Forget Your Hexagram

I feel like revisiting an old postage here at FDW, just for gins and griggles.
I posted awhile back about the "Ghosthunter" type shows on TV. Some guys with electronic doodads and video cameras hunt spooks. If they get ANY evidence at all, they get so excited that they shout over any poor spirit trying to finish his point.
Bottom line-God says stay away from occult practices. Leave that ghost alone, you don't know where it's been.
Demons-actual fallen angels-are actually behind what we term 'the occult'. I want nothing to do with them.
One of the TV shows, "Ghost Adventures" on the Travel Channel recently had an episode where they confronted a demon plagued place-and they brought in a priest to perform an exorcism. Huh.
You may be asking, why is Doug watching such shows? Nothing good on the Church Channel?
Actually, there is nothing good on the Church Channel, but that's another post.
I watch what I watch. I don't believe that I am here to hermetically seal myself in Church culture. I live in this world, too. I found out something about the "Ghost Adventures" crew that intrigued me-one of the three Ghost Adventurers, Aaron...identifies himself as a "Baptist Christian". Huh. I guess Aaron doesn't seal himself in church either.
Anyway,Aaron and his two partners in ectoplasimic pursuits teamed up with a priest to exorcise a place.
In the book of Acts we read of some of the miracles, including casting out demons, done through the Apostle Paul. Some Jews, jealous of Paul, decided that they would also gain a following by casting out demons in the name of...well, read for yourself:

^"11God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 
¹²so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out. 
¹³But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 
¹⁴Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 
¹⁵And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” 
¹⁶And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded." Acts 19:11-16

This is how I see the Ghost Adventures crew getting into trouble. Except for Aaron, they don't seem to be Christian. They seek out occult occurrences,  and, not having faith themselves, ask a priest to use his faith to accomplish an exorcism. "We adjure you by the Jesus Father Blarney preaches." Trouble in River City.
 I think that they are heading for misery and trouble in their lives, and I would say to brother Aaron, "Dude, you're in the wrong business." Not that it's any of mine.

Point A to Point Z

This is what the past looks like. Not yours, of course, but past is passed back behind us all.
God states in His Word that our lifetimes are like a passing moment, a few hours of a morning and then it's done.
No one, to paraphrase Hank, makes it out of this world alive...for now. The oft-noted "Rapture"-the 'catching up' of those whom God will gather to Himself-that will be our vertical exodus, alive and Praising God.
I don't have Scripture at hand to back up this belief, but I think that "THERE" we will remember every blessing we have received during our pilgrimage here...but we will forget every pain and curse as if they had never happened.
No sin in Heaven, which is wherever God is. I believe that includes no memory of sin.
Counterpoint. Those who will be cursed to exist forever apart from God will have no memory of Blessings, good times, joys enjoyed during their lifetime. But every curse, every painful memory they will wear like chains forever.
Please don't think I'm gloating. Hell isn't my destination only through the Grace of God. I will have many friends and family there, and I wish there were no hell...but what I wish doesn't matter.
God saves whom He Will. No one "Decides" to become a Christian. It isn't a matter of our will, and we can't decide to stop being Christians. None of His sheep will run off to other pastures. We wouldn't want to.
So, what is this post about?
Just a reminder, friends, that even though our time on earth is short, we should seek God, seek His forgiveness and Holiness. If you feel that you are destined for hell, but wish that you weren't...God may be drawing you to Himself. He made it fully evident to me where I was heading before He saved me.
May God seek you out and bring you home.

Memoria

Harsh times, friends. Prayers have been streaming up to God from all around the world for the peoples of Japan and Libya. Add yours to ours. May God extend His Grace to many, turning their hearts to Him.

We Know Who Put The sin In Wiscon-Sin

I have a cruel taskmaster, which goes by the ignominious title of a "elliptical trainer". It makes me hurt at the gym by not making me hurt...at the time. It feels great, and I am tempted to overdo...but the 'repent at leisure' kicks in during my last two hours at work if I do.
Usually I take it easy, but today I was churning and burning like a daytrader while watching the Reverend Jesse Jackson bobbing and weaving around questions on Fox News.
He was attempting to make the point that if Wisconsin Governor Walker succeeds in his agenda, 'the middle class and the poor will suffer the most while the rich keep getting richer'.
I guess the right for unions to dictate to employers vacation and sick days is some sort of civil...um...right. 
I do not work in Government Service; my vacation/sick days, my health care insurance are dictated to me by my employer, and I am fine with that. I have great benefits, and I've EARNED them.
Employees at my company get raises not through 'collective bargaining' (which I think is code for threatening to strike). We earn them. If we aren't happy where we are, we switch to another company with better benefits/pay.
The rabble-rousers such as Jackson and the unions have failed in Wisconsin. You know that they are beat when the news stories start declaring that Walker has handed them future victories by energizing their base.
Nah. The Democrats/unions energized the citizens of Wisconsin by robbing them blind with taxation and demanding the right to bankrupt the state. Those energized citizens voted in a Republican Governor who had to face some of the same problems as Gov. Christie in New Jersey.I wish them both much success.
Back to my taskmaster. I 'suffer' now to ensure a better, healthier future. In Wisconsin, they are going to be doing the same-tightening belts, cutting waste- all in the hope that their state will become more financially solvent in the future. I might not see another Democratic Governor in Wisconsin in my lifetime.

Beauty Is

It’s in my nature, so I can’t help it. I’ve been this way since before I can remember, and I have to assume that God had His good reasons for making me as I am.
Here’s the here’s: Life is wonderful, life is good…but sometimes what the world is going through is harsh and ugly and, as I am a part of this world, I am affected. So Life is out of balance-too much ugle, not enough beaut. I act.
Here’s a puppy, one of the most cutest puppies ever to be highlighted on Cuteoverloaddotcom. If this pup doesn’t bring a smile to your lips, doesn’t make the world seem full of hope…then you are beyond my threshold, and I can’t see or hear you.

Finally The Cheer

Soon to be pulling the ripcord on this night. I should freefall for an hour or so into the slumber craved.
It has been a positive day/night. Enough to know that even when we don;t know, we trust. Trust that God has every moment of eternity well in hand, and there is nothing to fear period.
Have an exceptional 24 hour aggregation of minutes. Praise God for all that He is. That is ever all.