By Pastor Michael Frisbee, DD/DM
This past Wednesday, I took a heavy dose of anti-nausea medicine and turned to the Anderson Cooper show. I loathe what the man stands for, so normally I would not normally tune in. But I had been given fore-warning that he had a special topic and guests that day.
In this case, AC had renowned self-titled exorcist, Pastor Bob Larson, and three young women. One I know assuredly was his daughter or grand-daughter. All three teen age girls, ages 15 to 17, claimed to be exorcists and being trained by Pastor Larson. Needless to say, AC was skeptical, and having researched past coverage that AC has done on Christianity, I knew there was going to be an attempt to at least try to have his audience come away with the idea, “Oh those kooky Christians.”
I’ve known of Pastor Larson for a long time. I have read his book, and find his beliefs and practices somewhat questionable in regards to scriptural support. I don’t exactly agree in the way he evangelizes and how he determines whether a person is truly demon possessed. In Pastor Larson’s eyes, pretty much everyone but him and those that are with him are possessed. Go to his website, http://www.boblarson.org, and for $9.95 there is a test you can take to see if you are possessed as well.
As these girls were being interviewed, they came off as very “scripted” and well – brainwashed. I have seen videos of cult members that were being interviewed and their affect and such were very similar. It also came out that at 13, the one girl was given a chance by Larson, while in Africa, to exorcise a demon. At AGE 13! How in the name of our Heavenly Father, can a young, impressionable girl have the mental, emotional, and spiritual maturity to do this? Granted, Larson was right there, but how does any right minded individual put a young girl like that into such a danger?
During the course of the show, AC brought to light several of Larson’s questionable practices regarding how he charges for his services. Included is the Pastor’s Exorcists Training School. I have seen the $249 charge that was discussed in the show, but when I went to check the site later, the price had been removed. However, the “Cross” that he offers for a $100 donation was still there. One of the “testimonials”, was that when a man placed the cross on his wife, blessed by Larson, she was instantly healed.
Then things got interesting. They brought out a woman who had been exorcised by these girls. As the story played out, she had been exorcised by others before as well, “but it didn’t take”. What wasn’t discussed was whether this woman after her original “exorcism” had repented of her past sins and such that led to her possibly being possessed, and whether she had actually accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior. The only way someone can truly be delivered up from the enemy, is to accept Christ, repent of your sins, ask for forgiveness, and be washed in the blood of Christ to be made righteous. Once Christ and the Holy Spirit reside within you, you cannot be possessed by the demonic. However, as a Christian, you can be OPPRESSED by the demonic, something wholly different.
After this young lady came a woman and her minister father who was there to expose the non-scriptural teachings that Bob Larson ascribes to. They had been abused and victimized by a different ministry, but the same signs and such were on display within Larson’s teachings. They also took him to task regarding training and using these teen age girls. During this, it came out that a reality show based on the three girls was in consideration. Larson claims the production company came to them, but in doing a search around the web, there is signs that it may been more Larson approaching these networks.
Then comes Rev Darrell Motal, pastor and founder of the Caravan Community Churches, founder of The Paranormal Church, and someone that has been working in a ministry to help people that have been victimized by unethical and abusive deliverance ministries and exorcists like Larson. Rev Motal has done a number of undercover video and audio work looking into how Larson fleeces those that attend his seminars. He tells of how before one demon had even been cast out, Larson had 5 calls for the donation basket to go around, to buy his books, DVDs, etc. Larson got very irritable and angry, called Motal a liar. However, if you will go to this website - http://theparanormalchurch.ning.com/ - you can watch some of these videos. Motal’s Youtube site is here - http://www.youtube.com/user/TheParanormalChurch . Unfortunately, they did not give Rev Motal enough time to fully discuss all that Larson is doing wrong in this field and how dangerous Larson’s ministry is for those who are Christian and those who are not. You can listen to Motal’s backstage comments at the site.
Finally they wrapped up with a priest that directly addressed the girls and of course by this time, Larson was visibly angry at being challenged. The girls just were not believable, and by the end of all this, you have to question whether this was really about them doing this for the glory of God, or as a stunt to get their own TV show.
Deliverance ministry is a dangerous work. However, we are not powerless as Christians. Christ gave us the authority to carry on His works, and this includes the casting out of demons. (Mark 16:16-18) When called to do this, the Holy Spirit will anoint us with the gift of discernment. (1 Corinthians 12:10-11). As Christians, we have the ability to call upon the authority and blood of Christ to command and cast out the demonic. They must obey. However, we must be walking fully in faith and love of Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. We must be walking fully in His Word and Spirit. The person that is seeking freedom from the demonic MUST bring themselves to Christ, and begin living their lives in Him, otherwise, the demonic will not depart in fullness, and if it finds an empty vessel, will return with seven more even worse.
Now, many question whether we should even be applying scriptures to anything at all in regards to ghost hunting and paranormal investigations, that these are scientific realms, not spiritual. Well, I beg to differ. If you seek out the spiritual, it is a spiritual matter. It is a theological issue. There are matters as stake that have eternal consequences.
This week on The Paranormal Christian Radio show, we discuss the important issues and matters at hand, and the efficacy of Biblical scriptures as applied to subjects paranormal. Tune in Saturday March 3, at 7 PM EST. http://www.theparanormalchristian.com.
Looking inside the spiritual & literary worlds
Friday, March 2, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Different Types Of Angels And Demons
By Lisa Grace
All of my suppositions and experiences with the supernatural I view through the lens of the Holy Scriptures as being the correct view. So using the Scriptures for my beliefs on the supernatural, I have come to certain conclusions.
There are over four hundred mentions of angels and other creatures that populate heaven mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. Whole books have been written on the subject. What I’m doing here is mentioning the most obvious examples so you can see there is proof that a variety of angels, and thus demons, are working on Earth. These creatures work and appear in different ways in our lives.
1) There are a variety of supernatural creatures with distinct functions and personalities. The scriptures talk about the arch angel Michael, (1 Thess 4:16 and Jude 9, Rev 12:7, Dan 10:13,21); Seraphim which are warriors (Isaiah 6:2); messengers like Gabriel (found in Daniel 8:16, 9:21, Luke 1:19, 1:26); Cherubim, two types at least, four faced and two faced like the guards in front of the garden of Eden([NIV] Gen 3:24, Ex 25:18-22; transporters (wheels) like the ones that took Elijah and Enoch (Ez 1:16-21, 2 Kings 2:11); principalities, dominions, and powers, which may be a type that can possess rulers Col 1:16, Romans 8:38) We also know there are choirs of heavenly hosts (Luke 2:13-15) and armies.(Rev19:14, 19) The Bible also mentions the holy of holies, the beasts before the throne, (Rev 4:6) and the women.
The Nephilim and/or the giants (Gen 6:4, Numbers 13:33 mentioned in the first few books of the Holy Scripture appear to have been killed off.)
2) We know there are different ranks and a hierarchy of angels with various duties and responsibilities.
3) We know in the hierarchy, before Lucifer fell, that he was very high in the hierarchy. He was the first angel to sin through pride, and became the leader of the rebellion. (Isaiah 14:12)
4) In Jude 1:6 it seems to imply that the angel’s sin or part of it was coming to Earth. (the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation).
5) We know that 1/3 of the angels fell. It doesn’t tell us how many or what types.
6) I believe all supernatural happenings on Earth are tied to one of the types of angels or other supernatural creatures present in heaven. When the angels came, fell, fought, and rebelled, it wasn’t just one type of angel. That’s why on Earth they present themselves in different ways. Different paranormal experiences happen because they are caused by different types of fallen angels/creatures.
7) I believe hauntings (what people call ghosts) are really a type of supernatural creature that were originally created to do a repetitive action in Heaven. In Heaven we see the creatures that were created to worship and repeat the same phrases and actions.
8) I think poltergeists are more malevolent and tend to congregate with other supernatural beings.
9) There are demons capable of possession and destruction who roam around looking for victims. (Mark 5:12-13)
10) There are angels who encourage and tempt for specific sins. Maybe these are the very ones that brought them to earth in the first place.
11) The Bible is clear that there are several types of supernatural creatures that have power and dominion and are even addressed by those titles.
12) While we are still discovering how they work and finding means of detecting them, we are clearly told how to drive them out.
13) Not everyone is capable of driving them out. I recommend you call in those who have experience, are called, have a strong faith, and understanding of what they are dealing with. (Matthew 17:21, Mark 9:29)
14) It takes not just the power of our Savior’s name to drive some of them out, but faith, praying, and fasting too.
15) Just because you want to—doesn’t mean you can. Yes, you might be able to quiet them, but they’ll come back even worse than before or, you could be hurt. There are instances where would be exorcists, other believers came to the disciples, chastened by the very creatures they attempted to drive out. “The spirits will not know you if you were not called.” (Acts 19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? Acts 19:16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.)
16) I’ve been given the gift of discernment to write my books.
17) Theologians can speculate about the heavenly creatures, and some say we shouldn’t concern ourselves with them, but I have to politely disagree, because you are not off-limits to them. They do want to spiritually destroy those that aren’t under the saving grace of Yeshua, (Jesus). And for believers, they will work on tempting you away. If they tried to tempt Yeshua, they will work on tempting you. (Mat 4:10, 1Cr 5:5) If they know the Holy Scriptures better than you do, you don’t stand a chance, because you don’t have the tools (faith, knowledge, and protection) to deal with them.
18) To learn how angels work in our life today you can read my fictional series which is soon to be a movie by http://www.Motionpicturepro.com
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Swimming in Sh*t – The Jennifer Arnold Case - Part 1
By Reporter X
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Swimming in Sh*t - The Jennifer Arnold Case – Part 1
It seems that my last report caused quite a stir in the paranormal community. That was not my intention at all. I hoped a provocative post would encourage a lively discussion of the topic. It sunk into a pit of name calling, sword rattling and shameful actions on the part of some of the people who posted comments.
The course of action taken by Mr. Robinson is a sad one and I hope he does find the peace that he seeks.
Now let’s get on with the story …
For those of you in the paranormal community you would have to be living under a rock not to know about the Jennifer Arnold case. There are many web sites, Face Book pages and radio shows about the subject. Even Dave Schrader has done more than one show on the matter.
I have viewed the blogs and took a close look at her book A DEMON WALKS ON SACRED GROUND. I have listened to a CD of the various EVPs that she has recorded. I have looked at the photos she has posted and even had some professionally studied. I have had the opportunity to view audio and video footage that was shot at Mrs. Arnold's home the night of Mr. Robinson's visit. I have talked to the paranormal groups that have visited the home and taken a look at their proof (audio, video, photographs). I have interviewed Mr. Robinson through many email exchanges. I have talked to some of the leading paranormal and demon experts. After all this, I feel that I have a good grasp of the case.
In a nutshell (a very small one) as Mrs. Arnold's book is only 47 pages she writes her life story. We learn that Mrs. Arnold had a less than perfect childhood. There was a moderate level of dysfunction within her home as she grew up. She was close to a relative that was of Native American descent and she shared stories with Jennifer about her life and gifts and tales of her religion.
At the age of 17, Jennifer and a friend made a spirit board and began talking to spirits. The girls freely allowed them in. Over time things the spirits said would happen began taking place. Jennifer got married and had two sons. In the Arnold home, things started to happen. Cupboards and drawers opened and closed, the children saw spirits, and many more events frightened the family. So they decided they had to move into a new home that was built for the family. But the spirits followed them.
Jennifer started to ghost hunt and took photos. She also began recording them in order to engage the spirits in a conversation. Things only got worse. Mrs. Arnold was very vocal about events in her home and started to share them on MySpace and a web site dedicated to her book.
Many paranormal groups have been to her home and have tried to remove the demon/demons (depending upon whom you talk to). After a few weeks the demon/demons returns, often stronger than before.
There have been rumors that John Zaffis went to her home and fled, or that he could not get on a plane to fly to her Florida home. Some have said that Dwayne Claud was scared and also refused the case. From the information I have uncovered both stories are false.
So what can we say about those who have been to her home before August, 2011?
1. They had good intentions. I personally know most of them.
2. They might have been in over their heads.
3. They should never have gone there in the first place.
4. They did their job but something and or someone let the demon/demons back in.
Back in the summer of 2011 Mr. Robinson informed me that he had logged into his old MySpace account and received a message from Mrs. Arnold concerning her case. A few years before that he had exchanged emails with her. Mr. Robinson said that if he ever was in her area, he would take a look at her case. She began to publicize that he was coming and an exorcism was going to take place.
Due to this, Kirby was approached by Ryan Harshbarger, a young paranormal investigator with aspirations to do a TV series entitled PROJECT FEAR. Mr. Harshbarger wanted to know if Kirby had any cases that he could film for a pilot to be sold to network TV. Kirby informed him of the Jennifer Arnold case but it was up to her to allow filming. Mrs. Arnold immediately agreed.
The final element was set when Leon Wilkes was added since he had been in contact with Mrs. Arnold and she felt that he should be there.
Mr. Robinson and Mr. Wilkes arrived around 1 to 2 pm that Friday, August 26, 2011. Mr. Robinson stated that the demon/demons was ready for attack as soon as they stepped through the front door. What they did not know was that Mrs. Arnold had been asking around on the web about how to ramp things up when it comes to demons. This was solely for the purpose of needing a good show. Well, Mrs. Arnold got one.
I have viewed the footage that was shot the first night as it seems that would be the only night of filming. The cameraman left on Saturday for a swimsuit shoot on the beach. We only have stills from day two and some audio recorded on a digital recorder for the second day.
This footage may never be shown in public because nobody signed release forms! Why this was Mr. Robinson he did not know. He was asked to sign one page contract with a talent agency in Oregon called Irish Eyes Promotions. The agent/owner is Carolina Aitken. The contract was for the remainder of 2011 and made no mention about anything concerning the filming of the events. I have talked to some of Mr. Harshbarger's paranormal team members who stated to me that they will not sign any release form and Mr. Robinson stated he would not either. Let me share with you what I witnessed on the tapes as well as what others said after they viewed it.
1. Dogs barking and scratching on the walls. There were no dogs in the house at the time.
2. Doors slamming in the background.
3. Figures that appear to be silhouettes.
4. In a spare bedroom where prayers were being said, seen in the mirror is an image of a crucifix bathed in red light. This is not a photograph but the crucifix appears to be three dimensional.
5. Many subjective moments of hot spots, cold spots, being poked and pinched.
6. There is an interesting moment that no one reacts to. A shot of a dark hallway with at least two of the investigators standing there and many forms behind their heads are clearly visible.
At times the video focuses on Mr. Robinson reciting prayers. There is a ghost box and you hear the following:
KILL HIM!
IDIOT!
FOOL!
I KNOW THAT!
BLANK YOU AND SHUT THE BLANK UP!
Those are some of the phrases that you hear and they are all very audible.
But watch closely and observe that nothing comes close to Mrs. Arnold at all. She shows no reaction to things, which is odd. Because she is in the path of holy water being thrown. No reaction. She holds a cross. No reaction. She holds a prayer book – and no reaction.
Even the second day deliverance which we got to look at only photos. Mrs. Arnold shows no reaction to holy water, no reaction to the bible, no reaction to the cross, no reaction to the prayers, no reaction to laying on of hands. Why? (This will be explained in Part 2.)
After the publication of my previous blog the attacks leveled at Mr. Robinson concerning his actions at the home I feel were done unfairly. Let's focus on these events.
At least 8 to 10 demons were encountered in the home including some spirits of dead people - which will become very important in Part 2.
Some demons had been removed while others had not. Mr. Robinson informed Mrs. Arnold that she needed to do the following things to keep them from returning, and at some point the rest had to be removed.
1. Stop talking publicly about her case.
2. Take her web site down about her book which featured photos of her case.
3. Stop Tweeting about the case and close the Twitter account.
4. Close her MySpace account about her case. Close her Face Book page about her case.
5. Stop taking photos of the sprit activity in the home.
6. Begin deliverance therapy.
None of those things were ever done until February 2012. And even then not all steps have been completed.
An issue was brought up about what was done in her son's room during the investigation. An illegal substance was found. Use of such a substance can be a door for demons to enter people's lives and home. There is a photo of this substance taken by a member of Mr. Harshbarger's team.
Mr. Robinson was concerned about said substance and its potential to bring any and all demons back into the house. Anything less than removal of a demon is never the goal of anyone. I have heard the playback of the audio recording made by his phone. What he attempted to do was keep demons located in the son's room until a proper team could come back after she had taken the steps asked of her.
We close with a recent post about her book which is taken from Mrs. Arnold's Face Book page.
"there are a few typos I had to sign a voucher that I accept it the way it is....I had a book signing and two radio shows lined up...again I dont claim to be an author...just a normal housewife with a very evil abnormal life...just trying to make it just like everyone else in this dog eat fog world!!!!!"
Swimming in Sh*t – The Jennifer Arnold Case - Part 2 will be coming next week!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
GHOST WHISPERINGS - Part III - What Are They Saying?
By Skarlet Rae
Ghost Whisperings Part I
Ghost Whisperings Part II
In my last segment I discussed who or what is talking when evp's are captured. In this segment I will continue, talking about what they are saying. If you read Part II, you'll see there that they don't say much at all, actually.
Some will say that they don't have energy to say much. That the reason we only hear one or two words is because they don't have the energy available to them to carry on conversations. Ok, let's go with that. Yet I will hear evp's of the same voice saying 'get out' and 'die', etc., over and over again. Why be repetitious? If, as they say, these are the souls of passed on humans, and they are trying to communicate, then why not say one word and then another word, when their energy permits. Why continually say the same things over and over and in a malevolent way? Why do those voices captured on evp's sound scary most of the time? Would your passed over family members try to scare you? If they are trying to communicate with us, left behind loved ones, then wouldn't it make more sense to speak in a different tone? In the tone and with the personality they possessed during life? The whole idea of threatening sounding voices just doesn't seem right to me. Not only that, but what's with all the repetition?
There are those 'experts' who tell us that some of the voices that are collected are passed over loved ones who want to communicate with those they left behind, namely us. Then again, why do they whisper? Why do they repeat themselves with the same few words?
Imagine if you were in a conversation with your loved one or friend, today, here, sitting next to you. You ask him/her a question. Do you actually think that all you'll get is a two word reply, being repeated over and over again? To me, personally, what they say means something. What they say matters. To me, personally, it goes to show 'who' they are. Just like in life, what people say, most of the time, goes to show you who they are. Yet these 'voices', most of the time just answer with a yes or a no. Now is that how a normal conversation with your family member or friend would go? Yet most of the time, that's all there is. Something answering with basically just yes or no replies. Very strange, if you ask me.
We as humans try our best to distinguish who these voices belong to, but how can we? Where is proof of who they are? I have read time and again when an 'entity', during a paranormal investigation, passes through a person, or so they claim. Let's go with that, again. Let's say that we totally believe what that person is saying. That they felt this ice cold feeling actually go through them. Ok, we'll take that as a reality. That seems pretty scary, don't you think? I'd be pretty freaked out, as I'm sure most of us would. If this 'entity' that passed through is friendly, is someone who has just passed away and is confused, what is that all about? They, I'm sure, being human at one time themselves realize that we humans can be scared. So why would they want to scare us? Especially if they're trying to send a loving message or ask for help? Why not share with us some information that they too, while alive, were curious about? For instance why wouldn't they share with us what happens when one dies? Why not share what it feels like to be in a soul/spirit state? Why do they never, (well never as far as I know) impart any useful or informative information? In their state they, presumably, know more about life and death, don't they? After all they've passed, haven't they? According to that theory, they could give us SO much new information, don't you think?
Therefore, with all the whispering and unintelligible words, with the repetition of words that sound like they come straight out of a horror film, this all gives me pause to think. My relatives didn't communicate in that way. Did yours?
Imagine, being able to actually have a conversation with someone who has passed over. They could tell us so much. They could tell us what it's like when the spirit and soul leaves the body. What one experiences during that process. What happens next? Most of us humans are interested in knowing such things. Yet not one of them has given us any inclination as to what that's all about. Why? Have you ever pondered that question?
So with all that said, I, personally am of the opinion that most of the 'voices' that are encountered during paranormal investigations and ghost hunting events are not coming from our passed over loved ones. I believe that there is something a lot more and different going on. I believe it's a bit more sinister than we would like to think. I believe that because our society has turned it's attentions on strictly the scientific for answers and truth, that we are missing a BIG part of the puzzle. Part of the picture is obscured to us by our own thinking. Our own belief that we now, with our modern technology are an almost all knowing, intellectual race. We scoff at any other nation or community who is not as 'modern' as we are. We giggle at, and call superstitious those who don't stick strictly to what our five senses perceive, or what science has 'proven to us. But you know what? As I said before, things that go bump in the night didn't just start happing in the near past. These things have been happening and going on for centuries, even, as I understand, since the dawn of man. So WHY are we so arrogant to think that now, because of a few fun gadgets, because we've discovered as much as we have scientifically, that we know it all? That we can better uncover the truth of what goes bump in the night. That those ancestors of ours who experienced the same things didn't have the intelligence or ability to discern and distinguish.
I'll go out on a limb here and say that I believe that most of the 'entities' that are captured through our modern equipment are malevolent. They may not seem so at first, and that's the trick. We are too naive at times to believe everything that is told us. Just because it's an entity, a disembodied voice, doesn't mean it's honest. Even if they seem harmless or even helpful at first (as with those entities encountered through Ouija boards, but that's another topic all together). What they say is usually a lie, no matter how they're able to, with trickery and clever words fool us to thinking otherwise. Eventually it's deleterious nature is exposed.
Unfortunately, for many, later than we'd like. Later than is safe for us. Then even the most skeptical is made a believer that what we perceive with our five senses is not all there is to our world. That there is more. That we live in a much more magical world than we want to, with out modern, arrogant minds, think and believe.
Ghost Whisperings Part I
Ghost Whisperings Part II
In my last segment I discussed who or what is talking when evp's are captured. In this segment I will continue, talking about what they are saying. If you read Part II, you'll see there that they don't say much at all, actually.
Some will say that they don't have energy to say much. That the reason we only hear one or two words is because they don't have the energy available to them to carry on conversations. Ok, let's go with that. Yet I will hear evp's of the same voice saying 'get out' and 'die', etc., over and over again. Why be repetitious? If, as they say, these are the souls of passed on humans, and they are trying to communicate, then why not say one word and then another word, when their energy permits. Why continually say the same things over and over and in a malevolent way? Why do those voices captured on evp's sound scary most of the time? Would your passed over family members try to scare you? If they are trying to communicate with us, left behind loved ones, then wouldn't it make more sense to speak in a different tone? In the tone and with the personality they possessed during life? The whole idea of threatening sounding voices just doesn't seem right to me. Not only that, but what's with all the repetition?
There are those 'experts' who tell us that some of the voices that are collected are passed over loved ones who want to communicate with those they left behind, namely us. Then again, why do they whisper? Why do they repeat themselves with the same few words?
Imagine if you were in a conversation with your loved one or friend, today, here, sitting next to you. You ask him/her a question. Do you actually think that all you'll get is a two word reply, being repeated over and over again? To me, personally, what they say means something. What they say matters. To me, personally, it goes to show 'who' they are. Just like in life, what people say, most of the time, goes to show you who they are. Yet these 'voices', most of the time just answer with a yes or a no. Now is that how a normal conversation with your family member or friend would go? Yet most of the time, that's all there is. Something answering with basically just yes or no replies. Very strange, if you ask me.
We as humans try our best to distinguish who these voices belong to, but how can we? Where is proof of who they are? I have read time and again when an 'entity', during a paranormal investigation, passes through a person, or so they claim. Let's go with that, again. Let's say that we totally believe what that person is saying. That they felt this ice cold feeling actually go through them. Ok, we'll take that as a reality. That seems pretty scary, don't you think? I'd be pretty freaked out, as I'm sure most of us would. If this 'entity' that passed through is friendly, is someone who has just passed away and is confused, what is that all about? They, I'm sure, being human at one time themselves realize that we humans can be scared. So why would they want to scare us? Especially if they're trying to send a loving message or ask for help? Why not share with us some information that they too, while alive, were curious about? For instance why wouldn't they share with us what happens when one dies? Why not share what it feels like to be in a soul/spirit state? Why do they never, (well never as far as I know) impart any useful or informative information? In their state they, presumably, know more about life and death, don't they? After all they've passed, haven't they? According to that theory, they could give us SO much new information, don't you think?
Therefore, with all the whispering and unintelligible words, with the repetition of words that sound like they come straight out of a horror film, this all gives me pause to think. My relatives didn't communicate in that way. Did yours?
Imagine, being able to actually have a conversation with someone who has passed over. They could tell us so much. They could tell us what it's like when the spirit and soul leaves the body. What one experiences during that process. What happens next? Most of us humans are interested in knowing such things. Yet not one of them has given us any inclination as to what that's all about. Why? Have you ever pondered that question?
So with all that said, I, personally am of the opinion that most of the 'voices' that are encountered during paranormal investigations and ghost hunting events are not coming from our passed over loved ones. I believe that there is something a lot more and different going on. I believe it's a bit more sinister than we would like to think. I believe that because our society has turned it's attentions on strictly the scientific for answers and truth, that we are missing a BIG part of the puzzle. Part of the picture is obscured to us by our own thinking. Our own belief that we now, with our modern technology are an almost all knowing, intellectual race. We scoff at any other nation or community who is not as 'modern' as we are. We giggle at, and call superstitious those who don't stick strictly to what our five senses perceive, or what science has 'proven to us. But you know what? As I said before, things that go bump in the night didn't just start happing in the near past. These things have been happening and going on for centuries, even, as I understand, since the dawn of man. So WHY are we so arrogant to think that now, because of a few fun gadgets, because we've discovered as much as we have scientifically, that we know it all? That we can better uncover the truth of what goes bump in the night. That those ancestors of ours who experienced the same things didn't have the intelligence or ability to discern and distinguish.
I'll go out on a limb here and say that I believe that most of the 'entities' that are captured through our modern equipment are malevolent. They may not seem so at first, and that's the trick. We are too naive at times to believe everything that is told us. Just because it's an entity, a disembodied voice, doesn't mean it's honest. Even if they seem harmless or even helpful at first (as with those entities encountered through Ouija boards, but that's another topic all together). What they say is usually a lie, no matter how they're able to, with trickery and clever words fool us to thinking otherwise. Eventually it's deleterious nature is exposed.
Unfortunately, for many, later than we'd like. Later than is safe for us. Then even the most skeptical is made a believer that what we perceive with our five senses is not all there is to our world. That there is more. That we live in a much more magical world than we want to, with out modern, arrogant minds, think and believe.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Ten Reasons There Will Be No Zombie Apocalypse
By Kelly Fisher
These are in no particular order and may contain spoilers. These are only my personal opinions.
1. They are slow.
Come on they are mostly dead with a touch of life left in them. They tend to drag their feet and shuffle a lot, if they are able to catch you then perhaps you deserve to become one of them.
2. They want to eat your brains.
Look I understand teeth are strong and all but strong enough to bite down and bust through a skull? Really? There is no way I am going to believe that teeth could ever chomp down and break through the skull bone.
3. They don’t seem too bright.
So most zombies I have ever come across can’t even talk all they do is moan and groan and if they do manage to say one word it is usually “brains.” They just shuffle around looking for someone to eat. They also tend to travel in hordes so you should be able to see them coming, simply avoid them and you’ll be fine.
4. Quarantine.
Let’s face it if something like a zombie infection would go down they would quarantine the infected areas. They aren’t going to let something like that spread. Who are they you ask? See reason 5 below.
5. The Government
Like I said in Reason 4 the government is going to step in with placing infected areas under quarantine. If that wouldn’t work I think they would end up possibly bombing the infected areas. If healthy people happen to be in those areas trying to fight for their lives do you think the government would care? I think we all know the answer to that question.
6. We have lots of guns!
Do you really think a horde of zombies could make it down a single block in the ghetto? I don’t.
7. We are already prepared and waiting.
Scoff if you will but I know I can’t be the only one out there that has already laid out plans with her family if a zombie apocalypse occurs. Yes my family has a zombie apocalypse emergency plan, does yours?
8. Most of them will already be enclosed.
If the dead are supposed to rise they are going to have a tough go at it, once they make it out of their casket and realize they are encased in a vault of some kind. Good luck getting out of that guys.
9. They are rotting corpses.
Eventually they are going to fall apart and imply rot away since that is what dead things do.
10. They’re dead!
“This is the really real world and there ain’t no coming back.”
(10 bonus points for anyone that can guess what movie that quote is from)
These are in no particular order and may contain spoilers. These are only my personal opinions.
1. They are slow.
Come on they are mostly dead with a touch of life left in them. They tend to drag their feet and shuffle a lot, if they are able to catch you then perhaps you deserve to become one of them.
2. They want to eat your brains.
Look I understand teeth are strong and all but strong enough to bite down and bust through a skull? Really? There is no way I am going to believe that teeth could ever chomp down and break through the skull bone.
3. They don’t seem too bright.
So most zombies I have ever come across can’t even talk all they do is moan and groan and if they do manage to say one word it is usually “brains.” They just shuffle around looking for someone to eat. They also tend to travel in hordes so you should be able to see them coming, simply avoid them and you’ll be fine.
4. Quarantine.
Let’s face it if something like a zombie infection would go down they would quarantine the infected areas. They aren’t going to let something like that spread. Who are they you ask? See reason 5 below.
5. The Government
Like I said in Reason 4 the government is going to step in with placing infected areas under quarantine. If that wouldn’t work I think they would end up possibly bombing the infected areas. If healthy people happen to be in those areas trying to fight for their lives do you think the government would care? I think we all know the answer to that question.
6. We have lots of guns!
Do you really think a horde of zombies could make it down a single block in the ghetto? I don’t.
7. We are already prepared and waiting.
Scoff if you will but I know I can’t be the only one out there that has already laid out plans with her family if a zombie apocalypse occurs. Yes my family has a zombie apocalypse emergency plan, does yours?
8. Most of them will already be enclosed.
If the dead are supposed to rise they are going to have a tough go at it, once they make it out of their casket and realize they are encased in a vault of some kind. Good luck getting out of that guys.
9. They are rotting corpses.
Eventually they are going to fall apart and imply rot away since that is what dead things do.
10. They’re dead!
“This is the really real world and there ain’t no coming back.”
(10 bonus points for anyone that can guess what movie that quote is from)
Friday, February 24, 2012
The Paranormal Christian – Biblical Truth Regarding Reincarnation
Sorry about the replay of an old blog – but things have been busy here between the ministry, my regular job, etc. It somewhat relates to the topic for tomorrow night’s radio show at The Paranormal Christian. Rev. Mark Hunnemann and I will be tackling Near Death Experiences and whether these things are Biblical or Demonic. A topic like that I can’t sum up in a short blog article either.
Join us tomorrow night, Saturday February 25th, at 7 PM EST. You can find the link to it at http://www.theparanormalchristian.com
Please enjoy this repeat article – Biblical Truth Regarding Reincarnation
The latest Pew Forum survey of religious beliefs puts the overall percentage of Americans who believe in reincarnation at 24% (men 21%, women 28%). Strangely enough, Blacks (34%) are almost twice as likely to believe in reincarnation as Whites (21%), with Hispanics in the middle (29%).
Oddly enough, a full 11% of self-identified Evangelical Christians believe in reincarnation, although only 5% of those who attend church weekly. Black Christians (29%) believe in reincarnation only slightly more than White Catholics (25%). Even among weekly attendees, 21% of White Catholics believe in reincarnation.
Such high percentages stand as a testimony to the poor job of religious education being performed in the churches today. The spread of these beliefs is one of the most under-reported and unnoticed religious phenomenon of the last 100 years, representing a sea change of religious worldviews.
The word "reincarnation" literally means to "come again in the flesh." The process of reincarnation - continual rebirths in human bodies - allegedly continues until the soul has reached a state of perfection and merges back with its source. One's lot in life, according to those who believe in reincarnation, is based on the law of karma. This law says that if bad things happen in one's life, this is an outworking of bad karma. If good things happen in one's life, this is an outworking of good karma.
"Karma" refers to the "debt" a soul accumulates because of good or bad actions committed during one's life (or past lives). If one accumulates good karma by performing good actions, he or she will be reincarnated in a desirable state. If one accumulates bad karma, he or she will be reincarnated in a less desirable state.
Some people twist the Scriptures and say that Jesus Himself taught reincarnation or "cyclical rebirth." In Matthew 11:14, for example, Jesus said, "And if you are willing to accept it, [John the Baptist] is the Elijah who was to come." Likewise, in John 3:3 Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
But these passages, rightly interpreted, do not support reincarnation. Matthew 11:14 does not really teach that John the Baptist was a reincarnation of Elijah. Luke 1:17, an important cross reference, tells us that the ministry of John the Baptist was carried out "in the spirit and power of Elijah." Moreover, reincarnationists conveniently forget that John the Baptist, when asked if he was Elijah, flatly answered, "No!" (John 1:21).
Regarding Jesus' words about being "born again" in John 3:3, the context clearly shows that Jesus was referring to a spiritual rebirth or regeneration. In fact, the phrase born again carries the idea of "born from above," and can even be translated that way. Jesus clarified His meaning by affirming that "flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit" (v. 6).
There are other Scriptures that clearly debunk the notion of reincarnation. Hebrews 9:27 tells us that "man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment...." Each human being lives once as a mortal on earth, dies once, and then faces judgment. He does not have a second chance by reincarnating into another body. Second Corinthians 5:8 indicates that at death the Christian immediately goes into the presence of the Lord, not into another body. Luke 16:19-31 indicates that unbelievers at death go to a place of suffering, not into another body.
We must also remember that Jesus taught that people decide their eternal destiny in a single lifetime (Matthew 25:46). This is precisely why the apostle Paul emphasized that "now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Further, Jesus taught the concept of resurrection, not reincarnation. In fact, He predicted His own resurrection early in His public ministry (John 2:19). And after Jesus resurrected from the dead, He appeared to some disciples and said, "Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have" (Luke 24:39). Jesus resurrected in the same body that went into the tomb. His body even retained the scars and wounds in His hands, feet, and side from the crucifixion (John 20:28).
In addition to biblically refuting reincarnation, we must also point to some of the practical problems involved in the theory of reincarnation. For example, we must ask, Why does one get punished for something he or she cannot remember having done in a previous life? Moreover, if the purpose of karma is to rid humanity of its selfish desires, then why has there not been a noticeable improvement in human nature after all the millennia of reincarnations on earth?
What about those who ‘remember’ their past lives so vividly? I cannot speak against their experiences. All I can tell you is either they’re being deceived by a demon or is deceiving the gullible public. Even if they indeed remember their past lives, why can’t they have an empirical evidence to prove that they indeed lived a previous lives. Why can’t they tell us and, describe for us how it is to live as an insect or animal. Or why not bring something from the so-called, past life, let say, a necklace, clothes, perhaps a birth certificate that will proved and convince the skeptics?
India, the cradle of reincarnation, still one of the world’s woeful nations. According to a friend of mine (who loves to travel to India) who has been to India several times, told me that countless of city streets are awash with filth. Starving beggars were everywhere. Miseries abound to those who don’t have a meal in their stomach. The only fortunate were the rats, and cows who in turn ate their fill. The question that comes to my mind is, after thousands of years of reincarnation, isn’t it only fair to say that India would be the exception and a shining example of human progress and spiritual transformation?
Isn’t the theory of Karmic transmigration a cop-out from human responsibility? For instance, I always help beggars. Sometimes I offer them a meal if I get the chance. But, helping a beggar in India is futile since he is working off his Bad Karma!
Did you know that before Christian missionaries arrived in India there were no charitable institutions and hospitals? Institutions for helping the needy is considered a stumbling block for the Karmic Transmigration. The reincarnation edifice offers no hope, nor does it have any relevance in answering suffering and human depravity. In fact devotees are enslaved into believing life-death-life that doesn’t make any sense at all.
Finally, if reincarnation and the law of karma are so beneficial on a practical level, then how do they explain the immense and ever-worsening social and economic problems - including widespread poverty, starvation, disease, and horrible suffering in India, where reincarnation has been systematically taught throughout its history?
Join us tomorrow night, Saturday February 25th, at 7 PM EST. You can find the link to it at http://www.theparanormalchristian.com
Please enjoy this repeat article – Biblical Truth Regarding Reincarnation
The latest Pew Forum survey of religious beliefs puts the overall percentage of Americans who believe in reincarnation at 24% (men 21%, women 28%). Strangely enough, Blacks (34%) are almost twice as likely to believe in reincarnation as Whites (21%), with Hispanics in the middle (29%).
Oddly enough, a full 11% of self-identified Evangelical Christians believe in reincarnation, although only 5% of those who attend church weekly. Black Christians (29%) believe in reincarnation only slightly more than White Catholics (25%). Even among weekly attendees, 21% of White Catholics believe in reincarnation.
Such high percentages stand as a testimony to the poor job of religious education being performed in the churches today. The spread of these beliefs is one of the most under-reported and unnoticed religious phenomenon of the last 100 years, representing a sea change of religious worldviews.
The word "reincarnation" literally means to "come again in the flesh." The process of reincarnation - continual rebirths in human bodies - allegedly continues until the soul has reached a state of perfection and merges back with its source. One's lot in life, according to those who believe in reincarnation, is based on the law of karma. This law says that if bad things happen in one's life, this is an outworking of bad karma. If good things happen in one's life, this is an outworking of good karma.
"Karma" refers to the "debt" a soul accumulates because of good or bad actions committed during one's life (or past lives). If one accumulates good karma by performing good actions, he or she will be reincarnated in a desirable state. If one accumulates bad karma, he or she will be reincarnated in a less desirable state.
Some people twist the Scriptures and say that Jesus Himself taught reincarnation or "cyclical rebirth." In Matthew 11:14, for example, Jesus said, "And if you are willing to accept it, [John the Baptist] is the Elijah who was to come." Likewise, in John 3:3 Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
But these passages, rightly interpreted, do not support reincarnation. Matthew 11:14 does not really teach that John the Baptist was a reincarnation of Elijah. Luke 1:17, an important cross reference, tells us that the ministry of John the Baptist was carried out "in the spirit and power of Elijah." Moreover, reincarnationists conveniently forget that John the Baptist, when asked if he was Elijah, flatly answered, "No!" (John 1:21).
Regarding Jesus' words about being "born again" in John 3:3, the context clearly shows that Jesus was referring to a spiritual rebirth or regeneration. In fact, the phrase born again carries the idea of "born from above," and can even be translated that way. Jesus clarified His meaning by affirming that "flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit" (v. 6).
There are other Scriptures that clearly debunk the notion of reincarnation. Hebrews 9:27 tells us that "man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment...." Each human being lives once as a mortal on earth, dies once, and then faces judgment. He does not have a second chance by reincarnating into another body. Second Corinthians 5:8 indicates that at death the Christian immediately goes into the presence of the Lord, not into another body. Luke 16:19-31 indicates that unbelievers at death go to a place of suffering, not into another body.
We must also remember that Jesus taught that people decide their eternal destiny in a single lifetime (Matthew 25:46). This is precisely why the apostle Paul emphasized that "now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Further, Jesus taught the concept of resurrection, not reincarnation. In fact, He predicted His own resurrection early in His public ministry (John 2:19). And after Jesus resurrected from the dead, He appeared to some disciples and said, "Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have" (Luke 24:39). Jesus resurrected in the same body that went into the tomb. His body even retained the scars and wounds in His hands, feet, and side from the crucifixion (John 20:28).
In addition to biblically refuting reincarnation, we must also point to some of the practical problems involved in the theory of reincarnation. For example, we must ask, Why does one get punished for something he or she cannot remember having done in a previous life? Moreover, if the purpose of karma is to rid humanity of its selfish desires, then why has there not been a noticeable improvement in human nature after all the millennia of reincarnations on earth?
What about those who ‘remember’ their past lives so vividly? I cannot speak against their experiences. All I can tell you is either they’re being deceived by a demon or is deceiving the gullible public. Even if they indeed remember their past lives, why can’t they have an empirical evidence to prove that they indeed lived a previous lives. Why can’t they tell us and, describe for us how it is to live as an insect or animal. Or why not bring something from the so-called, past life, let say, a necklace, clothes, perhaps a birth certificate that will proved and convince the skeptics?
India, the cradle of reincarnation, still one of the world’s woeful nations. According to a friend of mine (who loves to travel to India) who has been to India several times, told me that countless of city streets are awash with filth. Starving beggars were everywhere. Miseries abound to those who don’t have a meal in their stomach. The only fortunate were the rats, and cows who in turn ate their fill. The question that comes to my mind is, after thousands of years of reincarnation, isn’t it only fair to say that India would be the exception and a shining example of human progress and spiritual transformation?
Isn’t the theory of Karmic transmigration a cop-out from human responsibility? For instance, I always help beggars. Sometimes I offer them a meal if I get the chance. But, helping a beggar in India is futile since he is working off his Bad Karma!
Did you know that before Christian missionaries arrived in India there were no charitable institutions and hospitals? Institutions for helping the needy is considered a stumbling block for the Karmic Transmigration. The reincarnation edifice offers no hope, nor does it have any relevance in answering suffering and human depravity. In fact devotees are enslaved into believing life-death-life that doesn’t make any sense at all.
Finally, if reincarnation and the law of karma are so beneficial on a practical level, then how do they explain the immense and ever-worsening social and economic problems - including widespread poverty, starvation, disease, and horrible suffering in India, where reincarnation has been systematically taught throughout its history?
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Primer
By Reap Paden
Priming is in essence a form of cheating or giving hints. It is done in many different aspects of our lives but today lets concentrate on how it relates to the paranormal and hopefully help some people to understand what they see, hear or read is not always what they should believe.
There is one form of priming that has always made me extremely uncomfortable, it involves EVP. When someone is sharing an EVP and tells you what you are going to hear or even suggests "this is very scary" they have negated any unbiased opinion of that EVP. It has been tainted and once that occurs people can not just become unaffected by the primer. It is sort of like in front of a jury when a lawyer objects. The jury can be told to disregard whatever has been presented but the fact is they have been primed and the deed is done.
The telephone that talks to the dead is another good example of 'self-priming' when you ask a question you are going to have the answer in your mind, The brain, wanting to create patterns from random noise will have a natural tendency to create the pattern you expect to hear. In the paranormal there is a incredible amount of priming going on. To be honest I do not know how to get around it in all cases but if people are aware of it going on it will at least help.
If you are going to investigate anything, including paranormal occurrences then you must factor in priming. I think that in the case of hauntings and trying to find out if there is any actual activity going on ignorance is needed to help find truth. Don't worry being ignorant is not bad, we all are ignorant about some things. It is those who keep their ignorance and allow it to grow who become stupid.
Another form of priming is environmental priming. If a place seems spooky to some one then naturally they are going to expect strange things to occur. Now don't go blindfolding all your team members but when you are studying the results of an investigation keep in mind that some people's accounts of events may be affected by this.
If you think you have an EVP that says something, play it for people by all means but please do not prime them in any way. Just ask them to listen. Then record what they say they heard, play it for several people and record the responses. This won't be undeniable proof of course but I will bet the range of answers you get will cause you to think twice when you assume what you hear is what everyone else will hear.
Now you have been primed to do things using common sense..........
Priming is in essence a form of cheating or giving hints. It is done in many different aspects of our lives but today lets concentrate on how it relates to the paranormal and hopefully help some people to understand what they see, hear or read is not always what they should believe.
There is one form of priming that has always made me extremely uncomfortable, it involves EVP. When someone is sharing an EVP and tells you what you are going to hear or even suggests "this is very scary" they have negated any unbiased opinion of that EVP. It has been tainted and once that occurs people can not just become unaffected by the primer. It is sort of like in front of a jury when a lawyer objects. The jury can be told to disregard whatever has been presented but the fact is they have been primed and the deed is done.
The telephone that talks to the dead is another good example of 'self-priming' when you ask a question you are going to have the answer in your mind, The brain, wanting to create patterns from random noise will have a natural tendency to create the pattern you expect to hear. In the paranormal there is a incredible amount of priming going on. To be honest I do not know how to get around it in all cases but if people are aware of it going on it will at least help.
If you are going to investigate anything, including paranormal occurrences then you must factor in priming. I think that in the case of hauntings and trying to find out if there is any actual activity going on ignorance is needed to help find truth. Don't worry being ignorant is not bad, we all are ignorant about some things. It is those who keep their ignorance and allow it to grow who become stupid.
Another form of priming is environmental priming. If a place seems spooky to some one then naturally they are going to expect strange things to occur. Now don't go blindfolding all your team members but when you are studying the results of an investigation keep in mind that some people's accounts of events may be affected by this.
If you think you have an EVP that says something, play it for people by all means but please do not prime them in any way. Just ask them to listen. Then record what they say they heard, play it for several people and record the responses. This won't be undeniable proof of course but I will bet the range of answers you get will cause you to think twice when you assume what you hear is what everyone else will hear.
Now you have been primed to do things using common sense..........
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