A dream

I had an odd dream last night that sort of went like this-

We were in a large, kind of perfect mall like structure. I wasn't sure of what this place was, other than it was reminiscent of the mall in the town where I grew up. There was a tremendous noise, shouting and splashing coming from the floor above us. Cassie and I went up the escalator to find that the structure was actually a huge church - we were facing a large fountain and pool area where fifty or so people were gathered for baptism. The pastor moved back and forth in chest high water, lurking behind an obviously frightened woman. Speaking unintelligible words he pounced on her, taking her to the bottom of the pool. As they came up together, spitting and coughing - she screaming - "Lord, help me Jesus!" The crowd shouting , "Amen! Hallelujah!" and the pastor taking her to the bottom once again. We moved through the crowd for a better look - as she came up out of the water, soaked and crying, into the arms of her family. Next up was a older man who went down without struggle or complaint. The pastor boldly declaring - "Come to the waters sinners! Repent you sinners, Repent!" A large, strong young man came reluctantly into the pool with his parents by his side. As the pastor took hold of his arm, we could tell this would be a monumental struggle - once again, like a pro wrestler, the pastor waded through the water behind the boy. With great noise and effort the pastor jumped the boy, trying to take him into the water. Defiant, the young man moved through the water, dragging the pastor behind to the other end of the pool. I moved even closer, opposite the action to the other side, near steps that led down into the water. Sitting on these steps I watched the pastor try again to take the boy down - to no avail. They moved around the pool in an odd dance of the baptizer and the one who would not be baptized."Out Satan!" the pastor shouted, "To the depths of Hell!" The struggle intensified. As the boy finally shook off the incredulous pastor and swam towards the steps on which I was sitting. He grabbed hold of my leg and pulled me toward the water. Shocked I tried to pull back, but he had me by the ankle and I couldn't break free - "What do you want with me?" I said. "Now." he replied. "Do it now." I found that I was not in a struggle with the boy but beside him. There was a moment when I looked into his eyes and saw only the look of  the helpless. I slowly reached down and took up a handful of water and said -  "You're baptized, in the name of the Father." He looked at me quietly. I took up another handful. "You're baptized in the name of the Son." Tears streaming, the boy calmly waited. "You're baptized in the name of the Holy Spirit." I noticed then not only the boy's attention, but the attention of all the others. "Amen" someone said in a whisper. "Amen. Amen. Praise God. " other voices joined. I looked away from the boy to see a line forming from the steps into the water. Someone said John 7 and I awoke. After thinking and praying on this dream, I went a opened my Bible to John 7. My eyes fell to the following verses; 7:16-18 - Jesus said, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from Him who sent me. If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him."