An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about Halloween. This follows this post about the immigration threat. For a free magazine subscription or to get the books recommended for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886- 8632.

Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

  by Larry Walker 3 comments Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

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Halloween is a major holiday in the Western world for people of various backgrounds. Can Halloween celebrations be reconciled with a Christian worldview and lifestyle? The Bible holds the answer.

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Does Halloween serves a positive Christian purpose?

Monday night millions of children around the nation will be donning costumes, ringing doorbells and uttering the traditional “trick or treat” Halloween greeting. Most people consider this a harmless, fun activity for children. Others condemn the entire occasion because of the pagan origin of the day and connect it with demonism and the occult.
An article from a prominent Christian magazine suggested that “Christians should embrace the ‘devilish’ holiday with gusto—and laughter.” The author suggests that Halloween presents us with an opportunity to “mock” and “laugh at” Satan and “the forces of evil.”
A local pastor, writing wistfully of his past childhood Halloween celebration, said, “I enjoyed being a devil.” He asserted that “a child doesn’t think of a red devil as an enemy of God or the apostle of hate and destruction.” He went on to defend wearing costumes as merely superficial, and suggested that opposition to celebrating Halloween stems from lack of confidence in Christian beliefs.

Really only harmless fun?

Wait a minute! Is it unchristian for parents not to want their children to dress up as the Devil? Or does Satan theDevil even exist? According to a recent Barna survey, nearly 50 percent of professing Christians do not believe that Satan is a living being. For these folks, the whole question must be a moot point. But perhaps the rest of us ought to reconsider our perspective regarding Halloween.
Would anyone dare to suggest applying this reasoning to Hitler? Would wearing Hitler masks and swastikas and dressing like the skeletal remains of his victims be an appropriate way to “laugh at” Hitler and “mock” the diabolical evils of Nazism?
Is Satan a laughing matter? Does God want our children to associate fun and treats with the forces of evil?
I am not implying that a child who puts on a Halloween mask is dabbling in the occult or is in danger of demon possession. I am simply questioning the suggestion that Halloween serves a positive Christian purpose.
According to Deuteronomy 12:31-32 Deuteronomy 12:31-3231 You shall not do so to the LORD your God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hates, have they done to their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. 32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: you shall not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
American King James Version×God does not approve of recycling, reconstituting and relabeling pagan customs to celebrate Christian events.

Carnal holidays trumped by God’s Holy Days

My wife and I just finished celebrating eight fun-filled days of the Feast of Tabernacles with more than 700 men, women and children here in Central Oregon. I so much wish all of Christianity could share the joy of this meaningfuloccasion. Here is a God-ordained festival that was observed by Jesus, Paul and the apostolic Church and is still celebrated today by many Christians. It is one of seven annual Holy Days that foreshadow future events in God’s plan (Colossians 2:16-17 Colossians 2:16-1716 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
American King James Version×) rather than focusing on the powers of darkness that form the legacy of Halloween.
Anyone who dares express objections to Halloween has two strikes against him: 1. It is fun for the kids, and 2. It is a long-standing, firmly entrenched custom in our culture.
But the Feast of Tabernacles has Halloween beat in both categories: 1. It is fun for kids and the whole family and is eight days long, and 2. It was established thousands of years ago by God Himself. And most importantly, it and all of Holy Days of the Bible teach valuable lessons about the plan of God.
For more information, I invite you to read our free booklets, Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Observe?  and Is There Really a Devil?

Halloween

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An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about Halloween. This follows this post about homosexuality. This follows this post about the attack in Canada. This follows this post about diseases. This follows this post about Supreme Court nominees. For a free magazine subscription or to get the books recommended for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886- 8632.
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Should You Keep Halloween, Holyween, or All Saints Day?

by Randy Stiver

Source: freeimages.com/dejure

The answer is that you should keep none of the above. But why?
During this last week of October the Vatican hosted a conference of The International Association of Exorcists (IAE) formed in 1990 by a group of Catholic  priests who specialize in exorcising (casting out) demons (fallen angels who are now evil). Reports indicate that Pope Francis praised their work in the battle against the Devil.
The Association itself also advocated replacing Halloween with “Holyween” where Catholic children dress up as saints presumably as a compliment to the existing Roman Church festival on November 1 ^st of All Saints Day—also called All Hallows or Hallowmas.
In the early 1500s Martin Luther, leader of the Protestant Reformation, officially rejected the traditional Catholic doctrine that the faithful go to heaven where they act on behalf of those who pray to them. Saints were and are typically canonized by the Vatican some length of time after their deaths by adding them to the official list. However, Protestantism has generally sanctioned the perpetuation of the holiday we know as Halloween—although it has much more ancient roots in many pagan and later Celtic annual celebrations. The bulk of today’s Halloween symbols devolve from its ancient roots.
Interestingly, Pope Francis and leaders of the IAE denounced the traditional Halloween festival which glorifies Satan, demonic spirits, so-called ghosts and all manner of evil—which prompted the Holyween alternative.
How does a true Bible student make sense of Halloween, Holyween or All Saints Day? What’s true? What isn’t true? And what does God expect of you?
1.  Humans do not have immortal souls. “…The soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel:18:4Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die., 20). If souls were immortal, then they couldn’t die. However, since souls (meaning the person) can die, then to live forever in God’s Kingdom they must be given immortality at some future point. “So when…this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass that is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’” (1 Corinthians:15:54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.).
2.  True saints are not in heaven, but in the grave until the first resurrection of the dead which occurs at Jesus Christ’s return to earth. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians:4:16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:).
3.  Satan the Devil and his demonic fallen angels do exist and are evil—but we do not glorify them with a celebration or party! Laughing at or celebrating evil is the first step to accepting and embracing it. The true Christian’s reaction to the Devil is “Resist him, steadfast in the faith…” (1 Peter:5:9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.).
4.  True Christians observe God’s Holy Days from the Bible and reject and avoid the pagan-based holidays of the world no matter what religious label of acceptance is attached to them. God’s sanctioned days are cataloged in Leviticus 23 starting with the weekly Sabbath and followed by His annual Festivals or Feasts. The reason that choosing the right days of official worship is that a true follower of Jesus Christ seeks what is true—and true only.  Jesus specifically stated, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him” (John:4:23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.).
If you seek to be a “true worshiper” of God the Father and Jesus Christ, then you choose to directly reject any semblance of Halloween, Holyween, All Saints Day or Hallowmas in your life’s activities and in your worship of God.

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Blog posts do not undergo review by the doctrinal review team of the United Church of God. This post represents the personal opinion of the author and should not be considered the official stance of the United Church of God. If you have any questions or concerns please direct them to webmaster@ucg.org.

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An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about Halloween. This follows this post about Supreme Court nominees. This follows this post about Ebola. For a free magazine subscription or to get the books recommended for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886- 8632.
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Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

2 comments

A commentary by Larry Walker

Halloween is a major holiday in the Western world for people of various backgrounds. Can Halloween celebrations be reconciled with a Christian worldview and lifestyle? The Bible holds the answer.

Jack-O'-Lantern
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Monday night millions of children around the nation will be donning costumes, ringing doorbells and uttering the traditional "trick or treat" Halloween greeting. Most people consider this a harmless, fun activity for children. Others condemn the entire occasion because of the pagan origin of the day and connect it with demonism and the occult.
An article from a prominent Christian magazine suggested that "Christians should embrace the 'devilish' holiday with gusto—and laughter." The author suggests that Halloween presents us with an opportunity to "mock" and "laugh at" Satan and "the forces of evil."
A local pastor, writing wistfully of his past childhood Halloween celebration, said, "I enjoyed being a devil." He asserted that "a child doesn’t think of a red devil as an enemy of God or the apostle of hate and destruction." He went on to defend wearing costumes as merely superficial, and suggested that opposition to celebrating Halloween stems from lack of confidence in Christian beliefs.

Really only harmless fun?

Wait a minute! Is it unchristian for parents not to want their children to dress up as the Devil? Or does Satan theDevil even exist? According to a recent Barna survey, nearly 50 percent of professing Christians do not believe that Satan is a living being. For these folks, the whole question must be a moot point. But perhaps the rest of us ought to reconsider our perspective regarding Halloween.
Would anyone dare to suggest applying this reasoning to Hitler? Would wearing Hitler masks and swastikas and dressing like the skeletal remains of his victims be an appropriate way to "laugh at" Hitler and "mock" the diabolical evils of Nazism?
Is Satan a laughing matter? Does God want our children to associate fun and treats with the forces of evil?
I am not implying that a child who puts on a Halloween mask is dabbling in the occult or is in danger of demon possession. I am simply questioning the suggestion that Halloween serves a positive Christian purpose.
According to Deuteronomy:12:31-32 [31] Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.
[32] What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. God does not approve of recycling, reconstituting and relabeling pagan customs to celebrate Christian events.

Carnal holidays trumped by God's Holy Days

My wife and I just finished celebrating eight fun-filled days of the Feast of Tabernacles with more than 700 men, women and children here in Central Oregon. I so much wish all of Christianity could share the joy of this meaningfuloccasion. Here is a God-ordained festival that was observed by Jesus, Paul and the apostolic Church and is still celebrated today by many Christians. It is one of seven annual Holy Days that foreshadow future events in God's plan (Colossians:2:16-17 [16] Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
[17] Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.) rather than focusing on the powers of darkness that form the legacy of Halloween.
Anyone who dares express objections to Halloween has two strikes against him: 1. It is fun for the kids, and 2. It is a long-standing, firmly entrenched custom in our culture.
But the Feast of Tabernacles has Halloween beat in both categories: 1. It is fun for kids and the whole family and is eight days long, and 2. It was established thousands of years ago by God Himself. And most importantly, it and all of Holy Days of the Bible teach valuable lessons about the plan of God.
For more information, I invite you to read our free booklets, Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Observe?  and Is There Really a Devil?

• Halloween
• spirit world
• trick or treat
• Halloween
• Feast of Tabernacles

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Washington University of St. Louis: MSA holds "Islamophobia" seminar over photo of "soldiers" holding waterguns on "terrorist"

A very interesting post from www.jihadwatch.org about U.S. citizens receiving “sensitivity training” over their views about the terrorists the U.S. is fighting. This follows this post about a billboard with a U.S. soldier and a Muslim woman. This follows this article about American energy independence and preventing money from going to hostile countries such as Iran. For more about what you can do to get more involved click here and you can read two very interesting books HERE.

Washington University of St. Louis: MSA holds "Islamophobia" seminar over photo of "soldiers" holding waterguns on "terrorist"


The Muslim Brotherhood's MSA had a packed house

Apparently absent, conspicuously so, from this Muslim victimhood orgy conducted by the Muslim Brotherhood-linked Muslim Students Association was any discussion of whether Islamic jihad against non-Muslims is a reality, and of whether or not it is permissible under any circumstances to resist it. The MSA and other groups like it have been working for years to stigmatize any and all resistance to jihad terror as "racism," and this ridiculous episode is just the latest example of how successful they have been. In a sane world, the MSA would never have made a big deal about the photo, and if asked for comment about it, would have said that there were Islamic jihadists waging war against the U.S., and that it was perfectly reasonable and acceptable for these boys to stage a Halloween photo based on that fact.

More on this story. "Students, administration respond to divisive Halloween posting," by Emily Schienvar for Student Life (Washington University of St. Louis), November 11:

One by one, Muslim students and their peers passed the microphone to discuss past experiences with racism and Islamophobia.


For many of them, these memories resurfaced when a Halloween photo of students costumed in military garb in what some argued was a depiction of Osama bin Laden, others as a stereotypical Muslim at gunpoint, surfaced on Facebook last Wednesday.



An open solidarity forum hosted by the Muslim Students Association on Thursday offered students the chance to share their experiences with racism and discuss ideas for future prevention of acts that could be considered inflammatory.



What race is jihad terror against innocent civilians again? I keep forgetting.



The photo, which some students defended as a depiction of Navy SEAL Team 6 and Osama bin Laden, went viral Wednesday night and kicked off a discussion about how the University handles incidents students may find racially or otherwise offensive, an issue that the Mosaic Project was and is intended to address.

“The gravity of this matter extends much beyond the photo itself,” MSA president and senior Ishaq Winters said. “The ensuing, oftentimes hateful comments of fellow students expose wider concerns…the silence on the part of the administration and majority of our student body speaks to the systemic nature of the challenges to our university’s principles of inclusion and equality, challenges that we must address moving forward.”



The event, held in Tisch Commons, was hugely attended by members of MSA, other students and administrators.



Winters, along with Jenni Harpring, program manager for the Gephardt Institute for Public Service, served as moderators for the event. They stressed that it was meant to center on the larger context of the photo and the University’s response to it rather than the costumes themselves.



Several students from the MSA shared stories of discrimination from their childhoods and from their time at Washington University post-9/11. Some mentioned bullying, hateful comments and actual violence directed toward them and their families.



Freshman Imran Mumtaz said that he didn’t find the photo particularly shocking after growing up in the South and facing Islamophobic tension for much of his childhood but saw it as an indication for the need for more frequent discussion.



“I strongly believe that the people involved in the image are college students just like us, and we’ll consider that they made a mistake. At the end of all of this, we need to accept that we need to forgive them,” Mumtaz said. “What we need to take away from this is that we need to not just have one event and say, ‘I recognize these issues exist. I tried to commit to change by going to a solidarity forum.’ Yeah, great. But we need to realize that we need to have these discussions every day.”



Non-Muslim students also shared their responses to the post and their opinions about possible avenues for improvement in prevention and responses. Some expressed concerns about a lack of empathy and a sentiment of resignation toward racism within the community as well as the absence of a simple way to report and handle situations of racism and bias.



Senior Gaby Dinkin, chair of the Diversity Affairs Council and leader in the Mosaic Project, responded to students’ concerns by saying that the Bias Response System would be released in the spring semester.



Many students left the event feeling very impressed by the way the MSA conducted the event.



“I thought that [the MSA] handled it really well. They were definitely open to everyone voicing their opinions, and I like how they made it very clear that this was for solidarity, not just as a response,” freshman Shivani Desai, a member of the DAC, said.



Following the remarks of several students, Vice Chancellor for Students Sharon Stahl expressed her apologies for the delayed reaction to the event.



“I am the person, the only person, to whom this posting was sent on Halloween; I made a grave mistake in not responding sooner than I did. I deeply regret that,” Stahl said. “If I could go back and undo this, I would, but I can’t, so I have to accept the responsibility of my mistake. I apologize, and I hope that moving forward you will be able to find it in your hearts to give me that grace.”



After Stahl’s apologies, Provost Holden Thorp committed to improving the response to such events in the future.



“I think that in the future, as soon as anyone in the administration—that goes from housing all the way to the chancellor—hears of an incident where a student doesn’t feel safe, that it needs to get reported up the chain as quickly as possible,” Thorp said. “We need to develop a better understanding of how that needs to be done, and we will.”



Students who don't feel safe because of Islamic jihadis need not apply.

Posted by Robert

Should we pray to saints?

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An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about communication with the dead. This follows this post about the culture of Halloween. This follows this post about changes after the Berlin Wall came down. For a free magazine subscription or to get the book shown for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886- 8632.

Should we pray to saints?

Some churches have a historic practice of praying to dead saints. Does the Bible teach that we should pray to the saints?



Answer:



Jesus Christ taught His followers to pray to "our Father in heaven" (Matthew 6:9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.



See All...), and the example throughout Scripture is that prayer is communication with God and part of our worship of Him.



What else does the Bible say about where prayers should be directed? Paul wanted the Roman church's "prayers to God" (Romans 15:30Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;



See All...). Moses was to "pray to the Lord" (Numbers 21:7Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.



See All...), and David sang to God that "to You I will pray" (Psalm 5:2Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.



See All...). Christians can come directly to God's throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.



See All...), and the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus Christ intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:25Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.



See All...). We don't need saints to do that.



Scripture shows saints (true believers) refusing to accept the worship of people (Acts 10:26But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.



See All...; 14:8-18). The Bible also tells us not to worship angels (Colossians 2:18Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,



See All...), and it shows that angels refuse adoration and worship by humans (Revelation 19:10And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.



See All...).



Notice also Revelation 22:9Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.



See All..., where the apostle John saw in vision the time after the resurrection and fell down in awe at the feet of the being talking to him. "Then he said to me, 'See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.'"



Righteous created beings, whether human or angelic, refuse to be worshipped and they point us to worship the Creator. Only Satan and his followers seek others' adoration and worship (Matthew 4:9And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.



See All...; Acts 8:9-11 [9] But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

[10] To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

[11] And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.





See All...; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 [3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

[4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.





See All...).



In addition to all this, praying to dead saints today assumes the doctrine of the immortal soul, which many people are surprised to find is not taught in the Bible. The Bible teaches that death is like sleep that lasts until the resurrection at Jesus Christ's second coming (1 Thessalonians 4:13-16 [13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

[14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

[15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

[16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:





See All...).



For more information, please read our booklet Who Is God?

.

Is Halloween Only A "Cultural" Event?

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An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about the culture of Halloween. This follows this post about atheism. This follows this post about changes after the Berlin Wall came down. For a free magazine subscription or to get the book shown for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886- 8632.

Is Halloween Only A "Cultural" Event?

And what does God say about coming out of a culture?

[Darris McNeely] Today's the day that everyone's going to be coming out with all of their costumes and robes, colors that represent the prince of darkness, the dead, the undead. All Souls' Eve coming up, and up and down the streets of America we will see people coming and going in all kinds of costumes like that and others representing darkness, representing evil, representing death. Again, as I said yesterday , it's amazing to consider the rational and the arguments that people will use to justify this.   I was reading on one article that talked about the fact that Halloween today has nothing to do with religion and the relics of its past. It has become a cultural event, and therefore it's okay for a Christian to take part in Halloween festivities as long as their conscience is not offended by such an event. And so I asked the question: Is Halloween something that's just cultural, and if it is, is it okay to participate in?



It doesn't take much of a research genius to go through the stories and find the underpinnings, the background, the origins of Halloween festivities. All Souls' Eve, the night that the people did what they could to keep the dead away from their own houses and their own lives. And such a non-Christian, thoroughly pagan festival, centuries old, represents things that in the Bible from the beginning in Genesis all the way to the book of Revelation God tells His people to stay away from.



But sometimes you see a little different twist like you do when you say, "Well, it's just cultural today" as if in our modern, to our modern mind and times we have changed it by our own good, by our own rational and reasoning that it's not religious. It's just cultural, therefore it's okay. As if the God who in the Bible says He doesn't change (Hebrews 13:8Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.



See All...). He is the same yesterday, today, and forever would change His view on something dealing with the dead, things that would be and are completely unclean.



There's one scripture that came to mind when I was thinking about this, and it's in Revelation chapter 18 where it talks about Babylon. Revelation 18 and beginning in verse 2 in this story about Babylon, a system portrayed throughout scripture as the antithesis of the Kingdom of God and anything dealing with the culture and the way of God and His holiness and His righteous life. And in Revelation 18:2And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.



See All... it is recorded that "He cried mightily with a loud voice saying, 'Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!'" And so this picture of a future system called Babylon that is described here in the Bible as a dwelling place of demons and a prison for every foul spirit. Something that later on in the chapter here, verse 4, God says, "Come out of her My people lest you share in her sins and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities" (Revelation 18:4And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.



See All...). The system called Babylon at the time of the end makes one last effort to thwart the purpose and plan of God is here described as being the place, the repository of every demon and every foul spirit.



And so when we look around our culture today and we see demons and we see foul spirits, and we see people reveling in that and dressing up and laughing and partying in a cultural manner, do we ask the question: Is it okay? I think that it is not, and I think that because of what scripture says. It's not my judgment. It's God's judgment.



And when you read the rest of the story here in Revelation 18 about Babylon there will be a time of judgment upon an entire system that flies in the face of God, out of which God says, "Come out. Take no part in what she does" (Revelation 18:4-8 [4] And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

[5] For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

[6] Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

[7] How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

[8] Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.





See All...). And so you can say something has been sanitized and changed because of the way a culture and a time looks at it, but God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever still has the same point of view. And so the lesson is there for us and the decision is up to you and to me.



That's BT Daily . Join us next time.

What a Former Witch Taught Me About the Darkside

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An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about witches and Halloween. This follows this post about disagreements between people. For a free magazine subscription or to get the book shown for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886- 8632.

What a Former Witch Taught Me About the Darkside

by Darris McNeely

Submitted October 29, 2010

Halloween is this weekend, in case you haven’t noticed. But it’s hard not to notice. Halloween has become the second-largest retail holiday in North America. It’s second only to Christmas in sales generated by the strong consumer desire to party with the dead and macabre elements. Imitating ghosts and demons may seem like harmless fun. It’s not. Playing with the darker elements of this world is inviting strong forces into your life. You do this at your own peril.



I recently interviewed a lady who spent 20 years as a practicing witch. Her story was the centerpiece of a Beyond Today program called “Dancing With the Dark Side.” The program aired last week on WGN America and drew considerable comment from viewers.



One viewer wrote asking for help counseling a child who wished to become a witch. Another wrote detailing the disastrous impact on his family from involvement with the dark, satanic world. As my interview with “Mary” (the pseudonym for the woman who was once a witch) shows, you do not want to go down that road. Here is part of that interview.



McNeely: What do you think you were looking for when you entered into that world?



Mary: Power. To be special, to be unique.



McNeely: You think that’s what other people are looking for, as well?



Mary: Oh yes. Yeah. I mean, you get into it seeking power to control your life, manifest or will things into your life, but the bad thing about it is after it progresses, it starts taking on a negative tone. I started out with Wicca. I started out with thinking I was just worshipping the earth because I wanted something tangible, something I could see, something I could adhere to. The equinox, the sabbaths in Wicca. It soon didn’t feel like enough.



I felt compelled to check out or read books about necromancy and voodoo, and like I said, I was in it for about 20 years and there toward the end, I felt like if I hadn’t had the car wreck, I would’ve been gone, because I would’ve opened myself up to channeling. I’d already started using my own blood in my own rituals, in my own spells. I’d already started making voodoo dolls and casting bad spells on people.



McNeely: Did you actually see those spells come to pass?



Mary: Mhm.



McNeely: You did?



Mary: Yes.



McNeely: Things happened?



Mary: Yes. Things always happened.



Mary went on to explain that people who dabble with the dark arts are looking for a power to control their lives and that of others. They end up being controlled by a darker power they do not understand. Fortunately for Mary, she escaped the hold of the dark side and is building a better life for herself. She finally is in control of her life, in a right way.



Why not watch the entire Beyond Today video, “Dancing With the Dark Side,” on our BeyondToday.tv Web site.



Satan offers a clever counterfeit path to power for those who venture into his dark world. But the tragedy is that his path is a dead-end street filled with wrecked and broken lives. Evil is a very real force in this modern world that scoffs at the existence of a spiritual dimension. This Halloween, instead of celebrating a holiday for the dead, why not educate yourself in the truth? Our booklet Is There Really a Devil? provides solid biblical teaching on the subject.



Though the media often trivializes it today, there is indeed a dark spiritual world, and it wants to deceive and destroy you. Don’t let it happen. Resist it, and cling to the incredible future God has prepared for you.







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In the News...More Britons Believe in Ghosts Than in God?

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about belief in ghosts. This follows this post about using your talents. For a free magazine subscription or to get the book shown for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886- 8632.

In the News...More Britons Believe in Ghosts Than in God?



article by Amanda Stiver, David Treybig, James Capo





More Britons believe in ghosts than in God, according to an informal survey published on—yes—Oct. 31.



The survey wasn't a true random sample, so the results can't be considered scientifically accurate, but of the 2,012 people who completed a questionnaire for the British home entertainment retailer ChoicesUK, 68 percent said they believed in the existence of ghosts and spirits, while 55 percent said they believed in the existence of a god (source: AP).



Of those who believed in ghosts, 76 percent said that films and TV reality shows about the supernatural helped convince them that ghosts exist. But what does the Bible say? It reveals that there really is an active spirit realm—not of ghosts, supposedly disembodied human beings, but of spirits, fallen angels called demons that seek to influence and deceive people against the truth of God. These may sometimes pose as the ghosts of dead people. The dead, however, are unconscious, awaiting a future resurrection (compare Ecclesiastes 9:5For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.



See All..., 10). For this and other reasons, the Bible warns against any involvement with the spirit world apart from contact with the true God.



Our booklet Is There Really A Devil? reveals how this spirit realm is the real source behind so many of the world's problems and explains how God will overthrow this power and establish a kingdom of peace. Jesus Christ overcame Satan (Matthew 4; Luke 4), and through Christ we can too.

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eBooks Review - The Bible and the Near-Death Experience

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about Near Death Experiences. This follows this post about the trade with nations in the Western Hemisphere. For a free magazine subscription or to get the book shown for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886- 8632.

eBooks Review - The Bible and the Near-Death Experience


The Bible and the Near Death Experience is an attempt to make sense of what happens after death.



Book Information

Author

Moses U. Colbert



Publisher

BookBaby



Recommendation

Lena VanAusdle does not recommend this.



Kindle Edition, pages



Find it on Amazon The book, "The Bible and the Near Death Experience," unfortunately, is very short on Bible, and heavy on opinion. The author, Moses U. Colbert, has a unique voice and writing style, which could be considered engaging, however, the improper usage of words and grammar detract from this considerably.



The basic premise of the book is that there is a spirit in man (true), that we don't totally understand (true), but this spirit is connected in a very complicated way to our soul (that we don't understand), and that our bodies make up a third portion of our being (with our soul and spirit), just as the trinity. The Trinity doctrine is a false doctrine, and Mr. Colbert's explanation of the body, soul and spirit is riddled with fallacy as well.



Occasionally the author will say something true and profound, "as long as a Christian lives, he or she will at some point in their life struggle with the sin nature. What we accomplish or do not accomplish in our Christian lives will not achieve perfection" ( pg . 60). Unfortunately these truisms are surrounded by misconceptions and misinterpretations of what the Bible truly teaches. I don't doubt that Mr. Colbert is sincere, nor do I doubt that his recounting of his experiences is accurate, unfortunately, he is calling evil good (Isaiah 5:20Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!



See All...) by attributing what seem to be encounters with demons, as experiences with God.



Mr. Colbert states, "...I understand that my life is not my own. It's not about what I want. It's about my relationship with God, how much I love him, and sharing that love and respect with others" ( pg . 62). It is obvious that this was the motivation for the writing of this book, unfortunately, that love is misguided in its expression. If you are looking for an accurate explanation of near death experiences, I recommend the following: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-program/doctrinal-beliefs/near-death-experiences-and-bible  .







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What Memory or Legacy Will You Leave Behind?

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about one’s legacy. This follows this post about Communism. For a free magazine subscription or to get the book shown for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886- 8632.

What Memory or Legacy Will You Leave Behind?


by Janet Treadway

Funerals seem to be a time of reflection. It is a time to reflect on the memories of the person who died. You either have great memories of that person, or sadly, not so much!



It seems all the memories, of the deceased, come out at a funeral. The preacher seems to bring out the positives. Sad to say, sometimes it can be very hard to have good memories of some individuals. However, a funeral is not the time to be brutally honest about someone if their character was bad. But their character will not escape our memory. We all hold memories in our heart of an individual’s character, legacies that they left.



Funerals are also the place where reality hits us squarely in the face, reminding us of our appointment with death. For a moment we are forced to focus on death and the reality that we will not live forever. And yes, none of us will escape the ending of our physical life. In Genesis 3:19In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.



See All... it says, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."



As we age, and death becomes more of a reality, we begin to focus on making a will. Deciding what material things we will leave behind and to whom. Having things in order when we die is love for our loved ones. But do we give it much thought as to what legacy, character or good memory we will leave behind? Material things fade away, but the legacy that you leave will transfer on to your children, friends, and those you have touched while you were alive.



So what memories will you leave behind, for people to reflect on when you die? And what legacy will you leave behind for your children to carry on and hand on to their children? This is an important question to ask if you want your children to be blessed.



It must start with your devotion to God. Your legacy begins in your heart and your response to God. Psalm 112:1-2 [1] Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

[2] His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.





See All... reads, "How blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who greatly delights in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed."



The Ten Commandments -- which are not the “Ten Suggestions” or “Ten Opinions” -- is our blueprint for life in how to build good memories with our families, co-workers, neighbors, church, communities and most of all with God. “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed” (Psalm 112:1-2 [1] Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

[2] His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.





See All... NIV).



And young people, it is not too early for you to give thought to the legacy you will leave behind. In Ecclesiastes 12:1Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;



See All... it reminds us, “Don't let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, "Life is not pleasant anymore." Sadly, too often, a young person’s life is cut short for various reasons. God admonishes you to remember Him as you live your life because you will give an account for your actions.



Yes, what will people think of you at your funeral? What legacy will you leave your love ones? Here are two quotes to consider:



“Your story is the greatest legacy that you will leave to your friends. It’s the longest-lasting legacy you will leave to your heirs.” - Steve Saint



“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.” - Shannon L. Alder



Live a life that fears, loves, obeys and respects your Creator, God the Father. If you do this you will leave a great legacy for your family, friends, and neighbors -- and great will be your reward in God’s Kingdom.







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