Datan

i'm watching it. i like both boys, so it's sort of hard to make a unbiased decision. haha. i will, however, be able to see both davids on september eighth when they come to my area on tour. x]

I think that may have been some wrong information. Pullman credited Lewis in his foreward for being an inspiration to him -- for being a better writer, actually. Whether or not he was being sarcastic, however, I cannot say.

It's only in my own opinion that I say the Harry Potter series is less dangerous to children than most of the toys in their hands. Part of growing up is playing, and I highly doubt that any child is going to take the idea of magic beyond what it really is: fantasy. However, His Dark Materials (the book in which The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass are compiled) most likely is on a more anti-Christian stance. Particularly against Catholics, which is my faith, for Philip Pullman had named the antagonist of the series 'The Magisterium,' which just happens to be the name for the Pope and his council of bishops. There are several more themes found out throughout the book; however, Pullman himself has said that he is trying to unravel the insipid ideology that is Christianity. Now, you're probably thinking, "Well, she has just stated all of that -- all sounded negative -- so there's no way she's supporting this man." My friend, you would be right in the sense that I do not support his attempts of trying to dissuade people from our Lord; I don't necessarily agree that these books should not be read all together, though. I am reading them, for most of what I posted was nothing more than heresy found through different sources. I am not the type of person who will deliberately dislike something because someone else said I should; I'd rather find out for myself that whatever the case maybe, the series here and now, was judged fairly and without bias on someone else's part. When I do finish, however, I will let you all know what my findings are. I actually plan on going through it with a fine-toothed comb and taking notes on tone and implications.

Huh. It's strange, but everything displays fine in Safari; I also looked your code, and although I have very minimal experience in that field, it does seem to check out alright. I'll look at it more closely, though. And if it isn't fixed by Friday, I'll ask my boyfriend to go over the code. He's had a class where they taught him a lot about this sort of thing; I, however, am self-taught, and I don't want to tell you the wrong thing.

I don't know much about writing Christian books -- children books are included in that too -- but I am well-versed in English and I pulled an 'A' in my college composition course. I have a wild imagination, so whatever ideas I could give are there for the taking. I'm always thinking up things, but whether or not they would be useful to you is something I cannot say, nor could I say that you would find them appropriate. I have been told that I use "perfect grammar," so my proofreading abilities are yours for the using, also. I think my role-playing has finally come in handy. Lolll.

Impressive. Just impressive.

That's true. A lot of people think that. >_< Okay! My mom says she saw a silhouette of a lady in one of our houses. Just a misty something or other, but enough to resemble a woman. What does it mean? Ghost? Demon? Imagination?

Ooooh. Lots of great information here! This is one topic where I feel like "yay, I wanna answer back!" Anyhoo. Someone had asked me how I can believe in what I've said when none of it can be found in the Bible. The thing is, however, I never actually said I believed in that notion at all. I just restated what I understood, not as fact, but as some school of thinking. Personally, I don't know if ghosts exist. I do believe in the power of spirit -- that meaning that there is a place for each and every one of us in Heaven. The story of the Smurls is an odd one, and I'm not comfortable with it. I have no idea how true it is -- I wasn't around when it was going on, of course -- so judging it as truth or fiction would be unfair on my part. And, actually, I don't watch a lot of movies. Lol. I do talk to people a lot, though. And I try to keep a mental journal of all of their accounts. I've seen Emily Rose. My boyfriend and I just watched a clip of it tonight -- it made me sick. Really. I forgot how nasty that movie was. I had first seen it when I was not yet saved, and, at the time, I thought it funny ... not so much now. Whether or not she was possessed is an interesting topic all of its own. People can use "dual-voices" -- even as rare as that is. I don't know. It's all really confusing. But that's how God intends it to be, right? Giving away all the mysteries of life wouldn't all that useful to us in the long run. I just don't know how much I believe that ghosts are demons, or if ghosts even exist.

No. Ghosts and demons are not nearly the same thing. Although I haven't studied the world of these paranormal 'beings,' from what I understand of them, they are very, very different. Ghosts were living, breathing humans who had died from whatever reason and they still residing in this world. Now, that does go along with the idea that some of these ghosts are not aware that they have died, so you have to understand that a haunting can be brought on by messing with a spirit's former home or surroundings. Demons, however, are under Satan's rule. And I've read that they include fallen angels, much like Satan himself. But beyond that, I don't know much of the origin of those sort of beings. There is something else I wanted to mention, though. There are, from what I understand, several types of haunting types. One would be residual: When a spirit sometimes doesn't know that they have died and they go on doing what they have been doing for how ever long. Usually it's the same sort of incident happening over and over again. Secondly, there is the "smart" or "active" haunting type. This is where a spirit is aware you're there. It wants to make contact -- for reasons being purely out of curiosity or something more malevolent. If the spirit is more towards the violent side -- again, I don't know a whole lot about this field -- then it's of the poltergeist area. And I have no idea whether they fall under "demonic" activity or not. I can say, however, that a local family from my very town has reported that they themselves were victims of a demon -- but how much truth lies in that, well, I cannot say. Here's their story: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smurl_haunting I wasn't born when this was going on. But my dad was friends with someone who had lived next-door to them, and he says he had never, ever heard anything; my mother's best friend's son had been a little younger than I am now when he was friends with someone who had lived there also, and he says the same. He heard nothing. Hmmm. Interesting topic. I enjoyed that. xD

That poor girl. I really don't know what else to say than that. That poor, poor child. I don't see why these people can't be punished! They played a mind game with an impressionable minor, who obviously had problems to begin with -- that is punishable, isn't it? And here's a question: The girl killed herself, so what happens to her soul? Is she going to hell because of this? I'm going to pray for this girl and her family.

Wow. You actually made me have one of my "Oh, my gosh -- why didn't I think of that?" moments, AT. Although I can't say for sure, I think you may be on to something! Thanks!

I was just sitting here and thinking -- probably because it's late and I'm sort of hyper from a small dose of delirium. The person I am growing to like spent a lot of time with me today and, well, that is neither here nor there. Here's my question: What is God's name? We call Him God because -- because why? Does He have a formal name? I don't expect an answer. I doubt that in all of human knowledge there is one. I'd like to hear some ideas, though. Any clues gathered from reading scripture and anything else. And a quick other question, if you don't mind. What is a mason? And could you elaborate precisely. I'm curious after a discussion I had.

Hey everyone, I just wanted to thank each and every one of you for all of your advice, prayers, and just general input; although I haven't the time right now to say this individually, I still felt it necessary to give a word of thanks. Heavenly Father, I thank you in Jesus' name for leading me here and all of these wonderful people to me in turn. I ask for your continual blessing on each one of these fine people. I also thank you for giving me the direction for my final decision. Amen and Amen. I did make a decision and it was very easy once I had prayed. I decided to give them $1500 instead of the full $2500, which will be enough for most of the procedure, but they will have to learn to handle their money a little bit better. I really wanted to give them more, but my mom said not to also. And I have made the decision that if they cannot ever give the money back, then okay. It's only money and it's not worth breaking up a family. So yeah -- that's that. Thanks, everyone. <33333

I do think you make a great point, but the only thing I can see wrong with it is that they are going to a hospital in Philadelphia that specializes in these sort of things. I believe that their vet said that he didn't feel comfortable with doing the surgery because the dog has a heart murmur -- a serious one, I guess. So now they're going back and forth from Harrisburg to Philadelphia because these guys are the best in the state. They're student vets, so they're doing at a lowered price. I think you're right about vets wanting what's best for the animals, though. I think that's why a lot of them got into the business. Anyway, thanks so much for your advice; Lord bless you through and through.

To reflect on what Andrew said: They do make an excellent amount of money between -- much more than I have ever dreamed of seeing; however, I do feel as though I need give them something, if not the full amount. I can't predict what financial issues I'm going to come into in the next four months (being an art student in college is hardly cheap), and with a $400 monthly payment for my car and insurance I think things are going to be tight for me. But I also sort of feel convicted to do it. I have no idea what I'm going to do. Thanks for your great advice and may the Lord bless you. Blien: I want to thank you for your prayer; it was very touching and I do believe it will bring me to a great decision. x3 By the way, I'm a girl. Lolll. But I appreciate it nonetheless. Bless you, brother. LadyC: I want to offer you my sincere sympathies first of all. I have a dog, and I love him very much, so I can feel for you. And I didn't know about, so I'm going to pass that along to them. Thank you dearly and you'll be in prayers. Damo1: You make a good point. I just wonder how bad off I would be if I did just give it to them. It's so aggravating. Oh, well. Thanks for your advice and God bless you.