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Awhile back I was doing some intense study on spiritual warfare. Read book after book, by authors with different backgrounds. Five books in a row, identified "tongues speaking" as a vehicle used by the Evil Ones to gain access to vulnerable persons, to harass or even "possess". I have a friend with a Pentecostal history, who had continued to do the tongues speaking when she was in "deep prayer", long after she left that congregation. I showed her the material I had found, and she immediately renounced the practice. She has found freedom from much of the feelings of panic and discouragement that had plagued her. The best book I've found on the subject of tongues speaking, by an author with an SDA background is "Tongues - Dissecting the Gift" by Teresita Perez. It's just a small book, but covers the subject pretty well. She doesn't really go into the spiritual warfare aspect. I have the book posted on my "Recommended Resources" page. Rachel Cory Prophecy Viewpoint

I noticed that someone on this forum said Catholic bashing was going on. To this I would say "no". Pope bashing is going on. Why? The New York Catholic Catechism, under: Pope, says,

I think that having an attitude that your table is open to anyone to join you for a meal is a great way to live our Christian faith and something that brings blessings to us without meaning to! - I hope Christmas works well for you Naomi, you are a great encouragement to so many people in here and very much appreciated by us all.

I appreciated the account of your friend who drove a taxi and his observation. Yes I agree that inviting a few people who have no place to go is such a kind and rewarding thing to do. It seems to be just what our family has always done ... without planning. For this last Thanksgiving my family came to visit for a couple of days. I was excited about seeing my immediate family for the first time in a long time, and was surprised when a couple of neighbors showed up for Thanksgiving diner, compliments of my kids who met them in snow ball fights or building snow men. You don't have to look far to see those who need an "adopted" family for holiday times .... (or other times) Being alone was actually a good thing ... thank you for the reminder of the DVD's

A chap that I know used to work as a taxi driver and used to work on Christmas day because of the additional wages paid for working on the holiday. His observation was that those people he picked up to take to Christmas celebrations and functions were generally in quite a good mood and quite generous with tips and gifts and so forth. However by around 2pm he suggested that attitudes tended to change quite a bit and he would often begin pick ups at family homes where fights and arguements had broken out and people were leaving early. Often people would make remarks like "Thank G-d we don't have to see them for another 12 months" and so forth.. My suggestion is that if you are holding a Christmas gathering at your place, spare a few invites for people at church or people you know that do not have anywhere to go and embrace them into your own family Christmas gathering and share the love around a little. If you are on your own I agree with the above and would add a good selection of DVD's to the mix!

Yes, it is so true that we never run out of our need for the prayers of others to bring us home safely ... or to be safe. I am so sorry to hear about your two vehicle accidents and the issues which you had to deal with due to them. I can understand how traumatized you both were with two accidents. I get that. I spent mother's last Christmas eve alone with her knowing that it was highly unlikelihood that she would be alive in the morning. It was a long night but I continued to read aloud her favorite scriptures and talk about good family memories. No, I don't know if she heard or not, but hopefully she could comprehend. Christmas was her favorite season of the year. She would began preparing for the next one before decorations were taken down. Of course I remember that Christmas and a couple of others which I would rather not repeat. This is not meant to sound self-righteous or callous, but in my heart I know that I did all that I could do at the time. I could not prevent anything that happened. Yes, I have memories some very, very heartbreaking and some very happy, but try to focus on all the years of good things ... I still maintain that it is what you make it.