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Out of darkness
- By Michie
Those who once embraced the occult are exposing the dangers of practices that many consider harmless
HANNA CASTAÑEDA rolled up her sleeves and trudged her stroller up a hilly path that’s shaded by oak trees and wraps around two small lakes. Her shoeless 2-year-old son Luka reached his hand up every few minutes for another piece of cracker. Castañeda, 31, never pictured herself doing everyday motherhood tasks. In fact, she once vowed not to have children.
Castañeda, who lives in Novato, Calif., spent most of her 20s couch-surfing or living out of her Honda CR-V in search of the next transcendent experience. Her interest in the occult started out small, with a curiosity about astrology and New Age spiritualism. To some, those might seem harmless enough. But by 2019, she felt gripped in an insatiable quest, one that led her deep into occult practices involving witchcraft, indigenous shamanism, and ceremonial rituals intended to summon demonic spirits. All of this was mixed with psychedelic drugs such as ayahuasca and LSD.
“At the core, I believed I was this divine self,” Castañeda said. “I was on a journey of peeling back the layers, going deeper and deeper into occult practices, so I could truly be free.”
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Fleeing the darkness of New Age spirituality
Mary Jackson | Those who once embraced the occult say too many Christians are blind to its dangers
wng.org
Meteor shower visible this weekend, NASA says
- By Michie
- Outdoor Activities & Nature
- 3 Replies
The Eta Aquarid meteors will be visible overnight on Sunday and early Monday morning, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration reported this week. The American Meteor Society expects the shower—which takes place annually—to be especially visible this year, due to interactions with particles from the planet Jupiter.
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Meteor shower visible this weekend, NASA says
WORLD is a news organization producing Biblically sound, daily coverage of global, national, and cultural current events.
wng.org
Culturally respectable racism
- By Michie
Why aren’t pundits who bashed evangelicals as racists more vocal about rampant anti-Semitism on the left?
The scenes that have been playing out on elite American campuses—scenes of the most explicit racism—are a national disgrace. Of course, in the United States, people have a right to public protest. And while I am pro-Israel in the current conflict, it does not seem irrational to me that others might wish to support the Palestinians and criticize aspects of the Israeli war strategy. But the protests are not merely supportive of Palestinians. They are supportive of Hamas. And they are targeted not at Israelis in particular but at the Jewish population in general. Such protests are racist, at least according to the traditional definition before folks like Ibram Kendi and the BLM activists of this world managed to twist the term to suit their own interests.
Some may wish to argue that support for Hamas is not anti-Semitic but rather anti-Zionist. They will likely claim that the 2017 Hamas charter identified the problem as “Zionists” rather than “Jews” for this reason. But that is a specious dodge. When you think that the state of Israel is the result of a Jewish conspiracy, the terms become basically interchangeable. And when events on elite college campuses in the USA have created an environment where Jewish students are under threat simply because of their Jewishness, Israeli military action would seem only to be the pretext and not the true cause of the hatred.
I recently had the pleasure of chairing a discussion on anti-Semitism at Grove City College with two leading Jewish intellectuals, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik of Yeshiva University and Devorah Goldman of the Tikvah Fund. Both described growing up in an America where they experienced no anti-Semitism. Both also reflected on the immediate exultant response on campuses in the United States to the Oct. 7 attacks. These responses could not be interpreted as criticism of Israeli military action since none had yet taken place. They were celebrations of the kidnapping, rape, and murder of Jewish civilians. No doubt many of the celebrants would regard any American who deadnames a man presenting as a woman, or who refuses to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple, or who believes in any limits on abortion as opposing basic human rights and meriting severe punishment. Those who kidnap, rape, and murder Jewish women and children, not so much.
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Culturally respectable racism
Carl R. Trueman | Why aren’t pundits who bashed evangelicals as racists more vocal about rampant anti-Semitism on the left?
wng.org
Ex-Satanist Turned Christian Reveals What is 'Behind the Curtains' of 'Devil's Battle Plan'
- By Michie
The co-founder of a Satanic movement in South Africa who had a supernatural encounter with Jesus Christ and renounced the occult says he is now on a mission to equip Christians to "handle and understand the devil's battle plan" in the last days.
Riaan Swiegelaar, a former reverend at the South African Satanic Church (SASC), stepped down from his position in May 2022 but recently revealed on social media why he has decided now is the time to reveal what is "behind the curtains" of the satanic church.
"I don't feel that our war is against physical people. I feel our war is in spirit and what God has revealed to me is that we are in a time where it is crucial," he explained. "We are living in the time of (the book of) Revelation. So it is time to put this information out in a very respectful way," he shared.
"We will equip spiritual warriors to handle and understand the devil's battle plan," he added.
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www2.cbn.com
Riaan Swiegelaar, a former reverend at the South African Satanic Church (SASC), stepped down from his position in May 2022 but recently revealed on social media why he has decided now is the time to reveal what is "behind the curtains" of the satanic church.
"I don't feel that our war is against physical people. I feel our war is in spirit and what God has revealed to me is that we are in a time where it is crucial," he explained. "We are living in the time of (the book of) Revelation. So it is time to put this information out in a very respectful way," he shared.
"We will equip spiritual warriors to handle and understand the devil's battle plan," he added.
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Ex-Satanist Turned Christian Reveals What is 'Behind the Curtains' of 'Devil's Battle Plan'
The co-founder of a Satanic movement in South Africa who had a supernatural encounter with Jesus Christ and renounced th
Portland State protesters 'delusional,' mayor says; university reopens after 30 demonstrators arrested
- By Michie
Police have arrested 30 people related to anti-Israel protests at Portland State University in Oregon, where authorities also detained a driver who accelerated toward a crowd of demonstrators and allegedly sprayed them with mace or pepper spray.
Anti-Israel encampments protesting the ongoing war in Gaza and demanding that universities cease support of the Jewish state have sprung up at college campuses throughout the country. Demonstrators at PSU had occupied the campus library building since Monday before the Portland police intervened.
PSU did not immediately respond to The Christian Post’s request for comment, but on Friday, the university announced the campus had reopened to access card holders. At the time of this report, the university did not disclose when the campus buildings would be open to those without access cards.
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www.christianpost.com
Anti-Israel encampments protesting the ongoing war in Gaza and demanding that universities cease support of the Jewish state have sprung up at college campuses throughout the country. Demonstrators at PSU had occupied the campus library building since Monday before the Portland police intervened.
PSU did not immediately respond to The Christian Post’s request for comment, but on Friday, the university announced the campus had reopened to access card holders. At the time of this report, the university did not disclose when the campus buildings would be open to those without access cards.
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Portland State protesters 'delusional,' mayor says; university reopens after 30 demonstrators arrested
Police have arrested 30 people related to anti-Israel protests at Portland State University in Oregon, where authorities also detained a driver who accelerated toward a crowd of demonstrators and ...
www.christianpost.com
Protestant pastor's prison sentence upheld in Algeria over 'illegal worship' conviction
- By Michie
A court in Algeria last week upheld a one-year prison sentence for a top church leader baselessly convicted of “illegal worshiping,” according to a legal advocacy group.
The Court of Appeal in Tizi Ouzou issued the verdict against Pastor Youssef Ourahamane of Emmanuel Church in Algeria, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International said in a press statement. Pastor Ourahamane has long been a top leader in the Église Protestante d’Algérie (Protestant Church of Algeria, or EPA) association, which has seen 43 of its churches forcibly closed by authorities since 2019, with only one remaining open.
“No one should be punished, let alone face prison, for exercising their right to religious freedom,” said Kelsey Zorzi, director of advocacy for Global Religious Freedom for ADF International, which is coordinating with other non-governmental organizations to support the pastor. “The decision of the Appellate Court to uphold Pastor Youssef’s conviction and sentence amounts to a blatant violation of his rights under both Algerian and international law and must be condemned.”
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www.christianpost.com
The Court of Appeal in Tizi Ouzou issued the verdict against Pastor Youssef Ourahamane of Emmanuel Church in Algeria, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International said in a press statement. Pastor Ourahamane has long been a top leader in the Église Protestante d’Algérie (Protestant Church of Algeria, or EPA) association, which has seen 43 of its churches forcibly closed by authorities since 2019, with only one remaining open.
“No one should be punished, let alone face prison, for exercising their right to religious freedom,” said Kelsey Zorzi, director of advocacy for Global Religious Freedom for ADF International, which is coordinating with other non-governmental organizations to support the pastor. “The decision of the Appellate Court to uphold Pastor Youssef’s conviction and sentence amounts to a blatant violation of his rights under both Algerian and international law and must be condemned.”
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Protestant pastor's prison sentence upheld in Algeria over 'illegal worship' conviction
A court in Algeria last week upheld a one-year prison sentence for a top church leader baselessly convicted of illegal worshiping, according to a legal advocacy group
www.christianpost.com
Pastor says his mentally troubled wife died by suicide, but some refuse to believe
- By Michie
Police in North Carolina are investigating the death of Mica Miller, the wife of Pastor John-Paul Miller of Solid Rock at Market Common in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, who was found with a bullet wound to her head at Lumber River State Park in Robeson County last Saturday as her widower comes under a barrage of suspicion online.
Major Damien McLean of Robeson County Sheriff's Office told ABC15 News that officers are gathering information from people who knew the late 30-year-old pastor’s wife to understand how she died.
Last Sunday, just hours after her body was found, Pastor Miller announced to his congregation in a viral video that his wife died by suicide even though investigators have not yet confirmed an official cause of death.
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www.christianpost.com
Major Damien McLean of Robeson County Sheriff's Office told ABC15 News that officers are gathering information from people who knew the late 30-year-old pastor’s wife to understand how she died.
Last Sunday, just hours after her body was found, Pastor Miller announced to his congregation in a viral video that his wife died by suicide even though investigators have not yet confirmed an official cause of death.
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Pastor says his mentally troubled wife died by suicide, but some refuse to believe
Police in North Carolina are investigating the death of Mica Miller, the wife of Pastor John-Paul Miller of Solid Rock at Market Common in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, who was found with a bullet ...
www.christianpost.com
Couple in Their 80s Who’ve Fostered More Than 150 Children Have No Plans to Retire
- By Michie
English couple Margaret Isdale and her husband Robert decided to welcome a teenage girl into their home for foster care back in 1978.
Now almost 40 years later, they are receiving a lifetime achievement award, because the octogenarians have fostered an incredible 150 children and teenagers.
They’ve seen many dramatic circumstances, including a boy who had to have a kidney removed, and a child who came with no possessions of any kind apart from a set of pajamas, but they have no plans on slowing down.
From the town of Grantham in Lincolnshire, they received a lifetime achievement award from Lincolnshire Foster Services, whose administrator, Michelle Sawmynaden, was in awe of the pair, saying that over their 46 years of raising other people’s children, lots of them have either gone back to their birth families or gone on to be adopted.
“It’s really quite humbling. It’s not about us, it’s about the kids we look after—they’re the important ones,” said Margaret, on the occasion of the award
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www.goodnewsnetwork.org
Now almost 40 years later, they are receiving a lifetime achievement award, because the octogenarians have fostered an incredible 150 children and teenagers.
They’ve seen many dramatic circumstances, including a boy who had to have a kidney removed, and a child who came with no possessions of any kind apart from a set of pajamas, but they have no plans on slowing down.
From the town of Grantham in Lincolnshire, they received a lifetime achievement award from Lincolnshire Foster Services, whose administrator, Michelle Sawmynaden, was in awe of the pair, saying that over their 46 years of raising other people’s children, lots of them have either gone back to their birth families or gone on to be adopted.
“It’s really quite humbling. It’s not about us, it’s about the kids we look after—they’re the important ones,” said Margaret, on the occasion of the award
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Couple in Their 80s Have Fostered More Than 150 Children–No Plans to Stop Accepting Babies
They've seen kids in dramatic periods, including a boy who had to have a kidney removed, and a child who came with no possessions of any kind
www.goodnewsnetwork.org
Behind the scenes with the Swiss Guard on the eve of the swearing-in ceremony
- By Michie
- One Bread, One Body - Catholic
- 1 Replies
34 new recruits to the Swiss Guard will be sworn in on Monday by Pope Francis. We visited the barracks of the famous papal army.
The Swiss Guard barracks in the heart of the Vatican are a hive of activity. With just a short time to go before the new guards are sworn in, the soldiers of the world’s smallest army are on their toes. No detail is left to chance in preparation for the traditional ceremony on May 6.
In the weapons room, the metal breastplates that make up the mythical uniform of this army of 135 men in the service of the popes since 1506 are once again brushed with oil. In an adjoining room hang the famous gala uniforms with their blue and yellow stripes and red cuffs.
With the help of elders, the young recruits manage to don the armor, which weighs around 15 kg (33 lbs). “The weight of history,” breathes one of them, recalling that May 6 commemorates the 147 Swiss halberdiers killed by Charles V’s troops who were threatening Pope Clement VII.
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aleteia.org
The Swiss Guard barracks in the heart of the Vatican are a hive of activity. With just a short time to go before the new guards are sworn in, the soldiers of the world’s smallest army are on their toes. No detail is left to chance in preparation for the traditional ceremony on May 6.
In the weapons room, the metal breastplates that make up the mythical uniform of this army of 135 men in the service of the popes since 1506 are once again brushed with oil. In an adjoining room hang the famous gala uniforms with their blue and yellow stripes and red cuffs.
With the help of elders, the young recruits manage to don the armor, which weighs around 15 kg (33 lbs). “The weight of history,” breathes one of them, recalling that May 6 commemorates the 147 Swiss halberdiers killed by Charles V’s troops who were threatening Pope Clement VII.
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Behind the scenes of the Swiss Guard swearing-in ceremony
On Monday May 6, 2024, 34 new recruits to the Swiss Guard will be sworn in by Pope Francis. I.MEDIA visited the barracks of the famous papal army.
aleteia.org
There is only one Dragon/Serpent in scripture (Part 5)
- Exposition & Bible Study
- 0 Replies
5th Installment of this OP set
There are severe questions that arise, whenever I biblically reveal who God's Adversary is. I have held out until now to answer them... because the long game is much better than the short game, on this theological matter. I've been building a foundation to answer many questions about the matter, that haven't been revealed yet.
Question 1) I thought Satan was cast out of Heaven before we meet him in Eden, can you prove otherwise?
Here, we have a clear (Before) event that is theologically simple to identify. This is about the Crucifixion of Jesus, His ascension and His establishment as our High Priest.
This is about Literal Israel, because it is the WOMAN that birthed the child. Eschatology hounds have been trying to crack the 1260 days thing since the first eschatology hound sat in whatever country they sat, and tried to make the matter point out the very seat that sat in.
Then war. First Jesus, Then War. Easy Peasy.
Why do theologians make the other assumption? The Dragons tail sweeping a third of the "stars" verse is misunderstood.
1: The Dragons tail is sweeping things down. The classic teaching is to say that "As Satan was cast down, he swept a third of the angels with him". This is wrong. The Dragon is established "Above" and sweeping up his army of deceived angels, below.
2: Theologians miss that Satan is literally building his active rebellion from the beginning of scripture, all the way through to the gospels. Satan's first act of rebellion is exactly what the bible shows it to be. Satan, under the appointed position of "Guardian Angel" over Adam and Eve, pulls a nasty trick and makes a display of "TESTING" Adam and Eve. God didn't intend Satan to do that, any more than he intends a 5 year old girl to get Leukemia! Furthermore, Satan outright Deceives Eve. The very moment that Eve "Eats of the Fruit of God's Knowledge (Genesis 3:22)", she unknowingly was cheated out of her and Adam's Dominion of the Earth and had elected a Power Mongering (of his own Free Moral Agency) creation as the Ruler of all creation. This is how Satan usurped the position of Middle man, between God and creation.
3: Now.... Let's reveal a matter of scripture.... Oh Death (The Power of the Devil Heb 2:14) Where is your STING (Serpent Strike/Snake Venom Bite), Thy Snake Venom Bite is Sin (Missing the Mark... but what is the Mark?.... the Mark we miss is the perfection of YH-H). The Devil's Venom is exposing mankind's lack of perfection, when compared to God. God never intended His children to "Be compared to Him". God isn't a narcist that wants a bunch of Mini Me's. God had intended to guide Adam and Eve as a Loving Mother and Father Guide their children. MOTHER! Are you nuts?!? In the Hebrew, as the Spirit Hovers above the Waters of the Deep.... it actually renders to echo a powerful Bird, Hovering over Her young. Are you still irritated with me? How about when Jesus, Himself, likens Himself to Gathering Israel as a Mother Hen gathers her chicks. This isn't to denote gender to God, as God is Masculine. This is to denote authority. Most masculine and feminine analogies in scripture are actually intended to point to God. Allow me to put it this way. If humanity was on a motorcycle, we ALWAYS sit in the back. 
Now it comes to it... One of my favorite passages on this topic that is found in reference to a Wicked king, within a wide indictment of multiple wicked kings... but breaks into Spiritual Prophecy. Why shouldn't it? Ezekiel was a PROPHET. (Key point, in reference to this matter: King over all Proud Beasts)If you are just joining in, you really do need to sit down with OP's 1-4, after you finish reading through this OP, at the very least, because I'm going to build off of them as I address the passage.
God is saying that this being was created without any intention of evil. He was beautiful, wise and perfect, upon creation. I wonder who this is?
Huh? Let's see here. This is Spiritual Prophecy about a wicked king. So, now we've been placed in the Garden of Eden.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any wild animal which Adonai, God, had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You are not to eat from any tree in the garden’?”
So, everyone assumes that Satan is already fully revealed as the Bad Guy, by this point in history. However, everyone forgets that Genesis was written by MOSES. Which means, this is an account written in HIND SIGHT. How did we know that Satan was "Crafty" or a "Serpent".Matthew 23:23 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?
Everyone jumps to believing this "Serpent" in Genesis 3:1 is a LITERAL snake, posessed by the Devil. This is God recalling matters, through Moses in a way that gives the reader insight into Satan's heart. It's like God is saying, so this Angel that I had appointed to look out for humanity... yeah... he turned out to be a genuine SNAKE! He was "Crafty" and attempted to overthrow Me. This is where that Snake first began to show the iniquity within his character.These 9 stones listed are very odd. They are rows 1,2 and 4 of the Hebrew Priest Breast Plate. Interesting enough, God has always been the "High Priest", but because Satan abused his authority and usurped the "Middle man" position, it would make sense that he is adorned with a partial priest plate. If you have that prophecy bone... Dan, Asher and Gad are missing from his Breast plate.
This is what the stones are inlaid within on the breastplate, per the Law.
Oddly enough, there is only one "Guardian Angel" ever directly mentioned as a "Guardian Angel" within the "Protestant 66". It is only logical that the appointment of Guardian Angel was Satan's initial High Station.. which would easily insinuate that he was in the Garden of Eden as a very specially appointed Guardian Angel.
This explains why, though God gave the Law, that Paul and Luke reveal that the Law was given by the dispensation of angels. Satan goes by another name, also, interestingly enough, within scripture. "Ba'al". Isn't it "odd" that the Israelites crafted a Golden Ba'al idol, while Moses was speaking on Mount Sinai to YH-H, Himself?
The fiery stones are no doubt a reference to what had to be instituted immediately after the deception of Eve. Alters and sacrifice had to be instituted. In fact, God brings animal skins for Adam and Eve to cover their shame which is a proto evangelum in and of itself. (Their shame was due to their implicit lacking when compared to God. It's interesting that the same Adam and Eve were able to be Naked and Unashamed in the presence of God, until the Devil deceived Eve to believe that she needed to have the Knowledge of God, as if she was "lacking". By God's work, Eve lacked nothing! (Adam and Eve were created on the 6th day and God declared His creation good.)This is a verse that demonstrates that God didn't create the Devil to be the Devil, nor did He place him where He placed Him to "Cause the Fall" and demonstrate that OBEDIENCE to Him is His highest call. What we see in the wording of this verse, is that God indeed imbued His creation with Full Free Moral Agency. We see that Satan abused his agency and then deceived Eve to do the same.
Where did Satan actually first officially SIN? Eden. Which bares the question... why didn't God just wipe Satan out and restore Adam and Eve? Why did the Omnipotent, Infinite, Creator of everything, Who, Himself has Always existed and never not existed... Him Who preexists everything... allow Himself to be challenged in authority? I suggest that it is because God didn't HATE Satan, but Loved Satan, as much as He Loves all of His creations! It is Love that God demonstrates by fostering sincerity, within creation. It is Love that ensures that God allows Angels and Mankind to live out their lives as they choose. My personal assertion is that God only intercedes upon request or utter necessity in respects to the wellbeing of the human race.
Why a flood? Because God destroyed the flesh of those that were steeped in violence, but ONLY GOD knows the fate of their souls or spirits or ghosts or whatever you want to call that and believe what state they may exist as. Humanity was on a course of extinction and God interceded. This logic carries forward when any questions arise about why God does something that seems "UnLoving".
This is the end result of what Satan did to hang himself on his own gallows. Satan cut off his own nose, to spite his own face, but we haven't arrived at the exact HOW or exactly Just When, yet.
Pride. His wisdom is lost due to his lust for Power and Self Righteousness.
This is exactly where we see Revelation 12:10 spoken about.
Satan was part of something huge! He was involved in the sanctuary practices, somehow. He brought condemnation, ruin, death and turmoil, through deceit and duplicity
This concludes Part 5 of this OP (Links to first 4 parts are below this OP Part conclusion)
Link to part 1
Link to part 2
Link to part 3
Link to part 4
Link to part 6
Link to part 7
Link to part 1
Link to part 2
Link to part 3
Link to part 4
Link to part 6
Link to part 7
