Gimster and all, I believe exactly as you do with regards to Satan and I've never seen anything but kindness in your posts. Thank you for that. I know there are many belief systems that post to this forum. I would fight for the right of those to have the freedom to believe and practice as they want. That's what the United States is all about and I'm proud to be an American citizen and a voter. I'm not to judge others and please forgive me if I do and have, but I can't compromise or accept or condone false teachers and false teachings.

Not being right isn't an option for me. There is too much at stake. I want to know that I know where I will spend eternity so being right is extremely important to me where my soul is concerned. If that bothers some of you, I truly am sorry.

Satan isn't on equal ground with God, though he'd like to be and that's what got the whole thing started in the first place. Satan wanted to be God and to be worshipped. He led a rebellion with the lie, "you too, can be as God". That was the lie in the Garden that He told Eve and is still believed by "Eves" all over the world..."don't listen to God. Eat of this fruit and give some of it to your hubby and the two of you will have all wisdom and truth and will be Gods." They got kicked out of the Garden.

He is a fallen angel, nothing else and only has the power we allow him to have. Just the name of Jesus sends him and all his cohorts running for cover and there is so much power in praise and in the shed blood of Christ. That's why movies like the Exorcist really just made me laugh because as my girls have often heard me say, "That movie could have been a 5 minute wonder". Just the name of Jesus is enough to send demons screaming back to Hell.

My own belief is that the spirit of God actually inhabits the praises of His people.

I was also raised Southern Baptist and am thankful for my upbringing and the knowledge I was given. I presently go to an Assembly of God church. I didn't go to church for a long time, same as you, felt it had become a business with a ceo and/or family affair...now I've come to the place that I hunger for fellowship with believers.

No matter what our differences, we all need each other and need to worship in unison and in spirit and in truth.

There are a lot of people who are offended by the authority given to the believers by Christ. The Pharasees hated Christ because He spoke with so much authority and he was the epitomy of love. It was that same spirit that sent Christ to be crucified. That spirit of anger and deep resentment toward God in the flesh.

I don't want to insult or hurt anyone, that's not my intent. Those who know me well, know I'm a gentle woman, tiny but with the heart of a lioness. I know the truth because I've seen it and experienced it and nothing can deter me from it or detract from it.

If its a tangent that I'm on..count my words then the words of others and you'll see that my posts are relatively short and to the point.

I don't hate anyone and really do care about others, just don't have time for myths and fairy tales, though they are very entertaining and sure won't stand for anyone dissing the one I love most!

I can enjoy the cultural and religious differences in each and all. I think by now everyone in this forum understands that I believe there is only one way to eternal life with God and that is through the blood of Jesus Christ, His son who was God in the flesh and now sits on the right hand of God forever more.

OK, with that, this is the last time I will discus my faith.