Greetings and God bless you!

Praise the Lord! I am finally finished with the 2nd update of my book Entertaining Spirits Unaware: The End-Time Occult Invasion. In this new edition I have added the equivalent of over 90 brand new pages of information. Its almost as if I have written, edited and compiled another whole book. Perhaps it might even have been easier to have just started from scratch but ESU (now almost seven years old) needed an update and because its been such an effective tool in explaining and detailing how the occult has infiltrated our lives and homes we needed to continue to make it available.

To all those who have already ordered it, your copy will be on the way to you in the next few days. Thanks so much for your patience and prayers!

I am working on two other projects that I hope to complete in the next month. I'll fill you in more on those later. In the mean time, here are a number of emails we've received that haven't made it into any of our newsletters. (I've got about 200 emails saved for consideration for our newsletter and choosing just a few is tough!) I hope they inspire, challenge and inform you.

Even though I am officially "off the road" this month the ministry work continues many hours each day. Please visit our bookstore and order some materials. We have an abundance of stock on many items and whether you request a book or DVD or simply just feel led to support the ministry your gifts of support and orders - whether large and small - allow me to concentrate on the ministry tasks at hand. Thanks so much for standing with us through your orders and gifts!

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Shocked by Easter Star

I am sure glad that I found your website. I had an opportunity to go with a friend to an Eastern Star installation. I was shocked to say the least. I have had family members involved in this going way back, but never went to any functions. As a Christian I sure felt out of place and thought that the ceremony was pretty odd, and the first thing I thought of when I saw the star was the pentagram. Of course several people invited me to join, but that will never happen and I will never go back. I would rather sit in Church with Jesus. So I believe God lead me to your site, and I printed out "The F.A.T.A.L. Flaw". WOW! thank you for making this kind of information available. God Bless.

- Cynthia

Adventist Goes Mainstream

I want to thank God and you for your website. I am in transition from Adventism to mainstream Christianity and sites like these that present the Word of God so clearly have been a tremendous blessing. I love the Lord Jesus and truly want to know and follow Him all of the days of my life. Please pray for me and for my husband and son that the Lord will deliver us all from sin and save us for His kingdom. Thank you,

- Luana

Eric Responds:

Luana,

God bless you! I am struck by your letter and believe that the Lord wants me to share a couple of things with you.

God knows your heart and your desire to serve him. Rest in His finished work. Let me remind you of a powerful Biblical truth that many groups (including many Adventists) miss. Salvation is by faith and faith alone. Our good works follow because we are saved - not to somehow add to or assure us that God will somehow, based on our merits, accept us. Jesus completed everything for us at the Cross. EVERYTHING. He purchased us, ransomed Himself and paid for our freedom with His own blood. Our goodness cannot save us. It is His righteousness...His worthiness...His blood...His redeeming power that assures us of entry into eternity in His Kingdom. Wow!

I encourage you to concentrate on His Word, stay in prayer and extend worship to Him in all things and at all times. He "passed the test" for us, the hard part is done and He did it - praise God. Now, it is our task to simply love Him, serve Him and share the truth of His grace with everyone possible. Out of love for Christ and for our fellow man the truly redeemed cannot possibly stay silent in a world surrounded by those who are perishing!

Please let me know if there is any way we can minister to you or your family or if you have any prayer requests.

Psalm 37:23...righteous in Him!

Eric

Luana writes back...

Thank you for your reply. I have to ask you, how do I rest in His finished work? I guess the reason why I ask is that for the majority of my spiritual walk I have had "to do" this and that and it feels strange to me to rest and not "do" something.

And Eric Responds:

Hi Luana,

I am not suggesting that you do nothing only that your perspective change on why you do what you do for Him. Our salvation is done. Finished. Complete. Our works are not to "get saved, become redeemed or assure us that we're going to make it. Our good works are because we are redeemed!

I am not attending services right now as I am not keeping the 7th day sabbath and I am still working on Sunday so I can't find a new place to worship as yet.

As quick as you can...get in a good Bible believing Church. Start visiting on Wednesday or Thursday nights. Some have Saturday pm services now. God Sunday nights. If you want advice on what KIND of church to start looking for I would be happy to make some suggestions.

I am praying about it, but as of yet nothing has turned up. I truly want to serve Him and worship Him. I witness to my son and husband and family, but I don't go to each of my neighbors, but some I do. I know I don't witness enough, at least not from my perspective, but God's perspective is different. I truly feel like I am in the wilderness where my faith is concerned, and I don't want to stay there. What should I do?

Luana...we Christians need each other...find a Church or even a home Bible study with other authentic evangelical, Bible believers.

Also, witness when you can and where you can but let your own personally testimony shine through. God will show you how, who and where.

I don't want to bother you as I know you are busy with your own ministry, so please forgive me if I am. I feel the Lord's appearing is very near and I don't want to be found relaxing when I shouldn't be. Thank you for your time and prayer.

It is absolutely no bother. It is a part of our ministry. But again, work, witness and live because of what He did for you and for me and for anyone who will believe.

Bless you!

Eric

Luana writes again...

Hi there, Thank you so much for talking with me. If you could fill me in on what kind of church I should look for I would be so grateful. Not every church is a Bible believing church even though they say they are. So what kinds of questions should I ask and what do I look for? I spent my life in Adventism, so I feel a little less sure of myself when it comes to decisions like this. I was born into the church and didn't know any better, but praise God that He didn't leave me there. I love the Adventist people, I just know that there are a few things they believe that are not scriptural. Any wisdom you
could share will be gladly received. Thank you again for caring enough to respond. Jesus is returning soon and I want to be ready and for my family and friends and those I have yet to meet to be ready. Your sister in Christ,

- Luana

Christians and Music?

Dear Mr. Barger,
I have been a fan since I read your book "From Rock to Rock" back in 1990. I have been receiving your newsletter for a time now. I was wondering what you think of the Christian Rock scene--groups like Stryper, FM Static, Red, etc. Do you think that the beat is what matters or the message? I've heard a lot of pastors bash Christian Rock. Do you think you'll ever do a revised (version of) "R to R"? I know it would be a massive undertaking, but I would volunteer to help with locating sources if you are ever interested (as both a lawyer and a professor, my writing skills are quite good!).
God Bless!
- John

Eric Responds:

Hello John,

Thanks for the encouraging note!

Just as in the 80's when I first began to comment on the Christian music scene my feelings remain the same today. There are some whose message is solid and some who are as weak as a noodle. There are good and there are bad and there are some that may not be Christians at all. If you have heard my teaching from years ago or read some of the things I have written then you know that I depend much on the lyrical content and the lifestyle of the artist rather than on styles of music or instrumentations.

A friend of mine recently observed that once a human begins to arrange the chords, music and lyrics of a song then our soulish nature gets involved and thus, as he contended, music was not "amoral." Though I understand what he is saying and see some merit in it the same is true whenever we begin constructing or preaching a sermon, writing a book or any number of other "Christian" activities.

The Bible speaks of music and related issues an astounding 800+ times. Yet in those many verses God never gave us an indication that He has a favorite style of music or that any instrument was in itself evil or good. Just as the Internet can be used for gross evil, it can also carry the words of life and bring sinners to the Cross. So, generally I believe that the music is a medium and not the message itself. Remember, I said generally.

Frankly, in some circles it is vogue to bash "Christian rock" (I don't like that term but we're somewhat stuck with it).

Some men I am sure speak against it from their deep conviction that it is leading people into their flesh and for some it surely can. But if indeed we are being led into carnality by any music it comes back on us making a decision to reject anything that does that to us - be it called "Christian" or be it accepted by other Christians or not. (I wrote on these themes in my book Disarming the Powers of Darkness, in particular in the chapter "The Battle Cry of Praise" (read at: www.ericbarger.com/disarming/battlecry.1.htm)

There is much to say on the issue that certainly takes a while to work through. I am genuinely conflicted as to being dogmatic for or against Christian "rock" for as concerned as I am by some of the stuff that I see being sold as "Christian" I believe that we need to use discernment and each of us need to learn to do as Paul said - "Test All Things" (I Thess 5:21)

Let me suggest that you read the following article and see if it doesn't clarify my position for you. It was written years ago and I echoed some of those thoughts in the "Disarming" chapter linked above but as I scanned over it today I couldn't find stuff that jumped out at me and caused me to say "I don't believe that anymore."

http://www.ericbarger.com/articles/choosingchrist.htm

Other related info at:
http://www.ericbarger.com/articles/RockMusic.html
http://www.ericbarger.com/articles/music_christian_home.htm

As far as a revised From Rock To Rock book. Melanie and I have talked about it but one thing I know with certainty is that speaking on the music industry is literally a full time affair. To do it effectively and to do it well you need to be completely in that ministry alone. It doesn't cut it to speak to teens about groups that were popular 10 years ago or even 10 months ago. Its be current or forget being credible. It is for this reason (and more so because we felt the Lord release us and move us into apologetics) that we're not actively researching and writing on the music industry any longer.

I really appreciate your offer and should God ever jolt us to revisit that ministry I promise I will contact you about it. But as for now we're right where we know the Lord wants us.

Let me know if you have more questions or want to dialog.

Thanks again John and have a great day in Jesus!

Eric

You Saved My Life Spiritually!

Some time ago we featured this email in a newsletter. I am reprising it again and adding another new email I have received from Ryan.

When I received the first email from this young man in Minnesota, his mother had just attended the Christian Workers Conference in Spokane, WA and had heard me address the conference on the effects of the occult in our culture. In particular, she had become concerned about the affinity her 13 year-old son had with Egyptian artifacts. Shortly thereafter, the young man (Ryan) wrote me about his interest in ancient Egypt.

“I have a collection of Egyptian stuff like books, small statues, papyrus wall hanging, Egyptian stamps, Egyptian money, a cheesy looking pyramid.  My statues are of Anubis the Sphinx and a statue of King Tut.”

He added saying, “I am a Christian I enjoy doing 20 min. long sermons for Church Youth Group nights.  I love Christian music.  I really believe in the power of prayer.  So my question is since I am a Christian and know what the kind of Egyptian stuff I buy symbolizes does that still mean I am at risk of anything Satan might bring in because of my Egyptian stuff?”

Eric Responds:

I wrote Ryan a very straight-forward letter warning him that even though he may know what the items he was collecting and studying symbolized they may well represent a way for Satan to gain a foothold in his life.

I wrote: “Anubis - Egyptian god of the Dead is represented as a man with the head of a dog or jackal. He was a god of the funeral cult and of the care of the dead.

In The Book of the Dead, he was depicted as presiding over the weighing of the heart of the deceased in the Hall of the Two Truths.”

Among other things I said, “I encourage you to begin spending the time you now spend each week on study of God’s word instead of the Egyptians...they followed MANY other Gods...we follow just one and He wants his children filling their hearts and minds and spending their time learning about and serving Him.

I also encourage you to renounce all forms of mysticism and idolatry and if they have gotten a hold on you begin to claim the promise that Christ’s blood is greater than all of Satan’s deceptions.”

I didn’t hear back from the young man again for some time but not long ago I received this email.

His next email started by saying “Thanks, you saved my life spiritually.”

He wrote: “I wrote you last year and was asking you about my Egyptian collection. You pretty much said to get rid of it. I was angry at first but I prayed about it that night and the next morning the first thing that came in to my mind was to get rid of it.

The next night after I took my stuff down, I felt something that was in my room; it may sound weird but it felt like an evil presence. That was the first night in two years that I needed the light on with my door open just to feel some what safe.

I was going to sell it on Ebay but it didn’t sell. Then my Great Aunt said that it could be that God wants me to get rid of it and not give it to someone else. So I very reluctantly burned it. But after I burned it that night I felt a Godly presence in my room that night. Later that night I thought to myself that I WAS falling away from God without knowing it. During that time I had my Egyptian collection I was falling away from my Christian friends and I was rejecting authority.

I guess all I can say is thank you, because you can’t thank somebody enough for telling them the truth and saving their soul.  If my mom hadn’t gone to Spokane, Washington who knows where I would be right now.

I am doing another sermon on the 18 of January on reincarnation.  I may be over anxious but I think I have found my calling for life.   I would like to be a Chaplain in the U.S. Army. Anyway thank you, thank you, thank you for helping me get rid of that stuff. Also I love to read your newsletter and I really enjoyed the newsletter on Harry Potter. I think you should keep on writing about it you may be able to get more people listening to you.

Thanks again!

Ryan

Ryan wrote me again in November of 2006.

Hi Eric!

I don't know if you remember me but a few years ago I wrote you about my obsession with Egypt and the occult.  I would just like to thank you for your continued newsletters and your warnings to America's youth and there parents.  I really appreciate what you are doing and what you have done.  I respect your views and the answers you give people no matter how mad they are at you.   I know its heart wrenching to receive e-mails of people who don't only disagree with you but seem to hate you for what you do.   The truth hurts and that's why they get so angry.

Since you saved me from the shadowy world of the occult I would like to tell you how my life has changed.  In the summer of 2004 I went on a short term mission trip to Mexico for two weeks and helped build houses and run VBS.  I started up the worship band we have at our church and have become a chair member of the Youth Panning Team.  For being only 16 this is a huge step for me.  I also started speaking every so often at our church about my testimony and the occult and have received a lot of good feedback.  Just like you I have been persecuted by people who so strongly disagree with me that they have thrown away 9 years of friendship with them.  I have made a difference in some peoples lives and a lot of parents have thanked me for speaking about this because their kids won't listen to them.

Just this last summer I was on Summer Servant Teams which is a month long leadership training outfit that prepares young people for leadership in the church.  There were 250 who applied and only 12 got in, including me.  I spent a week in Eau Clair, Wisconsin in training and then two weeks in Marysville, Washington and followed by a week at a farm in Iowa for follow up training.  We were constantly stretching our comfort zones by going into malls and witnessing to people.  Our goal was to eventually say a 10 second prayer with them at the end of the conversation.  The catch was we couldn't even look at the other Servant Team Members when we did this, so we were completely on our own.  I met some amazing people on the trip and canvassed entire towns for VBS and church outreach.  It was the first time I had been away from my home for an entire month before and the first time I had been on an airplane.  This was during the British terror plot that was foiled.  But God provided and all went well.  This summer I am planning on going to Turkey with the Christian radio station here for mission work.  That will be an exciting experience, considering its a Muslim nation.

I would just like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you did for me and the work you do.  I am currently in college at the University of Minnesota through their post-secondary program.  Its a program were high school kids in 11th grade and up can go to college while they are still in high school.  So I am 16 doing 19 year olds work.  Its going well but it can be a challenge with the liberal views that are expressed.  Again thank you for you work and warnings that you give to America's and the worlds youth.  I will continue to pray for you.  God bless you.

Thanks,

Ryan

Eric Responds:

Hello Ryan!

Thanks for uplifting email!

I am thrilled to here from you and to get the great report on what you’re up to and what the Lord is doing in your life. I believe that God has a mighty plan in store for you. Make certain to stay close to Him and listen as He directs your steps (Psalm 37:23) !!!

I have thought of you often brother and will be praying for you - especially as you prepare to go to Turkey. Please keep me "in the loop" on what is happening with you and let me know if there is anything we can do to help, pray or minister to you.

I am just humbled to have been there for you and to have been able to speak words of counsel to you at the right time back when we first met.

God bless you Ryan and have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Eric

Unbelievable Falasies(sic)?

"BeckySoup61" writes:

This website is hilarious and full of unbelieable (sic) falasies (sic). You claim to be bringing Christ to the prople (sic), but all you bring is pure ignorance.

Eric Responds:

Care to give me some exacts as to how I am promulgating "fallacies" and bringing "pure ignorance"??? It is easy to sit back shielded from view by a mouse and keyboard and throw unfounded, undocumented and immature stones from the darkness - stones that have no fact or specifics to back them up. You have got to do better than to just to attempt an electronic drive-by mocking of me.

If I'm ignorant I want to know how, where and why. Unless you can bring some valid dialog it is obvious who is ignorant. (You might check your spelling too.)

Eric

Pastor says "Keep it Up!"

RE: Emails in your newsletter from Christians defending Harry Potter

Eric,

I just wanted to say, “Keep up the good fight of faith.” As Paul stated. It wasn’t the sinners that condemned Christ and put Him to death, it was the religious people. Those that defended their way of life. May we be more conscious of defending the Cross of Christ than Harry Potter. The body of Christ is full of compromise and many that defend their way of life will find themselves standing before the Judgement seat of Christ. Romans 14:10, 12. I am sure that anyone standing before the judgment seat of Christ won’t have time nor the strength to defend the works of Harry Potter. For we will give an account on that day for every idle word spoken, Matthew 12:36-37. Not too many people like to talk about judgment though. It’s not popular, but ignoring the this truth won’t make it go away.

May your foes spend more time on looking into themselves and working out their soul salvation rather than tossing stones your way for bring sight to the blind.

Ezekiel 18:24 "But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die."

God Bless,

Dennis Cummins
Senior Pastor
www.ExperienceChurch.tv

Eric Responds:

What a terrific note from a powerful preacher, pastor and friend. Thanks Dennis!

Thanks Kim!

Dear Eric,

After reading your emails, remarks & the Harry Potter story and information on your site again, I want to ENCOURAGE YOU to keep doing what you are doing. The fact that you have remained in the ministry being a Herald for the TRUTH as long as you have tells me you were definitely called of the Lord.

I want to express here that YOU ARE CARRYING THE TORCH (Lamp) FOR THE GOSPEL in a mighty way just as Jehovah God set His Lamp in Jerusalem & nothing can stamp it out. Our Lord God loves mankind so much that He made a namesake for Himself called the country of Israel (also see Rom. 1:20) because of the unilateral covenant God had made with Abraham simply because of Abraham's faith. KEEP IT UP & KEEP THE FAITH!!! God Bless, Love In His Name

- Kim

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