I'M OFF!

Just a quick note....

If either one of you miss me, I am going on a small vacation. I'll post this weekend.

Pray for me....with 1 hubby and 4 kids 8 and under...well, it'll be interesting, but fun.

Have a great week!

Psycho...I mean PsyCHIC

OK...I'm not one to watch a lot of talk shows. Every now and then, I might watch Dr. Phil, but those times are few and far between. I REALLY don't like Oprah and anything besides those two are just trash. (I'm sorry to offend anyone, but please...don't you have underwear to fold?)

Well, I was flipping through all 12 of my channels (LOL...really, only 12. Nope, we don't have a TV with a channel dial, but I don't have cable, dish or anything else fancy and can ONLY get 12 channels through my antennae...of course, if I were Mexican and if I could "hablo espanol" I could get another 12 or so...but I digress.) ANYWAY, while skating through my 12 channels, I saw a book flash on the screen about psychic children. The author? Sylvia Brown. Now, if you are worth ANY Christian salt at all, you know this woman is PURE EVIL!

I watched for about 4 minutes. Montel was promoting her book and excitedly showing off this spiritual freak to anyone insecure enough to need assistance. These people had "ghosts" in there homes. Their houses were "haunted." They wanted info on "spirit guides." It all came back to, "Children see more than we can...you should encourage their psychic abilities, should they start to exhibit them."

This statement gave me chills. Not only is she going to hell, but she is telling these TRULY CONCERNED parents that it is OK what they are seeing and hearing. She said, "There are no evil spirits, just evil people." WHAT?

She said that if you want to get rid of the spirits in your home, you should call them by name and tell them to go. You are to remind them that they are dead and ask them to "go home to God." ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

When it came to one dead person that happened to be terrifying a 2 year old child, the mom was told to tell "Jeffery to go back to the 'Christ consciousness.'" I have no retort...I am still stunned about that one.

I am like the cowardly lion on The Wizard of Oz: "I do believe in spooks! I DO believe in spooks! I do, I do, I DO believe in spooks!"

OK...not quite in that manner, but I do believe there are evil spirits. I do believe they can haunt a home and a person. I believe they can cause harm, whether directly or indirectly. The only difference is this: instead of trying to figure out who (because I KNOW who) is behind all of the vile events happening in the neighborhood, and asking them to "please go to God...you are dead." I will remind this EVIL SPIRIT that it IS from the pit and that it is CAST OUT of my home in the name of JESUS CHRIST and cannot approach my family, nor my home, ever again.

All believers out there need to hit your knees and start praying the blood over your families, especially your children. We are at war! BRING IT ON!!!!

WHAT THE...?

This is a test post. For some reason, the last 2 posts do not allow comments. Now I know that I only have about a dozen faithful readers, but I also have 2 (or so) faithful commentors.

I was really starting to feel neglected about the "no comments" thing when I got an email from a friend saying that she tried to comment and there was no way to do it. I've tried everything my sad little brain can do. If you know what I'm doing wrong, PLEASE let me know. I have looked at the "settings" section and the "comments" section on that TRYING to get it up, but to no avail. HELP! I NEEEEED validation.

MY MAN HARRY!

I had a friend ask me about Harry Potter. The question was, and I quote, "What do you think about Harry Potter?"

Hmmm...what do I think? I needed context for the question. I asked, "What do I think, as a Christian?"

Harry Potter is a wizard. If you have lived in the US for the last 8 years and don't know that much you are sad. The books have swept the nation...well, the world, really. It is full of witchcraft and darkness and will, no doubt, lead good little girls and boys down a wicked path full of demon possession, animal sacrifice and hell. But, didn't the Beatles do that some 40 years ago? I mean...their music got REALLY good when they discovered drugs.

I read the first Harry Potter book during my 2nd year of teaching. I read it so that I may be "in touch" with what the kids of the day are interested in. I taught a gifted 2nd grader who would sit, during recess, and read these REALLY FAT books. A friend of mine had the first 3 books. (Yes...it took me that long to crack open a book.)

My first impression was that it was well-written. I was mildly interested until book 4 when I thought, "HOLY SMOKES! There are real spells in there! Kids don't need to read this!"

Then I started hearing arguments from adults (who HADN'T read them, by the way), "Well, if it gets kids interested in reading, I'm all for it." Well, let's follow that idea down a very short road. "I want my child interested in math, therefore let's teach the difference between a dime bag and a nickel bag." That is SO lame.

These books are bad for kids. I will not let my kids read them. Perhaps when they are driving cars...and I can trust them NOT to run over black cats, whilst wielding a wand to move bushes out of their way, will I let them. But then, being a responsible parent, I will "discuss it" with my children to make sure they know the difference. The difference in what? It certainly isn't reality vs. fantasy...not by my beliefs, anyway. It's VERY real. It is evil. It is a BIT far fetched, but can be a dangerous gateway...much like cigarettes as a gateway to Mary Jane.

I will never read them to my students when I teach. I want the parents to know that they can trust what I present to the kids.

If I ever see my kids pretending (like I did) that they can cast spells, fly on brooms or apparate from one place to another, I will certainly seek Christian counselling in order that I may build a wall of protection around my cherubs. It is my duty to keep them safe. It is my job to make sure that they know our beliefs and where we stand on views such as witchcraft, the occult and other deviant behaviors and beliefs.

BUT, before I do...I will be sending my hubby to Hastings AT MIDNIGHT, so that he can pick up my PREPAID, RESERVED copy of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" AS SOON AS IT GOES ON SALE! WOOHOO!!!!

IT'S MORE THAN FAITH!

For the third time, in a matter of months, I have heard or read a disturbing sentiment from some friends. This is not a direct quote, but it goes something like this: "I'm a Christian, but I have had hard times. Therefore, I have lost my faith."

OK...I have serious issues with that statement. I really do. First, I have a question for you. Is it a matter of faith? I mean, come on. What is faith to you? I know what faith is to me. It's the "substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

It disturbs me because I start to think that you (and I'm being general here) are only a Christian to have an easy time. Well, if you are having an easy time, then I would suggest to you that obedience is a very serious problem for you.

Ever since I have heard statements such as this, I have been on the lookout for evidence suggesting the proverbial bed of roses. I have not seen ANYWHERE in the Bible that says, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men....and rich, and beautiful, and lucky and have an easy life." PLEASE! If you have found it, let me know, because I am totally missing the point of the Word.

I told a friend, just this past weekend that if a Christian is having a hard time, perhaps he or she is doing something right. I mean, an effective Christian would be dangerous to Satan, right? He would then try to thwart all that was being done.

Now I'm not saying that a flat tire is reason to doubt your faith. Actually, I think a flat tire should make you consider your path to work. Don't be a bozo. God expects His children to take a certain amount of responsibility for his or her actions. If something so petty as car troubles has you questioning your faith...well, you are slow on the upswing. You should have questioned it LONG AGO!!!

While I was away this weekend, I had a lovely opportunity to bond with a dear friend, add a dear friend to the ranks, and unfortunately, intimidate a possible friend. I didn't mean to do it, but I can come on a bit strong. (Those of you who know me are laughing.)

It was a wonderful time of fellowship and ministering. (That is a concept that I still have trouble with, but I do try. Honestly, I don't feel that I have the knowledge to minister or preach or witness or even share what I KNOW...and that is sad...I'll be working on that.) However, this third person should have been back-up for me while I spoke to my new friend. She is in a position that shouts knowledge, grace and FAITH. I didn't see it. She will be in my prayers.

In my prayers, also, will be the other people who seem to have lost their way on the path of faith. If they read this and end up upset with me, I encourage them to email me. You are in danger. If you are that easily shaken, then you are an EASY TARGET!

I truly believe that once you have true faith, then you can't be swayed to believe otherwise. In fact, I'm counting on this for a few DEAR friends of other faiths. They are going to hell because they do not believe in the one true Savior, Jesus Christ. Please be in prayer with me.

That is all my ramblings tonight. If you need someone to pray with you, please leave a comment. If it is private, I will not publish. God bless you all!

I DID IT.....and I'm NOT ashamed (I don't think)

I always swore I wouldn't.

I don't know why I finally succumbed to peer pressure.

My hubby was indifferent.

It's an expensive habit.

I don't know how I could possibly maintain a normal life after this.

I have many friends who have done it...many who still do it...yet I always said, "NOT ME!"

Why did I give in? I have (for the past 15 years) been adamant about NOT participating in this...this thing, this beast, this monstrous activity that pulls you away from family and friends and forces you into seclusion.

I was dead-set in NOT doing this...just like I was dead-set in not gaining the "freshman fifteen" (several years in a row, but who needs 120 pounds, anyway? I mean, 120 pounds...that is SO EIGHTIES!)

So, I went to see a friend. We were alone when she began to discuss this habit of hers, all the while trying to nudge me...using soft tones and understanding words...to woo me, if you will, into this place...this place I swore to never go.

So nervous was I, at one point, that we had to stop so that I could calm down with a drink. Oh, how it calmed my nerves...burning as it slid down my throat in it's ice-cold, effervescent goodness. (Dr Pepper is good that way. :D)

After my old friend (the fully-leaded one) soothed my nerves, I turned to my other friend..the Jezebel. She told me I didn't have to do it if I didn't want to. I didn't have to do as much as she was used to doing. I could just start off small. In fact, if I didn't like it, I could always stop...that is IF I had the will-power to stop. That's how these nasty habits usually go.

After a bit more discussion, and seeing her stash, I was assured that it would not hurt. I could use from her stores if I didn't have all I needed and wanted. There were some others who said I could take from their stash as well. Only 5 of us...and I'm the one who doesn't know what she's doing. So many colors. So many things to choose from. How could I dabble without committing so much of myself? My friend offered to help as much as she could.

SO, this weekend I will be going with my friend and 3 "will-be" friends to a scrapbook retreat.

PLEASE don't judge me!