For my current more academic article please see: esb
1. The following is seemingly the most strange occurrence in my life outside of an episode with exorcism (not of me!) when I was a child where I witnessed someone demonized and the beings were apparently cast out in Jesus' name. This person exorcised was not told they were a demon and so I doubt it was hypnotism as opposed to exorcism and I know key people involved well enough that it was not a staged event.
I am not however, an expert in exorcism or hypnotism.
A professor of mine did do exorcisms and told me that my experience seemed legitimate in light of his experience and the New Testament.
I reason that finite spiritual beings exist Biblically. They do influence people at times, myself included.
At times some are under very heavy demonic influence which could be equated with demonization.
It is the summer of 1995, I had just graduated from Bible College. I wanted to visit Britain and Ireland because I had not been to the United Kingdom since 1976, as a little boy, and I also wanted to see if I could tolerate Britain in the context of potentially doing a PhD there. I returned in 1997 and did a University tour. Both trips took place with my good friend and Blogger commenter Saint Chucklins of Ridge.
Sir Chucklins and I agree that the 1995 trip was an excellent one. My only other trip as fun was in 1976 with the family. My 1997, 2004 (February) and 2004 (December) trips as well as my 2009 trip were mainly business/academic trips with plenty of stress involved. I also lived in Manchester from 1999-2001 and that was very stressful although I made some very good lifelong friends.
I have mentioned this story previously on this blog, but this writing is all new with more detail.
stupid questions
In 1995, Chuckles and I spent a week in London, which is one of my favourite places to spend a week or so in. While on the Tube/London Underground I saw a bearded lady in tears making out with a man that was trying to console her by kissing her. Now, I am making no firm judgment on this woman, or her everlasting destiny, but I have to be honest and state that I felt like I could vomit looking at her. She made a negative physical impression on me.
A professor of mine did do exorcisms and told me that my experience seemed legitimate in light of his experience and the New Testament.
I reason that finite spiritual beings exist Biblically. They do influence people at times, myself included.
At times some are under very heavy demonic influence which could be equated with demonization.
It is the summer of 1995, I had just graduated from Bible College. I wanted to visit Britain and Ireland because I had not been to the United Kingdom since 1976, as a little boy, and I also wanted to see if I could tolerate Britain in the context of potentially doing a PhD there. I returned in 1997 and did a University tour. Both trips took place with my good friend and Blogger commenter Saint Chucklins of Ridge.
Sir Chucklins and I agree that the 1995 trip was an excellent one. My only other trip as fun was in 1976 with the family. My 1997, 2004 (February) and 2004 (December) trips as well as my 2009 trip were mainly business/academic trips with plenty of stress involved. I also lived in Manchester from 1999-2001 and that was very stressful although I made some very good lifelong friends.
I have mentioned this story previously on this blog, but this writing is all new with more detail.
stupid questions
In 1995, Chuckles and I spent a week in London, which is one of my favourite places to spend a week or so in. While on the Tube/London Underground I saw a bearded lady in tears making out with a man that was trying to console her by kissing her. Now, I am making no firm judgment on this woman, or her everlasting destiny, but I have to be honest and state that I felt like I could vomit looking at her. She made a negative physical impression on me.
After our good week in London we kept the tour going and ended up in Birmingham, which at the time, at least, was the second most populated metropolitan area in Britain. Chuck and I were in our hotel rooms and he was shaving while I was watching television. There was a show featuring the Edinburgh International Festival which we viewed personally later in the trip. Chucky was stating that if he did not shave he would look ugly, and I stated that he would not look as bad as that bearded lady. At that point I looked at the television and within a few moments that bearded lady was introduced as a presenter at the Edinburgh International Festival. Bizarre!
The theological lessons?
Pray that one is ready for the unexpected. It is one lesson anyway.
2. As mentioned in blog comments, on Friday we had a small Halloween party here and watched The Last Man on Earth (1964) with Vincent Price. It was a reasonably artistic movie of the horror/suspense/thriller genres, I would give it 4/5, and it did not feature gratuitous violence. I think the four of us that watched it all perhaps pondered on the end times as a result of viewing the film. In the past, especially prior to being an adult, I watched some classic horror/suspense/thriller movies with Vincent Price such as Pit and the Pendulum (1961), The Raven (1963), The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971), Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972) and Theatre of Blood (1973). I have no desire to ever watch the Phibes films or Theatre of Blood again as they are too gross, and I have seen the Phibes films twice each. But I have to admit that the Price films do have some artistic merit.
Seems to me Pit and the Pendulum (1961), and The Raven (1963) were quite artistic and not near as gross as the other ones I just mentioned.
The theological lessons?
Pray that one is ready for the unexpected. It is one lesson anyway.
2. As mentioned in blog comments, on Friday we had a small Halloween party here and watched The Last Man on Earth (1964) with Vincent Price. It was a reasonably artistic movie of the horror/suspense/thriller genres, I would give it 4/5, and it did not feature gratuitous violence. I think the four of us that watched it all perhaps pondered on the end times as a result of viewing the film. In the past, especially prior to being an adult, I watched some classic horror/suspense/thriller movies with Vincent Price such as Pit and the Pendulum (1961), The Raven (1963), The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971), Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972) and Theatre of Blood (1973). I have no desire to ever watch the Phibes films or Theatre of Blood again as they are too gross, and I have seen the Phibes films twice each. But I have to admit that the Price films do have some artistic merit.
Seems to me Pit and the Pendulum (1961), and The Raven (1963) were quite artistic and not near as gross as the other ones I just mentioned.
I have no stomach or patience for modern 'slasher' films whatsoever.
I reason:
Horror/suspense/thriller films can reasonably show evil and suffering.
These films can show evil and suffering as bad things, which they are.
Films that depend on gratuitous violence can limit their potential audience.
Therefore, the apparent or actual glorification of evil is not needed in these films.
I reason:
Horror/suspense/thriller films can reasonably show evil and suffering.
These films can show evil and suffering as bad things, which they are.
Films that depend on gratuitous violence can limit their potential audience.
Therefore, the apparent or actual glorification of evil is not needed in these films.
interesting..
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jimmy.
ReplyDeleteAline, I have never ridden a horse, have you?
ReplyDeleteYes, I have. Once, when I was like 8 years old, I tried to ride a horse, than I realized that I'm allergic to them. And it was definately not the best experince of my life!!! I went directly to the Hospital.
Sorry to read that Aline.
ReplyDeleteI am allergic to pollen and grass.
i have never seen the last man on earth. I think i might have to look into that, sounds like a good watch. Never seen the deliverance of a demon possessed person either. Don't know if i would ever like to be a witness to that. But i am sure it would be a pretty powerful event tho.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you Russ :)
Thanks, Tammy.
ReplyDeleteWell stated.:)
Who would have thought that bearded ladies and exorcisms would make it on your blog!
ReplyDelete-Walter T. Franklin-
In regards to the horror flicks from yesteryear that you mention on your blog, it seems obvious that these films were the starters to modern day scary movies, like your Vincent Price film.
ReplyDelete-Scary Larry-
I have never personally seen a demon-possessed person (though I have seen one or two videos of them, one being in Africa, I think). Nor have I ever seen a bearded lady (except in movies where they feature them in a circus).
ReplyDeleteOn Halloween I started watching a B&W movie of some little girl who was given a wishing ring, and she wished for a friend, and her 'friend' turned out to be the ghost of someone the girl's family knew. It looked like a good film, but with so many kids knocking at my door, I was only able to watch a little of it, and I don't know the name of the movie.
In the past, I have watched movies that feature Satan worshipers or demonic beings, and those have actually done some good for me, in that they have caused me to focus on the reality of the spiritual world. So, in other words, those type of movies, which many Christians I know would avoid like the plague and say, "I'm not watching THAT Satanic garbage!" I actually found helpful, in a sense, because such things can sometimes remind us of the reality of the spiritual realm. I'm not saying that we need such movies to make us believe in the spiritual realm, because the Bible is sufficient for that, but nevertheless, such movies can, at times, have a benefit.
On the other hand, movies where people are murdered, I avoid, because I am repulsed by them. And horror movies such as "Pet Cemetary" are so stupid that they just make me mad, because the choices that the people make are so incredibly stupid and foolish that they deserve to die! OK, not really, but the stupidity shown in such movies is just infuriating.
Now with some of the classics such as you referred to, Russ, they were often ingeniously presented, in that, a lot was implied, even though little was shown. What I mean is, they did not rely on the gory details that movies today show. Instead, they used imagination much more, and only hinted at things happening, and this was often more effective, and more creative, than many of the horror movies shown today. Also, being in Black and White helped set the mood as well, I think.
When I was in Jr. High school, I loved Science Fiction, but I also liked horror. I took a Science Fiction Anthology class, and that class was like a dream come true. I loved that class. I also took Journalism for 2 years, and for the first year, I wrote horror stories (short stories) for the school newspaper, and the second year, I drew cartoons for the school newspaper. I loved comic books as well, and though most of my comic books were about superheroes, I had a few horror comics, as well. I remember one that had a story about a giant clock that would chop people up into little pieces. It was very gory for that time, and for a comic book. Around that time, I lived with my grandparents in Iowa for 1 1/2 months, and my cousins took me to see C.H.U.D. (Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers), a movie my parents would never allow me to see, if they had known. All of this was before I got saved, BTW. Several years ago, I rented the 2003 movie "Wrong Turn," with Eliza Dushku, which was about deformed cannibals that caught people, put hooks in people or wrapped barbed wire around them, and chopped them up and ate them. I was so disgusted by the movie that I returned it without watching the whole thing.
ReplyDelete'Who would have thought that bearded ladies and exorcisms would make it on your blog!
ReplyDelete-Walter T. Franklin-'
Me.;)
'In regards to the horror flicks from yesteryear that you mention on your blog, it seems obvious that these films were the starters to modern day scary movies, like your Vincent Price film. -Scary Larry-'
ReplyDeleteAgreed. But, the level of gratuitous gore and violence has also often been increased.
'I have never personally seen a demon-possessed person (though I have seen one or two videos of them, one being in Africa, I think). Nor have I ever seen a bearded lady (except in movies where they feature them in a circus).'
ReplyDeleteWell, I hope I made your day then.:)
'In the past, I have watched movies that feature Satan worshipers or demonic beings, and those have actually done some good for me, in that they have caused me to focus on the reality of the spiritual world.'
I have thought the same.
'Now with some of the classics such as you referred to, Russ, they were often ingeniously presented, in that, a lot was implied, even though little was shown. What I mean is, they did not rely on the gory details that movies today show. Instead, they used imagination much more, and only hinted at things happening, and this was often more effective, and more creative, than many of the horror movies shown today. Also, being in Black and White helped set the mood as well, I think.'
Very good points.
'I rented the 2003 movie "Wrong Turn," with Eliza Dushku, which was about deformed cannibals that caught people, put hooks in people or wrapped barbed wire around them, and chopped them up and ate them. I was so disgusted by the movie that I returned it without watching the whole thing.'
Is my blog rating going to go to NC-17 now? Thanks my friend.;)
Speaking of demon possession:
ReplyDeleteMohammed’s Inspiration:
According to the Hadiths:
Mohammed would hear ringing in his ears; his heart would beat rapidly; his face turn red; his breathing would become labored; he would fall to the ground or lie down; he would shake; his eyes would open wide; his lips tremble; spit drool from the corners of his mouth; he would sweat profusely; he saw and heard things no one else ever saw or heard; he would sometimes make a snoring noise like that of a camel; and he would be covered with a sheet.
Vol I, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4
Vol. II, chapter 16 (pg. 354), 544
Vol. III, Nos. 17, 829
Vol. IV, Nos. 95, 438, 458, 461
Vol. V, Nos. 170, 462, 618, 659
Vol. VI, Nos. 447, 448, 468, 478, 481, 508
Jeff, that is something to think about.
ReplyDeletePlease feel free, and only if you wish, to post this on Facebook in comments with my posting for this article.
I have some Muslim Facebook friends and perhaps some may read your comment.
Cheers.
I've been down with flu (swine? who knows?) this week, but during this time discovered this fantastic game, a piece of art in its own right, IMO: Machinarium.
ReplyDeleteNo I don't know the creators or anything, this is just a free plug for a game that is the sort of thing I would have loved to have designed myself...
Sorry sir, dead link.
ReplyDeleteGet well soon.
Please feel free, and only if you wish, to post this on Facebook in comments with my posting for this article.
ReplyDeleteI have some Muslim Facebook friends and perhaps some may read your comment.
Done.
If I start receiving death threats, I'll complain to you. ;)
Hmm, I think your blog does enough on its own...
ReplyDeleteRuss;)
Try this one:
ReplyDeleteMachinarium
Hmm, I think your blog does enough on its own...
ReplyDeleteGood point.
Thanks, Saint Chucklins. Looks well done.
ReplyDeleteI am presently focusing on trying to finish Need for Speed Carbon for PC.
Jeff, perhaps I could lose a Facebook friend or friends over your Islam comment.
ReplyDeleteRuss;)
Jeff, perhaps I could lose a Facebook friend or friends over your Islam comment.
ReplyDeleteYeah, there's always that risk. I've lost a few Facebook friends, possibly because of the controversial things I post. I've had people tell me to take me off my e-mail list because of things I've sent as well. But then, later on, I gain more friends, so you lose some, you gain some.
Here's hoping Herr ChuktLintz
ReplyDeletehas a speedy recovery. Tried the
Machinarium game briefly- great look
and novel idea. Liked the sound too-
very unique.
-=ZLT=-
Well, Jeff, we are not in the people pleasing business, are we?
ReplyDeleteHere is an old song from 1976 that I used to listen to on 8-track in the camper when I went on trips with my family.
A song for the single man? God's will is always primary, of course. I have read on more than one occasion that Joe English is a Christian.
Must do something about it
Sir Chuckles seems to be getting better all the time, based on the three person Skype phone conversation with me, Deaaaan and Saints Chucklins this afternoon.
ReplyDeleteThe game seems pretty decent.
Apparently Bobby Buff is bringing over his shiny muscles tonight.
Well, Jeff, we are not in the people pleasing business, are we?
ReplyDeleteAmen!
1 John 2:15
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Psalm 56:3-4
When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
Matthew 10:28
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:32-33
Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Hebrews 13:5-6
For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
Russ, have you ever listened to anything by Larry Norman or Randy Stonehill?
ReplyDeleteMore:
ReplyDeleteActs 5: 28-32
28saying, "We gave you (AI)strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and (AJ)intend to bring this man's blood upon us."
29But Peter and the apostles answered, "(AK)We must obey God rather than men.
30"(AL)The God of our fathers (AM)raised up Jesus, whom you had (AN)put to death by hanging Him on a cross.
31"(AO)He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a (AP)Prince and a (AQ)Savior, to grant (AR)repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32"And we are (AS)witnesses [b]of these things; and (AT)so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him."
And yes, my Christian friend Bobby Buff would gladly give you the shirt off his back.
Verses from the previous comment and here are from the New American Standard Bible.
ReplyDeleteJohn 15:18-19 (New American Standard Bible)
18"(A)If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.
19"If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but (B)I chose you out of the world, (C)because of this the world hates you.
'Russ, have you ever listened to anything by Larry Norman or Randy Stonehill?'
ReplyDeleteYes.
Feel free to post.
Gas preaching
ReplyDeleteFlatulence, tooting, passing gas preachers.
Very funny. LOL.
-Pepto Dismal-
Yes, I posted that one previously, very funny, Bobby!
ReplyDeleteMr. Ts Tow Truck Tale
ReplyDeleteHilarious prank call, a legendary prank by a legendary Hollywood personality sucka.
-I pity the fool-
Thanks, Bobby, that recorded Mr. T material is funny.
ReplyDeleteOkay, as long as we're doing prank calls:
ReplyDeleteArnold calls a Pizza Restaurant
I used to have the vinyl LP album, before it got destroyed in a flood, along with all my other albums and my artwork portfolios.
ReplyDeleteLarry Norman - The Six O'Clock News
Another album I used to have.
ReplyDeleteLarry Norman - The Rock That Doesn't Roll (1977)
Larry Norman - Moses... (1969)
Larry Norman - Sweet Sweet Song... (1969)
Larry Norman - Forget Your Hexagram (1969)
Larry Norman - You Can't Take Away... (1969)
Larry Norman - I Don't Believe... (1969)
I had this one on cassette.
Larry Norman - U.F.O.
Arnold is funny.
ReplyDeleteChucky used to listen to Larry Norman.
I am fed up with Need For Speed Carbon. I admit I am not a good driver after only three weeks, but I am sick of the many times the car comes off the road, and even when I collide with a computer car in a race it will not crash, but I might.
I think a problem is that these games that are sequels are made for people that have played the series for years and have accumulated skill. I am not a gamer and I am not interested in playing a level perhaps hundreds of times to succeed. I find this pattern with almost every EA game I have played and is likely why I have never got into their games.
I play games for stress relief and it causes more stress. That is not good.
Cheers, Jeff.
The Outlaw/music by Larry Norman
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, due to the brilliance of people like my friend that works for EA, there is a certain high degree of quality with the games which can be enjoyed if someone is willing to put in the time. In my case, it would be a loooooong time.
ReplyDeleteToo long.
My brother has Need for Speed, and I was playing it several days ago. I was never into racing games, so I'm not good at it, but he has always liked racing games.
ReplyDeleteI've been playing CounterStrike and Day of Defeat.
Video games can definitely cause more stress.
EA Games (and EA Sports) is a good video game company. I like their graphics.
ReplyDeleteNo disagreement, but I think their games, at least the ones I have played, are not really for casual players. I also do not like how scripted the games seem. In other words, a game has to be won a certain way, and not a way that a less skilled person may be able to accomplish but is not permitted to do so.
ReplyDeleteAn example:
I played a level of NFS Carbon where I needed to evade police for five minutes and get free. But I evaded them in four plus minutes and was free and so I lost. To me, in real life that would be a win and I would like to see more flexibility with the game. I beat the police and found a way out, even with less skill than many experienced players.
Another example:
I played NHL 99 and built my own team. I got to the Finals and my goaltending was excellent previously, but in the Final game my goalie let in goals from the centre line. So, I had with my limited skill figured out a way to be reasonably good at the game, but likely because I was not good enough in some areas the programmers required, I was not able to overcome the sudden lousy goaltending which I had no control over.
The game was set aside and not played again...
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS!!!
ReplyDeleteBig Bird calls bullcrap on Michelle Obama and her husband the president!
Yes interesting.
ReplyDeleteCheers.:)
ReplyDeleteI got a call and an e-mail the other day for a job as a Technical Writer, which includes desktop publishing, but it was in Jacksonville, which can be a 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive, or more, depending on where in Jacksonville, and the traffic.
ReplyDeleteJeff, I hope this is promising for you. Somehow.
ReplyDeleteA little superhero humor.
ReplyDeleteBatman: Brave and the Bold: Blue Beetle!
I had one or two Blue Beetle comics many, many years ago.
The Jeff,
ReplyDeleteThanks, that is well done.
I discovered a very cool British action show on DVD in my library that I've been watching, Primeval.
ReplyDeleteDinosaurs come into our world through temporary space-time "anomalies".
sample clips
The music is not from the show.
The British often produce some better than average material for film and television.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me a little of the "Not Brand Echh" spoof comics I used to buy many, many years ago.
ReplyDeleteThe Super Hero Squad Show, Season 1, Episode 1
Good point.
ReplyDeleteVIDEO of the rally for human rights and religious freedom in defense of Rifqa Bary, in Columbus, Ohio, November 16
ReplyDeleteSpeakers included Simon Deng, the courageous ex-slave from the Sudan; the knowledgeable and indefatigable ex-Muslim Nonie Darwish; Jim Lafferty of the anti-Sharia coalition that fought against the Islamic Saudi Academy expansion in Virginia; Rifqa's dear friend Jamal Jivanjee; Pamela Geller of Atlas Shrugs...
Thanks, Jeff.
ReplyDeleteRuss In Phoenix
I loved the Pit and the Pendulum though I closed my eyes many times to some of the scenes... they were not scary but I just could not bear watching someone getting hurt..
ReplyDeleteThe bearded lady experience was strange indeed...
It was weird indeed...;)
ReplyDelete