What is a demon?

Demons have distinct and unique personalities just like human beings. Remember that neither satan nor his demon spirits are things. Neither should they be taken lightly. Demons are beings who have all the normally accepted marks of personality: they possess will, intelligence, emotion, self-awareness, and the ability to speak.

Satan is the leader of all demons. Because satan is prideful, his demons follow his lead, which means all demons have a degree of pride like their leader. Demons even compete against one another while operating in your life. The name of the demon reveals its characteristics or manifestations. See the following examples.

Lucifer - Isaiah 14:12

Prince of the power of the air - Ephesians 2:2

Ruler of the demons - Matthew 12:24

Destroyer - I Corinthians 10:10

Angel of light - II Corinthians 11:14

Serpent of old - Revelation 20:2

Great dragon - Revelation 12:9

Devil - Revelation 12:9

Wicked one - Matthew 13:19

Father of lies - John 8:44

Murderer - John 8:44

The following are examples of the characteristics of demons in the Bible.

Here the demon exercises his will, a 1st characteristic
In Matthew 12:44, the demon who has gone out of a man says, "I will return to my house from which I came." The demon here exercises its will to make a decision, and then follows it up with the corresponding action.

Here the demon shows emotion, a 2nd characteristic
In James 2:19 it reads “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe - and tremble!" Trembling is an outward mark of strong emotion. Derek Prince writes that at times he has seen a demonized person, who when confronted with the authority of Christ, began to tremble violently. This may be an outward manifestation of fear of the demon inside.

Here the demon shows intellect, a 3rd characteristic
Demons have knowledge not derived from natural sources, rather evil sources. The first time Jesus confronted a demonized man in the synagogue in Capernaum, the demon spoke out of the man and said in Mark 1:24, "I know who You are - the Holy One of God!" It was more than a year before Jesus' own disciples began to realize what this demon had discerned immediately.

Here the demon shows self awareness, a 4th characteristic
When Jesus asked the demonized man in the country of the Gadarenes in Mark 5:9, "What is your name?" a demon answered on behalf of itself and the other demons, "My name is Legion; for we are many." The demon was aware of both its own identity and that of the other demons occupying this man.

Here the demon shows their ability to speak vocally, a 5th characteristic
In the first three gospels and also in Acts, we see several examples of demons able to speak through the vocal organs of the people they are occupying. The demons could and still do answer questions and carry on a conversation. Normally we regard the ability to speak as a distinctive mark of personality.

Demons display a wide range of character traits. Some are vicious, violent, supernaturally strong. Others are weak, cowering, even ridiculous - characteristics one would not expect to find in a demon, which is a fallen angel.

Where did demons come from?

If mankind, Adam and Eve, had never sinned, we would never have been vulnerable to demons. From the beginning, ever since man, Adam and Eve, turned from God in rebellion, all males and females born have been subjected to two main spiritual evils: sin and demons.

Where do demons live?

Each demon desires to express himself through a human body, preferably yours. A demon is not happy unless he has a human body, again, preferably yours. Because demons do not possess physical bodies of their own, demons seek to inhabit or use the bodies of humans or animals.

How do demons work?

God can be everywhere at the same time. Satan cannot be everywhere at the same time. Since satan was booted out of heaven, there has been a fight for dominion. Satan tries to accomplish his goal of dominion of your life through demons since he cannot be everywhere at the same time.

He, satan, dispenses or assigns his demons or demonic spirits to babies in the womb, people, you, your family, your church, cities, denominations, governments, countries, hospitals, institutions, leaders, through music, through television, through drugs, through immoral sex, through perverted sex, through alcohol, etc. In very simple terms, God represents the light or the good and satan represent the dark or the bad. Just as God and His Holy Spirit is active daily, so is satan and his demons or demonic forces and principalities.

What can I do about demons?

There is an urgent need for Christians to learn all we can about the nature and activity of demons. This knowledge is important for all believers, since none of us can claim immunity from the attacks of demons.

It is especially important for pastors and other Christians certified in integrated healing & deliverance to be trained and available for each Christian who desires help. Only with trained, revelatory knowledge are those called to healing and deliverance able to make a correct diagnosis and apply the appropriate remedy so Christians can experience freedom ministered by the Holy Spirit.

Are demons associated with illnesses or health challenges?

Many sicknesses are actually caused by demons, and they should be treated as such. Let's look at a scriptural example where this actually happened.

In Luke 4: 38 – 39, it reads "And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them."

If this fever was only a physical problem, then how foolish to rebuke it! It makes no sense whatsoever to rebuke an inanimate thing. One can only rebuke something having intelligence, and Jesus knew that a spirit caused this fever. The fever left Peter's mother-in-law because it had to obey Jesus' authoritative command.

How many demons are there?

The Bible specifically names many, many demons and there are also categories of demons based on their function. For example, if a person [illegitimately] controls things and people, the specific demon in the Bible that's operating in this person is the Jezebel demon [you understand that Jezebel is really a super stronghold because four demons make up the Jezebel head.]

When you are engaged in spiritual warfare, it is important to know your enemy. Part of spiritual warfare is getting rid of your demons on a lasting, permanent basis. Demons manifest themselves through you, your family and your church members under many different names. The following evil spirits, demons, or devils are mentioned in the scriptures, but this list is not exhaustive. Each one is a personality, and the word used expresses their nature:

The nature of specific demons shown in the Old Testament that remain active today.

Jealousy/feelings of jealousy - Numbers 5:14, 30

Ill will/evil - Judges 9:23

Distressing/evil - I Samuel 16:14-23; 18:10; 19:9

Lying/deceiving - I Kings 22:22; II Chronicles 18:20-22

Perverse/distortion/dizziness - Isaiah 19:14

Deep sleep - Isaiah 29:10

Heaviness/fainting/despair - Isaiah 61:3

Harlotry/prostitution - Hosea 4:12; 5:4

Unclean/unclean/impurity - Zechariah 13:2

Familiar - Deuteronomy 18:11

Sorrowful - I Samuel 1:15

The nature of specific demons shown in the New Testament that are still active today.

Mute/robbed of speech/Deaf and dumb/ deaf and mute - Mark 9:17; 9:25

Infirmity/causing sickness/ crippling - Luke 13:11

Divination/predicting the future - Acts 16:16

Deceiving/deceitful - I Timothy 4:1

Fear/timidity - II Timothy 1:7

Error/falsehood - I John 4:6

Unclean - Matthew 10:1

Divination - Acts 16:16

Bondage - I John 4:6

Deceiving - I Timothy 4:1

Error - I John 4:6

Death - Hebrews 2:14-15

Are there new demons?

No, there are not new demons. The demons established in the Bible are it, but that's a whole lot of them! Demons can take on many, many, many manifestations in each person's life.

How do you identify demons?

The easiest way to identify a demon is by how it manifest in your life. There are many lists of demons, strongholds and generational curses. Again, the easiest way to identify each demon in your life is by how it manifests in your life. For example, one lady was severely overweight and she struggled with her weight for years. When she came for healing and deliverance, the demon was simply identified as the sugar demon. See how simple that is.

Why are so many Christians scared of demons?

Christians are scared of demons because:

a) you may not understand your authority based on scripture - An excerpt of Luke 10:18-19 reads, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Christians are scared of demons because:

b) you may have a fear of using your authority once you know your authority; fear is a stronghold that is controlled by the demonic.

Christians are scared of demons because:

c) you may believe the authority the scripture states is for all other believers except you; this unbelief is a stronghold that is controlled by the demonic.

Christians are scared of demons because:

d) you may be deceived into thinking the demons active in your life will not obey your command when you use your authority; this is a lie. Satan is the father of lies. Demons are under the leadership of satan. So, this lie you believe is from what, the demonic.

Christians are scared of demons because:

e) you may not understand your position based on scripture - An excerpt of Romans 8: 16-18 reads that you are the child of God and a joint-heir with Christ.

Christians are scared of demons because:

f) you may choose not to exercise your authority daily; angelic and demonic activity take place 24-hours a day. As a Christian, you are automatically enrolled in a battle known as spiritual warfare. There are only two positions in this Christian battle, offense and defense. Most Christians choose, by default, to live their lives operating on the defense and in response mode. Most Christians choose to be passive in the battle. Why are you passive? Because your church does not regularly teach and train the church body and regularly teach and train those called to healing & deliverance how to engage in spiritual warfare daily.

Christians are scared of demons because:

g) you may have been deceived into thinking that demons have more power than you do -- as a child of the King who inherited all spiritual blessings. Smile -- I'll let you find this scripture reference : )

Christians are scared of demons because:

h) you may choose not to read and study your Bible regularly to be reminded of and operate daily in your God-given authority. Meanwhile, you, your family, your church and your country suffer needlessly. It really ain't that deep yall -- sorry about the incorrect language here.

Why do so many churches not teach on the demonic?

God is not interested in our church membership or denominational labels – we all use the same Holy Bible where all of these scriptures in this article can be found. No believer wants to be exposed and many of our sins, including our private, secret sins, create shame. Confidential, healing and deliverance ministry does not expose you, the person, rather it exposes the demonic strategy that’s been operating in your life and keeping you in your private bondage.

You think what you’re going through is not transparent to other believers, but it is. The Holy Spirit is still waiting on you to surrender -- at any minute of any hour of any day. You know what the beauty of confidential, integrated healing and deliverance is? It will be the last time you deal with the pain, the shame, the secrets, the coping mechanisms. You may remember, but the pain historically associated with the memories, the experience, is over!

There are three parts to the God-head: 1) God the Father; 2) God the Son; and, 3) God the Holy Spirit. In the church, we are comfortable with the first two parts of the God-head, but many churches are not comfortable with teaching and training about the third part of the God-head, the Holy Spirit.

Any church that does not teach, train and operate in the supernatural realm of the Holy Spirit and regularly teach and train those called in to healing and deliverance is a crippled church. Why is the church crippled? Because the leadership and the membership will not have an available arm of ministry where hurt people can be healed. And you know that every breathing human in the church has something the need healing and deliverance from, right? After all, the church is a hospital for the spiritually sick.

What is the purpose or goal of demons?

As stated in John 10:10, the thief [satan and his demons] come to steal from you, and to kill you, and to destroy you. This is true for every human born, which includes you and every person in your family lineage. Satan and his little demons are so pleased the more you choose to remain unlearned about him and his demons. Why does this please satan? Because he can continue to have dominion in your life or parts of your life. All the while, you continue to blame things in your life on coincidence, bad luck, you being different or you just can't stop doing something.

Why is it critical for you to understand demons as a Christian?

Picture a green plant in a flower pot. Most Christians when dealing with life’s issues deal with the symptoms. The symptoms are the green leafs on the plant. Integrated healing and deliverance deals with the roots of the plant in the flower pot that you cannot see. The green plant represents your life. The demons represent the roots of your life challenges and problems. Unless the roots of your life issues are identified and dismantled, you continue to see manifestations in your life.

Let me give you an example. Let’s say there’s a person who has a drug stronghold. Typically, you’ll hear people talk about the drugs, the lack of responsibility the person shows, how the person steals, how the person will not keep a job, etc. While all of those things are a reality, none of those symptoms are the root(s) of the person’s problem. Integrated healing & deliverance targets, identifies and dismantles the root system of your life’s problems.

What do demons hate?

Demons hate many things, but I’ll share four things. One, demons hate God. Two, demons hate believers using a heavenly prayer language because they cannot understand what’s being prayed; demons can understand you praying in English or your native language. Three, demons hate scripture, which is why scriptures must be used when actively dealing with the demonic. And four, demons hate humans, which includes you.

Demons do not play fair in your life. Demons show you, your family and your church no mercy. May I ask the next logical question? Why do you choose, by default, to exercise grace toward the very demons that are still stealing, killing and strategizing to destroy you, your family and your church? Have no mercy on demons in your life; be brutal with them in exercising your authority!

How do demons manifest or show themselves in daily life?

Click here to listen to the audio titled Some Ways Demons Enter Your Life.

How do demons relate to generational curses and strongholds?

Exodus 20:5-6
… For I The Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me.

Exodus 34:7
… visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and fourth generation.

Numbers 14:18
… visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fouth generation.

Deuteronomy 5:9
… visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.

Now, why did I share these four scriptures with you? One, because they are true because they are in the Word of God, the Holy Bible. Two, because these scriptures clearly establish generational curses.

Each of you reading this article have parents, grandparents, great grandparents and so forth. Because none of us came from perfect families, that means that both sins and iniquity were present in their lives. More than likely, most of us didn’t even know the people extending back to the 4th generations on our mom and dad’s side of the family.

One thing you must understand about God is God sees me and you as part of a family unit. We are born into a family unit and remain in a family unit until we die. You can’t get into the world bypassing a family structure. Most of us think of ourselves as an individual. I’m sorry, but that’s not how God views us. We are all connected, and initially that’s through the family structure, which links you into the generations referenced in the four scriptures above.

So, what’s the bottom line here? Did every person in your family on both sides of your family repent and confess of all their sins and iniquities. Probably not. Because each of us is born into our families, the iniquities of our parents and the other people unto the fourth generation weigh against us from our inception in the womb. What does this word iniquity mean? Iniquity is inner heart tendency from your fore fathers sins pressing, weighing, leaning against you to do the same thing [sins] they did.

Do you and I have to give in to the pressure? No, but many times we do. Why does this pressure exist? Well, satan’s job is to kill, steal and destroy your life. We know that satan doesn’t play fair, that’s a given. Well, how early should satan start working on you? As early as possible. Well, how early is that? He, satan, starts when you’re in the womb, the moment of conception plotting and strategizing on how to take you out.

Click here to listen to the audio titled Demons Entering Through The Womb. Be encouraged to listen to this; it is a good, sound, biblical teaching.

Well, how does satan know what to try on you? One thing we know about satan is he looks at what’s worked well historically, generationally in taking out your family. Since your parents, grand parents and those back to the fourth generation probably didn’t do anything about their generational curses, he automatically starts with those sins and iniquities to see if you’ll give in to the pressure and follow suit – yet adding on another generation continuing the bondage.

Well, reader, most of the time, this works so flawlessly, that satan and his demons have very little work to do in our lives. So the question for you reading this article is, what are you going to do about the operation of generational curses in your life? You can try to deny them, but that is not effective.

How do demons relate to generational curses? One way generational curses have power is they are held in place to operate through the demonic realm.

In many cases demons transmit from one family generation to the next family generation, and so forth, through a) genes; b) the environment children grow up in [we all were children at one point]; c) the universal, biblical law of sowing and reaping [that is active in every single family]; and d) demonic oppression.

Can the transference of demons occur?

Yes. In some cases, the transference occurs during a formal, ritualistic ceremonies.

How do I get demons out of my life?

Temporarily, you can bind demons and temporarily stop their mission, which is to block you from receiving God has for you. Why do I purposely use the word temporary with demons. After you bind any demon, you should complete the process by commanding each demon from your life.

If you don’t do this, then the binding process is temporary, which means each time you see the demon manifest, you’ll need to rebind. This can become laborious, so it’s just makes sense to complete the process by commanding the demon the leave. Commanding each demon active in your life will not take place until you take care of the root reason(s) that gave each of the demons entrance into your life.

Matthew 16:19 reads, And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

What are demonic voices?

As a Christian, you should know the different ways the Holy Spirit can speak. A few examples of how the Holy Spirit speaks to us are following:

a) in a still small voice, Acts 9: 3 – 7;
b) by external or outward visions, Joshua 5: 13 – 15;
c) with dreams, Daniel 2;
d) through and inward vision, John 8:38;
e) via personal prophecy [that should be tested and prophecy can be conditional], I Corinthians 12: 7 - 11;
f) illumination of scripture;
g) hearing His voice audibly, I Samuel 3:10; or
h) in any way He chooses.

Remember these are only a few ways you can hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. Many times many, many, many Christians are challenged in hearing the Holy Spirit in their daily lives. Why?

a) Unrepented or unconfessed sin hinders you from hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit

b) You feeling unworthy to hear the voice of the Lord;

c) You being afraid [fear] to hear the voice of the Lord;

d) You don’t even believe you, as a Christian, are able to hear the voice of the Lord, so this is boldface unbelief.

e) Not spending regular, daily, intimate time with the Holy Spirit makes His voice foreign to you. As in every relationship, we learn to recognize someone’s voice by hearing it over and over again. This is even true for the Lord’s voice.

John 10: 4 – 5, 16 – When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice … They too will listen to my voice …

f) Your unexpressed disappointment or anger towards the Lord can hinder you from hearing His voice.

g) The presence of demons operating in your life block your spiritual eyes and ears. There are certain demons that specialize in trying to prevent our receiving anything from God.

h) Read I Samuel 3:2-10 where Samuel did not recognize the voice of the Lord

How do demons strategize?

One strategy demons use is to see what has worked successfully on those in your family lineage – particularly your parents, grand parents, and so forth. If no one in your family line has broken the generational curses held in place by the demonic, the curses continue.

A biochemist once explained to Derek Prince, "A human body is attacked regularly by cancerous cells. When that body is healthy, its immune system identifies and attacks the cancerous cells, and they are unable to harm the body. But when the body has been weakened by illness or some kind of emotional shock, the immune system is unable to do its job effectively, and some form of cancer can develop somewhere in the body."

Immediately Derek Prince said to himself, that's just how it is with demons!

A second strategy demons use | Demons continually seek to invade you, but when you are spiritually healthy, the spiritual immune system within you identifies and attacks the demons, and they are not able to move in and take control of you. Any kind of unhealthiness or emotional weakness on the other hand, makes you vulnerable to demonic attack.

Thank you for taking your time to read this article on Healed People, Heal People. If you are not a member of this online community, we invite you to join for free here. If you know a Christian who could benefit from the information in this article, please end them the link.

Sources

Restoring The Foundations: An Integrated Approach To Healing Ministry, 2nd Edition, by Chester and Betsy Kylstra
Demons and Deliverance, by H.A. Maxwell Whyte, Copyright 1989, Whitaker House
They Shall Expel Demons, by Derek Prince, Copyright 1998, Chosen Books
Life In Jesus Ministries’ Web site
Demons And You by Mike Green at the following email address This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Apostle Of Hate — Minister Of Healing By Melanie Hemry

Eagle Mountain International Church, Incorporated, aka Kenneth Copeland Ministries

"Is this Johnny Lee Clary?" A voice asked on the other end of the phone.

"Yes ..."

"The Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan for Oklahoma?"

"That's right."

"Mr. Clary, I'm calling on behalf of a local radio station. We would like to invite you here to the station next Sunday evening for an interview. The program will be live. During that time, we would allow you to read your literature and share your views openly."

Share my views on the radio? There's no telling how many new kids I can recruit! Johnny leaned back in his chair and propped up his feet.

"I'd be most honored to be your guest," he answered, a slow smile spreading across his face. Unlike most Klan members, Johnny Lee didn't shun publicity. He hadn't even minded when television cameras followed him around to schools in the Oklahoma City area, where he recruited kids. The way he looked at it, a man ought to stand up for the truth. And one thing Johnny Lee Clary knew for certain - the Ku Klux Klan stood for the truth.

Seeds of Hatred

His own education in that "truth" began early. He'd been only 5 when he looked out the car window in amazement. "Look, Daddy!" he'd said. "There's a chocolate-covered man!"

His daddy blew cigar smoke out the window in disgust. "That's not a chocolate-covered man," he said. "That's a n-----. Can you say, 'n-----'?"

Johnny Lee had leaned out the window and shouted, "N-----!" His daddy laughed and patted him on the back.

Johnny Lee's training continued when his Uncle Harold would visit from Georgia and tell his stories about the KKK. "I shot a black man for crossing my property," he once bragged to Johnny Lee's father. "The police didn't care that I shot him. But they did fine me for firing a gun in the city limits!" The two men laughed until their faces were red.

Johnny Lee's dad wasn't a member of the Klan. He couldn't be. He was Catholic. One group the Klan hated almost as much as blacks and Jews was Catholics. Johnny's daddy never attended Mass, but he made sure that Johnny Lee was on the Sunday school bus every week to the First Baptist Church.

That is, until the day Johnny Lee leaned out the bus window and screamed, "N-----!" to a black child on the street. That day, Johnny Lee's Sunday school teacher pulled him aside and taught him a song. At home, he proudly sang it for his father.

"Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white ..."

Johnny Lee's daddy never let him go back to that church. He found one closer to home -- an all-white church.

Everyone in their neighborhood hated Johnny Lee's family. The neighbors considered them white trash. Of course, nobody dared call them that. They were afraid to.

The Clary family's popularity took a sudden turn, however, when a black family bought a house in the neighborhood. The whole neighborhood came to Johnny Lee's daddy and asked him to help them get rid of the family. They were willing to buy them out, if they'd leave.

Unfortunately, the neighbors' sudden acceptance of the Clarys didn't make Johnny Lee's family any happier. His parents fought constantly. Their marriage ended tragically when, one night, 11-year-old Johnny Lee walked into a room to see his daddy holding a gun to his head. "Daddy, don't!" he screamed, then watched as his daddy shot himself to death.

After the funeral, Johnny Lee went to live with his older sister in California. But he wasn't happy there. As the months passed, Johnny Lee became more and more lonely. That's when he saw a talk show host interviewing David Duke, the Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. Remembering his Uncle Harold, Johnny Lee decided to contact the Klan. Within a few weeks, a man knocked at his door.

"I'm a friend of David Duke," he said. The man sat down and talked to Johnny Lee. "What do you like? Tell me about your life."

Johnny Lee was in awe. Someone wants to hear what I have to say!

"Son, you've had a hard, horrible life," the man said. "What you need is a family. A real family. That's what the Ku Klux Klan is -- a fraternal order. That means family."

Week after week, the man took Johnny Lee to his house for meetings. It was almost as if he had a father again. Between meetings, Johnny studied about the Klan. He was amazed to learn what prominent people were former Klansmen, including at least three U.S. presidents.

Johnny Lee trembled with excitement the day he joined the KKK. He was 14 years old. By age 20, Johnny Lee had worked his way up in the organization, first serving as Duke's bodyguard and later, becoming the Grand Dragon of Oklahoma.

"It was 1979 when I was invited to do the radio interview," Johnny Lee recalls. "I was so excited, I told everyone to tune in. Then, a few days before the interview, I was listening to the radio when they announced the upcoming debate between myself and the state president of the NAACP, the Rev. Wade Watts!

"I'd never actually met a black man. But I knew what to expect: A man in African robes sporting a huge Afro, a button that said, 'I hate white people,' and a sign, 'Black is beautiful.'

"I wasn't prepared for a nicely dressed, older black man carrying a worn Bible."

On the day of the debate, Rev. Watts walked up to Johnny Lee -- his hand outstretched. "Hello, Mr. Clary. I just want to tell you I love you, and Jesus loves you."

Stunned, Johnny Lee shook the man's hand without thinking. The physical touch of a Negro is pollution, he thought.

"Don't worry, son," Rev. Watts said with a grin. "It doesn't rub off."

He has a sense of humor ...?

"Why do you feel the two races shouldn't mingle?" the interviewer asked Johnny Lee as the debate began. "Because Christ ordered it," he explained.

"Son," Rev. Watts interrupted, "where did you get that idea?"

The only Bible verses Johnny Lee knew were the ones outlined in the KKK literature. Speaking slowly, Johnny Lee quoted, "What fellowship hath light with darkness...."

Rev. Watts explained that the scripture was referring to the believer and the nonbeliever, and to sin and righteousness. Then he asked Johnny Lee, "What color skin do you think an Ethiopian has?"

"Black as the ace of spades," Johnny responded.

"I'm glad you said that," Rev. Watts answered. "If you'll look in Numbers 12, you'll see that Moses married an Ethiopian woman. His sister, Miriam, didn't like it either. She talked against Moses and was struck with a horrible disease." He paused for a moment. "You can imagine what is going to happen to you."

Johnny Lee shifted uncomfortably in his chair. This wasn't turning out the way he expected. "Look here," he said, "white people are smarter than black people."

"How do you figure that?" Rev. Watts asked. Johnny Lee told him about an intelligence test that proved white children were smarter than black children.

"What color were the men who came up with that test?" Rev. Watts asked.

"It doesn't matter what color they were!" Johnny declared.

"Well, then," said Rev. Watts, "if it doesn't matter, I'll give you a test right now, and we'll see if you can pass it."

"If you think you're so smart, go ahead."

"How long is the average cockroach?" Rev. Watts asked Johnny Lee. "Do roaches walk, or do they fly? How long does it take a mess of chitlins to cook? What are chitlins?"

"Rev. Watts, you rigged that test," Johnny Lee fumed. "White folks aren't supposed to know that stuff."

"Mr. Clary, now you're getting my point."

Johnny Lee had to do something to get control of the interview. "Look," he said, trying to stay calm, "Thomas Jefferson helped pen our Constitution, and he said emphatically that the two races should never mix."

"I'm impressed that you know so much about our forefathers, Mr. Clary. Does the name Sally Hemmings mean anything to you?"

"No."

"She was Thomas Jefferson's mistress," Rev. Watts said. "They had seven children. She was his personal property. His slave. She was as black as the ace of spades."

"I'm not going to stay here and listen to any more of this!" Johnny fumed, storming out of the room.

Johnny Lee was surprised later when he saw Rev. Watts holding a baby girl. Lifting up the child, Rev. Watts said to Johnny Lee, "This baby's parents were teenagers. Her mother was white and her daddy was black. The boy's family said they wouldn't have a white child in their home, and the girl's family said they wouldn't have a black child in their home. So I adopted her. Tia is my baby now. Mr. Clary, how can you hate this baby?"

Johnny Lee turned to leave.

"You can't do enough to make me hate you," Rev. Watts said to Johnny Lee. "I'm going to love you and pray for you, whether you like it or not."

A short time later, Rev. Watts' church was burned. His family was plagued with vicious, hate-filled phone calls, and often found notes ..."KKK is watching you."

"During the next 10 years, I gained more and more power in the Klan," Johnny Lee remembers. "Yet during those years, we never stopped persecuting Rev. Watts. The only thing that bothered me was a recurring dream I had of that baby girl. She was beautiful. And she was the only seed of doubt in my life. Somehow, it didn't seem right to hate her. It didn't seem right for her to die. But I knew the Klan's final solution included extermination of the race -- including babies.

"I didn't let that seed of doubt hinder my work, though. When Rev. Watts joined ranks with an Oklahoma senator to make the Klan's racist hot lines illegal, my blood was boiling."

Johnny Lee called Rev. Watts. "I know you're behind this," he said. "We're coming to get you, and we're going to beat you ..."

"Hello, Johnny Lee! How's the family?"

"I said we're coming for you!"

"You don't have to come for me, I'll meet you. How about Pete's Place out on Highway 270?"

"Uh ..."

"Johnny Lee, they have the best home cooking you ever tasted. And apple pie that'll make you cry for more. Iced tea in those Mason jars. I can taste it now."

"Did you hear what I said?" Johnny Lee demanded. "We're going to beat you!"

"You be sure and bring all the boys..."

"I said we're going to beat you!"

"I heard you, and that's just fine. But first, I want to buy you boys dinner. Did I tell you about their potatoes?"

Johnny Lee hung up. "What did he say?" the Klan members asked.

"He talked about home cooking, apple pie and iced tea. Said he wanted to buy our dinner."

"That old man's gone pure crazy," someone said. "Let's leave him alone."

And they did.

"During the months that followed, a girl I had dated challenged me to go to church," Johnny Lee recalls. "I decided to take her up on it, so I called an elder at Crossroads Cathedral in Oklahoma City. He met with me, and led me to the Lord. I asked Jesus into my life and received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. A month later, someone asked me to speak at a Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship. I hadn't even broken ties with the Klan.

"Soon, word of my salvation reached the media, and a local newspaper asked for an interview. I gave it, and the next thing I knew I got a phone call from the Klan. I broke into a cold sweat when they said they were coming after me. I was scared."

"What are you doing, Clary?" they asked when they arrived.

Frightened for his life, Johnny Lee turned his back on God and the Church, and begged forgiveness from the Klan. He was given a second chance.

In 1989, Johnny Lee was appointed Imperial Wizard of the KKK.

"I wanted to unify all the hate groups - the different factions of the Klan, the Skinheads, the Patriots, the Neo-Nazis, the Militias, the Populists and the Aryan Nations - under one common organization," Johnny Lee recalled.

He spent months arranging a national meeting of all the white supremacist groups. Finally, all the players were in place.

What Johnny Lee didn't know, however, was that the FBI had tapped his phone and knew his plan. They arrested him on his way to the meeting.

Without his presence, the meeting fell apart. By the time Johnny Lee was released and arrived at the rally site, the different factions were fighting among themselves.

Johnny Lee surveyed the scene in disgust. I gave up my wife and child for these people. I gave up my life for this organization, and all they want to do is kill one another.

On his return home, Johnny Lee faced staggering legal battles and attorney fees. He was also disillusioned.

Where was the loyalty? he wondered. What happened to brotherhood? Wasn't the Klan supposed to be family?

Soon afterward, Johnny Lee resigned as Imperial Wizard, and walked away from the Klan. He took a good look at himself, and didn't like what he saw.

"I'd hit an all-time low in my life," Johnny Lee recalled. "Whenever I applied for a job, people just laughed."

As the months passed, Johnny Lee became more and more despondent.

Then he had a thought: Daddy escaped it all. I could go be with my dad, then I wouldn't have to worry about some Klansman putting a bullet in me.

Johnny Lee loaded his gun and put the barrel to his head.

The afternoon sun filtered through the closed blinds, casting tiny lines of light onto a Bible that lay gathering dust.

The only happiness, the only peace in my life, were those few months at Crossroads Cathedral, Johnny Lee thought. But now, it's too late for me ... The dusty Bible caught Johnny Lee's eye. He put down the gun, and picked up the Bible. It fell open to Luke 15 -- the story of the prodigal son.

Johnny Lee read the story once, then again, then a third time.

"I know what You're trying to tell me, God," he said, weeping. "That younger son turned his back on his father and wasted his life. But when he came home, the father welcomed him. You're telling me I can come home.

"God, I have no one else to turn to except You. I ask You to forgive me for the way I lived ... for all the hatred. Please, come into my heart, Jesus, and change me."

In the space of a heartbeat, the weight of years of hatred melted off Johnny Lee Clary. Weeping openly, he raised his hands and worshiped God. Then he picked up the Bible and read for hours.

"I was living in Tulsa, Oklahoma, too far to drive to Crossroads Cathedral," Johnny Lee recalls. "I visited a few churches, and although I enjoyed them very much, I knew none of them was where I was supposed to be. Each one had an all-white congregation. I knew God would never allow me to join an all-white church.

"That week, I saw an ad in the newspaper, 'Victory Christian Center - A Church For All Races.' The next Sunday, I walked into that church and knew it was right. There were blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Filipinos, every race seemed to be represented."

Johnny Lee joined the church.

"This time, I didn't tell anyone who I was. Eventually, someone recognized me, and I wrote a letter to the pastor, Billy Joe Daugherty, explaining that I'd been the Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. He wrote back, encouraging me to spend time getting grounded in God's Word.

"God helped me get a job and, for the first time since 1982, I was happy. In addition to listening to the Word at church, I was introduced to the teaching of Kenneth and Gloria Copeland. I tuned in to their Believer's Voice of Victory program, bought their tapes and learned about faith.

"In 1991, during one of Pastor Billy Joe's sermons, the Lord called me to preach. Billy Joe's wife, Sharon, walked over to me and announced, 'God didn't save you for you to sit in Tulsa. He's commanded you to go into the world and get people saved.' "A few weeks later, Johnny Lee heard the Lord again. Call Rev. Watts.

He did.

"Hello, Johnny Lee," Rev. Watts said warmly.

"Rev. Watts, I wanted you to know that I resigned from the KKK in 1989. I gave my heart to Jesus, and I'm a member of Victory Christian Center, an interracial church. My mind is being renewed, and God has called me to preach."

"Well, praise the Lord, son!" Rev. Watts said. "Would you do me the honor of speaking at my all-black church?"

Johnny Lee choked back the tears. "I'd love to."

When Johnny Lee arrived to speak at Rev. Watts' church, there were cameras and news reporters everywhere. Once inside, Johnny Lee Clary stepped up to the podium and looked out over the sea of black faces. He saw people made in the image of God, souls that Jesus had died to save. The contempt he once felt had been replaced with a love so great, so powerful, that his knees felt weak.

This, he realized, is what real unity is all about. It was not what he had tried to do through the KKK. Real unity is only possible through love.

Johnny Lee told his story, and what Jesus had done for him. Afterward, a teenage girl ran down the aisle. "I want to know the same Jesus you know," she said.

As the altar filled with people wanting to know Johnny Lee's Jesus, he heard Rev. Watts weeping.

"Do you know who that is?" Watts asked, pointing at the young girl Johnny Lee had just led to the Lord.

"No," Johnny Lee answered.

"That's Tia," Rev. Watts said. "She's the baby I shoved in your face that day at the radio station!"

Johnny Lee turned to look at the beautiful face beaming at him. She was the baby he couldn't hate.

Rev. Watts and his wife had 13 children. Nine of them had given their lives to Jesus. In the throng of people who crowded the altar that night, Johnny Lee was privileged to introduce the other four to the Lord Jesus.

After the service, Rev. Watts and Johnny Lee embraced. An elderly black pastor wrapped his arms around a young, white, former Klansman. They both wept.

"All those years I prayed for you!" Watts said. "I never dreamed that God would use you to bring my own children into the kingdom!"

It's been more than six years now since Johnny Lee preached at Rev. Watts' church, and many things have changed. But both men still work untiringly - to spread the gospel and promote racial reconciliation.

Today, Johnny Lee Clary's greatest thrill in ministry occurs when he ministers alongside Rev. Wade Watts. His second greatest thrill is being a godfather to young Tia Watts.

Johnny Lee Clary stands amazed that one man - the man he persecuted - prayed him out of hell on earth and into heaven for eternity. Before, that kind of love was unfathomable to Johnny Lee. Now, it is a way of life.

Copyright © 1997-2004

Pastor Johnny Lee Clary's Testimony

Johnny Lee Clary learned to hate at a very young age. He was raised in a family filled with racism, anger, and bigotry. As a young teenager, after his father committed suicide and his mother abandoned him, Johnny found himself alone and looking for someplace to belong. At 14, he was seduced by the teachings of the notorious David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan, and he joined the organization.

As an impressionable young man, Johnny became so enthralled with the sense of belonging and a need for “family” that he participated in KKK events as a security enforcer. His exuberance and dedication led to him being appointed as David Duke’s personal bodyguard.

Johnny continued to advance in the organization, reveling in the feeling of finally fitting in. He went on to spend nearly 17 years in the Klan, as State Organizer and Public Relations spokesman for Imperial Wizard Bill Wilkinson of the Invisible Empire Knights of the Ku Klux Klan; then becoming Grand Dragon of the National Knights of the KKK; then Heartland Director and right-hand man to White Aryan Resistance leader Tom Metzger (by all accounts, one of the most violent men ever to preach hatred); and finally, to becoming one of the most nefarious national Klan leaders in America after being elected to the very top: Imperial Wizard (national head) of the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, a branch that originated in Mississippi and was considered to be the most dreaded Klan faction in history (and widely acknowledged by law enforcement as the most violent and militant of all the Klan), taking responsibility for bombings, murders, and countless other crimes—all in the name of hatred and racism. To this day, the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan are considered the real Ku Klux Klan.

As the Klan’s national leader, during many appearances on such television programs as The Oprah Winfrey Show, the Morton Downey, Jr. Show, and many others, Johnny advocated, supported, and defended racism and violence.

But then, the destructive mindset and lifestyle he had lived for so many years began to take its toll. Riddled with torment, angered over a false arrest in Tennessee on a weapons charge, disgusted with internal bickering between the various white supremacist organizations, and the discovery that his girlfriend was an informant for the FBI, Johnny Lee left the Klan.

But life does not always repair so easily. Over the next few years he found himself derailed by issues related to his alledged daughter, two divorces, losing all of his friends, the FBI doubting his exit from the Klan, and struggling just to make an honest living. These challenges, combined with his feelings of guilt over the life of violence, prejudice, and hatred he had lived for so long, led Johnny to alcohol.

On the verge of committing suicide one night, he cried out to God to deliver him from his nightmarish existence. And God answered. From that point on, Johnny Lee used his life, his experiences, and his near destruction to help others leave the same evil path that he had walked for so long.

In 1995 Johnny was appointed by Roy Ennis to serve as West Coast Director National Director for the Congress Of Racial Equality. Since then, he has spoken at innumerable Universities, High Schools and churches, and has been a featured speaker for Youth Alive and Teen Challenge. He lectures for the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, educating officers on the mindset of white supremacists and how to best fight against domestic terrorism.

As a renowned international speaker, he has set records for the largest crowds of any motivational lecturer in Australia other than Billy Graham, with literally thousands receiving his message of hope, healing and forgiveness for racism, low self-esteem, suicidal tendencies, and substance abuse.

Johnny Lee Clary resides with his wife Melissa in Miami, Oklahoma. He has appeared on the Billy Graham Radio Show, on the television programs including:

Geraldo Rivera
Fox News
Alan Colmes
Sally Jesse Raphael
Jerry Springer
Rikki Lake
Queen Latifah
Montel Williams
Phil Donahue
A&E Investigative Reports
ABC World News Tonight
Bertrice Berry
The Today Show
A Current Affair
The 700 Club
CNBC The Big Idea w/ Donny Deutsch

He has also been a regular guest on TBN’s Praise The Lord show and has been featured in America’s top newspapers and magazines, including a seven page feature story in Charisma magazine in April 1999, Moody Magazine, GuidePost Magazine [September 1998], Kenneth Copeland's Believer's Voice of Victory magazine, as well as appearances on TV programs in Australia, England, Holland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, and Wales.

Johnny’s book, Johnny Angel: My Life and Death at the Top of the KKK … a true story is available on his Web site.

Contact

By phone: Australian mobile 041 121 3232 - United States 918 919-0105
Postal address: PO Box 972 Miami, Oklahoma 74355-0972
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Copyright © 2007 - 2009 Johnny Lee Clary
Site Design: Visreal Productions +617 4661 5222

Beloved reader, thank you for taking your time to read this blog. If you're not a member of this online Healed People, Heal People community, we invite you to join for here free. There are weekly updates of encouragement wrapped in biblical truth.

I walked another three miles this evening with my cross training instructor after class. One thing I shared with him is that if a person is breathing, they have some issues to be dealt with, especially if they've never had any healing and deliverance. Earlier today I was asked to explain what the integrated approach to biblical healing and deliverance is.

Let me see if I can explain it in simple terms. A lot of times, we deal with our symptoms and not the root of the issues on our lives. Most people's entire thinking process, including society, is geared toward symptoms.

For example, if a person has a gall bladder problem, doctors take out the gall bladder. Well the root of most gall or kidney problems originate in the liver, but doctors don't address it in most cases. Now, I am not a physician and know that, so I know MDs know that. Or the better question is, why don't they go to the root of the issue?

Now, allow me to shift to a common family dynamic. Many of us have one person, if not several people, in our families who are addicted to drugs. Normally, our family members’ make comments like, he/she ought to know better; I don't know why he/she won't fulfill his /her responsibilities.

My dear, beloved people of God, those are all symptoms. I remain quiet when I hear comments like these because my interest is in only dealing with eradicating, putting an axe spiritually to the root of the issue. That way, the symptoms are forced to die.

In simple terms, that's what integrated, biblical healing and deliverance looks like. We deal with the root(s) of an issue on all levels -- historically, cognitively, legally, emotionally and spiritually -- and it must die.

I'll tell you this, this has changed my life. The Lord has allowed me some great opportunities in my life. But as the scriptures say clearly, only what we do for Christ will last.

I've seen the Holy Spirit heal and deliver people before my eyes and He's used me as a tool. The school I was trained at was an international training center that specializes in the integrated approach to healing and deliverance. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. The qualified teams in the Healing House Network have provided ministry to people, churches and businesses all over the world.

You name a profession, and we've had someone come.
You name a level of society, and they've come.
You name a status level, and they've come.
You name a denomination, and they've come.
You name any problem or issue, and many have come.
You name any case of hopelessness, and many have come.
You name any stronghold or addiction that's gripped a person's life, and the people have come.
You name a secret that people have lived with for decades, and those people have come.

I will never look at any human being the same.

Another beauty about the integrated approach to biblical healing and deliverance is that the green light comes on for people. Now what do I mean by that? You know how we all have wondered things about ourselves, our own families and about other people. You know that why, those searching questions that just never seem to get answered.

In the ministry room, the Holy Spirit shows us and we show the person coming for ministry the strategy satan [really the demons dispatched and assigned to the person's life] has used to steal, kill and destroy them in their life. There's nothing like when we see that the green light comes on for a person.

So, what does this mean? It means satan's strategy is exposed, and the freeing process begins. Now, how satan trips people up, many times for decades, is he [really the demonic assigned to the person's life] makes the person think: a) something is really wrong with me; or, b) I'm so ashamed I can't let anybody know; or, c) I have to keep this hidden; or d) I'm the only one, I am flawed in this area.

They are all lies, my dear beloved people of God.
And you know who the father of lies is, yes satan.
I tell you, I tell people satan seriously has a low intelligence quota.
It's sad and even simple, but it's true.

Remember I started this blog off by sharing I walked another three miles with my cross training instructor after class. Well, he asked the ultimate question. "So yall just do the inner healing stuff right?" I looked at him out of the corner of my right eye as sweat is drenching down my face and already-soaked t-shirt, and I answered, we do "healing."

Let's think about it people. What did Jesus do the majority of the time here on earth, heal. Does the Bible not clearly say that we, His dearly beloved, will do even greater things than Him. So yes, absolutely, we've seen the Holy Spirit heal people of many physical issues/illnesses/pains when they came for integrated, biblical healing and deliverance ministry. You can imagine the look my instructor gave me. His eyes said it all as he towered above me in height.

Now, my two degrees are in business and my career has been spent in the business arena both nationally and internationally. The Holy Spirit simply amazes me every week. Do you know these same revelatory biblical principles that integrated healing and deliverance teams apply to people are also applied to businesses?

It’s very simple and makes sense. Businesses are made up of people, right. People bring there personal, life issues to work and companies have to deal with them. They prohibit productivity. How do they affect work?

Well, we know about employee theft, we know about office affairs, we know about manipulation, we know about lying, we know about greed, we know about injustice, we know about sexism, we know about racism, we know about the glass ceiling, we know about substance abuse, we know about overweight people, we know about employees who just aren’t motivated, we know about people going through divorces at work, we know about unethical people, we know about favoritism, we all know about the inevitable bosom buddy called stress.

Well, Beloved reader, every single thing listed above, plus many other things I didn’t name all have spiritual roots. It will not take long to show this to you. So, can you connect the dots to see how having a person or people within companies go through healing and deliverance can significantly impact the workplace. And this is not a temporary fix either.

We have case studies [we call them testimonies in the body of Christ] of believers who have applied this to their businesses and companies, and the Holy Spirit has turned departments, business units and companies around. I’m not pulling your leg here.

As in the business world, these same biblical principles are applied to help businesses and organizations Transform Their Business.

Thank you for taking your time to read this blog. If you have any questions, please just post them here. The team at Healed People, Heal People is pleased to answer them. If you're not a member of this online community, we invite you to join for free here. You'll receive regular updates of encouragement.

I know the title of this article is "You got these people in your life?" Bare with me please, and keep reading. Some ground work needs to be established first in this article, before we get to are these people in your life?

WHAT'S GOING ON AT YOUR PERSONAL ALTAR?

In the history of the tabernacle, the same altar was used for 270 years.

II Kings 16: 10 - 18; Isaiah 7: 3 -9

Do you have a personal altar in your life?

If you're sliding or drifting from God, it starts with you drifting away from your personal altar.

If you don't protect the altar in your life, you'll begin to replace your personal altar with carnal things.

Is your prayer life's standard set according to the world i.e. like a hybrid, watered-downed religious activity?
Or, is your prayer life's standard according God and of heart-wrenching transparency and honesty before the Holy Spirit?

Once you loose the personal altar, you loose your direction.
Once you loose conviction in your life, you begin to pick up the very things the Holy Spirit has delivered you from.
Once you loose your personal altar, your begin to slowly lower your standards.
Once you loose your personal altar, you choose to shut the door on the Holy Spirit convicting you.

The altar is not a place where you simply inquire when you are in trouble.

The altar in its ultimate purpose, is a place where you die to your flesh and you die to yourself, where you die to your own will and your own desire.

When you little-by-little remove your altar, your prayer life [which should include praying in your heavenly prayer language] and killing the flesh is no longer a priority.

You and I need the altar, the old fashioned altar of God, because as long as you and I breathe, the following will be continuous:

a) your flesh continues to try to override your spirit.
b) another part of yourself will always need to die.
c) you and I will always need to pray constantly, specifically when we don't feel like it.

Every Christian believer needs the following three types of people in your life.

YOU got THESE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE?

Who are the Paul's in your life? These Paul-type people are above your spiritual level, they can check you and hold you accountable? The Paul-type people in your life are a very select, few people that you'll rearrange your schedule for when they call you up because they have heard from the Holy Spirit specifically for you.

- the relationship with these Paul-type people should NOT be codependent
- the relationship with these select Paul-type people should NOT have a trace of manipulation
- your relationship with these few Paul-type people should NOT have any trace of fear in it

Who are the Timothy's in your life? These are people that you pour into their life spiritually? Your spiritual maturity is more developed than theirs. This select group of people seeks you out, they respect you, your character draws them.

- the relationship with these Timothy-type people should have boundaries established up front
- the relationship with these Timothy-type people should NOT have a trace of control from you in their lives
- the relationship with these few Timothy-type people are usually for a season
release and conclude the relationship amicably when the season ends with each of these people

Who are the Barnabas' in your life? These are your spiritual peers, you all are on the same level of maturity. These are people you sharpen and they sharpen you. You need to hang out with these like-minded people because you all are of like faith.

When you show signs of loosing the altar in your life, REMEMBER the Paul-type, Timothy-type and Barnabas-type people are in your life from God -- so do not resent these chosen people. When these people speak, correct, challenge, irritate and admonish you about the "its" in your life, don't shun them, please beloved reader.

- these Paul/Timothy/Barnabas people can be any age in your life
- these Paul/Timothy/Barnabas people should NOT represent any form of temptation in your interaction
- the character of these Paul/Timothy/Barnabas people should show evidence that they thirst and seek God regularly
- these Paul/Timothy/Barnabas people should themselves be surrounded with people who hold them accountable

GET YOUR PERSONAL ALTAR BACK IN YOUR LIFE.
GET YOUR FAMILY BACK AT THE ALTAR.
GET YOUR MARRIAGE BACK AT THE ALTAR.
GET THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE BACK AT THE ALTAR.

Beloved reader, I derived the contents of this article by listening to a teaching by Jentezen Franklin titled "All Directions Come From The Altar." If you have any interest in having and transferring generational blessings to those in your life, I encourage you to listen to this teaching in its entirety. You can view this video teaching on this Healed People, Heal People Web site.

If you are not a member of this Healed People, Heal People online community, we invite you to join for free.
There are weekly updates of encouragement wrapped in biblical truths. Thank you for taking your time to read this article.

Signed,

The Cross, A Place of Exchange

Other Healed People, Heal People. articles you may be interested in reading

A Glimpse At Integrated Healing And Deliverance

Soaking Songs I listen To To Enter The Presence Of Abba Father.

Why This Online Community is called Healed People, Heal People.

Do you take prescription meds? Does someone you love take prescription meds? Did you know prescription meds is the number three cause of death in America according to the Journal of American Medicine?

Are birth control pills safe? Any drug that artificially manipulates the natural hormonal activity of the body will have negative implications and side effects.

What is the birth control pill? How Does it work? Is it Safe? by Paul Weckenbrock, R. Ph.

The birth control pill is any drug which uses artificial hormones to keep a woman from getting pregnant or from staying pregnant by interfering with her normal fertility.

Are all forms of the pill the same?

No. There are several types of the pill on the market, but they basically break down into two groups: combination pills and the progestin-only minipill.

The combination type contain two artificial steroids that mimic the effects of naturally occurring hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Some pills work in a monophasic way, keeping the dosage of hormones the same throughout the pill cycle. Others work in a biphasic or triphasic manner which alters the dosage of artificial hormones two or three times respectively through the cycle of pills, attempting to produce fluctuations similar to what a fertile woman would undergo naturally.

The progestin-only minipill uses only one artificial hormone, progestin, which is a steroid that has a progestational effect similar to natural progesterone.

How does the pill work?

The pill is designed to interfere with several normal functions of fertility in order to make a woman 1) unable to conceive due to temporary sterility or sperm immobility, and/or 2) unable to carry a pregnancy to term [an early abortion].

This process can be accomplished in various ways.

Suppressing ovulation: When a woman ovulates, hormones released from the pituitary , a gland located at the base of the brain, stimulate her ovaries to ripen and release an egg. The combination pill usually interrupts the release of these pituitary hormones resulting in no egg being released from the ovary, thus preventing pregnancy from occurring. With no egg available for fertilization, the woman is chemically sterile. The progestin-only pill, however, has a weaker effect. It generally does not suppress ovulation.

1. Inhibiting Implantation: Another important aspect of fertility is the process by which the lining of the uterus is replenished and maintained. After an egg is fertilized, it normally implants in this lining [endometrium], drawing nourishment and sustenance. The progestin component of the combination pill and the progestin-only minipill cause the inner lining of the uterus to become thin and shriveled, unable to support implantation of the embryo [newly fertilized egg].

2. Impeding Sperm Migration: Preceding ovulation, a woman’s cervix produces a watery mucus through which sperm swim to meet the egg. The mucus also provides nourishment to sustain the life of the sperm cells. This mucus thickens under the influence of a progestin and so impedes sperm migration.

3.There are two other factors in a woman’s fertility that may be affected by the pill.

Making changes in the Fallopian Tubes: Progestins lower the efficiency with which the fallopian tubes propel eggs from the ovaries toward the uterus. This can cause the embryo not to reach the uterus in time to implant successfully.

4. Stopping a Pregnancy: After an ovary releases an egg, the woman’s cycle is controlled by a gland that is formed from the now-empty egg sack, the corpus luteum; this normally functions long enough to give an embryo time to implant in the uterus and for the placenta to begin to support the pregnancy.

However, hormones from the pill can cause the corpus luteum to function inadequately, allowing the lining of the uterus to be shed before the embryo can successfully implant.

In summary, a woman’s natural fertility requires several systems and organs to coordinate smoothly. The synthetic chemicals in any type of birth control pill interfere with this coordination, adversely affecting her normal fertility and any accidental conceptions.

How effective is the pill?

In theory, the pill reaches an effectiveness of over 99%, but in practice the rate is much lower. Between 1.9% and 18.1% of women will experience an unplanned pregnancy in the first year of using the pill.

Surprise pregnancies with the pill are due to a number of factors. Interactions between the pill and some other medications interfere with the proper blood levels of hormones necessary for their birth control effect. These drug interactions may be significant with the commonly used low dose pill where slight alterations in hormonal blood levels can result in more frequent ovulations and hence unplanned pregnancies. Another factor in pill pregnancy rates is not following directions, sometimes due to the lack of motivation, especially in younger women [ages 15-24].

Is ovulation always suppressed?

No. Ovulation occurs in 2% to 10% of cycles of women taking the pill. If 60 million women worldwide are on the low-dose pill, there would be 1.2 to 6 million ovulations per cycle. This is known as breakthrough ovulation, and it is even more frequent with the progestin-only pill.

What happens when ovulation does occur?

When the pill fails to prevent ovulation, the other mechanisms come into play. Thickened cervical mucus may make it more difficult for the sperm to reach the egg; however, if the egg is fertilized, a new life is created. The hormones slow the transfer of the new life through the fallopian tube, and the embryo may become too old to be viable when it does enter the uterus.

If the embryo is still viable when it reaches the uterus, under-development of the uterine lining caused by the pill prevents implantation. The embryo dies and the remains are passed along in the next bleeding episode which, incidentally, is not a true menstruation even though it is usually perceived as such.

Does this mean the pill can cause an early abortion?

Yes. Preventing the newly conceived life in its embryonic stage from being transported to the uterus and preventing implantation in the wall of the uterus are the abortifacient properties of the pill.

Why haven’t I heard about this before?

The Pill manufacturers and many in organized medicine are mainly concerned about the pill’s medical side effects and its effectiveness in preventing pregnancies and are less concerned about how the drug achieves its effectiveness.

Unfortunately, many otherwise pro-life physicians and pharmacists find it hard to admit that these abortifacient properties exist because they would have to discontinue prescribing and dispensing the pill if they were to remain consistent in their respect for life at all its stages of development.

Pro-abortion organizations and their lawyers readily admit the early abortion potential of the pill. In February 1992, writing in opposition to a Louisiana law banning abortion, Ruth Colker, a Tulane Law School professor, wrote, "Because nearly all birth control devices, except the diaphragm and condom, operate between the time of conception ... and implantation ..., the statute would appear to ban most contraceptives." In 1989, attorney Frank Sussman argued before the U. S. Supreme Court that " ... IUDs [and] low dose birth control pills ... act as abortifacients."

Is It Safe? What are the common side effects of the pill?

There is a range of risks from serious or fatal to minor and trivial. The following is a list of the most common side effects experienced by women taking the pill. These effects are dose related and not every woman will experience them, but the risks still exist. The synthetic estrogens of the combination pill cause many of these; the progestin causes others and is the only risk factor in the progestin-only pill.

Heart and blood abnormalities

Blood clots can form, restricting or blocking the flow of blood to critical organs and other body systems, possibly causing permanent damage. For example, a blood clot in the heart would cause a heart attack; in the brain it would cause a stroke or brain hemorrhage; a clot which moved from elsewhere in the body and lodged in the lung would cause a pulmonary embolism; in the kidneys a clot would cause a renal artery thrombosis and kidney damage; in the retinal arteries it would cause temporary or permanent blindness.

Studies continue to indicate approximately a 2-fold increased risk of fatal heart attacks among users of the current low-dose pill when compared to non-users. This risk is lower than the risk experienced with the older high dosage pill, but it continues to be significant. Similarly, the risk of a fatal brain hemorrhage is increased 1.4 times when comparing users to non-users. Among women who smoke, there is a 12-fold increase in fatal heart attacks and a 3.1-fold increase in fatal brain hemorrhage.

High blood pressure and alterations in the blood clotting mechanisms may be seen in women on the pill. This may contribute to a 3-11 times increased risk of developing blood clots in Pill users compared to non-users. The risk is especially great for women who smoke and/or are over 35 years old.

Cancer

Breast cancer has been repeatedly associated with using the pill.

Breast cancer has been increasing at an alarming rate in recent years, especially among young women. Breast cancer will kill more than 44,000 American women this year alone, a 1991 report noted, predicting 175,000 more new cases, especially among young women.

Why is there such an increase of breast cancer among younger women? Note first that women rarely develop breast cancer shortly after they start taking artificial hormones. It is generally not until ten or more years after usage was initiated that women develop breast cancer. Then note that in the United States, since the mid-1970s, it has been common for the pill to be prescribed for girls in their teen years.

Common sense connects the link between giving the pill to young girls in the 1970s and the later increase in breast cancer 15 to 20 years later among women in their late twenties and thirties. This conclusion was demonstrated in a study which found that Swedish women who took the pill in the 1960s incurred a five times greater increase in breast cancer when compared to non-users.

The increased risk of breast cancer is seen in younger, nulliparous women [never having borne children], and in long duration groups [greater than five years] of pill users. Large tumors and a worse survival rate are associated with the pill’s use at an early age.

Will the newer formulated low-dose pills decrease the incidence of breast cancer? A consensus of understanding has not been reached, and another 10 to 20 years of experience with women using this form of the pill must be gained before more definite conclusions can be reached.

Breast tenderness, enlargement, lumps, and milk secretions also may occur in women using the pill. Doctors are warned not to prescribe the pill to women who are known or suspected to have breast cancer. It is difficult to say what aggravating effect the pill’s hormones would have over a truly random sample of women taking the pill.

Cervical cancer and cervical dysplasia increase among women who use the pill. How long the pill has been taken, how many sexual partners a woman has had, at what age she began having intercourse, whether she smokes, the hygiene of sexual partners and the transmission of the human papillomavirus [HPV] are also factors in cervical abnormalities. Because of these several factors, the connection of the pill and cervical cancer may be clouded over. However, there is no doubt that the promotion of the pill has resulted in early intercourse which may be the more direct cause of cervical cancer.

Endometrial and ovarian cancer appear to have a lower incidence in both women on the pill and in those who have been previous users of the pill. Much of this data comes from studies of women who were using the higher dose estrogen/progestin pill. Currently the low dose monophasic and triphasic pills [less than 50mcg of estrogen] are the only birth control pills available on the U.S. market. It is not known if a similar protective effect will be experienced with the currently used pill. More time is needed to study this issue, and the slight protective effect is hardly a reason to take the Pill at the risk of so many other side effects.

It should also be noted that these forms of cancer are rare and primarily occur among postmenopausal women in their fifties and sixties. Second, these cancers tend to occur in those women who had long cycles [i.e., with a prolonged estrogen-dominant phase] or those who have a family history of these types of cancer. Third, extended breastfeeding amenorrhea offers the same type of protection against these cancers since the menstrual cycle would be suppressed and therefore the exposure to estrogen suppressed.

Liver tumors in younger women [15 to 40 years] have increased as the use of oral contraceptives has increased. Almost unheard of in this age group before the use of synthetic hormones became commonplace, liver tumors usually do not occur until the sixth decade of a woman’s life.

A study by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer found a large peak in the 26-to-30-year age group which corresponds with the increased use of oral contraceptives in this age group. Liver cancer in women on the pill is typically associated with those over 30 who have used it more than four years, but cases of liver cancer in younger women have been cited.

Other cancers: Skin cancer [melanoma] has also been found to increase among women on the pill. Naturally occurring estrogen is involved with maintaining healthy skin tissue. It is reasonable to suspect that exposure to the more potent synthetic estrogen in the pill increases the risk of this type of cancer.

Cycle irregularities

Women who take the pill have been reported to experience bleeding or spotting in mid-cycle, changes in menstrual flow, and even loss of menstruation, which can lead them to wonder if they are pregnant. For some, painful menstruation [dysmenorrhea] has been reported to worsen, even though many women take these hormones in an attempt to relieve the problem.48

Although some women are given the pill for irregular cycles, it does nothing to improve the underlying problem causing the irregularity. Often the irregularity returns when the pill is discontinued, sometimes more severely.

Are there other side effects?

Yes. Some side effects are minor while some may be more severe and call for discontinuing the drug.

The following adverse effects have been experienced by women on the pill:

Headaches, migraines, mental depression [even to the point of suicide and/or suicidal tendencies], a decrease or loss of sexual drive, abdominal cramps, bloating, weight gain or loss, and water retention; nausea and vomiting [in about 10% of users]; symptoms of PMS, vaginitis and vaginal infections, changes in vision [temporary or permanent blindness, and an intolerance to contact lenses]; gall bladder disease and either temporary or permanent infertility, when discontinuing the pill, in users with previous menstrual irregularities or who began the drug before full maturity. Several of the symptoms, such as migraine headaches, contraindicate the use of the pill because of life endangering complications.

Consult the Physicians’ Desk Reference at your public library or consult your pharmacist for a more complete list of the pill’s harmful effects.

Is the pill safer than pregnancy?

No. The health risks of the pill outweigh by far the risks of pregnancy and childbirth to a woman’s health, and any claim to the contrary is based on erroneous comparisons between healthy women on the pill and women who do not receive normal care during pregnancy.

A precondition for obtaining the pill is routine medical care and checkups. For example: if such a woman on the pill is diagnosed as precancerous, or if some other side effect is exhibited, she has the advantage of early detection. However, many pregnant women do not receive routine medical care. A clearer picture of the safety of the pill compared to the safety of pregnancy would be made if healthy women receiving routine medical care during pregnancy and delivery were compared with women receiving routine medical care while taking the pill.

The mortality statistics of childbirth have continuously declined since the early part of this century, mostly due to better maternal healthcare. Most of the high risk pregnancies and deliveries occur to women who have not sought proper medical attention. This is most evident in the third world where adequate health care is sparse.

Mortality statistics of pregnancy and delivery, usually called maternal mortality, include the mortality rates due to abortion. Abortion is clearly used as birth control, preventing the birth of the child; therefore it must be included with the mortality statistics of birth control methods. In one study, 25% to 50% of the reported maternal mortality was a result of deaths from abortion.

Fifty percent of woman taking the pill discontinue it within the first year because of side effects, the development of benign breast disease, or some abnormality of the sexual organs. Studies of pill usage do not include these women, and the result is an unbalanced picture of only the healthiest of women who tolerate the pill. This is compared with the general population of women who are pregnant.

The fact is that there are 13.8 million women in the U.S. and 60 million women worldwide who use the pill [conservative numbers]. And there are 7.9 pill-related deaths per 100,000 women ages 15-44.

Therefore, one can calculate that there are over 1090 deaths each year in the U.S. alone simply due to the pill.

But I’ve heard there are no side effects with the pill I use.

All drugs, including all brands of the birth control pill, have potential side effects. There is no telling in advance how any particular woman will react to the pill, but there is a good chance of some type of reaction. It is possible that a woman will be unaware that there is any connection between the reaction and the pill especially if it takes years to manifest itself.

Aren’t there any therapeutic benefits from the pill?

The only indication, or use for the pill that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration is the prevention of pregnancy in women ... as a method of contraception. Some unapproved uses, considered experimental, include its use as a morning after pill [causing an early abortion], and for relief from the symptoms of mild endometriosis.

I’m breastfeeding my baby; can I use the pill?

No. Artificial hormones pass from breast milk to the baby; the pill also decreases both the quantity and protein content of the milk produced.

What is my alternative to using the pill?

Natural Family Planning is safe, healthy and effective and it’s also inexpensive. A woman observes and records changes in her basal body temperature, the normal flow of cervical mucus, and if she wishes, the physical changes in the cervix itself. She then cross-checks these signs of fertility to follow, day by day, the natural course of her fertility cycle. No drugs, no devices, no surgical procedures, no threat of death, no side effects, no chemical abortions!

Does NFP really work?

Yes. Married couples can achieve a 99% effectiveness if they learn the method, correctly interpret the fertility signs, and follow the rules. One positive side benefit for couples who are committed to making this method work is the potential for a healthier marriage — psychologically, physically and spiritually.

How can I find out more about Natural Family Planning?

Contact the national office of The Couple to Couple League, P. O. Box 111184, Cincinnati, OH 45211; toll-free (800) 745-8252, local (513) 471-2000.

Thank you for taking your time to read this article on Healed People, Heal People. If you are not a member of this online community, we invite you to join for free here. You'll receive  regular updates of encouragement wrapped in biblical truths.

I had an unconventional business meeting late yesterday afternoon. There person and I had been trying to connect for some weeks, but you know how the schedule thing goes. So I asked the person would they be willing to try one of my unconventional meetings, and the person said yes. We did a walking meeting.

Two things were achieved. We exercised and completed our business. At the close of the walking meeting, the person asked, “How long did we walk?” I looked at my pedometer on the right side of my waist and replied, “7.25 miles.” There was silence by the other person.

One non-business thing I shared was it’s extremely difficult to identity Christians from non-Christians on any day of any week of any hour. We Christians have chosen so many times to blend in, we are now hardly, if at all, identifiable. Thus, there goes our salt, our savor, our ability to draw the unsaved. So, what are we going to do? Will we continue to choose to operate daily with no power?

II Timothy 1:7 paraphrased reads, For God gives you a spirit of power.

Are you a Christian who chooses to remain politically correct in your neighborhood – a primary place to be a light?

Are you a Christian who chooses to remain quiet at work repeatedly when others choose to be vocal repeatedly in sharing non-Christian values?

Are you a Christian who chooses to be too busy daily to learn 1 thing by studying in the Bible?

Are you a Christian who chooses to remain passive by not signing petitions that will uphold Christian values in our communities?

Are you a Christian who continues to choose to mismanage His time He allows you each day, which directly affects His kingdom business being achieved in your family, your church, your relationships, and your spheres of influence?

As Christians [who do not have children] and as Christians parents, it is our responsibility to provide safe boundaries and safe environments for our children and the children in your local church body.

John 10:10 paraphrased reads, The thief comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy your children.

How does satan plan to steal, kill and destroy your children?

One way he strategizes on YOUR children in your home and the children in your church is he looks for open gates.

Two open gate he, satan, commonly uses are the eye gates and the ear gates of your children and the children in your church.

Taking YOUR children to see the new Harry Potter movie is a very sly, entertaining, deceptive way you can introduce your children in your home, in your community and in your church to the occult, which is directly controlled by the demonic. And the demonic is directly controlled by satan.

Many of you know that I’m certified in integrated, biblical healing and deliverance. It is my heart’s desire and my colleagues desire around the world who labor in integrated, biblical healing and deliverance to see less parents before us who weep and wail over their children.

One way we can see fewer parents pained over our children, is for parents to make better, educated, Christian choices early and repeatedly in the lives of your children and the children in your church.

John 10:10 paraphrased reads, I come that you might have life more abundantly.

Beloved reader, may I share two ways I employ as a Christian to live the more abundant life I’m entitled too.

One, I choose to live life on the offense daily.

And two, I choose to not willingly open gates in my life to invite the demonic, which are directly controlled by satan.

As a Christian, you are aware of the biblical fact that demons are active 24-hours a day just as the Holy Spirit is.

You are aware that Christ can be everywhere at the same time.
You are aware that satan cannot be everywhere at the same time.
You are aware that since satan imitates Christ, his substitute for being everywhere at the same time is his minute-by-minute use of demons.
He dispatches his demons and specifically assigns them to you, your children, your family, your community, your church, your company, your institutions and your city.

Would you consider, please beloved reader, not willingly opening the door to the occult in YOUR children’s lives in your home and in your church by taking them to see the new Harry Potter movie?

Consider, please, setting a precedence and planting a seed in the mind of your child(ren) and the children in your church of how to make godly decisions. After all, as a Christian parent you are responsible for training them up in the Lord. If you’d like them to make godly decisions later, they are watching you and learning how you make godly decisions for them as a child(ren).

Please read the two movie reviews below, beloved reader. Every time there is a reference to the occult, I’ve inserted the word [occult] in the appropriate place.

Thank you for reading this article. If you are not a member of Healed People, Heal People, I invite you to join and invite others to be a part of this online Christian community. There are weekly updates of encouragement.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – movie review no. 1
What Parents Need to Know
www.CommonSenseMedia.org

Parents need to know that this is no PG movie -- in all ways, it's very similar to the previous two movies, which were rated PG-13. This film continues the series' trend toward darker [occult] , more intense material. For young children, the death of a major beloved character could be extremely upsetting. Other characters are bloodied, kicked, and cursed in frightening [occult] ways, and a very scary scene involving scary, skeletal [occult] characters is sure to scare the pants off of little kids.

There are also some big emotional upheavals and scary [occult] attacks. And there's notably more [premarital] sexuality -- albeit playfully [plants seeds of sexual immorality in your children’s minds to premarital sex and seeds do grow] depicted -- than in the past movies. Because the characters are now teens, much of the interaction between them and their friends centers on getting a boy or girlfriend, and there's plenty of [premarital] snogging [making out]. While Harry and his friends continue as strong positive role models, other characters' motives and plans become more ambiguous.

And there are also a few scenes that include alcohol consumption [plants seeds in your child’s mind, please consider if there are generationally any alcohol drinkers on either side of your family] -- including one in which a professor serves his students [person in both and authoritative and leadership position leading children, students to engage in alcohol, it is no coincidence that liquor stores advertise signage that read SPIRITS, and this is not the spirit of the Lords, notice the word spirits is plural with an S] .

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – movie review no. 2
By Christa Banister, Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer

Cautions

Drugs/alcohol: Harry, Hermoine and Ron drink butter beer.

Language/profanity: A few uses of mild profanity including “hell,” “damn” and “piss off.”

Sex/nudity: Romance is definitely on the brain in Hogwarts this time around. There are a few kisses between different teen couples, but nothing more.

Violence: “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” has an even darker [occult] tone than any of the other “Potter” movies to date. And the first scene definitely sets the pace when the Millennium Bridge is destroyed and several civilians are thrown off. A couple of fights break out between Harry and Draco, and their faces are bloodied.

There are violent exchanges between the Weasleys and the Death Eaters, and more precarious spells [occult] are concocted than ever before, especially when one of Harry’s classmates is possessed [occult] and nearly dies. The last 20 minutes are the most violent and action-packed of them all when Dumbledore and Harry make their way to the cave. What eventually goes down is different than what actually happens in the books, so I won’t spoil it here.

Be forewarned, however, this isn’t stuff for younger children, despite the PG rating.

Please consider printing this article and doing one or several of the following.

1) Give a copy of this to people in leadership at your church.

2) Give a copy of this to parents you know.

3) Use this as a Vacation Bible School topic.

4) Use this as a topic in your youth group.

5) Place copies on the windshields of your church members.

6) Consider using this as an insert in your church bulletin.

7) Place a copy of this article on several of your church bulletin boards.

8) Tape a copy of this article on the inside door of bathroom stalls in your church.

9) Tape a copy of this article near the exit doors of your church.

Thank you, Beloved reader, for being active in your Christian walk and thank you for taking your time to read this article on Healed People, Heal People. If you are not a member of this online community, we invite you to join for free here. There are regular updates of encouragement wrapped in biblical truths.

Psalm 118:8

It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man. Help me sweet Jesus to write this article. Okay, beloved readers, a part of this Healed People, Heal People community. Why am I stammering at the keys on my keyboard today? The Holy Spirit taught me a lesson about 10 years ago that I will never forget. It’s about s-o-m-e people, good people, Christian people, loving people, those who love you, those who surround you on a regular basis, or those who may even be in your corner.

Psalm 118:8 declares it's better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man.

Okay, here goes.

We all have churches that are headed by pastors and leadership teams.

We all have family members, some of which we love, some we don’t care for too much – and some we just can’t stand [sorry, but it’s a reality for some].

We all have confidantes.

We all have those fun-to-hang-out with partners.

We all have those let-your-hair-down with friends.

We all have those kicking-it with buddies.

And we even have those select Christian people we like being around who will not check us when we are clearly stepping outside of the boundaries and principles of the Lord.

We even have accountability people -- we still have a choice in how much we disclose to them.

We all had or have secrets, some are not-so-big secrets, some are closet secrets, some are in-the-dark secrets, some are go-to-your-grave secrets, some secrets just cripple the hell out of you.

You decide what you do with your secrets. I can tell you this, the Lord never intended for us to carry the internal weight of the secrets. Many of our illnesses come from keeping secrets. Some of our constant mind racing comes from not being able to still the secrets.

Much of depression spurs from buckling secrets that people try to keep the lid shut down on. Many of your spiraling urges come from trying to holster your secrets. Many things we do to escape, including sleep, is to not deal with the harshness of our reality -- the secrets, the impending, unnecessary, illegitimate weights.

We all have those ride-and-die friends – no matter what, these friends will be there for us. Make no mistake about it, this is an extremely short of list people – it may even be one person – it may only be the Lord Himself.

But, beloved readers, you know what our Lord taught me 10 years ago that I’ve n-e-v-e-r forgotten?

Don't ever put anyone's word, advice, counsel, approval, consent, guidance or direction above what I say, says the Lord.

This was a very hard lesson for me to learn and live by.

Why?

Because some of those Christians who loved me, then, and still love me, now, gave me advice, counsel, guidance – that didn’t line up with the Word of God.

Did they love the Lord and do they love the Lord? Yes, these Christians did and do love the Lord.

Did I own a Bible? Yes, I did own a Bible, then, and; yes, I do own several Bibles now.

Did I know the Word? Yes, I knew the Word and; yes, I know even more Word now.

Did a little flicker go off inside of me when these loving Christians told me what I wanted to hear? Yes, the Holy Spirit pushed that flicker button inside of me. But, I knew what some of the loving Christians said to me over the years did not line up with the Word. [I'm not being sarcastic when I use the words loving Christians; I'm sincere.]

They padded their advice, lined their counsel and justified it with scripture – I think the Bible calls this itching ears, on my part. And let's mention this, there are a lot of Christians, even Christians in leadership positions, who are so wounded they believe life's experiences more than they believe the Word of God. And accordingly, they give advice, counsel, approval, direction based on experience. It's your responsibility to know the Word for your life. It's your responsibility to know when scriptures are being misaligned.

Now, what each of us reading this article knows, is that we tell people, even Christians exactly what we want them to know. An ole' pastor once told me, it’s just human nature to do this – tell folk o-n-l-y what you want them to know.

Beloved reader, do you disclose every single, slither of information to the people you’re seeking input from? I’ll leave that for you to answer.

I always flinch, in particular, when Christians say, “Follow your heart.”

Excuse me, beloved readers, I am not trying to be disrespectful, but that statement above is just plain dumb.

“Follow your heart.”

Do you know when I graduated from undergrad, I did a Bible study for two years just dealing with the different conditions of the human Christian heart.

You know what’s an even better question, beloved reader, Do you know what’s in your heart?

If so, how do you know what's in your heart? What have you done about the contents of your heart?

How often do you inspect your heart?

How often do you present your heart to the Holy Spirit?

Do you know what to do once the Holy Spirit has revealed the contents of your heart?

Well – I offer several versions of the scripture below.

Jeremiah 17:9 [NIV]
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Jeremiah 17:9 [NASB]
The heart is more deceitful than all else, And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?

Jeremiah 17:9 [KJB]
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Jeremiah 17:9 [AKJV]
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Jeremiah 17:9 [ASV]
The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?

Jeremiah 17:9 [Bible in Basic English]
The heart is a twisted thing, not to be searched out by man: who is able to have knowledge of it?

So, beloved reader, help me understand again why so many people, especially Christians, throw out the statement so casually, “Follow your heart,” or “I just follow my heart.”

I’m choosing to believe based on the Word of God and based on my experience in integrated healing and deliverance and based on the experience of veterans in the ministry of integrated healing and deliverance – that people, Christians, are simply making this statement, “follow your heart,” out of ignorance.

I used to wrestle with the following questions when I really respected and esteemed some Christians who gave me counsel. Now keep in mind these were internal thoughts I had in my mind about these Christians. I am still in relationship with the majority of these Christians.

Thoughts I had after receiving advice, counsel, direction from some respected Christians

- but, look at their position in the community, they are so visible
- but, look at how much they study the Word of God
- but, look at their leadership position in the church
- but, look at how much influence they have
- wow, I really need to stay in their good graces, they can help me
- but, they seem to be pretty close to the Lord, do what they say
- I know they wouldn’t tell me wrong, I’ll do what they say
- but, look at their walk with the Lord [what’s visible to me]

Beloved reader, what I have painfully learned from our Lord is this scripture, It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man. Psalm 118:8

Why do I use the phrase painfully learned? Because I had to go around the darn mountain over and over – I sound like the Israelites, right? The first time I realized the advice from the respected, respective Christians landed me in hot water, why didn’t I confess to the Holy Spirit, “I’m sorry for not listening to Your whisper in my ear.”

Each time, beloved reader, I remember the Holy Spirit placing that little flicker inside of me saying, ”That’s not the way to go;” “Don’t ignore Me.” But I yielded again and again, beloved reader, because I respected Christian people more than I esteemed the Word of God. These respective, respected Christians said what I wanted to hear and what they said aligned with my desires, my will -- a recipe for impending disaster.

Now, in Psalm 118:8 the end of the scripture says, … than to put confidence in man.

Well, who is man?
Man is any human being breathing who is in your life, male or female.
Man is any human being, Christian or non-Christian.
Man is any human being in any income level.
Man is any human being on any status level.
Man is any human being in every rank of the Christian church.
Man is any human being in your family.
Man is any human being who is your friend.

The beginning of Psalm 118:8 says It is better to trust in the Lord …

Yall, I’m literally b-e-g-g-i-n-g you, trust the Lord.
If you don’t know how to trust Him, just tell Him, He already knows.
If you’re scared to trust Him in an area of your life, just tell Him, He already knows.
Wherever you’re deficient in trust, ask Him to build that in you for you since you’re not able to do so.
If you’ve not dealt with the issues preventing you from trusting the Lord, would you consider asking the Holy Spirit to reveal these things to you.
Would you consider receiving ministry for integrated approach to healing and deliverance for these issues?
Why?
So, you can experience freedom in this or these areas of your life.

Don’t have itching ears like I did; ask the Holy Spirit to remove your itching ears.
The Holy Spirit knows that we all have desires and dreams and wills.
He truly has better plans for us than we’re able to muster up for ourselves.
His plans for you don’t even involve manipulation and maneuvering and dodging.

Yall, I guess by now, you know I’m a born and breed [USA] southerner – that’s fine.
Let's ask the Holy Spirit to reveal our spiritual blind spots.
Let's ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the areas of our lives we’re in denial about.
Let's ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas in our lives where there may be self hatred.
Then when He reveals, please, please, take action to do something about it.
If you don’t know what to do, I’m willing to find a resource to help you, if I can’t.

Yall, I understand that you may not disclose everything to people, but please, don’t lie to yourself. You desire the abundant life the Lord speaks of so often in scripture, right? Well, the abundant life is short circuited when we choose to do the following things:

- pretend you don’t know the Holy Spirit is nudging you
- cut corners to try to get what you want
- only disclose so much information and purposely conceal other pertinent information to those you seek counsel from
- you choose to turn a deaf ear to the Holy Spirit
- you choose to forget that some blessings and some promises of the Lord are conditional; Have you met the
condition(s) without compromising?
- wrongly use scripture, people, situations, [conditional] prophecy to justify something you want
Please remember that satan and his demons have strategy too for your life.
And his strategy is presented very nicely, not in a questionable fashion.

Whatever word, advice, counsel, approval, consent, guidance or direction you receive, even from Christians, put it before the Lord, please, before moving forward. And wait for His confirmation or His denial and His instructions.

Now, let me share this with you. I know the respective Christians throughout the years didn’t provide advice to hurt me on purpose. Although we’re Christians, we are humans. We have good days. We have days when we’re not as sharp, when we’re not on point. Well-meaning, God-loving Christians have been and can be used strategically by demonic in your life -- even without them knowing it and you knowing it.

We all recall when Jesus spoke to Peter in Matthew 16:23. Jesus was very aware that the demonic was working through Peter. Yes Peter, a man who literally was chosen and walked with Jesus. I'll keep this brief by simply asking these questions. Are your spiritual tools keen enough to discern when God-fearing Christians are off kilter who give you advice?

Do you even know what your spiritual tools are? What do you do to improve your spiritual tools? How often do you use your spiritual tools? Spiritual tools are similar to the physical muscles in your body. They becomes stronger the more you exercise them and use them on a regular basis. Spiritual tools become stronger they more they are stretched out of their comfort zone.

People ask me and you for advice in areas that we may be weak in. When you realize that a person is asking you for advice in an area you're weak in, do you disclose that this is one of your weak areas, up front? Do you or have you chosen to do what's in the best interest of the person by stopping the conversation and sharing in integrity that this isn't an area you're strong enough and disciplined enough to provide counsel, advice, consent, approval, direction or guidance.

You and I ask people for advice in areas that they are weak in, but we don’t know that because they don’t disclose it [the majority of the time]. And even when we see -- through people’s repeated actions that they’re weak in certain areas, we sometimes still choose to seek their advice, their counsel.

This is not wise, beloved reader. So this begs the question, why do we ask them? Because they’ll tell us what we want to hear. This is a clear sign of spiritual immaturity and/or lack of exercising godly wisdom in this particular area of your life.

Psalm 118:8 reads, It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man. Please do not esteem man, woman or Christians words higher than the Word of God for your life, please.

Thank you for taking your time to read this article, beloved reader.

If you’re not a member of this Healed People, Heal People, community we invite you to join for free here. You'll receive regular updates of encouragement wrapped in biblical truths. If there are others who’d benefit from this article, please send them the link to this article.

Do you take prescription meds? Does someone you love take prescription meds? Did you know that properly prescribed medication is the number three cause of death in USA according to the American Journal of Medicine?

In 2003, my cancer test came back 80% positive and I asked The Holy Spirit to help me get through this and if He did, I would change.

It's 2009, and I'm still keeping my word.

When I told the Lord I'd change, I meant:

1) change the food I purchase and the food I eat; LocalHarvest.org can help you access local organic farms.

2) change how I treat my body internally;

3) change how I treat my body externally through daily exercise; I eat every day, therefore, I exercise every day.

4) not change in keeping my body sanctified as a living sacrifice for the Lord, which includes sexual morality whether you are married or single.

5) change by educating myself on the origins of the food I purchase; You understand our food supply in America is severely contaminated.

6) change by switching to natural herbs instead of prescription medication; for every thing that could possibly be wrong with the human body, internally, externally or mentally, the Lord provided an herb for it that's still available today. I'm a distributor for Pure Herbs and this has changed my life. For example, I used to suffer from sinus infections every six weeks. I may have one sinus infection a year, but no more. In 2009, I chose to address the spiritual roots of my sinus infection.

7) and change about by getting off of prescription medications.

Three Web sites that changed my life are www.BeInHealth.com, www.HAcres.com, www.DrDay.com and www.NotMilk.com.

Yesterday, 6.15.09, I spoke with my mom who is trying to eradicate her high blood pressure.

I shared with mom please do NOT overlook the spiritual side of your high blood pressure or any illness whether life threatening or a functional illness.

Almost everybody in my mom's family had or has high blood pressure [not me, I broke the generational curse off of me and the children I have to come].

A generational curse is not difficult to break.

You're familiar with the scriptures that repeat many times in the Bible, satan comes to steal, kill and destroy.

It's real and active in every believers life.

The question is how active or passive are you in YOUR life by being an offensive participant to experience the promises of an abundant life.

The primary mode of operation satan uses to destroy, steal and kill YOU, your family, your church members and your friends is through attacking your body.

For some satan uses illness.
For some satan uses drugs.
For some satan uses sex.
For some satan uses mental torment.
For some satan uses food or the lack thereof.
For some satan uses laziness or the lack of exercise.

You see the pattern, right?

You understand that each of the things listed above are not simply coincidence, but are controlled [unseen] by the demonic.

You are familiar that with repeated scriptures that boldly declare the issues we wrestle with are rooted in the unseen evil, demonic, principalities.

So, the operative question is, are you dealing with your issues, including your health issues, by eradicating them also on a spiritual level?

You know what I don't like about satan is that he's not even that clever.

His intelligence quota is pretty low, because he doesn't even try new stuff.

Think about it, think about how many things are repeated in your family throughout the generations.

Even as Christians, we tend to say comments like the following:

"I don't know what's wrong with that boy."

"She ought to know better, no good will come of this."

"We raised them in the church, so they know the truth; I just can't get through."

"The men in the family just can't seem to make a go of it."

"Is he is jail again? He ought to stop that and take care of his family."

"Has she had another baby out of wedlock? So how many is it now."

Okay, so what's my point here.

Many times we completely overlook the spiritual in our day-to-day lives.

The active operation of generational curses simply and realistically explains many of the common statements we all hear in our families weekly.

Now, what I wrote above, are the things that are seen.

As you know, many of us wrestle with things are are unseen, in our minds, things we are too ashamed to let others know including spouses, children, parents and church members.

Satan's done a good job keeping Christians focused on the symptoms and the natural, instead of being focused on eradicating the [spiritual] roots of our issues, even health issues.

By putting an axe to the spiritual roots, then the symptoms are forced to die.

As some of you know, I graduated in May 2009 from an int'l school for biblical healing and deliverance.

I learned that the liver is the major organ that filters our impurities.

I know none of us in class had ever cleaned our liver.

Most issues in the kidney and gall bladder starts in the liver, but doctors will not share that out.

Why, because the medical profession typically treats symptons and not the roots of your issues.

If they treated the roots of your issues, then you would not need to come back or continue to get all those prescriptions refilled for the rest of your life.

Oh -- just seems like there's a stream of slight greed or self-serving in that.

One of my teachers in school, who is 72 years old, is the most healthiest person I know personally.

He said when he cleaned his liver, he did 3 liver cleanses in a row.

He passed more than 2,000 liver stones [no they don't hurt when passing because they are soft].

If we don't clean our liver, the bioducts in our liver get clogged -- they have no choice.

If you're interested, this is the Web site for the cleanses - www.drclark.net.

www.LocalHarvest.org is where you can find local organic farmers for your food.

A More Excellent Way is a book that must be in every library; you can order it here. The author is simply a gift from God to the Christian community. He and this book has helped many, many, many Christians -- that's all I know to say.

If you're not a member, you can join this online Healed People, Heal People community for free here. You'll receive regular updates of encouragement wrapped in biblical truths.

Please know that you can have lasting, healing and deliverance from any issue today. It's available and the Lord is simply waiting for you to surrender and bring your issues to the cross.

Recent Research Findings on Dangerous Drugs

Here is just a fraction of the recent headlines and studies regarding the dangers of prescription drugs. They've been collected all in one place for free to read at www.NaturalHealthReport.com.

Diabetes drugs linked to heart failure ...

Rheumatoid arthritis drug raises cancer risk ...

Anti-psychotic medications may cause diabetes ...

Vioxx blamed for 140,000 Americans’ heart problems ...

Prozac doubles suicide risk ...

HRT increases stroke risk by 30% ...

Heart drug causes kidney failure ...

Viagra causes blindness in some users ...

Birth control pills increase cancer risk...

Long-term aspirin significantly increases risk for internal bleeding ...

Hepatitis B vaccine increases risk of MS ...

Do you take prescription meds? Did you know that properly prescribed prescription meds is the number three cause of death in America according to the American Journal of Medicine?

Natural Herbs For Those Who Suffer With Arthritis

My people perish for lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6

A.-W | 1st Arthritis Herb

This combination herb is an answer to the hopeless torment known to millions upon millions of people around the world awaits in this combination, for it relieves, corrects and heals, [no matter what the person's age] the sore joints and muscles of arthritis and rheumatism sufferers.

Combination | alfalfa, juniper berry, dandelion root, oregon, grape, echinacea, knitbone [comfrey], wild rose hips, bitter orange.

Dose | 40 to 80 drops after meals 3 times per day. Also rub on affected areas.

December22, 2008 Customer testimonial for A.-W.

Hi! Not all men are willing to go to a doctor and my husband is one of those men. For two months Bob used a cane because his ankles were swollen and in pain. His elbow was also hurting him. I had to go to the doctor for my carpal tunnel in my wrists and I asked my doctor what to do with a man that won’t go to a doctor?

He said, “Make an appointment.” I took his advice and my husband had X-rays taken that revealed he had arthritis. Thanks so much Pure Herbs for the combination her A.-W. Only one week on that product and his elbows and ankles are 90% better. He takes two droppers in the morning and two at night.

– B.H., Dover, NJ

To order A.-W, click here.

Arnica Oil Blend | 2nd Arthritis Herb

This blend was put together by Practiced Herbalist, Jean Kinnett, who recommends this highly successful combination to be a powerful blend to pull trauma out of the body. It’s excellent for muscles, tendons and ligaments. It’s good for relief of aches and pains associated with sports injuries, sprains, backache, muscular aches, bruises, inflammation, and the pain of arthritis.

Indian Tobacco is a powerful relaxant for nerves and muscles to relieve spasms and cramps. Rosemary’s a wonderful stimulant for circulation and excellent for nerve pain. Universal ER. is excellent for any trauma or shock held in the muscles. Wintergreen Oil is excellent for circulation.

Combination | Arnica is a base of peanut oil, Indian tobacco, rosemary, universal E.R and wintergreen oil

Dosage | Apply the arnica oil blend to sore muscles or bruised areas. It can be used for full body massage. This is for external use only.

To order Arnica, click here.

Joint Helper [roll on]| 3rd Arthritis Herb

People are raving about this herb! Many of us suffer from hurting, aching, stabbing joints. It can be so bad it becomes a form of torture and keeps us from our normal life activities. It can hit us anywhere we have joints; knees, shoulders, elbows, fingers, neck, back, toes and you name it. You may have been told it is normal to have problems like that. This is not true.

You may have been told, it's just because you are getting older. This is not true either. But when you are in pain you don't want a lecture about diet or stress. You want relief now! This is easy to understand. You don't care if the relief is from an over-the-counter drug or a doctor's drug or his needle as long as you can get rid of the pain.

Ever since we lived in caves and right on up till now we have craved a workable non-drastic solution. Now there is one. It is an herbal solution called Joint Helper! For your convenience Joint Helper is a roll-on.

What does it do? It is a herbal combination that you apply externally which penetrates deeply and immediately for relief of joint discomfort.

Where did Joint Helper come from? It was there all the time in the herbal world.

How was it discovered? It came from the condition of suffering and the sheer necessity to find a natural solution. It came from a deep and abiding faith in the herbs and years of development. From this came the final product called Joint Helper.

What is in it and how do the ingredients work? It contains capsicum for circulation, arnica to erase effects of pain, witch hazel to repair, peppermint oil for penetrating cool, indian tobacco to relax, horsetail for flexibility, sweet cassava starch for body, coconut oil to nourish tissues, lecithin to coat nerves, xanthan gum for consistency, glycine amino acid, protein as a lubricant, honeysuckle as scent and purified water for liquidity.

How do you use it? You simply roll it on the hurting joint areas as directed. Within seconds or minutes you will feel it start to work and give relief. You may feel heating or cooling or electrical sensations. Or you may feel any combination of these at the same time.

You may have different sensations according to what your joints want and need. The effects can last for several minutes or several hours. This varies with the person. You may have to use more or less on certain joint areas depending on what condition they are in.

Customer testimonial no. 1 for Joint Helper

Have you ever had your lower back go out? Mine did. I was just bending over watering the flowers. I felt a snap and then I couldn't walk right or stand without pain. This had never happened to me before. I started sweating from panic and then anger that my body had somehow betrayed me. Then I felt very alone and helpless. Was I going to be like this from now on? A thousand things went through my mind in hurry.

None of them good. In sheer desperation I remembered the sample of Joint Helper that had just been given to me. Somehow I got into the house and got the Joint Helper and put a lot of the roll-on down my lower spine and then from side to side over the back of my hips. First it felt soothing, then cooling, then the heat and tingling kicked in.

In a short while I could walk again without pain. I couldn't believe it! The Joint Helper keep working on and off for hours. For the next three days or so every time I needed the Joint Helper, I used it until I didn't need it anymore. Now I carry it with me just in case.

G.W. Sterling Hghts., MI

Customer testimonial no. 2 for Joint Helper

Joint Helper is not just for joints. I got a charlie horse [cramp in the calf of my leg] while sleeping. The cramp was so bad my leg muscles still hurt the next day. It was difficult to walk. So I put Joint Helper on it. One use of the Joint Helper roll-on was enough to fix it. Thanks for a wonderful product!

B.J. Mt. Clemens, MI

Customer testimonial no. 3 for Joint Helper

Our friend's mother has suffered with arthritis for many years now. She heard about Joint Helper and tried it. She rolled it over the areas that hurt the most and then the rest. The next day she said, In all my years of suffering nothing has ever given me that much relief and I've tried it all. Send me a dozen roll-on bottles!

A.P. Bay City, MI

Customer testimonial no. 4 for Joint Helper

My wife has screws in her back bone from an operation and is in more or less constant pain. She decided to try Joint Helper roll-on over the whole area. She said, It helped me more than anything else I have used to get some peace and relief from the discomfort I suffer with.

J .D. Royal Oak, MI

Directions | Apply roll-on to sore joints as directed. When using Joint Helper do not be alarmed if you feel Joint Helper heat up and re-activate again the next day. It may still be on the job. If contact with eyes or private areas should occur, flush with water, remain calm and peace will return. Keep out of reach of children.

Contents | Capsicum extract, witch hazel extract, peppermint oil, arnica extract, indian tobacco extract, horsetail extract, sweet cassava starch, coconut oil, lecithin, xanthan gum, glycine amino acid, honeysuckle extract, purified water. 2 fl. oz. [60 ml]

To order Joint Helper, click here.

ART.-C | 4th Arthritis Herb

ART.-C [arthritis relief team] was developed through the use and experience to solve the agonies of arthritis and joint pain. Flexibility and erasing lingering pain are big concerns for arthritis sufferers. To address these concerns and the entire picture of what is known as arthritis, we have ART.-C. Here we have the pairing of formulas to form a team.

One of the team members is the long established Research Formula and the second is a very capable helpmate combination known as ART.-C. The sea vegetables, algae and minerals, which make up Research Formula can be counted on for the qualities of an electromagnetic energy balance for the solar plexus [body center] as well as to chase away fatigue and act as an antibiotic and prevent infections. When we add ART.-C to this, we have a powerful team.

They truly bring out the best in each other. ART.-C contributes its capable assist with an herbal combination of the joint lubricator desert herb, Yucca, as well as Devil’s Claw and African aloe for activators along with the anti-stress herb Licorice Root.

Combination | Licorice root, devil’s claw, yucca, African aloe

Dosage | Suggested use for ART.-C and Research Formula is 40 drops of each 2 or 3 times per day faithfully. Increase if necessary.

To order ART.-C, click here.

Five Oils | 5th Arthritis Herb

Five Oils is a most friendly and welcome combination of herbal oils. It does so many wonderful things and the results are almost immediate. Five Oils contains five reliable and familiar natural oils herbalist have come to love and trust all on their own.

Now they are all in one bottle and act as a team. Five Oils contains: wintergreen oil, cajeput oil, eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil and mullein oil. What a wonderful formula! If you seek relief from suffering, the following is a partial list of what people have shared with us.

Apply topically for relief of arthritis torment, muscle aches and pains, tension and joint discomfort Apply topically to reduce inflammation Apply topically to improve circulation and then the area can repair itself Use to breathe easier. If you have a cold or flu, apply to the chest to open the breathing passages.

Also, this Five Oils cuts mucus loose and relieves tightness This herb is a natural friend for people with sprains, sports injuries and the like. And it does not smell bad! Kills germs, fungus and viruses Apply to animal scratches, bruises, skinned knees and the like Apply to skin to reduce acne, swellings and discomfort apply to sore throat.

Brush a drop or two on the tongue to soothe throat discomfort and to cut mucus loose For a complete massage therapy session use extracts of arnica, Indian tobacco and vitamin e oil from capsules and then follow pup with Five Oils on areas that need extra help mosquito repellent – rub on mosquito bites, or better yet, liberally rub Five Oils on exposed areas to keep mosquitoes from biting.

Combination | wintergreen oil, cajeput oil, eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil and mullein oil

To order Five Oils, click here.

B.D.R.-C | 6th Arthritis Herb

This bone, density, regulator combination herb is the natural solution for many a person suffering with creaking, cracking bones and accompanying pain or osteoporosis [bone loss] or some form of bone malfunction. The ideal solution is to avoid the ordeal of a transplant or artificial implant.

True, you can put in artificial hip sockets and ball joints, but the problem is, what caused the original condition still exists. You are only working on the effects and not the root cause. The cause must then be addressed. B.D.R.-C addresses the cause of bone and connective tissue malfunction and thus provides the solution. This automatically suggests prevention for bone loss and connective tissue problems as well. Indeed, B.D.R.-C can be used for corrective and prevention.

This formula puts together an impressive herbal team of herbs for the first time to serve people and their pets. Its list of successes is equally impressive. Here are conditions for which it has proven its value: Helps restore bone mass Skeletal structure reinforcement Regulates calcium distribution Reversal of hip weakness Sources of vitamins A, C & D Nourishes and cleans red blood cells Strengthens bones Tightens tissues Oxygenation-circulation Nourishes and supports function of glands Source for essential minerals, and nourishes and cleans red blood cells

Combination | dulse, red clover, sunflower seeds, black walnut hulls, sarsaparilla, flax, lapacho, horsetail, oatstraw, knitbone, white oak bark, peppermint leaf, ginger root, grape seed, Chippewa pine, rhizome drynariae

Dosage | 40 to 80 drop 3 times per day internally or applied externally to the troubled area. If scar tissue is in the area, also take 40 to 80 drops of R.S.T.-C [repair scar tissue] 3 to 4 times per day, also apply Arnica externally over the troubled area 3 to 4 times per day.

To order B.D.R.-C, click here.

CA.-W | 7th Arthritis Herb

This calcium combination herb is the vital link in the chain of nutrients required for a healthy body with calm nerves and strong bones. Without it a person may experience cold sweats, teeth that hurt, pounding or irregular heart beat, ringing in the ears, muscle cramps, bones that become like lace [porous] and crumble. Press the tip of the breast bone at the bottom where the ribs come together and see if it hurts.

If so, you can be assured you lack Calcium. The more sensitive, the greater the problem. Do not despair. Nature has provided the rescuer. Bones were not meant to become weaker with age. Every year an animal lives in the wild, eating its normal diet, its bones become stronger.

Did you ever see a cow or a deer with arthritis? Cows and deer have incredibly strong bones to support great weight or take the pounding of swift flight from danger or the sheer pleasure of freedom that comes to those that can tirelessly run like the wind. calcium, for them, comes from plants. Now you can have that calcium too -- without having to chew all day to get it.

Horsetail and oat straw are included in this combination for the unusual properties of containing an element named silicon rather than calcium. It is not supposed to be possible, according to scientists, to change one element to another without a thermonuclear explosion, but some body types can, apparently, change one element into another, as in the case of changing silicon into calcium.

Experiments run with chickens, where all the dietary intake of calcium was carefully monitored and measured, even the calcium in their drinking water, showed increased eggshell production and increased bone density when silicon was added to their diet. They did not get enough calcium to do that. That is not possible, but then the chickens did not know that.

Perhaps there was something about a goose that laid a golden egg. At any rate, some people who have difficulty assimilating enough calcium to repair a broken leg, do get the that broken leg fixed with calcium filling in the break by taking an herbal Silicon source. CA.-W provides dietary calcium and silicon from active vegetables sources.

Combination | horsetail, oat straw, knitbone, dulse, dandelion leaf, red raspberry leaf, indian tobacco

Dose | 20 to 40 drops, 3 times per day. In a broken bone or if severely deficient, then 80 drops, 3 times per day

To order CA.-W, click here.

L.P.-W | 8th Arthritis Herb

This liquid pearle combination herb is for arthritis and correction of circulation are closely associated. When the circulation returns, usually the arthritis goes away. L.P.-W also provides the energy for this to take place. L.P.-W is especially for frozen joints where there are waste mineral deposits in the joints or on the bones.

Combination | angelica, echinacea, ginger, marshmallow, broad beans, spikenard, eucalyptus, gentian, lady's slipper, bee pollen, prickly ash, myrrh.

Dose | 40 to 80 drops per meal, or 3 times per day

To order L.P.-W, click here.

Chuchuhuasi | 9th Arthritis Herb

Chuchuhuasi apparently works on the actual cause of arthritis and, in this manner, restores joints to working order. This is the South American Indian name for the rain forest tree known botanically as Maytenus macrocarpa. Its home is the steamy jungles of Peru, where it is well known and used by the people, especially in and around Iquitos, Peru on the Amazon river.

Because of the remoteness of this area, its use was unknown to the rest of the world until recent times. Yet, it is now, perhaps, the most popularly used rain forest herb in Peru. Life in a jungle environment means dealing with infections, bites and diseases of many kinds. Remedies must be found and used.

Chuchuhuasi serves this multi-purpose function, and it is commonly taken in the liquid extract form. Among Chuchuhuasi's strongest properties is the building of immunity and, at the same time, enhancing sexual activity and function. The ability of Chuchuhuasi to do this has attracted strong scientific interest.

This is accomplished by using the root bark as a liquid and taking orally three times per day. Rather than just working on the relief of symptoms, Chuchuhuasi apparently works on the actual cause of arthritis and, in this manner, restores joints to working order.

This, of course, has aroused considerable excitement in the scientific community. The same can be said regarding Chuchuhuasi's anti-tumor properties. The United States Department of Agriculture has isolated the alkaloid [active bitter compound] maytansine as being most prominent in the compounds believed to be active in the shrinkage of tumors. As if all this would not be enough to recommend the daily use of Chuchuhuasi, it is also applied to the skin to repel jungle mosquitos.

Now, the mosquitos of the Peruvian jungle are rumored, by the local inhabitants, for the benefit of tourists, to be, So large you can hear them when they walk, and Senior, they may even possess backbones!

At any rate, accounts of their ferocity are legendary and Chuchuhuasi undoubtedly a welcome remedy.

Dose | 40 to 80 drops 3 times per day as maintenance. 1 tsp. 3 times per day for more serious cases. Externally as given above.

To order Chuchuhuasi, click here.

Una De Gato | 10th Arthritis Herb

Una De Gato is a Spanish named herb pronounced [oon-yuh-day-got-toe] that means claw-of-cat or, as we would say in English, cat's claw. In the remote area of Iquitos, Peru, where Una de Gato is at home, it is very widely used and depended upon to handle a wide variety of problems, including those of a serious nature. Here is what is listed in Peru as the traditional and accepted South American Native Folk Medicinal uses of Una de Gato.

Una De Gato can be taken to correct arthritis, rheumatism, cancer, gastritis, irregularities of the female cycle. From all reports, this is one of the South American Indians' very best arthritis remedies. Although it is not scientifically accepted, people there use it and get rid of their arthritis, including the type we call rheumatoid arthritis, where the body is actually fighting itself.

Una de Gato is also, especially, noted for its anti-viral properties, tumor dissolving properties, its effects on cellular regeneration and cardiovascular repair. As in all jungle areas, one of the things which must be guarded against is infections.

Una de Gato is a potent immune system builder. This is especially important in conditions described as rheumatoid arthritis and or osteoarthritis, where the body is attacking itself, commonly called auto-immune reactions. Una de Gato reestablishes the proper immune system orientation for cells that are true friends and those that are the actual foes. A strong immune system is essential to reversing the effects, and prevention, of any kind of disease.

Hence, a wide range of disorders are reported to be corrected by the use of Una de Gato in Peru and Europe. Very well documented South American medical information shows Una de Gato to be nearly miraculous in combating cancer, even in advanced stages, where as much as 10% of body cells are in a state of metastasis. Because of the shared reputation Una de Gato has earned for itself, no immune problem or cancer is regarded, in Peru, as incurable.

Dose | 40 drops, 3 times per day to maintain immunity. For disease conditions listed above, 1 tsp. to 1 tbl. 3 times per day. With the use of Una de Gato, as with any herb that destroys bad cells [cancer], do use a good bowel management program which produces two, and preferably three, easy and complete bowel movements per day.

In this manner, the wastes and poisons the body is getting rid of, can be eliminated from the body and nausea is prevented. This allows the body to clean itself up and to get well. Common sense and good sense, both, demand that you eliminate anything from the diet and the environment which is a poison.

A good place to start, regarding what you eat, is any food with any kind of chemical additives such as: chemical dyes, preservatives, flavor magnifiers, stabilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and the like. Eliminate junk foods -- and you do know what those are.

To order Una De Gato, click here.

If you are going to do business with God, the currency is forgiveness.

Hello Beloved reader. I decided to write this unforgiveness article for you because it helped me. A few months back I attended an open-to-the-public ministry session where these questions were asked. I think many of us Christians were surprised at how many times we answered yes. Remember now – be honest with yourself. No one will see your paper but you.

Unforgiveness is one of the most powerful enemies in the body of Christ today. Do you know how many illnesses or infirmities are directly related to unforgiveness? One thing all people who are called to work in healing and deliverance should know when dealing with illnesses is to learn if the person standing or sitting before them has an issue with unforgiveness.

It is critical to learn if there is a single person that they’ve not forgiven. It is necessary to ask the person when exactly in their life were they diagnosed with the illness. Proceed to ask the person what life events were going on at or near that time. Often, the following are typical responses a person might give.

I've experienced betrayal. I lost my job and the boss could have let another person go because I was there longer. These are two of many reasons any person could share as to why they’ve not forgiven someone.

Now listen, beloved reader, do you know that sometimes people have instantly been healed of their infirmity on the spot once this unforgiveness has been taken care of spiritually. Keep in mind this is one of four things that must be addressed in an integrated healing & deliverance ministry session.

Will you get out a piece of paper and a pen, pretty please? Now, read the statements below. Each time the statement is true for you, make a check mark on your paper. Once you’re done reading each statement on the unforgiveness stronghold, you’ll talley up your score.

Answer these unforgiveness questions honestly

1) I find myself holding grudges.

2) I retreat into isolation from others.

3) I erupt in anger or I boil inside.

4) I think of ways to get even with others who hurt me.

5) I just bury the wrongs done to me without really addressing them.

6) I pity myself.

7) I carry bitterness and anger towards those who have hindered me or willfully, purposely wronged me.

8) Instead of stating the truth, I make excuses for those who wronged or hurt me.

9) I often feel sorry for myself.

10) Occasionally I think I truly am some kind of martyr.

11) Nobody has had it as bad as me.

12) I want to get even with people who’ve cause me pain.

13) I insulate or protect myself behind the walls of defensiveness.

14) I don’t trust others.

15) I just can’t forgive [which really is you want forgive].

16) I’m anger with God for allowing bad things to happen to me.

17) I act like nothing happen instead of confronting issues that have hurt me.

18) I can’t get over my past.

Please talley up your check marks to see how you scored.

If you have 1 – 4 check marks, you’re in the lower percentile [25%] of operating in unforgiveness.

If you have 5 – 9 check marks, you’re in the middle percentile [50%] of operating in unforgiveness. This is average for most Christians. Now, we all know what the Bible clearly states about any unforgiveness, right? So even if you scored in the lowest percentile, it needs to be taken care of.

If you have 10 – 14 check marks, you’re in the upper percentile [75%] of operating in unforgiveness. Yep, you betcha – this sure enough has to be addressed because you’re in bondage beloved.

If you have 15 or more check marks, you very likely have the stronghold of unforgiveness. If you don’t know how to break this stronghold and remove the demons holding it in place in your life, learn or go receive ministry please. What book would I suggest that’s a must read, Biblical Healing & Deliverance: An Integrated Approach to Biblical Healing Ministry by Chester & Betsy Kylstra.

Beloved reader, you already know the key to forgiveness is releasing the debt. By forgiving, you are not justifying what the person did to you is okay. By forgiving, you are not minimizing the devastating impact what they did has had on your life.

Well, here's the age old question – why is it that it’s so darn hard to forgive some things, some people. It is because the one time hurt or the repeated hurt has wounded your soul or wounded your spirit or wounded both. Usually the hurt(s), even though they can’t be seen, have really crippled you inside. The crippling could be mentally and/or emotionally and/or physically. Some hurts have downright debilitated some of us to the point that illness occurs.

And if we're transparent here, not forgiving the person make some Christians they have a [false] sense of power over the person [especially if the person wants to be forgiven]. As long as we choose to not forgive any person for any thing, we literally carry that person with us daily. What do I mean? You have a shackle attached to a ball-and-chain at the bottom of your ankle.

The weighted ball-and-chain is directly attached to each person you've not forgiven. You literally carry their body weight around with you all day long. In the shower, to bed with you, in the car with you, to the grocery store with you. More importantly, you carry those you've not forgiven with you mentally and emotionally every day, which is yet another reason you're weighted down internally. Although we still respond to people saying, "We're fine, blessed, highly favored."

So beloved reader – we’re at a crossroads here. The Bible says to forgive and that forgiveness is non-negotiable. Well yeah, this is true. What’s been learned in integrated healing & deliverance is sometimes we first have to have the Holy Spirit take care of the hurts at every spiritual and emotional level before the forgiveness can even be approached. And in very extreme cases, the forgiveness takes times, like in layers, which is better than not at all.

Please know if you are a person who works in ministry or if you are a leader of any kind, people will violate you. You cannot afford to allow this unforgiveness to place you in bondage. Let’s look at Joseph’s life in the Bible. He had so many reasons to not forgive his brothers. What did Joseph do [Genesis 39]? He stayed before the Lord, and yes, he forgave his family. Even though Joseph was a grown man, he sobbed like a child.

What is forgivness?

Is a spiritual decision to release the person, entity, institution or group who hurt you, betrayed you

Is cancelling someone from the consequence of falling short of God’s standard in your life

Is releasing resentment toward the very person who exacted very real hurt on you

Is dismissing our demand that the person owes us something

Is releasing the right to be bitter

Is releasing the right to get even

Is of God

Is releasing the right to hear the words, “I’m sorry.”

Is an act of our spiritual will

Is a process especially for those who’ve been abused/deeply hurt

What forgiveness is not

Is not a feeling

Is not an emotion

Is not being a doormat

Is not conditional

Is not stuffing your anger

Is not based on what’s fair

Is not excusing the wrong done to you

Is not justifying the wrong done to you

Is not you executing God’s wrath

Is not repentance

Is not based on what a person deserves

Is not you waiting for time to heal all wounds

Is not reconciliation [requires a minimum of two people] [forgiveness only requires 1 person]

Is not enablement [a form of people pleasing and repeatedly having no boundaries]

Is not letting the guilty off the hook, you are placing them on God’s hook

Is not denying that the wrong happened to you

The characteristics of an unforgiver

Danger - If you persist in resisting and disobeying God by being unforgiving [or whatever the sin is], you can eventually to given over to the influence of evil, satan and immorality. Acts 7:42

does not agree with God that sin is sin

delayed or even the prevention of spiritual growth

heart is turned away from God

go through verbal acts of repentance

an unforgiver often has diseases & functionally sick

is limited in hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit

an unforgiver can have psychological problems

an unforgiver can be a person laden with stress

elevate yourself above your offender

you’re emotionally stuck to your offender

you share negative information about offender

automatically open the door to satan and his demons

a hardened heart, a condemning heart

tend to be verbally abusive

blind that you’re becoming like your offender

an unforgiver ages faster

being an unforgiver affects your body’s ability to fight disease by weakening your immune system

an unforgiver can have emotional instability – fly off the handle easily or show very little emotion

Define the spirit of unforgivness, which is a stronghold

A simple word to describe this spirit of unforgiveness – hurt, a person who is deeply hurt.

A spirit of unforgiveness goes beyond temporary unwillingness to forgive.

The spirit of unforgiveness is a spiritual acid that eats through the spirit within us.

The spirit of unforgiveness is a supernatural cancer that slowly and deliberately eats you up.

There is a long time period between the time you are hurt and the time you forgive the person who hurt you.

When does unforgiveness become a stronghold?

When you refuse to forgive and the unresolved anger develops a fortified place in your mind and heart; you become mentally captive to do the enemy’s will. Ephesians 6:16

The three parts of forgiveness

Part 1 |Horizontal line of The Cross -- Forgiving others and others forgiving you

Especially needed toward family and church members because this is where most hurts come from

Part 2 | Vertical line of The Cross -- Receiving God forgiveness and us releasing God

Part 3 | Circle or halo where The Cross intersects -- Forgiving yourself and receiving forgiveness from self

Why do Christians have the most difficulty forgiving themselves than any other person?

Lie no. 1 - Sin we committed, the offense is too big to forgive

Lie no. 2 - We knew better and committed the sin anyway

Lie no. 3 - It’s a habitual sin and we continue to do it, it doesn’t deserve grace

Lie no. 4 - We’re so shamed by the sin, we should not exchange the shame for forgiveness

Lie no. 5 – You believe you don’t deserve forgiveness because of who you are

Here, it’s effective to say your own name.

For example, “Your name goes right here, I forgive myself for ____.”

So why do you not forgive when you know to do so

What was done to you or by you was too big

The hurt was planned, intentional and/or repeated

No modeling of forgiveness from our parents

They didn’t forgive me, I will not forgive them

You deny it never happened

Don’t understand God’s forgiveness

You believe the lie that bitterness is a normal response because God knows how you feel.

The pain is so deep [even though it may be simple to others] you just don’t know where to begin.

It is here where you allow the Holy Spirit to heal the pain completely first, then you’re able to forgive.

How does unforgiveness affect your prayer life?

blessings are withheld from us

our prayer life is blocked

we are spiritually dim

God doesn’t forgive us

God resists you

What is unforgiveness?

unforgiveness is a form of pride

is of satan and his demons

grieves the Holy Spirit

showcases a godless heart

keeps us in bondage to sin

is an offense to God, which makes us an offender to God

Forgiveness scriptures

Ephesians 4:30 – 32

Matthew 18: 21, 34 – 35

II Corinthians 2: 10 -11

Matthew 6:12

Mark 11:25

Luke 17: 3 – 4

Luke 23:34

James 4:32

Acts 10:43

Acts 6:4

Thank you for taking your time to read this article on Healed People, Heal People. If you’re not a member of this Web community, we invite you to join for free here. You'll receive regular updates of encouragement wrapped in biblical truths.