*WARNING* This will shift you to a parallel reality.

This is Part I of II-an introduction to a series on, “Theologies That Wound,” which will highlight some mainstream theological thoughts and beliefs incongruent with Scripture, and that can harm Christian’s self-image and self-esteem and their relationships with God and others. The Bible is God’s revealed word, and is given to all humanity for knowledge and wisdom, forgiveness andreconciliation, correction and conviction, comfort and affliction, and faith and fear.

In these tough times, we must apply faith and hope in the promises God has made to those who believe, obey and trust in Him. Norman Vincent Peale said: Tough times don’t last but tough people do. You have got to toughen up or you will melt away in this pot of boiling discouraging news. In these trying times, we have to encourage one another.

Like any old practice or way of life, witchcraft has been around for centuries in its more modern forms, which means that there are a huge amount and variety of books on witchcraft. Libraries and book stores carry a large variety of titles by an equally large number of authors. Online outlets, such as amazon, also stock many different books on witchcraft, including some of the rarer titles.

Why does the conversation for spirituality seem to be replacing the conversation for religion in our world today? And what does that have to do with the concept of manifesting anything we want? I want to discuss this from the perspective of Christianity today- as that is what I am most familiar with. But bear in mind that similar problems show up in other religions – problems of past-based interpretations versus the modern and enlightened mind.

You don’t need a Gospel tract or a “Jesus saves” sticker on the bumper of your car in order to witness the love of our saviour. You don’t even have to have a Bible in your hand. All you really need is Jesus in your heart.

As I promised, today, we will go directly to the three immutable principles of spiritual battle – praise, promise and prayer. Look, when you master these principles, no power, no situation in this life can conquer you.

How we get caught up in life’s stresses. The stresses of life become our life’s story and make it impossible to focus on what really matters. Find your way out of the darkness into the light of your consciousness.

When life runs smoothly it is easy to avoid dealing with spirituality. When life falls apart, it is impossible to do so. Something occurred that further forced me to question life and search for new answers. Years ago, my 23 year old niece tried to kill herself and was in a coma at the hospital with little chance of survival. She died two days later.

Severe thunderstorms with torrential rain awakened us on March 23rd. Angel, our 4.6 pound miniature rat terrier, panicked. I thought she was going into shock from her fear of hearing the heavy rain pounding on the skylights in our home. Her body trembled from the tip of her head to the end of her tail, all ten inches of her frame.

I recently heard a well-meaning pastor mention that to experience the true Christian life, and its fundamental blessings, we had to place God first, others second, and ourselves third. I think this theory of love is inherently flawed, and biblically so.

Many of us believe in faith. It can be faith in religion, faith in humanity, or faith in our own abilities. Many of us practise our faith every day in one way or another. I personally have faith in the positive power of practising what I want to attract to myself in greater quantity.

True peace is an aspect of my nature as are love and joy. But peace is an aspect of God. How can it be an aspect of me as well?