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 ask you to secure yourself with a Holy Spirit seat belt as you, the reader, and I have dialogue throughout this blog. Why am I even writing this today, July 2, 2009? My heart is heavy; I’m so very saddened by the choices of a few specific people I deeply care for.

But we all have free choice, right, even as Christians. And along with our free choices, comes the free consequences whether good or bad for each and every choice each of us makes.

I’m sure you identify with my feelings, right? You want the absolute best, which is God’s best, for those you love and they choose repeated choices that lead to bondage, which they call, “but I’m happy.”

I’m left with the following questions and thoughts that have been pounding in my brain like a sledge hammer since 7 am during my daily morning 5.14 mile walk.

Question 1
Lord, I say I love you because that’s the politically-correct Christian thing to say, but I’m really consumed with myself and what makes me happy? You come somewhere down the line Lord; I gotta take care of me – no one else will.

Question 2
Lord, why isn’t the following question a part of my daily, mental grid as a Christian. What decision for my life would please You today Lord that aligns with Your biblical principles?

Question 3
Am I really that selfish Lord that my choices, my actions don’t even take into consideration what’s best for me [according to Your will] or my child/children. Wow Lord – I must really be hurting deeply and even living detached from my family to forsake what’s best for them and I’ve been entrusted to be a steward over them.

Thought 1
I really don’t know how to deal with the quiet, subliminal pain inside, so I gotta do something daily or weekly to distract me from me. I call it – making myself happy. Satan rejoices because he calls it – gotcha.

Thought 2
Why do I keep repeating actions and choices that I know aren’t good for me Lord? Aahh, I did it again. Although I’ve not wanted to call it what it is, I have some percentage of self hatred operating in my life. What else could explain the choices I make and the choices others that I love make that do not lead to the abundant life You promised for me or them?

Lord, Why Don't I Care How You Feel … What Make You Happy

Now, Beloved reader, where did all of this start? Allow me to share a few things that have saddened my heart.

One
A divorced, single parent gets pregnant two more times by the new person they are seeing.
The person is Christian, smart, attractive and educated.
The divorced parent chooses to allow the new person they are dating to move into their home.
The divorced parent has a child in elementary school.
They plan to marry someday.

Two
A single person who was molested as a child has a senior leadership position in a church.
This person has received Holy Spirit healing for this strategy that was planned very early by the demonic for their life.
This single person lives with another single person in their local church who is also in a leadership position.
The head leader of the church remains quiet.

Three
Ty Adams has written a new book that I’ve not read.
From what I understand it addresses the rampant sexual immorality in the body of Christ.
Any person, in this case, Ty Adams, who chooses to state the Lord’s unwavering, uncompromised standards in 2009 loves the Lord and chooses The Truth.

Four
The fact that people are forgetting that Michael Jackson was a human, a son, a father, a friend, a brother, a uncle and a child of the Lord – saddens me. Many throughout the world are mourning and grieving including me. There’s been an utter disrespect to his family that he is loved globally and this time of bereavement is to be respected for any human being. In America, we have a court system and the court found him not guilty. In our democracy, this is where it ends. The establishment of government is biblical, even though there are many shortcomings.

Five
Daily I listen to the media, interact with Christians, listen to Internet radio, read letters from a federal prisoner who writes me, look at Oprah’s talk show sporadically and look at award shows on tv – it’s devastatingly apparent, don’t nobody hardly give a flipping care about – what the Lord thinks, what makes the Lord happy, what pleases the Lord.

Beloved reader, it breaks my heart – need I say more. The witness of every Christian is a combination of our conversation, character and conduct. And to be direct with you here, actions still speak louder than words. Folks, including many Christians, simply don’t give a rat’s patuddy about what the Lord thinks.

Lord, Why Don't I Care How You Feel … What Makes You Happy

Well, let me offer a few answers to the questions and thoughts I’ve posed above. What is the basis on the responses I’m getting ready to share with you?

The principles, covenants, commandments, contingencies, prophecies and the universal law of reaping and sowing in the Bible;
My experience in healing and deliverance; and, my colleagues experience globally in in healing and deliverance.

Those we love in our life hurt deeply.
They hurt so much more than they’ll ever share with you.

Let’s quickly look at one common coping mechanism of Christians. I’ll keep myself surrounded with middle-of-the-road Christians that way I don’t feel so bad about my public and private choices.

A wise Christian once imparted to me, your left hand should be outstretched upwards for those who are where you want to be are pulling you upwards. Your right hand is outstretched downwards, and you are pulling those who desire to be where you are at. There’s a small inner circle of people who should surround you.

Your inner circle are those appointed by the Holy Spirit who actively participate in having their own lives healed and who strategically sow the following in your life -- support, counsel, advocate, a regular lover of the Word of God and they hold you accountable in a loving Christ-like manner.

Many Christians are so weak, they continue to relish in the world’s standards. Why are many Christians weak? Would you consider taking a survey from seven people you know well by the end of this week? Ask how much time they spent daily in the past seven days with the Lord including study, meditation and fasting [fasting is a regular part of the Christian lifestyle].

Quite simply, strength comes from the Holy Spirit and His Word. Making Godly choices comes from having God’s perspective mapped in your heart and mind. There are only four ways I know to achieve this that humans can employ – read, listen, write and recite.

I heard someone pray earlier this year for God to release a person from the consequences of having committed adultery. My spirit quickened and the scripture God is not a respector of people popped in my mind like red neon lights. The ways, character and attributes of the Holy Spirit are like a two-sided coin, a penny for example. On one side there’s love, grace and mercy and on the other side of this same coin is justice, judgment and wrath. It still baffles me why Christians do not equally teach about this other side of God.

The main issue with interacting with God as only having one side is we are then engaging in a game of Russian roulette. Because the Holy Spirit is gracious, doesn’t mean He’s foolish. And the Lord specifically determines for each of us the day and what will be the last time He’ll extend his grace and mercy in a first time or repeated choice we continue to make.

The operating of generational curses are so real and active in Christians lives that many Christians simply don’t identify the daily and weekly manifestations of these generational curses as what they truly are. For example, someone shares they’ve had repeated extra-marital affairs in a casual conversation.

This same person on another day mentions their child had a sleepover and overheard the very young children saying, “I’m going to _uck you to death.” The same person says casually on another week that their mother has had a life of promiscuity. This same person shares in yet another week casually that their cousins engage in bisexual relationships. This same person says, “You know what, I just remember that my grandmother was molested too like I was.”

Beloved reader, I counted four generations of sexual immorality as I listened in the spirit to these casual conversations that took place over a number of weeks. These are not merely choices of each person. There is a BONA FIDE generational curse of sexual immorality rampant in this family line that can easily be broken in less than 30 minutes. I pray that if you see repetition in your life or your family’s life – learn, study, examine and break each generational curse and command the respective demons assigned to EACH CURSE operating in your life to leave.

Lord, Why Don't I Care How You Feel … What Makes you Happy

Why don't I care Lord about how You feel when I continue looking at the person just a little bit longer than I should?

Why don't I care Lord about how You feel when I take my personal issues out on those who report to me?

Why don't I care Lord about how You feel when I secretly deny sexism and racism in my heart although my consistent actions and thoughts reveal this truth?

Why don't I care Lord about how You feel when I envy those in my church who You've blessed more than me; I'm wrongly comparing Lord?

Why don't I care Lord about how You feel when I allow the person I'm not married to to spend the night and I use anything to justify my actions?

Why don't I care Lord about how You feel when I wrongly classify personal expenses as business expenses?

Why don't I care Lord about how You feel when I pretend to celebrate others, but my heart is reeked with jealousy?

Why don't I care Lord about how You feel when I continue to proclaim I'm a Christian and not speak up when I should?
Will You deny me and not speak up for me Lord like I do You?

Why don't I care Lord about how You feel when I enable my family members and call it love? Love does not enable.

Why don't I care Lord about how You feel when I create co-dependency for my own adult children and call it love? Love does not operate in the same space as co-dependency.

Why don't I care Lord about how You feel when I continue to live a life without godly boundaries? So, I'm not a good steward of my life and my time so I don't achieve what You've directed and ordained.

Why don't I care Lord about how You feel when I continue to take anxiety and nerve medications that abuse my body instead of being responsible to deal with my life issues now?

Why don't I care Lord about how You feel when I shine the light of my spouse's imperfections when my spouse is a direct reflection of me?

Why don't I care Lord about how You feel when I continue to masturbate?

Why don't I care Lord about how You feel when I continue to steal from my job, my family and steal from You in ways that I try to justify?

Why don't I care Lord about how You feel when I rarely keep my word with any person? You have always honored words Lord and I am to be an ever-becoming spotless representation of You.

LORD, WHY DON’T I CARE HOW YOU FEEL … WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY

Holy Spirit, I give you permission to do heart surgery on my heart?

Why Lord, do I choose to give you this permission?

Because what saddens You, I want to sadden me since I'm choosing to work on being more like You as one of Your devoted followers.

Why Lord, do I choose to give you this permission to do heart surgery on my heart?

Because what please You Lord, I want to please me.

Change my heart, soften it where it needs softening.

Remove from it the ills and worldly vices that I've become to familiar with.

Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, I choose You and make my heart most sensitive to Your ways, Your principles in my life.

In the name of Jesus, I pray, I expect and I thank you.

If you're not a member, you're invited to join this Web community for free, www.HealedPeople.com. Thank you for taking your time to read why Don't I Care How You Feel ... and please post your comments below if you'd like to share your thoughts.

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.

About 10 years I learned a spiritual principle that I've never forgotten.

First let me give credit where credit is due.

I learned this biblical principle by listening to a series by Dr. Tony Evans of The Urban Alternative in Dallas, TX.

Dr. Evans taught, whatever it is that you need from someone, from the Lord, that is what you should give first.

I decided to apply this to my life and it works.

You are familiar with the universal principle of sowing and reaping, right?

You know that sowing and reaping is a universal principle, right?

Meaning that it, the biblical principle of sowing & reaping, is operating in your life, Christian or not, believer or not, a lot saved or not, a little saved or not.

I'll allow you to do the homework to find the scripture where this is established in the Word of God, The Bible.

When I was unemployed in 2002, I had to pay my mortgage.

If my memory is correct, at that time my mortgage was $1,007.49. Yep, I remember numbers very well.

I had about $500 of the mortgage for the upcoming month and I didn't know where the other half was coming from.

A had a friend who was also unemployed, like many Americans during that time.

Her car insurance was due and she didn't have the money either.

Well, guess how much her car insurance was, $500.

As I was backing in the garage one day, I clearly heard the Holy Spirit say, "Pay her car insurance."

She was fretting about how she was going to have to park her car and would not have a means to go look for a job.

She was used to her family coming to her financial rescue because not only did they work, they also owned companies.

Her family would not deliver the money as she was accustomed to -- this didn't sit too well with her.

Meanwhile, I'm having a major verbal spat with the Holy Spirit.

The conversation went something like this.

ME: Lord, you know I don't have all of my mortgage. I need that $500.

THE LORD: You trust me, right? After all, you've been telling people that I'm going to deliver you. Don't you believe it.

ME: Lord, I've got to figure out where the other half of my mortgage is coming from in less than two weeks. I ain't seeing how this is gonna happen.

THE LORD: Are you going to take action and demonstrate what you've been saying to people about me. Show your faith.

Well, this little verbal tennis match went on for a while between me and the Lord.

I ended up finding my friend's insurance agent and paying her car insurance.

I asked him not to tell her who made the payment, ever.

He said to me, aren't you unemployed too?

I said, yes, and walked away.

To this day, she doesn't know I paid her insurance.

She called me a few days later saying, you'll never guess how the Lord provided for me. I was mad at my family for not giving me the money. I should not have tried to determine how the Lord was going to provide.

I listened to her rejoice, smiled and rejoiced with her. She's still working and doing well to this day.

I simply wanted to share this with you to let you know I tried, in leariness, applying this biblical principle to my life --> Give, What It Is that You Need, First, To Someone Else.

Bless You in the name of Jesus and thank you for your contributions to this online Healed People, Heal People community. If you are not a member of this online community, we invite you to join for free. There are regular updates of encouragement.

Signed,

The Cross, A Place of Exchange

You may have read or heard of news articles about aluminum being a possible cause of Alzheimer’s disease, paranoia and learning disabilities. Alzheimer's disease robs one of memory and life. It has to be one of the most terrible and dehumanizing things that torments our modern society.

Aluminum has a special affinity or liking for the brain and nervous system and heads straight for them. This pollutes and interrupts their function. Herbal practitioners have also confirmed that the glandular functions of many men and women have been restored when aluminum contamination is flushed from the body.

Many baffling and confusing conditions that have not responded to anything all of a sudden clear up. You may ask, ‘Where does all this aluminum contamination come from?’

That is a fair question. Here are a few of the most common sources: soda pop, beer, etc. in aluminum cans, baking powder used in our baked goods, aluminum drying agents in powdered food to prevent caking, aluminum cookware, baked potatoes and other foods baked in aluminum, over-the-counter preparations for upset stomach that contain aluminum-hydroxide, industrial manufacturing processes that dump aluminum into our air and water and don’t forget one of the worst things for a woman’s body, underarm antiperspirants made with aluminum-chlorhydrate.

You have to figure whatever you put under your arm will wind up in the breasts and other parts of the body. You can see this is especially bad for
women, and imagine the problems it can cause with the breasts. Put another way, we can safely say that most cancers in the body are caused by poisons.

Perhaps a little aluminum now and then does no great harm, but constant use of it, especially from so many man-made resources, can constitute a health threat. It is not just people who suffer from aluminum poisoning.

You hear much these days about bones not being able to retain enough calcium. It may interest you to know that aluminum competes with calcium for absorption in the body and lowers the female hormone, estrogen. Our dogs and cats fall prey to this aluminum contamination as well.

Manufacturers of pet food, especially the dry type in bits, commonly use aluminum to keep it dry. Interestingly enough, despite all the piles of scientific evidence from animal hair and skin analyses, our Food and Drug Administration and the National Institute for Health have shown no interest in investigating this situation.

If you notice that your pet has dry lusterless hair, is listless, has no energy, chewing wallboards and such and attempting to catch unseen things
in the air, suspect aluminum poisoning. Their blood tests quite often show, along with aluminum, pancreas, liver and kidney damage. Home-made dog foods can help a lot.

For people and pets, the use of sea vegetables, especially one known as Bladderwrack, does wonders for flushing aluminum out of the body. This can be added to one’s diet rather easily. For a person, 10 to 40 drops of a type of algae, liquid Bladderwrack [known as an extract] or one to four capsules per meal.

And for a pet, depending on size, one to ten drops per meal or one to four capsules per day. While you are detoxifying dangerous metals, it may
also be wise to keep in mind using still another type of algae. Chlorella can be used to detoxify heavy metals such as mercury or lead. Where you find one type of metal poisoning, you often find others.

Chlorella can be taken in the same amounts as Bladderwrack. Please be patient. It may take awhile, even months, but at least it is comforting to know you are on the right road. Is it any wonder that our bodies have become polluted as we have polluted the earth with our modern drive for profit and better living through chemistry? Thank the Creator that herbal remedies have been provided for the relief of maladies of our
own making!

Remember When and Golden Days are Pure Herbs that are useful in removing metals/aluminum from the body.

This article was excerpted from the April 2011 Pure Herbs newsletter.

— Dr. Watkins

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.

As atrocious and inhumane as slavery was, this Senate resolution was not mentioned on one major news television outlet in America.

The U.S. Senate on Thursday, June 18, 2009, passed a resolution apologizing to African-Americans for the wrongs of slavery. The nonbinding resolution sponsored by Senator Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, is similar to a House resolution adopted in 2008 that acknowledged the wrongs of slavery but offered no reparations.

The House will have to vote on the issue again because the composition of that chamber changed after the November 2008 elections. The resolution was approved on a voice vote.

Because it is nonbinding, it does not have to be forwarded to the President of the United States for his signature. Several states have passed similar resolutions, but the House resolution was the first time a branch of the federal government did so.

Harkin's resolution acknowledges the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality and inhumanity of slavery, and Jim Crow laws, and apologizes to African-Americans on behalf of the people of the United States for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow laws.

Jim Crow laws were state and local laws enacted mostly in U.S. Southern and border states between the 1870s and 1965 that denied African-Americans the right to vote and other civil liberties, as well as legally segregated them from whites.

Some members of the African-American community have called on lawmakers to give cash payments or other financial benefits to descendants of slaves as compensation for the suffering caused by slavery.

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 encourage you to join for free here. You'll receive regular updates of encouragement wrapped in biblical truths.

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.

http://www.exministries.com
Minister G. Craige Lewis

I listened and watched several videos videos by Minister G. Craige Lewis. Below, I've typed notes from the revelation the Holy Spirit has given him. I thank God for imparting different callings and revelation to people within the body of Christ. Enjoy and please send a link to this article to as many Christians as you can. Thank you.

HIP HOP MUSIC -- There’s something that’s now rocking America; it’s worst than a bomb. It’s now created a bunch of young [Christian and non-Christian] people who totally defy order. The churches have now embraced it, hip hop, and the whole world is being rocked by the impact of it. The enemy started planning this demonic hip-hop strategy in the Zulu nation in Africa and even all the way back to Pharaoh. The enemy began to prepare something to catch and captivate the minds of young people to pull them straight into his own belly. This is the hip-hop culture. This means church youth [and adults] will and are beginning to worship the devil through hip hop music. It’s plain and simple. Our youth [and adults] need deliverance from this because the music and videos have created an open door into their young lives.

Why do Christian parents allow their children to buy clothes that promote godless, perverted artists – like Sean Jean, Rocawear. Biggie Smalls, when he was living, had a group called The Junior Mafia – it was broken into three groups. Each group was called a 6. The entire junior mafia was called 666. Right before Biggie Smalls died, he was preparing to start a clothing line to be named 666. And had this come to fruition, would Christian parents have allowed their children to purchase these clothes and wear even wear them in the house of God. Of course, 666 is the mark of the beast. So what’s a simple strategy the devil uses to promote the anti-Christ agenda, he raises up superstars – like Biggie Smalls, like Beyonce, like Jay-Z.

Russell Simmons [former husband of Kimora Lee Simmons] is the owner of Phat Farm clothing line. His house looks like a gym and in his basement he has a statute of Kali. Kali is the Indian yoga goddess of death and destruction. He prays to this statue every morning. Kali had followers that would worship her stature back in the 19th century. They sacrificed money, jewels and possessions to this goddess. When people came into the temple to worship Kali, men came into the temple to beat up whoever was worshipping Kali. They were robbers and thieves. These men would put the jewels in their mouths and hide all of the possessions they stole. These men were named thugs. Russell Simmons is pegged as a godfather of hip-hop and he worships the goddess that rules over these thugs. The word thug is synonymous to the hip-hop culture. Many people in hip-hop refer to themselves as thugs. There is a new show getting ready ready to air [at the end of 2009] about Tupac titled Thug Angel.

These artists in the hip-hop culture begin to take on thug characteristics and conjure up and channel these very demonic spirits of the thugs back from the 19th century. [There are pictures available to compare facial expressions of body mannerisms so you can see how identical.] 50 Cent, Slim Thug, Mike Jones, Young Buck, Lil John – these guys are glorifying being thugs. This is demonic worship or familiar spirits as scripture calls it. Notice the facial expressions of these hip-hoppers [view videos on YouTube by Minister G. Craige Lewis]. In the form of entertainment, satan is using these hip-hoppers to promote the anti-Christ agenda. Yes, they even put their extravagant jewelry in their mouths, just like the thugs from the 19th century that stole from those who worshipped the idol god Kali in the temple.

Jay-Z calls himself jehovah god. He believes he is god. He does not believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He believes the Black man is god. His clothing line is Rocawear. And why are Christians buying these clothes and even sporting them to church? He has an album called The Black Album and there’s a song on there that you have to play in reverse. These are the lyrics when the song is played in reverse – 666, murder, murder Jesus, 666. [The video of this song being played backwards is posted on this site for you to hear.] Yes, these are the subliminal messages Jay-Z is sending to those listening to this song. And why are Christians supporting him again? Have you noticed that hip-hop clothing is in every department store now. Wake up saints! We wonder what's wrong with our youth and young adults. We wonder why the atmosphere in our homes are not peaceful. Well -- this hip-hop music and the videos create many open doors for you, your children and young adults to invite the demonic right on in to your home, car and life.

Remember the old song, Another One Bites The Dust. When that song was played backwards or in reverse, it said, I like to smoke marijuana. When kids were interviewed, the kids said, they just wanted to get high, they wanted to smoke weed. The kids and adults didn’t have any idea why these thoughts and urges were coming upon them. Christians, saints, believers -- there are only two forces in the world -- God who was Jesus in the flesh and satan. God who is available to us now through The Holy Spirit is omnipotent. As we know, satan can only be in one place at a time. So, what does satan do? He uses demons to do his work. He has assigned demons everywhere. To you, your family, your community, your church, your denomination, your city, your country, your institutions, your governments, your companies, your vocations, and, of course, the media, education and entertainment industries.

The following article is property of EX Ministries' Web site. The information that Charisma did not publish!

A few months ago we were approached by Charisma magazine to do an interview. We have been asked by several national talk shows and publications to give interviews. We always pray and proceed with caution. EX Ministries is not in the business of seeking to promote our cause or message through nationally distributed magazines, however when we were approached by Charisma, we agreed to do the article. We agreed partly because, Charisma has a reputation of being edgy and also they informed me that they were doing an article anyway, whether I agreed to the interview or not.

So I gave them the whole story and answered their questions only after they promised that they would print exactly what I said. Further more, I found that just a year or so prior to this, they had released an issue with a very lengthy cover story on holy hip hop and its use in the black church. I hoped that they would give us the same consideration and print the information we gave them so that it would answer questions and warn others about the dangers of hip-hop.

In the February 2007 issue, they printed the article about us, and much to my surprise, they were very reserved with editing my answers and hardly printed any thing that we addressed in our interview. Although we do not feel the article was directly negative towards our stand, we do feel that the meat of the matter was never really dealt with. I would think that this information would be important enough to discuss with as much intensity as the article they did on holy hip hop, but once again, the booty shaking, grilled mouthed, inmate mimicking, embarrassment to our race, hip hoppers, were lifted up and the truth behind hip hop was snubbed.

Since Charisma didn’t print our interview in its original format, we decided to give you the full list of questions and answers uncut and unedited, as I corresponded with their journalist. This is the information that the 700 Club, Gospel Today, Charisma, and many others will not print for whatever reason.

Charisma Magazine Artical Uncut

JB of Charisma Magazine -What is the goal of your DVD series The Truth Behind Hip Hop?

G. Craige Lewis - Actually, we have no goals for the DVD because we never pursued or planned to record a DVD. One of the most dangerous things that I believe has infected the body of Christ is self-promotion. Yet, this is what most pastors or traveling evangelist are told they must do to get the word out. If the word they were trying to get out was their own then promoting it would be fine. However, if its God’s Word then I believe that God is responsible to promote it. The Truth Behind Hip-Hop is definitely an example of that. The series came about as a result of my traveling and preaching The Truth Behind Hip Hop for two years prior to the DVD. The 1st DVD was recorded in 2002 at the request of a ministry in my area. Initially, I turned them down, because I didn’t want to change the way God was getting the message out. However, after I prayed, the ministry approached me again and the Lord told me to let them record it. The recording didn’t cost me a dime of my own money and besides that, we never mass-marketed it, signed a distribution deal, or tried to promote it ourselves. Yet, through word of mouth and just making them available on our site quite a few people have ordered the DVD’s. What are my goals and desires for the DVD’s? I never planned for DVD’s in the first place. Simply put, I want what God wants and that is for every believer to deny himself and follow Christ!

JB of Charisma Magazine -Your message on secular hip-hop is clear, however, I didn't see where you offered an alternative or solution to what our young people should be listening to. Could you please explain further on this?

G. Craige Lewis - This is dealt with in our 3rd DVD, Antichrist Superstar. We believe that God is not an alternative! He should never be put in the position to replace something that should have never been there in the first place. Consider this, a young person is saved and delivered from an addiction to drugs and the church gives them holy drugs as an alternative? This is absurd. Yet this what so-called holy-hip-hoppers are doing. That young person doesn’t need an alternative drug; the drugs should have never been in their lives in the first place. We teach young people that Jesus Christ is the WAY! Seek him and find him and you will know then what is good and acceptable according to the unction that is within you, called the anointing! We are here to push people into the face of God not by offering replacements, but rather using the written word of God and exposing the darkness and deception that exists in their lives whether through music, or any other form of idol worship. God is first. Once you seek him, you will know in your heart what is good for your mind and soul. Some people think that I am anti-music. As a musician and former producer, I have recorded plenty of music; I have friends who record good Christian music; and according to some trends in ministry, I should be taking the bad stuff and then selling them my stuff—but God has not told me to do that. I preach the message that God has told me to preach and let the Holy Spirit, PASTORS, YOUTH PASTORS, and parents do the rest.

JB of Charisma Magazine -What are your feelings toward the holy hip-hop movement?

G. Craige Lewis - Holy hip hop is ridiculous. It makes no sense. It's just another tool of the enemy to make our young black males act, dress, and behave in a manner that is only beneficial to a rap star and those that profit from it. Although, these antics may be entertaining to some, to the average black man, these behaviors are roadblocks that halt their forward progress in the true culture we live in called the American culture! Dressing like gang members, wearing your hair like women, sagging your pants like inmates, and speaking broken English is, by the American standard, unacceptable behavior and will continue to be a hindrance in the future of our generation. Why would a church embrace that? Why would a church promote that? Out of desperation, many churches are resorting to holy thugs and gospel gangsta's to entertain their youth while the adults are worshipping. You see, you can't minister to teens about self-love, self-promotion, self-empowerment, and all the fluff messages that our new mega-church era is overrun with. Kids won't sit through, what I call the top-pop sermons of the neo-penecostal movement: Miracle, season, harvest, breakthrough, favor, destiny, and purpose. Only adults will chase that stuff. Kids want it real. Therefore, to keep them entertained without a true heart for their souls, you must do what is popular to them. You must mimic the world, follow the world's lead, and subscribe to the current trends and fads if you don't have a true call to minister. Therefore, the holy hip hoppers have found a way to masquerade as the answer while they sell their music and promote themselves. They sound just like the secular stuff. They look just like the secular stuff. They even listen to the secular stuff to get their sound and flavor. So, all they really do is build the desire for the kids to go out and get the real stuff but just do the imitation while at church, cause that's what is available!

JB of Charisma Magazine -Jesus translated the gospel into terms that people could understand [i.e. parables and storytelling]. Do you feel this can be OK for our culture as well? Can hip-hop be used in this way? Why or why not? I think of it as the same as different publishing companies providing different translations of the Bible. I also think of Paul's verse that said he is all things to all men [1 Corinthians 9:22], except a backslider and unrepentant sinner, of course!

G. Craige Lewis - First of all Jesus didn’t translate the Gospel He was the Gospel, the Gospel is the record of His life, death and resurrection. Secondly, He didn’t speak in parables so that people could understand. Ironically, it was just the opposite: He spoken in parables so that the truth would be hidden to those who thought themselves wise and prudent.

Matt. 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Matt. 13:10 And the disciples came and said to Him, Why do You speak to them in parables?

Matt. 13:11 Jesus answered them, To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.

Matt. 13:12 For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.

Matt. 13:13 Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

If anyone has seen any of our DVD’s or have ever heard me speak, they will know that we teach and preach that hip-hop is not just a genre of music. Hip-hop is a lifestyle. It is a manner of life. When a person comes to Christ He changes his lifestyle. Furthermore, hip hop's origin causes it to be useless when it comes to ministry. The word hip hop, according to the founders of the culture and the pioneers of the music art form, was first used in the clubs by the Sugar Hill Gang. Remember that song that said, hip hop, hippy to the hop, don't stop rocking ...? Well, that song was using the two words hip hop to describe women's booty's shaking to their beats in the club. Basically, in it's simplest form, hip hop means booty shaking! Your hips hop to the beats. Just look at the last twenty-years of hip-hop videos: the clothes changed, the music changed, even the lyrics changed but one thing that always remained the same is the gratuitous camera shot of girls hips hopping. We can quote “I became all things to all men …” all we want to; but I don’t think Paul ever meant that he would make the people’s booty shake to win them to Christ. Moreover, how in the world can you have holy booty shaking? Sure, the youth will come to shake their butts and throw up their hood signs, but will they be changed? We have seen millions of youth saved, set free, and delivered, and we have never used any kind of music to draw them.

JB of Charisma Magazine - Since I have begun to research this article I have come across some interesting observations. If it is OK, I would like to explore these with you. It is said that hip-hop culture can be looked at the same as American culture. Both have their up sides and their down sides. If you showed someone from another country all the American strip clubs, bars, jails, and ghettos, perhaps they would see America in a terrible way. But if we showed that America also had churches, good will and charity organizations, sports, great universities [that is up for argument, but anyway] :-)), one would see American in a more realistic light. It has been said that the hip-hop culture is also the same way. The bad is very bad, but there are very positive things that come out of the culture -- creativity, holy hip-hop, political voice, a point of connection to express and release the pain of this generation. How do you feel about such comments/observations?

G. Craige Lewis - Hip-hop is a sub-cultural movement, and cannot be compared to an ethnographic or demographic culture. A subculture is defined as a group with distinctive characteristics within a larger culture. This is why we say that hip-hop is at best, a subculture. Furthermore, its not a movement based on it's own concepts but it is a subculture that uses basic deconstruction of words and concepts to cause those that are apart of it to strive to be more visible in our present society. Initially, hip- was created out of lack and fatherless-ness. Young boys whose father's were absent began to adhere to the streets rather than abiding by the rules that govern success in society. The streets life became their expression and selling drugs, murdering, and fathering illegitimate children became their motes operandi since they had no authoritative male figures to look up to. This birthed the clothing, the language, and the social rejection that gave way for this subculture to emerge. All that we see now is a result of lack and fatherless-ness. Should we adapt to that? Or should we show a better way? Should we promote Christian gangsta's and holy thugs? Or should we teach them that the street life is not the only way there is? There is no way to compare the American culture with a street life subculture that was birthed out of rebellion and recklessness. You can't rebel against a culture that you are apart of and expect to excel in that cultures system. So, if you are not a rapper or DJ or some other occupation that is financed by the subculture of hip hop, then you won't make it in the true American culture. Rebellion will only label you an outcast or reject and cause you to be ridiculed and immobilized.

JB of Charisma Magazine - Another thing I would like to better understand is that you mentioned that hip-hop comes from the devil and that it is satan's trick to cause people to worship him and receive his mark. Did you mean all hip-hop?

G. Craig Lewis - Please allow me to restate your question referring to my earlier definition: Did I mean all booty-hop came from the devil? Hmmmm … ultimately yes. However, before I answer where hip-hop came from, let me clear up where it didn’t come from. Obviously, booty-hop did not come from God. I hear a lot people [mostly holy-hip-hoppers] trying to refer to hip-hop in its purest form. Referring to hip-hop as a pure form is like trying to refer to crack as a pure form. crack in itself is a hybrid of cocaine and other chemicals used to cut it. Yet the reason holy hip-hoppers try to make this quantum leap in logic, is so they can somehow say that hip-hop is a gift from God. One very popular Grammy nominated Holy-hip-hop group suggest that on judgment day God will judge us based on what we did with Hip-hop. God has nothing to do with hip-hop. The founding fathers of hip-hop all readily admit that men created hip-hop out of rebellion. So technically, man created hip-hop, but rebellion inspired it. The Bible clearly states that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. What spirit governs rebellion and witchcraft? The devil. So what about holy hip-hip? Surely, they distinguish themselves from the rebellious element of hip-hop don’t they? No, they can’t. Jesus said a kingdom divided against itself can’t stand. Holy hip-hoppers dress like secular hip-hoppers; behave like secular hip-hoppers [throwing up gang signs] and even listen to secular hip-hop so they can emulate them. At one of the holy hip-hop awards shows, a fight broke out east coast against west coast just like secular hip-hop.

When most holy hip hop artists rap, they never refer to it as Holy, but just hip hop. Why is that? Because, there is only one subculture of hip hop and it is not holy! KRS-ONE, the lead prophet and spokesperson for hip hop says that Biggie was [the counterfeit] John the Baptist and Tupac Shakur was [the counterfeit] Jesus Christ and they died for our sins! He is revered and looked up to as the father of holy hip hop. He says in hip hop there are no gods and goddesses, we are the gods and goddesses! He even has T-Bone and BB Jay on his CD called Spiritually Minded, which is sold in Mardels, Family Christian, and all major Christian bookstores. He says he is a prophet and is here to teach the truth about Jesus. He says we are all Jesus Christs and should not worship him or call his name out, but be Jesus. He has Temples of hip hop all over the country and is meeting with holy hip hoppers to join together in efforts to promoting hip hop in the church! In our discussion with Ambassador of the Cross Movement, we urged him to call what he was doing Christian rap and not subscribe to hip hop culture. We asked him why couldn't he just rap for the Lord and use his ability to create rhymes for God without giving credit or props to hip hop. He said he couldn't. He is apart of the hip hop culture and would not denounce it. All rappers believe that rap is the music, but hip hop is the lifestyle or the way of life. This tells us that all hip hoppers have an agenda. Not to just rap, but to promote a rebellious way of life! Hip-hop takes what was once seen as bad and makes it good. Thugs, pimps, and gangstas was once seen as bad but hip-hop says that its good. Holy hip-hoppers are governed by this fundamental element and try to sanctify hip-hip by adding one word holy to everything. Now they say holy thugs, and gospel gangstas as if this will change the essence of hip-hop terms.

JB of Charisma Magazine -And also, what did you mean when you later said that satan can't create anything, that he is anti-God and anti-creation? Just to clarify, it appeared that there was a contradiction in that point. Could you explain your complete thoughts on that?

G. Craige Lewis - Satan did not create hip hop, but he used man to create it. Man has a unique ability that was not giving to satan. Man has God's attribute of creation. The devil took the music, the fatherless-ness, and the false god worship of the Zulu nation, and fused it together to form an anti-Christian movement of Hip Hop. I don't believe the devil created all the things that make up the movement, but he did mastermind the culmination of them all.

JB of Charisma Magazine - Also, how would you respond to the argument that people may bring up from Colossians 1:16-17: For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist? I have heard this text used to defend that use of hip-hop to glorify God and to win people to Christ.

G. Craige Lewis - There is NO biblical example of music ever being used to win souls to Christ or to evangelize. Music as a unique ability to coerce your mind and physiologically causes the release of pleasure chemicals in your brain. Because of this, it's hard for a person to make a good sound decision for Christ with the emotional trappings of music involved. Their decision will be based on feeling rather than fact. I believe that this accounts for much of the schizophrenic Christianity of the modern Church. Many churches heavily use music during their altar calls and people make a decision for Christ without being soberly minded. This leads to a conversion that is based on their emotions rather than their sound judgment. When they go back to their former environment and their emotions change they turn away from God. There is no biblical account of music being listed as a fold in the five-fold ministry or used by the apostles to draw a crowd. Jesus said no man cometh unless the Spirit of God draws him. If you notice, the only people that are really pushing hip hop in the churches are those that profit from it. Since when did the resale industry's method become our model for winning souls? When I speak, we never use music and hard core gang members, pimps, whores, drug dealers, drug users, etc. have come to Christ by the thousands without hip hop or any music!

JB of Charisma Magazine -What do you think of holy hip-hop churches and ministries?

G. Craige Lewis - What's next? What is the church going to do to reach the red-light district? Or the strippers? Are we going to dress up like whores and start whore ministries to reach them? Are we going to dress up like pimps to reach pimps or cross dress to reach homosexuals? [Believe me, some are probably behind the scenes trying to set up these movements even as we speak.] People need the power of the Holy Ghost to change them, not our methods. These are the purpose driven churches that are really people driven! They want big numbers and large offerings, so they turn to fleshly methods and the promotion of their own ideas rather than preaching the truth of the Word of God without compromise. If the holy hip hop churches and ministries were really affective, they would be in the streets with their kind and not in some building acting street! I want all pastors and ministries that are holding on and not giving in to this perverted move of carnality by embracing this demonic sub-culture to know something. You are not alone!

There are hundreds of thousands of churches and ministries out there that are not giving in and just because you see the mega pastors and conferences trying to push this hip hop agenda, stick with what God is telling you. There is something wrong with boys sagging their pants and tattooing their bodies. There is something wrong with girls dressing and acting like prostitutes and hookers. There is something wrong with gospel gangsters and holy thugs wearing grillz and speaking broken English. Stay true to what you know God is saying. Teach the parents and they will effectively minister to their children. Don't sideswipe their authority by bringing in the very images and lifestyles that parents and the education system of America is trying to change.

JB of Charisma Magazine - Thank you Elder Lewis for your responses. I see in one of your answers that you asked to one of the members of Cross Movement to call their music Christian rap. It appears from this dialog that you do not have a problem with someone rapping Christian lyrics -- just not subscribing to the hip-hop lifestyle. Is this assumption correct? Also, what style of music would you say is appropriate for Christians to listen to? Or maybe you wouldn't tell someone what to listen, but how would you teach someone to choose the kind of music that truly glorifies God?

G. Craige Lewis - I am not against rap, or any style of music, but I do not believe that Christian music should exalt the performer at all. If it's Christian, or Christ-like, it should exalt only Christ. The holy hip hoppers promote themselves all in their music because hip hop is self expressive and self serving. That is against the plan of Christ, self denial! I believe a Christian should seek God in every way possible and deny their flesh in every way possible. This includes selfish music that causes us to move in an inappropriate manner or songs that lift up people as idols and do not lift up Christ. Self denial is the root of Salvation and must be practiced as Paul said, daily. So, with our investigative estimations of the gospel music industry being over 95 percent homosexual, self worship is being promoted in music and self promotion is key in being successful as an artists. The only example of this in the Bible is Lucifer, the angel that the bible says iniquity was found in him because of his much merchandising! It also states in Ezekial that the iniquity of his traffic [self promotion] got him cast out and labeled profane.

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Free at last, free at last … thank God Almighty I’m free at last! I clearly remember that sunny Saturday almost 15 years ago. It was the day my 20-year masturbation addiction finally died.

Instead of sleeping in I got up early, determined to rake and bag a yard full of leaves. Around noon I was sweaty and tired, but felt accomplished as I finished twist-tying and hauling the last heavy bag to the sidewalk for pickup.

Afterward a much-needed shower, my thoughts turned to relaxing in bed with a book or even dozing off. As I lay there reading, my still-damp hair cooling the back of my neck, that old familiar urge to satisfy myself suddenly visited. Quickly I thought of how many times in the past weeks I had said no to the urge and how good I had felt about these victories. Not wanting to lose any ground I had gained, I cried out to God for help and just as quickly I heard His still, small Voice, Take a walk.

Much as I didn’t want to go back out into the heat and humidity after feeling so cool and clean, I knew that I needed to obey because the conditions were ripe for a fall. I forced myself up, put on some clean, comfortable clothes and called my dog who was always up for a walk. I don’t remember anything exceptional about that walk except that later I realized it really was my final victory lap in a very long and frustrating race. Yeah! The enemy of my soul had finally lost in yet another area and God and I had finally won!

So how did masturbation get such power over me that I was hooked for two decades? Well, it all started when I was a kid -- where many life-controlling habits, good and bad, have their roots. As a pre-teen a friend loaned me a XXX-rated paperback and I, unwisely, read the raunchy rag. It planted some really rotten seeds in my mind and heart that years later sprouted into a garden of weeds. One of those weeds was masturbation.

Nothing happened for five years. Then one day while I was alone -- and lonely -- [not a good combination, to say the least] the pornographic words [and resultant images] that had been imprinted on my mind revisited my thoughts and I bought their dumb lies! I listened to the thoughts telling me to just try it and rationalized what could just trying it’ hurt? A lot.

Almost instantly I got high on a feeling [as the song goes], which led to another good feeling episode, then another and another till this little secret became a monthly, then a weekly, and sometimes a daily routine. I wanted it yet I hated it, always fearful of getting caught. Then what?! I couldn’t bear the thought! But then I couldn’t stop either ‘cause the urge was too strong by now. Yuk! I was stuck!

And wouldn’t you know it, this insatiable lust brought its friends who soon became part of my persona [or so it seemed]: depression, roller coaster emotions, sarcasm, mocking, self-hate, and a bunch of other unsavory emotions. Yeah, right, just try it! Forget that! Try it and get hooked - by a crook [The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy John 10:10 reads.] is more like it!

Sometime after I got hooked I overheard someone say that the woman who used to live in the room where my addiction began What I didn’t know when I had engaged in some really perverted sex acts. started this supposedly innocent, feel good habit is that I, who had already been seeded with porn trash five years earlier, had unknowingly walked into a major trap/ambush that further stole my innocence and other beautiful gifts God meant for me to enjoy -- plus take heaps of humility to shed.

So now you know how I got hooked. Let’s move on to the good part - how I got free - and how you can too! In a word: accountability. I remembered the power of this amazing tool from when I attended an Anonymous program that helped me dump another bad habit -- overeating.

The leader at one particular meeting I attended told the group that if the urge to pig out came, the solution was to phone someone in the Anonymous group. Wouldn’t ya know it, a few days later I needed that advice. I bravely got up the courage to call the number and guess what? It worked! With my pig out food in front of me and my anonymous friend on the line, I told her what I was about to do and sort of challenged her to talk me out of it.

She didn’t freak out or get offended, she just asked me what had recently happened. [Later I learned it was to reveal what triggered my binge so that she could help me avoid future set-ups and upsets]. Then she listened, which helped a lot. After dumping a bunch of pain into her ear, I suddenly realized that I was breathing more easily and no longer wanted to stuff my face with junk food when I wasn’t even hungry! It was amazing! I couldn’t care less about pigging out now because I was feeling something far better -- self respect! Cool! So I told her that then thanked her and threw the rest of the junk food away.

It wasn’t exactly that way with getting free from masturbation, but the whole ‘blowing the lid off the shame thing’ was almost identical. I had said I wanted to get free for quite awhile, but when the temptation to satisfy myself came - usually around the time of my monthly cycle - I would make excuses and once again fall.

It seemed like fantasy had a lot to do with it too, and not always sexual fantasies either. Sometimes living-in-the- future-fantasies, like day dreaming about what a fairytale life I was going to have … some day. But once I climaxed, the fantasies and the good feelings both disappeared and I went back to my roller coaster life with some exciting ups, but also a ton of painful downs.

Then I got into relationship with a person -- who later became my spouse. While he also had a bunch of addictive habits -- this wasn’t one of them and he didn’t judge me -- at least not in this area. [Now between us, unless you’re married to someone who won’t condemn you, make sure your accountability partner isn’t someone [male or female] who is going to tempt you to sin sexually or in other ways].

So one day after falling … again, I decided to try the accountability thing that had worked with overeating. And guess what? It worked! Now, please understand, it took a lot of courage to admit to him what I had just done [masturbated], but I really wanted to get free. Because of this strong desire for freedom, I became willing to pay the price [of exposing my shame] and I did.

When I confessed that first time I was really embarrassed and I sheepishly used a code word that I knew we’d both understood. Inside I braced myself for a look [of condemnation], a sarcastic remark [I sure had said a bunch of them!] or a lecture, but instead received a gift. Very simply and kindly he said, I forgive you.

Wow, did that feel good! Before he could change his mind or say anything else I simply accepted his gift, got up and joyfully went on with my life. Wow, I remember thinking, I could get hooked on that feeling!

As good as that high was, it only lasted a few days and then the M-demons returned to tempt me again. Yup, I gave in … again. Sigh. Bummer! But, inside I knew that I was gaining ground. Why? Because I knew I had a tool [accountability] that I could use to win -- if only I would use it. So, the next time the urge came, I told myself that if I gave in I would have to confess. I did fall … but I also confessed! And you know what? It worked!

The urge to masturbate became less and less with each passing month because I used this have to confess approach, which made me think twice before falling again. Then finally I was able to confess before falling and then eventually not fall at all! I strongly believe that because the demons in me knew that I was going to expose them to the Light [Jesus said in John 8:12, I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

Like scattering roaches that hate being exposed to the light, they hid [quieted down] and eventually left. They had lost their captive [me] because they saw that I wasn’t giving them any more agreement or legal ground. From that sunny Saturday to today -- almost 15 years -- I AM FREE!

I have to give God and my forgiving, patient accountability partner a lot of credit as it took me about 10 years from the first time I first confessed this shameful habit to finally get and stay 100% free. Another really big help in overcoming this and other addictive behaviors was praying A LOT in the Holy Spirit or praying in tongues, [aka one’s heavenly prayer language].

Here’s some really good scriptures you can look up about this wonderful gift: Luke 11: 9-13; Acts 2; I Corinthians 14: 2, 18; and Jude 1:20. If you don’t have this awesome, powerful gift, I HIGHLY recommend you seek God to receive it because when you pray in the spirit, you pray beyond your own understanding [read Romans 8:26 - 28] and you allow the Holy Spirit to pray through you. He gives you all sorts of help in overcoming this and any other shameful habits because God doesn’t want you addicted to anything or anyone but Him. He’s so awesome!

Also, I know that some Christian leaders say that masturbation is not so bad and they downplay its effects, but if you’ve ever been hooked, like I was, you know it’s such bondage! One leader, however, whose words really did help me said this, I’ve never known anyone who wanted to move on in the things of God who didn’t have to deal with this issue [referring to masturbation] if it was a problem for them. I agree.

There are all sorts of rotten spirits that come with this package. One of them is independence: I don’t need men or women. I can satisfy myself is the attitude. Wrong! God made us to be interdependent, not independent. We do need each other -- a lot more than we sometimes think. Some of the other trashy spirits that often hang out with masturbation are uncleanness, lust, shame, self-hatred, mistrust, fear, fantasy lust, perversion, self-pity, sarcasm, mocking and the victim and predator spirits. Yuk!

You don’t want that mess and God sure doesn’t want it for you either! So get honest with yourself and Him and confess the fantasy and selfishness [lust is selfish; love is selfless] as sin and ask Him to show you if there is anyone [including yourself] that you need to forgive so that you can really be really free. Forgive? Yes, forgive.

You see, what I realized is that I could have gotten free a lot sooner if I had known that “the axe is laid unto the root of the trees” [see Matthew 3:10]. But I do now and so can you!! Also, ask Him to guide you to at least one other trusted human being who can help you as an accountability partner. He will and you too can get and stay free!

Also, there are some really helpful books. One that rocked my world is The Broken Image [ISBN: 0-8010-5334-X], by Leanne Payne. On pages 77 - 81 she shares about a man named Randy, an artist, who struggled with habitual masturbation and how it inhibited not only his personal life, but also his artistic endeavors.

This really made sense to me because soon after that sunny Saturday when I got fully and finally free [although it was the many coming clean times before that wonderful day that eventually led to my final freedom], I started writing poetry and joyfully dancing before God. And it was really cool ‘cause an artist friend of mine told me that she saw a real increase in my level of creativity. Another book that some friends highly recommended, but which I haven’t read is, Single, Saved and Having Sex by Ty Adams, [ISBN: 0-9740132-0-X].

Another place where you can find help is L.I.F.E. Inc., Box 353, New York, NY 10185, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 212-768-2366.

The Shame, Fear & Control, a CD series can be purchased here .

I know it’s not easy to fess up, but it is so freeing and so necessary if you want to really enjoy your life and not be in bondage to this or other addictive habits. May I pray for you?

Lord Jesus, you know everything about this person and you love him/her deeply. You know that he/she really wants freedom from this addiction or he/she wouldn’t be reading this right now. You set me free and You “do not show favoritism” [read Acts 10:34] so I ask you to give them this marvelous gift of freedom too. Help them recognize that You’re a good God, a loving Daddy and a Friend who wants to help them to be all they can be. Daddy, you gave me the courage and ability to obey I Corinthians 6:18, which reads flee from sexual immorality.

All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. So please give them the peace of God, which passes all understanding too [read Philippians 4:7]. Would you also guide them to people and places where they can find one or more trusted accountability partner(s) so they too can get and stay free and then help others do the same? Thank You, Lord! I love and trust You to do what you promised in Your word: … and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” [read John 6:37].

In the might and marvelous name of Jesus Christ,

Amen! [which means, So be it!]

Victim and Predator Spirit Prayer That You Can Pray

I give you permission God, to remove any and all traces of victim and predator spirit and I declare to you God that I need your strength and guidance to change.

I repent of any actions on my part of submitting wrongfully to any predator spirit in any person.

I repent of giving them authority over me. Lord Jesus, please forgive me.

I fire every authority figure and person, who has preyed on me.

Every teacher, mentor, boss, pastor, peer, babysitter and family member.

I forgive everyone who has used me as a victim.

I declare today that I am no longer a victim, or a predators’ puppet.

I sever myself, body, soul, and spirit, from every ungodly attachment that has been made between myself and any predator.

I take back from any predator, all wrong power and authority that I gave them over myself, that would determine a wrong identity in me, or any ungodly response. I give that authority back to the Lord Jesus, who really determines my identity and destiny.

Where I have been a predator, I repent of any action and loose any control I have had over anyone in regard to that area. Please forgive me Jesus.

I place You Jesus back on the throne of my heart.

I declare victory over failure. I declare that I shall have dominion over my life, my circumstances and my responsibilities as appointed to me by the Lord Jesus, amen.

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