On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 10:31:23 EDT [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
John: Oh, and one more thing. Pokeman will lead to nothing of the kind .... unless done to excess. We celebrate Christmas and entertain Halloween. Been doing it for 38 years with my kids and now the grand kids. All of them Christians. All of them in some capacity of Christian leadership. Everyone has their demons, I guess. John
Judyt: Well John, it's good if we are not condemned by the things we allow and what you, your kids, and grandkids have been doing for all these years is between you, them, and the Lord since He is the Judge. However, that does not alter the fact that Halloween is and has always been the devil's day. As for Pokemon. Look at the characters and what they represent. I guess it's like all sin, a little drink, a little cigarette, a little gambling, a little gossip, a little fornication, never hurt anyone - Right?John: Halloween, in our house hold, is just a fun evening for the kids. It is not a pagan holiday -- in our house. Neither is Christmas. What the pagan's did with their trees is not done in our house. I care little about the history of the event. Now, I hasten to add that I know nothing about Pokeman except that it has no power that is not given to it. In dealing with sin, we have God's instructions, Christ's continual forgiveness, the power found in the Spirit's alternatives, the victory that is found in resistance and the blessing of resiliency. Unfortunately, all this can be countered by our decision to practice sin, to give in to it, to wallow in its plasures. John
Judyt:That's good John - I'd like to share a little of what I've been learning that has to do with the highlighted sentence above.. Fact is that sin has everything to do with why God's people (the Church) are not healed by the laying on of hands anymore (as per James 5) we don't do it because we don't see results and there is little faith out there. Our faith is in the Medical System and HMO's which manage our ailments for us. Where there is no discernment we are powerless in the face of an enemy who is wiser and stronger than we are. Our Medical System is better than nothing but if you could see our 4yr old grandaughter so weak and frail you would choose a more excellent way.At Pleasant Valley where they do get results and have testimony after testimony of healing and wholeness by the power of God they teach sanctification by way of the 8 R's which is just an easy way to remember and apply these principles to one's life daily. They are as follows:1. Recognize2. Take Responsibility3. Repent4. Renounce5. Remove6. Resist7. Rejoice8. RestoreAs you can see from the list above, without spiritual discernment it is impossible to get past first base or even get to first base. We must learn to recognize what is from God and what is from the enemy or we will go through life calling good evil and vice versa. Sounds more complicated than it is. Though weeping may endure for the night. Joy comes in the morning.....Peace, Judyt
