"Satan: Alive & Well On Planet Earth"

Don't believe in demonic possession? Dr. Richard Gallagher does. A board-certified psychiatrist and professor of psychiatry at the New York Medical College, Dr. Gallagher has a creepy side job:

Scientific adviser on the governing board for the International Association of Exorcists.

In other words, he's an Exorcists consultant--the guy they call to ascertain whether they're dealing with genuine demonic possession or just a case of ordinary mental illness.

Demand for Dr. Gallagher's unique expertise has spiked in recent years as western countries experience a surge in demonic activity, due in part to the increase in immigration from regions rife with occult practices.

A skeptic at first, his "consulting" work over the past 25 years has convinced Gallagher that, although rare, demon-possession is all too real.

In an extraordinary case of a woman known by the pseudonym "Julia", documented in the March 2008 issue of The New Oxford Review, The Daily Caller reports on Gallagher's findings:

"Julia was the self-professed queen of a Satanic cult and believed that she had been demonically-possessed. She reached out to a priest who referred her to Gallagher for a psychiatric examination. Not long into his examination, Gallagher said Julia relieved him of any doubt about her claim.

"Objects flew off walls and shelves when she was in the room. She repeatedly displayed knowledge of Gallagher's personal life that she could not have known, spoke in ancient languages, and entered a trance state during which a demonic voice spoke through her. That voice allegedly interrupted a phone conversation between Gallagher and the priest Julia contacted when she was not present with either of them. Both men heard the voice.

"Julia also exhibited enormous strength...and remarkably, for about 30 minutes, she actually levitated about half a foot in the air," Gallagher wrote.

Yikes. Looks like Satan really is alive and well on planet Earth. Be sure to watch this "unfiltered video" featuring Dr. Richard Gallagher in action.

"Some people develop an unhealthy fascination with the occult and demonic activity. This is unwise and unbiblical. If we pursue God, if we are clothing ourselves with His armor and relying on His strength, we have nothing to fear from  the evil ones, for God rules over all!" --GotQuestions.org

"And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 'Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God.' But Jesus rebuked him saying, 'Be silent and come out of him!' And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm" -- Luke 4:33-35.

HOW TO GO TO HEAVEN!

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"A Supernatural Minefield"

Nearly three-quarters of American teenagers have experimented with at least one type of psychic or witchcraft-related activity according to a study done by Barna Research Group.

Surprised? You wouldn't be if you've ever checked out the Teen section in a bookstore or your local library. Talk about a supernatural minefield! That section is crawling with vampires, ghosts, goblins, magic, witchcraft and all things occult and creepy.

According to Barna Research:

• 30% of teens claim they've had supernatural encounters
• 10% say they have communicated with the dead
• 10% claim they have psychic powers
• while 30% claim to have seen an angel, demon, or some other supernatural being

Out of the 73% engaged in some form of occult activity, the most commonly named were using a Ouija board and/or reading books about witchcraft.

The researchers found that relationally-isolated teenagers and those experiencing a significant amount of stress and frustration were more likely to experiment with occult activities, while the least likely by far to do so were those with evangelical faith.

So how do parents steer their teens clear of this supernatural minefield?

David Kinnaman, author of the report, believes there are no simple solutions. "Unfortunately, we discovered the answers are quite complex. Teens need help becoming wiser consumers of media, but that takes a long-term, intensive process of coaching. They would also benefit from more integration of Scriptural perspectives into their decision-making--that is, they need to operate on the basis of a biblical worldview.

"But that takes years to develop, immense effort, and close cooperation between church and home," he continued. "Youth ministries need to address the supernatural more frequently as well as customize their ministry to each student."

In the meantime? If your teen is obsessed with supernatural themes, dare to find out why and explain why the Bible warns against the occult and witchcraft. 

A wise man once said: "The Bible repeatedly warns us against doing anything that might open the door to demonic influence over us. One of the ways they gain entrance into our lives is through occult practices--even those that seem amusing or harmless."  Billy Graham

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places" Ephesians 6:12

HOW TO GO TO HEAVEN!!

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