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I'm trying to get a better understanding of Middle Knowledge ..... I've read several articles on both sides of the issue, and wondering if Middle Knowledge is really Biblical ... Does anyone have a good grasp of this issue, and whether or not there are serious problems with Middle Knowledge?

One other note: All day yesterday up until late last night, Safari was working just fine. I shut my computer down last night, then when I booted up this morning, Safari would not work. Could this somehow cause Safari to not work ... ??? Maybe Safari will mysteriously start working again ......

I don't want to upgrade to Lion on my internal HD. I will buy an external HD and install Lion on that. I have lots of older software and files that I'm need to access, and I'm concerned that Lion will not be compatible .... I'm am currently running Snow Leopard 10.6.8. The only version of Safari that will run with 10.6.8 is Safari 5.1, so I'm stuck. I already tried deleting Safari and installing an older version, but they are all System Specific ....

Just when I though that Safari was working ok, it is now doing exactly the same thing as before .... I've tried deleting the plist many times, resetting Safari many times, clicking on links in my e-mail messages and other active links, which open Safari, but it still will not work. Restarted my computer, but that also did not help. Looks like the newest version of Safari has some very serious bugs .... Hopefully the developers will fix this bug soon ....

Just when I though that Safari was working ok, it is now doing exactly the same thing as before .... Error Message says something like cannot connect to server. We have seven devices that get online everyday, not counting the X-Box. So there is nothing wrong with our Internet. Google Chrome and Firefox are working just fine. I've tried deleting the plist many times, resetting Safari many times, clicking on links in my e-mail messages and other active links, which open Safari, but it still will not work. Restarted my computer, but that also did not help. Looks like the newest version of Safari has some very serious bugs .... Hopefully the developers will fix this bug soon ....

Very strange ... I opened up an e-mail message in Mail, then clicked on one of the links in the message, and Safari open right up with no problems! Safari has been working ever since, for several days now. There was one issue with a webpage I frequent everyday many times, got the same error message, but a few hours later, that webpage opened up, and is still working. I don't use Proxies. We have seven devices that get on the Internet daily, not counting the X-Box, so I don't think there are any problems with our Internet connection, the Modem or Router. I've tried several other browsers and they are working just fine (Firefox and Google Chrome). I'm wondering if perhaps there is a bug in Safari (as other people have suggested) .....

Something is terribly wrong with Safari ... I keep getting a error message: "Safari can't connect to the server." "Safari can't open the page "http://www.apple.com/startpage/" because Safari can't connect to the server "www.apple.com". Doesn't matter which webpage I try to access, Safari doesn't work anymore. I've tried deleting the Cache, Cookies, plist. I just deleted Safari altogether and all Safari files that I could find, emptied the Trash, then downloaded the most recent version of Safari from Apple, and installed. Still have exactly the same problem. Several days ago, I Reset Safari, which fixed the problem for a couple days. I've tried to Reset Safari many times today, but still have the same problem .... Is this an issue with Snow Leopard 6.8? Any ideas how to fix this issue ... ???

All I'm saying is that mysticism isn't idolatry, witchcraft, soothsaying, false prophecies, astrology, magic, etc. Though many Christian's like to believe it is. Several of God's people in the bible like Paul and John have mystical elements to their experiences and writings. And mystics like John of the Cross and Catherine of Siena have attained a higher level of Christian faith and fruitage through it. The word is twofold. It comes from the word myeo meaning to initiate or consecrate, and myo, meaning close the eyes or mouth. Myticism is the higher consecration of man. And the question remains whether mysticism is genuinely scriptural, even in it's Christian form. It's difficult to define the word even in Christian terms. It's doubtful that there is any biblical support for mysticism. It's not an obvious occurance in scripture unless we deduct it ourselves in our interpretation. One meaning is to press beyond the external forms of religion to an attempted direct knowledge of God. The word isn't found in scripture. All you're saying is that you disagree and we disagree. Your disagreement doesn't change the truth and reality. The truth and reality are as stated, and the Scriptures do apply to the topic. Your narrowing the topic down to something isolated doesn't change the absolute facts that the larger picture still exists. In other words, you're arguing against facts that are intentionally addressed bluntly by the Holy Bible. Mystic MYS'TIC MYS'TICAL, a. [L.mysticus.] Obscure; hid; secret. The above is the big picture. If you still disagree with the facts - that's your problem. It's like saying this marble is blue, so marbles of other colors don't exist. Sure they do - you just have to look at other marbles. In other words, you're saying that because there are good examples that bad examples don't exist. Regardless, I'm through with this topic until new and anticipated information is posted. What do you think about Rick Warren and his staff members promoting books by the late Mystic Henri Nouwen? It shouldn't be hard for any true believer in Jesus Christ, who believes the Word of God (the Bible) to clearly understand that Christians should NOT be promoting books by Henri Nouwen!

And herein lies the problem .... The cults use these terms that are biblical to their own advantage, often seemingly harmless, like meditation, for example, which in the realm of Mysticism can easily lead one straight into the occult. Many people think they are entering the presence of God, when in fact, they are opening up doors to the other spiritual realm, with demonic activity instead .... Even signs and wonders can be from the enemy, deceiving many, as we see with Todd Bentley and associates ......

Good words of advice! I've started a document on my own, listing various terms and phrases that are used within Mysticism, New Age, and related practices. While reviewing these terms, I can see clearly the deception that the enemy is using .... Just a few terms I have listed so far include: -- center down, emergent church, centering, contemplative prayer, soaking -- grounding, divine center, quietism, meditation -- Christ in you (used by Mystics and the cults!), communion with the Divine, Master -- chanting, visions, dreams, revelation, meditation spiritual exercises -- contemplation, inner search, unity -- ancient wisdom, hidden mysteries, secret knowledge -- breakthrough, deep, presence of God, positive thinking -- energy, Christ-consciousness, healing, crystals, pyramids -- guided imagery, holistic, unity, transformation -- awakening, networking, rebirthing, yoga, trance -- channeling, therapeutic touch, relaxation, visualization -- bliss, harmony, God-consciousness, universal love -- self-realization, the I AM, higher self -- cosmic Christ, fall of man (not a Christian/Biblical definition) -- God (unbiblical definition), Jesus (not the Jesus of the Bible) -- avatar, Kabala, karma, Kundalini (very dangerous!!!) -- covenant, breath prayers, signs and wonders, contact with ascended masters -- soul travel, near death experiences, spirit guides -- positive thinking, possibility thinking, words have power -- speaking things into existence -- imaging, visions from Mary, apparitions related to Mary -- crying statues, slaying in the spirit -- laughing, strange sounds (related to Kundalini) With a little discernment, it's easy to see how the enemy can take what seems to be harmless, and fool people into following after doctrines of demons, and suck people right into the trap .... As is common with the cults, some terms are familiar with Christians, and seem to be ok, sound good, are enticing, attractive, seem harmless, but remember that these terms can be very deceiving, and lead you into something that is not as it seems .... The enemy comes as an angel of light, deceiving many .... May I copy this and keep it for myself? It is good to see them placed together! Love Steven Sure, go ahead and copy and post wherever you would like. If you want the full version, PM me .... (I'm still working on adding more terms, with definitions, examples, and references, to all the terms and phrases I'm compling).

I don't believe there's anyone in this thread who supports mysticism or has a low or complete disregard for the Word of God. If you want to discuss mysticism in the church than do that, but leave your judgments at the door. I wasn't referring to anyone in this thread .... Just checking, My apologies. Post deleted. No problem! I think sometimes my brain is outpacing my typing ... Could be my ADD, or just that I'm up way past my bedtime .... It's been really frustrating, trying to find people I can discuss these issues with, without getting blasted at every post I make! Some Christian forums are not very open to discussing this issue of Mysticism, unless you fully support Mysticism!

If anyone "plays" with lucid dreams and ends up on the wrong side of the fence, it's only because they are the ones who wanted to go there. There's danger in playing on the internet. In less than 30 seconds I can be visiting any number of unsavory sites. What makes these 2 things comparable is they can both be controlled. What makes these things distintive from one another is that while they can both be controlled, one can be shut off, the other one can't. We have the free will to pick and choose what we want in this world. The devil cannot force us to play his game. Those who fall prey to Satan, do so out of willfulness or ignorance of the Word. The Lucid Dream has no power of it's own. It's boundaries are defined by where we are willing to take it. Sin begins and ends in the heart of the believer. John 10 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father

You're awake the whole time. wow, you can actually do that!? Sounds amazing and since it's a dream it doesn't matter! It actually does matter because you're the one in control. Unlike a regular dream, Wake Initiated Lucid Dreams are experienced in a state of total consciousness. You know what's happening and have the ability to stop it at anytime. This is something new to me .... I've never experienced this ... I'm wondering if this experience with lucid dreaming could open up the doors to evil spirits .... ???

I don't believe there's anyone in this thread who supports mysticism or has a low or complete disregard for the Word of God. If you want to discuss mysticism in the church than do that, but leave your judgments at the door. You would be surprised at just how many people on Christian forums actually do have a low regard for the Bible! Again, I wasn't referring to anyone on this thread, but rather other forums I've encountered ...

I don't believe there's anyone in this thread who supports mysticism or has a low or complete disregard for the Word of God. If you want to discuss mysticism in the church than do that, but leave your judgments at the door. I wasn't referring to anyone in this thread ....