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If you are attending Masonic Week in Alexandria, Virginia this year, be aware of a special event to kick off the week. On Wednesday, February 10th, the Rose Circle Research Foundation, in conjunction with Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22, will co-host a program exploring the art of initiation at the George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria.
The event is sponsored by Toye, Kenning and Spencer Ltd. regalia manufacturers.
Speakers from Rose Circle Research Foundation will explore the esoteric and spiritual aspects of initiation throughout the afternoon. Following that program, members of Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22 will be exemplifying the very unique Entered Apprentice Degree of the Bristol Ritual, which is almost never seen outside of the north of England. Following the degree presentation, there will be a traditional Festive Board.
A shuttle bus service will be available to and from the Hilton Mark Center Hotel.
From the Amazon.com product page for the Bristol Ritual by Charles E. Cohoughlyn-Burroughs:
"Bristol Masonry is unlike anything seen elsewhere in England. In the first degree alone one witnesses unusual ceremonies and hears statements which will surprise even the well-read Mason. Have you ever heard "the Nile, the Ganges, the Euphrates, [and the] Mississippi" mentioned in an Entered Apprentice degree? How about "the immeasurable wilds of the scattered Indian tribes across the mighty Atlantic...the wandering Arabs, roaming tartars, or far distant Chinese"? Have you ever seen the "circle of swords," the "cup of affliction" or the "writing test" given to an Entered Apprentice? It is all here, and much more. As one of the most unusual rituals in the English language, Masons travel from all over the world to witness these fascinating ceremonies. Boasting what is probably the oldest Craft working in England, Bristol ritual retains aspects which are similar to the unpublished Irish workings, but also resembles Continental Masonry in some regards."
If you were wavering about which day to arrive for Masonic Week, don't miss this!
Tags: pagan origins of christma the hermetic order of the golden dawn lodestone money drawing love the bloodlines of power wicca candle magic light the imbolc fires
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Over the next few weeks I will be hosting several posts showcasing spectacular Indie Two months after dying, Graylee Perez wakes up in her twin sister Charlene's body. As a witch, can anyone blame her mother for attempting to bring her daughter back to life? Now Gray is stuck sharing her sister's body in twenty-four-hour shifts.
Raj McKenna is rumored to meddle in the black arts, not to mention he's after Gray's invisibility spell, and worse-her heart. But Raj might be the only one powerful enough to save Gray from fading away forever.
The race is on for Gray to find a way back inside her own body before Charlene purges her from existence.
And for you pleasure, here is the first chapter of Entangled:
If Graylee's sister wanted to be taken seriously, she should have threatened to step in front of a bus rather than off a building. She was a witch. Heights weren't particularly a problem.
"I'm going to do it, Lee. I mean it."
Graylee joined Charlene on the roof of McKinley High and peered over the edge at the damp walkway below. It led into the student parking lot. Everyone was in fifth period... everyone except for the identical twins standing over the heads of their oblivious classmates and teachers.
A suicide threat, seriously? This is why Gray was missing English?
They were supposed to be discussing Yeats that afternoon and Gray didn't appreciate having Charlene's minion stop her on the way to class with a message that her sister planned on plunging to her death before the day was out.
That would teach Blake Foster-or so Charlene thought. The jerk had dumped her sister after first period and, worse, had been seen sucking face with Stacey Morehouse at lunch.
Graylee started shivering the moment she'd stepped onto the roof. It was friggin' February for crying out loud and she was wearing shorts. Granted, she had thick black tights on underneath, but still-brrr! Couldn't Charlene have scheduled her dramatic death scene in the warmth of their home over a bottle of pills?
"What about me? You expect me to watch?" Graylee said. "Sure, that won't haunt me the rest of my days."
Charlene's face contorted. "You're so freaking selfish!"
"Me? What about you? Do you know what this would do to Mom? And what about me? How am I going to get through the rest of the semester when I'm all sad and stuff?"
Charlene snorted. "Like you'd care." She had to be cold in her skinny jeans, but at least she was wearing a sweater.
The cold seeped down to Graylee's bones. The tips of her fingers felt as though they'd been dipped in ice water. She tried to conjure up warmth, but her body didn't respond.
"Of course I care. You're my sister." Graylee nodded at the building's edge. "It's not like the fall would kill you, anyway."
"It wouldn't?"
"Nah. We're not high enough. It'd just cripple you." Graylee bent her neck in, hunched over and held her arms close to her body, and then proceeded to walk around like a gimp. "Hey, Char, here's you walking down the halls of McKinley."
Charlene's lips tightened.
Graylee shuffled around. It helped warm her up. Charlene was fighting back a smile. "Don't you dare make me laugh!"
"Hey, Char. Here you are at prom." Graylee moved like a T. rex, flopping her hands back and forth against her chest.
Finally Charlene couldn't hold it back any longer. Her body shook. It was a good thing she was laughing because Graylee couldn't contain her mirth any longer. Then Charlene's laughter turned to tears.
Graylee rushed over, reached out, then stopped herself. Charlene wasn't the huggy type, not even when her heartthrob dumped her out of the blue.
"I'm not going to prom," Charlene sobbed. "Not anymore."
Graylee patted Charlene's back. "There's always next year. Anyway, there's plenty of time to find another date. Heck, it's only February second."
Charlene ceased crying abruptly. "I don't want another date! I want Blake!"
"What's so special about that numbnut, anyway?"
"Lee, he's the love of my life." Charlene's voice broke.
"I think we ought to turn him into a toad."
Charlene pulled back. "Oh, no, don't do anything to Blake."
No, good ol' Blake was beyond reproach in Charlene's book. They'd gone to Homecoming together and been inseparable ever since... well, till today. Not that Graylee would do anything bad to him anyway. Both she and Charlene had taken the Vow of Honor at age twelve, and that meant absolutely no black magic.
Graylee lifted her hands in surrender. "Fine, I won't make a Blake Foster voodoo doll when I get home."
Charlene's eyes widened.
"But don't blame me if his car gets keyed."
"Lee, don't touch Blake's truck, either."
"Why not?"
"When we get back together I don't want to see a scratch on Blake or his truck."
"Oh, so now you're getting back together?"
"Blake just needs to realize the error of his ways." Charlene flipped a long strand of blond hair over her shoulder and smiled right before turning away.
"Char..." Graylee said in a warning voice.
Wonder of all wonders, Charlene ignored her. She took one gigantic step off the building.
Graylee hurried to the edge in time to see her sister float gently to the walkway below.
"Brat," Graylee muttered under her breath. Charlene knew she was buoyantly challenged. Not to mention they were at school, for freak's sake. What if someone was watching them from a parked car?
And way to leave her high and dry-or rather high and chilled to the bone.
Graylee stormed to the door leading back inside McKinley.
Ryan was on the other side. His pear-shaped head craned around her, the corners of his mouth curving down like a weepy clown's when he didn't see Charlene. "Oh my god, she jumped."
Graylee rolled her eyes. "No, she floated."
Ryan took in a gasping breath. "Thank god."
Graylee pushed ahead of Ryan and hurried down the stairwell. She paused in front of the door leading into the second floor hallway. Ryan caught up to her and looked at her with big round eyes.
"Now what?" Graylee asked herself. "If I walk into English late Mrs. Pritchett is going to skin me alive. If I'm absent without an excuse..." Graylee tapped her toe then looked down at Ryan. "Well? What are you waiting for?"
Ryan looked at the door and cleared his throat. "I don't know. What are you going to do?"
Graylee stopped tapping her foot and smiled suddenly. "I know what I'm going to do."
She squeezed her eyes closed and disappeared before Ryan's eyes. The last thing Graylee heard before she pushed the door open into the school was Ryan sucking air.
He would be surprised. Invisibility was advanced magic. Graylee doubted that even the peer leaders at Gathering could disappear from sight.
Graylee's clogs clomped across the deserted hallway. Lucky for her Mrs. Pritchett hadn't closed the door to her classroom yet.
Graylee slipped in and skirted the row of desks nearest the wall. She sidestepped backpacks and heavy text The use of magic in the presence of normal humans was forbidden by their coven-except in case of emergencies. She highly doubted that getting out of a tardy counted, but Charlene started it, and Graylee had obeyed till now. If anything, she eschewed magic in public. She simply wanted to be a normal high school student. And forget ever dating a magically inclined member of the male species. She wasn't passing on her wonky witch genes to her children. Not that dating a warlock automatically led to children, but one could never be too careful.
Graylee surveyed the back row. This would be her best bet. Sneaking into English as Invisa-girl was easy. Reappearing without anyone noticing-not so much.
Graylee set her pack onto the floor and slipped sideways into the desk. She looked side to side.
"Turn to page fifty-two. Brian, read the first verse of 'Leda and the Swan,'" Mrs. Pritchett commanded.
Good, everyone was looking down. Graylee pinched her eyes closed and filled herself in like a line drawing in a coloring book, except at warp speed. It wouldn't do to appear with half a body or decapitated. She always started from the toes up-backpack last. When she reopened her eyes she saw her arms resting on her desktop. A wry smile formed over her lips. She couldn't help it. She didn't know anyone else capable of invisibility.
Graylee reached into her now visible pack and quickly withdrew her poetry book and flipped to page fifty-two.
When the bell rang she stuffed her book back inside. Everyone leapt from their desks to make for sixth period. Sadie Howard glanced back then did a double take when she saw Graylee. They usually sat together. How was Graylee going to explain that one?
Just as she headed toward Sadie, Graylee was bumped from behind. The force of the body against hers sent her pack flying out of her hands onto the ground. Okay, now she was pissed. "What's your..."
Graylee whipped around to find herself face-to-face with Raj McKenna.
"...problem," Graylee finished, the word fading like bleached denim.
Raj flicked his Zippo open and closed in his left hand while studying Graylee.
Raj had the kind of bronze-toned skin the socialites of McKinley tried obsessively to replicate in tanning booths. The only thing they managed to enhance was their orangish glow. Raj's was a hundred percent authentic. His mother was Indian-as in India Indian. He'd inherited her lush dark hair and exotic eyes, the color of which he got from his American father; green like a panther's, which fit him well 'cause he looked ready to pounce if you made the mistake of turning your back to him. Case in point: ramming Graylee as he'd just done now.
The Zippo clicked shut again. Raj really shouldn't be playing with a lighter considering he'd burnt down his last house.
"Sorry, didn't see you."
Graylee's jaw dropped.
This time, Raj's eyes met hers. There was a glint there, or maybe that was just the flash from Raj's lighter as he flicked it open and closed again.
As Yeats might've said back in the day: bloody hell.
The last person Graylee wanted knowing about her newfound disappearing act was Raj McKenna.
Raj was the kind of warlock who didn't take vows of honor. An invisibility spell had no place inside Raj's bag of tricks. He probably hadn't considered it before and now Graylee had gone and put the idea into his delinquent head. Friggin' great.
Raj didn't belong at McKinley High. He ought to be sent off to one of the coven's rehabilitation campsites far from civilization. But no order had been handed down, not even when Raj's own mother had taken his younger sister and gotten the hell away from him.
Mr. McKenna no longer showed up for meets. They said Raj had driven his dad to drink and the boy was left unsupervised in the ramshackle home where he and his father had relocated in a seedy part of Kent.
Raj's smile widened. "See you around, Gray."
Not if she could help it. Graylee bent down and picked her pack off the floor. If only she knew how to do a memory spell on Raj and make him forget what he'd seen... or rather not seen. But Graylee had no talent for messing with memories or emotions. She was content to let the world go on without her interference. She simply wanted to be left alone. Maybe that's why she was so good at disappearing.
Hungry for more? Entangled can be found at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Smashwords.
Tags: round wicker chair with wicker base black magic love spell whole valerian root jack the ripper thriller excerpt blessing of a garden connecting up the dot belief by religion two two
I have had the pleasure of ministering to many women who have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Their numbers are increasing dramatically as the years go by. A little more than five years ago such a diagnosis was rare and many who were given this diagnosis were considered to be mentally unstable. This is because it is a catch-all diagnosis given when no medical reason exists for the muscle and connective tissue pain a person experiences in varying intensities. A person is diagnosed with Fibro when all the blood tests come back in the normal ranges and no other reason for the pain can be found medically.
An overwhelming majority of the people diagnosed with Fibro live their lives ruled by the pain they experience. Overcomers are few and far between, and even Christians tend to be defeated by this malady. That does not have to describe you.
First, the hard truths. There is benefit in pain, even the chronic gnawing pain you may suffer with. There is also benefit in pain relief- more than just in the physical and emotional realm. Both of these truths are possible for the believer in Christ Jesus, and impossible for those who are unregenerate.
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose". Romans 8:28 (NASB)
If you have your Bible handy, take a look at the verses that precede the one I cited for you. The context is one of suffering and Paul outlines for us how the whole creation is groaning in misery as it waits to be fully adopted when the times reach their fulfillment. "Everything" in this world is yearning to be set free from the bondage of suffering.
Our suffering is participation in the sufferings of Christ Jesus.
"that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; "Philippians 3:10 (NASB)
Part of our identity in Christ is suffering, but it is not our entire identity. The problem with chronic pain is that we tend to allow it to define us. It, rather than Christ, becomes the ruler of our lives. Pain, rather then the Scriptures consumes our thoughts, and Self rather than Christ becomes our god. Pain is not who you are, who you are is a child of the King.
"The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him." Romans 8:16-17 (NASB)
The reality of the situation is that our sufferings confirm that we "do" belong to Christ! God has not forgotten you in your pain but He does use the pain of Fibromyalgia in your life and as you grow and change into Christ-likeness there is benefit in your life and the lives of others around you.
This pain has a purpose. God is working in an intentional way in you and through you. He is putting His power on display in your life as you learn to deal biblically with pain and most importantly, He is using you to bring glory to Himself.
Continued tomorrow.
Origin: http://spellscasting.blogspot.com
There are some seasonal activities that are so common to both Pagan, Chistian - that they make wonderful 'crossover' activities to incorporate into your own family's traditions.
- My children & I often take common activities, and infuse a bit of spirituality
- The 3 Halloween / Samhain Spell Crafts that we are about to share with you,center around seasonal activies that are common in many homes; Making Spiced Cider, Cleaning
- The simple addition of magickal
So, PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR AUTUMN CIDER:
INGREDIENTS: * Apple Juice, Clove studded Apples ">Cinnamon Sticks, Nutmeg, Allspice
* Honey (to be added just before serving)
MAKING THE CIDER:
-Gather materials, and prepare workspace.
*
-Take a moment to wash your hands, and clear your mind.
*
-Discuss the things you hope to draw into your life;
and how the fruits ">carry the energy of the intention you charm them with.
*
-The act of cooking, and then ingesting the cider
helps to bring about that change in your own physical body ">*
-Explain that you are using Elemental Magick in this spell
-as the Earth is represtented by the fruits
Fire is used to simmer the Cider;
Water is represented by the liquids used
and Air is represented by the steam ">The energy used to charge the foods ">is the Element of Spirit.
*
- Charge each ingredient with the desired quality.
*-Remind the kids that you are working for 'real life' magickal changes-
so be sure to visualize 'practical' qualities such as health
(as opposed to invisibility, or flying power.)
*
-Set the ingredients onto the stove in a large pot, to simmer
for at least an hour, and the longer, the better. Stir the cider clockwise.
* -As you drink the cider, visualize yourself ">being filled with the positive attributes that you desire.
*
HALLOWEEN / SAMHAIN
NEW YEAR'S CARVED PUMPKIN
CLEANSING
-begin by preparing the work space ">*-during this time, talk with the kids about how the ending of an old cycle,
and the begining of a new one,
is an oppourtunity to clear away unwanted things out of our lives
*
- things like old habits, attitudes, people
and out moded aspects of ourselves can be cleared away,
to make room for a fresh start ">* -I use the example of how a snake must shed his old skin,
before his new one can grow in;
* -when all is ready,take a minute to wash hands ">preparing yourself for the work to be done.
*
- You can use a pumpkin for each individual, representing the self;
or one communal pumpkin to represent the family unit.
*
-Wash the pumpkin, and consecrate it to symbolize the intended person.
*
-With a permanent marker, write the full name ">(or the family members names), onto the backside of the pumpkin. This ties the pumpkin to the person with sympathetic magick.
-Sit with it in your lap, and visualise your energy flowing into ">-As you cut the circle into the top of the pumpkin;
see this as an act of opening yourself up,
to let out all of the stagnant ">*
-Kids of all ages can participate in the scooping out of the pumpkin guts.
Using a scoop, hands or large spoon, remove all of the innards,
while visualising this as removing the unwanted qualities from yourself ">It is great to name the qualities you are releasing, as you work.
* -Thoroughly wash the seeds
making sure to see this act as getting rid of the old, to make room for the new.
Set the clean seeds aside to be used in the second part of this spell.
*
-draw a face on the pumkin that characterises the person it is meant to represent.
Then draw symbols in the empty spaces, that represent the positive energies ">that are being called into the self ">-It may be helpful to have a simple chart prepared of the basic symbols
dollar sign for prosperity; a 5 pointed star for protection;
a house shape with a heart around it for a loving home, an A+ for good grades, etc.)
*
-You may also like to draw a few simple runes ">to choose from.
*
-Visualise youself ">with the postive energy and traits you are drawing onto the pumpkin.
*
-Now you are ready to decorate the pumpkin.
You can carve, draw or paint the face ">*-This is personal choice, and really dictated by how much light you would like
to have shining through the pumpkin at night.
**If you plan on using a candle- then you must carve at least a hole or two in order to have enough oxygen to keep the candle lit ">*
-The act of removing the seeds provided the actions for the cleansing portion of the spelland the face, name, DOB along with the visualization- are the actions neccesary for the filling up and charging of the spell. *
-When the drawing, painting ">again sit quietly with the pumpkin creation;
-being filled with positive energy
*
-See this as a bright white light that is pouring from nature, God ">into the pumpkins ">*
-When the pumpkin is completely filled up ">light a tealight (supervise the children), and place it within the pumpkin
(*if there are no carved portions, omit the candle step).
*
-Replace the lid onto the pumpkin
-If desired, you can preserve the pumpkin longer, by spraying a coat of Lysol, or cooking spray onto the insides and all carved areas of the pumpkin-(*before lighting the candle*)
*
-As the candles burn each night- the magick is reinforced & the intended person is being charged up with good energy ">*
-When Halloween is over, and the pumpkins are to be disposed of,
they can either be bagged up and thrown away,
or better yet, ( ">*- they can be left outside in a natural spot (like a bush, or compost pile), to decay ">*
HALLOWEEN / SAMHAIN
PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
*
POSSIBLE SPICES
*
-There are many possible choices- SPICY, SAVORY, SWEET ">and as with anything; each ingredient carries a distinct energy pattern & symbolic correspondences, which can be tapped in to for use in ritual ">-so use your imagination and prepare to taste.
*
*Butter is used in all of these as a base to coat the seeds
*
Garlic, Onion, Salt, Black Pepper, Red Pepper, Cayenne, Paprika, Curry, Cumin, Chili Powder, Lime, Seasoned Salt Blends, Parmesean Cheese, Rosemary, Basil, Thyme, Oregano
*
Sugar, Pumpkin Flavor, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves, Allspice, Chai Tea
*
PREPARING
-Gather all materials needed; wash hands
-Talk with the children about how we can infuse our foods with enegy & intenions
-Explain how the different foods, herbs natural energy
-Make a list of the different herbs and decide which flavor blends you care to try ">*-Kids are usually great at intuiting what energies the various foods contain. (ie: spicy foods contain lots of energy; green foods are good for prosperity; red juicy fruits for love; sweet foods for kindness; seeds ">*-Have them try to figure out what energetic qualities the herbs ">that you have chosen to use contain. *
-Have them think for this next year.
*
-Charge each one with the desired attributes.
*
-Then, choose a spice blend; and take a moment to charge the blend
with your own personal energy.
*
-Toss the pumpkin seeds in a bowl or ziploc bag with melted butter, to coat. Then lay the coated seeds out onto a prepared baking pan.*-Lightly sprinkle the spices over the pumpkin seeds;
shake
while visualizing this act as the person being 'coated'
with the desired positive energy
-Roast the pumpkin seeds in the oven at 375 degrees, cooking for 10-15 minutes, untill seeds are golden brown (I like to flip mine halfway thru, at about 6 minutes).
*
-As you
tell them that they are ingesting their hopes ">and that each of the charmed seeds with take 'root' and 'grow'
into the positive attributes that they charged them with.
~DANAE
Tags: espiritismo en puerto religion of mongolia astrology astrology birthday card chart chinese com sign zodiac eq familiar obvious troll is obvious meme free magic spells that work
Be careful what you pray for especially if it involves asking God to remove the things in your life that He detests that you've been ignoring or rationalizing (or never even knew existed). I learned that lesson the hard way this week. In fact, I'm still learning that lesson as I type this.
While the catalyst, the tipping point, was Halloween and whether or not we as Christians have any business to be celebrating it no matter how much we "dress it down" to feel better about things, the core issue is what it has always been with me.
Let me be clear. I'm a hypocrite. I've been living like a hypocrite for far too long and never realized it until this week. No, not just about Halloween, but about so many other things in my life (certain thoughts, feelings, actions, behaviors, etc.) that I allowed to take root in my life and in my family even though I should know better. In that sense, I have failed my Lord, my wife, my children, my family, my friends, all of you, and myself.
The Bible is clear when it warns us...
HEBREWS 10:26-29 (NIV) "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?"
This is what the unpardonable sin ultimately accomplishes.
Through willfully practicing sin, the sinner rejects the very basis of his covenant with God - the shed blood of Jesus Christ. If one deeply appreciates and values His sacrifice, he will not willfully practice the very actions that made that sacrifice necessary.
God forgives with the understanding that the one forgiven has turned from sin and will continue to overcome it. That's what repentance is all about. It is not just changing one's mind about sin and getting to the point where you intellectually know what God says about what He considers "right" and what He considers "wrong". Repentance is taking that new knowledge and then actively TURNING AWAY from such things!
I haven't been doing that like I thought I was for so long and so this harsh reality that He's just now bringing to light is impacting me greatly. Praise the Lord for that!
When God designed this creation, He considered His purpose along with our free-moral agency, right? He concluded that He had to devise a payment for sin so profound in its implications that the heirs of salvation (that's you and me), out of overwhelming gratitude, would drive themselves (ourselves) from sin.
Such a price of redemption could not be the death of any common person or animal, for these have neither the worth nor the ability to pay for all sin. Only the sacrifice of the sinless God-man, Jesus Christ, could meet these qualifications.
Read those verses above again please. What we see in Hebrews 10:26-29 is the end of a person who, by the very conduct of his life, reveals his pitiful assessment of that sacrifice. The author makes a three-fold indictment against this person. First, they repudiate the oath taken at baptism. Second, they contemptuously reject Christ. Third, they commit an insulting outrage against the merciful judgment of God. I don't want to be that person any longer!
Sure, no one will ever live a perfect life. The only One who could and who did was Jesus Christ Himself. But what do we read in the Scriptures folks?
We read over and over again about how we are to AT LEAST TRY, right? We should try and strive to become more like Him from the very moment we become born again to our last dying breath!
Yes, we will stumble along the way and fall into sin every now and then, but that shouldn't mean that we ever stop trying to live obediently to Him. God forbid! We must simply try to walk-the-walk and not just talk-the-talk or else our faith is worthless.
This is not some "Works Based Theology" I'm writing to all of you about today. It's pure, unadulterated Biblical truth my friends!
JAMES 2:17 (NIV)" In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
JAMES 2:20 (NIV) "You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?"
JAMES 2:26 (NIV) "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."
See what I mean? And we haven't even looked at the "BY THEIR FRUITS YOU SHALL KNOW THEM" verses either!
So my response to Halloween today has been to ask the following key questions...
"Is Halloween that important? What is so valuable about costumes and pumpkins and candy that it can't be renounced for this God who loves us so much? I've read articles in which people say things like, "I'm not going to let Satan take away my fun." What is Satan's "fun" except another name for "sin"? What is Satan's "fun" compared to the joy of the Lord?"
The natural response I've received from loved ones has been one of a mocking condescension. Yes, even from self-proclaimed "Christians" believe it or not. What they fail to realize is that it's not me they're mocking; it's God and His holy Word.
To reply to such critical questions like the ones I wrote above in jest with things like...
"Jeff, you celebrated Halloween and you turned out just fine. You're a Christian. So, what's the big deal? Is anyone really going to go to Hell because they trick-or-treat one night of the year? It's not like people are handing out Satanic Bibles or teaching the kids spells when they go around to each door. Stop trying to steal the fun from your kid's lives! They only get to live once! They only have one childhood anyway! Besides, if you build the proper Christian foundation then what do you have to worry about then?"
Where do I even begin? My heart broke to hear such things.
My kids are 4 and 5 years old. I agree 100% about "building the proper Christian foundation", but the irony is that that's PRECISELY what I'm trying to do here. How can no one see that?
How can anyone lecture me about how to raise my own children that God entrusted into my specific care for Him and His purposes? I have a right and a responsibility to lead by example and teach them the truth regardless of what others think.
Plus, aren't I still building that "Christian foundation" with them being as young as they are? You bet I am! People have made it sound like it's already built when I'm trying to teach them now what I want them to think, what God Himself thinks, about certain things like Halloween.
As "Christians", how does any of what the Scriptures say about things connected to Halloween not make you feel even SLIGHTLY guilty? How does it not make you want to at least explore the topic and discuss it further?
Forget about the Scriptures for a moment. What about the FACT that people and animals around the world will be kidnapped, abused, tortured, and used in Satanic ritual sacrifice today and tonight? I hate to break it to ya, but Satan is just as real as God is, and there are MILLIONS of people out there (some even in your own local community) who are practicing Occultists/Pagans/Satanists/Wiccans and they do these types of things ON THIS DAY because it's what their twisted belief system and god tells them to do. You're ok with that though, right? As long as you or your kids don't do it it's fine then, right? Wrong.
All I'm trying to do is share the truth so that I don't have to answer to God about why I let my dear loved ones continue to go on thinking something that wasn't true when I should've known better. It's not like I've gone around and every time Halloween came up this past week I made a comment about it or sounded off on all the verses that speak about this.
No! I made one innocent comment ("You know, I'm really feeling guilty about celebrating Halloween for a number of reasons and think we should maybe talk about it some...") and World War III erupted. It hurts, but it's not surprising. I get it. I know that we're told to expect such things. It just stings even more because it's not coming from strangers, but it's coming from family and friends.
Look, it will be on me one day if I simply sit back and never say a word about stuff like this. I'll be held accountable and will have to answer to God myself if I just keep my mouth shut to avoid causing an argument or offending people. Gosh, Christianity is offensive! That's the point here.
To hear and see people (loved ones even!) make a joke and mock me (mock God's Word) for being concerned in the first place, is so sad and frustrating. It breaks my heart in two. To put them, or my own personal comfort level first would've been putting things before God, and, as a Christian, a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a son-in-law, a brother-in-law, and a friend I cannot give in when I know something is wrong. I just can't and won't. I had to make a stand this time.
Like I said, Halloween is just the catalyst here. What this all boils down to is what EVERY SINFUL ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOR boils down to, and it's at the root of the hypocrisy in my own personal life that I opened this piece with.
What is at the root? Are we living by our will or His will? Who is sovereign in this life we've been given? Is it the Creator or the creation?
PAUL WASHER: ARE YOU DOING GOD'S WILL OR YOUR OWN WILL?
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Washer's so right! When he said, "THE MOST DANGEROUS PRAYER YOU CAN PRAY IS, 'LORD, MAKE ME LIKE JESUS CHRIST!'... IT'S PRACTICALLY CALLING A DEATH SENTENCE UPON YOURSELF", well, I can COMPLETELY identify with his assertion. It's true. Believe me.
Listening to that I'm reminded of my own wretched state despite how others might view me. Thank the Lord for bringing me to the truth and I thank Him for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
See, that's another thing. I don't want anyone to think that because of my stance on this issue today that I'm somehow suggesting that I'm better than everyone else. God forbid!
This past week has been one where the Lord is revealing all the wickedness that exists in my life that He wants me to deal with once and for all so that I too can stop living like a hypocrite. That's the message here.
We need to be willing to hold ourselves up to His Word and see what it reveals about us even if we detest what we see. Why? Because that's what will prove to us our need for a Savior from our sins, and what will force us to our knees in genuine, humble repentance to Jesus Christ over our sins. We need to regularly examine ourselves like we're commanded to, right? Of course we are.
But again, getting back to Halloween for a moment, if we call ourselves Christians then how can we not feel at least the slightest tinge of guilt over a day like today especially in light of the 5-minute message we just heard that goes hand-in-hand with this discussion?
I AM NOT ASHAMED OF GOD, OR OF HIS WORD, OR OF HOW LIVING THE WAY HE WANTS US TO WILL MAKE ME LOOK TO THE WORLD, WHICH IS WHY I NO LONGER CARE ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF ME AND MY VIEWS ABOUT HALLOWEEN. I AM LIVING FOR HIS APPROVAL - NOT MAN'S APPROVAL, NOT MY FAMILY'S APPROVAL. PEOPLE CAN THINK WHAT THEY WANT AND SAY WHAT THEY WANT, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? AT THE END OF THE DAY, I WANT MY KIDS TO SEE THAT THEIR FATHER TAKES HIS FAITH SERIOUSLY SO MUCH SO THAT HE IS ACTUALLY WILLING TO WALK-THE-WALK (AND NOT JUST TALK-THE-TALK) NO MATTER THE PERSONAL COST! OTHERWISE, MY FAITH IS A SHAM BECAUSE I'M NOT WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE FOR IT OR FOR THE ONE WHO SAVED ME AND GAVE ME ETERNAL LIFE.
I'm sorry that others near and dear to me might think that I'm such a "buzzkill" or "killjoy" or "crazy Christian" because of my views on this. I really am. I will continue to pray that God opens their hearts and minds to the truth.
I didn't know that not carving pumpkins, not going out trick-or-treating, or not getting candy would ruin my kids' lives and steal all the fun out of it.
I didn't know that "having fun" and not "pursuing righteousness" was the purpose of the Christian life. I didn't know that reading my Bible and trying to do what it tells me was so yesterday. Chalk another heresy up to the "Purpose-Driven Life" crowd I suppose who are living in "The Shack".
I love my family and I love my kids. That's the whole point! It's why I decided to finally be courageous on this front this year instead of burying my head in the sand like in year's past.
I love them all, and they know that. But I pray that they don't continue to ask me to turn my back on God or His Word because I'll never do that. Whatever the cost, right?
Strangely enough, I'm now feeling closer to God than I have in quite a long time. Sad and beautiful at the same time.
I pray that this is the beginning of Him putting me on His true path for my life. I pray that He continues to shape me into the Christian He wants me to be.
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Amun, Amon or Amen - The God of creation, fertility, reproduction and sexual power. He is associated with the pharaohs and the Sun and was known as the one supreme God. He carries a whip and sometimes is seated in a throne.
Anubis - God of the Dead and Lord of Mummy Wrappings. The God of the dead and transformation. He is associated with the truth and change. He is the ruler of the underworld and a guide for all souls in transition.
Bast or Bastet - Goddess of Fertility, Sensuality and Fire Prevention.
The Goddess of the Sun, pleasure and play. Also the Goddess of the East, generosity, music, healing, fire, the Moon, protection and sex. She is the mother of all cats and the protector of all animals. A very warm and kind Goddess to work with.
Geb - God of earth the first king of Egypt. He is often portrayed lying beneath the sky goddess, Nut. In his role as a god of earth, he is a fertility deity. Plants grow within his body, the dead are imprisoned inside him, and earthquakes are his laughter. He is more than a god of the surface of the earth - in fact, he is a god of everything contained within the earth.
Hathor - Goddess of Happiness. The Goddess of beauty, love and pleasure. She is a woman with the horns of a cow. She often carries a rattle.
Horus - A solar God and the avenger of evil. Horus is seen in the form of a man with the head of a falkon or as a falcon with the Moon as one eye and the Sun as the other.
Isis - The mother and supreme Goddess. She is associated with womanhood, virility, healing, motherhood, marital devotion, the Moon, magick and resurection. She is considered to be the most powerfull magickian in the universe.
Maat - Maat is the Egyptian goddess of truth and justice. She is married to Thoth, and is the daughter of Ra, the sun god. In addition to truth, she embodies harmony, balance and divine order. In Egyptian legends, it is Maat who steps in after the universe is created, and brings harmony amidst the chaos and disorder.
Nephthys - The Goddess of magick, dreams, metamorphosis and intuition. She is associated with the earth, fertility and change. She takes the form of a woman with a hieroglyph on her head.
Nut - Goddess of the Sky. She is young and slim, stars shine from within her body. She usually appears naked.
Osiris - God of the Underworld. God of commerce, success, religion, civilization, arts, crafts, law and resurection into eternal life. He is the brother and husband of Isis. He takes the form of a mummy with the head of a live man. His face often has a slight green cast.
Ra - Top God. The Eye of the Sun. The Sun God. The source of all life, truth, rituals, spells and prosperity, Ra is a man with the head of a falcon. As the sun appears to move across the sky, so he travels through the sky. At night, he journeys through the underworld and his head becomes that of a ram.
Shu - God of Air. Also known as Su. Son of Atum. Father of Nut and Geb.
Sektmet - Goddess of War and Vengeance. Also known as Sakhment, Sekhet, and Shesmetet.
Taweret - Taweret was an Egyptian goddess of childbirth and fertility - but for a while, she was considered a demon. Associated with the hippopotomus, Taweret is a goddess who watches over and protects women in labor and their new babies.
Thoth - God of mysteries, secret wisdom, the intellect, mathematics and magick. He is also associated with the Moon. According to legend, he wrote 42
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