united) in purpose.

Dian, I believe God will give you the interpretation.

This is what i get...The dream represents ministry. You will pioneer to a country that has heard little or no gospel. the lookouts represent the "princes" over that area and the alcohol is the sin of the people. Thinking of a way to "look like you drank the alcohol" represents compromise. But no you wont compromise because God is telling you "you didnt swallow"
The dangerous and nitetime part is characteristic that "light is needed" and God will protect you.
The wife of the explorrer is your intercessor.
{she is aware of the principalities]

If God doesnt confirm this interpretation then .....[file 13]


David

I was reading over our opinions of your dream and they are all valid but they are just that, opinions of man and women!! ;-)

I've had dreams before and shared them with friends and they told me something totally different from what I was leaning towards. I ened up going with my interpretation. So go with what was in YOUR gut when you woke up and remembered this dream.

God will not led you wrong in YOUR walk with Him!!

God bless!!!

Alright, I am going to tell you what I believe it means. As Joseph said, "all interpretations belong to God." So we ask God for the interpretation and He will give it to us. I have read what others wrote here, and there are some interesting thoughts. Well, here it is.
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Benjamin Williams

Well Ben, your interpretation, I believe, is right on!
My thoughts, as I have meditated on this dream ever since I had it, have been that most of it represents what I believe about the church. In fact, just this morning, my husband and I discussed our present situation. We were a part of a church for about 9 months and then, we left because we felt that the church's strategy for evangelism was far too compromising with the world's way of doing things. We have been out of that church now for about 7 months, but this morning, my husband told me he wants us to return to that church. My husband said to me, "We can't just stay out of church. We have to go somewhere." I feel that I have to go because of my husband's leading (as in the dream, I don't feel I have a choice), but I'm going with much trepidation, knowing that things are probably, pretty much, the same as they were when we left. Now, I picture myself sitting with them "all night" while they drink (the cup of compromise). In fact, after our conversation, my husband called the pastor to tell him of our plans to return and he was elated. My husband told him that our views had not changed, but we felt we wanted to return. I'm going, but I'm planning to remain "sober". I know that many of them are guzzling at the world's trough.

Thank you for spending the time in prayer and for sharing this insightful interpretation here. Love, Dian.

Amazingly enough spitfire, I have had a similar situation over the past few years, I left a church because it didn't witness at all, and it didn't hardly have a prayer meeting.

After two years, God brought me back to that church through one of my friends that attended there. I have gone back quite reluctantly, but what I found to my surprise was that in the time I had been gone, God had been working on their hearts, and they were beginning to really press forward toward seeking what is right.

I do not know what your church situation will be, but just be ready for what the Lord wants by prayer.

Bless you in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

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Benjamin Williams