GRAB-GROW-GO-n-YOU

Stephen Piersall, God’s Preservation Ministry, http://sfprs.org/

First for Mr. or Ms. Anonymous, the following link will prove to you that my comments were correct when I said, “Can We All Just get along?” http://abcnews.go.com/US/video/rodney-king-16589937. Just sayin :-)

At our Church, we use four words to describe what we want you to expect when you become a member with us: GRAB-GROW-GO-n-YOU. If you took a survey, I bet you would find most would agree your Christian “talk” does not mean as much as it does as your Christian “walk." Sure doing; tithing, reading your Bible, praying, repenting, and forgiving others could be part of your walk but do not make it a Sunday only Christian life. Be a 24/7 Christian, and I am sure you will see how much better a world we would have if we “Can We All Just get along."

GRAB; (John 3:17) “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him" (Luke 15:7). “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” God has called us to be a church that will continue to have a high priority in reaching out to those who do not have a relationship with Jesus or his church. We seek to help them connect with Jesus and to become part of the community of faith.

GROW; (Luke 4:18-19) “The spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” As people connect with us as a church, we want to release God’s healing and wisdom into everyone, so that they become healthier (body, mind, and soul) and more skilled at living life as God wants us to.

GO; (Ephesians 4:11-12) “It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be equipped.” We remain summoned by God to develop an army not an audience. To do that we seek to help everyone find their call and gift mix, train them for that ministry and release them into it.

YOU; For the Christians who are already actively involved in their local churches, I commend you and thank you sincerely. There are so many opportunities before us. How about providing food, clothing to the needy, call a local charity, visit someone you do not even know in senior housing, Hospitals, etc. My good brother in Christ “Billy” who lost his job still obtained several Bibles and sent them over to our military troops serving in the Mideast. What can you do to help in the principal of “Can We All Just get along?"

Musings on Indwelling Sin (It Usually Is Not a Demon)

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

Pastor Jim “Thanks for coming in the office today Sam—what’s on your mind my friend?”

Sam “Well, it seems like ever since I decided nine months ago to really love Jesus above all else, that is when the troubles began.”

Pastor Jim “What kind of troubles brother?”

Sam “I feel this battle inside—heck, I don’t even understand my own actions. Often-times, I do not do what I really want to do…and I end up doing the very thing I hate! Pride, lust, and anger are things I wrestle with—a lot. It happens so often I feel depressed.”

Pastor Jim “Sam, I know you are a godly man—so there must be some outside influence that is oppressing you. Sounds like you have a demonic attachment. Why don’t we set up an appointment to deliver you from those demons of pride, lust, and anger?”

The above is a compressed composite of many complaints I have heard from earnest Christians over the years—ongoing frustration with sin. The diagnosis and treatment suggested by the spiritual physician (the pastor or deliverance minister) has become standard operating procedure.

My heart is broken over this because I do not like to correct brothers, but I have to say the following—the vast majority (not all) of deliverance ministers and books are harming more people than they are helping. Why do I make that dreadful comment? Because if our diagnosis is way off, then so will be the treatment…and our diagnosis above is an example of how awful the situation has become. Of necessity the above conversation had to be brief, but even after hours of counseling and questionnaires, it accurately depicts the final outcome—almost always demons are found to be the culprit. Categories frequently ignored are the fall (and its psychological consequences), and indwelling sin, which is the focus of this analysis. Even if personal sin is mentioned, it is almost never discussed in the manner in which we will.

Do you realize that the problem Sam mentioned (which got him diagnosed as having a demonic attachment) is a quote from the apostle Paul regarding his own struggles with sin??!! (see Romans 7:14—8:1) The existential, psychological anguish which Paul expresses over his battle with sin—specifically v.15 (which Sam quotes almost verbatim), is a major reason why the pastor thought he was experiencing demonic oppression. I’m convinced that if Paul were alive today and writing as he did then, he would have deliverance ministers claiming he was diabolically oppressed. 

My dear friends, I hope and pray this discussion will bring comfort to some troubled souls. Demonologists and deliverance ministers are causing incredible carnage amongst Christians due to an epidemic of shallow understanding of theology and the bible. We know that Satan and his demonic hoard are our sworn enemies, and to be ignorant of their schemes will cause all sorts of significant problems for us. The bible tells us that Satan is a defeated foe, and yet we are engaged in a battle royal every day !! (Eph. 6) Likewise with sin—it is a defeated foe (not blinded or enslaved anymore), but we are engaged in a life-long battle royal with indwelling sin. Why do we recognize the former, but not the latter? 

The united voice of scripture states that the vast majority of hateful thoughts, lustful thoughts, covetous thoughts (fill in the blank) are not caused by demons but from indwelling sin. It is vitally important for demonologists to know this…it is equally imperative that every Christian know this!

Tragically, the compressed hypothetical conversation above is repeated many times everyday by deliverance ministers, who are abysmally ignorant of the bible’s teaching regarding indwelling sin. Listen to God’s word…

  

“…every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Gen. 6:5) Lest we think this was just a pre-flood observation, “…for the intentions of man’s heart is evil from his youth.” (Gen. 8:21)—written AFTER the  Flood.

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Ps: 51:5) This reference to “original sin” is not the original/first sin of man, but the sin nature passed on to every human being.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jer. 17:9) So much for following your heart type advice!!

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matt.12:34)—according to James, NOBODY has their tongue properly trained, so what does that say about the heart? (James 3:2)

“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” (Matt. 15:19) Out of the heart…not demonic influence/projection.

“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire…” (James 1:14-15)…do you see demons anywhere in this text on temptation???

“For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you for doing the things you want to do.” (Gal.5:17)

This text in Galatians encapsulates an excruciating, extended exposition of the battle with indwelling sin in Romans 7: 14-:8:1)…”Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.”(v.20)

This side of heaven there is a tension between the “already” and the “not yet”. Much harmful, shallow teaching regarding sanctification/spiritual warfare disregards the fact that some aspects of our salvation are true “already” (or now) and some are “not yet”…their full realization will not be experienced till heaven. When these are “telescoped together” (already and not-yet), then disaster often occurs. In 1 John 3:2 we are told that when we go to heaven, then we will finally be able to see God face to face because will be sinless.

In wiser times, the universal testimony of notably godly people was how sinful they saw themselves to be, and how they yearned for heaven to see Jesus face-to-face, and to be free from the presence of sin. If a Christian were to admit how sinful they were in many Christian circles, he would be rebuked for not being “victorious”!! I have said this before but the greatest deficiency in modern preaching is the dearth of God-intoxicated messages. The heresy of the prosperity gospel has affected most TV preachers. A deficient understanding of the holiness of God, will lead to a deficient view of our sinfulness, and a deficient view of our sinfulness leads to a deficient of grace-as well as leaving us woefully out of touch with reality. Perhaps this will help: justification (past tense already/now) deals with the GUILT OF SIN,  sanctification (present and on-going or progressive) deals with the POWER OF SIN,  and glorification (not yet..future) deals with the PRESENCE OF SIN.

Let me use an analogy to illustrate what happens as we mature in Christ. Picture an iceberg—nine-tenths of it is under the water line..only a small portion is visible. That is an apt analogy of how many see sin. The focus is on the visible behavior—do certain things, and avoid others, then you are seen as godly. But under the water line, in the cold, dark, murky depths lies our impure motives…covetousness…critical attitude..and so on. As we mature, more spiritual nerves are exposed, and we become increasingly aware of what is going on “under the water line”. The sin was always there but was overlooked.

In Rom.7:17,20 Paul laments that sin indwelling inside of him causes him to do that which he hates, or not do what he loves.(the law helped him see below the water-line) Demons or Satan are nowhere in sight in this discussion. Friends, we are very capable of being tempted FROM WITHIN because indwelling sin never leaves us—it corrupts everything we do. As one saint said, “He had to repent of even his most fervent of prayers.” Our motives are never utterly pure. But back to demons—they are finite in number and localized…they come and they go (unless oppressed or possessed), but indwelling sin is always present. There does not have to be a demon within 100 miles, and we still have to be on guard against indwelling sin, which can flare up at any moment and destroy us if we are not careful.

I dare say that if a person paraphrased Romans 7 (or just Gal.5:17) to the average deliverance minister, they would be convinced that person was under demonic oppression! And worse, they (as has happened countless times) will try to cast out demons from inside this struggling Christian. No time to elaborate, but demons cannot physically indwell a Christian…PERIOD!!!

What is indwelling sin? The simplest way of answering that is to say that after we are saved, there remains sin in our hearts. We are new creations (Gal.2:20) with a new nature—we do NOT have a battle between two natures, because the old nature is gone. But that does not mean indwelling sin has been eradicated. There is a nexus of anti-God and selfish inclinations lurking within us—and it will be a battle royal until the day we die. Though not a personal being like a demon, it is still an energized cesspool--a network that vitiates or pollutes EVERYTHING we do—even our best actions with best of intentions are corrupted by this radical despoilment of our entire human nature. As we mature in Christ we should become more aware of how radically and comprehensively indwelling sin corrupts everything we think, do, and say. Please believe me when I say there was a time when a humble school child could elaborate on indwelling sin. Anemic views of God lead to anemic views of sin.

Indwelling sin operates much like demons do—there are two main functions…force of  temptation and deceit or deception. Though it is inanimate, indwelling sin is an active energy pulsating and polluting everything in its path. In James we see that the “intent” of indwelling sin is our destruction—much the same as demons. All sorts of temptations bubble up from within, and indwelling sin will also seek to deceive us that it does not exist.

PLEASE…if you are struggling, don’t assume it is demonic. It may very well be demonic, but examine yourself…chances are you are simply struggling with indwelling sin. But praise God for the daily beauty of the gospel and that we stand perfect in Christ’s righteousness. Much more could be said, but I need to stop.

Curses, Yokes & False Covenants

By Kirby Robinson

I'll focus on three tools that the dark forces/demons use against us in the never-ending battle, and as the saying goes, “Knowledge is power.” I want to empower you on the pervasive subject of curses, yokes, and false covenants.

A curse is any act, spoken, or mental thought that seeks to produce harm or injury towards someone or something. When the demons out there pick up the scent of a curse they go to work on the curse and the person who makes the curse. (The simple act of cursing anything is an invitation to the demons to enter your life and you opened up the door to them). A curse can take many different forms.

1. A curse as an evil declaration against a person, group, place or thing, so be careful when you say such things as: "I curse this job." "I curse that relationship to fail." "I curse this office." This is the act that leads to most curses being cast and often people don’t even realize they are casting curses, until years later, if ever. And of course there is the other way, that of finding a trained individual who will cast the curse for you, or the do-it-yourself method of buying or checking out a library book and casting it yourself.

2. A curse is the polar opposite of a blessing. When you say "I love you" that’s a blessing. When you say, "I hate you" that’s a curse. Blessings are positive wishes, hopes, and prayers for good. No curse can ever produce such things.

3. A curse can be our own personal actions. Let’s say you drink alcohol. Then, by the simple act of drinking you opened up the door for possible legal, personal, and health related curses. These can range from being arrested for DUI, to becoming addicted, and such alcohol related diseases like depression, cirrhosis of the liver, heart failure and AIDS. Conversely, good conduct, such as abstaining from liquor, produces the opposite results, which are blessings.

4. A curse is a judgment against a person, place, or thing. How often have we felt good about a task we set for ourselves, then someone attempts to undermine us, saying: "That’s too difficult." "Your goals are unrealistic.""What makes you think you’re good enough?" We as mere humans hear the curse of the negative words and buy into them.

5. A curse can be placed on a physical object and thus effect everyone who comes into ownership with that object. I can’t count the times I’ve been called into a case and while moving through the home, I find some little object and ask where did you get that? And hear answers such as "My boy bought that statue thing back from Iraq" or "I dug that up at some burial ground." Objects can have curses placed on them that can last for thousands of years.

6. A curse can come from the simple act of saying the words: damn, hell and any other cuss word, or in reality curse word, with a negative intent in mind. When you get cut off in traffic and say "damn you" to that driver of the sports car, you’re cursing the driver of that foreign sports car. When you say "damn you" to your spouse when you fight, you’re cursing your spouse. When you say "damn" or "dammit" when you get mad at yourself, you’re cursing yourself. And whenever you curse someone, even yourself, that curse will return to you.

7. A curse can come from a negative wish. For example, you wish someone dead, or to go to hell after they die, then that also constitutes a curse. 

The yoke is the outgrowth of the curse that binds the cursed one physically and spiritually. It’s like the ox that pulls the cart, with that big, heavy wooden yoke binding his neck. Someone who has been cursed is prevented from finding peace. They only know suffering via physical and emotional pains and inner turmoil. They suffer physical, emotional, and oftentimes sexual abuse. Shame and disgust will rule every thought they have about themselves. Coldness, fear, hopelessness, and confusion will rule their minds. We also need to understand that our own inactions can produce curses that saddle us with yokes. These would be traits like refusing to forgive, refusing to engage in a spiritual path, and refusing to stop self-imposed negative thinking. That trio of inactions produces curses that saddle us with yokes. We end up cursing ourselves.

A covenant is an agreement that is entered into by two parties. If party A does the thing that Party B asks them to do, then Party B will reward them for their actions. As in the Christian act of salvation, the person goes through the process of accepting Jesus Christ as their personal savior in body, mind and spirit, makes a public confession, and in turn Jesus Christ will stand up for them in heaven. Covenants are good things, but there can be "false covenants" that we don’t realize that we’re entering into. "I'd give my soul for that job." "I'd give up my five years of my life to date him/her." "I would give up everything to see him/her lose." You’ve heard those expressions before, or maybe you even spoke those words. At some time, quite often in our youth, we make pacts with the devil. I’ve seen it so many times in my cases where I find out that at some time they’ve asked for something from the devil, got it, and years later their life literally went to hell. Folks, the devil doesn’t play by the rules. He may get it for you, but you’ll never be able to keep it. And the price you end up paying is immeasurable. 

False covenants can also be simply wishes such as: "If I only had that job, my life would be complete." "If I married that person, I’d be whole." These are also false covenants because you’re seeking happiness outside yourself. And only true happiness is inside. Curses, yokes, and false covenants can all be multi-generational. In Numbers 14:18, the Bible reads: "The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation." Additionally, this can also mean their mothers, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, and uncles. And I‘ve seen some curses run as long as twenty generations. 

Appendix: There’s something I wish to add here concerning curses and a person’s ability to curse total strangers. It can’t be done. You simply can’t go through the phone book, newspaper or any website and cast curses on people that you don’t share some form of a metaphysical interaction with. But, at the same time, you still suffer the consequences for intentionally or unintentionally casting a curse on a stranger. 

From the book Paranormal Teachings: The Best of Shedding Some Light

We Have to Ask? A Follow Up to Convicted Sexual Paranormal Predators

By Kirby Robinson

Due to investigating a new series of blogs, the following blog is a blast from the past...

A ghostly encounter 33 years ago in an Arizona theater was the beginning of Bob Hunnicutt’s journey into the world of the ghosts and hauntings. A theater ghost challenged his notions of the existence of life after death and helped him realize that science could not easily explain everything.

Over the last 19 years, Bob has investigated cases of phenomena associated with a wide variety of hauntings at private residences, businesses and historical landmarks throughout the state of Georgia, the Southeast and portions of the Mid-west.

He has worked with renowned members of the paranormal community; exorcist Father Andrew Calder, demonologist John Zaffis, paranormal investigator Patrick Burns, ghost hunter Patti Starr, psychics Chip Coffey, Reese Christian and Sharon Johns.

He is the founder and director of the Georgia Ghost Society and the Central Georgia representative for the American Ghost Society; has been a featured investigator at Paranormal Underground events held at the Talbott Tavern in Bardstown Kentucky and the Mansfield Reformatory in Mansfield Ohio. He regularly speaks at local colleges, historical societies and paranormal conferences that include OmegaCon in Birmingham Alabama, GhoStock6 in Savannah Georgia, the Mid-South Paranormal Conference in Louisville and ScareFest in Lexington Kentucky.

Bob has appeared in Crescent Publishing Magazine, “Ghost Hunters of the South” written by Dr. Alan Brown and "Roswell: History, Haunts & Legends" by Dianna Avena. In 2007, Bob was honored by the request of author David H. Rousseau to write the foreword for his new book “Savannah Ghosts: Haunts of the Hostess City”.

He has been the featured guest on radio programs that include Coast to Coast AM, Ghostly Talk Paranormal Radio, Pulse Paranormal Radio in England and the nationally syndicated Lisa Birnbach Show. Bob has been involved in media projects with Turner South and Kim Eason Productions in Atlanta and is currently working with Southlan-Films on a documentary series titled “The Seekers, Investigating Southern Haunts”.

The above is Mr. Hunnicutt's bio from 2009 as featured on PARANORMAL INFORMATION SOCIETY.

We'll have some questions to ask about Mr. Hunnicutt. Will they get any responses? Doubtful. It seems that within the paranormal field, when it comes to money making and being a [real or fake] para-celeb, this will trump being a convicted child molester.

1. When Mr. Hunnicutt was active, and if he's still active, are clients informed [especially clients with children] of his criminal past? If not, then why?

2. We notice that certain well known para-celebs are listed as working besides Mr. Hunnicutt. Here are a few of them:

Keith AgePatrick Burns

Patti Starr

Chip Coffey

Reese Christian

Sharon Johns

We have to ask if they knew about his past as a convicted sex offender? If not, would they take a pledge not to work with him in the future and avoid working with child molesters?

3. We note that he has been a speaker and made appearances at such major conferences as MID SOUTH, run by Keith Age, and Scarefest, run by Patti Starr. Again if they knew about his criminal past, why have him at the conference?

4. Mr. Hunnicutt has an agent of sorts:

Haunted Entertainment

c/o Dan Guthrie

P.O.Box 1414,

Pampa, Texas 79066

hauntedentertainments@gmail.com

(806) 664-0416

So does this company regularly represent child molesters?

This proves my point that I've been making for quite some time. The paranormal entertainment industry doesn't care about ethics or people. It puts cash above substance. It puts deception over truth. It puts its own needs and wants over the safety and well-being of the public. Will it change? No. Because they are blinder than I am. When they look into the mirror, they can't see the laughing demon looking back at them.

Keep current and follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/eyeonparanormal

EARN EXTRA MONEY! If you have a website, forum or blog you can set up an Amazon Associates Affiliate Program link and sell the Kindle version of NEVER MOCK GOD: AN UNAUTHORIZED INVESTIGATION INTO PARANORMAL STATE’S “I AM SIX” CASE [also in paperback!], INVESTIGATING PARANORMAL STATE, PARANORMAL STATE EXPOSED and PARANORMAL TEACHINGS: THE BEST OF SHEDDING SOME LIGHT and earn money. You can also sell other books and products that Amazon offers. Here's the link https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/

Bad Bad Thing Award Goes to Psychic-Medium Sylvia Mitchell

By Kirby Robinson

Bad Bad Thing Award goes to:
Psychic-Medium Sylvia Mitchell

Psychic-mediums, so-called teachers, so-called prophets have been very busy lately doing bad bad things. They’re guilty of not being able to back up their claims. They tell the public they can see your future, help you solve your problems and guide you in the right direction—but for entertainment purposes only. In reality they scam people out of as much money as they can. In some cases they turn people away from the light, sending them down the path to hell.

People often claim [falsely] that I go after the above due to the fact that I made claims in the past of being psychic when I was in the new age movement. Unfortunately, I was letting the teachings of the new age cloud my judgment and not realizing that I was using gifts of the spirit and not psychic gifts.

Now that I have shed the list of new age crap the rose colored glasses have come off and what it more often reveals is a landscape of darkness and deception.

We all know about the fake psychics in the paranormal like Chris Fleming, Chip Coffey, Amy Allan, Michelle Belanger, and many others. We watch them on TV feeding off the suffering of people and giving them false advice. The stuff they say must be found in fortune cookies or off the back of a Cracker Jack box as very little they ever say makes any sense.

Such silliness isn’t limited to the paranormal field. There are fakes like John Edwards and J.Z. Knight ruling the new age.

And in the Christian world false prophets like Jim Bakker, Paula White, and Rick Joyner make wild statements and when they don’t come true they claim they never said such a thing and mock God as they back-peddle.

But one recently has gone lower than the others and that one is Sylvia Mitchell. She even has gone so low that the New York Times has gone after her

 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/09/nyregion/a-psychics-legal-problems-perhaps-predictably-grow.html?_r=0

Ms. Sylvia Mitchell you did a bad bad thing. 

Do you know of a para-celeb, psychic, ghost hunter, demon chaser or false teacher who’s eligible for the award? You can take part by sending us a name and why you think they should receive the BAD BAD THING award. Contact freeallspirits@live.com for more information.

Keep current and follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/eyeonparanormal

EARN EXTRA MONEY! If you have a website, forum or blog you can set up an Amazon Associates Affiliate Program link and sell the Kindle version of NEVER MOCK GOD: AN UNAUTHORIZED INVESTIGATION INTO PARANORMAL STATE’S “I AM SIX” CASE [also in paperback!], INVESTIGATING PARANORMAL STATE, PARANORMAL STATE EXPOSED and PARANORMAL TEACHINGS: THE BEST OF SHEDDING SOME LIGHT and earn money. You can also sell other books and products that Amazon offers. Here's the link https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/

St. Malachy And The Prophecy Of The Popes

Author: Michael O'Brien
Special contributor: Aanica Guess

Lightning Striking the Basilica 

St. Malachy was the Irish Archbishop of Armagh in 1132.  As a saint, he was accredited with several miracles and was believed to hold profound psychic abilities.  Especially pertaining to the Vatican.  St. Malachy would go on to write down his visions whereby creating what is called, "The Prophecy of the Popes”.

From a dream, St. Malachy wrote his prophetic manuscript that consisted of a list of 112 illustrious pontiffs who would to go on to rule the Catholic Church until the end of time.  It goes on to list each pope’s importance to history and of course, predictions regarding each of him in short Latin diction.  These prophecies not only described each of the Roman Catholic popes to rise, but exposed the anti-popes as well.  St. Malachy noted these anti-popes began with Pope Celestine II and would conclude with the current Pope Benedict XVI's successor.

The abdicated pope [who is Pope Benedict XVI now] according to the Prophecy of the Popes is translated in short as "He will nominate a man who is described in the prophecy as "Peter the Roman”.  A pope whose pontificate will end in the destruction of the city of Rome."

St. Malachy was proven accurate in his prophecies.  Credibility to that statement might be found in the arguments that were made that St. Malachy addressed only 111 popes in his visions.  This contention would have made Pope John Paul II's successor, Pope Benedict XVI the final pope, aka, "The Beast.”  So it is understandable that the Benedictines would have invented pope 112 to dissociate their order from the, "Peter the Roman.”  However, little has been offered to substantiate the 111-pope theory and most believe that there were indeed, originally 112.

Therefore, you ask, "What does all of this have to do with me?”  Well, let us discuss for a moment what happened the last time the Catholic Church ran amuck with absolute omnipotence.

First, there were Dark Ages where the Catholic Church slaughtered over 150,000,000 Christians for their beliefs, or lack thereof.  Forgive this contemptible comparison but realize Hitler killed 6,000,000.  An overwhelming difference of 144,000,000 deaths.

Second, the Inquisition.  A tribunal established in 1480 by primarily Catholic Monarchs.  It was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy by any means and lasted over seven centuries.  While it was officially abolished in 1834, it is said that the deaths or executions told ranged from 2,250 to 9,000,000.  Quite a variance, I understand.  However, the hands of the Catholic Church committed what deaths that did occur then.  Interestingly enough, the office of the Inquisition continues today under the name “Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith."

What of the churches behavior towards the Knights Templar, Jan Hus, John Wycliffe, Galileo, Joan of Arc, William Tyndale and during the Medieval Witch Hunts?  All of which were persecuted by the Catholic Church, if not tortured and executed for their beliefs.

Currently, the Catholic Church continues to deal with the constant shame of the rape and molestation of countless young boys.  What is worse, the fact that Catholic hierarchy insisted on covering up the allegations and secretively sending their Bishops to new communities with new victims.  My point is just how profoundly effective the Catholic Church was and continues to be in covering their atrocities for so many years.

Now we find ourselves preparing for a new pope to be named before Easter.  As I understand it, there are five front-runners for the position.  Ironically, three of which are Roman.

My guess would be either Cardinal Angelo Scola Archbishop of Milan or Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, Archbishop of Genoa, Italy will be chosen.  However, Cardinal Angelo Scola would be more in fitting with the prophecy of the Anti-Christ.  It is predicted that the anti-pope will win over the hearts and trust of the Muslim world in short time and then will corrupt it.  With that said, Scola is considered a top scholar on Islam and Muslim to Christian dialog.  In addition, that he is well prepared to deal with the challenges regarding Western secularism and materialism.  

Bagnasco is more along the lines of Pope Benedict's best friend as I understand it but he still had a fighting chance.

So, what would prompt a Catholic girl to write such an article?  It is simple really.  Just take a good look at the photos of lightening striking the top of the Vatican's St Peter's Basilica twice just hours after Pope Benedict XVI announced his confusing resignation.

While the majority made jokes about it, that incident spoke volumes to me.  It also begged to ask, "Is there any reality to St. Malachy's prophecy?”  "Is the Anti-Christ lurking in the shadows waiting to be announced and adored by millions?”  Better yet, could God have been unleashing the equivalent of, "Wake and realize!  Something wicked this way comes?"

I do not know but I am certain of this.  No newly elected pope in Rome in his right mind this year will choose to change his name to Peter.

What Are Shadow Figures?

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

What are shadow figures? Most folks would answer that by saying that they are trapped human spirits. However, the more unmoored from a biblical worldview we become, the more “unreal” and fantastical the speculation has become regarding their identity. I have come to a different conclusion. It is true that, in addition to logic and science, I approach this issue from a biblical worldview, but as I argue in "Seeing Ghosts through God's Eyes" we all have a worldview and it informs and shapes our conclusions we come to just as "intrusively". We all wear worldview spectacles that affect the way we see data; I simply make mine explicit. (an important but distinct issue, is determining which worldview is true—corresponds to reality). The biblical worldview is coherent (internally consistent), and corresponds to what we know instinctively about ourselves and the world we live in. In an age of irrationality, which is unprecedented in the history of mankind, the bible trumpets the reality of true truth—which is objective and absolute—the Oracles of the Living God (bible) as we saw last week...

When I saw my first shadow figure—solid, black humanoid shaped--12 years ago, I knew instinctively what it was: a demon. Since then, I have experienced a lot of supernatural activity, and shadow figures seem to be the most common form it chooses to take—which is significant in itself. Let me give the reasons for why I believe ALL shadow figures are demonic in nature, and not a shadowy presence of a loved one.

First, our understanding of the nature of God is central to our worldviews--most of which are held unconsciously. The infinite/personal God of the Bible is holy. The refulgence of His glory is blinding…brighter than the noon-day sun. Jesus said He is the Light of the world as opposed to Satan who is the Prince of darkness, This is not a black versus white issue, it is a light versus darkness issue. I could pile up references that speak of good in terms of light and evil in terms of darkness (see John 3). Darkness signifies distance from God and affinity with evil. Now shadow figures are invariably dark. From head to toe there is no light emanating--just walking darkness. The sheer darkness would seem to suggest that they are “pure evil”…which is precisely what they are.

Second, logic and science imply that a self--existent and eternal God, as well as infinite and personal, had to create paranormal phenomena. An impersonal physical realm cannnot give rise to a supernatural end personal entity--that would be like water rising above its source. Having said that, do we really believe that God would create our essence (souls) to appear in such a fashion that they frighten loved ones when they see them? Some argue that in this case you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. As an author I know people do judge books by their cover and our first impressions of shadow figures are almost always fearful. I ask again—do we really think God would allow our essence to become so freaky looking that it scares the daylights out of loved one’s?

Third, if there is one word that summarizes the general behavior of shadow figures it is "furtive"--they slyly dart from shadow to shadow, trying to avoid detection, or are seen in one’s peripheral vision. (I know there are exceptions—they stand at the foot of one’s bed—but these exceptions prove the rule) Furtive behavior is normally associated with spiritual and moral decay. Consider the first furtive act in the history of mankind. After committing cosmic treason against a holy God, we are told that Adam and Eve slunk around in the garden ashamed of their nakedness--which was indicative of a spiritual and moral nakedness.. Hence, not only the appearance but the behavior of shadow figures belies their demonic nature. As pure evil,. they slink around, always aware of the GAZE of the holy God, against whom they have rebelled..

Yes, there are manifestations of shadow figures that stand at the foot of the bed, or rape the occupant in the bed, but most SHADOWS are caught out of the corner of the eye…are they not? I am not interested in sneering argument or endless conjecture—the presence of shadow figures are prominent in the demonic infestations that the Lord brings to me to cleanse. Often, it is the observed departure of a shadow figure demon, that signals their surrender and exit.

Fourth, while on earth an essential trait of our souls is invisibility. No surgeon has ever seen a soul, but they exist. How is it then that after we die, some souls gain the trait of potential visibility? Do you really believe that the shadow figure you saw the other night is the soul or essence of a human being? If so, who gave them this new ability to manifest as frightening looking shadows?. How did the essentially invisible, take on visivility?

Lastly, one of the widely held paranormal maxims is: as in life, so in death. If a man was a jerk while alive, then he will be a jerk as a ghost. If ghosts exist then that makes sense. I would press it further: upon death, there must be 100 percent continuity of moral character and personality. So shadow figures, or ghosts in general, must represent a true cross section of American citizens. Aunt Sally was an extrovert, never met a stranger, and she was very vocal about her love for Jesus. Where are the Aunt Sally’s in the shadow figure population? Or the whole alleged ghost population for that matter? I've heard a couple of EVP’s that say “God” or "Jesus", but where is the EVP expressing warm worship of Him? Where is the shadow figure that declares the gospel or asserts Jesus is their shield and defender? The “as in life, so in death” principle is shattered by these godless entities.

Jesus stated that what we say is expressive of the habits/nature of our hearts—whatever fills our hearts will come out of our mouths. Hence, the universal lack of praising the glory of the Person and work of Christ amongst shadow figures, gives us a glimpse into the Christ-hating habits of their hearts. If shadow figures are really demons, then this is precisely what one would expect. Ocham’s razor would indicate that the simplest explanation of the identity of shadow figures is that they are demonic.

A couple of further thoughts—these entities should NOT be referred to as “shadow people” because they are not people!! They are pure evil… unclean spirits, bent on the destruction of people. Amy Allan of the TV show The Dead Files is deathly afraid of these shadow creatures because, according to her, they almost killed her when she was four years old—they persuaded her to bite into an electrical cord. But she has stated that she has no clue as to who they are or where they come from. As with all paranormal entities, the true identity of shadow figures is not a paranormal or scientific issue—it is a theological issue. How sad that folks would get excited about observing that which intends to destroy them. For God’s glory, let us expel them in the name of Jesus.