spiritual history

[Jennifer Smith]

Have you ever researched the history of a place such as the town or region you live in, and found revealing information?

Where we live in Southern Indiana, at one time was the fastest growing city in the nation and was prosperous through being a hub on the river, etc. But around 1900 the city leaders became corrupt, and the city stopped growing and it has stayed the same size since that time. Many of the people have an impoverished mentality, even if finances are not an issue. Southern Indiana and New Albany in particular, have been known as the "pastor's graveyard"... (Similarly, New Albany churches have also been called "graveyards." People in this region are churched: familiar with God and with church but "inoculated" towards God, so to speak, and cold in their hearts.

In the North/South struggle, Indiana was a border state, and this region was a port for the underground railroad but some disagreed. Racial tensions are still high, though perhaps not as strongly as across the river.

Have you ever gained insight through studying a history like this?

[RamboPreacher]

when researching some of the digs and Indian burial grounds in the area, there were many interesting religious/spiritual evidences. their interpretation is not absolute, but it is interesting that some paleo-Indians had a variety of religious beliefs. the two rivers in central Iowa were a very important source of resources, as communities began to concentrate at various bends where the river banks were low enough to manipulate the water, and get to it with little or no danger.

Lots of arrow heads and points can be found if you look. the chipped stone tools and ground stone tools are there, and even come up in the middle of farming fields, as the earth gets turned year after year. the religious artifacts are more scarce.

The Woodland Indians, who built villages in the forested areas along the rivers, as mentioned, introduced agriculture, and left behind their oddly shaped burial mounds (probably the shape of animals); which were some evidence of an understanding of life after death.

Since Iowa weather changes and there is not anything like consistency in climate, the artifacts otherwise are pretty much limited to stone tools. I only wish there was more that we could unearth and extrapolate information. as it is, this is as far back as it gets for local history.

[pastorables]

Yes, this is an interesting topic. Hamilton, AL has some amazing folklore attached (supposedly true accounts).

I have heard this personally, but here on Wikipedia as well:

Hamilton was famous for performing "quickie" divorces.[citation needed] Couples seeking a divorce would come from all over to receive a guaranteed, one day, no hassle divorce.[citation needed] This practice was of course illegal and landed several prominent lawyers in hot water.[citation needed] The quickie divorces helped boost the economy.[citation needed] Local residents believe that celebrities such as Barbara Walters and Lucille Ball are among those to have received a divorce in Hamilton.[citation needed]

I have also heard that Hamilton was the place for abortions back in the day.

Divorces and abortions. That's not very good spiritual history is it? Nonetheless, it's very interesting.

pa

[pastorables]

There is a small community in neighboring MS, near where I was raised, that has had an alarming number of deaths of school students in the past 15 years. I can remember 15 or 20 just off the top of my head. Most of these killed in automobile accidents or suicides and died in either teen or early 20's. I used to think there was a literal curse on the school, but I'm sure it's just coincidental.

pa

[Gerald Creasy]

Jennifer,

Since New Albany and Jeffersonville merge into one another have you heard of the "Voice Of God" that resided in Jeffersonville??

Todd Bentleys own forerunner whos heresey he was not above snatching, William Branham.

There is a whole subsection of heretical Pentecostalism called Branhamites devoted to him and his teachings (only HIS teachings is the correct interpretation of the Bible)

Baptizing in the Ohio, lights appearing above him, denying the trinity, falsely predicting the future (Did 1977 begin the Millineum?), spreading the sepent seed idea, and saying there were Three Bibles (the Zodiac and Pyramids being the other two).

But hey...people claimed to be healed and they sang religious songs.

That's all it takes nowadays to be a Pentecostal MegaStar.

Wikipedia Article

Or consult http://branham.org/ Where you can hear the "voice of God" yourself.

[Jennifer Smith]

Gerald, I have heard of Branham but didn't make the connection. I had heard something about him connected with Jeff. There is another large church in Jeff, Christ Gospel, which is very interesting. It is pentecostal holiness, but without the apostolic errors in doctrine. Unfortunately, though, they emphasize hair and dress too strongly. But it seems to be a blessed church, I have a few friends who attend there. The problems with Bentley did become evdent- but we have found at least one pentecostal church here that is truly pentecostal without compromise, which is where we are attending. It is a wonderful church.
The atmosphere and people in Jeff are different- even though it is only a few miles away. New Albany has some "problems" but the people are very genuine and precious. Interesting, thanks for sharing!

[Pastor Bill]

Yeah, I have a brother who used to go to a Branhamite church, it seemed a little wierd to me then (I was in middle school) they were very legalistic, and almost worshiped the man. (he was quoted fairly often, maybe not quite as much as scripture, but enough to make me wonder) We were still in the Methodist church, I enjoyed the music (I was learning guitar and they let me play along) but was old enough to understand the legalism, and saw how in a short time he went from preaching to WAY back out in the world (once you slip up a little your lost, so why not) He's been back to church here and there, and still holds to some odd concepts, but pretty much is out of church completely (believes it but doesn't follow).

I have one of Branhams books he gave me, the cover and some pages are missing, but it looks like a list of questions asked of the man (who said at the beginning he was just going to answer off the top of his head, that he hadn't had them ahead of time to study or pray on) and it was treated as a book of doctrinal truth.

I have also been told that Branham himself wasn't as bad as what people have made him, on that I don't know.

[Jennifer Smith]

One of our members had told us that the Branhamites here in Jeff are still waiting for Branham to return.

[Russell Roberts]

Jennifer, it sounds like you are dabbling in 'spiritual mapping' which is advocated by the likes of Arthur Burke and Chuck Pierce. I would run the other way. Heed this warning. Those guys are into some nutty stuff. They teach straight from the Kabbalah.

If I'm offbase with my assumption, please, just ignore my comment.

[Gerald Creasy]

Jennifer, it sounds like you are dabbling in 'spiritual mapping' which is advocated by the likes of Arthur Burke and Chuck Pierce. I would run the other way. Heed this warning. Those guys are into some nutty stuff. They teach straight from the Kabbalah.

If I'm offbase with my assumption, please, just ignore my comment.

Interesting observation! I wouldnt be suprised to find that that is rampant around here...what with the Pastor of the biggest Pentecostal church seeing seven foot tall pointy headed demons outside of Planned Parenthood and claiming God told him that the demon "over Louisville" is as tall as a skyscraper.

[Jennifer Smith]

Jennifer, it sounds like you are dabbling in 'spiritual mapping' which is advocated by the likes of Arthur Burke and Chuck Pierce. I would run the other way. Heed this warning. Those guys are into some nutty stuff. They teach straight from the Kabbalah.

If I'm offbase with my assumption, please, just ignore my comment.

I appreciate the warning, irthn... I'm not a follower of those guys. I have heard of Chuck Pierce but I'm not very familiar with his ministry. I'm sure you have to be careful to let the Lord shed light on anything you learn.
When we pastored in Florida we found out some history which helped us understand some of what we were up against in the spiritual realm. It helped. Have you read "This Present Darkness" by Frank Peretti? We had a lot to deal with there, it was mostly people frought with depression and turning to alcohol or drugs to cope. There was a heaviness, but God freed many people.