RAIDERS IN MINISTRY

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Comment by Andre' R. Edwards on November 5, 2009 at 3:17pm

LISTEN UP CHRISTIANS!!! DON'T WORRY, IT'S BEEN STARTED HERE IN GOOD OL' USA

Fleeing Sharia Law in America?
by Robert H. Knight

08/18/2009


The plight of an Ohio teen who fled her Muslim family last month for fear that her father would kill her for becoming a Christian should be a wake up call to those folks with the naïve “Coexist” bumper stickers.

In fact, it should be a smack upside the head to those who insist America’s liberties are unrelated to our heritage as a Christian nation.

Rifqa Bary, 17, who took a bus to Orlando in late July, is awaiting a custody hearing that might send her back to her family, or to Sri Lanka, either of which she says would be a death sentence. In some Muslim circles, the penalty for leaving the faith or dallying with the wrong man is an “honor killing.”


The girl took shelter with a pastor and his wife and was then moved to a foster home. She is being represented by Rosa Armesto Gonzalez, an attorney working through the public defender’s office. The cops report that the dad, Mohamed Bary, who came down from Ohio, seems to be a good guy who wouldn’t hurt a fly. Maybe he wouldn’t.

Before we go further, let’s be clear what this case is not about. It’s not about parental rights, which pro-family groups like Coral Ridge Ministries strongly support. The concept of parental rights is about protecting minor children. Parents should be notified about medical procedures and abortions because these threaten the health and well-being of minors. Abortion takes the life of a child, and can cause physical and emotional harm to a young woman struggling with the decision. Only the most perverse logic would attempt to apply the subject to parents who might want to kill their child; there is no parental right to “honor killing.”

Some might dismiss Rifqa’s claim as a teen exaggerating to justify a rash act, but her situation must be weighed carefully in light of what has happened to other young women.

In July 2008, a Pakistani man living near Atlanta was charged with beating his 25-year-old daughter to death for declining to go along with an arranged marriage to a cousin twice her age.

In Irving, Texas, on New Year’s Day 2008, Amina Said, 18, and her sister Sarah, 17, were shot to death by their father for having unsanctioned boyfriends.

In Canada, where hate speech laws are strangling public discussion of any unpleasant aspects of militant Islam, certain segments of the growing Muslim population are applying Sharia law to wayward females. About a dozen cases have arisen, according to Amin Muhammad, a professor at Memorial University in Newfoundland. A much-cited 2001 stat from the United Nations Population Fund estimates the worldwide number of “honor killings” at 5,000 annually.

In Kingston, Ontario, the Shafia sisters -- Zainab, 19, Sahar, 17, and Geeti, 13, -- were found dead in a submerged car on June 30, 2009, with their father's first wife, Rona Mohammed, 50. The sisters' parents and 18-year-old brother have been charged with four counts of first-degree murder in what police suspect is an honor killing.

In May, an Ottawa jury convicted an Indian native born to Afghan parents of gunning down his 20-year-old sister and her fiancé in 2006 because the couple had moved in together before their wedding.

On Dec. 10, 2007, Aqsa Parvez, a 16-year-old Ontario girl who fought with her parents over not wearing a hajib, was stabbed to death by her father in an honor killing while her mother held her down.

In St. John’s, Newfoundland, a 14-year-old girl who had been a rape victim was strangled in 2004 by her father and brother in order to restore the family’s honor.

In England, which is struggling with an aggressive Muslim minority demanding that the British legal system incorporates Sharia, a father and uncle were convicted on July 29, 2007 of arranging the torture, rape and murder of a 20-year-old Kurdish immigrant woman who had walked out of a marriage arranged when she was 17 and had fallen in love with another man.

The killings are hauntingly similar to events taking place in largely Muslim countries.

The Jordan Times reports that a man in Amman was charged on August 11 with shooting his niece, a rape victim, nine times. The 16-year-old girl had been raped by two relatives and had given birth to a child. Although the girl’s father had taken her to the hospital and supported her, the uncle killed his niece “to cleanse his family’s honor,” a source told the paper.

In Pakistan, an attorney shocked lawmakers a year ago by defending the honor killing of five women who were beaten, shot and then buried alive because some of them wanted to choose which man to marry.

“These are centuries-old traditions and I will continue to defend them,” Israr Ullah Zehri, who represents Baluchistan province, said to Pakistan’s parliament, according to the AP. “Only those who indulge in immoral acts should be afraid.”

Got that? Burying women alive is not immoral. To be fair, Zehri caught flak from some of the other Muslim parliamentarians that day. Numerous Muslim authorities have said that the Koran does not justify “honor killings.” But the killings continue. As does Islamic-inspired terrorism.

Over in Gaza, which is now being governed by the terrorist group Hamas, a divorced Palestinian mother of five was beaten to death on July 23 with an iron chain by her father after he discovered her talking on the phone with a man.

Although Muslim authorities dismiss such cases as domestic violence unrelated to Islamic teaching, there is evidence that Islamic communities are functioning as codependents.

JihadWatch’s Robert Spencer notes, “In 2003, the Jordanian Parliament voted down on Islamic grounds a provision designed to stiffen penalties for honor killings. In a sadly typical consequence of this [in 2007], a Jordanian man who murdered his sister because he thought she had a lover was given a three-month sentence, which was suspended for time served, allowing him to walk free. The Yemen Times … published an article insisting that violence against women is necessary for the stability of the family and the society, and invoking Islam to support this view.”

The founding principles of our laws come from Judeo-Christian values. Our founders knew, and often stated, that a free, democratic republic could work only with moral assumptions common to Christianity -- even if citizens were not Christians. We see the truth of this more and more as the application of Sharia cracks the surface of our society.

In Florida, where Rifqa awaits a ruling by Ohio authorities as to her fate, it will come down to whether they believe her or her father, who says he has no intention of hurting her.
We can only pray they get this one right.


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Robert Knight is Senior Writer/Correspondent for Coral Ridge Ministries at www.crministries.org, and a Senior Fellow with the American Civil Rights Union at www.theacru.org..
WWW.PERSECUTION.COM

Comment by Andre' R. Edwards on November 5, 2009 at 2:46pm

Pakistan: Asia Bibi in Court

www.persecution.com

On Oct. 14, Asia Bibi appeared in court, in Sheikhupura, Pakistan and spent some time with her family before the court appearance.

Asia’s husband, Ashiq Masih, her daughters and VOM contacts met her for 15 minutes before the court appearance. “Asia is in strong faith. Her eyes were hopeful. Praise God,” VOM contacts said. Asia told VOM contacts she prays everyday at 3 a.m. “I thank God that the jail administration has good behavior with me,” she said. “I don’t have trouble from them, but I miss my daughters and family. Please arrange my soon release from this jail,” Asia told VOM contacts.

Asia’s daughters were visibly upset when they met her. “The little daughter was continuously asking her mother ‘Mama when are you coming back home?’” VOM contacts said. Isha, the eldest daughter, cried and hugged her mother and would not let her go. Isha pointed to the veil on her mother’s face and said, “I want to see your face, remove this cover.” It was a sad scene.

The court rescheduled another hearing for Oct. 27. Asia was arrested by police on Friday, June 19, and charged with blasphemy. Her family is one of only three Christian families in a village of more than 1,500 families.

Many of the local women, including Asia, work on the farm of Muslim landowner Muhammad Idrees. During their work many of the Muslim women have pressured Asia to renounce Christianity and accept Islam.

On June 19, there was an intense discussion among the women about their faith. The Muslim women told Asia about Islam. Asia responded by telling the Muslim women that Christ died on the cross for our sins, according to VOM sources. She told them Jesus is alive. “Our Christ is the true prophet of God,” she reportedly told them.


Upon hearing this response the Muslim women became angry and began to beat Asia Bibi. Then some men came and took her and locked her in a room. They announced from mosque loudspeakers that she would be punished by having her face blackened and being paraded through the village on a donkey.

Local Christians informed the police, who took Asia into custody before the Muslims could carry out their plan. She is currently being held at the police station in Nankana city. Christians there urged the police not to file blasphemy charges, but police claimed that they must go forward due to the pressure from local Muslim leaders.

VOM is assisting Asia’s family and urges you to continue praying for them. Call on the Pakistani government to insure that the rights of Christians like Asia are protected.

Comment by Andre' R. Edwards on November 2, 2009 at 5:44pm

Is tithing required in the new covenant?

Related articles:
Tithing in ancient Israel

Sabbath, Circumcision, and Tithing: Which Old Testament Laws Apply To Christians?

Does the Bible tell us to pay at least 10 percent of our incomes to the church? This paper examines the biblical evidence.

Abraham and Jacob

The first biblical mention of tithing is in Genesis 14. After four Mesopotamian kings had taken Lot captive, Abraham attacked them and recovered all the booty. After his victory, the king of Sodom came out to meet him, and so did Melchizedek, a priest of God. Melchizedek blessed Abraham, and then Abraham "gave him a tenth of everything" (Gen. 14:20).

The text does not tell us whether Abraham had ever tithed before, or ever tithed afterwards. But it does show that Abraham was generous. He gave the rest of his booty to the king of Sodom (verses 23-24). Abraham kept all of God's laws that were relevant in his day (Gen. 26:5), but Genesis does not tell us whether tithing was a law in Abraham's day. Many of God's decrees and requirements were built around the nation of Israel and the Levitical priesthood and tabernacle. Abraham could not have kept such decrees and laws. He may have tithed regularly, but we cannot prove it.

The next mention of tithing is in Genesis 28:20-22. Jacob had a miraculous dream at Bethel. In the morning, Jacob vowed to tithe if God helped him during his journey. He was trying to make a bargain with God. He wanted special help, and in return for that help, he was willing to worship God, and to tithe as a part of that worship. Tithing may have been part of the common worship practices of that time and culture.

Firstlings

Biblical commands about tithing generally concern grain, wine and oil.1 A different system of giving was required for some animals. In the last plague on Egypt, God killed the firstborn male of every animal and human, but he spared the Israelites and their animals. Therefore, God claimed ownership of every Israelite firstborn and firstling male animal (Ex. 13:2; Num. 3:13).

This applied not only to the generation that left Egypt,2 but every future generation as well. Clean firstlings were to be given to the priests and sacrificed (Num. 18:15-17); priests and people ate them during the festivals (Deut. 15:19-20; 12:6, 17; 14:23). Unclean animals and humans were to be redeemed (Ex. 13:12-15; 34:19-20). This continued to be the law in Nehemiah's day (Neh. 10:36) and in Jesus' day (Luke 2:23).

The people also gave firstfruits of their harvest (Ex. 23:19; 34:26; Lev. 2:14), but these firstfruits do not seem to be a fixed percentage.

Tithes

Tithing was required on flocks: "every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod"3 (Lev. 27:32). Was this in addition to the firstlings, or was it instead of firstlings? We do not know exactly how these laws would be administered. It is not necessary for us to take a position on these details.

"A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord" (Lev. 27:30).4 The tithes and firstfruits belonged to God, and he gave them to the Levites (Num. 18:12-13, 21, 24). They could keep 90 percent of what they were given, but had to give 10 percent as an offering (verses 26-32).

Tithing was done in the days of Hezekiah (2 Chr. 31:5-6), Nehemiah (Neh. 10:35-39; 12:44) and Jesus (Matt. 23:23; Luke 11:42). In Malachi's day, tithing was required (Mal. 3:8-10), and physical blessings were promised for obedience, just as physical blessings were promised for obedience to the old covenant.

Additional tithes?

God gave the tithes to the Levites, but the people could eat their tithes during festivals (Deut. 12:5-7, 17-19; 14:23). Some have drawn the conclusion that Deuteronomy is talking about an additional tithe, a festival tithe.5 The people needed a tithe for the festivals, since the festivals constituted about 5 percent of the year, plus travel time. During sabbatical years, farmers would not have their regular income, so they may not have been able to go to every festival in every year. Or perhaps they saved the festival tithe from year to year.

At the end of every three years of farming, the Israelites were to set aside a tithe for the Levites, resident aliens, orphans and widows (Deut. 14:28-29; 26:12-15). It is not clear whether this was an alternative use of a previous tithe, or an additional tithe.6 Evidence in favor of the latter is that Deut. 14:28-29 does not mention any firstlings or other offerings. This suggests that it is not in the same category as the other tithes, but was an additional tithe.

Tithing in the new covenant

Now let us consider whether tithing is required in the new covenant. Tithing is mentioned only three or four times in the New Testament. Jesus acknowledged that the Pharisees were very careful about tithing (Luke 18:12), and he said that they should not leave it undone (Matt. 23:23; Luke 11:42). Tithing, like other old covenant rules and rituals, was a law at the time Jesus spoke. Jesus criticized the Pharisees not for tithing, but for treating tithing as more important than mercy, love, justice and faithfulness.

The only other New Testament mention of tithing is in Hebrews. The fact that Abraham was blessed by and paid tithes to Melchizedek illustrates the superiority of Melchizedek and Jesus Christ over the Levitical priesthood (Heb. 7:1-10). The passage then goes on to note that "when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law" (verse 12).

There was a change of the priesthood from the Levites to Jesus Christ, and this implies a change in the law that assigned the Levites to be priests. How much has been changed? Hebrews says that the old covenant is obsolete. The package of laws that commanded tithes to be given to the Levites is obsolete.

Humans should honor God by voluntarily returning some of the blessings he gives them — this is still a valid principle. The only place that a percentage is required is within the old covenant. There is good precedent for tithing before Sinai, but no proof that it was required.

Responding to the better covenant

Under the old covenant, tithing was required for the support of the old covenant ministers. The Israelites were required to give 10 percent — and their blessing was only a physical one! Christians in the new covenant have much better blessings — spiritual ones. How much more willingly ought we to give in thankfulness for the eternal blessings we have in Christ Jesus?

The Israelites were commanded to give 10 percent under a covenant that could not make them perfect (Heb. 7:19; 9:9). How much more joyfully should we give to God under the new covenant? We have the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which does cleanse our conscience (9:14). And yet it seems that in America today, even though we have so much more than the Israelites did, people give on average less than half the percentage the Israelites did. Many people today give less to the church than they spend on luxury items. Some people simply cannot give very much, but many people could if they wanted to. God calls on us to examine ourselves, to examine our priorities, and to be generous.

The old covenant gave us condemnation; the new covenant gives us justification and peace with God. How much more should we be willing to give freely and generously so God's work can be done in the world — to proclaim the gospel, to declare the new covenant ministry that gives us true life, and gives that message of life to others?

A person who has faith in Jesus Christ does not worry about whether tithing is commanded in the New Testament. A person who is transformed by Christ to be more like Christ is generous. Such a person wants to give as much as possible to support the gospel and to support needy members. Christians should give generously — but giving is a result of their relationship with God, not a way to earn it. We are given grace through faith, not through tithing.

Some people act as if Christ liberates us from the law so that we can keep more for ourselves. That is false — he liberates us from the penalty of the law so that we can be free to serve him more, as loving children and not merely as slaves. He frees us so we can have faith instead of selfishness.

When it comes to money, the real question is, Is your heart in the gospel of Jesus Christ? Are you putting your money where your heart is? You can tell where your heart is by seeing where you are putting your money. "Where you treasure is, there will your heart be also," Jesus said (Matthew 6:21).

Needs in the new covenant ministry

In the new covenant church, there are financial needs — to support the poor, and to support the gospel by supporting those who preach it. Christians are obligated to give financial support for these needs. Let's see how Paul explained this obligation in his second letter to the Corinthians.

Paul describes himself as a minister of the new covenant (2 Cor. 3:6), which has much greater glory than the old (verse 8). Because of what Christ did for him in the new covenant, Christ's love compelled Paul to preach the gospel, the message of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:11-21).

Paul exhorted the Corinthians "not to receive God's grace in vain" (6:1). How were they in danger of doing this? Paul had gone out of his way to serve them, but they were withholding their affections from him (6:3-12). He asked them for a fair exchange, for them to open their hearts to him (6:13).

Paul told the Corinthians that they had a duty to give something in response to what they had been given. This response comes in terms of morality (6:14-7:1), which the Corinthians had done (7:8-13), and in terms of affection, which the Corinthians had also done (7:2-7), and in financial generosity, which Paul addresses in chapter 8. This is the way in which the Corinthians had closed their hearts to Paul and withheld their affections.

Paul cited the example of the Macedonian churches, who had given generously, even to the point of self-sacrifice (8:1-5). The example is powerful; the implications are strong that the Corinthians needed to respond to Paul's sacrifices by making sacrifices themselves. But Paul did not make a command (8:8). Instead, he asked first for a turning of the heart. He wanted the Corinthians to give themselves to the Lord first, and then to support Paul. He wanted their gift to be done in sincere love, not from compulsion (8:5, 8). Paul reminded them that Christ had become poor for their sakes; the implication is that the Corinthians should make financial sacrifices in return.

But then Paul reduced the pressure, reminding the Corinthians that they could not give more than they had (8:12). Nor did they have to impoverish themselves to enrich others; Paul was only aiming for equity (8:13-14). Paul again expressed confidence in their willingness to give, and added the peer pressure of the Macedonian example and the boasting he had done in Macedonia about the generosity of the Corinthians (8:24-9:5).

Paul again noted that the offering must be done willingly, not from compulsion or given grudgingly (9:5, 7). He reminded them that God rewards generosity (9:6-11) and that a good example causes people to praise God and puts the gospel in a favorable setting (9:12-14).

This was a collection for the poor in Judea. But Paul said nothing about tithing. Rather, he appealed to the new covenant environment: Christ had made many sacrifices for them, so they ought to be willing to make a few sacrifices to help one another.

In asking for this offering, Paul was also making a financial sacrifice. He had a right to receive financial support himself, but instead of that, he was asking that the offering be given to others. Paul had not asked for any financial support from Corinth (11:7-11; 12:13-16). Instead, he had been supported by Macedonians (11:9).

Paul had a right to be supported by the Corinthians, but he did not use it (1 Cor. 9:3-15). This passage in Paul's first letter tells us more about our Christian duty to give financial support to the gospel. Workers should be able to receive benefits of their work (9:7). The old covenant even made provision for oxen to be given benefits of their work (9:9).

Throughout his appeal, Paul does not cite any laws of tithing. He says that priests received benefits from their work in the temple (9:13), but he does not cite any percentage. Their example is cited in the same way as the example of soldiers, vineyard workers, herdsmen, oxen, plowers and threshers. It is simply a general principle. As Jesus said, "The worker deserves his wages" (Luke 10:7). Paul cited the oxen and wages scriptures again in 1 Timothy 5:17-18. Elders, especially those who preach and teach, should be honored financially as well as with respect.

Jesus also commanded, "those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel" (1 Cor. 9:14). This implies that those who believe should provide a living for some who preach. There is a financial duty, and there is a promised reward for generosity (though that reward may not necessarily be physical or financial).

A need to be generous

Christians have received riches of God's grace, and are to respond with generosity and giving. Christians are called to a life of service, sharing and stewardship. We have an obligation to do good. When we give ourselves to the Lord, we will give generously. Jesus often taught about money.

"Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me," said Jesus to a rich man (Luke 18:22). He said the same thing to his disciples (12:33). The new covenant demands all that we have, and that is fair, since Jesus gave all he had for us. He praised a widow who put two coins into the temple treasury, because she gave "all she had" (21:2).

Wealth is often an enemy of faith. It can "choke" people and cause them to be spiritually unfruitful (8:14). "Woe to you who are rich," Jesus warned (6:24). He warned us about the dangers of greed (12:15) and warned about the danger of storing up wealth for self without being "rich toward God" (12:16-21). When we use wealth to help others, we gain "treasure in heaven" (12:33). This helps us have our heart in heavenly things instead of earthly, temporary things (12:34).

"No servant can serve two masters.... You cannot serve both God and money" (16:13). But money competes for our allegiance; it tempts us to seek our own desires rather than the needs of the kingdom. After the rich man went away sad, Jesus exclaimed: "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom" (18:24-25).

Conclusion

Christians have a need to give, to share their resources and blessings with others. They have a duty to support the preaching of the gospel, to give financial support to their spiritual leaders, and the church needs this support. If disciples of Jesus Christ can give, but do not, they are falling short.

The old covenant required 10 percent. The new covenant does not specify a percentage, nor do we. However, the new covenant admonishes people to give what they can, and tithing still provides an instructive comparison. For some people, 10 percent may be too much. But some will be able to give more, and some are doing so. Christians should examine their own circumstances and the better blessings they have been given in the new covenant through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for us and the gift of the Holy Spirit to us. Contributions should be given to the church for its collective work of preaching the gospel and the expenses involved in the local ministry and congregational needs.

Likewise, the new covenant does not specify any particular percentage for assisting the poor. Instead, it asks for equity — and we certainly have room for improvement in this duty.

The old covenant required simple percentages. Everyone knew how much was required. The new covenant has no set percentages. Instead, it requires more soul-searching, more training for the conscience, more selfless love for others, more faith, more voluntary sacrifice and less compulsion. It tests our values, what we treasure most, and where our hearts are.

Comment by Andre' R. Edwards on October 28, 2009 at 5:38pm

HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN:
Around the eighth century, the Christian church made November 1 All Saints' Day to honor all of the saints that didn't have a special day of their own. The mass held on All Saints' Day was called All Hallowmas (the mass of all Hallows -- saintly people). The night before was known as All Hallows Eve. Eventually this name became Halloween.

In the 5th century BC, in Celtic Ireland, summer officially ended on October 31. The holiday was called Samhain , the Celtic New year. On that day, the disembodied spirits of all those who had died throughout the preceding year would come back in search of living bodies to possess for the next year. It was believed to be their only hope for the afterlife. The Celts believed all laws of space and time were suspended during this time, allowing the spirit world to intermingle with the living. Naturally, the living did not want to be possessed, so on the night of October 31, the villagers would extinguish the fires in their homes, to make them cold and undesirable. They would then dress up in and parade around the neighborhood, being as destructive as possible in order to frighten away spirits looking for bodies to possess.

The custom of Halloween was brought to America in the 1840's by Irish immigrants fleeing their country's potato famine. At that time, the favorite pranks in New England included tipping over outhouses and unhinging fence gates.

The custom of trick-or-treating is thought to have originated with a ninth-century European custom called souling. On November 2, All Souls Day, early Christians would walk from village to village begging for "soul cakes," made out of square pieces of bread with currants. The more soul cakes the beggars would receive, the more prayers they would promise to say on behalf of the dead relatives of the donors. At the time, it was believed that the dead remained in limbo for a time after death, and that prayer, even by strangers, could expedite a soul's passage to heaven. The Jack-o-lantern custom probably comes from Irish folklore. As the tale is told, a man named Jack, who was notorious as a drunkard and trickster, tricked Satan into climbing a tree. Jack then carved an image of a cross in the tree's trunk, trapping the devil up the tree. Jack made a deal with the devil that, if he would never tempt him again, he would promise to let him down the tree.

According to the folk tale, after Jack died, he was denied entrance to Heaven because of his evil ways, but he was also denied access to Hell because he had tricked the devil. Instead, the devil gave him a single ember to light his way through the frigid darkness. The ember was placed inside a hollowed-out turnip to keep it glowing longer. The Irish used turnips as their "Jack's lanterns" originally. But when the immigrants came to America, they found that pumpkins were far more plentiful than turnips. So the Jack-O-Lantern in America was a hollowed-out pumpkin, lit with an ember.

Many people view Halloween as a time of innocent fun. Children love to dress up as their favorite characters. They will go door to door saying the infamous words "trick or treat". Many adults also love Halloween, because it gives them a chance to let loose and act silly. Every year in the U.S.A. alone, millions of dollars are spent on Halloween goods. Halloween is the second highest grossing money maker outside of Christmas. The promotion of Halloween by the television moguls, the advertisers, and not to mention the blockbuster sales of movies and rentals this time of year. Everyone can see Halloween is big business. Allot of people do not see the harm in all of this Halloween hoopla. But yes, there is a darker side to Halloween than anyone dares to imagine.

Unlike our modern-day Halloween, theirs was not a children's holiday. The Celts and their priests, the Druids, from Great Britain and Ireland. They celebrated "SAMHAIN". It was a festival that marked the eve of the Celtic New Year, which began on November 1. The fall harvest was complete and winter was looming ahead. The Celts believed the sun was fading away, at this time of the year. For the next several months, darkness prevailed. The Celts believed that during "Samhain" the veil separating life from death was at its thinnest. On the evening of October 31, the evil spirits and souls of the dead passed through the barrier and visited the world of the living. The Celts believed these spirits could cause all kind of havoc. They also believed that they could talk with the dead, departed loved ones and such. They also believed that they could Devine the future. The powers of darkness were conjured up on "Samhain". The Devil himself, would be called upon to foretell of future events.

Comment by Andre' R. Edwards on October 28, 2009 at 5:35pm

HALLOWEEN IS THIS WEEKEND, AND THE KIDS CAN'T WAIT. YES, IT'S A PAGAN HOLIDAY AND IT DOSEN'T HONOR GOD. I HOPE THIS HELP SOMEBODY:
THE ORIGIN OF "TRICK OR TREAT"
The Celts tried to appease the evil spirits: ghosts, goblins, and demons. Huge "Samhain" bonfires were built to light the way for all the spirits to find their way in to the world of the living. They would leave out food, hoping that this would please the spirit world. If they did not leave a thing, then hence, the spirits would play evil "tricks" on the living in that house. The Druids required human sacrifices, they would go door to door asking for the virgin daughters. If this was not obtained at the chosen homes, then a hexagram was painted on the door in blood to show the appointed evil spirits to cause all kinds of evil to fall on the home. In some cases, even resulted in death.

THE ORIGIN OF "BOBBING FOR APPLES"
Romans honored the dead with a festival called Feralia in late October. It honored Pomona, their goddess of fruit trees who was often pictured wearing a crown of apples. During this festival, they ran races and played games to honor the "Apple Queen" and used omens such as apple parings thrown over the shoulder or nuts burned in the fire in order to predict the future concerning their marital prospects. When the Romans conquered the Celts, they combined local Samhain customs with their own pagan harvest festival. Bobbing for apples was derived from this blended pagan celebration.

THE ORIGIN OF THE "BLACK CAT"
First of all cats are very spiritual animals. Out of all the animals, the cat can sense the presence of spirits, both good and bad. But the all black cat holds a high significance to the witches and Satanists. The black cat, they believe has special powers. To them they believe the black cat represents incarnated humans, malevolent spirits, or the "familiars" of witches. This is why that many black cats are in danger around Halloween. If you have a black cat, do not let them roam the streets at night, keep them inside. Also the local SPCA's won't even let anyone adopt a black cat around Halloween time, in fear of the cat might be harmed.

THE ORIGIN OF THE COLORS: "ORANGE AND BLACK"
The colors orange and black can be traced back to the occult. They were connected to the commemorative masses for the dead, which were held in November. The unbleached beeswax candles used in the various ceremonies were orange. The ceremonial caskets were covered in black cloths. And let's not forget the modern-day "Jack O' Lanterns" orange in color.

THE ORIGIN OF THE "COSTUMES" ON HALLOWEEN
The huge fires atop the "sacred" hilltops in which the Druids sacrificed animals and humans derived their name from the skeletons of those who died in them. The words "bone" and "fire" formed the word "bonfire." The orange flames lit up the black night, thus the "official" colors of Halloween. As these pagan worshipers danced around and jumped through the fire, they wore disguises of animal-head masks and animal-skin costumes. The head of each household was given live embers to start a new fire on his hearth which would last until the next autumn. It was believed this fire would protect their homes from danger throughout the year.

THE ROOTS OF PAGANISM
The whole Halloween thing is steeped in paganism. Halloween is a celebration of death and all that is evil. By decades of letting foreigners into our land, they have brought with them every occult practice and all of their idols. Now because of this, our children are suffering the consequences of the iniquities of the third and fourth generations of witchcraft and things of the demonic world. We as Christians are to stand up and boldly proclaim our heritage of what this country was founded on. This country was to be a Christian nation. By us not speaking out, look at our country today, every evil thing is trying to take away our freedom.

Comment by Andre' R. Edwards on October 19, 2009 at 3:18pm

Question: "If a couple gets pregnant before marriage do they have to get married?"

Answer: Sex before marriage has become so commonplace in our society, even to the point of being expected, that many professing Christians don't even consider it to be a sin. Our culture assumes that people do not possess the amount of self-control necessary for abstaining until marriage, so the idea has become unrealistic. God's Word does not change, however, and the Bible tells us that sex outside of marriage is immoral (Matthew 15:19; 1 Corinthians 6:9, 6:13, 7:2; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 5:3).

Any person who has become a born-again Christian by putting his or her faith and trust in Christ no longer belongs to himself. First Corinthians 6:18-20 (NLT) says, “Run away from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”

Disregarding God's plan for marriage, sex, and family always results in these kinds of spiritual or physical consequences: grieving the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30), guilt, shame, regret, loss of respect for self and others, division in families and between believers, poor role modeling, pain for future spouses, unwanted pregnancies, abortion, and sexually transmitted diseases. God intends for sex to be an intimate expression of love and commitment, to be shared only between a husband and wife. Sex just for the physical pleasure of it damages our spirituality and pulls us away from fellowship with God.

Anyone who has made the mistake of having sex outside of marriage can be forgiven, even if the mistake results in a pregnancy and illegitimate birth. First John 1:9 says, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from every wrong.” This does not mean that He will erase the consequences of our actions, but we can be restored spiritually by confessing and repenting from our sins. This means turning away from our sins and making the commitment to love and serve Christ.

There are some cases in which getting married before the baby is born would be wise. If a committed couple who was already planning to get married commits fornication which results in pregnancy, it would probably make it easier for the family and the child to marry before he or she is born. But if an uncommitted couple commits the same sin, getting married will not make them right in God's eyes. In such a situation, getting married will only set them up for marital failure. The Bible does not instruct people as to whether or not to marry under these circumstances, although both parents are still obligated to support the child emotionally, spiritually and financially.

None of us are made right with God through works. We are saved by faith alone, trusting in Jesus Christ to save us from our sins, which lead to death. The Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). God does not want us to try to right our wrongs, but He wants us to give Him our hearts. By laying down our own will and submitting to the sovereignty of God, we can be assured of not only a fulfilling life on earth, but also a place in heaven for eternity.

WHY WHEN BLACKS HAVE A CHILD OUT OF WEDLOCK IT'S A "BASTARD" AND WHITE DO THE SAME IT'S CALLED A "LOVE CHILD"?

Comment by Mima Lewis on August 29, 2009 at 5:28pm

When God allowed the devil to test Job, not once did he charge God foolishly. He chose to stand, even when his wife wanted him to curse God and die, he told her thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. We must all realize that the devil is as a roaring lion. May this be a blessing to all that is willing to take a stand.

Comment by Romanda Baldwin Cobia on August 28, 2009 at 10:25am

Gratitude appears to be a rarity in this day and time of our lives. Let's make it a daily practice to give thanks to God with a grateful heart. Before you know it, you will have ministered to your own soul as well as those who surrounds you! When you display an attitude of gratitude, the world knows it! You can't hide it because everything becomes a praise to the Soverign One!
El Shaddai!

Comment by James Wilkerson on August 12, 2009 at 3:50pm

Hello Brothers and Sisters in christ. I pray that you are having a joyful day. I just wanted to give everyone a word of encouragement. The Holy Spirit of god is with you as you go through this life. Remember, that you are never alone and that the Spirit of truth will guide you if you allow Him to. don't let discouragement, disappointment or disenchantment deter or hinder you. The promises of God to you are Yes and Amen. Keep trusting in God and don't give up on your dremas, family or ambitions. Speak to your storms because they are only temporary. God bless and remeber He loves you.

Comment by Tracey Grant on August 10, 2009 at 1:29am

Can GOD restore?

Joel 2:25 - And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

Restore:
To bring back to the original state or original owner.
To reinstate, to replace, to return, or to give back.
To put or bring back into existence.

No matter what you are facing or have faced. No matter what you are going through or have went through. No matter what you are about to lose or have lost. GOD can restore. There is no one who can restore like GOD. GOD is still in the Restoring Business. HE can restore your Joy. HE can restore your Peace. HE can restore your Faith. HE can restore your Health. HE can restore your Fortune. HE can restore your Marriage. HE can restore your Employment status. HE can restore your Business. HE can restore your Dreams. HE can restore your Ministry. HE can also restore you to the rightful place in HIM.

Be Blessed!

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