Haunted Tattoos – Vampire Tattoos and Gothic Tattoos

Hunted means very scary, hunted tattoos are very popular to persons who have a personality of a goth. Gothic tattoos are samples of a scary tattoo, also the vampire tattoo.

Gothic tattoo designs identify the wearer as a member of the Gothic culture. Many different associations and groups about Gothic tattoos, but they are stylish (especially to those who are in Gothic culture).

Gothic tattoos are scary tattoos like Vampire tattoo, werewolves tattoos, a Devil tattoo, a Goblin tattoo, Gothic Cross and many more. Gothic tattoos are vary popular type of tattoo, because it has a unique design that any one who would like to have a tattoo.

The Vampires are mythological beings which survive only on human blood also in animal blood. Most Vampires are considered to be the dead brought back to life, with the help of human blood. The concept of vampires tattoos was popularized during the Gothic personality starts. Vampires are dead humans with unfulfilled desires who re-visited the earth to either kill or create some mischief in the same locality where they lived. This is why Gothic people want to express to the other persons, to be re-make or re-live.

The ex-samples of Vampire tattoos are The Vampires Head with fangs, Vampires Bite with Blood, Vampires Wings, and Vampire with a woman.

Skull tattoos is also one of the most popular Haunted tattoos, because it is not only represents the Gothic culture but also the other cultures like Riders and Rockers on a group or Band members.

Top 5 Action Adventure Games

Number 5

God Of War – lets face it this game is a masterpiece and if you don’t like it you probably just don’t like video games or you don’t like this genre of video games. The storyline in the game is very compelling and the cut scenes are graphic and unique making them truly a work of art. As far as graphics go the game contained some of the best on the PlayStation 2 as environments and characters were very well detailed. The combat in the game is very good in comparison to some of the other games in the genre and context sensitive button controls added some depth and surprises to an already good combat system.

Number 4

Ninja Gaiden Sigma/Black – I put ninja gaiden sigma and black because at the core the 2 games are pretty much the same except for all the bonus features that are included with sigma most significant of which is Rachel being a playable character. The graphics in this game are astonishing; they were when it came out on the original Xbox (Ninja Gaiden and Ninja Gaiden Black) and even better for Sigma on the PS3. One of the main reasons I like this game is the combat and difficulty, each slash, strike and combo is fluent and smooth. Another reason is the fact that You cannot button mash and beat this game as you have to block and evade quite often otherwise even the basic enemies will take you out. Environments are pretty but pretty much the same throughout the entire game and boss fights are fun but not as creative and memorable as some of the boss battles from other games on this list. I would talk about the story but honestly there is none and if you play the game looking for one you will be very disappointed.

Number 3

Devil May Cry – This game made this genre more or less, without it I wouldn’t have been able to make this list. When this game came out there was nothing like it on the market, it was stylish and sleek with a good story and a good combat system. The game wasn’t that diverse as far as environments go but boss battles were exciting and memorable (I know most people who have played remember the spider boss lol). This title was a solid start to an overall good franchise (damn DMC2 almost ruined it all) and a main character who is a favorite among many gamers.

Number 2

God Of War 2 – So here we stand…. Number 2….God Of War 2, well there isn’t really much to say re-read number 5 and multiply everything I said there by 2. This game is everything a sequel should be, better graphics (definitely pushed the PlayStation 2 hardware) , more enemies, more diverse environments, more compelling story, more boss fights, a longer play through and more context sensitive button pressing sequences make this game another masterpiece. It improves on the original in every single way and as far as boss battles go it is only out done by resident evil 4 and maybe SOTC. God Of War 2 is a must buy if you have a PlayStation 2 laying around, you are going to buy a PlayStation 2 or if you have a PlayStation 3 that plays ps2 games.

Number 1

Devil May Cry 3

Some people might disagree with my number 1 choice but it was a pretty easy decision for me as it combines a lot of what the other games have. The story is very well written and was a good addition to the Devil May Cry mythos. The game is a prequel to the first game and explains a lot about Dante and his brothers past that was previously unknown in the other 2 games. The combat was just amazing (this was not an easy game, not even on normal) fights were exciting, there were a lot of weapons to acquire and there was a lot of boss fights each unique with different weaknesses. Being number 1one on the list it should go without saying but if you like these kinds of games this is another must play and it has a lot of replay ability as well.

Craft Using Egg Whites

Most of you know that there are lots of foods that can be cooked using eggs especially the egg yolks. But have you thought of how to make use of the egg whites too so it will not be wasted? These days, you need to think of some other things that will make everything useful. There is no need to waste things especially the egg whites because there are also delicious treats that can be done with it.

If you are thinking of yummy craft that can make egg whites useful, there are lots of it in most recipe books, magazines and online. You will not have a hard time finding what you need these days because of the advent of technology. Most of you must be familiar with the devil’s cake and custard. In these foods, you can use numerous left over egg whites so you don’t need to put them into trash. Here are some helpful tips for you in using egg whites on cakes and other food craft:

1. Angel cake -usually, the angel food and the devil’s cake will be baked at the same time using the egg yolks and whites separately. With the use of egg whites, you can just make the egg less fluffy and less smooth but the outcome will be the same as the usual one you are making.

2. Meringues -egg whites should be beaten with sugar. It is very easy to do and it usually cost less than other types of desserts. This sweet craft is fun to do because you can also colour them according to your desired colour and appearance.

3. Pavlova -in this dish you can make a huge number of egg whites. This is also similar to meringue the only difference is that it is flat and contains fruits. It is similar to tart but it is sweeter than a tart. Usually, this is used as a party treat for kids because it is cheaper than other types of party treats in the market. Pavlova is a nice food craft you can make with kids.

4. Forgotten cookies -this is also similar to meringues but it is done in a smaller size and it looks like cookies. It can be garnished with cookies, chopped almonds, and nuts. This is delicious and attractive for kids and kids at heart.

5. Lemon meringue pie -meringue is a typical dessert you can make using left over. There are lots of varieties when it comes to making your own version of it. This lemon pie is similar to the regular meringue you know but in this version you will only use egg whites.

6. For low carb dishes – many of you are aware that eggs contain a lot of benefits to health but eating much of it can also affect your diet. You can use 2-3 egg whites in replacement of 1 whole egg. You can do this if you need to lower down your cholesterol and calorie level.

Victoria Falls – A Phenomenon To Behold

A distance aerial view of Victoria Falls as my flight approached Victoria Falls International Airport is a field on fire with white smoke bellowing into the skies. As you close in on the falls itself, you realize that the ‘smoke’ is actually a cloud of water rising up as the Zambezi River pours down the falls with amazing force and power.

Once on the ground, the 24 km drive from the airport to Victoria Falls town is an extremely smooth highway. Both sides of the road are lined up with beautiful trees. Victoria Falls town can easily be confused with a small modern city in the developed world. It is clean; the buildings are modern and very well maintained. The roads are very well paved and marked. The flower beds and gardens well nurtured. The town does not have so much traffic apart from the hordes of buses and minibuses shuttling tourists from the falls to various lodges in the town.

Park entrance fee is paid at the falls entrance. Please note that park entrance fees is paid in United States dollars, cash. This is the most preferred mode of payment. Any other mode of payment may be a big hassle and give you unprecedented complications. A lady ahead of me on the queue had US travelers cheques of 50 dollars denominations and had to go away because she could not be given back her change. Zimbabwe dollars cannot be used by foreigners to pay park entrance fees.

Before you arrive at Victoria Falls, it is very important to prepare for a ‘rainy’ day. It is guaranteed that you will be rained on as you view the falls. This will not be rain water but from the cloud of ‘smoke’ I mentioned early. The best item to protect you from the rain is a poncho. A raincoat will also do. Also have shorts if possible because long trouser will definitely get wet from your knee downwards. Non-leather open shoes would be the best option for footwear.

First stop would be at the Livingstone statue. This is a relatively big statue that was put under immense security guard when the locals wanted to destroy it due to political differences between Zimbabwe and Great Britain several years back. Next stop would be a view of the Devil’s Cataract and Cataract Island. The Devil’s Cataract is the western end of the falls and there is a huge force of water flowing down the Devil’s Cataract. From the Cataract Island, the next stop is the Main Falls. This is where one might experience the heaviest rainfall though this is the best sight of viewing the falls. From the main falls, I head to the Livingstone Island. It is said that Dr. Livingstone docked at Livingstone Island and spent the night there oblivious of the falls right after that. As I continue eastwards, the next stop is Horseshoe Falls followed by the Rainbow Falls and finally the Eastern Cataract. Words cannot express the sight at Victoria Falls as the scene is never static. The width of Victoria Falls from the Devil’s Cataract to the Eastern Cataract is 1,700 metres. The mean height of the Main Falls is 83 metres. The mean height of the Rainbow Falls is 99 metres. The mean height for the whole falls is 93 metres. The average flow of water over the falls is 34,000 cubic metres a minute.

The best time to see the falls is between February and June. This is the time the falls is full and complete from the Devil’s Cataract to the Eastern Cataract. During the other months when there is less rainfall experienced, the Horseshoe Falls, Rainbow Falls and Eastern Cataract have no water flowing on them. The paved walkways along the entire falls are well maintained and accessible by wheel chair.

Immediately preceding the falls, the Zambezi River has 4 rapids that zigzag one after the other. The current falls is the first rapid and it is in favour of Zimbabwe. The best country to view the falls now is from the Zimbabwe side and not the Zambia side. However, several centuries ago, Rapid 4, which formed the first ever falls along the Zambezi was in favour of Zambia. Rapid 3 was then created and it was in favour of Zimbabwe. When Rapid 2 was created, it was in favour of Zambia. The Zimbabwe/Zambia famous bungi jump bridge is located on Rapid 2. The current falls and Rapid 1 is in favour of Zimbabwe. Judging from the amount of water flowing down the Devil’s Cataract, it is predicted that the Zambezi River is already cutting its new path heading towards the Zambia side. This will create a new falls and rapid which will be in favour of Zambia. This will however take hundreds of years to form.

As we exit the falls after the Eastern Cataract, we head to the famous bridge joining Zimbabwe and Zambia on Rapid 2. This is the bridge where bungi jumping is done. Water rafting is also done from Rapid 2 downstream. River cruises are done upstream before the falls.

The best method to view the falls is by helicopter. The Flight Of Angels provides one with the perfect experience and excellent view of the falls.

Victoria Falls has all kinds of lodgings and hotels to cater for all classes of travelers. These include Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, A’Zambezi River Lodge, Elephant Hills Hotel, Nyati Lodge, Lokuthula Lodges, Victoria Falls Hotel, The Kingdom Hotel and Casino among others.

Some of the activities available at Victoria Falls is a Sundowner Cruise which provides a very good experience. A visit to Victoria Falls will not be complete without a visit to The Boma – The Place of Eating. This is a wonderful dinner location with traditional dances. One can also do elephant rides and visit the crocodile farm. There is also canoeing and white water rafting along the Zambezi.

Botswana is just an hour’s drive away from Victoria Falls, if one has more time, consider visiting Chobe in Botswana for a night or two.

My flight back to Harare stopped over at Bulawayo. I could not miss noticing that Bulawayo International Airport seemed to have been expanding the airport with a modern massive airport building. This building however seems to have stalled several years back.

Harare is a modern city with well paved and maintained roads. As I traveled around Zimbabwe, it is evidently notable that this is a country that previously had enormous economic growth and focused development which now seems to have hit a brick wall.

Hot Tattoo Ideas and Trends For Men in 2009 and 2010 – Polynesian, Hawaiian, Ambigrams and Celtic

As the world of tattoos grows quickly people are always looking for something new ad something to make their tattoo a unique style and something that stands out from the crowd.  IN fact a few years back being different and standing out from the crowd was on of the main functions and purposes for tattoos.  However, today with multiple tv shows dedicated to tattoos and the whole popularization of tattoos has become it is hard to stand out and look unique with your tattoo design.  Yet it doesn’t have to be impossible.  Styles are constantly changing and the world of tattoos shifts all the time and this will help you to spot some of those trends early.  Below you will find some of the most popular and hot trends for male tattoo designs.  However, just keep in mind you should never get a tattoo just because someone says it is popular.  This is only a guide of ideas to get your own creativity flowing.

Ambigram Tattoos

Ambigrams are super hot right now.  While they are not a new concept they in fact have been around forever and have a pretty deep tradition it is new to see ambigrams done as tattoos.  An ambigram is two words that are put together.  For example Devil and Angel might be put together.  Then when the word is read one way it looks like it says Angle.  Then when flipped upside down the words look like is says Devil.  These are incredibly fun and creative tattoo and look great.    These have gained quickly in popularity because they are fun, different and very cool looking with a  sort of edgy feeling.  What two words would you pick to say something about yourself?

Celtic Tribal Tattoo Designs

Another very popular trend that has resulted in some great tattoo designs is a rebirth of Celtic tattoos.  They are sometimes classified as tribal due to the heavy black line work.  However they are sort of the new tribal.  Not the overdone and worn out old tribal that is a bunch of lines that everyone and their brother has.  Celtic tattoos have a very deep symbolism and a rich history behind them and they make for intricate and beautiful interlaced designs. 

Polynesian and Hawaiian Tribal Tattoo Designs

Probably everyone out there has seen the tribal should and tribal armband tattoos that were very popular in the mid to late 90’s.  These were a sort of conglomerate of tribal tattoo designs however they don’t go back to any one tribe in particular.  They have been done so eloquently that now people are looking for something different.  A lot of people like the heavy black line work and the pattern feeling of tribal designs.  They are easy to see from a distance and work very well as rather large tattoo designs.  Yet they have kind of been overdone and now people are looking for something that is still tribal but different.  So many have turned to the actual ancient tribal cultures such as the Polynesian cultures, Hawaiian, Maori and other ancient tribes that participated in tattooing.  Many people have taken the deep historical tattoos and breathed into them new life and new style.  These are very hot and popular right now.

Eckhart Tolle Quotes Jesus on the Cross – Forgiveness and Unconsciousness – Awakening to God’s Love

During his online class with Oprah reviewing chapter 5 of his book A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle quoted Jesus concerning forgiveness and unconsciousness among people who are spiritually wayward.

Tolle: “Jesus on the cross said it all when He says, ‘Forgive them for they know not what they do.’ Which means they are unconscious. So when you realize that you naturally forgive.”

Tolle mentions a unique insight when referring to the words of Christ. Jesus could see that the people were being influenced and governed by a spirit other than God’s Holy Spirit. Therefore Jesus could see beyond their dysfunction and immorality. Christ knew they were not being led by the Holy Spirit, but were driven by evil spirits and self-willed agendas to fulfill their own lusts (or the lusts of the spirits driving them).

God who is love certainly doesn’t give man a spirit to kill innocent human beings, as did the Romans and Jews who slayed Christ.

Jesus said of the devil, “He was a murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44). The Lord Jesus recognized what spirit people were of and being led by often.

Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees, “You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44).

Jesus even rebuked His own disciples on one occasion when they thought to kill and take vengeance into their own hands.

When some people rejected Jesus, His disciples became angry and said, “Lord, will you allow us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, even as Elijah did?” (Luke 9:54)

Jesus sternly rebuked them saying, “You don’t know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them” (Luke 9:55-56).

Jesus knew and exemplified the heart of God to humanity, which was unconditional love and acceptance. Therefore Christ could lovingly look beyond people’s sin and draw them to Him. This is the essence of forgiveness, seeing people through the eyes and heart of a loving God.

What Is Faith and the Real Reason for the Bible, According to Archangel Chamuel?

You are about to read about what Archangel Chamuel has to say about faith. He was communicating telepathically with my wife, who is an Avatara (male is Avatar); a modern prophet who receives and delivers messages from the Godhead, for the betterment of mankind.

Jill: What is Faith?

Chamuel: To experience connecting with The Creator, you must examine this moment closely. Just focus your attention on the ‘now’. Ask yourself, what is it that’s difference about this present moment from anything else you’ve ever experienced or will experience in the future?

Chamuel then went on to tell us that the angelic realm is well aware we may have an infinite number of answers, but your experience ‘now’ is something completely different. To be at one with spirit is a state of ‘knowing’, which you may prefer to call faith.

He than went on to tell us that most things you claim to be true or know, is actually just opinions you have formed and chosen to believe in. It’s important you learn to differentiate between your beliefs and your inner knowing.

It is human to question your beliefs; but tapping into your inner knowing is connecting with your heart and with The Creator, God.

Chamuel told us that we don’t need to dismiss our beliefs and opinions, for many of human kind’s opinions can contain moments of truth, beauty and validity.

Jill: What’s the real reason for the Bible?

Chamuel told us it was meant to help us learn mistakes of the past; to help save us from repeating the same mistakes, but unfortunately through mankind’s desire to be a god themselves, and wield power over others, they have taught human kind that the only way to heaven is to believe in death and the resurrection of Christ.

Chamuel stated that history is meant to save us from repeating the mistakes of our brothers and sisters. Yet the church, instead, has made us believe we should live to the Bible Code literally; and this is wrong.

When human kind creates differences which divide people, they create a devil. The devil is not some ‘one’ or ‘greater entity’. The Bible was channelled through chosen prophets, such as Jill, my wife, to guide and assist.

Chamuel stressed that the Bible has now become a devil, in so much as it causes mankind to take it too literally.

Human kind is too busy looking for God; The Creator; whichever suits you. People miss the ‘knowing’ that they are already ‘with’ God. It is not a question of faith. It is an inner awareness; an inner knowing. Just like the inner knowing of what’s truly right and truly wrong.

Chamuel told us that there wouldn’t be enough tears in the galaxies for the times they have tried to help those who blindly refuse to be open to receiving the God within.

You must ask yourself this question, “Why did the Bible only come about once mankind had learnt to read and write?” You don’t need a book, or a set of rules, to follow and connect with God, for you see, one way for one, may not be the same way for another. For we are all unique aspects of The Creator, God.

Chamuel then exclaimed that ‘they’ know there will be some people protest that, before the Bible, ‘everyone’ was evil. But this is wrong. You see the Bible is a record of a person’s moment. You can never know the truth, for you were not there. All you have is the person’s accountability.

Yes, parts are true, poignant and valid. Yet a lot in the Bible isn’t. To have faith in The Creator; God; is to know that you possess many unique beautiful qualities which The Creator, together with you, experience.

Chamuel then asked us to look at the greatness of human kind, when they put aside their differences and work together as one. He told us that when you work in an awareness of love and compassion, you are working through the Divine purpose.

Yes you are all different in looks, colour and beliefs; but together on the inside you are all one; and all together, the power of The Creator is complete.

Chamuel commented that they are sure people will need to ponder what has been brought to us. But this knowledge is given by them for the betterment of mankind, this blessed planet and its part in the universes.

He signed of with,

“Blessed be! Chamuel Elohim Gabor.”

What Happened to CNN’s Dynamic Reporter Richard Quest?

CNN reporter Richard Quest, the British boisterous raspy voiced business traveler expert was the great cup of coffee to drink in. When experiencing jet lag after flying 8-15 hours from the United States the night before, this human coffee bean could help you get out the door to your first meeting with your eyes wide open. Covering everything from how to overcome technical challenges with your black berry or lap top, featuring strange but useful gadgets , to keeping your love relationship alive during those times when one was thousands of miles away from home, Quest had the answer or showed you how. The dare devil he was, he would demonstrate adventure after adventure proving once and for all that the business traveler is one who lives a life of fun. He dared the business traveler to go beyond the norm, the mundane and experience new heights when on the road while getting your work done. However, his latest dare devil adventure well, went too far!

On April of this year, it was widely reported in the media that Quest was arrested in Central Park for loitering after hours and criminal possession of a controlled substance. He admitted that he some crystal meth in his pocket and later it was reported by the New York Post that Quest had a rope tied around his neck that was tied to his genitals. Police reported that he had a sex toy in his boot. What ever Quest was up to, it was surely something in the realm of the business freakazoid.

Quest agreed with the judge to undergo drug rehabilitation. CNN is obviously embarrassed and probably pissed off at the disgraced reporter. The question is what went wrong? Quest joins the list of others such as former sports announcer and Inside Edition reporter Pat O’Brien and his dirty voice mails he left while in a drunken state telling friends from his cell phone book that he craved for hookers and drugs. Gary Collins was arrested for drunk driving. Remember in 1998 when sportscaster Marv Albert fell from grace as the one of Dons of the sports casting world with his sex scandal? He was accused of biting his ex-girlfriend in the back when he threw on the bed for sex.

What could be going wrong with these men and so many others in the media spotlight is perhaps the loss of something very basic – A LOSS OF SELF. Journalist and famed writers Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Hunter S. Thompson who all had an insatiable appetites for alcohol and drugs did their best work drunk and high, but both Hemingway and Thompson died horrific deaths committing suicide; Hemingway used his favorite shotgun to do the do. Thompson shot himself in the head while talking to his wife on the phone.

The loss of self is hard to imagine when one has the world at his or her feet. Rising to the pinnacle of fame in various life genres, being excused from all sorts of bad behaviors becomes the norm. No accountability is registered by the individual at the top nor by the people who watch and sometimes glorify them for being in the spotlight. The loss of self goes even deeper than that. The loss of self happens sometimes because the person never developed a sense of self when rising to the top. The focus of the person was always on the externalities – achieving fame and fortune and one of the greatest aphrodisiac POWER! Power for the person who loses self becomes defined out of one’s frailties, weaknesses and secret or dark struggles often born from childhood or from a traumatic experience. Hemingway’s mother Grace Hall, dressed him as a little girl in his youth. He never forgave her for this.

Unresolved issues with a loss sense of self is something that we are witnessing on a frequent basis. More than being media voyeurs reviewing the lives of movie stars, singers, professional and college athletes, politics and business executives we don’t stop to think that perhaps the tragic and humiliating experiences these people are having could in some way be small reflections of our own lives. Some of you reading this might say, “I am not a freak, take drugs or are out of control.” You may not be. You may never be. However, the lives of the successful, rich and famous can still be teachers for us to view our lives from a cliff looking down making sure as we experience life; particularly success we don’t decide to jump off the cliff thinking angels will catch us because we tempted fate in some way shape or form. Perhaps there is pain in our own lives we have not reconciled or healed from. So we hide it. Digging a six foot grave hoping we could bury our pain forever? Guess what it comes back from the dead haunting us in the most craziest ways – ways we would not have ever imagined.

Richard Quest began to test his fate when he started the dance with drugs and who knows possibly other addictions. Maybe his childhood has a dark deep secret he never came to terms with or healed from -instead he might have just buried his pain in his own grave, and he began to defensively focus on his success. His crazy style he developed was a nice distraction to the real Richard Quest. Maybe he battled these demons until his success made it so easy to succumb to false pain killers? The success of Ernest Hemingway and others made it easier for him to drink himself into subconsciousness.

It is truly sad when men and women like this fall from their pinnacle, but as they fall, they become faint memories unless of course they write books or get recognition. We never stop to think about what was really going on with the sad and lonely. The bottom line is that at their lowest point these men in this piece have or had death wishes – literally and figuratively. Their loss of self and outlandish behaviors and lifestyles were cries for help. But no one was ever listening or really cared.

How to Live a Victorious Life

Living a victorious life is one that is lived within the will of God. If this is your desire, then you must realize that there is a powerful enemy that does not want you to succeed. The enemy is so powerful that he speaks face-to-face three times in the Bible, first to God, then to Eve in the Garden of Eden and finally to Jesus Christ.

He is called by many names. Jesus Christ called him the prince of this world. The Apostle Paul called him the god of this world, the prince of the power of the air, and an angel of light. The Apostle Peter called him a roaring lion. The Apostle John said that the world was in the evil one. The Apostle James called him the devil and admonished us to resist him.

How to resist this evil one that tempted Jesus in the wilderness at his most vulnerable moment is important to know if you want to live victoriously.

To successfully defend yourself one must have the proper perspective of the enemy and as much knowledge of him as possible. Jesus admonished us not to make war against another without first consulting whether you are able with ten thousand to meet him that comes against you with twenty thousand. Mat. 14:31

The Bible tells how Satan operates and of his strengths and weaknesses. Satan is a being of the spirit world therefore he has access to man’s inner most thoughts, desires and secrets in the subconscious mind.

Christians have power to resist him but like faith, this power must be exercised properly. Some think that the closer they get to God the further they move away from the devil. This attitude shows ignorance of Satan’s power and is dangerous. If one does not take Satan seriously and learn of him, how can he detect his presence? In this situation when temptation comes the person tries to resist temptation and not the tempter.

Ever wondered why after becoming converted you still have some of the same desires and weaknesses you had before conversion?

Satan does not outright tempt one into disobedience because he would probably put up a defense. Instead he disguises himself by intensifying your desires or attacks you through your weakness. It’s how Satan gets one to act in the same way he did before becoming converted. After succumbing to sin, feeling bad and defeated, anxiety or depression occurs without having the slightest thought of what actually happened so you blame yourself.

Since Satan has access to your mind, if he gives you a thought of disobedience, what will cause you to suspect that it was not your idea, if you are not aware of his subtle ways? Instead, you blame yourself because the idea came from within. To blame Satan for this is usually trivialized by saying, “the devil made me do it.”

You go to church and the preacher reinforces your guilt feelings by saying that you can’t blame Satan because he had nothing to do with your sin, it was your decision. Well, he likes for you to feel that way because it makes his disguise perfect and all his demons rejoice.

In the New Testament believers are told to watch and pray in Matt. 26:41, Eph. 6:18 and in Eph. 6:11-18 the Apostle Paul understood this warfare between believers and Satan. That’s why he admonished all believers to put on the whole armor of God to be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. He concludes in the eighteenth verse emphasizing watch and pray because he knew of Satan’s subtle ways. However, James admonished, “submit yourselves to God, resist the devil he will flee from you.”

So what are some of Satan’s disguises? The most frequent ones are self, others, circumstances, with the first being the best. The reason self is the best disguise is that believers feel more comfortable blaming themselves than Satan.

Satan, by disguise, can cause God fearing believers to gossip, judge, condemn others, lust, waste time and blame themselves for their shortcomings. He also uses wives, husbands, children, parents, friends and even arrange for things to happen like accidents, floods and disasters to hinder believers. He can’t create but he can destroy. The thief comes to steal, kill, and to destroy. John. 10:10

By being aware of how the enemy operates, one can develop a plan of resistance taken from the example in Matthew 4:1-12. After being in the wilderness 40 days and nights, Satan used hunger to tempt Jesus. Think he knew about Jesus’ greatest weakness, what about yours? Jesus successfully resisted him by using, as his weapon, the appropriate scripture for his temptation. The next two times Jesus resisted him in the same manner and concluded by rebuking him. This is the perfect example of how to use the Word of God as the sword of the Spirit.

Satan is the master disguiser and if he can keep a child of God confused, guilt ridden and doubting, he robs that believer of a spirit filled life and from doing God’s will.

If you would like to live a victorious life, then you must learn about Satan’s subtle ways and his disguises from his encounter with Jesus and from the writings of the Apostles. So what are some of his weaknesses? He is not omniscient. In II Timothy 1:8-10 we learn that Jesus and the light of the Gospel had been hidden from him since the beginning. Another weakness is he can only go as far as God allows. Job 1 – 2.

Jesus defeated Satan through His resurrection from the dead. He removed the fear of death from believers by showing that man is immortal and that there is life after death.

Therefore, examine yourself to see what your weaknesses are and arm yourself with scriptures. Write them on 3 by 5 cards, commit them to memory and carry them with you. Next, pray that the Holy Spirit will alert you when Satan tries to entice you with various thoughts and temptations. Then use the scriptures the way Jesus did and he will flee from you and the angels will come and minister to you.

Never Cut Your Nails on a Sunday

According to an old European superstition, you should never cut your fingernails on a Sunday. If you did evil stories would be told about you for a week. Even worse the devil would follow you all week. Cutting fingernails was considered not only work, but also being preoccupied with your outer beauty. This was something that was not tolerated on the day of rest and worship.

Cutting your nails on a Friday was equally unlucky. It was said bad luck and sorrow would strike the home if anyone in the household dared to cut their fingernails on a Friday.

Friday and Sunday were certainly ruled out for cutting fingernails. Playing it safe, many would wait until Monday before cutting their nails. It was told that Monday before noon was a good time to bring out the scissors and cut those nails. Cut your fingernails early Monday morning and you could expect a gift. The saying went on like this. Cut on a Tuesday for thrift, cut on Wednesday for news, cut on Thursday for shoes, cut on Friday for sorrow, cut on Saturday to see your lover tomorrow, cut on Sunday for evil.

In the 19th century it was common superstition that if a mother cut the fingernails of her baby before the child was twelve months old, that child would grow up to become a thief.

Even the Vikings had strong concerns about fingernails. It was believed the ship called Naglfar (nail-ferry), was made solely from fingernails and toenails taken from dead humans. When Naglfar was completed, the Jotunns would sail this ship in battle against the gods. This was the final battle. This was Ragnarok, the end of the world. No dead man was to be buried with uncut fingernails. Every precaution had to be made to unsure that the corpse did not supply more material for building the Naglfar. But all was not lost. After Ragnarok a new world arises. Whatever happened to Naglfar, I do not know.

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