Do you take prescription meds? Did you know properly prescribed prescription meds is the number three cause of death in the USA according to the American Journal of Medicine?

Natural Herbs For Those Who Suffer With Arthritis

My people perish for lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6

A.-W | Herb no. 1 for Arthritis

This combination herb is an answer to the hopeless torment known to millions upon millions of people around the world awaits in this combination, for it relieves, corrects and heals, [no matter what the person's age] the sore joints and muscles of arthritis and rheumatism sufferers.

A.-W combination includes | alfalfa, juniper berry, dandelion root, oregon, grape, echinacea, knitbone [comfrey], wild rose hips, bitter orange.

Dose | 40 to 80 drops after meals 3 times per day. Also rub on affected areas.

To order, A.-W, click here.

Customer testimonial for A.-W.

December 22, 2008

Hi! Not all men are willing to go to a doctor and my husband is one of those men. For two months Bob used a cane because his ankles were swollen and in pain. His elbow was also hurting him. I had to go to the doctor for my carpal tunnel in my wrists and I asked my doctor what to do with a man that won’t go to a doctor?

He said, “Make an appointment.” I took his advice and my husband had X-rays taken that revealed he had arthritis. Thanks so much Pure Herbs for the combination her A.-W. Only one week on that product and his elbows and ankles are 90% better. He takes two droppers in the morning and two at night.

– B.H., Dover, NJ

Arnica Oil Blend | Herb no. 2 for Arthritis

This blend was put together by Practiced Herbalist, Jean Kinnett, who recommends this highly successful combination to be a powerful blend to pull trauma out of the body. It’s excellent for muscles, tendons and ligaments. It’s good for relief of aches and pains associated with sports injuries, sprains, backache, muscular aches, bruises, inflammation, and the pain of arthritis.

Indian Tobacco is a powerful relaxant for nerves and muscles to relieve spasms and cramps. Rosemary’s a wonderful stimulant for circulation and excellent for nerve pain. Universal ER. is excellent for any trauma or shock held in the muscles. Wintergreen Oil is excellent for circulation.

Combination includes | Arnica is a base of peanut oil, Indian tobacco, Rosemary, Universal E.R and Wintergreen oil

Dosage | Apply the arnica oil blend to sore muscles or bruised areas. It can be used for full body massage. This is for external use only.

To order Arnica Oil Blend, click here.

Joint Helper | Herb no. 3 for Arthritis

People are raving about this herb! Many of us suffer from hurting, aching, stabbing joints. It can be so bad it becomes a form of torture and keeps us from our normal life activities. It can hit us anywhere we have joints; knees, shoulders, elbows, fingers, neck, back, toes and you name it. You may have been told it is normal to have problems like that.

This is not true. You may have been told, it's just because you are getting older. This is not true either. But when you are in pain you don't want a lecture about diet or stress. You want relief now! This is easy to understand. You don't care if the relief is from an over-the-counter drug or a doctor's drug or his needle as long as you can get rid of the pain.

Ever since we lived in caves and right on up till now we have craved a workable non-drastic solution. Now there is one. It is an herbal solution called Joint Helper! For your convenience Joint Helper is a roll-on.

What does it do? It is a herbal combination that you apply externally which penetrates deeply and immediately for relief of joint discomfort.

Where did Joint Helper come from? It was there all the time in the herbal world.

How was it discovered? It came from the condition of suffering and the sheer necessity to find a natural solution. It came from a deep and abiding faith in the herbs and years of development. From this came the final product called Joint Helper.

What is in it and how do the ingredients work? It contains capsicum for circulation, arnica to erase effects of pain, witch hazel to repair, peppermint oil for penetrating cool, indian tobacco to relax, horsetail for flexibility, sweet cassava starch for body, coconut oil to nourish tissues, lecithin to coat nerves, xanthan gum for consistency, glycine amino acid, protein as a lubricant, honeysuckle as scent and purified water for liquidity.

How do you use it? You simply roll it on the hurting joint areas as directed. Within seconds or minutes you will feel it start to work and give relief. You may feel heating or cooling or electrical sensations. Or you may feel any combination of these at the same time. You may have different sensations according to what your joints want and need. The effects can last for several minutes or several hours. This varies with the person. You may have to use more or less on certain joint areas depending on what condition they are in.

Customer testimonial no. 1 for Joint Helper

Have you ever had your lower back go out? Mine did. I was just bending over watering the flowers. I felt a snap and then I couldn't walk right or stand without pain. This had never happened to me before. I started sweating from panic and then anger that my body had somehow betrayed me. Then I felt very alone and helpless. Was I going to be like this from now on? A thousand things went through my mind in hurry. None of them good. In sheer desperation I remembered the sample of Joint Helper that had just been given to me.

Somehow I got into the house and got the Joint Helper and put a lot of the roll-on down my lower spine and then from side to side over the back of my hips. First it felt soothing, then cooling, then the heat and tingling kicked in. In a short while I could walk again without pain. I couldn't believe it! The Joint Helper keep working on and off for hours. For the next three days or so every time I needed the Joint Helper, I used it until I didn't need it anymore. Now I carry it with me just in case.

G.W. Sterling Hghts., MI

Customer testimonial no. 2 for Joint Helper

Joint Helper is not just for joints. I got a charlie horse [cramp in the calf of my leg] while sleeping. The cramp was so bad my leg muscles still hurt the next day. It was difficult to walk. So I put Joint Helper on it. One use of the Joint Helper roll-on was enough to fix it. Thanks for a wonderful product!

B.J. Mt. Clemens, MI

Customer testimonial no. 3 for Joint Helper

Our friend's mother has suffered with arthritis for many years now. She heard about Joint Helper and tried it. She rolled it over the areas that hurt the most and then the rest. The next day she said, In all my years of suffering nothing has ever given me that much relief and I've tried it all. Send me a dozen roll-on bottles!

A.P. Bay City, MI

Customer testimonial no. 4 for Joint Helper

My wife has screws in her back bone from an operation and is in more or less constant pain. She decided to try Joint Helper roll-on over the whole area. She said, It helped me more than anything else I have used to get some peace and relief from the discomfort I suffer with.

J .D. Royal Oak, MI

Directions | Apply roll-on to sore joints as directed. When using Joint Helper do not be alarmed if you feel Joint Helper heat up and re-activate again the next day. It may still be on the job. If contact with eyes or private areas should occur, flush with water, remain calm and peace will return. Keep out of reach of children.

Contains | Capsicum extract, witch hazel extract, peppermint oil, arnica extract, indian tobacco extract, horsetail extract, sweet cassava starch, coconut oil, lecithin, xanthan gum, glycine amino acid, honeysuckle extract, purified water. 2 fl. oz. [60 ml]

To order Joint Helper, click here.

ART.-C | Herb no. 4 for Arthritis

ART.-C was developed through the use and experience to solve the agonies of arthritis and joint pain. Flexibility and erasing lingering pain are big concerns for arthritis sufferers. To address these concerns and the entire picture of what is known as arthritis, we have ART.-C.

Here we have the pairing of formulas to form a team. One of the team members is the long established Research Formula and the second is a very capable helpmate combination known as ART.-C. The sea vegetables, algae and minerals, which make up Research Formula can be counted on for the qualities of an electromagnetic energy balance for the solar plexus [body center] as well as to chase away fatigue and act as an antibiotic and prevent infections. When we add ART.-C to this, we have a powerful team.

They truly bring out the best in each other. ART.-C contributes its capable assist with an herbal combination of the joint lubricator desert herb, Yucca, as well as Devil’s Claw and African aloe for activators along with the anti-stress herb Licorice Root.

Combination includes | Licorice root, devil’s claw, yucca, African aloe

Dosage | Suggested use for ART.-C and Research Formula is 40 drops of each 2 or 3 times per day faithfully. Increase if necessary.

To order ART.-C, click here.

FOURTH ARTHRITIS HERB

Five Oils

Five Oils is a most friendly and welcome combination of herbal oils. It does so many wonderful things and the results are almost immediate. Five Oils contains five reliable and familiar natural oils herbalist have come to love and trust all on their own. Now they are all in one bottle and act as a team. Five Oils contains: wintergreen oil, cajeput oil, eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil and mullein oil. What a wonderful formula! If you seek relief from suffering, the following is a partial list of what people have shared with us.

Apply topically for relief of arthritis torment, muscle aches and pains, tension and joint discomfort Apply topically to reduce inflammation Apply topically to improve circulation and then the area can repair itself Use to breathe easier. If you have a cold or flu, apply to the chest to open the breathing passages.

Also, this Five Oils cuts mucus loose and relieves tightness This herb is a natural friend for people with sprains, sports injuries and the like. And it does not smell bad! Kills germs, fungus and viruses Apply to animal scratches, bruises, skinned knees and the like Apply to skin to reduce acne, swellings and discomfort apply to sore throat. Brush a drop or two on the tongue to soothe throat discomfort and to cut mucus loose For a complete massage therapy session use extracts of arnica, Indian tobacco and vitamin e oil from capsules and then follow pup with Five Oils on areas that need extra help Mosquito repellent – rub on mosquito bites, or better yet, liberally rub Five Oils on exposed areas to keep mosquitoes from biting.

Combination | wintergreen oil, cajeput oil, eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil and mullein oil

If you'd like to order this herb in a trial 1 oz. or a regular 4 oz., please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

RETURN POLICY Due to FDA regulations regarding food products, Pure Herbs Ltd. has a no return policy.

FIFTH ARTHRITIS/BONE HERB

B.D.R.-C – Bone Density Regulator herbalist – Courter This combination herb is the natural solution for many a person suffering with creaking, cracking bones and accompanying pain or osteoporosis [bone loss] or some form of bone malfunction. The ideal solution is to avoid the ordeal of a transplant or artificial implant. True, you can put in artificial hip sockets and ball joints, but the problem is, what caused the original condition still exists. You are only working on the effects and not the root cause. The cause must then be addressed. B.D.R.-C addresses the cause of bone and connective tissue malfunction and thus provides the solution. This automatically suggests prevention for bone loss and connective tissue problems as well. Indeed, B.D.R.-C can be used for corrective and prevention.

This formula puts together an impressive herbal team of herbs for the first time to serve people and their pets. Its list of successes is equally impressive. Here are conditions for which it has proven its value: Helps restore bone mass Skeletal structure reinforcement Regulates calcium distribution Reversal of hip weakness Sources of vitamins A, C & D nourishes and cleans red blood cells strengthens bones tightens tissues oxygenation-circulation Nourishes and supports function of glands Source for essential minerals, and nourishes and cleans red blood cells

Combination includes | dulse, red clover, sunflower seeds, black walnut hulls, sarsaparilla, flax, lapacho, horsetail, oatstraw, knitbone, white oak bark, peppermint leaf, ginger root, grape seed, Chippewa pine, rhizome drynariae

Dosage | 40 to 80 drop 3 times per day internally or applied externally to the troubled area. If scar tissue is in the area, also take 40 to 80 drops of R.S.T.-C [repair scar tissue] 3 to 4 times per day, also apply Arnica externally over the troubled area 3 to 4 times per day.

To order B.D.R.-C click here.

CA.-W [calcium]| Herb. no. 6 for Arthritis

This calcium combination herb is the vital link in the chain of nutrients required for a healthy body with calm nerves and strong bones. Without it a person may experience cold sweats, teeth that hurt, pounding or irregular heart beat, ringing in the ears, muscle cramps, bones that become like lace [porous] and crumble. Press the tip of the breast bone at the bottom where the ribs come together and see if it hurts.

If so, you can be assured you lack Calcium. The more sensitive, the greater the problem. Do not despair. Nature has provided the rescuer. Bones were not meant to become weaker with age. Every year an animal lives in the wild, eating its normal diet, its bones become stronger. Did you ever see a cow or a deer with arthritis?

Cows and deer have incredibly strong bones to support great weight or take the pounding of swift flight from danger or the sheer pleasure of freedom that comes to those that can tirelessly run like the wind. calcium, for them, comes from plants. Now you can have that calcium too - without having to chew all day to get it.

Horsetail and oat straw are included in this combination for the unusual properties of containing an element named silicon rather than calcium. It is not supposed to be possible, according to scientists, to change one element to another without a thermonuclear explosion, but some body types can, apparently, change one element into another, as in the case of changing silicon into calcium.

Experiments run with chickens, where all the dietary intake of calcium was carefully monitored and measured, even the calcium in their drinking water, showed increased eggshell production and increased bone density when silicon was added to their diet. They did not get enough calcium to do that.

That is not possible, but then the chickens did not know that. Perhaps there was something about a goose that laid a golden egg. At any rate, some people who have difficulty assimilating enough calcium to repair a broken leg, do get the that broken leg fixed with calcium filling in the break by taking an herbal Silicon source. CA.-W provides dietary calcium and silicon from active vegetables sources.

Combination includes| horsetail, oat straw, knitbone, dulse, dandelion leaf, red raspberry leaf, indian tobacco

Dose | 20 to 40 drops, 3 times per day. In a broken bone or if severely deficient, then 80 drops, 3 times per day

To order C.A.-W click here.

L.P.-W | Herb no. 7 for Arthritis

This Liquid Pearles combination herb is for arthritis and correction of circulation are closely associated. When the circulation returns, usually the arthritis goes away. L.P.-W also provides the energy for this to take place. L.P.-W is especially for frozen joints where there are waste mineral deposits in the joints or on the bones.

Combination includes| angelica, echinacea, ginger, marshmallow, broad beans, spikenard, eucalyptus, gentian, lady's slipper, bee pollen, prickly ash, myrrh.

Dose | 40 to 80 drops per meal, or 3 times per day

To order click here.

Chuchuhuasi | Herb no. 8 for Arthritis

Chuchuhuasi apparently works on the actual cause of arthritis and, in this manner, restores joints to working order. This is the South American Indian name for the rain forest tree known botanically as Maytenus macrocarpa. Its home is the steamy jungles of Peru, where it is well known and used by the people, especially in and around Iquitos, Peru on the Amazon river.

Because of the remoteness of this area, its use was unknown to the rest of the world until recent times. Yet, it is now, perhaps, the most popularly used rain forest herb in Peru. Life in a jungle environment means dealing with infections, bites and diseases of many kinds. Remedies must be found and used.

Chuchuhuasi serves this multi-purpose function, and it is commonly taken in the liquid extract form. Among Chuchuhuasi's strongest properties is the building of immunity and, at the same time, enhancing sexual activity and function. The ability of Chuchuhuasi to do this has attracted strong scientific interest.

This is accomplished by using the root bark as a liquid and taking orally three times per day. Rather than just working on the relief of symptoms, Chuchuhuasi apparently works on the actual cause of arthritis and, in this manner, restores joints to working order.

This, of course, has aroused considerable excitement in the scientific community. The same can be said regarding Chuchuhuasi's anti-tumor properties. The United States Department of Agriculture has isolated the alkaloid [active bitter compound] maytansine as being most prominent in the compounds believed to be active in the shrinkage of tumors. As if all this would not be enough to recommend the daily use of Chuchuhuasi, it is also applied to the skin to repel jungle mosquitoes.

Now, the mosquitoes of the Peruvian jungle are rumored, by the local inhabitants, for the benefit of tourists, to be, So large you can hear them when they walk, and Senior, they may even possess backbones!

At any rate, accounts of their ferocity are legendary and Chuchuhuasi undoubtedly a welcome remedy.

Dose | 40 to 80 drops 3 times per day as maintenance. 1 tsp. 3 times per day for more serious cases. Externally as given above.

To order Chuchuhuasi, click here.

Una de Gato | Herb no. 9 for Arthritis

Una de Gato is a Spanish named herb pronounced that means claw-of-cat or, as we would say in English, cat's claw. In the remote area of Iquitos, Peru, where Una de Gato is at home, it is very widely used and depended upon to handle a wide variety of problems, including those of a serious nature. Here is what is listed in Peru as the traditional and accepted South American Native Folk Medicinal uses of Una de Gato.

Una De Gato can be taken to correct arthritis, rheumatism, cancer, gastritis, irregularities of the female cycle. From all reports, this is one of the South American Indians' very best arthritis remedies. Although it is not scientifically accepted, people there use it and get rid of their arthritis, including the type we call rheumatoid arthritis, where the body is actually fighting itself.

Una de Gato is also, especially, noted for its anti-viral properties, tumor dissolving properties, its effects on cellular regeneration and cardiovascular repair. As in all jungle areas, one of the things which must be guarded against is infections.

Una de Gato is a potent immune system builder. This is especially important in conditions described as rheumatoid arthritis and or osteoarthritis, where the body is attacking itself, commonly called auto-immune reactions. Una de Gato reestablishes the proper immune system orientation for cells that are true friends and those that are the actual foes. A strong immune system is essential to reversing the effects, and prevention, of any kind of disease.

Hence, a wide range of disorders are reported to be corrected by the use of Una de Gato in Peru and Europe. Very well documented South American medical information shows Una de Gato to be nearly miraculous in combating cancer, even in advanced stages, where as much as 10% of body cells are in a state of metastasis. Because of the shared reputation Una de Gato has earned for itself, no immune problem or cancer is regarded, in Peru, as incurable.

Dose | 40 drops, 3 times per day to maintain immunity. For disease conditions listed above, 1 tsp. to 1 tbl. 3 times per day. With the use of Una de Gato, as with any herb that destroys bad cells [cancer], do use a good bowel management program which produces 2, and preferably 3, easy and complete bowel movements per day.

In this manner, the wastes and poisons the body is getting rid of, can be eliminated from the body and nausea is prevented. This allows the body to clean itself up and to get well. Common sense and good sense, both, demand that you eliminate anything from the diet and the environment which is a poison.

A good place to start, regarding what you eat, is any food with any kind of chemical additives such as: chemical dyes, preservatives, flavor magnifiers, stabilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and the like. Eliminate junk foods - and you do know what those are.

To order Una de Gato, click here.

Thank you for taking your time to read this article on Healed People, Heal People. If you're not a member of this online community, we invite you to join for free here. You'll receive regular updates of encouragement wrapped in biblical truths.

I know the title of this article is "You got these people in your life?" Bare with me please, and keep reading. Some ground work needs to be established first in this article, before we get to are these people in your life?

WHAT'S GOING ON AT YOUR PERSONAL ALTAR?

In the history of the tabernacle, the same altar was used for 270 years.

II Kings 16: 10 - 18; Isaiah 7: 3 -9

Do you have a personal altar in your life?

If you're sliding or drifting from God, it starts with you drifting away from your personal altar.

If you don't protect the altar in your life, you'll begin to replace your personal altar with carnal things.

Is your prayer life's standard set according to the world i.e. like a hybrid, watered-downed religious activity?
Or, is your prayer life's standard according God and of heart-wrenching transparency and honesty before the Holy Spirit?

Once you loose the personal altar, you loose your direction.
Once you loose conviction in your life, you begin to pick up the very things the Holy Spirit has delivered you from.
Once you loose your personal altar, your begin to slowly lower your standards.
Once you loose your personal altar, you choose to shut the door on the Holy Spirit convicting you.

The altar is not a place where you simply inquire when you are in trouble.

The altar in its ultimate purpose, is a place where you die to your flesh and you die to yourself, where you die to your own will and your own desire.

When you little-by-little remove your altar, your prayer life [which should include praying in your heavenly prayer language] and killing the flesh is no longer a priority.

You and I need the altar, the old fashioned altar of God, because as long as you and I breathe, the following will be continuous:

a) your flesh continues to try to override your spirit.
b) another part of yourself will always need to die.
c) you and I will always need to pray constantly, specifically when we don't feel like it.

Every Christian believer needs the following three types of people in your life.

YOU got THESE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE?

Who are the Paul's in your life? These Paul-type people are above your spiritual level, they can check you and hold you accountable? The Paul-type people in your life are a very select, few people that you'll rearrange your schedule for when they call you up because they have heard from the Holy Spirit specifically for you.

- the relationship with these Paul-type people should NOT be codependent
- the relationship with these select Paul-type people should NOT have a trace of manipulation
- your relationship with these few Paul-type people should NOT have any trace of fear in it

Who are the Timothy's in your life? These are people that you pour into their life spiritually? Your spiritual maturity is more developed than theirs. This select group of people seeks you out, they respect you, your character draws them.

- the relationship with these Timothy-type people should have boundaries established up front
- the relationship with these Timothy-type people should NOT have a trace of control from you in their lives
- the relationship with these few Timothy-type people are usually for a season
release and conclude the relationship amicably when the season ends with each of these people

Who are the Barnabas' in your life? These are your spiritual peers, you all are on the same level of maturity. These are people you sharpen and they sharpen you. You need to hang out with these like-minded people because you all are of like faith.

When you show signs of loosing the altar in your life, REMEMBER the Paul-type, Timothy-type and Barnabas-type people are in your life from God -- so do not resent these chosen people. When these people speak, correct, challenge, irritate and admonish you about the "its" in your life, don't shun them, please beloved reader.

- these Paul/Timothy/Barnabas people can be any age in your life
- these Paul/Timothy/Barnabas people should NOT represent any form of temptation in your interaction
- the character of these Paul/Timothy/Barnabas people should show evidence that they thirst and seek God regularly
- these Paul/Timothy/Barnabas people should themselves be surrounded with people who hold them accountable

GET YOUR PERSONAL ALTAR BACK IN YOUR LIFE.
GET YOUR FAMILY BACK AT THE ALTAR.
GET YOUR MARRIAGE BACK AT THE ALTAR.
GET THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE BACK AT THE ALTAR.

Beloved reader, I derived the contents of this article by listening to a teaching by Jentezen Franklin titled "All Directions Come From The Altar." If you have any interest in having and transferring generational blessings to those in your life, I encourage you to listen to this teaching in its entirety. You can view this video teaching on this Healed People, Heal People Web site.

If you are not a member of this Healed People, Heal People online community, we invite you to join for free.
There are weekly updates of encouragement wrapped in biblical truths. Thank you for taking your time to read this article.

Signed,

The Cross, A Place of Exchange

Other Healed People, Heal People. articles you may be interested in reading

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Apostle Of Hate — Minister Of Healing By Melanie Hemry

Eagle Mountain International Church, Incorporated, aka Kenneth Copeland Ministries

"Is this Johnny Lee Clary?" A voice asked on the other end of the phone.

"Yes ..."

"The Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan for Oklahoma?"

"That's right."

"Mr. Clary, I'm calling on behalf of a local radio station. We would like to invite you here to the station next Sunday evening for an interview. The program will be live. During that time, we would allow you to read your literature and share your views openly."

Share my views on the radio? There's no telling how many new kids I can recruit! Johnny leaned back in his chair and propped up his feet.

"I'd be most honored to be your guest," he answered, a slow smile spreading across his face. Unlike most Klan members, Johnny Lee didn't shun publicity. He hadn't even minded when television cameras followed him around to schools in the Oklahoma City area, where he recruited kids. The way he looked at it, a man ought to stand up for the truth. And one thing Johnny Lee Clary knew for certain - the Ku Klux Klan stood for the truth.

Seeds of Hatred

His own education in that "truth" began early. He'd been only 5 when he looked out the car window in amazement. "Look, Daddy!" he'd said. "There's a chocolate-covered man!"

His daddy blew cigar smoke out the window in disgust. "That's not a chocolate-covered man," he said. "That's a n-----. Can you say, 'n-----'?"

Johnny Lee had leaned out the window and shouted, "N-----!" His daddy laughed and patted him on the back.

Johnny Lee's training continued when his Uncle Harold would visit from Georgia and tell his stories about the KKK. "I shot a black man for crossing my property," he once bragged to Johnny Lee's father. "The police didn't care that I shot him. But they did fine me for firing a gun in the city limits!" The two men laughed until their faces were red.

Johnny Lee's dad wasn't a member of the Klan. He couldn't be. He was Catholic. One group the Klan hated almost as much as blacks and Jews was Catholics. Johnny's daddy never attended Mass, but he made sure that Johnny Lee was on the Sunday school bus every week to the First Baptist Church.

That is, until the day Johnny Lee leaned out the bus window and screamed, "N-----!" to a black child on the street. That day, Johnny Lee's Sunday school teacher pulled him aside and taught him a song. At home, he proudly sang it for his father.

"Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white ..."

Johnny Lee's daddy never let him go back to that church. He found one closer to home -- an all-white church.

Everyone in their neighborhood hated Johnny Lee's family. The neighbors considered them white trash. Of course, nobody dared call them that. They were afraid to.

The Clary family's popularity took a sudden turn, however, when a black family bought a house in the neighborhood. The whole neighborhood came to Johnny Lee's daddy and asked him to help them get rid of the family. They were willing to buy them out, if they'd leave.

Unfortunately, the neighbors' sudden acceptance of the Clarys didn't make Johnny Lee's family any happier. His parents fought constantly. Their marriage ended tragically when, one night, 11-year-old Johnny Lee walked into a room to see his daddy holding a gun to his head. "Daddy, don't!" he screamed, then watched as his daddy shot himself to death.

After the funeral, Johnny Lee went to live with his older sister in California. But he wasn't happy there. As the months passed, Johnny Lee became more and more lonely. That's when he saw a talk show host interviewing David Duke, the Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. Remembering his Uncle Harold, Johnny Lee decided to contact the Klan. Within a few weeks, a man knocked at his door.

"I'm a friend of David Duke," he said. The man sat down and talked to Johnny Lee. "What do you like? Tell me about your life."

Johnny Lee was in awe. Someone wants to hear what I have to say!

"Son, you've had a hard, horrible life," the man said. "What you need is a family. A real family. That's what the Ku Klux Klan is -- a fraternal order. That means family."

Week after week, the man took Johnny Lee to his house for meetings. It was almost as if he had a father again. Between meetings, Johnny studied about the Klan. He was amazed to learn what prominent people were former Klansmen, including at least three U.S. presidents.

Johnny Lee trembled with excitement the day he joined the KKK. He was 14 years old. By age 20, Johnny Lee had worked his way up in the organization, first serving as Duke's bodyguard and later, becoming the Grand Dragon of Oklahoma.

"It was 1979 when I was invited to do the radio interview," Johnny Lee recalls. "I was so excited, I told everyone to tune in. Then, a few days before the interview, I was listening to the radio when they announced the upcoming debate between myself and the state president of the NAACP, the Rev. Wade Watts!

"I'd never actually met a black man. But I knew what to expect: A man in African robes sporting a huge Afro, a button that said, 'I hate white people,' and a sign, 'Black is beautiful.'

"I wasn't prepared for a nicely dressed, older black man carrying a worn Bible."

On the day of the debate, Rev. Watts walked up to Johnny Lee -- his hand outstretched. "Hello, Mr. Clary. I just want to tell you I love you, and Jesus loves you."

Stunned, Johnny Lee shook the man's hand without thinking. The physical touch of a Negro is pollution, he thought.

"Don't worry, son," Rev. Watts said with a grin. "It doesn't rub off."

He has a sense of humor ...?

"Why do you feel the two races shouldn't mingle?" the interviewer asked Johnny Lee as the debate began. "Because Christ ordered it," he explained.

"Son," Rev. Watts interrupted, "where did you get that idea?"

The only Bible verses Johnny Lee knew were the ones outlined in the KKK literature. Speaking slowly, Johnny Lee quoted, "What fellowship hath light with darkness...."

Rev. Watts explained that the scripture was referring to the believer and the nonbeliever, and to sin and righteousness. Then he asked Johnny Lee, "What color skin do you think an Ethiopian has?"

"Black as the ace of spades," Johnny responded.

"I'm glad you said that," Rev. Watts answered. "If you'll look in Numbers 12, you'll see that Moses married an Ethiopian woman. His sister, Miriam, didn't like it either. She talked against Moses and was struck with a horrible disease." He paused for a moment. "You can imagine what is going to happen to you."

Johnny Lee shifted uncomfortably in his chair. This wasn't turning out the way he expected. "Look here," he said, "white people are smarter than black people."

"How do you figure that?" Rev. Watts asked. Johnny Lee told him about an intelligence test that proved white children were smarter than black children.

"What color were the men who came up with that test?" Rev. Watts asked.

"It doesn't matter what color they were!" Johnny declared.

"Well, then," said Rev. Watts, "if it doesn't matter, I'll give you a test right now, and we'll see if you can pass it."

"If you think you're so smart, go ahead."

"How long is the average cockroach?" Rev. Watts asked Johnny Lee. "Do roaches walk, or do they fly? How long does it take a mess of chitlins to cook? What are chitlins?"

"Rev. Watts, you rigged that test," Johnny Lee fumed. "White folks aren't supposed to know that stuff."

"Mr. Clary, now you're getting my point."

Johnny Lee had to do something to get control of the interview. "Look," he said, trying to stay calm, "Thomas Jefferson helped pen our Constitution, and he said emphatically that the two races should never mix."

"I'm impressed that you know so much about our forefathers, Mr. Clary. Does the name Sally Hemmings mean anything to you?"

"No."

"She was Thomas Jefferson's mistress," Rev. Watts said. "They had seven children. She was his personal property. His slave. She was as black as the ace of spades."

"I'm not going to stay here and listen to any more of this!" Johnny fumed, storming out of the room.

Johnny Lee was surprised later when he saw Rev. Watts holding a baby girl. Lifting up the child, Rev. Watts said to Johnny Lee, "This baby's parents were teenagers. Her mother was white and her daddy was black. The boy's family said they wouldn't have a white child in their home, and the girl's family said they wouldn't have a black child in their home. So I adopted her. Tia is my baby now. Mr. Clary, how can you hate this baby?"

Johnny Lee turned to leave.

"You can't do enough to make me hate you," Rev. Watts said to Johnny Lee. "I'm going to love you and pray for you, whether you like it or not."

A short time later, Rev. Watts' church was burned. His family was plagued with vicious, hate-filled phone calls, and often found notes ..."KKK is watching you."

"During the next 10 years, I gained more and more power in the Klan," Johnny Lee remembers. "Yet during those years, we never stopped persecuting Rev. Watts. The only thing that bothered me was a recurring dream I had of that baby girl. She was beautiful. And she was the only seed of doubt in my life. Somehow, it didn't seem right to hate her. It didn't seem right for her to die. But I knew the Klan's final solution included extermination of the race -- including babies.

"I didn't let that seed of doubt hinder my work, though. When Rev. Watts joined ranks with an Oklahoma senator to make the Klan's racist hot lines illegal, my blood was boiling."

Johnny Lee called Rev. Watts. "I know you're behind this," he said. "We're coming to get you, and we're going to beat you ..."

"Hello, Johnny Lee! How's the family?"

"I said we're coming for you!"

"You don't have to come for me, I'll meet you. How about Pete's Place out on Highway 270?"

"Uh ..."

"Johnny Lee, they have the best home cooking you ever tasted. And apple pie that'll make you cry for more. Iced tea in those Mason jars. I can taste it now."

"Did you hear what I said?" Johnny Lee demanded. "We're going to beat you!"

"You be sure and bring all the boys..."

"I said we're going to beat you!"

"I heard you, and that's just fine. But first, I want to buy you boys dinner. Did I tell you about their potatoes?"

Johnny Lee hung up. "What did he say?" the Klan members asked.

"He talked about home cooking, apple pie and iced tea. Said he wanted to buy our dinner."

"That old man's gone pure crazy," someone said. "Let's leave him alone."

And they did.

"During the months that followed, a girl I had dated challenged me to go to church," Johnny Lee recalls. "I decided to take her up on it, so I called an elder at Crossroads Cathedral in Oklahoma City. He met with me, and led me to the Lord. I asked Jesus into my life and received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. A month later, someone asked me to speak at a Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship. I hadn't even broken ties with the Klan.

"Soon, word of my salvation reached the media, and a local newspaper asked for an interview. I gave it, and the next thing I knew I got a phone call from the Klan. I broke into a cold sweat when they said they were coming after me. I was scared."

"What are you doing, Clary?" they asked when they arrived.

Frightened for his life, Johnny Lee turned his back on God and the Church, and begged forgiveness from the Klan. He was given a second chance.

In 1989, Johnny Lee was appointed Imperial Wizard of the KKK.

"I wanted to unify all the hate groups - the different factions of the Klan, the Skinheads, the Patriots, the Neo-Nazis, the Militias, the Populists and the Aryan Nations - under one common organization," Johnny Lee recalled.

He spent months arranging a national meeting of all the white supremacist groups. Finally, all the players were in place.

What Johnny Lee didn't know, however, was that the FBI had tapped his phone and knew his plan. They arrested him on his way to the meeting.

Without his presence, the meeting fell apart. By the time Johnny Lee was released and arrived at the rally site, the different factions were fighting among themselves.

Johnny Lee surveyed the scene in disgust. I gave up my wife and child for these people. I gave up my life for this organization, and all they want to do is kill one another.

On his return home, Johnny Lee faced staggering legal battles and attorney fees. He was also disillusioned.

Where was the loyalty? he wondered. What happened to brotherhood? Wasn't the Klan supposed to be family?

Soon afterward, Johnny Lee resigned as Imperial Wizard, and walked away from the Klan. He took a good look at himself, and didn't like what he saw.

"I'd hit an all-time low in my life," Johnny Lee recalled. "Whenever I applied for a job, people just laughed."

As the months passed, Johnny Lee became more and more despondent.

Then he had a thought: Daddy escaped it all. I could go be with my dad, then I wouldn't have to worry about some Klansman putting a bullet in me.

Johnny Lee loaded his gun and put the barrel to his head.

The afternoon sun filtered through the closed blinds, casting tiny lines of light onto a Bible that lay gathering dust.

The only happiness, the only peace in my life, were those few months at Crossroads Cathedral, Johnny Lee thought. But now, it's too late for me ... The dusty Bible caught Johnny Lee's eye. He put down the gun, and picked up the Bible. It fell open to Luke 15 -- the story of the prodigal son.

Johnny Lee read the story once, then again, then a third time.

"I know what You're trying to tell me, God," he said, weeping. "That younger son turned his back on his father and wasted his life. But when he came home, the father welcomed him. You're telling me I can come home.

"God, I have no one else to turn to except You. I ask You to forgive me for the way I lived ... for all the hatred. Please, come into my heart, Jesus, and change me."

In the space of a heartbeat, the weight of years of hatred melted off Johnny Lee Clary. Weeping openly, he raised his hands and worshiped God. Then he picked up the Bible and read for hours.

"I was living in Tulsa, Oklahoma, too far to drive to Crossroads Cathedral," Johnny Lee recalls. "I visited a few churches, and although I enjoyed them very much, I knew none of them was where I was supposed to be. Each one had an all-white congregation. I knew God would never allow me to join an all-white church.

"That week, I saw an ad in the newspaper, 'Victory Christian Center - A Church For All Races.' The next Sunday, I walked into that church and knew it was right. There were blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Filipinos, every race seemed to be represented."

Johnny Lee joined the church.

"This time, I didn't tell anyone who I was. Eventually, someone recognized me, and I wrote a letter to the pastor, Billy Joe Daugherty, explaining that I'd been the Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. He wrote back, encouraging me to spend time getting grounded in God's Word.

"God helped me get a job and, for the first time since 1982, I was happy. In addition to listening to the Word at church, I was introduced to the teaching of Kenneth and Gloria Copeland. I tuned in to their Believer's Voice of Victory program, bought their tapes and learned about faith.

"In 1991, during one of Pastor Billy Joe's sermons, the Lord called me to preach. Billy Joe's wife, Sharon, walked over to me and announced, 'God didn't save you for you to sit in Tulsa. He's commanded you to go into the world and get people saved.' "A few weeks later, Johnny Lee heard the Lord again. Call Rev. Watts.

He did.

"Hello, Johnny Lee," Rev. Watts said warmly.

"Rev. Watts, I wanted you to know that I resigned from the KKK in 1989. I gave my heart to Jesus, and I'm a member of Victory Christian Center, an interracial church. My mind is being renewed, and God has called me to preach."

"Well, praise the Lord, son!" Rev. Watts said. "Would you do me the honor of speaking at my all-black church?"

Johnny Lee choked back the tears. "I'd love to."

When Johnny Lee arrived to speak at Rev. Watts' church, there were cameras and news reporters everywhere. Once inside, Johnny Lee Clary stepped up to the podium and looked out over the sea of black faces. He saw people made in the image of God, souls that Jesus had died to save. The contempt he once felt had been replaced with a love so great, so powerful, that his knees felt weak.

This, he realized, is what real unity is all about. It was not what he had tried to do through the KKK. Real unity is only possible through love.

Johnny Lee told his story, and what Jesus had done for him. Afterward, a teenage girl ran down the aisle. "I want to know the same Jesus you know," she said.

As the altar filled with people wanting to know Johnny Lee's Jesus, he heard Rev. Watts weeping.

"Do you know who that is?" Watts asked, pointing at the young girl Johnny Lee had just led to the Lord.

"No," Johnny Lee answered.

"That's Tia," Rev. Watts said. "She's the baby I shoved in your face that day at the radio station!"

Johnny Lee turned to look at the beautiful face beaming at him. She was the baby he couldn't hate.

Rev. Watts and his wife had 13 children. Nine of them had given their lives to Jesus. In the throng of people who crowded the altar that night, Johnny Lee was privileged to introduce the other four to the Lord Jesus.

After the service, Rev. Watts and Johnny Lee embraced. An elderly black pastor wrapped his arms around a young, white, former Klansman. They both wept.

"All those years I prayed for you!" Watts said. "I never dreamed that God would use you to bring my own children into the kingdom!"

It's been more than six years now since Johnny Lee preached at Rev. Watts' church, and many things have changed. But both men still work untiringly - to spread the gospel and promote racial reconciliation.

Today, Johnny Lee Clary's greatest thrill in ministry occurs when he ministers alongside Rev. Wade Watts. His second greatest thrill is being a godfather to young Tia Watts.

Johnny Lee Clary stands amazed that one man - the man he persecuted - prayed him out of hell on earth and into heaven for eternity. Before, that kind of love was unfathomable to Johnny Lee. Now, it is a way of life.

Copyright © 1997-2004

Pastor Johnny Lee Clary's Testimony

Johnny Lee Clary learned to hate at a very young age. He was raised in a family filled with racism, anger, and bigotry. As a young teenager, after his father committed suicide and his mother abandoned him, Johnny found himself alone and looking for someplace to belong. At 14, he was seduced by the teachings of the notorious David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan, and he joined the organization.

As an impressionable young man, Johnny became so enthralled with the sense of belonging and a need for “family” that he participated in KKK events as a security enforcer. His exuberance and dedication led to him being appointed as David Duke’s personal bodyguard.

Johnny continued to advance in the organization, reveling in the feeling of finally fitting in. He went on to spend nearly 17 years in the Klan, as State Organizer and Public Relations spokesman for Imperial Wizard Bill Wilkinson of the Invisible Empire Knights of the Ku Klux Klan; then becoming Grand Dragon of the National Knights of the KKK; then Heartland Director and right-hand man to White Aryan Resistance leader Tom Metzger (by all accounts, one of the most violent men ever to preach hatred); and finally, to becoming one of the most nefarious national Klan leaders in America after being elected to the very top: Imperial Wizard (national head) of the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, a branch that originated in Mississippi and was considered to be the most dreaded Klan faction in history (and widely acknowledged by law enforcement as the most violent and militant of all the Klan), taking responsibility for bombings, murders, and countless other crimes—all in the name of hatred and racism. To this day, the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan are considered the real Ku Klux Klan.

As the Klan’s national leader, during many appearances on such television programs as The Oprah Winfrey Show, the Morton Downey, Jr. Show, and many others, Johnny advocated, supported, and defended racism and violence.

But then, the destructive mindset and lifestyle he had lived for so many years began to take its toll. Riddled with torment, angered over a false arrest in Tennessee on a weapons charge, disgusted with internal bickering between the various white supremacist organizations, and the discovery that his girlfriend was an informant for the FBI, Johnny Lee left the Klan.

But life does not always repair so easily. Over the next few years he found himself derailed by issues related to his alledged daughter, two divorces, losing all of his friends, the FBI doubting his exit from the Klan, and struggling just to make an honest living. These challenges, combined with his feelings of guilt over the life of violence, prejudice, and hatred he had lived for so long, led Johnny to alcohol.

On the verge of committing suicide one night, he cried out to God to deliver him from his nightmarish existence. And God answered. From that point on, Johnny Lee used his life, his experiences, and his near destruction to help others leave the same evil path that he had walked for so long.

In 1995 Johnny was appointed by Roy Ennis to serve as West Coast Director National Director for the Congress Of Racial Equality. Since then, he has spoken at innumerable Universities, High Schools and churches, and has been a featured speaker for Youth Alive and Teen Challenge. He lectures for the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, educating officers on the mindset of white supremacists and how to best fight against domestic terrorism.

As a renowned international speaker, he has set records for the largest crowds of any motivational lecturer in Australia other than Billy Graham, with literally thousands receiving his message of hope, healing and forgiveness for racism, low self-esteem, suicidal tendencies, and substance abuse.

Johnny Lee Clary resides with his wife Melissa in Miami, Oklahoma. He has appeared on the Billy Graham Radio Show, on the television programs including:

Geraldo Rivera
Fox News
Alan Colmes
Sally Jesse Raphael
Jerry Springer
Rikki Lake
Queen Latifah
Montel Williams
Phil Donahue
A&E Investigative Reports
ABC World News Tonight
Bertrice Berry
The Today Show
A Current Affair
The 700 Club
CNBC The Big Idea w/ Donny Deutsch

He has also been a regular guest on TBN’s Praise The Lord show and has been featured in America’s top newspapers and magazines, including a seven page feature story in Charisma magazine in April 1999, Moody Magazine, GuidePost Magazine [September 1998], Kenneth Copeland's Believer's Voice of Victory magazine, as well as appearances on TV programs in Australia, England, Holland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, and Wales.

Johnny’s book, Johnny Angel: My Life and Death at the Top of the KKK … a true story is available on his Web site.

Contact

By phone: Australian mobile 041 121 3232 - United States 918 919-0105
Postal address: PO Box 972 Miami, Oklahoma 74355-0972
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Copyright © 2007 - 2009 Johnny Lee Clary
Site Design: Visreal Productions +617 4661 5222

Beloved reader, thank you for taking your time to read this blog. If you're not a member of this online Healed People, Heal People community, we invite you to join for here free. There are weekly updates of encouragement wrapped in biblical truth.

http://www.exministries.com
Minister G. Craige Lewis

I listened and watched several videos videos by Minister G. Craige Lewis. Below, I've typed notes from the revelation the Holy Spirit has given him. I thank God for imparting different callings and revelation to people within the body of Christ. Enjoy and please send a link to this article to as many Christians as you can. Thank you.

HIP HOP MUSIC -- There’s something that’s now rocking America; it’s worst than a bomb. It’s now created a bunch of young [Christian and non-Christian] people who totally defy order. The churches have now embraced it, hip hop, and the whole world is being rocked by the impact of it. The enemy started planning this demonic hip-hop strategy in the Zulu nation in Africa and even all the way back to Pharaoh. The enemy began to prepare something to catch and captivate the minds of young people to pull them straight into his own belly. This is the hip-hop culture. This means church youth [and adults] will and are beginning to worship the devil through hip hop music. It’s plain and simple. Our youth [and adults] need deliverance from this because the music and videos have created an open door into their young lives.

Why do Christian parents allow their children to buy clothes that promote godless, perverted artists – like Sean Jean, Rocawear. Biggie Smalls, when he was living, had a group called The Junior Mafia – it was broken into three groups. Each group was called a 6. The entire junior mafia was called 666. Right before Biggie Smalls died, he was preparing to start a clothing line to be named 666. And had this come to fruition, would Christian parents have allowed their children to purchase these clothes and wear even wear them in the house of God. Of course, 666 is the mark of the beast. So what’s a simple strategy the devil uses to promote the anti-Christ agenda, he raises up superstars – like Biggie Smalls, like Beyonce, like Jay-Z.

Russell Simmons [former husband of Kimora Lee Simmons] is the owner of Phat Farm clothing line. His house looks like a gym and in his basement he has a statute of Kali. Kali is the Indian yoga goddess of death and destruction. He prays to this statue every morning. Kali had followers that would worship her stature back in the 19th century. They sacrificed money, jewels and possessions to this goddess. When people came into the temple to worship Kali, men came into the temple to beat up whoever was worshipping Kali. They were robbers and thieves. These men would put the jewels in their mouths and hide all of the possessions they stole. These men were named thugs. Russell Simmons is pegged as a godfather of hip-hop and he worships the goddess that rules over these thugs. The word thug is synonymous to the hip-hop culture. Many people in hip-hop refer to themselves as thugs. There is a new show getting ready ready to air [at the end of 2009] about Tupac titled Thug Angel.

These artists in the hip-hop culture begin to take on thug characteristics and conjure up and channel these very demonic spirits of the thugs back from the 19th century. [There are pictures available to compare facial expressions of body mannerisms so you can see how identical.] 50 Cent, Slim Thug, Mike Jones, Young Buck, Lil John – these guys are glorifying being thugs. This is demonic worship or familiar spirits as scripture calls it. Notice the facial expressions of these hip-hoppers [view videos on YouTube by Minister G. Craige Lewis]. In the form of entertainment, satan is using these hip-hoppers to promote the anti-Christ agenda. Yes, they even put their extravagant jewelry in their mouths, just like the thugs from the 19th century that stole from those who worshipped the idol god Kali in the temple.

Jay-Z calls himself jehovah god. He believes he is god. He does not believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He believes the Black man is god. His clothing line is Rocawear. And why are Christians buying these clothes and even sporting them to church? He has an album called The Black Album and there’s a song on there that you have to play in reverse. These are the lyrics when the song is played in reverse – 666, murder, murder Jesus, 666. [The video of this song being played backwards is posted on this site for you to hear.] Yes, these are the subliminal messages Jay-Z is sending to those listening to this song. And why are Christians supporting him again? Have you noticed that hip-hop clothing is in every department store now. Wake up saints! We wonder what's wrong with our youth and young adults. We wonder why the atmosphere in our homes are not peaceful. Well -- this hip-hop music and the videos create many open doors for you, your children and young adults to invite the demonic right on in to your home, car and life.

Remember the old song, Another One Bites The Dust. When that song was played backwards or in reverse, it said, I like to smoke marijuana. When kids were interviewed, the kids said, they just wanted to get high, they wanted to smoke weed. The kids and adults didn’t have any idea why these thoughts and urges were coming upon them. Christians, saints, believers -- there are only two forces in the world -- God who was Jesus in the flesh and satan. God who is available to us now through The Holy Spirit is omnipotent. As we know, satan can only be in one place at a time. So, what does satan do? He uses demons to do his work. He has assigned demons everywhere. To you, your family, your community, your church, your denomination, your city, your country, your institutions, your governments, your companies, your vocations, and, of course, the media, education and entertainment industries.

The following article is property of EX Ministries' Web site. The information that Charisma did not publish!

A few months ago we were approached by Charisma magazine to do an interview. We have been asked by several national talk shows and publications to give interviews. We always pray and proceed with caution. EX Ministries is not in the business of seeking to promote our cause or message through nationally distributed magazines, however when we were approached by Charisma, we agreed to do the article. We agreed partly because, Charisma has a reputation of being edgy and also they informed me that they were doing an article anyway, whether I agreed to the interview or not.

So I gave them the whole story and answered their questions only after they promised that they would print exactly what I said. Further more, I found that just a year or so prior to this, they had released an issue with a very lengthy cover story on holy hip hop and its use in the black church. I hoped that they would give us the same consideration and print the information we gave them so that it would answer questions and warn others about the dangers of hip-hop.

In the February 2007 issue, they printed the article about us, and much to my surprise, they were very reserved with editing my answers and hardly printed any thing that we addressed in our interview. Although we do not feel the article was directly negative towards our stand, we do feel that the meat of the matter was never really dealt with. I would think that this information would be important enough to discuss with as much intensity as the article they did on holy hip hop, but once again, the booty shaking, grilled mouthed, inmate mimicking, embarrassment to our race, hip hoppers, were lifted up and the truth behind hip hop was snubbed.

Since Charisma didn’t print our interview in its original format, we decided to give you the full list of questions and answers uncut and unedited, as I corresponded with their journalist. This is the information that the 700 Club, Gospel Today, Charisma, and many others will not print for whatever reason.

Charisma Magazine Artical Uncut

JB of Charisma Magazine -What is the goal of your DVD series The Truth Behind Hip Hop?

G. Craige Lewis - Actually, we have no goals for the DVD because we never pursued or planned to record a DVD. One of the most dangerous things that I believe has infected the body of Christ is self-promotion. Yet, this is what most pastors or traveling evangelist are told they must do to get the word out. If the word they were trying to get out was their own then promoting it would be fine. However, if its God’s Word then I believe that God is responsible to promote it. The Truth Behind Hip-Hop is definitely an example of that. The series came about as a result of my traveling and preaching The Truth Behind Hip Hop for two years prior to the DVD. The 1st DVD was recorded in 2002 at the request of a ministry in my area. Initially, I turned them down, because I didn’t want to change the way God was getting the message out. However, after I prayed, the ministry approached me again and the Lord told me to let them record it. The recording didn’t cost me a dime of my own money and besides that, we never mass-marketed it, signed a distribution deal, or tried to promote it ourselves. Yet, through word of mouth and just making them available on our site quite a few people have ordered the DVD’s. What are my goals and desires for the DVD’s? I never planned for DVD’s in the first place. Simply put, I want what God wants and that is for every believer to deny himself and follow Christ!

JB of Charisma Magazine -Your message on secular hip-hop is clear, however, I didn't see where you offered an alternative or solution to what our young people should be listening to. Could you please explain further on this?

G. Craige Lewis - This is dealt with in our 3rd DVD, Antichrist Superstar. We believe that God is not an alternative! He should never be put in the position to replace something that should have never been there in the first place. Consider this, a young person is saved and delivered from an addiction to drugs and the church gives them holy drugs as an alternative? This is absurd. Yet this what so-called holy-hip-hoppers are doing. That young person doesn’t need an alternative drug; the drugs should have never been in their lives in the first place. We teach young people that Jesus Christ is the WAY! Seek him and find him and you will know then what is good and acceptable according to the unction that is within you, called the anointing! We are here to push people into the face of God not by offering replacements, but rather using the written word of God and exposing the darkness and deception that exists in their lives whether through music, or any other form of idol worship. God is first. Once you seek him, you will know in your heart what is good for your mind and soul. Some people think that I am anti-music. As a musician and former producer, I have recorded plenty of music; I have friends who record good Christian music; and according to some trends in ministry, I should be taking the bad stuff and then selling them my stuff—but God has not told me to do that. I preach the message that God has told me to preach and let the Holy Spirit, PASTORS, YOUTH PASTORS, and parents do the rest.

JB of Charisma Magazine -What are your feelings toward the holy hip-hop movement?

G. Craige Lewis - Holy hip hop is ridiculous. It makes no sense. It's just another tool of the enemy to make our young black males act, dress, and behave in a manner that is only beneficial to a rap star and those that profit from it. Although, these antics may be entertaining to some, to the average black man, these behaviors are roadblocks that halt their forward progress in the true culture we live in called the American culture! Dressing like gang members, wearing your hair like women, sagging your pants like inmates, and speaking broken English is, by the American standard, unacceptable behavior and will continue to be a hindrance in the future of our generation. Why would a church embrace that? Why would a church promote that? Out of desperation, many churches are resorting to holy thugs and gospel gangsta's to entertain their youth while the adults are worshipping. You see, you can't minister to teens about self-love, self-promotion, self-empowerment, and all the fluff messages that our new mega-church era is overrun with. Kids won't sit through, what I call the top-pop sermons of the neo-penecostal movement: Miracle, season, harvest, breakthrough, favor, destiny, and purpose. Only adults will chase that stuff. Kids want it real. Therefore, to keep them entertained without a true heart for their souls, you must do what is popular to them. You must mimic the world, follow the world's lead, and subscribe to the current trends and fads if you don't have a true call to minister. Therefore, the holy hip hoppers have found a way to masquerade as the answer while they sell their music and promote themselves. They sound just like the secular stuff. They look just like the secular stuff. They even listen to the secular stuff to get their sound and flavor. So, all they really do is build the desire for the kids to go out and get the real stuff but just do the imitation while at church, cause that's what is available!

JB of Charisma Magazine -Jesus translated the gospel into terms that people could understand [i.e. parables and storytelling]. Do you feel this can be OK for our culture as well? Can hip-hop be used in this way? Why or why not? I think of it as the same as different publishing companies providing different translations of the Bible. I also think of Paul's verse that said he is all things to all men [1 Corinthians 9:22], except a backslider and unrepentant sinner, of course!

G. Craige Lewis - First of all Jesus didn’t translate the Gospel He was the Gospel, the Gospel is the record of His life, death and resurrection. Secondly, He didn’t speak in parables so that people could understand. Ironically, it was just the opposite: He spoken in parables so that the truth would be hidden to those who thought themselves wise and prudent.

Matt. 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Matt. 13:10 And the disciples came and said to Him, Why do You speak to them in parables?

Matt. 13:11 Jesus answered them, To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.

Matt. 13:12 For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.

Matt. 13:13 Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

If anyone has seen any of our DVD’s or have ever heard me speak, they will know that we teach and preach that hip-hop is not just a genre of music. Hip-hop is a lifestyle. It is a manner of life. When a person comes to Christ He changes his lifestyle. Furthermore, hip hop's origin causes it to be useless when it comes to ministry. The word hip hop, according to the founders of the culture and the pioneers of the music art form, was first used in the clubs by the Sugar Hill Gang. Remember that song that said, hip hop, hippy to the hop, don't stop rocking ...? Well, that song was using the two words hip hop to describe women's booty's shaking to their beats in the club. Basically, in it's simplest form, hip hop means booty shaking! Your hips hop to the beats. Just look at the last twenty-years of hip-hop videos: the clothes changed, the music changed, even the lyrics changed but one thing that always remained the same is the gratuitous camera shot of girls hips hopping. We can quote “I became all things to all men …” all we want to; but I don’t think Paul ever meant that he would make the people’s booty shake to win them to Christ. Moreover, how in the world can you have holy booty shaking? Sure, the youth will come to shake their butts and throw up their hood signs, but will they be changed? We have seen millions of youth saved, set free, and delivered, and we have never used any kind of music to draw them.

JB of Charisma Magazine - Since I have begun to research this article I have come across some interesting observations. If it is OK, I would like to explore these with you. It is said that hip-hop culture can be looked at the same as American culture. Both have their up sides and their down sides. If you showed someone from another country all the American strip clubs, bars, jails, and ghettos, perhaps they would see America in a terrible way. But if we showed that America also had churches, good will and charity organizations, sports, great universities [that is up for argument, but anyway] :-)), one would see American in a more realistic light. It has been said that the hip-hop culture is also the same way. The bad is very bad, but there are very positive things that come out of the culture -- creativity, holy hip-hop, political voice, a point of connection to express and release the pain of this generation. How do you feel about such comments/observations?

G. Craige Lewis - Hip-hop is a sub-cultural movement, and cannot be compared to an ethnographic or demographic culture. A subculture is defined as a group with distinctive characteristics within a larger culture. This is why we say that hip-hop is at best, a subculture. Furthermore, its not a movement based on it's own concepts but it is a subculture that uses basic deconstruction of words and concepts to cause those that are apart of it to strive to be more visible in our present society. Initially, hip- was created out of lack and fatherless-ness. Young boys whose father's were absent began to adhere to the streets rather than abiding by the rules that govern success in society. The streets life became their expression and selling drugs, murdering, and fathering illegitimate children became their motes operandi since they had no authoritative male figures to look up to. This birthed the clothing, the language, and the social rejection that gave way for this subculture to emerge. All that we see now is a result of lack and fatherless-ness. Should we adapt to that? Or should we show a better way? Should we promote Christian gangsta's and holy thugs? Or should we teach them that the street life is not the only way there is? There is no way to compare the American culture with a street life subculture that was birthed out of rebellion and recklessness. You can't rebel against a culture that you are apart of and expect to excel in that cultures system. So, if you are not a rapper or DJ or some other occupation that is financed by the subculture of hip hop, then you won't make it in the true American culture. Rebellion will only label you an outcast or reject and cause you to be ridiculed and immobilized.

JB of Charisma Magazine - Another thing I would like to better understand is that you mentioned that hip-hop comes from the devil and that it is satan's trick to cause people to worship him and receive his mark. Did you mean all hip-hop?

G. Craig Lewis - Please allow me to restate your question referring to my earlier definition: Did I mean all booty-hop came from the devil? Hmmmm … ultimately yes. However, before I answer where hip-hop came from, let me clear up where it didn’t come from. Obviously, booty-hop did not come from God. I hear a lot people [mostly holy-hip-hoppers] trying to refer to hip-hop in its purest form. Referring to hip-hop as a pure form is like trying to refer to crack as a pure form. crack in itself is a hybrid of cocaine and other chemicals used to cut it. Yet the reason holy hip-hoppers try to make this quantum leap in logic, is so they can somehow say that hip-hop is a gift from God. One very popular Grammy nominated Holy-hip-hop group suggest that on judgment day God will judge us based on what we did with Hip-hop. God has nothing to do with hip-hop. The founding fathers of hip-hop all readily admit that men created hip-hop out of rebellion. So technically, man created hip-hop, but rebellion inspired it. The Bible clearly states that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. What spirit governs rebellion and witchcraft? The devil. So what about holy hip-hip? Surely, they distinguish themselves from the rebellious element of hip-hop don’t they? No, they can’t. Jesus said a kingdom divided against itself can’t stand. Holy hip-hoppers dress like secular hip-hoppers; behave like secular hip-hoppers [throwing up gang signs] and even listen to secular hip-hop so they can emulate them. At one of the holy hip-hop awards shows, a fight broke out east coast against west coast just like secular hip-hop.

When most holy hip hop artists rap, they never refer to it as Holy, but just hip hop. Why is that? Because, there is only one subculture of hip hop and it is not holy! KRS-ONE, the lead prophet and spokesperson for hip hop says that Biggie was [the counterfeit] John the Baptist and Tupac Shakur was [the counterfeit] Jesus Christ and they died for our sins! He is revered and looked up to as the father of holy hip hop. He says in hip hop there are no gods and goddesses, we are the gods and goddesses! He even has T-Bone and BB Jay on his CD called Spiritually Minded, which is sold in Mardels, Family Christian, and all major Christian bookstores. He says he is a prophet and is here to teach the truth about Jesus. He says we are all Jesus Christs and should not worship him or call his name out, but be Jesus. He has Temples of hip hop all over the country and is meeting with holy hip hoppers to join together in efforts to promoting hip hop in the church! In our discussion with Ambassador of the Cross Movement, we urged him to call what he was doing Christian rap and not subscribe to hip hop culture. We asked him why couldn't he just rap for the Lord and use his ability to create rhymes for God without giving credit or props to hip hop. He said he couldn't. He is apart of the hip hop culture and would not denounce it. All rappers believe that rap is the music, but hip hop is the lifestyle or the way of life. This tells us that all hip hoppers have an agenda. Not to just rap, but to promote a rebellious way of life! Hip-hop takes what was once seen as bad and makes it good. Thugs, pimps, and gangstas was once seen as bad but hip-hop says that its good. Holy hip-hoppers are governed by this fundamental element and try to sanctify hip-hip by adding one word holy to everything. Now they say holy thugs, and gospel gangstas as if this will change the essence of hip-hop terms.

JB of Charisma Magazine -And also, what did you mean when you later said that satan can't create anything, that he is anti-God and anti-creation? Just to clarify, it appeared that there was a contradiction in that point. Could you explain your complete thoughts on that?

G. Craige Lewis - Satan did not create hip hop, but he used man to create it. Man has a unique ability that was not giving to satan. Man has God's attribute of creation. The devil took the music, the fatherless-ness, and the false god worship of the Zulu nation, and fused it together to form an anti-Christian movement of Hip Hop. I don't believe the devil created all the things that make up the movement, but he did mastermind the culmination of them all.

JB of Charisma Magazine - Also, how would you respond to the argument that people may bring up from Colossians 1:16-17: For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist? I have heard this text used to defend that use of hip-hop to glorify God and to win people to Christ.

G. Craige Lewis - There is NO biblical example of music ever being used to win souls to Christ or to evangelize. Music as a unique ability to coerce your mind and physiologically causes the release of pleasure chemicals in your brain. Because of this, it's hard for a person to make a good sound decision for Christ with the emotional trappings of music involved. Their decision will be based on feeling rather than fact. I believe that this accounts for much of the schizophrenic Christianity of the modern Church. Many churches heavily use music during their altar calls and people make a decision for Christ without being soberly minded. This leads to a conversion that is based on their emotions rather than their sound judgment. When they go back to their former environment and their emotions change they turn away from God. There is no biblical account of music being listed as a fold in the five-fold ministry or used by the apostles to draw a crowd. Jesus said no man cometh unless the Spirit of God draws him. If you notice, the only people that are really pushing hip hop in the churches are those that profit from it. Since when did the resale industry's method become our model for winning souls? When I speak, we never use music and hard core gang members, pimps, whores, drug dealers, drug users, etc. have come to Christ by the thousands without hip hop or any music!

JB of Charisma Magazine -What do you think of holy hip-hop churches and ministries?

G. Craige Lewis - What's next? What is the church going to do to reach the red-light district? Or the strippers? Are we going to dress up like whores and start whore ministries to reach them? Are we going to dress up like pimps to reach pimps or cross dress to reach homosexuals? [Believe me, some are probably behind the scenes trying to set up these movements even as we speak.] People need the power of the Holy Ghost to change them, not our methods. These are the purpose driven churches that are really people driven! They want big numbers and large offerings, so they turn to fleshly methods and the promotion of their own ideas rather than preaching the truth of the Word of God without compromise. If the holy hip hop churches and ministries were really affective, they would be in the streets with their kind and not in some building acting street! I want all pastors and ministries that are holding on and not giving in to this perverted move of carnality by embracing this demonic sub-culture to know something. You are not alone!

There are hundreds of thousands of churches and ministries out there that are not giving in and just because you see the mega pastors and conferences trying to push this hip hop agenda, stick with what God is telling you. There is something wrong with boys sagging their pants and tattooing their bodies. There is something wrong with girls dressing and acting like prostitutes and hookers. There is something wrong with gospel gangsters and holy thugs wearing grillz and speaking broken English. Stay true to what you know God is saying. Teach the parents and they will effectively minister to their children. Don't sideswipe their authority by bringing in the very images and lifestyles that parents and the education system of America is trying to change.

JB of Charisma Magazine - Thank you Elder Lewis for your responses. I see in one of your answers that you asked to one of the members of Cross Movement to call their music Christian rap. It appears from this dialog that you do not have a problem with someone rapping Christian lyrics -- just not subscribing to the hip-hop lifestyle. Is this assumption correct? Also, what style of music would you say is appropriate for Christians to listen to? Or maybe you wouldn't tell someone what to listen, but how would you teach someone to choose the kind of music that truly glorifies God?

G. Craige Lewis - I am not against rap, or any style of music, but I do not believe that Christian music should exalt the performer at all. If it's Christian, or Christ-like, it should exalt only Christ. The holy hip hoppers promote themselves all in their music because hip hop is self expressive and self serving. That is against the plan of Christ, self denial! I believe a Christian should seek God in every way possible and deny their flesh in every way possible. This includes selfish music that causes us to move in an inappropriate manner or songs that lift up people as idols and do not lift up Christ. Self denial is the root of Salvation and must be practiced as Paul said, daily. So, with our investigative estimations of the gospel music industry being over 95 percent homosexual, self worship is being promoted in music and self promotion is key in being successful as an artists. The only example of this in the Bible is Lucifer, the angel that the bible says iniquity was found in him because of his much merchandising! It also states in Ezekial that the iniquity of his traffic [self promotion] got him cast out and labeled profane.

Thank you for taking your time to read this article on Healed People, Heal People. Please send this article to other Christians, especially pastors and youth pastors of all races. If you're not a member of this online community, we invite you to join for free. There are regular updates of encouragement wrapped in biblical truth as it relates to integrated healing & deliverance.

Keep the trash cleaned out of the body. Don't give the virus or germs a place to live. Keep the bowels clean. Please promote and allow at least two and preferably three easy and complete movements per day.

One to four capsules of the Pure Herb Cascara Sagrada each night. Start with capsule and increase if needed. Or one teaspoon of the Pure Herb C.C.E.-W each night.

Get rid of the virus flu and colds | Do not get dehydrated. Keep your body well supplied with plenty of natural vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Take one teaspoon of the Pure Herb Formula Max or the Pure Herb Formula M, three to four times per day. Drink plenty of fluids. Peppermint tea is great using one teaspoon of the Pure Herb Peppermint to a cup of hot water. The Pure Herb I.V.-H [Infection & Virus] for relief of flu suffering, one teaspoon two to three times per day.

Get your rest.

Use an herbal antibiotic. Choose any of the following: Strengthen the immune system. The Pure Herb IM.S.-W one teaspoon three times per day. Fight the flu. One teaspoon or more of the Pure Herb Bee Propolis and one teaspoon of the Pure Herb Olive Leaf every four hours while awake and one teaspoon of the Pure Herb Astragulus and one teaspoon of the Pure Herb Boneset taken the same way devastates viruses.

Also use 3,000 mg of the Pure Herb Vitamin C plus the Pure Herb Pleurisy Root every four hours and one teaspoon to one tablespoon of the Pure Herb C.C.-E.-W [Cleansing Corrective Extract] every four hours while awake. Also, 10 drops of the Pure Herb Sutherlandia every four hours while awake is very powerful.

Apply any of these Pure Herbs to a handkerchief and breathe deeply as needed -- Oil of Cajeput, Wintergreen Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Peppermint Oil or Five Oils. Apply these oils to the chest to breathe easier and break up congestion. Avoid chills.

When you eat, make sure you get some protein to build natural body defenses. Try yogurt, natural peanut butter, almond nut butter or ground sesame seed, also known as Tahini. These can be put on puffed rice crackers. You can also supplement with protein. Use any of the following Pure Herbs for protein: Bee Pollen, Five Good, Protein extract. One teaspoon to one tablespoon three times per day. Prevent the flu, one teaspoon of the Pure Herb Sweet Root per day.

Keep the immune system strong. Nourish the adrenal glands. This can make up more comfortable and get you well quicker. Choose any of the following Pure Herbs: Bee Pollen, Siberian Ginseng, Licorice Root, Sarsaparilla, Ashwaganda, Formula III, Stillingia, or especially for women, Three Bees. Take these at the rate of one teaspoon every four hours while awake. If you must be around sick people, take 40 drops of Pure Herb Juniper Berries per meal to avoid sickness.

The Pure Herb Formula F & F, if flu and fever or the Pure Herb Black Cohosh if chills and fever 10 to 40 drops hourly as needed. Also apply to spine.

Do you take prescription meds? Does someone you love take prescription meds? Did you know that properly prescribed medication is the number three cause of death in USA according to the American Journal of Medicine?

In 2003, my cancer test came back 80% positive and I asked The Holy Spirit to help me get through this and if He did, I would change.

It's 2009, and I'm still keeping my word.

When I told the Lord I'd change, I meant:

1) change the food I purchase and the food I eat; LocalHarvest.org can help you access local organic farms.

2) change how I treat my body internally;

3) change how I treat my body externally through daily exercise; I eat every day, therefore, I exercise every day.

4) not change in keeping my body sanctified as a living sacrifice for the Lord, which includes sexual morality whether you are married or single.

5) change by educating myself on the origins of the food I purchase; You understand our food supply in America is severely contaminated.

6) change by switching to natural herbs instead of prescription medication; for every thing that could possibly be wrong with the human body, internally, externally or mentally, the Lord provided an herb for it that's still available today. I'm a distributor for Pure Herbs and this has changed my life. For example, I used to suffer from sinus infections every six weeks. I may have one sinus infection a year, but no more. In 2009, I chose to address the spiritual roots of my sinus infection.

7) and change about by getting off of prescription medications.

Three Web sites that changed my life are www.BeInHealth.com, www.HAcres.com, www.DrDay.com and www.NotMilk.com.

Yesterday, 6.15.09, I spoke with my mom who is trying to eradicate her high blood pressure.

I shared with mom please do NOT overlook the spiritual side of your high blood pressure or any illness whether life threatening or a functional illness.

Almost everybody in my mom's family had or has high blood pressure [not me, I broke the generational curse off of me and the children I have to come].

A generational curse is not difficult to break.

You're familiar with the scriptures that repeat many times in the Bible, satan comes to steal, kill and destroy.

It's real and active in every believers life.

The question is how active or passive are you in YOUR life by being an offensive participant to experience the promises of an abundant life.

The primary mode of operation satan uses to destroy, steal and kill YOU, your family, your church members and your friends is through attacking your body.

For some satan uses illness.
For some satan uses drugs.
For some satan uses sex.
For some satan uses mental torment.
For some satan uses food or the lack thereof.
For some satan uses laziness or the lack of exercise.

You see the pattern, right?

You understand that each of the things listed above are not simply coincidence, but are controlled [unseen] by the demonic.

You are familiar that with repeated scriptures that boldly declare the issues we wrestle with are rooted in the unseen evil, demonic, principalities.

So, the operative question is, are you dealing with your issues, including your health issues, by eradicating them also on a spiritual level?

You know what I don't like about satan is that he's not even that clever.

His intelligence quota is pretty low, because he doesn't even try new stuff.

Think about it, think about how many things are repeated in your family throughout the generations.

Even as Christians, we tend to say comments like the following:

"I don't know what's wrong with that boy."

"She ought to know better, no good will come of this."

"We raised them in the church, so they know the truth; I just can't get through."

"The men in the family just can't seem to make a go of it."

"Is he is jail again? He ought to stop that and take care of his family."

"Has she had another baby out of wedlock? So how many is it now."

Okay, so what's my point here.

Many times we completely overlook the spiritual in our day-to-day lives.

The active operation of generational curses simply and realistically explains many of the common statements we all hear in our families weekly.

Now, what I wrote above, are the things that are seen.

As you know, many of us wrestle with things are are unseen, in our minds, things we are too ashamed to let others know including spouses, children, parents and church members.

Satan's done a good job keeping Christians focused on the symptoms and the natural, instead of being focused on eradicating the [spiritual] roots of our issues, even health issues.

By putting an axe to the spiritual roots, then the symptoms are forced to die.

As some of you know, I graduated in May 2009 from an int'l school for biblical healing and deliverance.

I learned that the liver is the major organ that filters our impurities.

I know none of us in class had ever cleaned our liver.

Most issues in the kidney and gall bladder starts in the liver, but doctors will not share that out.

Why, because the medical profession typically treats symptons and not the roots of your issues.

If they treated the roots of your issues, then you would not need to come back or continue to get all those prescriptions refilled for the rest of your life.

Oh -- just seems like there's a stream of slight greed or self-serving in that.

One of my teachers in school, who is 72 years old, is the most healthiest person I know personally.

He said when he cleaned his liver, he did 3 liver cleanses in a row.

He passed more than 2,000 liver stones [no they don't hurt when passing because they are soft].

If we don't clean our liver, the bioducts in our liver get clogged -- they have no choice.

If you're interested, this is the Web site for the cleanses - www.drclark.net.

www.LocalHarvest.org is where you can find local organic farmers for your food.

A More Excellent Way is a book that must be in every library; you can order it here. The author is simply a gift from God to the Christian community. He and this book has helped many, many, many Christians -- that's all I know to say.

If you're not a member, you can join this online Healed People, Heal People community for free here. You'll receive regular updates of encouragement wrapped in biblical truths.

Please know that you can have lasting, healing and deliverance from any issue today. It's available and the Lord is simply waiting for you to surrender and bring your issues to the cross.

Recent Research Findings on Dangerous Drugs

Here is just a fraction of the recent headlines and studies regarding the dangers of prescription drugs. They've been collected all in one place for free to read at www.NaturalHealthReport.com.

Diabetes drugs linked to heart failure ...

Rheumatoid arthritis drug raises cancer risk ...

Anti-psychotic medications may cause diabetes ...

Vioxx blamed for 140,000 Americans’ heart problems ...

Prozac doubles suicide risk ...

HRT increases stroke risk by 30% ...

Heart drug causes kidney failure ...

Viagra causes blindness in some users ...

Birth control pills increase cancer risk...

Long-term aspirin significantly increases risk for internal bleeding ...

Hepatitis B vaccine increases risk of MS ...

What is a demon?

Demons have distinct and unique personalities just like human beings. Remember that neither satan nor his demon spirits are things. Neither should they be taken lightly. Demons are beings who have all the normally accepted marks of personality: they possess will, intelligence, emotion, self-awareness, and the ability to speak.

Satan is the leader of all demons. Because satan is prideful, his demons follow his lead, which means all demons have a degree of pride like their leader. Demons even compete against one another while operating in your life. The name of the demon reveals its characteristics or manifestations. See the following examples.

Lucifer - Isaiah 14:12

Prince of the power of the air - Ephesians 2:2

Ruler of the demons - Matthew 12:24

Destroyer - I Corinthians 10:10

Angel of light - II Corinthians 11:14

Serpent of old - Revelation 20:2

Great dragon - Revelation 12:9

Devil - Revelation 12:9

Wicked one - Matthew 13:19

Father of lies - John 8:44

Murderer - John 8:44

The following are examples of the characteristics of demons in the Bible.

Here the demon exercises his will, a 1st characteristic
In Matthew 12:44, the demon who has gone out of a man says, "I will return to my house from which I came." The demon here exercises its will to make a decision, and then follows it up with the corresponding action.

Here the demon shows emotion, a 2nd characteristic
In James 2:19 it reads “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe - and tremble!" Trembling is an outward mark of strong emotion. Derek Prince writes that at times he has seen a demonized person, who when confronted with the authority of Christ, began to tremble violently. This may be an outward manifestation of fear of the demon inside.

Here the demon shows intellect, a 3rd characteristic
Demons have knowledge not derived from natural sources, rather evil sources. The first time Jesus confronted a demonized man in the synagogue in Capernaum, the demon spoke out of the man and said in Mark 1:24, "I know who You are - the Holy One of God!" It was more than a year before Jesus' own disciples began to realize what this demon had discerned immediately.

Here the demon shows self awareness, a 4th characteristic
When Jesus asked the demonized man in the country of the Gadarenes in Mark 5:9, "What is your name?" a demon answered on behalf of itself and the other demons, "My name is Legion; for we are many." The demon was aware of both its own identity and that of the other demons occupying this man.

Here the demon shows their ability to speak vocally, a 5th characteristic
In the first three gospels and also in Acts, we see several examples of demons able to speak through the vocal organs of the people they are occupying. The demons could and still do answer questions and carry on a conversation. Normally we regard the ability to speak as a distinctive mark of personality.

Demons display a wide range of character traits. Some are vicious, violent, supernaturally strong. Others are weak, cowering, even ridiculous - characteristics one would not expect to find in a demon, which is a fallen angel.

Where did demons come from?

If mankind, Adam and Eve, had never sinned, we would never have been vulnerable to demons. From the beginning, ever since man, Adam and Eve, turned from God in rebellion, all males and females born have been subjected to two main spiritual evils: sin and demons.

Where do demons live?

Each demon desires to express himself through a human body, preferably yours. A demon is not happy unless he has a human body, again, preferably yours. Because demons do not possess physical bodies of their own, demons seek to inhabit or use the bodies of humans or animals.

How do demons work?

God can be everywhere at the same time. Satan cannot be everywhere at the same time. Since satan was booted out of heaven, there has been a fight for dominion. Satan tries to accomplish his goal of dominion of your life through demons since he cannot be everywhere at the same time.

He, satan, dispenses or assigns his demons or demonic spirits to babies in the womb, people, you, your family, your church, cities, denominations, governments, countries, hospitals, institutions, leaders, through music, through television, through drugs, through immoral sex, through perverted sex, through alcohol, etc. In very simple terms, God represents the light or the good and satan represent the dark or the bad. Just as God and His Holy Spirit is active daily, so is satan and his demons or demonic forces and principalities.

What can I do about demons?

There is an urgent need for Christians to learn all we can about the nature and activity of demons. This knowledge is important for all believers, since none of us can claim immunity from the attacks of demons.

It is especially important for pastors and other Christians certified in integrated healing & deliverance to be trained and available for each Christian who desires help. Only with trained, revelatory knowledge are those called to healing and deliverance able to make a correct diagnosis and apply the appropriate remedy so Christians can experience freedom ministered by the Holy Spirit.

Are demons associated with illnesses or health challenges?

Many sicknesses are actually caused by demons, and they should be treated as such. Let's look at a scriptural example where this actually happened.

In Luke 4: 38 – 39, it reads "And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them."

If this fever was only a physical problem, then how foolish to rebuke it! It makes no sense whatsoever to rebuke an inanimate thing. One can only rebuke something having intelligence, and Jesus knew that a spirit caused this fever. The fever left Peter's mother-in-law because it had to obey Jesus' authoritative command.

How many demons are there?

The Bible specifically names many, many demons and there are also categories of demons based on their function. For example, if a person [illegitimately] controls things and people, the specific demon in the Bible that's operating in this person is the Jezebel demon [you understand that Jezebel is really a super stronghold because four demons make up the Jezebel head.]

When you are engaged in spiritual warfare, it is important to know your enemy. Part of spiritual warfare is getting rid of your demons on a lasting, permanent basis. Demons manifest themselves through you, your family and your church members under many different names. The following evil spirits, demons, or devils are mentioned in the scriptures, but this list is not exhaustive. Each one is a personality, and the word used expresses their nature:

The nature of specific demons shown in the Old Testament that remain active today.

Jealousy/feelings of jealousy - Numbers 5:14, 30

Ill will/evil - Judges 9:23

Distressing/evil - I Samuel 16:14-23; 18:10; 19:9

Lying/deceiving - I Kings 22:22; II Chronicles 18:20-22

Perverse/distortion/dizziness - Isaiah 19:14

Deep sleep - Isaiah 29:10

Heaviness/fainting/despair - Isaiah 61:3

Harlotry/prostitution - Hosea 4:12; 5:4

Unclean/unclean/impurity - Zechariah 13:2

Familiar - Deuteronomy 18:11

Sorrowful - I Samuel 1:15

The nature of specific demons shown in the New Testament that are still active today.

Mute/robbed of speech/Deaf and dumb/ deaf and mute - Mark 9:17; 9:25

Infirmity/causing sickness/ crippling - Luke 13:11

Divination/predicting the future - Acts 16:16

Deceiving/deceitful - I Timothy 4:1

Fear/timidity - II Timothy 1:7

Error/falsehood - I John 4:6

Unclean - Matthew 10:1

Divination - Acts 16:16

Bondage - I John 4:6

Deceiving - I Timothy 4:1

Error - I John 4:6

Death - Hebrews 2:14-15

Are there new demons?

No, there are not new demons. The demons established in the Bible are it, but that's a whole lot of them! Demons can take on many, many, many manifestations in each person's life.

How do you identify demons?

The easiest way to identify a demon is by how it manifest in your life. There are many lists of demons, strongholds and generational curses. Again, the easiest way to identify each demon in your life is by how it manifests in your life. For example, one lady was severely overweight and she struggled with her weight for years. When she came for healing and deliverance, the demon was simply identified as the sugar demon. See how simple that is.

Why are so many Christians scared of demons?

Christians are scared of demons because:

a) you may not understand your authority based on scripture - An excerpt of Luke 10:18-19 reads, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Christians are scared of demons because:

b) you may have a fear of using your authority once you know your authority; fear is a stronghold that is controlled by the demonic.

Christians are scared of demons because:

c) you may believe the authority the scripture states is for all other believers except you; this unbelief is a stronghold that is controlled by the demonic.

Christians are scared of demons because:

d) you may be deceived into thinking the demons active in your life will not obey your command when you use your authority; this is a lie. Satan is the father of lies. Demons are under the leadership of satan. So, this lie you believe is from what, the demonic.

Christians are scared of demons because:

e) you may not understand your position based on scripture - An excerpt of Romans 8: 16-18 reads that you are the child of God and a joint-heir with Christ.

Christians are scared of demons because:

f) you may choose not to exercise your authority daily; angelic and demonic activity take place 24-hours a day. As a Christian, you are automatically enrolled in a battle known as spiritual warfare. There are only two positions in this Christian battle, offense and defense. Most Christians choose, by default, to live their lives operating on the defense and in response mode. Most Christians choose to be passive in the battle. Why are you passive? Because your church does not regularly teach and train the church body and regularly teach and train those called to healing & deliverance how to engage in spiritual warfare daily.

Christians are scared of demons because:

g) you may have been deceived into thinking that demons have more power than you do -- as a child of the King who inherited all spiritual blessings. Smile -- I'll let you find this scripture reference : )

Christians are scared of demons because:

h) you may choose not to read and study your Bible regularly to be reminded of and operate daily in your God-given authority. Meanwhile, you, your family, your church and your country suffer needlessly. It really ain't that deep yall -- sorry about the incorrect language here.

Why do so many churches not teach on the demonic?

God is not interested in our church membership or denominational labels – we all use the same Holy Bible where all of these scriptures in this article can be found. No believer wants to be exposed and many of our sins, including our private, secret sins, create shame. Confidential, healing and deliverance ministry does not expose you, the person, rather it exposes the demonic strategy that’s been operating in your life and keeping you in your private bondage.

You think what you’re going through is not transparent to other believers, but it is. The Holy Spirit is still waiting on you to surrender -- at any minute of any hour of any day. You know what the beauty of confidential, integrated healing and deliverance is? It will be the last time you deal with the pain, the shame, the secrets, the coping mechanisms. You may remember, but the pain historically associated with the memories, the experience, is over!

There are three parts to the God-head: 1) God the Father; 2) God the Son; and, 3) God the Holy Spirit. In the church, we are comfortable with the first two parts of the God-head, but many churches are not comfortable with teaching and training about the third part of the God-head, the Holy Spirit.

Any church that does not teach, train and operate in the supernatural realm of the Holy Spirit and regularly teach and train those called in to healing and deliverance is a crippled church. Why is the church crippled? Because the leadership and the membership will not have an available arm of ministry where hurt people can be healed. And you know that every breathing human in the church has something the need healing and deliverance from, right? After all, the church is a hospital for the spiritually sick.

What is the purpose or goal of demons?

As stated in John 10:10, the thief [satan and his demons] come to steal from you, and to kill you, and to destroy you. This is true for every human born, which includes you and every person in your family lineage. Satan and his little demons are so pleased the more you choose to remain unlearned about him and his demons. Why does this please satan? Because he can continue to have dominion in your life or parts of your life. All the while, you continue to blame things in your life on coincidence, bad luck, you being different or you just can't stop doing something.

Why is it critical for you to understand demons as a Christian?

Picture a green plant in a flower pot. Most Christians when dealing with life’s issues deal with the symptoms. The symptoms are the green leafs on the plant. Integrated healing and deliverance deals with the roots of the plant in the flower pot that you cannot see. The green plant represents your life. The demons represent the roots of your life challenges and problems. Unless the roots of your life issues are identified and dismantled, you continue to see manifestations in your life.

Let me give you an example. Let’s say there’s a person who has a drug stronghold. Typically, you’ll hear people talk about the drugs, the lack of responsibility the person shows, how the person steals, how the person will not keep a job, etc. While all of those things are a reality, none of those symptoms are the root(s) of the person’s problem. Integrated healing & deliverance targets, identifies and dismantles the root system of your life’s problems.

What do demons hate?

Demons hate many things, but I’ll share four things. One, demons hate God. Two, demons hate believers using a heavenly prayer language because they cannot understand what’s being prayed; demons can understand you praying in English or your native language. Three, demons hate scripture, which is why scriptures must be used when actively dealing with the demonic. And four, demons hate humans, which includes you.

Demons do not play fair in your life. Demons show you, your family and your church no mercy. May I ask the next logical question? Why do you choose, by default, to exercise grace toward the very demons that are still stealing, killing and strategizing to destroy you, your family and your church? Have no mercy on demons in your life; be brutal with them in exercising your authority!

How do demons manifest or show themselves in daily life?

Click here to listen to the audio titled Some Ways Demons Enter Your Life.

How do demons relate to generational curses and strongholds?

Exodus 20:5-6
… For I The Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me.

Exodus 34:7
… visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and fourth generation.

Numbers 14:18
… visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fouth generation.

Deuteronomy 5:9
… visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.

Now, why did I share these four scriptures with you? One, because they are true because they are in the Word of God, the Holy Bible. Two, because these scriptures clearly establish generational curses.

Each of you reading this article have parents, grandparents, great grandparents and so forth. Because none of us came from perfect families, that means that both sins and iniquity were present in their lives. More than likely, most of us didn’t even know the people extending back to the 4th generations on our mom and dad’s side of the family.

One thing you must understand about God is God sees me and you as part of a family unit. We are born into a family unit and remain in a family unit until we die. You can’t get into the world bypassing a family structure. Most of us think of ourselves as an individual. I’m sorry, but that’s not how God views us. We are all connected, and initially that’s through the family structure, which links you into the generations referenced in the four scriptures above.

So, what’s the bottom line here? Did every person in your family on both sides of your family repent and confess of all their sins and iniquities. Probably not. Because each of us is born into our families, the iniquities of our parents and the other people unto the fourth generation weigh against us from our inception in the womb. What does this word iniquity mean? Iniquity is inner heart tendency from your fore fathers sins pressing, weighing, leaning against you to do the same thing [sins] they did.

Do you and I have to give in to the pressure? No, but many times we do. Why does this pressure exist? Well, satan’s job is to kill, steal and destroy your life. We know that satan doesn’t play fair, that’s a given. Well, how early should satan start working on you? As early as possible. Well, how early is that? He, satan, starts when you’re in the womb, the moment of conception plotting and strategizing on how to take you out.

Click here to listen to the audio titled Demons Entering Through The Womb. Be encouraged to listen to this; it is a good, sound, biblical teaching.

Well, how does satan know what to try on you? One thing we know about satan is he looks at what’s worked well historically, generationally in taking out your family. Since your parents, grand parents and those back to the fourth generation probably didn’t do anything about their generational curses, he automatically starts with those sins and iniquities to see if you’ll give in to the pressure and follow suit – yet adding on another generation continuing the bondage.

Well, reader, most of the time, this works so flawlessly, that satan and his demons have very little work to do in our lives. So the question for you reading this article is, what are you going to do about the operation of generational curses in your life? You can try to deny them, but that is not effective.

How do demons relate to generational curses? One way generational curses have power is they are held in place to operate through the demonic realm.

In many cases demons transmit from one family generation to the next family generation, and so forth, through a) genes; b) the environment children grow up in [we all were children at one point]; c) the universal, biblical law of sowing and reaping [that is active in every single family]; and d) demonic oppression.

Can the transference of demons occur?

Yes. In some cases, the transference occurs during a formal, ritualistic ceremonies.

How do I get demons out of my life?

Temporarily, you can bind demons and temporarily stop their mission, which is to block you from receiving God has for you. Why do I purposely use the word temporary with demons. After you bind any demon, you should complete the process by commanding each demon from your life.

If you don’t do this, then the binding process is temporary, which means each time you see the demon manifest, you’ll need to rebind. This can become laborious, so it’s just makes sense to complete the process by commanding the demon the leave. Commanding each demon active in your life will not take place until you take care of the root reason(s) that gave each of the demons entrance into your life.

Matthew 16:19 reads, And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

What are demonic voices?

As a Christian, you should know the different ways the Holy Spirit can speak. A few examples of how the Holy Spirit speaks to us are following:

a) in a still small voice, Acts 9: 3 – 7;
b) by external or outward visions, Joshua 5: 13 – 15;
c) with dreams, Daniel 2;
d) through and inward vision, John 8:38;
e) via personal prophecy [that should be tested and prophecy can be conditional], I Corinthians 12: 7 - 11;
f) illumination of scripture;
g) hearing His voice audibly, I Samuel 3:10; or
h) in any way He chooses.

Remember these are only a few ways you can hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. Many times many, many, many Christians are challenged in hearing the Holy Spirit in their daily lives. Why?

a) Unrepented or unconfessed sin hinders you from hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit

b) You feeling unworthy to hear the voice of the Lord;

c) You being afraid [fear] to hear the voice of the Lord;

d) You don’t even believe you, as a Christian, are able to hear the voice of the Lord, so this is boldface unbelief.

e) Not spending regular, daily, intimate time with the Holy Spirit makes His voice foreign to you. As in every relationship, we learn to recognize someone’s voice by hearing it over and over again. This is even true for the Lord’s voice.

John 10: 4 – 5, 16 – When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice … They too will listen to my voice …

f) Your unexpressed disappointment or anger towards the Lord can hinder you from hearing His voice.

g) The presence of demons operating in your life block your spiritual eyes and ears. There are certain demons that specialize in trying to prevent our receiving anything from God.

h) Read I Samuel 3:2-10 where Samuel did not recognize the voice of the Lord

How do demons strategize?

One strategy demons use is to see what has worked successfully on those in your family lineage – particularly your parents, grand parents, and so forth. If no one in your family line has broken the generational curses held in place by the demonic, the curses continue.

A biochemist once explained to Derek Prince, "A human body is attacked regularly by cancerous cells. When that body is healthy, its immune system identifies and attacks the cancerous cells, and they are unable to harm the body. But when the body has been weakened by illness or some kind of emotional shock, the immune system is unable to do its job effectively, and some form of cancer can develop somewhere in the body."

Immediately Derek Prince said to himself, that's just how it is with demons!

A second strategy demons use | Demons continually seek to invade you, but when you are spiritually healthy, the spiritual immune system within you identifies and attacks the demons, and they are not able to move in and take control of you. Any kind of unhealthiness or emotional weakness on the other hand, makes you vulnerable to demonic attack.

Thank you for taking your time to read this article on Healed People, Heal People. If you are not a member of this online community, we invite you to join for free here. If you know a Christian who could benefit from the information in this article, please end them the link.

Sources

Restoring The Foundations: An Integrated Approach To Healing Ministry, 2nd Edition, by Chester and Betsy Kylstra
Demons and Deliverance, by H.A. Maxwell Whyte, Copyright 1989, Whitaker House
They Shall Expel Demons, by Derek Prince, Copyright 1998, Chosen Books
Life In Jesus Ministries’ Web site
Demons And You by Mike Green at the following email address This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Scriptures: Matthew 6: 31 – 33; Psalm 37:4

Have you ever allowed petty differences to interfere with relationships? Marriages are breaking up and churches are breaking up and fellowship groups are breaking up and prayer partnership groups are breaking up Over petty things where people are not mature enough to say when it’s all said and done, “I need you.”

You will run into Christian people and non-Christian people who inadvertently disrespect you or inadvertently make you feel bad.

Let’s take a look at Hannah in I Samuel, chapters 1 and 2, who’s making her annual trip to Shiloh.

According to scripture, Hannah has been weeping, praying and pouring out her heart to the Lord.

Her mouth continues to move; Hannah’s voice is just above a whisper.

Since you’re probably familiar with this scripture, you remember that Eli thought that Hannah was drunk because he saw her lips moving and she wasn’t speaking to anybody else. Eli could not figure out why Hannah was murmuring to herself. In what Eli had experienced in his life, the only reason a person muttered to herself or himself, was they’d had some wine.

Eli made a presumption about Hannah.

Okay, the key word here is presumption.

Eli assumed what he thought, was so, based on what he saw -- that is, what he presumed about Hannah.

Eli drew conclusions about Hannah without having any facts.

Has anyone made presumptions about you and been wrong?

Has anyone disrespected you and been dead wrong?

Has anyone thought they knew what you were thinking, didn’t check with you to substantiate the facts, and they were wrong?

Have you ever had somebody look at you and based on what they think they see, then reach conclusions and operate on assumptions about you – they even begin to talk to other people about you based on presumptions.

You are aware there are some people who decide they know what is going on in your life based on what they think they perceive.

Now remember, Eli was a called man of God.

He was anointed and appointed by God – this is very important to remember.

Presumption has no place in the kingdom of God, and Eli, a man of God in a position of authority, presumed.

When you presume to know what people are thinking,
When you presume why they are doing something,
When you presume what’s really in their hearts, you dishonor the integrity of these very people.

Eli said to Hannah, a precious woman of God, “How long have you been drunk? Get rid of your wine.”
Eli did not ask Hannah any questions to gather facts and to be respectful of her.

He did not ask, “Have you had some liquor Hannah [this one time]?”
He did not ask, “Do you drink regularly?”
He did not ask, “Are you in a drunken state Hannah; I’m concerned about you?”
Eli presumed Hannah had been a habitual drinker.
Now -- if we’re remotely honest, most of us would have been insulted and offended, especially since Hannah was tarrying before the Lord.

Can’t you just imagine how Hannah could have felt?

Do you wanna know why I had to type this article for you, beloved reader?
Do you wanna know why I so respect Hannah, dear reader who’s still being healed and delivered just like me?

Hannah was focused.
Hannah was so focused, she didn’t forget her purpose.
Hannah was so focused, she chose not to operate in offense.
Hannah was so focused, she chose to interact with Eli in a posture of l-e-g-i-t-i-m-a-t-e submission.
Key word = l-e-g-i-t-i-m-a-t-e.
Hannah was so focused, she remembered and let Eli know that she needed him to achieve her goal.

Beloved reader, you can’t afford to take the well-intentioned people in your life and begin to set them aside, and break fellowship and relationship with them, so that you end up isolated and unto yourself. The enemy knows when you are walking by yourself, you can get ambushed. You and I are prime prey for the enemy when we isolate and withdraw.

When we have Christian companions walking with us, the enemy has to think twice about attacking us. He knows the power of agreement. He knows the power of unity. He, satan and his demons, takes the good intentions of people that cause us to be so offended and cause us to feel so disrespected that we dis-fellowship with these Christian and non-Christian people. Oouchh!
Ecclesiastes 4

Beloved reader, some of the people who are getting on your nerves, not all of them are your enemies. Some of them are people God has brought into your life, but you have to learn how to navigate. For example, Peninnah, was a bona fide enemy of Hannah. Eli was not Hannah's enemy, although she could have easily chosen to exclude or distance him from her life. Hannah knew Eli was a divinely appointed person in her life.

Beloved reader, building good, solid relationships is not easy. You know this, I know. Don’t let taking flight, be your first tendency. It takes work, on your behalf, to be big enough, to be mature enough, to work through some of these l-e-g-i-t-i-m-a-t-e offenses. And yes, the person, the people, were wrong.

We need the imperfect Christian people, God has appointed in our lives.
We need the imperfect Christian people, who will presume sometimes and come to us in attack mode.
We need one another desperately.
You need the support of those God has raised up to be in your life – to achieve your destiny, to get through this mental valley your in.

Do you have enough grace in you, to initiate the process and go get the issue straight with the person?
If you don't, let's ask the Holy Spirit to impart more grace to us for a specific issue with a specific person.
Oouch!

As Christians, the last place we expect to be disrespected is in the church and by church members.

But may I share something with you beloved reader, the majority of Christians who come for personal, confidential, integrated healing and deliverance ministry, have been disrespected or even abused repeatedly by Christians in leadership positions either in the local church or in the marketplace i.e. your neighborhood, your professional groups, your workplace, your exercise partners, your family, etc.

If you’ve not read I Samuel 1 – 2, be encouraged to read it so you can know how Hannah respectfully and calmly explained to Eli her issue, her condition and her need of his help in her life. Hannah even goes a step farther, and reconciles. Oouch!

Thank you for taking your time to read this blog on Healed People, Heal People community. If you’re not a member of this online community, we encourage you to join for free.

Recommended book | The Bait of Satan by John Bevere

What you have read are my typed notes from the series Kingdom First Living, Volume I, Part 5, from Enduring Truth, the teaching ministry of Pastor Paul E. Sheppard. You can listen to the audio of this teaching here.

If you’re not a member of this Healed People, Heal People online community, we invite you to join for free here. You'll receive regular updates of encouragement wrapped in biblical truths.

Do you take prescription meds? Does someone you love take prescription meds? Did you know prescription meds is the number three cause of death in America according to the Journal of American Medicine?

Are birth control pills safe? Any drug that artificially manipulates the natural hormonal activity of the body will have negative implications and side effects.

What is the birth control pill? How Does it work? Is it Safe? by Paul Weckenbrock, R. Ph.

The birth control pill is any drug which uses artificial hormones to keep a woman from getting pregnant or from staying pregnant by interfering with her normal fertility.

Are all forms of the pill the same?

No. There are several types of the pill on the market, but they basically break down into two groups: combination pills and the progestin-only minipill.

The combination type contain two artificial steroids that mimic the effects of naturally occurring hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Some pills work in a monophasic way, keeping the dosage of hormones the same throughout the pill cycle. Others work in a biphasic or triphasic manner which alters the dosage of artificial hormones two or three times respectively through the cycle of pills, attempting to produce fluctuations similar to what a fertile woman would undergo naturally.

The progestin-only minipill uses only one artificial hormone, progestin, which is a steroid that has a progestational effect similar to natural progesterone.

How does the pill work?

The pill is designed to interfere with several normal functions of fertility in order to make a woman 1) unable to conceive due to temporary sterility or sperm immobility, and/or 2) unable to carry a pregnancy to term [an early abortion].

This process can be accomplished in various ways.

Suppressing ovulation: When a woman ovulates, hormones released from the pituitary , a gland located at the base of the brain, stimulate her ovaries to ripen and release an egg. The combination pill usually interrupts the release of these pituitary hormones resulting in no egg being released from the ovary, thus preventing pregnancy from occurring. With no egg available for fertilization, the woman is chemically sterile. The progestin-only pill, however, has a weaker effect. It generally does not suppress ovulation.

1. Inhibiting Implantation: Another important aspect of fertility is the process by which the lining of the uterus is replenished and maintained. After an egg is fertilized, it normally implants in this lining [endometrium], drawing nourishment and sustenance. The progestin component of the combination pill and the progestin-only minipill cause the inner lining of the uterus to become thin and shriveled, unable to support implantation of the embryo [newly fertilized egg].

2. Impeding Sperm Migration: Preceding ovulation, a woman’s cervix produces a watery mucus through which sperm swim to meet the egg. The mucus also provides nourishment to sustain the life of the sperm cells. This mucus thickens under the influence of a progestin and so impedes sperm migration.

3.There are two other factors in a woman’s fertility that may be affected by the pill.

Making changes in the Fallopian Tubes: Progestins lower the efficiency with which the fallopian tubes propel eggs from the ovaries toward the uterus. This can cause the embryo not to reach the uterus in time to implant successfully.

4. Stopping a Pregnancy: After an ovary releases an egg, the woman’s cycle is controlled by a gland that is formed from the now-empty egg sack, the corpus luteum; this normally functions long enough to give an embryo time to implant in the uterus and for the placenta to begin to support the pregnancy.

However, hormones from the pill can cause the corpus luteum to function inadequately, allowing the lining of the uterus to be shed before the embryo can successfully implant.

In summary, a woman’s natural fertility requires several systems and organs to coordinate smoothly. The synthetic chemicals in any type of birth control pill interfere with this coordination, adversely affecting her normal fertility and any accidental conceptions.

How effective is the pill?

In theory, the pill reaches an effectiveness of over 99%, but in practice the rate is much lower. Between 1.9% and 18.1% of women will experience an unplanned pregnancy in the first year of using the pill.

Surprise pregnancies with the pill are due to a number of factors. Interactions between the pill and some other medications interfere with the proper blood levels of hormones necessary for their birth control effect. These drug interactions may be significant with the commonly used low dose pill where slight alterations in hormonal blood levels can result in more frequent ovulations and hence unplanned pregnancies. Another factor in pill pregnancy rates is not following directions, sometimes due to the lack of motivation, especially in younger women [ages 15-24].

Is ovulation always suppressed?

No. Ovulation occurs in 2% to 10% of cycles of women taking the pill. If 60 million women worldwide are on the low-dose pill, there would be 1.2 to 6 million ovulations per cycle. This is known as breakthrough ovulation, and it is even more frequent with the progestin-only pill.

What happens when ovulation does occur?

When the pill fails to prevent ovulation, the other mechanisms come into play. Thickened cervical mucus may make it more difficult for the sperm to reach the egg; however, if the egg is fertilized, a new life is created. The hormones slow the transfer of the new life through the fallopian tube, and the embryo may become too old to be viable when it does enter the uterus.

If the embryo is still viable when it reaches the uterus, under-development of the uterine lining caused by the pill prevents implantation. The embryo dies and the remains are passed along in the next bleeding episode which, incidentally, is not a true menstruation even though it is usually perceived as such.

Does this mean the pill can cause an early abortion?

Yes. Preventing the newly conceived life in its embryonic stage from being transported to the uterus and preventing implantation in the wall of the uterus are the abortifacient properties of the pill.

Why haven’t I heard about this before?

The Pill manufacturers and many in organized medicine are mainly concerned about the pill’s medical side effects and its effectiveness in preventing pregnancies and are less concerned about how the drug achieves its effectiveness.

Unfortunately, many otherwise pro-life physicians and pharmacists find it hard to admit that these abortifacient properties exist because they would have to discontinue prescribing and dispensing the pill if they were to remain consistent in their respect for life at all its stages of development.

Pro-abortion organizations and their lawyers readily admit the early abortion potential of the pill. In February 1992, writing in opposition to a Louisiana law banning abortion, Ruth Colker, a Tulane Law School professor, wrote, "Because nearly all birth control devices, except the diaphragm and condom, operate between the time of conception ... and implantation ..., the statute would appear to ban most contraceptives." In 1989, attorney Frank Sussman argued before the U. S. Supreme Court that " ... IUDs [and] low dose birth control pills ... act as abortifacients."

Is It Safe? What are the common side effects of the pill?

There is a range of risks from serious or fatal to minor and trivial. The following is a list of the most common side effects experienced by women taking the pill. These effects are dose related and not every woman will experience them, but the risks still exist. The synthetic estrogens of the combination pill cause many of these; the progestin causes others and is the only risk factor in the progestin-only pill.

Heart and blood abnormalities

Blood clots can form, restricting or blocking the flow of blood to critical organs and other body systems, possibly causing permanent damage. For example, a blood clot in the heart would cause a heart attack; in the brain it would cause a stroke or brain hemorrhage; a clot which moved from elsewhere in the body and lodged in the lung would cause a pulmonary embolism; in the kidneys a clot would cause a renal artery thrombosis and kidney damage; in the retinal arteries it would cause temporary or permanent blindness.

Studies continue to indicate approximately a 2-fold increased risk of fatal heart attacks among users of the current low-dose pill when compared to non-users. This risk is lower than the risk experienced with the older high dosage pill, but it continues to be significant. Similarly, the risk of a fatal brain hemorrhage is increased 1.4 times when comparing users to non-users. Among women who smoke, there is a 12-fold increase in fatal heart attacks and a 3.1-fold increase in fatal brain hemorrhage.

High blood pressure and alterations in the blood clotting mechanisms may be seen in women on the pill. This may contribute to a 3-11 times increased risk of developing blood clots in Pill users compared to non-users. The risk is especially great for women who smoke and/or are over 35 years old.

Cancer

Breast cancer has been repeatedly associated with using the pill.

Breast cancer has been increasing at an alarming rate in recent years, especially among young women. Breast cancer will kill more than 44,000 American women this year alone, a 1991 report noted, predicting 175,000 more new cases, especially among young women.

Why is there such an increase of breast cancer among younger women? Note first that women rarely develop breast cancer shortly after they start taking artificial hormones. It is generally not until ten or more years after usage was initiated that women develop breast cancer. Then note that in the United States, since the mid-1970s, it has been common for the pill to be prescribed for girls in their teen years.

Common sense connects the link between giving the pill to young girls in the 1970s and the later increase in breast cancer 15 to 20 years later among women in their late twenties and thirties. This conclusion was demonstrated in a study which found that Swedish women who took the pill in the 1960s incurred a five times greater increase in breast cancer when compared to non-users.

The increased risk of breast cancer is seen in younger, nulliparous women [never having borne children], and in long duration groups [greater than five years] of pill users. Large tumors and a worse survival rate are associated with the pill’s use at an early age.

Will the newer formulated low-dose pills decrease the incidence of breast cancer? A consensus of understanding has not been reached, and another 10 to 20 years of experience with women using this form of the pill must be gained before more definite conclusions can be reached.

Breast tenderness, enlargement, lumps, and milk secretions also may occur in women using the pill. Doctors are warned not to prescribe the pill to women who are known or suspected to have breast cancer. It is difficult to say what aggravating effect the pill’s hormones would have over a truly random sample of women taking the pill.

Cervical cancer and cervical dysplasia increase among women who use the pill. How long the pill has been taken, how many sexual partners a woman has had, at what age she began having intercourse, whether she smokes, the hygiene of sexual partners and the transmission of the human papillomavirus [HPV] are also factors in cervical abnormalities. Because of these several factors, the connection of the pill and cervical cancer may be clouded over. However, there is no doubt that the promotion of the pill has resulted in early intercourse which may be the more direct cause of cervical cancer.

Endometrial and ovarian cancer appear to have a lower incidence in both women on the pill and in those who have been previous users of the pill. Much of this data comes from studies of women who were using the higher dose estrogen/progestin pill. Currently the low dose monophasic and triphasic pills [less than 50mcg of estrogen] are the only birth control pills available on the U.S. market. It is not known if a similar protective effect will be experienced with the currently used pill. More time is needed to study this issue, and the slight protective effect is hardly a reason to take the Pill at the risk of so many other side effects.

It should also be noted that these forms of cancer are rare and primarily occur among postmenopausal women in their fifties and sixties. Second, these cancers tend to occur in those women who had long cycles [i.e., with a prolonged estrogen-dominant phase] or those who have a family history of these types of cancer. Third, extended breastfeeding amenorrhea offers the same type of protection against these cancers since the menstrual cycle would be suppressed and therefore the exposure to estrogen suppressed.

Liver tumors in younger women [15 to 40 years] have increased as the use of oral contraceptives has increased. Almost unheard of in this age group before the use of synthetic hormones became commonplace, liver tumors usually do not occur until the sixth decade of a woman’s life.

A study by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer found a large peak in the 26-to-30-year age group which corresponds with the increased use of oral contraceptives in this age group. Liver cancer in women on the pill is typically associated with those over 30 who have used it more than four years, but cases of liver cancer in younger women have been cited.

Other cancers: Skin cancer [melanoma] has also been found to increase among women on the pill. Naturally occurring estrogen is involved with maintaining healthy skin tissue. It is reasonable to suspect that exposure to the more potent synthetic estrogen in the pill increases the risk of this type of cancer.

Cycle irregularities

Women who take the pill have been reported to experience bleeding or spotting in mid-cycle, changes in menstrual flow, and even loss of menstruation, which can lead them to wonder if they are pregnant. For some, painful menstruation [dysmenorrhea] has been reported to worsen, even though many women take these hormones in an attempt to relieve the problem.48

Although some women are given the pill for irregular cycles, it does nothing to improve the underlying problem causing the irregularity. Often the irregularity returns when the pill is discontinued, sometimes more severely.

Are there other side effects?

Yes. Some side effects are minor while some may be more severe and call for discontinuing the drug.

The following adverse effects have been experienced by women on the pill:

Headaches, migraines, mental depression [even to the point of suicide and/or suicidal tendencies], a decrease or loss of sexual drive, abdominal cramps, bloating, weight gain or loss, and water retention; nausea and vomiting [in about 10% of users]; symptoms of PMS, vaginitis and vaginal infections, changes in vision [temporary or permanent blindness, and an intolerance to contact lenses]; gall bladder disease and either temporary or permanent infertility, when discontinuing the pill, in users with previous menstrual irregularities or who began the drug before full maturity. Several of the symptoms, such as migraine headaches, contraindicate the use of the pill because of life endangering complications.

Consult the Physicians’ Desk Reference at your public library or consult your pharmacist for a more complete list of the pill’s harmful effects.

Is the pill safer than pregnancy?

No. The health risks of the pill outweigh by far the risks of pregnancy and childbirth to a woman’s health, and any claim to the contrary is based on erroneous comparisons between healthy women on the pill and women who do not receive normal care during pregnancy.

A precondition for obtaining the pill is routine medical care and checkups. For example: if such a woman on the pill is diagnosed as precancerous, or if some other side effect is exhibited, she has the advantage of early detection. However, many pregnant women do not receive routine medical care. A clearer picture of the safety of the pill compared to the safety of pregnancy would be made if healthy women receiving routine medical care during pregnancy and delivery were compared with women receiving routine medical care while taking the pill.

The mortality statistics of childbirth have continuously declined since the early part of this century, mostly due to better maternal healthcare. Most of the high risk pregnancies and deliveries occur to women who have not sought proper medical attention. This is most evident in the third world where adequate health care is sparse.

Mortality statistics of pregnancy and delivery, usually called maternal mortality, include the mortality rates due to abortion. Abortion is clearly used as birth control, preventing the birth of the child; therefore it must be included with the mortality statistics of birth control methods. In one study, 25% to 50% of the reported maternal mortality was a result of deaths from abortion.

Fifty percent of woman taking the pill discontinue it within the first year because of side effects, the development of benign breast disease, or some abnormality of the sexual organs. Studies of pill usage do not include these women, and the result is an unbalanced picture of only the healthiest of women who tolerate the pill. This is compared with the general population of women who are pregnant.

The fact is that there are 13.8 million women in the U.S. and 60 million women worldwide who use the pill [conservative numbers]. And there are 7.9 pill-related deaths per 100,000 women ages 15-44.

Therefore, one can calculate that there are over 1090 deaths each year in the U.S. alone simply due to the pill.

But I’ve heard there are no side effects with the pill I use.

All drugs, including all brands of the birth control pill, have potential side effects. There is no telling in advance how any particular woman will react to the pill, but there is a good chance of some type of reaction. It is possible that a woman will be unaware that there is any connection between the reaction and the pill especially if it takes years to manifest itself.

Aren’t there any therapeutic benefits from the pill?

The only indication, or use for the pill that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration is the prevention of pregnancy in women ... as a method of contraception. Some unapproved uses, considered experimental, include its use as a morning after pill [causing an early abortion], and for relief from the symptoms of mild endometriosis.

I’m breastfeeding my baby; can I use the pill?

No. Artificial hormones pass from breast milk to the baby; the pill also decreases both the quantity and protein content of the milk produced.

What is my alternative to using the pill?

Natural Family Planning is safe, healthy and effective and it’s also inexpensive. A woman observes and records changes in her basal body temperature, the normal flow of cervical mucus, and if she wishes, the physical changes in the cervix itself. She then cross-checks these signs of fertility to follow, day by day, the natural course of her fertility cycle. No drugs, no devices, no surgical procedures, no threat of death, no side effects, no chemical abortions!

Does NFP really work?

Yes. Married couples can achieve a 99% effectiveness if they learn the method, correctly interpret the fertility signs, and follow the rules. One positive side benefit for couples who are committed to making this method work is the potential for a healthier marriage — psychologically, physically and spiritually.

How can I find out more about Natural Family Planning?

Contact the national office of The Couple to Couple League, P. O. Box 111184, Cincinnati, OH 45211; toll-free (800) 745-8252, local (513) 471-2000.

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