Tale of the Twin Cities - parting shots

Minneapolis/St. Paul, that is.

The Mary Tyler Moore house in Februrary of 2006. There it sits - abandoned and neglected. How symbolic! Our one claim to fame - The Mary Tyler Moore show - too embarrassing. It was too embarrassing to be a sweet, innocent place, the midwest, and perhaps naive. Oh no, in the 25 years since this house stood strong and well, there has been a gradual neglect, or even concerted attempt to ignore the values that made the midwest - the farm communities run down by mass farming, the small towns strangled by economic deprivation, and overun by an infiltration of drugs. And greed! Greed got a hold of Minnesota and everything that goes with it.



A faith-free church. I can't believe I actually went to this church years ago! There is a denomination called Free-Lutheran (which makes no sense cuz they aren't free) and so it's various churches have names followed by free-Lutheran. But like so many dissonent and illogical things about the organized church, don't these geniuses see that the name on their church actually ends up saying, literally "faith-free" "grace-free" "love-free" and the like? Achhhh! Stupidity.

So it is also symbolic. There is hardly a city in America with more religion, a church on every street corner, and most of them Catholic - pointing up the simple reality of the law-based mentality that fosters most evils of this town.

Here are the present day Twin Cities' claims to fame:
More than once named the murder capital of America, since 1996, with a prevalent spirit of hate!
Known by many as the witchcraft capital of the USA
More reported cases of incest exist within Minnesota than anywhere else in the country.
Possibly the largest homosexual community in America, rivaling San Francisco

Hate, perversion, witchcraft - the atmostphere is weighted with the demonic. I plow through depression, despair, a feeling of worthlessness, hopelessness, sometimes feel suicidal, and fight fear constantly. I am also constantly overwhelmed by the voice of condemnation, a sense that I am damned, never good enough and pressure to make up for it. Also, in general, it has been noted numerous times by outsiders: Minneapolis has a severe lack of sense of humor.

Can you imagine the implications of being the witchcraft capital? That means there are congregations, covens, whatever where they worship Satan! And there is more! It also means there are human sacrifices, as well as sexual abuse, child abuse, animal abuse and animal sacrifice. That is not to mention astral projections and curses, etc. Oh I forgot- and cannibalism.

Yet, the city is washed clean of it, so you can't see it! Just like Satan who disguises himself as light. It comes out here and there, but again gets covered up.

( I just get too depressed relating incidences to you of my own encounters with it.) Minneapolis was rated the number one city to live in, in America, by this one source that rates cities on 44 points - good schools, good parks, etc. What a joke!

Did Lot notice when his city was getting morosely evil and hopeless? Or did he tell himself, "I got good real estate, I have a good job here," because he had to be dragged out.

Driving away from the city, the spirits that were overwhelming lift. I spent a long time like in the Truman Show, never realizing that it was within the political forces of Minnesota and the midwest that so many oppressive forces were at work. I finally left and spent months away. I found many other places had a sweeter spirit and atmostphere, and at the same time, some places had oppression too. But none rival the atmostphere of the Twin Cities.

So, you don't think the place you live determines a large part of your thoughts, feelings, actions? You have no idea.



I have just sold my house here in Minnepolis and am leaving. These are my parting shots, and my parting thoughts.

As a native of Minnesota, having grown up in a small town north of Minneapolis, I have tears for Minnesota. But, like the song that just happens to be playing on the radio at this synchronous moment, "a hard rain's gonna fall." That was Bob Dylan of course - a native of Minnesota, a place he too felt totally out of place and was practically thrown out. A hard rain, or worse is gonna fall, Minnesota because your people are sick- sick to the bone!

I finally understood what Jesus was saying about our home towns. Even Jesus - the son of God in the flesh was not "recognized" by his native homedwellers as more than the carpenter's son. They couldn't see Jesus for who he was because of the natural person he had been. The result: no faith. They couldn't see, they couldn't believe. And His power - even God in the flesh, was reduced to almost nothing!

How much more for us, then, sinners who were redeemed with Jesus living inside us? For us, home spells out disaster. See, we're not supposed to live our lives seeking our safety, our pleasure, our comfort. Home is all about that. It's familiar. it's safe. It's easy. It's cushy!

And what adventure we miss out on - the adventure of the faith life and the crucified life. See, there is a resurrection after the death that we go through - the death of the cross. There is a fantastic life behind that. It's why Jesus said "he who loses his life for my sake will find it." He meant this! so, I've been learning how to lose my life!

See, it wouldn't be so bad living here in Minnesota if I felt I was making some difference. But I finally realized that no matter what I did, no matter what angle, I was not going to be received by the people of this place. I find myself powerless here and fall easily into unbelief.

I know now where Satan lives. And I know that hell is not going to be hot - it's going to be very very cold!

Don't get me wrong. I know some beautiful people here, some of whom I will miss, but I'll return to visit relatives so I'll see them again. I want to honor those who keep their beautiful spirits in the midst of this darkness. And i want you to know I love the people of Minnesota, and the things I've mentioned break my heart.

Just because of what Satan has done here, I expect God to do amazing things we have never seen here to counter that. but for now, it's...

Goodbye, Minnesota.

CAR TALK

Mercedes was talking to her new boyfriend Benz and his friends Mark Lincoln, Eddie Bauer and Dan about being her Escort on a Voyageur to some Outlander location or on an Expedition to some place either Continental or foreign.

"Eddie," she said, "should we Escape on a Skylark to Malibu or Monterey, or somewhere in the Pacifica?"

Eddie cheerfully responded, "sounds like a Grand Caravan. Why not be an Explorer and go to the Tundra or the Yukon? There's always Aztec culture, Montego Bay or Monte Carlo. For that matter, why not go to the moon or Saturn? I'm sounding Cavalier. Maybe just a Continental USA tour. There's Sedona, Durango, the Dakotas, or Montana. We can meet Cherokee. There's Tacoma or our neighbors, Crown Victoria."

"Say-Dan. You're kind of a Gee-Oh, a Metro guy, aren't you?" Eddie added.

Dan replied, "no that's Benz you're talking about - Mercedes' Benz. He loves Park Avenue."

"Yeh," Benz chimed in, "give me the Grand Marquis and Lake Tahoe while you're at it. No Avalanche for me, thank you!"

Dan said, "yeh, I'm kind of a Sportage Forester, or a Highlander myself. Give me the chance to visit the high Sierra, or be a Trailblazer. Let me see Sequoia, let me see Jaguars in the wild, or hear and occasional Thunderbird. Oh to be the guy who discovered the Mustang - what was his name?"

Eddie jumped in,"well I'm no Ranger. I'm an Uplander, an Outlander, or you could say, I'm a Freelander."

Mercedes smiled with glee, "I come from a legacy of Freestyle Freestars, which makes us seem less Sable, but I love the full Spectra of life's experiences."

"Yeh," Benz said, "I can Lancer that with a Titan's roar! She's lady Liberty to the Maxima! She's the Altima Land Rover! Me, I'm just a Cruiser. Give me a Town Car to go where the Neon lights are bright! That's when I'm in my Element! Lexus go and Rendevous, Mercedes, and listen to a Sonata and watch the Vue."

"Man oh man," Dan chirped, "am i envious of you two love Bugs. I had a girlfriend once... her name was Kia. You two have such Accord. So Camry change the subject?

"I kinda got the Vibe you were jealous," Mercedes cooed. "Saab Saab."

"No, I'm happy for you," Dan protested.

"Can't help it," Benz announced, "cuz I love her to Infiniti. I had my ION her from the day i met her. First time I saw her I said, Honda Huyndai! And I'm not even Japanese."

"OH Benz," Mercedes clucked, "You're not so bad yourself! To be perfectly Acura, Benz is Galant. And that's not just on the Xterra. That's what Impreza me the most about you, Benz. And you don't need a Forenza expert to prove it either! First time we met I totally floored it"

"Well, pick her up and Duster off," Mark Lincoln interjected facetiously!

Everyone looked at him funny. "Well, she said she was on the floor, didn't she?" Mark protested. Everyone groaned at another "Mark Lincoln joke."

Mark, who took pride in being a Scionist, held his peace. Mark was an interesting fellow. he liked to Passat his time learning the Suzuki method of violin. Prius-ly, he loved the Beetles - the old Beetles, not the new. Now classical was becoming his favorite.

He enjoyed Golf on occasion, loves Tiger Woods, and if he could be anything else it would be a Jetta-ite living on another planet.

Mark would like to say, "I'm not a singer, I'm more of a Hummer." That was his humor. "He lives in a different Equinox," people said.

"You know what they say in Japan," Mark roused,"Honda! Mitsubishi, Toyota Nissan!" That means, "let's get going before the sun goes down."

"My car may not be the Spanish Armada" Mark jostled," but it gets me from A to B. Come on, LeSabre our time together. You can drive, Benz. No Benz, it's an American car - you don't just press down on the gas - you gotta Ram it!"

THE END

JESUS NEVER SAYS....

Don't get too close to me.

I need some space.

I'll talk to you later, I'm busy right now.

What do you want from me? Everything?

You depend on me too much.

Get a life!

I think we should start seeing other people.

What did you think? This was going to last forever?

I'm just getting out of a relationship. I'm not ready for something new right now.

I'm too into my career, I don't have time for a relationship.

I like you, but I just don't think you're the right one for me.

You're not my type.

I don't love you.

Find someone your own age.

You're too obsessive for me.

You are too uneducated to be with me.

All good things must come to an end.

WHAT HE DOES SAY!

"I have loved you with an everlasting love."

"You are the apple of my eye."

"I will never leave you or forsake you!"

"Nothing can separate you from my love, not persecution, distress, famine or sword, not life or death, angels, principalities, powers, world rulers...or any thing in all of creation..."

"he who loses his life for my sake will find it"

"I will give you rest"

"no one can snatch you out of my hand"

can you think of any others?



(for Valentines day)

How I Met Harry Potter

I was teaching private music lessons in Minneapolis. I was driving to the home of a ten year old girl in an affluent western suburb. Her parents had bought this peculiar house. It was built in 1970 and was designed to look like a space ship. I thought of Space Odyssey 2001, which came out in 1969.

It had these windows that remind you of a submarine, and the entire interior walls were done in an off-white linen. Add to this, the couple sold antiques. This submarine/spaceship style house was filled with huge, dark mahoghany and oak furniture from the Victorian period, mainly. There were dining room pieces that reached very high with ornate carving.

Like many antiques, these had a strong, spooky presence attached to them. Walking into the house, I felt a spooky presence throughout.

Then, I would go into the girl's room, which was pretty girlish - in pinks, where she also kept her keyboard. We would sit there and practice the piano together. She caught on very quickly. I noticed her Harry Potter books and asked her about them. She was poring over them, reading one after the other. I asked to borrow one, as I had heard about them but wanted to examine them for myself.

In addition to this, i was bringing CD's for her music education that were not only educational, they were inspirational. I was "smuggling" God into her home. She was loving the music. I brought her the soundtrack to "Sister Act II" with songs like "Oh Happy Day" and she was singing loudly "WHEN JESUS WASHED, MY SINS AWAY!!!"

It was a victory for God.

i brought home her Harry Potter book, I don't remember now which one it was in the series. It was all about witchcraft. Oh don't try to tell me otherwise, because, you see, I have lived twenty years in the city of Minneapolis...and I know witchcraft because it permeates the entire city.

Seventeen years ago, young and dumb, I met this guy in Minneapolis who called himself a white witch, like in the Wizard Of Oz - a good witch. Yeah, right. It was not "all good." It was bad. I was dumb enough to decide to go to his apartment to "hang out." He wore long black priestly robes, and had hair dyed black.

At his apartment he showed me the articles of his "trade:" Animal feet, oils, potions, etc. etc. he had stuff for putting curses on people.

Then, my last bus left - I relied on bus service, so I was stuck-no money for a cab, it was freezing cold outside, so, being cool and unafraid, I was going to "crash" at his pad for the rest of the night. I tried to lie on a thin mattress on the living room floor and fall asleep, but there was a disturbing presence. The disturbance mounted until at last I felt something tied around my neck - something invisible, it was almost strangling me. I just lay there enduring this until the sun started to rise at 5AM and I fled his apartment.

The disturbing presence pursued me - an all too familiar experience living in Minneapolis. I called a man who was nationally reknowned as a pastor in "deliverance" ministry. He was so well known that Oprah had him on her show. I had gone to him at other times when I felt "pursued" by evil. Over the phone he prayed for me, and soon after I got off the phone - poof! The presence left. He prayed in Jesus' name.

Back to Harry Potter. The details of the lessons in the school in Harry Potter showed the same practices as the man I met. I have also heard about various elements involved in witchcraft from other sources. The Harry Potter stuff is all about witchcraft!

As I read the book, my mouth was dropping. How were American parents letting this stuff slide? How were they allowing this?

There's more. I put the book down and tried to go to bed. Now, before this, God had been teaching me about purging and cleansing my home to make it His sanctuary. He had directed me to dispose of all sorts of films - films with violence or ungodly sex, etc.

He even directed me to get rid of my book of Shakespeare. I realized that Shakespeare wrote stories based on Greek tragedies - PAGAN stories rooted in a belief in a fate that no one can oppose - an evil fate that you were assigned to and had no choice. It is evil. And later I will talk about what relationship this has to the girl killed in Columbine high school who was also reading Shakespeare when the boys came in and found her in the library.

God directed me to throw that literary classic - IN THE DUMPSTER.

I got rid of books, videos, CDs, and things - things with bad memories attached to them. Eventually I got rid of pictures of old boyfriends, and lots of things God directed me to be done with.

I had a godly friend come to my home and together we sprinkled the blood of the Eternal Lamb, in the form of communal wine, on all doorposts, over windows, and we poured it into the four corners of my property.

NOW, the Harry Potter book was in that sanctuary, and it suddenly revealed itself.

A horrible presence, a disturbing presence was in my home, similar to the presence that I found in that man's home years before. I couldn't sleep. I have a chandelier in my dining room. It always worked and had no electrical problems and does to this day, but on that night, the lights started to flicker. There were no storms, no power outages.

I knew I had to get rid of that book. The night wore on and it was late and I had insomnia and anxiety. I couldn't throw the book out because it belonged to this girl. At 3:00 AM it was not a good time to go to the girl's parents and return the book.

But I did return it to her. I drove to their house, placed the book in a paper bag, and left it on their front step. The next day i told them I was driving by, but it was late, so I decided to leave it there so I wouldn't forget to bring it another time.

People, get a clue. Harry Potter is some way of making witchcraft kid-friendly. It is so diabolical, yet the door has been flung wide open. Titanic ahead.

Oh, I forgot to mention: I got a victory in that home. Before my teaching ended, I walked into the girl's home one day and noticed that the dark, ugly presence had gone. Jesus had walked into that house.

Earlier on, one day as I was about to leave one day, the girl suddenly started telling me about a church they had gone to out East - how dead it was - just a joke! Thus we have it! The motive - they reason the door had been opened to the devil - the failure of organized church.