  Spiritual
This week: Do You Believe? Edited by: Shannon  
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"Do not allow anyone to tell you what you should or should not believe.
It is none of their business." ~ Chip Coffey
Do you believe in psychics? How about ghosts? Demon possession? It's fascinating to discover what people do or do not believe in, and both sides can usually produce some kind of "proof" to back up their opinions.
For instance, many people I know accept the concept of demon possession, yet refuse to consider the possibility of ghosts. "You're either dead or you're not," one person said. "The kind of disruptive occurrences you're talking about are the work of demons, not wayward or lost souls. When humans die, they either go to heaven or hell. There is no limbo."
On the opposite side of the spectrum are those who do believe in ghosts. Others believe in similar unexplained phenomena such as clairvoyance, precognition, astral projection, cryptids, ESP, telepathy, prophecy, aliens, and/or reincarnation. Strange? Maybe, but some things are even stranger.
Having been born in 1968, I grew up in the 70s and 80s. I attended private Christian schools and distinctly remember how people were convinced of the presence of backward masking on "secular" albums. They even played examples for us on multiple occasions: "Rufus, I've got your number, and your number is 666." Then there were the Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker scandals. And back then talk shows loved to feature cult escapees who were forced to participate in (or were victims of) satanic ritual abuse. Their stories were everywhere, and Mike Warnke, ex-satanist turned Christian comedian, was a megastar. His books and stand-up comedy routines sold out across the nation--until Mike Hertenstein and Jon Trott wrote a book that supposedly exposed Warkne as a liar and opportunist. *"Many directly credit Warnke’s incredible popularity with the sudden panic about Satanic ritual abuse and cult activity in the late 80s and early 90s." I loved Mike Warnke. He was hilarious, had an amazing stage presence, was a phenomenal storyteller, and I remember how upset I was when I first heard he'd made it all up. I still have his famous book The Satan Seller on my bookshelf. It's a compelling read.
It was a crazy time, and I remember it well. I experienced the frenzy because I was in the middle of it. I lived it. It's how I was raised. I questioned a lot of what was happening around me then, even as a kid, and my skepticism followed me into adulthood. Can psychics really help police find missing children? I don't know. Are there such things as ghosts? No idea. I've never seen one, and the jury's still out. All I know is what I've experienced and seen with my own eyes, and as a nurse I've seen a lot of unexplainable things--like a dying woman gripping the side rails of her hospital bed and yelling at her long-deceased grandfather, "No, Grandpa, I don't want to go!" I also witnessed an elderly woman perform Reiki on her agitated and very unconscious husband as he thrashed around in bed and watched as he slowly became calm and utterly still. "I've tried this with other people," she said, "but it only works for me when I'm doing it on him." Considering all of this, is it really so hard to believe that it might be possible for some people to see and know things that most of us do not? Not for me, it isn't.
Recently, an acquaintance of mine whose daughter passed away went to see a renowned psychic. I overheard mutual acquaintances saying things like, "That kind of stuff is from the devil," and "The Bible says not to put your faith in false prophets." How do they know he's a false prophet, and what business is it of theirs whether or not this woman goes to see him? My feeling is this: if going to see this man somehow relieves the monumental pain of her child's death, not only should she go, but everyone else should butt out and mind their own business. The Bible says a lot of things, and people love to quote it when it benefits them, but I haven't heard very many people quote Matthew 7:5 which says, "You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."
Some naysayers think those who believe in paranormal phenomena create supernatural experiences through the power of their minds. Have you ever heard of The Philip Experiment ? It's an interesting concept, and having personally witnessed the power of positive thinking when it comes to unfavorable medical diagnoses, perhaps it's worth further consideration
Are you a believer? Have you seen a ghost? Have you ever lived in or visited a haunted house? Do you believe the spirits of the dead can communicate with the living? Tell me about your experiences and I'll include them in next month's newsletter.
Thank you for reading.
*Cherrybomb. (October 2014). "Sex, Lies and Satanism: The Rise and Fall of Christian Comedian Mike Warnke." Dangerous Minds. Retrieved 20 January 2015 from http://dangerousminds.net/comments/sex_lies_and_satanism_the_rise_and_fall_of_christian_comedian_mike_warnke |
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The following is in response to "The Gift of a Year" :
💙 Carly  writes, "I really enjoyed your letter and I am glad your are making your changes a life time thing. It is amazing what we can give to others if we put ourselves on the list - the list to feed and care for our own soul. We are just as important as all the other people in our life. To give back, you must refill and refresh the well. It is all good. Merry Christmas and may the season be one of blessings and good will. All the best for 2015. I will be continuing with my writing as it nourishes me. " Aw, thank you! Happy, productive 2015 to you as well. 
QueenOwl ~ A New Day Dawns  writes, "Hi Shannon. What a poignant message you're sharing in this Spiritual Newsletter. You have articulately and effectively put into written words what I can only think of doing. Let me tell you. This year (2014) has been a rewarding and satisfying one for me. And the reason is because I discovered Writing.com in January that sparked my first love: writing. I wasted no time in joining the bandwagon of wanna-be published writers and here I am, twelve months later, just enshrined into The Art of Criticism Alumni Group. I'm a Reviewer of Merit and a Paper Tiger. I'm patting myself on the back for what I accomplished this year! Thanks for validating our personal worth in the midst of the tentacles that could have prevented us from achieving our cherished dreams." Wow, good for you! Sounds like 2014 was your year. Congratulations on all your accomplishments, and may you have a fantastic 2015! 
monty31802 writes, "Very interesting N/L Shannon, Merry Christmas and the happiest of new years." Aw, thank you, Monty. Happy New Year to you as well. 
bonzo1964 writes, "I am giving myself the rest of my life! I am 68, my Birthday was today, and I have made some plans but didn't write them down. I want to be free of lists but just have a general idea of what I want to do. I've worked hard all my life for others. Now I have 7 grandchildren. I have been too busy to enjoy life...that's gotta change and it will! It's never too late! Thanks for the inspiration!"Happy belated birthday! Sounds like you're off to a fantastic start. Best of luck to you, and keep us posted. 
Mia - craving colour writes, "What a timely and beautiful reflection Shannon. As women, we've never been encouraged to take time to care for ourselves. Yet, as you have discovered, it is essential to our well-being and those around us. Thank you for sharing this part of your journey." Aw, thank YOU so much for your kind words. 
Quick-Quill  writes, "Shannon, what an answer to the angel question. Faith is believing in something no one can explain. Angels are one of these. We have humans we equate with angelic aspects. Why? Because we look for the good in people and BELIEVE that Angels are sent to help us, guide us to a better path. I don't agree there is more proof of Bigfoot. But, for those who WANT to believe in BF, they will see proof in everything they find. Just like we do when we see 'Angels doing their Godly business.' (sorry this is late, Christmas overcame time." The Bigfoot remark was supposed to be tongue-in-cheek, but I agree with you 100%! We believe what we want to believe, regardless of proof, and proof to support our argument will present itself if we look hard enough.  Thank you for reading and commenting!
Elfin Dragon-finally published writes, "I want to thank you for taking the time to comment on my response to angels. You're always truthful and respectful when you do. Yes, I do get a lot of my information from the Bible, but I do try and read other sources which is why I ask for sources when I ask questions. (sorry if I get a little "bossy" sometimes) I simply get a little overexcited when looking for new sources of info. My dad always told me to look at everything, even if it's something I don't necessarily believe in. So, again, thank you for your kind response to my question. And the reason I'm not emailing is because if published I really don't mind. Sometimes I do need to be knocked down a few pegs to remind me where I am.  " You have absolutely nothing to apologize for, nor are/were you bossy. And it definitely wasn't my intention to "knock you down", and I'm so sorry if I made you feel that way.  Your dad is a wise man, and I agree with him 100%: question everything. Thank YOU for your kind, considerate response. 
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Spiritual: January 21, 2015 Issue [#6774]
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