I want to again thank Mr. Lloyd D. Lance for forwarding me this e-mail regarding the very controversial toys and cartoons from Japan known as Pokemons. With Christmas being just around the corner again, I hope you parents will read this and give it careful consideration, I believe it was sent to Lloyd by a Mr. Michael L. Hobbs. Thanks to both of you gentlemen for taking time out of your no doubt busy schedule to make the world aware, Many Christians could take an example from these gentlemen C.O.O.C

Dear Family and Friends, If you are like us, you become rather suspicious at whatever the world makes a big deal of. Such is the case in the latest rage "Pokemon". One of our young ladies is going to a secular college for her training to become a teacher for "special" education , and doing some research on this craze, she discovered it means "monster in a bag". Then on Wednesday I was listening to Songtime, a radio broadcast from Mass., Each Wed. they have Prophetic Prospectivies" with Jimmy DeYoung who reports from Jerusalem. I believe he was interviewing the man who wrote the following article which a friend e-mailed to me. I pass it on to you for your consideration and possibly passing it on to others as you feel necessary. While we know that nothing from without us can effect that which is within us, but we also know the devil is doing all he can to mislead everyone he can into thinking of these things as just some sort of childish play-thing without being aware of what is behind it all. Can you remember the first time you saw a woman smoking ? I can recall how unusual and strange it seemed to me, even though I had seen men smoke. But it became such a normal thing to see it that eventually I was no longer surprised or shocked, as it became so common place. I believe many things similar to this are happening to us in our world today . Satan is being allowed to blind us to the truth of so many things that are going on all around us. And once we awaken to the facts, we are already on the slippery slope sliding down to man's reasonings. I saw my first card and pictures Wed. on several packages of Bubble Gum which came through our Pantry. Thank you for taking the time to prayerfully consider the following story.

Striving to Please Him

, MLH Forwarded by Janice Pelton <[email protected]>

Hi friends; I wanted to forward this out to you in case you have been wondering about the pokemon phenomenon going on throughout the country. I was kind of in the dark about what they even were (as I think a great majority of parents are)! I knew in my spirit that they were NOT something I wanted my children to "get into" but didn't know exactly why . This helped me to line up my inner feeling with some evidence. Maybe it will help you make sure your children's minds aren't overcome with the newest craze. THE PROBLEM WITH POKEMON by David L. Brown, Th. M. INTRODUCTION My son called me on the phone recently and asked, "Dad, do you know anything about the kids' collector card game Pokemon?" The reason he asked was because my oldest grandson, who is 7 years old, came home with several of the cards he got from a friend at church. He showed them to his dad and said his friends thought "they were really cool." After looking at the few cards, his dad had a different opinion. Though he could not put his finger on exactly what the problem was by looking at those few cards, he definitely had an uneasy feeling about them. While he neither saw nor read anything overtly evil on the cards, there were a couple of hints on determine if it is acceptable. Let's do that. WHAT VALUES, BELIEFS, AND PHILOSOPHIES DO THE GAME PROMOTE? One of the first things I did was to find out who produced the trading card game. Here is an exact quote right from the Web page of the producer - "The Pokemon Trading Card Game is a new collectable Card Game that is made and distributed by Wizards of the Coast. The same company that made the best selling game ... Magic: The Gathering." Magic: The Gathering is a heavily occult laced trading card game very popular in the 1990's. I have a research report titled "Beware of Magic: The Gathering" that can be viewed on the Logos Web page at . . . http://www.execpc.com/logos/magic-g.html Oh yes, I should mention that Wizards of the Coast also owns TSR, the producers of all the Dungeons & Dragons materials. When I discovered who owned the American Pokemon Trading Card Game rights, I knew the game was not just an innocent card game for elementary school children. Next, I looked into the characters in the Pokemon video games, comics, cartoons, movies, etc. What kind of values do they have? Ash Ketchum (a boy) is one of the main characters. He is described as "an energetic and determined 10-year-old . . . a little too competitive." He is obsessed with catching all Pokemon and driven "to become the world's foremost Pokemon Master." Oh yes, you can be sure that the Pokemon Rap song and mantra will be included in the materials -- "I will travel across the land Searching far and wide Each Pokemon to understand The power that's inside. Gotta catch them all!" The last line of the Pokemon mantra, "Gotta catch them all!" is used over and over again in Pokemon paraphernalia because it fuels the craving for more cards, games, toys, gadgets, and comic books. Let's look at another character, Ash's companion Misty. She is described as "headstrong and stubborn . . . constantly quibbling with Ash . . . and seems to harbor deeper feelings for Ash." Then there is the third member of the trio, Brock who is "by far the most hormonal. Brock's fascination with the opposite sex many times gets him or the group into trouble, although he's yet to have anything resembling a score." Let's take a look at Pokemon trainer Gary. He is "a real jerk . . . self-centered, vindictive and obnoxious. Then there are Jessie & James. Here is how they are described -- "Prepare for trouble, make it double.... Jessie, James . . . are a mysterious and evil gang looking to steal rare Pokemon. Jessie and James are stuck up, fashion conscious, and prone to cross-dressing." Headstrong, stubborn, quibbling, self-centered, vindictive, obnoxious, hormonal, sexually preoccupied, evil, thieving, cross-dressing jerks are most definitely NOT biblical role models! These characters do NOT portray biblical values. Pokemon does NOT measure up! Are supernatural powers portrayed, and if so, what is the source or origin of those powers? (Cont Page 4) Are occult, (Continued from Page 4) New Age characteristics or symbols included? Pokemon has supernatural powers. "Some Pokemon grow, or evolve." This is facilitated by the "Energy cards" that "make your Pokemon bigger and more powerful." And what is the source of this power? It is the pantheistic power of the occult, not the supernatural power of God. I have found two cards that make this very clear (there are likely more). They are Abra and Kadabra. Yes, these are their actual names. "Abra kadabra" (or abracadabra) has been a word long associated with occult magic. Webster's dictionary defines it this way - 1) a word supposed to have magic powers and hence used in incantations, on amulets, etc. 2) a magic spell or formula. It is no accident that the two Pokemon called Abra and Kadabra are psychic cards with magical powers. On the Abra card we read "Using its ability to read minds, it will identify impending danger and teleport to safety." Then there are the occult symbols on Kadabra. He has a pentagram on his forehead, SSS on his chest and he is giving the Satanic salute with his left hand. All of the above have strong occult significance. It is clear from the Bible (Deuteronomy 18:10-12) that we are neither to participate in nor associate with activities related to the occult. Some of the readers will no doubt protest, "it's only a game!" To be sure it is a game, but a game that does not glorify God! When God says something is wrong, it is wrong regardless of what form it is in. Not only that, but many of the kids who play this game are seduced into believing the principles that the game subtly teaches. Here is but one example. In the booklet that comes with Pokemon, note what is stated -- "Welcome to the world of Pokemon, a special place where people just like you train to become the number-one Pokemon Master in the World! But what is a Pokemon, you ask. ' Pokemon are incredible creatures that share the world with humans,' says Professor Oak, the leading authority on these monsters. There are currently 150 documented species of Pokemon. . . . Each Pokemon has its own special fighting abilities. . . . Some grow, or evolve, into even more powerful creatures.. . . Carry your Pokemon with you, and you're ready for anything! You've got the power in your hands, so use it!" Listen, kids are carrying around their Pokemon like a magic talisman. Author and researcher Berit Kjos tells of a mom who overheard two boys discussing their little pocket monsters. As the conversation developed one boy said, "I'll just use my psychic powers." It was clear that the so called fantasy world of Pokemon had already conditioned this boys thinking to be receptive to a key occult doctrine - psychic powers! Pokemon promotes occult values, not biblical values and therefore should be rejected! WHERE ARE THE PLAYER'S THOUGHTS AND IMAGINATION BEING DIRECTED? I pointed out earlier that Pokemon originated in Japan. What I did not draw to your attention was that a Pokemon Master is a spin off of a martial arts master in Japan. Pokemon Masters are the leaders of fighting schools or battling gangs that solve their problems by beating their opponents. And how do they do this? Their little booklet says, "Some attacks cause the Defending Pokemon to be Asleep, Confused, Paralyzed, or Poisoned." The Bible warns us to be cautious about what we occupy our minds with (Proverbs 4:23). The games a child plays, the television programs he watches, and the things that he listens to have a powerful mind shaping influence over that child. Mental health professionals are finally coming to understand what the Bible has said all along -- the things you let into you mind shape your thinking and your thinking directs your actions. This truth was acted out at the Columbine High school slaughter. The shooters had saturated their minds with violent video games, Gothic death music, and violent reading material. The result was on April 20, 1999, twelve students and one teacher were murdered. Could Pokemon influence the children who play it? I pray that it does not happen, but I wonder how long it will be before a grade school child, tries to do what is written on the Weepingbell - Razor Leaf Pokemon card. It says, "It spits out poison powder to immobilize the enemy, and then finishes the enemy with a spray of acid." Does this line up with what the Bible has to say about how to handle our enemies in Romans 12:14-22? I Think not! It is clear that Pokemon leads the player's imagination down the wrong path. The Bible says that we are to abhor that which is evil, and cleave to that which is good (Romans 12:9). Poisoning, paralyzing, etc. your enemies is clearly evil and no one should occupy their minds with such thoughts, game or no game. Our every thought is to be screened to be sure Christ approves of it (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). If it does not line up, it is to be rejected. So, what's the problem with Pokemon? Its subtle suggestions, images and values are manipulating the minds and feelings of the children who are into it. Pokemon conditions them to accept humanistic wisdom and occult spirituality. Heavy involvement in Pokemon blurs the player's ability to distinguish between fantasy and reality and sears the conscience of the player as well. Pokemon is designed to be a stepping stone to harder occult oriented games like Magic: "The Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons." God wants his children to have a completely different focus. We are even told where our thoughts should be directed in Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Pokemon does not measure up! I suggest the best place for Pokemon paraphernalia is in the trash can!

Printed Pamphlet Available From . . . Logos Communication P.O. BOX 173 Oak Creek, WI 53154 Ph. (414) 768-9754 E-mail - [email protected] ********************************************************

One thing not mentioned is that when people take part in Satan's world he can make them pay the price (in the mind). For more on this read "Between Christ and Satan." You will never want to have any part of Satan's world after you read this book. Dave Bender Bay City Baptist Church

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