So who am I? My name is Dora Crystal Solis. Well.... I am not named after the Explorer Dora, she came after me, but after my beautiful nana! R.I.P. Grandma! My middle name is well Crystal, that name is a given and maybe one of these days I'll find out from my parents why they chose that. I don't mind being nicknamed "Dora the Explorer" after that cutesy cartoon character; although I've always enjoyed exploring ever since I can walk, so I think she was named after me lol! But that has yet to be determined ;) And I did have a Dora bob at 3, hmmm wonder if those photos leaked!! I sure didn't put them up, I was embarrassed of them and even now! Mom what were you thinking??? Anyway I do love to explore as I mentioned before; can't wait to get back to my take a hike saturdays when the weather permits, take a buddy, my bro or both, and I will post plenty of awesome photos of my hometown of Supie town scenery and the outskirts and you'll see why Hollywood chose this place to film movies, granted they filmed way more scary movies then we would like, but hey they also did a True Story Hallmark movie and that funny movie Eight Legged Freaks, so we'll take them! They will posted as I update here and in certain areas. Same with some tidbits I've been meaning to add...Anyway onward... I
I am Christian and born again on November 19th 2003, baptized in the Apostolic Church here in Supie Town AZ and received the Holy Ghost Before!! And Yet I am human and not perfect and neither is anyone out there on twitter, myspace, facebook, etc! especially the celebs and if they try then hey back off! If you're a true fan then suppor them no matter what and I'm going to be doing the same, especially one for certain!! And God help me on that one!! That is the true Christian and humane thing to do! If I claim to be perfect then forgive me, I do try to be what God wants me to be and that is a true Follower of HIM! I will show that by tweeting more on God and less on my life, unless the LORD did something like a miracle and provided for me and my family, so I can show you all that HE is The Provider and the Only way to Heaven and to be able to tolerate the world we now live in. So what's coming up with my life?? Trying to get back into school and goin to be publishing books to pay the bills and hopefully do my business or something that I am able to until then!! Take care and God bless you all! If you would like to know more feel free to ask!! Here's a link to my facebook page, I should have updates on my book and journal that just got published and most of the information as such. Need anymore and I'll be happy to update it on here and on facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Spicey2010
twitter:
twitter.com/DCS_1983
Ok so… well some of the things that I have been putting on
twitter as of recently are for a reason, and not just it automatically shows up
on my fb but because I want to be an example to myself and everyone and to
show, that hey, it’s not hard to not only Love the Lord but to give your life
to Him and serve Him with your whole heart and soul. I mean who also wouldn’t
want to receive the greatest gifts ever? (Talking about the gifts of the
Spirit) as well as the Holy Ghost which is the greatest gift of Him. Its mainly
because its God in you and He fills every single void in your heart and soul.
Don’t believe me? Try it you will like it…. I mean who would want to fill empty
all the time? Its like this: when you are you should know what else could feel
that emptiness? Don’t believe me? Which these movies that talk about stuff like
that i.e.: Deliver us from Evil, The Exorcist etc… then don’t ever watch them
again!!
And true once you come over on God’s side the enemy attacks
you. So why not be on the receiving end, and why would you want to be blinded
by what had you bound then to see what’s coming at you and rebuke it from out
of your life and the lives of others?? Oh yeah my friends and not only that but
you have the Lord on your side and legions of His angels to protect you from
the evil One. And then you will also have power over the enemy and you could
call the angels of the Lord when He gives you the unction to (call on God first
at all times!) And you will have power over the enemy only through the Lord
don’t forget that, that’s why its so important to receive the spirit of God in
you so the enemy can’t dwell in your body,they may be on the outside tormenting
and bugging you to know end, but remember you+the Holy Spirit and God (Jesus)+
His angels=victory over Satan and his. So come to the winning side and fight
against them and don’t have them overcoming and using you and keep you down and
out. The devil comes but to steal, kill and destroy. The Lord comes to give you
life and life more abundantly. Yeah the Devil mocks the things of God but
remember that hocus pocus is temporary but the miracle and the things of the
Lord are eternal and FOREVER! And who would want to spend eternity without the
Lord?? (more on that and heaven!)
Revelation one 10,13 to 14 4:2-4,5-11,21:1-2,10-11. For all of us to see and He invited us to his throne room and soon will be worthy to be at his feet. 2012 vision had my vision Sunday, June 24?? I saw heaven the Throne Seat of God All bright and white on an emerald throne and new Jerusalem behind Him on the side beautiful white puffy and fluffy clouds with the silhouette of angels wings. Also
the clouds had rays of light as if from the sun made by the Son! and answers or
this was confirmation for me and in the front lots of steps, like a stairway of
heaven I was at the very foot of it. Jesus wanted to come towards me and I said,
"I'm not worthy Lord." Then like 5 min later enter Satan comin to my right or he
was at my left and Jesus comes towards me and tells me neither is he and then as
soon as I happen Seen that bam He was gone. Satan was in a black shroud and
wanting to come and bring his darkness into the throne room but he can't of course.
I do not know if this was a June 24 or on a Friday during prayer.
This was reassurance and I guess confirmation and I felt peace joy and the loving glory of God as well as reassuring me that our prayers are going to the throne room of God.
Hopefulluy soon I will have a dream journal out along with my other journal and books and I'm working on two other books entitled: Promises of God and God Vs. Satan.
I'm writing a story with my cousin and we're slowly but surely in the process of finshing the book and I''m hoping to have a short story to publish in a magazine. Will keep you updated on both
Some awesome, beautiful and feel good stuff before you see the flip side of the spectrum....
These would be some other things that I've worked on and recently finished. You will see what came from me and what was inspired by the Lord.
As I gaze up at the beautiful starry night sky with
my faithful cat by my side;
I feel so
at peace and harmony… With my creation whose
love expands from
the heavens to the earth and back again.
*************************************************************************************
One of the greatest places for me to be is sitting
right outside my backyard on the side of my parent’s house. And regardless of the light post we have back
there I’m able to get a breathtaking view of the stars, and ever so once in a
while I’m able to see a shooting stars and more times than not the lights of an
airplane flying from one end of the sky to the other. Outside of my house is also one of the
greatest places that I get my inspiration and I am able to catch a glimpse of
nocturnal nightlife besides the bats and my cat flitting about. I now have two
cats to keep me entertained and an awesome place to go to at the end of the day
to unwind and just give it all to God.
Torn
I will follow the Lord all the way, in the good
and bad, rain or shine. And, especially
when I don’t
Feel up to it. I need my heart to be pure at the
same time. I feel so torn with all the things I want to do.
Do all the things that I want to do, line up with
what God wants in my life? Now would
definitely be a good time to seek the Lord’s face everyday and strive to be
close to His presence. To feel His warm embrace and that blessed reassurance
when I hear His voice say, “All is well. Do not worry about tomorrow, but now.
Let it all go and take a breath and be at peace. O Lord sometimes I feel like
there isn’t enough hours in a day. Would I be so torn if there were??
one of the reasons I don't like Halloween:
A recent article featured in the online magazine The Onion described in sinister terms the enormous popularity of the J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books. In a shocking article entitled “Harry Potter Books Spark Rise in Satanism Among Children”, the article describes how young people are turning off to Christianity and turning on to Satanism in droves. One child described her favorite character in the book and compared him to Christ, reportedly stating, “Jesus died because He was weak and stupid.” According to the writer, the popularity of the Rowling series has resulted in an astonishing 14 million children joining the Church of Satan.
But there is a problem with this article. It’s a hoax. The Onion is a satirical publication, boasting countless articles on totally fictional events. Currently featured stories have titles like “God Wondering What Happened to That Planet Where He Made All Those Monkeys” and “Historical Inaccuracy Found in Wild West Strip Show.” Although the banner heading describes The Onion as “America’s Finest News Source”, the not-so-subhe boycott is that it’s based on an utter lie. This groundless rumor continues to be circulated 20 years later, evidently because some religious folks can’t resist spreading such sensational stories. (For more information on this and other urban legends, check out the Urban Legends Reference Pages.)
In today’s digital world, this credulity is exacerbated by the lightning speed at which misinformation can be perpetuated. A clever, cynical hoax sent to one person via email before breakfast can reach thousands—even millions—by dinnertime. Examples of these kinds of urban legends abound, and the problem is getting worse as we uncritically read and forward whatever arrives in the “Inbox”. The time for Christians to employ critical thinking skills is now.
When it comes to a sensational topic like Satanism, our minds naturally conjure up occult imagery from popular movies, bizarre “X-Files” episodes and satanic crimes retold by Satanism “experts”. Depending on how many books and seminars one has absorbed, grotesque imagery of animal sacrifices, women compelled to be “breeders” for human sacrifice, ritual satanic abuse and other unspeakable acts come to mind. These stories are often said to signify a vast, global conspiracy that purportedly includes Freemasons, witches, Jesuit priests, corrupt law enforcement officials and liberal Protestant ministers (especially those who preach from any of those “New Age” Bible versions).
Just How Widespread Is It?
Some prominent Christian leaders have claimed that thousands—even millions—of people today are involved in a satanic conspiracy of unimaginable influence. Since the 1970s, a number of Christians claiming involvement in satanic movements have stepped forward to tell their stories. Self-proclaimed former high satanic priest, Mike Warnke, told one such story. Spanning a ministry career of about 20 years, Warnke enthralled audiences with details of his occult past and dramatic conversion to Christ. Thousands attended Warnke’s concerts to enjoy his trademark comedy and hear his dramatic testimony. Warnke’s popularity came to an abrupt end when Christian investigative journalists painstakingly uncovered the many deceptions on which he had based his entire ministry.
Other would-be celebrities have similarly tapped the religious market for the sensational, each writer rising to new heights of horror fiction. Ruth Bailey, aka “Rebecca Brown” wrote several books (published by conspiracy conglomerate, Chick Publications) in which she claimed to have direct encounters with demonic powers—including a werewolf—and firsthand exposure to a satanic conspiracy that reached as far as the Vatican. Lauren Stratford, author of Satan’s Underground, relayed horrifying tales of satanic ritual abuse she allegedly experienced as a child. Both women were eventually exposed as frauds by Christians who cared about the truth more than making a fast buck in the religious retail market.
The majority of these fraudulent stories portray a satanic movement that is overwhelmingly vast and powerful, even virtually inescapable. The pervasive message seems calculated to produce hopelessness, and the Christian believer is always reminded of the satanic influences that must be diligently warded off by various ritualistic means if we are to survive. Fear, suspicion and an unhealthy obsession with Satan’s power are the hallmark of such “ministries”.
But Aren’t They Everywhere?
According to data gathered from various sources on Adherents.com, estimates of the actual number of professing Satanists depend greatly on whom you ask. Some researchers estimate there are as many as 15,000-100,000 Satanists in the United States, while others say there are no more than 3,000 total worldwide. Because they are generally an elitist and secretive bunch, it is difficult to say just how many Satanists there are. One thing is clear: there are nowhere near as many professed Satanists as there are Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, or any other “garden variety” cultist. (Mormons, for example, are currently preaching their “restored” gospel by means of a PR-savvy missionary force 10 times greater than that of Southern Baptists!)
As Halloween approaches again this year, many Christians will be exposed to religious broadcasts and literature designed to warn them against the dangers of satanic activity. While most of those writing about these issues have the best of intentions, they are often plagued by sub-standard research, hearsay and superstition concerning the beliefs of Satanists and other non-Christian beliefs. The unfortunate result is that informed people—including many who proudly wear the title of “Pagan” or “Neopagan”—see this kind of misinformation promoted by Christians and are generally turned off by the misrepresentations they hear. After all, if we can’t accurately describe their beliefs, why should they trust what we have to say about Jesus?
In a tract published by Bible Baptist Church of Sharon, Tennessee, entitled Should Christians Observe Halloween, James T. Melton writes:
Witches are worshipers of Satan, and they are an abomination to God… Why would a God-fearing Christian want to dress their child like something that God hates?
As we will discuss shortly, “witches” are not worshipers of Satan. Contemporary witchcraft is comprised of an eclectic mix of folk beliefs, magical practices, and goddess worship—hardly practices consistent with Christianity, but most definitely not “devil worship”. Wicca (a popular witchcraft religion), in particular vehemently rejects belief in Satan, preferring generally to worship a number of gods and goddesses (either literally, or as symbolic manifestations of nature).
While Christians are Biblically obligated to test the spirits and reject false religious beliefs, we must be careful to distinguish fact from urban legends. Although antithetical to Christian doctrine, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism are all examples of world religions that likewise do not worship Satan. While we might observe that false beliefs are generally “satanic” to the extent that they turn people away from the person of Jesus, very few adherents of any religion are so twisted as to consciously worship what they believe is evil.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are a good example of a pseudo-Christian cult that actively opposes devil worship and all occult practices while still holding out another “Jesus” for their proselytes. More pointedly, both belief systems will lead the seeker away from God with the same eternal results. Or do we actually believe a Mormon is better off with Joseph Smith’s “restored gospel” (which teaches that men may become gods) than the Satanist with his copy of “The Satanic Bible” (which teaches that man is an animal)?
Melton goes on to urge parents against letting their children celebrate this Pagan festival, stating:
Friend, Halloween is Satanic! You may pretend that it’s a harmless game for kids, but in reality it represents Paganism, Satanism, human sacrifice, torture, rape, murder, idolatry, witchcraft, and spiritualism! Did you know that October 31st is considered by Satanists to be their most important day of the year?
Our friend makes a number of startling claims about what Halloween “represents”. He seems to imply that this is a matter of common knowledge, and offers us no documentation for these claims. Is Mr. Melton suggesting that all of these activities actually occur on Halloween? If so, he should provide some documented examples so that the reader can be warned, and law enforcement properly briefed where criminal acts are involved. Or does he simply mean to assert that Halloween historically involved these activities and so should be avoided today in light of its tainted past?
Of course, no one denies that Halloween is an important day to contemporary Pagans and Satanists alike. The pre-Christian festival, Samhain, is celebrated by hundreds of thousands of Neopagans each Halloween, and the numbers grow each year as Neopaganism steadily gains mainstream acceptance in the Western world. With respect to the importance of Halloween to Satanists, however, Mr. Melton is incorrect. Halloween is not the high “unholy” day of modern Satanists. In reality, a Satanist’s birthday is his or her most important day of the year for reasons that will become apparent later in this article.
So What Is Satanism?
As we approach this controversial issue, it may be helpful to review what the Bible has to say on the subject:
(This space intentionally left blank.)
Curiously, the Bible is silent on the subject of the subject of Satanism as a religion. That is not to say that the Bible does not tell us certain things about Satan; in fact, it has much to say about the devil. Nor are we saying that the Bible lacks information concerning Satan’s activities. We are sternly warned to guard against his lies:
1 Peter 5:8-9 - Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
We want to be clear in establishing 2 facts from Scripture:
There is such a being known as Satan, or the devil, described in the Bible
Satan seeks to deceive and devour those whom he can lead away from the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
There are a number of ways in which Satan can deceive people. While it is not the topic of this article, many of his tactics have nothing to do with the introduction of false teaching, much less any overt attempt to get us to worship him. (C.S. Lewis does an excellent job describing some of the more mundane ways Satan keeps our eyes off from Christ, in his book The Screwtape Letters.) While few people are inclined to commit their lives to ritualized satanic worship, we are all vulnerable to the more subtle deceptions Satan offers us.
The Historical Development and Beliefs of Satanism
The main reason the Bible doesn’t mention Satanism as a religious institution is due to the fact that until the Enlightenment era, there really was nothing resembling it. One of the first philosophies that set the stage for contemporary Satanism was actually invented by a disenchanted Catholic priest named François Rabelais. In a 1535 novel, Rabelais created a literary paradise governed by what he called the Law of Thélème. The fundamental Law of Thélème was “do what thou wilt”—a phrase later commandeered by Satanists and Wiccans alike (although not without significant moral tempering by the more socially conscious Wiccans).
The European “hellfire” or “anti-morality” clubs built upon Rabelais’ vision of self-indulgence in the 17th and 18th centuries. These groups celebrated the excesses of their carnal appetites, and mocked the sensibilities of the Church through elaborate “Black Masses”. It’s important to note that the ceremonies were not an expression of sincere belief, but were an open mockery of institutionalized religion. Anti-moralists were not espousing a belief in anything, except their own pleasure.
This predecessor to Satanism didn’t develop a truly “spiritual” edge until Aleister Crowley (1875-1947) borrowed the language of Rabelais in formulating his own occult philosophy. To say that Crowley was an immoral man is not unlike stating that Billy Graham is a Christian evangelist. Crowley particularly delighted in sexual perversions, and experimented with magical rituals involving all sorts of deviant activities. In their book, Satanism, Bob and Gretchen Passantino note the three underlying values of Crowley that formed the bedrock for contemporary Satanism:
- Rejection of Christianity
- Assumption of the supremacy of the self
- The use of magic to enhance one’s experiences and reach one’s goals
Picking up where Crowley left off, Anton Szandor LaVey (1930-1997) founded the Church of Satan (CoS) in 1966. LaVey was a former carnival worker, whose personal interactions with Christians led him to conclude that Christianity was hypocritical and morally restrictive. He summarized his philosophy in The Satanic Bible (1969) in what he described as The Nine Satanic Statements:
Satan represents indulgence instead of abstinence!
Satan represents vital existence instead of spiritual pipe dreams!
Satan represents undefiled wisdom instead of hypocritical self-deceit!
Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it instead of love wasted on ingrates!
Satan represents vengeance instead of turning the other cheek!
Satan represents responsibility to the responsible instead of concern for psychic vampires!
Satan represents man as just another animal, sometimes better, more often worse than those that walk on all-fours, who, because of his “divine spiritual and intellectual development,” has become the most vicious animal of all!
Satan represents all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification!
Satan has been the best friend the Church has ever had, as He has kept it in business all these years!
It may surprise many readers to learn that the founder of the Church of Satan was fundamentally an atheist. While he did use occult imagery and celebrated his own version of the “Black Mass,” the focus of these activities was to free the adherent from the constraints of “right-hand path” or “white light” religion, which he saw as oppressive. As we see in the above statements, “Satan” to LaVey was a personification of his humanistic values, not a literal being to be worshipped or feared.
While the Church of Satan is undoubtedly the best-known satanic organization, there are other organizations, such as the Temple of Set, which have a more mystical orientation. Setians are a particularly elitist group, and draw heavily from Egyptian mythology in formulating their satanic philosophy. They see themselves as a truly spiritual and philosophical path, and express a general disdain for those who fail—for lack of intelligence or intuition—to meet their elite standards:
If you do not possess high intelligence, the exercises of initiation will simply be beyond your capacity, and you must have the common sense and honesty to recognize that and seek personal happiness elsewhere.
Setians further distinguish themselves as enjoying superiority over other belief systems, expressing their elite values in certain terms:
The Temple of Set evaluates conventional religions as erroneous in principle and therefore unworthy of peer status. We feel no need to concern ourselves with their activities, nor for that matter to maintain any sort of "diplomatic relations" with them [as in councils of churches]. Our position is that they may serve a useful social function as purveyors of soothing myths and fantasies to humans unable to attain Setian levels of self-consciousness. Hence we ignore conventional religious organizations unless they intrude upon our affairs. General Information and Admissions Policies
Satanists belonging to either of these organizations take extreme pride in their intelligence, creativity and wit. They are disdainful of “pretenders” and often point out the superficiality of those (especially adolescents) who embrace the symbols of Satanism without taking the time to research its philosophical underpinnings. They often use biting humor to make a point, and generally revel in their perceived freedom from the “herd” mentality of larger society. The main differences between these groups seem to lie in their views on the supernatural. For members of the CoS, magick is a showy ritual that frees the open-minded person from the tyranny of belief (whatever that belief might have been); for the Setian, magick is a real tool that makes a strong person even stronger.
Since Satanists are part of a highly diversified and individualistic movement, it naturally follows that there are innumerable lesser-known groups and solitary, eclectic practitioners with numerous, contradictory ideologies. Anyone can gain attention by claiming to be a Satanist. And Satanism exerts a powerful influence over insecure adolescents who often identify with the commercialized “Satanism” found in popular music (like Marilyn Manson) and occult movies. While we should be careful not to minimize these negative influences on our young people, it should be observed that these flavors of “Satanism” are usually passing fads birthed from young people’s sense of powerlessness in a rapidly changing world. While some self-described Satanists (primarily youths) do occasionally commit so-called “satanic crimes”, such isolated events are hardly indicative of a massive conspiracy.
Much has been made in recent years of what is sometimes termed “Satanic Ritual Abuse.” While space precludes a thorough treatment of the topic in this article, we refer the reader to an excellent article by the Passantino’s, entitled The Hard Facts About Satanic Ritual Abuse, in which they demonstrate the unsubstantiated nature of such claims. The article is heavily documented and very informative, and a must-read for anyone concerned about this topic.
In 1992, after an exhaustive and thorough investigation into the "Satanic panic" that swept America in the 1980's, FBI investigator Kenneth Lanning produced a landmark document that summarized his own quest for the truth about Satanic ritual abuse. He finally concluded that "for at least eight years (Note 1) American law enforcement has been aggressively investigating the allegations of victims of ritual abuse. There is little or no evidence for the portion of their allegations that deals with large-scale baby breeding, human sacrifice, and organized satanic conspiracies." In light of the scarcity of any relevant corroborative evidence, we find ourselves compelled to conclude that - at the very least - there is no proof whatsoever of the kind of Satanic conspiracies that are said to be behind Satanism today. Instead, evidence does point out that there are isolated and sick individuals (mostly alienated young teens and men) who have committed terrible crimes in the name of their god, "Satan" (or that is to say, their own feral anger and hostility channelled into a religious bent).
A Christian Response To Satanism
While evangelicals have written countless manuals on how to present the Gospel to non-believers, there’s not a lot of credible material to aid the Christian in responding to Satanism specifically. When approaching Satanism, it is helpful to keep some key principles in mind:
- Satanism, while sensational, is not particularly widespread. You are far more likely to meet a member of a pseudo-Christian cult or major world religion (such as Hinduism) than you are to meet a Satanist. It is wise to spend time acquainting yourself most with the beliefs of those you are likely to meet in your geographical area, rather than obsessing needlessly about a handful of elitists. Christian researcher Craig Hawkins offers some fine insight into the many faceted shades of belief held by contemporary Satanists: to access his online article, click here.
- Satanists are not waiting for someone to come share Christ. By virtue of his or her beliefs, Satanists are generally hostile toward organized religion, the Bible and Jesus Christ. Your approach to sharing your faith should begin with serious reflection on how your life reflects Christ in you. Beyond that principle, you can generally approach the Satanist as a practical agnostic or atheist. As has been said so well in the past, Satanism is actually secular humanism wearing a devil's mask.
- If you meet someone whom you believe is a Satanist, make sure that you understand his or her beliefs before making assumptions. Since Satanists are fiercely individualistic, it is unwise to jump to conclusions regarding that person’s view of heaven, hell, God, Satan, magic, etc
- Take the time to understand the important differences between Paganism, Wicca and Satanism. Many Wiccans, in particular, have been frustrated by Christians who insist they are devil worshippers. Two good primary sources to help you learn about and compare these different belief systems are:
- FAQs for Paganism and Wicca: http://homepage.mac.com/Paganrain/index.html
- FAQ for Satanism: http://www.luckymojo.com/faqs/faq.astnngp.9907
get the info here:
http://www.spiritwatch.org/sattruth.htm
look it up at google.com key words: The truth about satanists to educate yourselves!
I had a whole lot more but you know how sometimes the link gets broken well here it is again from Historychannel.com about Halloween:
Halloween, celebrated each year on October 31, is a mix of ancient Celtic practices, Catholic and Roman religious rituals and European folk traditions that blended together over time to create the holiday we know today. Straddling the line between fall and winter, plenty and paucity and life and death, Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition. Halloween has long been thought of as a day when the dead can return to the earth, and ancient Celts would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off these roaming ghosts. The Celtic holiday of Samhain, the Catholic Hallowmas period of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day and the Roman festival of Feralia all influenced the modern holiday of Halloween. In the 19th century, Halloween began to lose its religious connotation, becoming a more secular community-based children's holiday. Although the superstitions and beliefs surrounding Halloween may have evolved over the years, as the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, people can still look forward to parades, costumes and sweet treats to usher in the winter season.
Ancient Origins of Halloween
Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in).
The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.
To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities.
During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.
By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.
The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of "bobbing" for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.
By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints', All Saints', and All Souls', were called Hallowmas.
Halloween Comes to America
As European immigrants came to America, they brought their varied Halloween customs with them. Because of the rigid Protestant belief systems that characterized early New England, celebration of Halloween in colonial times was extremely limited there.
It was much more common in Maryland and the southern colonies. As the beliefs and customs of different European ethnic groups, as well as the American Indians, meshed, a distinctly American version of Halloween began to emerge. The first celebrations included "play parties," public events held to celebrate the harvest, where neighbors would share stories of the dead, tell each other's fortunes, dance, and sing. Colonial Halloween festivities also featured the telling of ghost stories and mischief-making of all kinds. By the middle of the nineteenth century, annual autumn festivities were common, but Halloween was not yet celebrated everywhere in the country.
In the second half of the nineteenth century, America was flooded with new immigrants. These new immigrants, especially the millions of Irish fleeing Ireland's potato famine of 1846, helped to popularize the celebration of Halloween nationally. Taking from Irish and English traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today's "trick-or-treat" tradition. Young women believed that, on Halloween, they could divine the name or appearance of their future husband by doing tricks with yarn, apple parings, or mirrors.
In the late 1800s, there was a move in America to mold Halloween into a holiday more about community and neighborly get-togethers, than about ghosts, pranks, and witchcraft.
At the turn of the century, Halloween parties for both children and adults became the most common way to celebrate the day. Parties focused on games, foods of the season, and festive costumes. Parents were encouraged by newspapers and community leaders to take anything "frightening" or "grotesque" out of Halloween celebrations. Because of their efforts, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones by the beginning of the twentieth century.
By the 1920s and 1930s, Halloween had become a secular, but community-centered holiday, with parades and town-wide parties as the featured entertainment. Despite the best efforts of many schools and communities, vandalism began to plague Halloween celebrations in many communities during this time. By the 1950s, town leaders had successfully limited vandalism and Halloween had evolved into a holiday directed mainly at the young. Due to the high numbers of young children during the fifties baby boom, parties moved from town civic centers into the classroom or home, where they could be more easily accommodated. Between 1920 and 1950, the centuries-old practice of trick-or-treating was also revived. Trick-or-treating was a relatively inexpensive way for an entire community to share the Halloween celebration. In theory, families could also prevent tricks being played on them by providing the neighborhood children with small treats. A new American tradition was born, and it has continued to grow. Today, Americans spend an estimated $6.9 billion annually on Halloween, making it the country's second largest commercial holiday.
Today's Traditions
The American Halloween tradition of "trick-or-treating" probably dates back to the early All Souls' Day parades in England. During the festivities, poor citizens would beg for food and families would give them pastries called "soul cakes" in return for their promise to pray for the family's dead relatives.
The distribution of soul cakes was encouraged by the church as a way to replace the ancient practice of leaving food and wine for roaming spirits. The practice, which was referred to as "going a-souling" was eventually taken up by children who would visit the houses in their neighborhood and be given ale, food, and money.
The tradition of dressing in costume for Halloween has both European and Celtic roots. Hundreds of years ago, winter was an uncertain and frightening time. Food supplies often ran low and, for the many people afraid of the dark, the short days of winter were full of constant worry. On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people thought that they would encounter ghosts if they left their homes. To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits. On Halloween, to keep ghosts away from their houses, people would place bowls of food outside their homes to appease the ghosts and prevent them from attempting to enter.
Superstitions
Halloween has always been a holiday filled with mystery, magic and superstition. It began as a Celtic end-of-summer festival during which people felt especially close to deceased relatives and friends. For these friendly spirits, they set places at the dinner table, left treats on doorsteps and along the side of the road and lit candles to help loved ones find their way back to the spirit world.
Today's Halloween ghosts are often depicted as more fearsome and malevolent, and our customs and superstitions are scarier too. We avoid crossing paths with black cats, afraid that they might bring us bad luck. This idea has its roots in the Middle Ages, when many people believed that witches avoided detection by turning themselves into cats. We try not to walk under ladders for the same reason. This superstition may have come from the ancient Egyptians, who believed that triangles were sacred; it also may have something to do with the fact that walking under a leaning ladder tends to be fairly unsafe. And around Halloween, especially, we try to avoid breaking mirrors, stepping on cracks in the road or spilling salt.
But what about the Halloween traditions and beliefs that today's trick-or-treaters have forgotten all about? Many of these obsolete rituals focused on the future instead of the past and the living instead of the dead. In particular, many had to do with helping young women identify their future husbands and reassuring them that they would someday--with luck, by next Halloween!--be married.
In 18th-century Ireland, a matchmaking cook might bury a ring in her mashed potatoes on Halloween night, hoping to bring true love to the diner who found it. In Scotland, fortune-tellers recommended that an eligible young woman name a hazelnut for each of her suitors and then toss the nuts into the fireplace. The nut that burned to ashes rather than popping or exploding, the story went, represented the girl's future husband. (In some versions of this legend, confusingly, the opposite was true: The nut that burned away symbolized a love that would not last.) Another tale had it that if a young woman ate a sugary concoction made out of walnuts, hazelnuts and nutmeg before bed on Halloween night, she would dream about her future husband. Young women tossed apple-peels over their shoulders, hoping that the peels would fall on the floor in the shape of their future husbands' initials; tried to learn about their futures by peering at egg yolks floating in a bowl of water; and stood in front of mirrors in darkened rooms, holding candles and looking over their shoulders for their husbands' faces.
Other rituals were more competitive. At some Halloween parties, the first guest to find a burr on a chestnut-hunt would be the first to marry; at others, the first successful apple-bobber would be the first down the aisle.
Of course, whether we're asking for romantic advice or trying to avoid seven years of bad luck, each one of these Halloween superstitions relies on the good will of the very same "spirits" whose presence the early Celts felt so keenly. Ours is not such a different holiday after all!
My local church does a puppet show, food and games for the kids as well as give out candy and we call it a Hallelujah Service which has been going on for about 13 years or so. Also the town started with a parade and with having something for the kids and the school always has a carnival.
The History of the Jack O Lantern:
People have been making jack o'lanterns at Halloween for centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed "Stingy Jack." According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn't want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree's bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years.
Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as "Jack of the Lantern," and then, simply "Jack O'Lantern."
In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack's lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the jack o'lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack o'lanterns.
Fun Facts About the Pumpkin:
In the United States, pumpkins go hand in hand with the fall holidays of Thanksgiving, and, of course, Halloween. The pumpkin is a nutritious and versatile plant; the flowers, seeds and flesh are all edible and rich in vitamins. The flesh of the pumpkin is used to make soups, pies and breads, and many Americans include pumpkin pie in their Thanksgiving meals. The practice of carving jack o'lanterns actually originated in Ireland hundreds of years ago, but they were not the carved pumpkins commonly used today; the original jack o'lanterns were carved from large turnips or potatoes. When Irish immigrants arrived in America they brought the jack o'lantern tradition with them, but soon discovered that the American pumpkin was larger and easier to carve, and a new Halloween tradition was born.
- Pumpkins are fruits. A pumpkin is a type of squash and is a member of the gourd family (Cucurbitacae), which also includes squash, cucumbers, gherkins, and melons.
- The largest pumpkin pie ever baked was in 2005 and weighed 2,020 pounds.
- Pumpkins have been grown in North America for five thousand years. They are indigenous to the western hemisphere.
- In 1584, after French explorer Jacques Cartier explored the St. Lawrence region of North America, he reported finding "gros melons." The name was translated into English as "pompions," which has since evolved into the modern "pumpkin."
- Pumpkins are low in calories, fat, and sodium and high in fiber. They are good sources of Vitamin A, Vitamin B, potassium, protein, and iron.
- The largest pumpkin ever grown was 1,689 pounds. It was grown by Joe Jutras of North Scituate, Rhode Island.
- Pumpkin seeds should be planted between the last week of May and the middle of June. They take between 90 and 120 days to grow and are picked in October when they are bright orange in color. Their seeds can be saved to grow new pumpkins the next year.
Did You Know?
U.S. farmers produce more than 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkin annually.
Now here's something fun and what I used to believe until I learned the truth which I will be sharing after this bit of information also from the history channel:
Ever since ancient times, the folklore of most cultures around the world has been rich with ghost stories--tales of spirits who return from the dead to haunt the places they left behind. Certain places seem to be particularly susceptible to hauntings, while some of the most famous ghostly sightings have been of historical personalities--from queens to politicians to gangsters--who attained a good degree of fame or notoriety in life and died early, often violent deaths.
What Is a Ghost?
The concept of a ghost, also known as a specter, is based on the ancient idea that a person's spirit exists separately from his or her body, and may continue to exist after that person dies. Because of this idea, many societies began to use funeral rituals as a way of ensuring that the dead person's spirit would not return to "haunt" the living.
Places that are haunted are usually believed to be associated with some occurrence or emotion in the ghost's past; they are often a former home or the place where he or she died. Aside from actual ghostly apparitions, traditional signs of haunting range from strange noises, lights, odors or breezes to the displacement of objects, bells that ring spontaneously or musical instruments that seem to play on their own.
Early Ghost Sightings
In the first century A.D., the great Roman author and statesman Pliny the Younger recorded one of the first notable ghost stories in his letters, which became famous for their vivid account of life during the heyday of the Roman Empire. Pliny reported that the specter of an old man with a long beard, rattling chains, was haunting his house in Athens. The Greek writer Lucian and Pliny's fellow Roman Plautus also wrote memorable ghost stories.
Centuries later, in 856 A.D., the first poltergeist--a ghost that causes physical disturbances such as loud noises or objects falling or being thrown around--was reported at a farmhouse in Germany. The poltergeist tormented the family living there by throwing stones and starting fires, among other things.
Three Famous Historical Ghosts
One of the most frequently reported ghost sightings in England dates back to the 16th century. Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII and mother of Queen Elizabeth I, was executed at the Tower of London in May 1536 after being accused of witchcraft, treason, incest and adultery. Sightings of Boleyn's ghost have been reported at the tower as well as in various other locations, including her childhood home, Hever Castle, in Kent.
America's own rich tradition of historical ghosts begins with one of its most illustrious founding fathers: Benjamin Franklin. Beginning in the late 19th century, Franklin's ghost was seen near the library of the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; some reports held that the statue of Franklin in front of the society comes to life and dances in the streets.
Though many ghost sightings have been reported at the White House in Washington, D.C., over the years, perhaps no political figure has made so frequent an appearance in the afterlife as Abraham Lincoln, the nation's 16th president, who was killed by an assassin's bullet in April 1865. Lincoln, formerly a lawyer and congresseman from Illinois, is said to have been seen wandering near the old Springfield capitol building, as well as his nearby law offices. At the White House, everyone from first ladies to queens to prime ministers have reported seeing the ghost or feeling the presence of Honest Abe--particularly during the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, another president who guided the country through a time of great upheaval and war.
Haunted Places
Some locations simply seem to lend themselves to hauntings, perhaps due to the dramatic or grisly events that occurred there in the past. Over the centuries, sightings of spectral armies have been reported on famous battlefields around the world, including important battle sites from the English Civil War in the 17th century, the bloody Civil War battlefield of Gettsyburg and the World War I sites of Gallipoli (near Turkey) and the Somme (northern France).
Another particularly active center for paranormal activity is the HMS Queen Mary, a cruise ship built in 1936 for the Cunard-White Star Line. After serving in the British Royal Navy in World War II, the 81,000-ton ship retired in Long Beach, California in 1967; the plan was to turn it into a floating luxury hotel and resort. Since then, the Queen Maryhas become notorious for its spectral presences, with more than 50 ghosts reported over the years. The ship's last chief engineer, John Smith, reported hearing unexplained sounds and voices from the area near the ship's bow, in almost the same location as a doomed British aircraft cruiser, the Coracoa, had pierced a hole when it sank after an accidental wartime crash that killed more than 300 sailors aboard. Smith also claimed to have encountered the ghost of Winston Churchill--or at least his spectral cigar smoke--n the prime minister's old stateroom aboard the ship. Many visitors to the Queen Mary have reported seeing a phantom crewmember in blue overalls walking the decks. Around the ship's swimming pool, reports have been made of mysterious splashes and ghostly women in old fashioned bathing suits or dresses, along with trails of wet footsteps appearing long after the pool had been drained.
Among major cities, New York is especially rich with ghost stories. The spirit of Peter Stuyvesant, the city's last Dutch colonial governor, has been seen stomping around the East Village on his wooden leg since shortly after his death in 1672. The author Mark Twain is believed to haunt the stairwell of his onetime Village apartment building, while the ghost of poet Dylan Thomas is said to sometimes occupy his usual corner table at the West Village's White Horse Tavern, where he drank a fatal 18 shots of scotch in 1953. Perhaps the most famous New York ghost is that of Aaron Burr, who served as vice president under Thomas Jefferson but is best known for killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804. Burr's ghost is said to roam the streets of his old neighborhood (also the West Village). Burr's spectral activity is focused particularly on one restaurant, One if By Land, Two if By Sea, which is located in a Barrow Street building that was once Burr's carriage house.
Did You Know?
The notorious gangster Al Capone has reportedly appeared to disrespectful visitors at his funeral plot in an Illinois cemetery. Spectral banjo music has also been heard coming from inside Capone's old cell at Alcatraz, where he was one of the first inmates.
The most famous address in America--1600 Pennsylvania Avenue--is also perhaps the country's most famous haunted house. Presidents, first ladies, White House staff members and guests have reported feeling ghostly presences, hearing unexplained noises and even running into actual apparitions--even on the way out of the bathtub, in one particularly famous case.
Abigail Adams & David Burns
Abigail Adams and her husband John, the second president of the United States (1797-1801), moved to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue from the former U.S. capital in Philadelphia. At the time, Washington, D.C. was still just a town, built mostly on swampy land on the banks of the Potomac River. Because the East Room of the new White House was the warmest and driest, Abigail used it to hang the wash. Her ghost, clad in a cap and lace shawl, has reportedly been seen heading towards the East Room, arms outstretched as if carrying laundry.
A lesser-known early White House personality who has been said to haunt its halls was David Burns, who sold the government most of the land on which the city of Washington--including the presidential residence--was built. Lillian Rogers Parks, a seamstress who chronicled her 30-year career working at the White House in a 1961 memoir, told the story of a valet to President Franklin D. Roosevelt who reportedly heard a disembodied voice coming from a distance in the Yellow Oval Room, saying "I'm Mr. Burns." During Harry S. Truman's administration, a guard heard a similar voice; thinking it was then-Secretary of State James Byrnes, he went looking for him, only to learn that the secretary hadn't been at the White House till this day!
Did You Know?
Lincoln, who is believed to have attended only two of the séances his wife held in the White House, actually foresaw his own death more than once, including in a dream he had shortly before he was killed..
Andrew Jackson & Harry Truman's Ghosts
In 1824, Andrew "Old Hickory" Jackson was defeated by John Quincy Adams in one of the most contentious presidential elections in history. Elected president four years later, the surly Jackson continued to hold grudges against those who had supported his opponent. In the early 1860s, First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln--who believed strongly in the occult, and reportedly held séances in the White House to commune with the spirits of her dead sons--told friends she had heard Jackson stomping and swearing through the halls of the presidential residence. The Rose Room, Jackson's bedchamber while he was president, is believed by some to be one of the most haunted rooms in the White House.
Jackson's ghostly presence also showed up in the White House correspondence of Harry Truman, America's 33rd president. In June 1945, just two months into his first term, Truman wrote to his wife Bess of the spooky quality of his new residence: "I sit here in this old house and work on foreign affairs, read reports, and work on speeches--all the while listening to the ghosts walk up and down the hallway and even right in here in the study. The floors pop and the drapes move back and forth--I can just imagine old Andy [Jackson] and Teddy [Roosevelt] having an argument over Franklin [Roosevelt]."
Abraham Lincoln
By far the most frequently reported sighting in the White House over the years has been the ghost--or at least the presence--of the celebrated 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, whose life was cut tragically short by an assassin's bullet in April 1865. Grace Coolidge, wife of President Calvin Coolidge (1923-29), was the first person to say she had actually seen Lincoln's ghost. According to her, the lanky former president was standing looking out a window of the Oval Office, across the Potomac to the former Civil War battlefields beyond. Lady Bird Johnson, wife of President Lyndon Johnson (1963-69), reportedly felt Lincoln's presence one night while watching a television program about his death.
Most notably, sightings of Lincoln's ghost were frequently reported during the long administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-45), who also presided over his country during a time of great upheaval. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt used the Lincoln Bedroom as her study, and said she would feel his presence when she worked there late at night. During her visit to the White House, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands heard a knock on her bedroom door in the night; when she answered it, she reportedly saw Lincoln's ghost, wearing his top hat, and fainted dead away. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who visited the White House more than once during World War II, told a story of emerging naked from his evening bath smoking his customary cigar, only to find a ghostly Lincoln sitting by the fireplace in his room.
When Lillian Rogers Parks, the seamstress, once investigated the sound of someone pacing an upper level of the White House, another staff member told her the room in question had been unoccupied, and "that was old Abe pacing the floor." Psychics have speculated that Lincoln's spirit remains in the White House to be on hand in times of crisis, as well as to complete the difficult work that his untimely death left unfinished.
You could find more by looking up about Halloween on History Channel.com
Now about why I don't believe in Ghosts anymore and what they really are! (that's what I used to believe now not so sure. Soooo ok yeah) I am a Christian but let me show the other side I deal with: I am learning and will do so until the Lord comes again is that true Christians who are of the Lord, still aren't exempt from what's the opposite of God is and that is "the darkness and the enemy known as the devil" and here is my proof!! So starting with "my backyard" which would be a good place to start my childhood and my memories mostly because that's been my backyard my whole life and both houses that I have lived in with my family in a sense belong to me, and I will show you that the Lord was always with me (even with all the chaos that has surrounded me practically my whole life, but myself and my family haven't come into any harm. I will be showing you exactly what I have been dealing with since I was about 5 or 6 years old! These events I will try and put in chronoligical order as they have happened in the past 22 years of my life and my family. That would be mostly past and present (want to start putting my pics up of me and then as I see fit, and then gradually add the ones with other members of my family in order.) So here we go.....
Below are 4 pictures of me on my swing set on the slide area and check out what's going on around me!! (talking about the three now the one by itself will have the info by it!) Dark spot on the tree looks like it wants to get closer and if that's not enough off to the right is a white mass doing the same thing and below me is a spirit that of all things looks like the chucky doll I mean are you kidding me!? And I have few others. (with me and my cat, to be continued on that for now, on the other computer! :( Sorry don't feel like uploading the same pics, will continue when have time which is hopefully tomorrow!) And ok this will tie in with one of my stories.... flash forward like 6 years same swing set and I am with a cousin and we hear a little boy in the creek say, "help me" and my dad checks and nothing, then the swing set is dismantled can't recall how long ago after but yeah, no more swing set! So ok, can this "Chucky looking" spirit be the little boy who I named "Danny" or is it the other "boy in the other pics, will have to wait. Also my friend heard the little boy and that was ummm like a few years later?? I will find out. And the story I wanted to add on here!! I wish I can recall how long ago it was but I think the swing set was down and my dad had some of the pieces underneath the platform (which I will put pics of soon). And I had one of those generic dolls that you could take apart the head, the arms, the legs, I must not have liked it because I got rid of it and we had like I kid you not we had 6 in our backyard, three for our aunt and 3 for us (she lived in the house that I live in now) so anyway next day the darn pieces are strewn over by the dismantled swing set of all places so I believe I threw them away again and if I remember right "something" dumpster dived again and left them by the garbage cans! We had to get rid of them not because of that, but because of those dratted raccoons, gosh I miss those things, they need to make an appearance again and boy we had lots of wildlife in that backyard, but that's another story hopefully! :)
So.... the pics of me on my swing set and then we will have....
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| Whether its a trick of the camera or something else it looks as if there is a phantom house on top of the one on the creek with something or someone peerin out of it, weird!!!!! (going to post so I won't lose it! and then edit it ASAP!) |
Some more pics of me on my swingset!
the lil boy is in pics two and four you really have to look! and you know I will just post these pics up with my other pictures which are elsewhere will see if I could find some way to link what I have so far about hometown. (And again I will have to say and see if all spirits or ghosts as people would like to call them are in fact all demonic, some can trick you and I know that for a fact. But others... well like I said and what I stated below will ask the Lord to show me what I don't know on this subject. Not just to benefit and educate me, but all of you as well who are also indecisive and would like to know. It is good to.) And when post my link of what I want to on here, the pictures may be the same but you will be able to see them better than on here. ) Will probably have to add it to another page. Will keep you posted.
;Test the Spirits
Whether you are dealing with so called ghosts, aliens or psychics, the only way to know if you are being deceived is to know the word of God (scripture) and know it well. Test the spirits to see if they are of God, or if you are being deceived by a lying spirit.
1 John 4:1
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try [test] the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (2) Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: (3) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (4) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (5) They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. (6) We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error."
What are ghosts?
The Bible says that one third of the angels rebelled against God (see my page on Satan for more info). Satan (Lucifer) was the angel in charge of this rebellion. These angels were punished by being banished from heaven.
Satan hates man. Man has a relationship with God that angels could never have. Man was made in the image and likeness of God. Satan is jealous of this and hates us for it. He wants to deceive human kind into rejecting God, so that man will share the same punishment that he is destined for.
Satan knows that one single lie wont be effective in deceiving everyone. So he came up with several. Some men would be deceived by Ghosts and reincarnation. Others would adopt an evolutionary philosophy, that the world created itself without God. Others would be deceived into believing in pagan gods, etc...
I believe (and the Bible says) that Satan sends fallen angels to earth to deceive us. Satan wants us to doubt the existence of God. He wants man to share in his punishment.
Part of this deception is the appearance of "ghosts". Satan wants man to believe that these are the spirits of people who have died. That they have overcome the chains of death and returned.
This is opposite of what the Bible says happens when we die. By being presented with these spirits one tends to question if the Biblical destination after death is the correct one. Because if ghosts exist, then clearly heaven does not.
Ghosts are "familiar spirits"
The truth is these "ghosts" are not the spirits of men and women, but rather fallen angels masquerading as our loved ones.
If man believes that he becomes a ghost or is reincarnated at death, he will exclude the possibility of heaven as his eternal home and God as his Father.
Some "ghosts" have appeared to humans claiming that they want to "help" them. They posses a knowledge that only that person could know. Which is convincing to the person involved.
But what that person fails to realize is that angels have existed since God created the world. Angels are "older" than us, and older than our loved ones. They can easily retain knowledge about that persons life that "only they could know".
Other "ghosts" are clearly out to cause harm. Such is the case in hauntings.
I will be adding examples of both. And examine the scriptural basis.
Haunted houses
Question:
"I just finished reading your article on ghosts and I completely agree with you. I do however have a question for you. My sister lives in an old house in Missouri that is haunted, I say this because I have been there to visit and have heard the noises and so on. She has related to me sightings of these dastardly things and incidents where they have manifested by locking doors, turning off lights, sitting on her bed, footsteps, etc. .
Why would they occupy this old house? The previous owner obviously knew about them because she only lived in part of the house and for only for a short time."
thanks for your time
Trey D. 8/25/01
Answer: I do not claim to have all the answers, especially in an area where the bible is relatively silent, but I do believe that demons do have the ability to manifest themselves, and manipulate the matter around them.
Some noises may be demonic (demons can at times be seen and heard), others may be natural, wind, settling house etc.
2 Corinthians 11:14
2 Corinthians 11:14 tells us that Satan and his angels are able to disguise themselves as helpful spirits.
2 Corinthians 11:14 (KJV)"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (15) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."
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Did Matthew believe in Ghosts?
Question:
"In Matthew 14:26 when Jesus is walking on the water the disciples are afraid because they think that he is a "ghost". If ghosts do not exist then how do they even know about them."
Thanks, Kim 11/2/01
Matthew 14:26
"And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear." This is the King James Version. The NIV and some others use the word "ghost" instead of "spirit".
Answer:
The belief in ghosts probably dates back several thousand years. People living at the time of Christ believed in them just as some people living today believe in them. This does not make them any more real. There were lying spirits then, and there are lying spirits now.
Jesus never taught that ghosts were real, or that they were the spirits of our loved ones returning to visit us. To the contrary he taught that when we die we are either with God in heaven, or will be waiting final judgment (hell).
Jesus and Ghosts
Question:
"What are your thoughts on this statement by Jesus himself, who in Luke 24, verse 39, said "Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don't have bodies, as you see that I do!"
Answer:
This is not Jesus telling us that ghosts are real. It is him telling them that he is real, and not like the ghosts of fables.
Also the King James Bible (the one I believe to be most accurate) says: "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." Luke 24:39 KJV
Again you see the word "spirit" used instead of "ghost".
Giving up the ghost
All humans have spirits, and these spirits are sometimes called "ghosts" in scripture, specifically in the King James version of the Bible. In Gen. 25:8 (KJV) Abraham "gave up the ghost", in Hebrew the words in this verse translated "gave up the ghost", mean "to breathe out" to "be dead" and "perish" (The Complete Word Study Old Testament" Zodhiates AMG Publishers). It is interesting here that man would breathe out his spirit, as it is God that breathed it into man. Thus, when man dies his spirit returns to God - or is held in Hades, it does not roam the earth haunting houses.
There are dozens of other examples in scripture showing that man "gives up" his spirit at death.
And to add what becomes of us:
Do we become ghosts when we die? Or do we become Angels?
Neither is true... according to the Bible.
Angels were created separate from man, and are a different order than man. Genesis chapter 2:1 (King James Version) speaks of the 'hosts" of heaven being created. Also read Revelation 7:9-14 to see that angels and men are 2 completely different beings.
And we have two choices to make to either go to heaven or hell! You want to make it to heaven you need to repent be baptized in the name of Jesus and Speak in tongues and try your darned best to be the best you can be and what God wants you to be!
WANT TO KNOW MORE? go to google.com and put in the key words: What Ghosts are in the Bible and you will find about: 1,730,000 results and if I get any more comments or wanting to know more information then let me know!
So there it is and I will hopefully add more next year or whenever based mainly on updates on what's been going on with me and everything associated with what I have on this blog already.
Change of heart on the last few sentences I had up and what I was going to add on here: This went into a totally different direction as you will see below, this is a continuation of what I talked on above, but more of a personal nature....
Plz skim through all this, this is history and some things I've been going through. Before I continue on with this Hollywood would like you to think that they are the ones with the idea for the movies on things you "love to watch because of the thrill of a good scare."
That's bs, its all been stemed by Satan himself. He thrives on things like this. Have you been affected after watching a scary movie? I know I have and not just that, but I can't watch Ghost Adventures anymore because of it. Why?? Well personally I have been plagued with hearing and feeling strange and odd sensations, things or God knows what running around in my room, being watched while sleeping and even when I'm in the shower, oh creepy is that?? And a few times I've almost been dragged out of bed. So what it spirits, or something more sinister?? I would like to think a little of both, and some of the things I've seen and done have caused, and what with the history of the town that I live in has a major factor. Am I afraid of all of it? Not anymore, just more annoyed. I know who I serve and He's bigger and stronger than any demon in hell! So I tell you, wouldn't it be a good idea to go on the side that's gonna kick Satan's butt? I would highly suggest it. Will you be attacked more? Well do you watching scary things, going into haunted houses, buildings, etc. I know I do. But you know what, it doesn't affect me, I would rather go through all this "spiritual drama" with the Lord on my side, then not having Him fighting with me. I've said enough on that here. I will add something pretty intense next go around that I would touch more on Youtube....
It is 2016 now and things didn't necessarily calm down from 2012-2014 yes, but why things have started going all crazy out there and even here in my hometown is because a lot of us are getting that feeling that it is the Coming of the Lord. Please read Matthew 24-25 and you will see what I mean. I won't get into all that, I will say about my past experiences up to this year- What's happening in the world is happening here in my lil hometown more in the spiritual, spirits popping in and out of here, drugs coming and going and thank God people are getting cleaned up from them!! But I still see the crazy stuff that I was seeing a lot in 2012 and what have I done about it? Well I'm trying to see what's up and not in the way the church would want me to, like saying I won't watch or see things I shouldn't well I have and have been looking things up on:cryptozoology, and portals and what not, why because they are linked whether you want to believe it or not. I know I should get into the word and I will and try to tie it all together, I don't want to be deceived anymore and I don't want to get dragged and warned out with all this, but I do want to see what's up and try to protect myself and others in the process. I am even in the process of writing a fictional book based on my experiences and try to throw in a 7 or so year span to play catch up with it. So that ought to be fun, along with a few books currently working on.
