Satanist musician kills himself

From Chartattack, this link to a story about a Swedish musician who also worshipped Satan.

Swedish police who found the singer/guitarist's body have confirmed that he shot and killed himself on August 16 — which is the same day that Elvis Presley died 29 years ago, if that means anything.

Dissection formed in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1989 and released two albums, 1993's The Somberlain and 1995's Storm Of The Light's Bane, before Nodtveidt was convicted of brutally murdering an Algerian homosexual in July 1997. He was released from prison in 2004 and reformed Dissection with a new lineup to record the group's third studio album, Reinkaos, which was released by The End Records in May.

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A more disturbing tribute to the man can be found in the "official statement" on the Dissection website. Here's what it said:

"As a true Satanist he led his life in the way he wanted and ended it when he felt that he had fulfilled his self-created destiny. Not everyone will have understanding or acceptance for his personal path in this life and beyond, but all must respect his choice.

"Those of us who have met him in his last days can assure that he was more focussed, happier and stronger than ever. It is our full conviction that he left this world of lies with a scornful laughter, knowing that he had fulfilled everything that he had set up for himself to accomplish. The empty space that he leaves behind will be filled with the dark essence that he manifested through his life and black-magical work. His legacy and Luciferian Fire will live on through those few who truly knew him and appreciated his work for what it really was and still is. As our brother's goal in life and death never was to 'Rest in Peace,' we will instead wish him victories in all battles to come, until the Acosmic Destiny has been fulfilled.

Kathy Shaidle on The Exorcist

Kathy Shaidle of Relapsed Catholic posted a link to a column she wrote several years ago about the movie The Exorcist. She is an amazing writer.

Enjoy:

When the movie first came out, the Vatican II reforms were almost ten years old. The Catholic Church had thrown out the Infant Jesus of Prague with the holy water, trashing centuries of "superstitious" bells & smells overnight. "Hey kids, eat burgers on Fridays! Let's split this medieval pop stand and blast into the twenty-first century!"

All too much, too soon (and way too "Protestant") for millions of Catholics who declined to board Spaceship Folk Mass. So Hollywood stepped in and did what it does best: giving the people what they want.

The Exorcist provides all the crucifixes, dog collars and cassocks you can stand. THRILL to the powerful poetry of an ancient religious rite (that Vatican II tried to get rid of)! SEE a grown man praying the rosary!

And the goosebumps don't stop there. One critic called The Exorcist, not so much a horror film as a Western. Sure enough: when those two priests gravely mount the stairs to Regan's haunted bedroom, I can almost hear a banjo plucking "Do not forsake me, O my darlin' ..." Puts a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye.

Hitler and Stalin possessed says Vatican exorcist

Thanks to Kathy Shaidle at Relapsed Catholic for the link.

Adolf Hitler and Russian leader Stalin were possessed by the Devil, the Vatican's chief exorcist has claimed.

Father Gabriele Amorth who is Pope Benedict XVI's 'caster out of demons' made his comments during an interview with Vatican Radio.

Father Amorth said: "Of course the Devil exists and he can not only possess a single person but also groups and entire populations.

"I am convinced that the Nazis were all possessed. All you have to do is think about what Hitler - and Stalin did. Almost certainly they were possessed by the Devil.

From drugs and despair to deliverance

Here's a good story about deliverance from drugs and despair.
Read about it here:

“The primary emphasis of the Gospel is not to get you out of hell and into heaven to get near Jesus, but to get Jesus out of heaven and into your life -– all aspects of it,” Cobb said. He has a burden for those who “make a childhood deal with God” but forget all about it until the near-end of their lives. “Unless Christ touches the totality of our lives, we have no message,” he said.

Those who claim to know Jesus Christ must realize that earthly things will pass away, and only what is done for the Kingdom of God will last, Cobb said.

Regarding postmodern relativism, the pastor lamented that while the world may not always denigrate God’s Word, it doesn’t believe the Bible is worthy of serious consideration for its truth claims and substantive meaning.

The Defilers News

Just got back from Nova Scotia. The picture shows my friend Actor, Writer and Comedian Judy Savoy and myself at Blessings Christian Marketplace in Halifax August 19 for a book signing.

My fellow Master's Artist Donna Shepherd has reviewed The Defilers here. I respond to her review here.

I'll be going to Dallas, Texas Sept. 21-24 for the American Christian Fiction Writers' Conference. Most of the Masters Artists will be attending, so I'll get a chance to meet my online friends.

The Defilers is now on the shelves in Chapters stores in the Ottawa area. It's also available at Salem Storehouse and Prime Crime Books in the Glebe.

If you'd like to hear my testimony, listen to the Michael Harris Live interview on CFRA 580 AM, click here.

Pictures of the June 1 Ottawa launch of The Defilers here, a news release on the event here, and Pastor Doug Ward's remarks at the launch here. Doug, who pastors Kanata Baptist Church, was my M.C.

If you'd like to buy a copy, you can go here or find it on Amazon here. Canadians can find it at Amazon.ca here.

The Defilers News

Michele Oaks bought a copy of The Defilers at the Chapters bookstore in downtown Ottawa recently. That's her in the top photo. That's me below her, examining the shelves where The Defilers is located. The novelty of actually seeing my book in a big box store has not worn off yet.

Looking ahead:
On August 9, I spoke at a devotional breakfast Wednesday a.m. August 9 at the Christian Booksellers of Canada trade show in Ancaster, Ontario.

From August 14-21 I'll be in Nova Scotia, covering the Catholic Women's League national convention in Halifax some of the time and visiting with my friend Judy Savoy, who is a gifted actor, writer and comedian.

Saturday August 19 I will have two book events in Nova Scotia. From 10:30 a.m. to noon I'll be at Blessings Christian Marketplace in Halifax. From 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. I'll be at the Blessings store in Dartmouth.


The Defilers is now on the shelves in Chapters stores in the Ottawa area. It's also available at Salem Storehouse and Prime Crime Books in the Glebe.

If you'd like to hear my testimony, listen to the Michael Harris Live interview on CFRA 580 AM, click here.

Pictures of the June 1 Ottawa launch of The Defilers here, a news release on the event here, and Pastor Doug Ward's remarks at the launch here. Doug, who pastors Kanata Baptist Church, was my M.C.

Mike Duran on the character of the artist

Mike Duran responds to my Masters Artist post on the character of the artist.

Separating character from craft, the artist from her art, is a necessary, but often difficult act to perform. Chesterton said, “Art is the signature of man.” As such, the line between the art and the man is indeed fine.

And it's this notion of "lines" that blurs the issue.

Some would suggest there are none. For the most part, art criticism is a subjective affair, an inexact science. Even more murky, however, is the definition and critique of character. While postmodernism broadens the pallete of art appreciation, it also erodes traditional standards to which artists (and people in general) were once held. As a result, we develop tolerance for -- even acceptance of -- the quirks and indiscretions of the creative community. Nowadays, good work eclipses good behavior. So what if the glitterati can't pass a piss test or keep their pants on. As long as they write good songs and make decent movies, we'll continue to wink at their misconduct.

Read the whole post. He makes some great points.

Priest pleads guilty to abusing 47 girls

From the Windsor Star Aug. 3

A retired Roman Catholic priest, who lives in Belle River, Ontario, has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing 47 girls over a span of 34 years during his service in parishes from Windsor to London.

Many of the victims, now all women, were in a packed Chatham courtroom Thursday morning when Charles Henry Sylvestre, 83, entered his guilty pleas to 47 charges of indecent assault.

Several observers in the courtroom, including family members of the victims, wept as the court clerk read out the charges and Sylvestre responded in a calm, quiet voice.

The women ranged in age from nine to 14 years old at the time the assaults took place in parishes in Windsor, Chatham, Pain Court, Sarnia and London between 1952 and 1986.