Sweet Servent

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad Autumn The longest period of hot weather since records began in 1659 has Britain's wildlife totally confused. Here are some examples October 22, 2006 UK Independent 1. Basking sharks in record numbers off west Scotland/Hebrides: Their zooplankton food is drawn north by the warmer waters. More than 300 seen in six months; normally found off Cornwall/ Devon. 2. European white storks, Darlington: a stork stayed in the area for four days. It is believed to be only the second bird of its type to appear there since the 1960s. 3. Stunning foliage: the Woodland Trust predicts a colourful autumn; catch the maples turning at Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury. 4. Conehead cricket, Cumbria: a rare insect and never before found this far north. 5. Primroses, Isle of Man: at least five months ahead of schedule, this September flowering is a sign of a spring plant truly confused by our increasingly warm climate. 6. Carpenter bee, Huddersfield: normally found in the Middle East and North Africa, this is the furthest north that the inch-long carpenter bee has been spotted. 7. Piranha, Stockport: this sharp-toothed predator from the Amazon river was caught in a Cheshire pond this month by 14-year-old Josh Boyle. Experts believe it to be an abandoned pet. 8. Giant sunfish, off Cornwall: up to 2m long, these monsters have always visited in summer. Now they come in greater numbers, and stay for up to 11 months of the year. 9. Stingrays, Cornwall/ Devon, sightings up 10-fold: placid creatures, but they can attack when provoked. 10. Conker crisis: up to 10 per cent of drought-weakened horse chestnuts infected with bleeding canker; fungus and moths attack the trees too. 11. Baby blackbirds, Sussex: magpies and blackbirds spotted building nests and rearing chicks, in an extended breeding season. A cold snap will spell disaster for them. 12. Blackberries, Margate: recorded 21 June in Kent, for BBC's "Autumnwatch". Average fruiting is 1 August now; it's no longer an autumn fruit. 13. Little egrets, London: this Mediterranean visitor regularly nests on the south coast; it has now established a breeding colony at Thames Water's Walthamstow reservoirs. 14. Wild grapevine, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex: a wild vine, with great bunches of black grapes, is thriving on a railway embankment. 15. Baby hedgehogs, countrywide: Hallswood Wildlife Sanctuary in Norfolk is caring for 20 babies. Warmth has led hedgehogs to rear new families that are unlikely to survive the winter hibernation. 16. Harlequin ladybird, Nottingham: from Asia, these invaders devour greenfly, leaving few for native ladybirds. First found here in 2004, they soon covered the South-east and this year have also been seen in Leicestershire and Wales. 17. Hummingbird hawkmoth, South Yorkshire: rare northern sighting; the moths' home is Central Asia and Japan.Spotted also in Surrey and London. People see them hovering and report "hummingbirds" in their gardens. 18. Speckled wood butterfly, Edinburgh: never before seen in central Scotland, one of these butterflies was spotted in a garden in Edinburgh. It is one of a number of species moving their usual habitat north. 19. Hoopoe, Aberdeen: the colourful birds are sometimes blown off course and land in the UK while migrating, but this one was a long way from its usual route. Hilda Fowlie spotted the bird - she said it grubbed for worms, then flew off. 20. Triggerfish, Thurso: found washed up in the extreme north of Scotland. Not uncommon in the English Channel but extremely rare so far north. One was also caught off the Isle of Man last week. http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article1919103.ece

That's just GROSS frozen poo!

"The Bible is very clear that there will be animals in heaven: Isaiah 65:25 (Amplified Bible) 25The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all My holy Mount [Zion], says the Lord. I have no doubt that our loving heavenly Father can resurrect our pets and make them part of our happiness in heaven. However, the Bible does not give any references to this, as the Bible was written for the salvation of mankind. (After all, something written for animals wouldn't do a lot of good when the animals can't read!!)" Ecclesiastes 3:17-19 (Amplified Bible) 17I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time [appointed] for every matter and purpose and for every work. 18I said in my heart regarding the subject of the sons of men, God is trying (separating and sifting) them, that they may see that by themselves [under the sun, without God] they are but like beasts. 19For that which befalls the sons of men befalls beasts; even [in the end] one thing befalls them both. As the one dies, so dies the other. Yes, they all have one breath and spirit, so that a [a]man has no preeminence over a beast; for all is vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility)! I expect to see all my old pets in Heaven. Kate

Sorry Leonard, my mistake I should have researched before opening my mouth. Below is the complete Catholic Bible. * The seven Deutero-Canonical books, missing from non-Catholic Bibles. Old Testament Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Josue Judges Ruth 1 Kings 2 Kings 3 Kings 4 Kings 1 Paralipomenon 2 Paralipomenon 1 Esdras 2 Esdras Tobias * Judith * Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Canticles Wisdom * Ecclesiasticus * Isaias Old Testament Jeremias Lamentations Baruch * Ezechiel Daniel Osee Joel Amos Abdias Jonas Micheas Nahum Habacuc Sophonias Aggeus Zacharias Malachias 1 Machabees * 2 Machabees * New Testament Matthew Mark Luke John Acts of Apostles Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Apocalypse The book of Enoch isn't in 'Catholic' Bibles either! It is however, quoted from several times in the Bible. It is interesting as a 'period piece' if you will, and shows how most 1st century Jews thought of the battle over Moses' body.....

I believe the apocryphal aren't within the 66 books of the Canon but within the Catholic Bible. I am sorry but I must stay within what God has given us the 66 books. Thank you, Kate

Angels service God and we are not to worship them. In Matthew 28:18, Christ said, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." Our Savior has complete control over all spirit beings. We should, therefore, direct all our requests for our needs to God, not to angels. Revelation 19:10 10Then I fell prostrate at his feet to worship (to pay divine honors) to him, but he [restrained me] and said, Refrain! [You must not do that!] I am [only] another servant with you and your brethren who have [accepted and hold] the testimony borne by Jesus. Worship God! For the substance (essence) of the truth revealed by Jesus is the spirit of all prophecy [the vital breath, the inspiration of all inspired preaching and interpretation of the divine will and purpose, including both mine and yours]. Revelation 22:8 8And I, John, am he who heard and witnessed these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell prostrate before the feet of the messenger (angel) who showed them to me, to worship him. 9But he said to me, Refrain! [You must not do that!] I am [only] a fellow servant along with yourself and with your brethren the prophets and with those who are mindful of and practice [the truths contained in] the messages of this book. Worship God! Hebrews 1:5-7 5For to which of the angels did [God] ever say, You are My Son, today I have begotten You [established You in an official Sonship relation, with kingly dignity]? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He will be to Me a Son? [iI Sam. 7:14; Ps. 2:7.] 6Moreover, when He brings the firstborn Son [d]again into the habitable world, He says, Let all the angels of God worship Him. 7Referring to the angels He says, [God] Who makes His angels winds and His ministering servants flames of fire;(A) Kate

I am sorry, but are you saying you had a dream about angels or ? I would suggest you do a study on Angels there are many different types of celestieal beings and they all have different jobs. Michael the Achangel is the protector of Isreal. He was also the Angel who fought with Satan for Moses body. Daniel 12:1-3 (Amplified Bible) 1 AND AT that time [of the end] Michael shall arise, the great [angelic] prince who defends and has charge of your [Daniel's] people. And there shall be a time of trouble, straitness, and distress such as never was since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the Book [of God's plan for His own]. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake: some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt and abhorrence.(A) 3 And the teachers and those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness (to uprightness and right standing with God) [shall give forth light] like the stars forever and ever.(B) This statement is right on: "I interpret this to mean "the time leading up to the end...just before the second coming of Christ" Kate I interpret this to mean "the time leading up to the end...just before the second coming of Christ" Okay, that's what I thought, too! Now, if you don't mind I want to ask you if you agree with the following statement: In a dream Angels represent help from the higher source inside a christian. The appearance of an angel may suggest a growing spiritual awareness.

I wasn't going into his political theories just the statement he made, I felt was true. As far as the environment, we haven't been good stewards of this planet. The fish have mercury, in California 60% of our drinking have unsafe levels of contamination, the ozone level is being depleted, top soil erosion, global warming, hunting to the point of extinction and the list goes on. God gave us this Planet to care for and we are doing a bad job. Man's greed and want for instant gratification haven

The statement he made is true, if I or my fellow Christian's do not vote or say anything (protest or discussions) then we are basically saying go ahead slaughter innocent life. Babies are a blessing and should not be treated like a disposable Kleenex just because it is inconvenient. There is only one reason to abort, if the mother will die such as in a tubular pregnancy. My friend had this happen and it was devastating to both she and her husband. But they had to terminate the pregnancy or the baby

"All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing." (Edmund Burke) First Trimester Week 2* Conception is the moment at which the sperm penetrates the ovum. Once fertilized it is called a zygote, until it reaches the uterus 3-4 days later. Week 4 The embryo may float freely in the uterus for about 48 hours before implanting. Upon implantation, complex connections between the mother and embryo develop to form the placenta. Week 6 The embryo is about 1/5 of an inch in length. A primitive heart is beating. Head, mouth, liver, and intestines begin to take shape. Week 10 The embryo is now about 1 inch in length. Facial features, limbs, hands feet fingers and toes become apparent. The nervous system is responsive and many of the internal organs begin to function. Second Trimester Week 14 The fetus is now 3 inches long and weighs almost an ounce. The muscles begin to develop and sex organs form. Eyelids, fingernails, and toenails also form. The child's spontaneous movements can be observed. Week 18 The fetus is now about 5 inches long. The child blinks, grasps, and moves her mouth. Hair grows on the head and body. Week 22 The fetus now weighs approximately 1/2 a pound and spans about 10 inches from head to toe. Sweat glands develop, and the external skin has turned from transparent to opaque. Third Trimester Week 26 The fetus can now inhale, exhale and even cry. Eyes have completely formed, and the tongue has developed taste buds. Under intensive medical care the fetus has a over a 50% chance of surviving outside the womb. Week 30 The fetus is usually capable of living outside the womb and would be considered premature at birth. Week 40 This marks the end of the normal gestational period. The child is now ready to live in outside of his mother's womb. Psalm 10:2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. Psalm 37:12 The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;

Thank you, yes I had read that some where before. But Satan has to ask permission to do stuff if there is no sin. Job 1:6-11 (Amplified Bible) 6Now there was a day when the sons (the angels) of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan (the adversary and accuser) also came among them.(A) 7And the Lord said to Satan, From where did you come? Then Satan answered the Lord, From going to and fro on the earth and from walking up and down on it. 8And the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who [reverently] fears God and abstains from and shuns evil [because it is wrong]? 9Then Satan answered the Lord, Does Job [reverently] fear God for nothing? 10Have You not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have conferred prosperity and happiness upon him in the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face. I was wondering if the sin that prevented him from entering into the promised land was what made satan think he could argue with Michael for Moses body. Deuteronomy 32:49-52 (Amplified Bible) 49Get up into this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho, and look at the land of Canaan which I give to the Israelites for a possession. 50And die on the mountain which you ascend and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people, 51Because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin and because you did not set Me apart as holy in the midst of the Israelites. 52For you shall see the land opposite you at a distance, but you shall not go there, into the land which I give the Israelites. I believe that God had to preserve Moses body for the mount with Jesus and Elijah plus the fact you mentioned about the body being an object of reverence or worship( idolatry) for Israel. But what made satan think he could take the body? Kate

Does anyone know why Michael fought satan for Moses body? Why did satan think he had a right to the body? Deuteronomy 34:5-7 (Amplified Bible) 5So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord, 6And He buried him in the valley of the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor, but no man knows where his tomb is to this day. 7Moses was 120 years old when he died; his eye was not dim nor his natural force abated.(A) Jude 1:8-10 (Amplified Bible) 9But when [even] the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, judicially argued (disputed) about the body of Moses, he dared not [presume to] bring an abusive condemnation against him, but [simply] said, The Lord rebuke you!(A) Thank you, Kate

Technically Elijah didn't really die he was taking up to heaven on a chariot of fire. 2 Kings 2:11-12 (Amplified Bible) 11As they still went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire parted the two of them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, My father, my father! The chariot of Israel and its horsemen! And he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. And Moses body was hidden from all even Satan, in fact Michael the fought for Moses body. Deuteronomy 34:5-7 (Amplified Bible) 5So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord, 6And He buried him in the valley of the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor, but no man knows where his tomb is to this day. 7Moses was 120 years old when he died; his eye was not dim nor his natural force abated.(A) Jude 1:8-10 (Amplified Bible) 9But when [even] the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, judicially argued (disputed) about the body of Moses, he dared not [presume to] bring an abusive condemnation against him, but [simply] said, The Lord rebuke you!(A) Of course God knew the plan, that both Elijah and Moses would visit Jesus on the mount. So God preserved both their bodies for transfiguration. I am not sure why Satan felt he had right to Moses body. Maybe someone else knows. I remember what Jesus said about when we die. The Rich Man and Lazarus 19"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In hell,[c] where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' 25"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' 27"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, 28for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' 29"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 30" 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 31"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' " As far as ghost, I believe they are demons, fallen angels. And since we know that a 1/3 of angels were throw out of heaven. These fallen celestial beings come in a varitiey Webster dictionary:a traditional hierarchy of angels ranked from lowest to highest into the following nine orders: angels, archangels, principalities, powers, virtues, dominions, thrones, cherubim, and seraphim. Ephesians 6:11-13 (New International Version) 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. They are smarter then us and know the bible backward and forward. I always remember how satan qouted the word back to Jesus. They know all are weakiness and strenghs, but the good news is Jesus has already won the war. Kate yes....I can recall 2 counts of this myself in the bible...wait no....three.....the first being saul using a witch to call up samuel from the dead...who was very annoyed by the calling, and did appear as a ghost............the second being -when christ was walking towards the boat on the water...his deciples thought he may be a ghost!......and thirdly...not unlike starwars, where lucas had yoda, anakin, and obiwan appear to luke-----jesus also stood on the mount and was transfigured before his deciples, and appeared with elijah, and hmmm.....maybe moses..I dont recall now....but those , and samuel who had been long dead-were definately ghosts.

Dear Brother, I have seen some many people both male and female do this. They think they have heard from God and haven't not. One I knew was a man in his late twenties and one day he saw this new young girl (19) at church and was so smitten, he convinced himself that he had heard from God. When she rejected him and later married another man, he was devastated and felt God had let him down. When it was just his hormones going wild over a pretty girl. Please be careful, I have seen some many hearts broken. Kate

Friday June 20, 2003 Modern wedding customs date back to biblical times MARLENA THOMPSON Jewish Telegraphic Agency NEWTON, Mass. -- According to Jewish law, getting married is an exceedingly simple affair: The bride accepts something worth more than a dime (in today's currency) from the groom, the groom utters words of acquisition and consecration, these two actions are witnessed, and voila, the happy couple is married. All the rest -- the white gown, the veil, the portable chuppah (wedding canopy), etc. -- are but customs that have grown up around Jewish weddings through the ages. This is not to diminish their importance, for customs add measureless beauty and meaning to lifecycle milestones. Today, in fact, some of the most ancient practices are being rediscovered and "renovated" by couples seeking to blend tradition with a modern outlook on marriage. One of the most enduring wedding customs, the wearing of the veil, has its origins in the Bible. Upon seeing her husband-to-be, Isaac, for the first time, Rebecca "took her veil and covered herself." (Genesis 25:65) Another veiling custom, bedecken (the veiling of the bride by the groom just before the wedding), also has biblical roots. Those familiar with the story of Jacob and his two wives, Leah and Rachel, will remember how Jacob's father-in-law, Laban, tricked Jacob into marrying Leah instead of his beloved Rachel by veiling Leah heavily before the wedding. By placing the veil over the bride's face, a Jewish groom makes sure he doesn't repeat Jacob's mistake. A lawful Jewish marriage requires an act of kinyan (that the bride be given -- and that she accept -- something of nominal value from the groom). In ancient times, coins were typically given. (They are still used by many Sephardic and Mizrachi Jews). Since the seventh century, rings replaced coins in most of Europe as the "gift of choice." According to Jewish law, the ring must belong to the groom, be of solid metal, and be free of gems. (The inclusion of precious stones produces significant variations in ring values, which, presumed the rabbis, could cause a bride to reconsider.) Another ancient custom that has lately been transformed is the ketubah (marriage contract). Spelling out a husband's obligations to his wife, the ketubah was a radical document in its day because it provided women with legal status and rights in marriage. Many couples who consider the traditional ketubah as out of touch with contemporary views on relationships are creating new ones. Many ketubot now include parallel declarations of commitment made by both bride and groom with a joint declaration of faith in God and a connection to the Jewish people. The chuppah (canopy) under which the bride and groom stand during the ceremony symbolizes a marriage chamber. The bride leaves her father's house and enters her husband's home as a married woman. Although wedding customs may be cherished simply because of the history and tradition they represent, ultimately what keeps them alive is their relevance in a changing world. Ancient wedding customs imbued with a modern spirit provide couples with both a link to the past and a hand in shaping the future they will be sharing. I saw this article and thought it was interesting. Kate ________________________________________________________________________

Sorry claimed was a bad choice of words. But a pastor telling you that you would be pussy whipped? Well that doesn't sound like a Christian... Maybe he was a fraud but you won't know, only seeking God would youget an answer, that's what I am trying to say. I am sorry if I offended you brother, my intention was not to do that, those are as listed in the post. Please accpect my apologies. Kate

Warrior for Christ I say this in love so that you can grow. You don't seem to know much about God or the Bible. When I was first born again I was searching the scriptures studying, and praying that God would open his word to me. Your post entitled "Pro Abortion people and Abortion "moms",

Well know you just sound silly, I am sure that was your intention. Crucifuxes have no power, but praying does and that is what spiritual warfare is interceding. Are you a Catholic? Kate

"I'm basically a good person and I'm very happy with my own religion, so why should I believe in Jesus? January 1, 2000 To tell you the truth, if everyone were good in God's sight, nobody would need Jesus and we wouldn't be spending our efforts making web sites like this one. The psalmist long ago said that "there is no one that does good, not even one."1 Oh, to be sure, most of us aren't murderers or thieves or anything like that. We like to think of ourselves as respectable, with no need for major changes in our lives. Yet the picture the Scriptures present is that even the best of us is desperately sinful, deeply alienated from God, from each other and even from ourselves. The problem of mankind, according to the Bible, is precisely that we are "happy with our own religion," "happy with what we believe." Usually what we believe is not what the Scriptures teach. We're happy to think that we're good, that surely God will overlook our "little" mistakes and shortcomings and that He isn't really serious about our sins. We're happy to place our own wills and desires at the center of our private universe, rather than making the will and the desires of our Creator primary. But God is serious about our sin. As Jews we tend to think that sin is exclusively a matter of committing individual acts. But sin is much more than that. The Scriptures show us that sin is a condition of human existence which does not pertain to a particular act, but rather to an attitude, one of arrogance and rebellion. The best of men, like Abraham, Moses and King David, all committed acts of sin. The prophet Isaiah said, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way."2 This righteous prophet indicated that it is only human for each man, himself included, to seek self-fulfillment rather than to seek to fulfill the precepts of God. King David said that his sin was a condition from birth.3 Sin is universal--that's why the Day of Atonement is universally observed among Jewish people as the most solemn of all holidays. And that's why God provided a way of forgiveness, beginning with the Old Testament animal sacrifices and culminating in the death of the Messiah. Our responsibility is to respond in faith and to place our trust in Jesus as our atonement. We must return to a view of life centered in God's way of looking at things, rather than in our own preferences. We really are sinful in the depths of our being, and all the education, affluence and technology in the world hasn't changed that; it's only enabled us to express our rebellion in a more sophisticated fashion. Jesus really did come in history, really did die and really did rise from the dead. All the objections in the world and all the ignoring of the evidence won't make that reality go away. Perhaps your attitude is that of the skeptic who said, "I won't believe--and don't confuse me with the facts!" But God really does hold us responsible for facing the facts about ourselves, and accepting His offer of forgiveness through Jesus. In a word, you should believe in Jesus, not because it will make you happy, but because it's true. " -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Psalm 14:3 Isaiah 53:6 Psalm 51:5 Kate

Ted, As a kid I loved tricker treating, so for me it is a harmless candy grabbing day. I just posted the orgins, so people don't start attaching things to it that don't belong. Kate

Well Brother the word says: Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a [true] wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. Kate

Ancient Origins "Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter. To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter. By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain. The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of "bobbing" for apples that is practiced today on Halloween. By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints', All Saints', and All Souls', were called Hallowmas." Kate

Warrior. A Christian said this? Please send me the link, as that just doesn't sound like a Christian. Kate

Yes, do what your name says and pray, do spiritual warfare. Kate

Sam, My father was very ill last year and the doctors said he was going to die. He had had several strokes and also had developed pneumonia. My father told me that two demons came into his room mocking him and where going to take him to hell. My father says he is a believer but he started molesting me starting at the age of 4. I believe the sin we commit will be counted against us, if we don