Many Americans haunted by ghosts, look to astrology – REUTERS By Ed Stoddard – Thu Dec 10, 9:23 am ET

I’ve always been a Christian. I grew up Catholic but I’m now just a Christian. Many people call it non-denominational, but it’s no different. A Christian is a Christian. Right?

To add to this, I grew up with both of my parents being born and raised in South Louisiana – Cajun Country. There is a rich heritage of food, music and beliefs. Beliefs such as Traiteurs (treaters or healers) and that someone could put the Gris-Gris (pronounced Gree-Gree) or a type of voodoo curse on you. So while I was a Christian – Catholic – I also believed in these things too, some almost as strongly as the Catholic faith.

While reading through this article it reminded me of that time. How confusing and odd it was for me. To believe that I served THE God who created the universe yet believe that someone could put a curse on me and God would not or could not do anything was completely opposite of what I was supposed to believe. As you read through the article you notice the numbers and percentages of people that have beliefs in everything from astrology, to ghost, to even mixing in Eastern and New Age religions. Yet, we are clearly instructed and told in Exodus 20:3-6:

Anything that is not of God, His Word, His Son, or His Spirit that is obeyed and yielded to is disobedience and ultimately sin. The most disturbing statement in this article is the quote from Pew researcher Alan Cooperman, where he states, “American religious folks hold a variety of views and there is overlap among their beliefs and practices. Many do not fit into simple boxes.” While I understand that “religious folks” can cover a multitude of views and beliefs in America, the article is directly siting Americans who are Christian or have a more dominant tendency toward Christianity – that just sounds weird.

Look, it’s as simple as this – either you are a Christian or your not. You can’t be a little Christian and a little New Age and a little of this and that. There is no place for it…God’s Word is clear. Jesus said in John 14:6:

Being a Christian means you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior and you become, as the word Christian means – a little Christ. You are supposed to reflect Him, 100%, not the other religions and beliefs and views. Getting into agreement or even having a belief other than what His Word says compromises the very things that He died for on your behalf! In fact, it nulls and voids it, hence why in Exodus it says that you and your children for generations to come will not be blessed just simply for allowing that sin in and then passing it on to your children.

Our Pastor taught us about something earlier this year that bears sharing here. In Genesis 47 we read the account of Joseph and the famine that came upon all the lands surrounding Egypt. Joseph had received favor (Godly favor) in the sight of pharaoh and when Joseph’s family (the nation of Israel) came to him asking for helping, pharaoh granted them to live, dwell and have the land of Goshen in Egypt. What’s interesting is that if you study this chapter and the next chapters, through the beginning of Exodus, out, you will notice that while the rest of the people both in and outside of Egypt were dealing with a famine, the people who served God and only his direction, (the Word of God) living in the land of Goshen, flourished! Genesis 47:27 says:

Now while that is great and definitely what we want, what you see is that the people of Israel grew and multiplied so much that they began to intermingle with the Egyptians. As they did, they of course still believed in God and His Word, but they started adopting and beginning to believe some of the Egyptian ways and beliefs. If you don’t believe that, just look at what they did when it took days for Moses to come down from the mountain where he was receiving the 10 Commandments – what did the people of Israel do? They created golden calves and golden gods to begin worshiping, assuming that either Moses left them behind or was killed by God. Now where did they learn that? These were supposed to be the people of God! The ones who were made in the image and likeness of God. Yet here they are making gods and worshiping them, knowing their core beliefs?

Christians, the time has come to stop intermingling our belief with other non-Bible beliefs! We wonder why people have a hard time believing in Christ or Christianity? What have we given this world and those looking for Him? Confusion? Misguidance? Yet we were told to be a witness and preach the Gospel. What is the Gospel? That Jesus Christ is THE way, THE truth, and THE life and that NO ONE and NOTHING provides you access to God, our heavenly Father – PERIOD! So what do you do if you have been a Christian who picked up some things from Egypt and intermingled them with your beliefs?

First, stop it and get rid of it – ditch those beliefs and things you have picked up along the way that replace or displace God, Jesus and His Word.

Second, repent and turn away from that belief – God gave us THE way through His Son, Jesus, and if we heartfully repent and turn away from those things, He is faithful to forgive us and bring us back into right standing with Him.

Third, pickup and build up your relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit – read the Bible and begin placing God’s Word (His Will, Beliefs, direction, guidance, and life) back inside you. Stay focused on Jesus – let Him be first in all things…give Him the preeminence and do not let any other gods go before Him. As you do this, you begin to love God and His Word which positions you for a full return of His love and blessings that will extend to generations of your family, because the right things will be passed down. We just have to start with asking ourselves, “What do I believe? And who am I according to the Bible?”

And that is The Truth!
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Consumers Unlikely to Keep Pace

Romans 13:8 says:

The Greek present tense of this verse may be translated as: “Don’t continue owing anything to anybody…”

What kind of attitude do you, as a Christian, have toward indebtedness? Are you like the rest of the people in the world that think indebtedness is just a part of living? Are you content with being in debt or thinking that debt is normal? On average, 72% of people (all people, not just Christians) believe that carrying some debt is just part of modern life and that it is tough for anyone to avoid. Today’s consumer has a total of 13 debt obligations on record at a credit bureau.

While the Word of God does not forbid all debt, it certainly forbids an attitude of contentment with debt or thinking that debt is “normal.” The fact of the matter is that placing things on credit or debt is really banking on and trusting in the future. You are saying that you trust in your job, your employer, your boss, you personally and anyone and anything else as having the ability to provide for you to pay for that debt at any time in the future. The Truth (the Word of God) states that we are not to bank on the future and all these things (job, employer, boss, etc.) but instead, Trust in our Lord as our provider. It says in Philippians 4:19:

Let’s be clear – the Word says nothing about it being wrong to take a loan out, have credit cards, or even take on some debt. But when it comes down to it, the Word does place a demand on the Christian Believer to have Faith and believe and trust God for everything! Deuteronomy 28:12 says:

Obedience in believing – having Faith – in His Word that He shall do what He promises, through Christ who lives in you, is key. It’s the promises that have come through the Seed of Abraham down to you and it will not return void as He sees to His Word that it is performed according to what He has said. It just requires you to believe and having done all, stand and do not stop believing, regardless of the circumstances!

I want to encourage you – don’t be condemned if you are in debt right now. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Start today banking on the certain riches and future you have in God. He is your heavenly Father who has provided all for you and He will never leave you nor forsake you. Stop banking on the uncertain future and get supplied by His riches in glory by Christ Jesus for all things today!

And that is The Truth!
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Seeking Psychics: Consumers Look to Outside Help for Financial Advice

Which is worse? To receive counsel and trust in financial advisers like Bernie Madoff or to listen to the counsel of fortune tellers, soothsayers, mystics, or, as they are now called, “Intuitives?” When it comes to your finances and the financial decisions you make in this world’s system, you better choose neither choice, at least as a Christian and follower of Jesus!

While this article does not disclose the actual numbers that are turning to using these “Intuitives” it does present some startling information of how much they are used. From companies and corporations enlisting the services of Intuitives for $10,000 a day, to Intuitives building large companies that can support over 150 employees and have “sales” increases that average 7 1/2 percent year over year – MUCH better than most of the corporations that are struggling just to stay open and afloat during this economy! Their customers could describe them with words like “boost” givers, anxiety relievers, life-direction givers, confidence instillers, life coaches, advice givers, and even counselors.

While many will find encouragement and direction, we have to be clear about whom Intuitives are and what the Bible says about them. First of all, an Intuitive, by definition is someone having the “power” to discern the true nature of a person or situation. A synonym that could be used is to call them instinctive, which, by definition, is acting or happening without apparent forethought, prompting, or planning. Notice that they are void of involving God, His Word, Jesus, or in seeking the Holy Ghost regarding anything. Everything they advise on comes from them – in some cases, we may call them their own gods.

So what does the Bible say about these Intuitives? Jude, the brother of James warned the body of Christ about these people and even reminded us of them that had been marked before! In Jude 1:4 (New Living Translation), Jude calls them out:

For us, as Christians, we must watch those that come into the body of Christ that have nothing to do with Jesus and then proclaim to be able to help direct our lives and show us the things they “instinctively” know about us. Do not be convinced nor deceived into believing things that the Word of God does not even speak over you! Only the God Himself knows this. He has already told us in Jeremiah 29:11:

Who else would know more than the Lord God Almighty?

Jude goes warning Christians in Jude 1:17-19 (The New Living Translation):

Notice what Jude said here – they are out to satisfy their own desires! Brothers and Sisters in Christ, if these people had your best interest in mind, would they not offer up their “gifts” to HELP the body of Christ as we, as Christians are called to, without looking to be paid for it? The body of Christ is to operate in similar Gifts of the Spirit to edify and help everyone with giving them leading, direction, guidance, edification, and building each other up in faith, without any need for payment!

Even further, notice what Jude says in verse 19 – “They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.” Sounds exactly like the “Intuitives” or “Instinctive” ones described in the article. As a result of this, what happens when these people get into the body of Christ or begin to influence one of Christ followers? Jude calls it out clearly at the beginning of verse 19 – “These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you.” This is what causes people to be double-minded or following both Jesus and God’s word, while trying to listen to their “Intuitive.” You cannot follow two different words that oppose one another or contradict each other – that is called confusion and has lead many to mental distress and even to not knowing who or what to trust.

So what are we to do? Let’s let the word speak for itself – Jude 1:20-25 (The New Living Translation):

If you encourage, build up, and use the Gifts of the Spirit that God has imparted to you, who have Jesus living in and through you, this is how we keep each other safe in God’s love! The love of God being shed abroad in the body of Christ’s heart is how we can receive all that we may think we need from some Intuitive. No Intuitive can give what Jesus has given! But notice here too, that the same love that keeps us safe is the love we are to extend to those that have waivered or are wavering and allowing this stuff to contaminate their lives that believe and choose the word of an Intuitive over the Word of God. Pray for them to know The Truth and to not be destroyed by the choices they make now, but to be saved by and through the choice the make for New Life! Stay focused on this Truth in verse 25 – “All glory, majesty, power, and authority are His before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.” That sounds like a future and a hope that can only be delivered by one person and that is the Lord, Master and King, Jesus!

And that is The Truth!
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