Apostolic Information Service

By Charlotte L. Pound

“Innovative, creatively ingenious, anointed, effective, ordained of God!” Those are just a few words from pastors describing the children’s ministry of Tim and Yvonne Rimmer of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Tim Rimmer is a licensed minister with the UPCI and a trained, award-winning clown. Sis. Rimmer is an accredited author and licensed counselor. Together, they have developed a children’s ministry called “God’s Handywork” (GHW) and have been ministering to groups of all ages for over 20 years.

God’s Handywork was birthed through a yearning to see lost children saved from a dying world. In this day and age of drugs, peer pressure, violence and child abuse, the Rimmers have accepted the call of God to minister to what they call our church’s leaders of tomorrow.Using a variety of puppets, object lessons, action songs, Gospel illusions, scientific experiments, clowning, stories and drama, they offer power-packed evangelistic services that minister to the young and the young at heart. “We don’t ever want to miss an opportunity to instill a bit of truth into all we do,” Bro. Rimmer said.

The Rimmers feel that their emphasis on the altar call is what sets GHW apart. “We believe that the altar call is the most vital part of the service and should never be omitted,” he said. “We use a child’s favorite food item, peanut butter and jelly, to explain Acts 2:38. We use a dynamic blend of illusions, puppets and drama to keep the service exciting and to keep their attention. Our reward is watching God pour out His Spirit in the altar.” Bro. Rimmer feels that all our churches should put a greater emphasis on children’s ministry and children’s crusades. “Where else, but in Apostolic churches, are kids going to hear truth? Where are they going to find real love? Certainly not in a public school where God has been banned, and sin is running rampant. And for some, home is no better with filth being piped in through television, movies and the lifestyles of their non-Christian parents. If we don’t have a dynamic children’s ministry in our churches, then the denominational church down the road will, or worse yet, Hollywood will continue to pervade their minds with ungodliness, sex and violence. The children must learn about the wages of sin and that there is a true ‘alternative lifestyle’ through Jesus Christ,” he stated.

The children’s ministry, God’s Handywork, has enjoyed real success in recent years. “We saw an amazing harvest of souls in the year of 2012,” explained Bro. Rimmer. “In 2013, while traveling to 11 different states and ministering at various camps, vacation Bible schools, rallies and crusades, we witnessed 335 individuals filled with the Holy Ghost. Through our ministry God has allowed us to see kids with special needs receive the Holy Ghost. In Pennsylvania, one boy with autism spoke in tongues for the very first time. This was not an isolated incident. Over the years we have seen several kids with autism or Asperger’s receive the Holy Ghost.”

GHW also accept pledges and donations through a plan called “Partners in Kids Ministry.” For more information and to see a host of pastoral testimonials, visit their website www.godshandywork.org. You may also contact Bro. and Sis. Rimmer by email: imaclown@godshandywork.orgor www.twitter.com/ghwministries. Cell#:  615.972.7193

BY REV. WES WASMUNDT

There are a lot of ideas for “I love you!” gifts. They include chocolates, roses, and little items of clothing, etc.

Rather than reiterate the usual gifts and Valentines card sayings, I thought I’d share some “ways to say ‘I love you!'” Some may reflect your ideas and practices. But others may provide pause for thought.

For Our Parents.

The most important people in our lives during our early years deserve more than a “once a year” appreciation such as Father’s Day or Mother’s Day. There are special ways to say “I love you!” to parents: 1) Write a letter of appreciation–stating and restating your love; 2) Do something unexpected–a special project, a special gift, a special visit; 3) Make a certificate of your 10 favorite childhood memories and
give it to them.

For Our Kids.

Love isn’t a one-way street. Love for our kids is important for the child as well as the parent. Daily contact can take the form of conflict, causing a gulf to be fixed within the family unit.

Perhaps a few simple “I love you!” exercises would go a long ways toward getting our message across:

1) Do the unthinkable–admit you were grouchy; 2) Compliment them and say, “I’m proud of you!”; 3) Invite their friends over; 4) Talk before bedtime; 5) Listen; 6) Be consistent; 7) Laugh a lot together; 8)
Accept imperfections; 9) Make photo scrapbook of joyful memories to share with them; 10) Say it often!

For Our Spouse.

Try something thoughtful and different this ye

Our church has sold roses at Valentines and Mother’s Day in the past, so I know whereof I speak. Many are the occasion that the “impulse sale” of $15 per dozen roses causes a man to stop and say–“Yeah, give me a dozen of them for the old lady.” I’m sure the message comes in clearly as he drops them on the counter:

Perhaps a few ideas would be in order that we won’t limit to Valentines Day this year.

These are ways husbands and wives can say “I love you!”

1) Give gifts; 2) Give a card without special occasion; 3) Fix a special meal (“yes men, that goes for you too!”); 4) Admit when you’re wrong; 5) Don’t say, “You’re just like your mother or father!”; Say “Good job!” for a good job; 6) Don’t “bust the bank” to go to a nice restaurant–plan ahead and go to a restaurant you normally could not afford; 7) Go shopping without the kids; 8) Do a project you’ve not done yet that your spouse wants you to do-NOW!! 9) Say “I love you!” 10) Say it again…

For Our Savior. The lepers Jesus healed were unwilling–with the exception of one–to return and thank Jesus. We can become so busy with parents, kids, and spouses that we forget Him! Let’s tell Him we love
Him–1) Give a special offering that is “over and above” what you normally give; 2) Tell somebody how much you love Him; 3) Compliment your pastor–after all, he’s a gift to you from God!

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS GOOD OR BAD??

SEX, VIOLENCE AND OCCULTISM

Dungeons and Dragons is fantasy game which evolved from some of the war games popular in the late 1950’s. Instead of a historical background and battle, D&D games are fought in the minds of the players as the dungeon master (god) sets the stage in a fantasy world.

New games are being created, more sophisticated and cruel than the original D&D. These are called Fantasy Role Playing games (FRPG) and among the most well known are Rune Quest, Chivalry & Sorcery, Arduin Grimoire, Tunnels and Trolls, etc.

The dungeon master plays the role of the “supreme god” in the world he creates for the players. His tools are maps, dice, miniature figures and his rule books, from which he rules the game. A game can last for several years, and usually the players will play for hours at a time.

When a game starts, each player is give a created personality, by which he enters the game. He can stay in the game as long as his character is not killed. If the game continues for a long time most players identify themselves with the character they are playing with, and the game has now become a real event in which the player begins to have a hard time separating reality from fantasy.

When the characters are created, the dice will govern what they will be. In the D&D manuals each character will have six basic abilities: strength, intelligence, wisdom, constitution, dexterity, and charisma. The manual guide lines will determine if the characters will be “good” or “evil.”

In order to survive the events in the game, each character is also equipped with special weapons, such as magical weapons, potions, spells, and magical trinkets (holy water, garlic, wolvesbane, etc.)

The object of the game is to maneuver these characters through an ongoing maze of dungeons (tunnels) filled with monsters, magic, ambushes, and adventures in search of treasures. Daggers, hand axes, mace, swords and battle axes are some of the conventional weapons given to the characters.

In the rule book to the Arduin Grimoire game, Vol. I, Pg. 60, is listed the “critical hit table.” Options listed are: “Dice roll: 37-38; hit location: crotch/chest; results: genitals/breast torn off, shock..Dice roll: 95; hit location: guts ripped out; results 20% chance of tangling feet, die in 1-10 minutes..Dice roll: 100; hit location head; results: head pulped and splattered over a wide area.” On page 10 we read “The ‘dread vampusa’ a macho beast/man with writhing snakes for hair and a skull face, bristles with Neanderthal sexual imagery, his left hand holding a long, sharp lance sticking straight out from his genitals, dripping blood, his penis hanging limp just above it.”

Arduin’s creator, Dave Hargrave, defends the grisly specificity. He states: “It’s deliberately gruesome. You have to blow a hole through the video hell the kids are encased in. They are little zombies. They don’t know what pain is. They have never seen a friend taken out in a body bag. They’ve got to understand that what they do has consequences. The world is sex. It is violence. It’s going to destroy most of these kids when they leave TV-land.”

According to the D&D instruction manual. “Wisdom is the prime requisite for clerics. Clerics can perform miraculous spells even though they do not have special intelligence, and second level (experienced) clerics can heal wounds.”

It should be noted that “Clerics are humans who have dedicated themselves to one or more gods. Depending on the god the cleric may be good or evil, lawful or chaotic. Clerics have their own special spells..spells for evil clerics differ slightly from those of good clerics.”

In addition to the above occultic roles available are those of “Fighting Men” including “elves, dwarfs, and halflings” (half-human and half-something else). There are also “thieves” described as “humans with special abilities to strike a deadly blow from behind, climb sheer surfaces, hide in shadows, filch items and pick pockets, move with stealth, listen to noises behind doors, pick lock, and remove small traps such as poisoned needles. Thieves are not truly good and are usually referred to as evil or neutral, so other members of an expedition should never completely trust them.

Homosexuality, sodomy, rape and other perverse acts of sexuality are played out by the people participating in the games. In D&D a player will put himself into the character he has been given. by becoming identified with his make-believe character he can act out his own emotions and fears without risking being punished.

Power is probably the game’s most potent appeal, its area of greatest controversy. A dungeon master has powers never attainable on earth, and he has become a god in his own fiction world. He has the power to let a character die of his wounds or to be resurrected by clerics.

D&D games had a gross sale of more than 20 million dollars in 1980 and are predicted to triple in 1981.

PLAYERS WILL BE ADDICTED

When a player’s character is killed, the emotional strain is so great that the player goes into a rage of uncontrolled anger. He is in reality experiencing a art of himself dying.

When a person gets addicted to the game lethargy occurs in real life. Reality is sacrificed for imagination. Personal hygiene suffers, and people don’t care.

In a family where they were heavily into playing D&D, the house smelled of cat urine, it was a chaos of cardboard boxes, strewn clothes and unmade beds. A small child slept, clothed, on the bare carpet, while several D&D fans with their now-familiar slumped posture and soft pear shape of the physically unfit worked on plans from their fat briefcases.

John, a 16 year old student at a private school in Southern California has become obsessed with D&D. In an interview he stated: “I am dungeon master 98% of the time. I am the god of my world, the creator who manipulates the gods and humans. But my bossiness has extended itself into real life. I’ve exploited and abused people. People have hated me for it.”

He continues: “It’s hazardous, your vocabulary and mental quickness increases, but school seems increasingly boring and droll. Your grades drop. The more time you spend in your fantasy world, the more you want to walk from the burdensome decisions in life.”

In the greater Sacramento area D&D games have infested the area. On High school campuses in Folsom, Rancho Cordova and El Camino high school teacher are training students in the games by staying after school and being dungeon masters for the games. And it is not a fad. The games are now 15 years old and are getting more and more popular each year.

DEMON POSSESSION

Do not be fooled by what the promoters tell you. Out of D&D games comes suicide, drug addiction, mental sickness and a general deteriation of the people involved in these games. It is a breeding ground for a future generation of people with sick minds. God states clearly in the Bible that we are not to even touch these evil things. God says: “When you come into the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of these nations. There shall not be found among you anyone how burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination, and soothsayer, or an augure, or a medium, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For whoever does these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord your God does drive them out from before you.” (Deut. 18:9-12)

“They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger. They sacrificed unto demons, not to God; to gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.” (Deut. 32:16-17)

“And a curse, if you will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which you have not known.” (Deut. 11:28)

“Eat you not the bread of him that has an evil eye, neither desire you his dainty meats: For as he thinks in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, says he to you; but his heart is not with you.” (Prov. 23:6,7)

(The above material was prepared and published by Christian Life Ministries in Sacramento, CA.)

Christian Information Network

PRESS RELEASE FROM WASHINGTON
by Tim Scheele

A four-page press release was issued recently, including the following:

The role-playing game, Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), has been a major factor in casing at least 9 suicides and murders, according to two public citizen groups. Bothered about D&D (BADD) founded by Pat Pulling, the mother of one of the victims, and the National Coalition on Television Violence have called for required warning on all D&D game books and for counter-advertising to inform the public about the deadly effects.

The evidence presented by the citizen groups is based on police and newspaper reports as well as interviews with family members. These document a pattern of youths becoming deeply involved in D&D. Suicide notes and numerous details connecting the deaths with the game have been found with the bodies.

Dr. Thomas Radedki, M.D., psychiatrist at the University of Illinois School of Medicine, and chairman of the National Coalition on Television Violence said:

“The evidence in these cases is really quite impressive. There is no doubt in my mind that the game Dungeons and Dragons is causing young men to kill themselves and others. The game is one of non-stop combat and violence. Although I am sure that the people at TSR mean no harm, that is exactly what their games are causing. Based on player interviews and game materials, it is clear to me that this game is desensitizing players to violence, and, causing an increased tendency to violent behavior.”

Dr. Radecki expressed concern that NBC psychologist, Dr. Joyce Brothers, continues to be the paid spokesperson for Dungeons and Dragons, promoting it as healthy play. Dr. Brothers has stated, “I reflect for the company what’s going on in people’s lives. The game is very interesting to me because it is a cooperative game.”

Dr. Radecki responded, “While Dungeons and Dragons is a game of cooperation and working together, that cooperation involves cooperating in violence, premeditated murder, and war. While it does stimulate creative fantasies, these fantasies are of killing and horror. There is a need to get the honest information out to the American people. The research is overwhelming that violent
entertainment is having a harmful effect on its participants. The changes are most often gradual and subtle. When a children’s game is documented to cause many death, it should not be promoted through advertising and cartoon programming. Every Saturday morning millions of children see the half-hour CBS Dungeons and Dragons cartoon, introducing them to this violent game.”

The two organizations cited above have asked the U. S. Trade Commission to require that warnings be placed on the covers of all D&D books, stating that the game has caused a number of suicides and murders; and to require that CBS, or others, warn viewers and request them to get the message of the Surgeon General on entertainment violence.

Posted by Tim Scheele on Computer Direct BBS

Computers for Christ – Chicago

Testimony of a Dungeons and Dragons Player

The following is an essay written by Darren Molitor, a former D&D player. Darren was a very devout D&D player who sometimes played marathon games that lasted for days.

The friends with whom this young man often played D&D, began “horsing around” in a game of their own while preparing for a “Friday the 13th party” on March 13, 1984. The “horsing around” went too far, and a young girl named Mary Towey (18 yrs old) became the victim of a “mind game.” She was strangled to death by Darren Molitor.

Darren stated repeatedly in his trial that when he and another boy tied Mary up, they were just “messing with her mind.” By the physical evidence in the case, a coroner testified that the death did
appear accidental; however, a jury found Darren guilty of murder in the first degree.

The prosecution sought the death penalty, but Darren received a life sentence instead. D&D was a major influence in Darren’s behavior at the time of the incident, but because of a lack of knowledge on the part of the police regarding D&D, this area of influence was not explored until it was too late to be considered “relevant.”

Darren, in his own defense, never tried to excuse his actions. The essay that he has written on D&D was done after his trial, and he initially sent this essay to an elementary school in the hopes of
helping young children.

Prior to his involvement with D&D, this young man had never been in any trouble.

——————–

Dungeons and Dragons
March 22, 1985 by Darren Molitor

I’m sure many, if not all, of you have heard about or played the very popular game of “Dungeons and Dragons”. Now I’m not speaking of the board game of which there is one, I’m speaking of the game that is played in your minds.

To give some background of the game for those of you that haven’t had the so-called privilege of experiencing the game let me tell you about it.

The game is called “Dungeons and Dragons” and it is a fantasy role-playing game. As you can probably assume from the title it is set in the medieval era of our time of history. Because it is a game
of “fantasy” anything is possible and being a “role-playing” game means you act as a character of that time as if you were on stage.

But there is no physical action on the players part. Everything is played or imagined in the mind. And you as a player, are the sole person responsible for the actions of your character or characters.

You control them totally. His/her actions, words, feelings, thoughts. Everything about this character you control.

To obtain a “character”, a player must first roll three six-sided dice. Add up the numbers rolled and write it down. A player does this six times and then he must organize the numbers he has rolled to the six characteristics of his character. The six characteristics are strength, intelligence, wisdom, constitution, dexterity and charisma.

These six characteristics are the “heart” of your character. After this, the player may roll to obtain the height and weight or he/she may choose it. The player assigns a race to the character, a class,
which is his/her occupation and the alignment. An alignment is the character’s attitude or outlook on life. The different classes are many and each class has a sub-class. They are the following: cleric, (druid); fighter, (paladin, ranger); magic-user, (illusionist); thief, (assassin); monk and bard. The different alignments are: lawful good, lawful neutral, lawful evil, neutral, chaotic good, chaotic neutral and chaotic evil. Now the player rolls a particular die or dice, of which are many to obtain a character’s hit points. The “hit points” are the amount of stamina or damage the character can sustain before going into a coma or even dying. You then give him/her some money, by rolling the dice, and equipping him with supplies, weapons and armor.

From here there is only two more steps. The first is to roll and obtain the spells a character has if he/she is able to use them. Some classes use spells and others don’t. The final stage is picking a
name for your newborn character. He/she is now a true and real person in the player’s mind.

There is also a player called the dungeon master or DM, for short. This player is usually more familiar and experienced in the game. The DM is a VERY important part of the game. Also a very
powerful part. He/she plays the sole role of being “god” of the game.  The DM controls everything that happens within the game. The only part of the game he does not control entirely is the actions of your character. But he/she may constrict them if he/she chooses. He/she is also in control of that player’s character’s life. The DM may decide to destroy the character for some reason, but it should not be for any personal reason and the DM should refrain from doing such actions unless the player of that character has become uncontrollable and has changed the fun of the game.

The DM has a lot of responsibility, as you can imagine. For example, the DM must create an adventure or dungeon. There are many books called modules with “dungeons” already prepared, but for the most part the DM creates them himself/herself. He/she must create the scenery (indoor, outdoor, underground), the various and numerable characters a player may encounter, the temperature, the smell, the monsters and the treasure. It is a very long and tedious process and the average dungeon takes anywhere from 36-48 hours of work. There is one case of the game being followed, that the DM, a lady, has quit her job and does nothing except create and prepare a dungeon for her players. She has created an entire country. The players of the group support her living necessities. They pay for her home, her groceries, her bills, etc.

The game is played with two or more people with the average group consisting of 5, including the DM. The DM, as I have explained, runs the show. He/she will describe, in detail, what is around you. What action is taking place, what sounds you may hear, what smells you may notice, etc., etc. From here it is the player’s option of what to do. The player must decide what his/her character is going to do. In response the DM tells the players of the result of their actions. As I’ve said before, a character may do anything, I emphasize anything, that a player wants him/her to do. For example; the DM has just told you that you have come up a cave entrance. It is midday, warm, you hear what appears as water running from inside, but you can’t see anything. The players now decide if they wish to enter the cave, throw a stone in to try and locate the water, yell something in to try and get a response or just ignore it completely.

Another example is; you are in a room or chamber underground that you have discovered. There is a table, some chairs, a desk with numerous jars on it. There is a lot of dust covering everything. And in the corner a chest sits. As a player your first instinct is to search the chest for some treasure. During the process of checking for any traps and trying to unlock it a few orcs (a type of human-like monster, resembling a pig) sneak up from behind. They are very angry and have their weapons drawn and are about to attack. What do you do now? If you are a spell user you attempt to cast a spell. You may try and bargain with them. Or, and most likely, you may fight them.  You draw your weapon and charge. Now the dice come in. The DM rolls a six-sided, eight-sided, ten-sided or twelve-sided, depending on the weapon and the result is the amount of damage to the orc. Now the orc or orcs swing. The same process is used. And this continues until you or they are dead.

Remember now, all of this is imagined in the mind. You can actually see this. What they look like, how you’re swinging, the damage given and obtained. It all appears in the mind.

The reason for explaining so much is so you may understand how the game is played. It may seem to be harmless and very entertaining and it is entertaining, but far from harmless. I have had the
experience of the game for more than 3 years now and I know the effects of the game. For the majority of those that play it becomes a way to escape reality. It is a way of letting tension and anxieties loose. And that is good. But subjecting the mind to the amounts of violence involved isn’t. It is far more bad than it is good.  Especially to a young mind. And an 18 or 20 year old still has a young mind. Its effects are both mental and physical. It is in comparison to drugs, alcohol or tobacco. It is very possessive, addictive and evil. Evil may sound wrong or peculiar to explain a
game, but there is no other way to describe it. It is a device of Satan to lure us away from God. It is an occult.

An occult you say? What is an occult? Defined in American Family and School Dictionary, a publication based on the American College Dictionary, prepared by Random House, Inc., it is: “beyond the bounds of ordinary knowledge; magical; supernatural; mystical.” Staying on the same subject let’s define occultism: the doctrine or study of the supernatural, magical, imaginary, etc. Stated concisely it is the participation or involvement in ANYWAY with fortune telling, magic practices, spiritism, or false religions cults and teachings. Within that category is using a ouija board, ESP, telepathy, horoscope, a seance, yoga, remote influence of the subconscious mind of others, self-hypnosis, following astrology and Dungeons and Dragons(R). They are all connected with an occult or are considered occultism practice. All such occults are condemned by God in the Scriptures, being an abomination unto Him and are under His curse. To quote a passage from an article written by Dr. Hobart E. Freeman, I write the following: “The Scriptures condemn all forms of occultism as sorcery and warn that…. they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21), but “…..are an abomination unto the Lord” (Deut. 18:12), and “…. shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone” (Rev. 21:8).

From earliest times God forbade occultism as spiritually defiling (Lev. 19:31), and made participation in it punishable by death (Ex. 22:18; Lev. 20:27), and cause for rejection of that soul by God (Lev. 20:6).

Dungeons and Dragons(R) is based on magic and the supernatural. There is, in fact, a hard bound book entitled “Deities and DemiGods” for the sole purpose of informing you of the “gods” that are involved in the game. It gives complete details of the “gods” and it expects you as a player character to pick a “god” to worship him/her. To pray to, to sacrifice to, to obey. And to die for if necessary.

Not only is the game based on the supernatural and magic it involves violence. Serious violence! The type of violence not allowed on TV. There is hack and slash murder, rape, thievery, pillaging and terrorism. And in the game it is natural and expected for a character to do those things. A character must, at least, murder and rob in order to survive. And it is the object of the game to survive. To do whatever you must, to anybody or anything, in order to survive and become more powerful and wealthy. The more you do those things the longer you live. The longer you live the more powerful you become and usually with power comes wealth.

You may be saying, “All of that may be true, but what does that have to do with me (or my children)? It has everything to do with you (or your children) if you (or they) are involved in the game. As I have repeated several times the game is played or imagined entirely in the mind. Totally and only in the mind. The conscious mind experiences these visions as reality while playing. And if it is
played, let’s say, 3-5 times a week, 4-8 hours each time, the conscious mind becomes accustomed to such acts of violence. Then when the person is finished playing for that day, it is all pushed back to the subconscious supposedly. But it is known that the mind is very powerful and unexplainable. It is very possible for the sub-conscious mind to “overpower” the conscious mind. Suddenly you are no longer in total control of your mind. The “fantasy game” becomes a “reality game”. You begin to live it for real. Everything you do, or say, involves or associates to the game itself. You no longer play the game for enjoyment, you play it because you feel you have to. You must have it (play it) just like a person on drugs, alcohol or tobacco must have them. It is an addiction. And your mind is under the control of the game. It is possessed by the game.

Now, you’re probably saying that won’t happen to me (or my children) because I won’t let it happen or I’m too smart for that to happen. Believe me, it happens! And it happens to anyone. It has happened to me. It has happened to many college students that have committed suicide or have done some serious bodily harm to themselves and or others. It has happened to many younger teenagers, 13 and 14.

The destruction it can cause to the mind and soul is incredible. It’s rather unexplainable. I and many others have had some very bad experiences because of the game and I am writing too, on their behalf to warn or make you aware of the game. It is dangerous and against God’s command.

There are as I’ve said numerous recorded accounts of teenagers 13 to 19 and some older persons that have had some troublesome experiences. Many have committed suicide due to the game. Another good many have either caused serious harm to themselves or other individuals. And some have caused the death of a friend or family member by accident, but because of the “game”, they took the “game” one step too far. “Playing” it for real one time too many. For some it was the last time they played it or any other game. Many were lucky, but you may not be.

And the fact is, that you don’t even have to be playing the game at the time. The mind is continuously “playing” the game. You could have played it 2 or 3 days prior, but your mind is still playing.

So, please for your own safety and salvation and the safety of others don’t play the game anymore. If you don’t play it now, don’t even start. It is more dangerous than I can fully explain. Don’t
play with your physical life that way and don’t condemn your soul to hell by participating in the game.

A very concerned ex-player, Darren Molitor

————-

If you would like to write to Darren Molitor or his parents the mailing address is:

Darren Molitor
C/O Mr. & Mrs. Louis Molitor
2303 Sublette
St. Louis, MO 63110

Or you may decide to send a word of encouragement to Darren’s parents.

There is another young man who is in a similar situation and he is 16 years old. He is guilty of murder in the first degree. He never had a trial (plea bargaining was involved). His parents feel
that D & D was responsible for his bizarre behavior in the murder of a next door neighbor. His address is:

Paul Sargent
C/O Mr. & Mrs. Robert Sargent
6545 Tauronee
Kansas City, Kansas 66102

His parents certainly need a word of encouragement.

Reprinted with permission from:

B.A.D.D. Inc.
P.O. Box 5513
Richmond, VA 23220

(B.A.D.D. stands for Bothered About Dungeons and Dragons – a national organization concerned about the widespread playing of D & D and its effects.)

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ….. THE GAME

Mind against mind, the battle rages on with only the sharpest and fastest thinkers going out ahead of the pack of hungry and fighting players as each scheme and plot against the other to survive.

The “War Room” is in the mind of each player as the make-believe battles and struggles pit player against player; against the elements; against the environment; against creatures from this world and from other worlds; against lords – gods – demons – devils – curses – witchcraft – every known power of warfare that the mind can conjure up.

“Only the strong survive” doesn’t apply here. The limitation of the mind determines the outcome. Rules and regulations, limits and players tools governing the “Game” are contained in the different manuals and volumes of books containing hundreds of pages. It isn’t easy reading much less an easy game.

It is a challenge not only to win, but to stay alive. The sharper the mind, the better the memory, the longer the player will stay alive in the game.

Dungeons and Dragons (commonly known as D & D) is an elaborate fantasy game which evolved from the war games popular in the late 1950’s. The DM (dungeon master, or god) sets the stage in the fantasy world. Each player assumes the identity of the character he creates. Their creatures are based on a chance roll of the dice. Each character will have six basic abilities: strength, intelligence, wisdom, constitution, dexterity, and charisma. The manual guidelines will determine whether the character will be “good” or “evil”.

The object of the game is to maneuver these characters through a maze of dungeons (tunnels) filled with monsters, magic, ambushes, and adventures in search of treasures. To survive, each character is equipped with special aids – such as magical weapons, potions, spells, and magical trinkets (holy water, garlic, wolves-bane, etc.) They are also given more conventional weapons: daggers, hand axes, swords and battle axes.

Each player can stay in the game as long as his character is not killed – from hours to years. If it continues long, most players identify themselves with their character, and the line between fantasy
and reality tends to grow fuzzy. One authority concerning this “game” said: “The stuff that makes me nervous is over-identification with characters. I’ve seen people have fits, yell for fifteen minutes, hurl dice at a grand piano when their character dies.”

Fantasy Role Playing (FRP) is promoted by many schools in “gifted and talented” programs as a means of challenging and developing the mind of a “bright” child.

The Fantasy Role Playing in D & D has come under fire by different individuals and groups claiming that the player may align himself to “God”; promoting violence, teaching religion, encouraging
sexual perversion, indoctrinating in witchcraft, and even leading to death.

Lets look at some facts.

CONCERNING VIOLENCE – The following occurred to D & D players as an apparent result of the game. In November a 12 year old boy shot his brother. In January a 14 year old boy walked into school and killed a teacher. Psychiatrist Laurence Johnson cautions, “If I had a child who tended toward schizophrenia, I’d never let him near D & D.

There’s a danger that it would reinforce feelings of grandiosity, of omnipotence. Reality and fantasy are hard enough for schizophrenics to differentiate.”

CONCERNING BECOMING GODLIKE – “This game lets all your fantasies come true. This is a world where monsters, dragons, good and evil; high priests, fierce demons; and even the gods themselves may enter your character’s life”. *

“Changing Alignment: Whether or not the character actively professes some deity, he or she will have an alignment and serve one or more deities of this general alignment indirectly or unbeknownst to the character” (Dungeons Masters Guide, p. 25). You serve a deity or deities whether you want to or not.

CONCERNING WITCHCRAFT / DEMONOLOGY – Swords and sorcery (witchcraft) best describes what this game is all about…. *

“Magic users draw upon arcane powers in order to exercise their profession… He or she must memorize and prepare for the use of each spell, and its casting makes it necessary to reabsorb the incantation by consulting the proper book of spells…” *

George Marsh, member of the Cardova Park School Board (California) stated in a letter, why he voted to remove D & D from the school district’s summer program: “The Supreme Court has already barred religious activity from public facilities. D & D is clearly religious in content.”

CONCERNING DEATH – “If the Assassination is being attempted by or in behalf of a player character, a complete plan of how the deed is to be done should be prepared by the player involved, and the precautions, if any, of the target character should be compared against the plan. Weapon damage always occurs and may kill the victim even though ‘assassination’ failed.” (Dungeon Masters Guide, p. 75).

CONCERNING SEXUAL PERVERSION – “… These evil creatures will certainly expect to loot, pillage, and rape freely at every chance, and kill (and probably eat) captives” (Players Handbook, p. 31). The game may be just a game. However, it has become much more to many people. – In Seattle a father is under treatment because his son used his service revolver to kill himself after being involved in D & D for only 2 years. – In January a 17 year old walked onto a school stage, pointed a sawed off shotgun to his head and fired. Many – many cases are on public record of involvement in D & D leading to violence – murder – suicide.

Yes, it’s only a game. But it contains the spiritual teachings of witchcraft. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” (Prov. 23:7). “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Prov. 4:23)

We become what we think. If we dwell on murder, rape, demonology, sadism, prostitution, witchcraft, etc. we absorb that knowledge and the thin line between fantasy and reality is removed and
may leave no way out but death.

If you are involved – even a little bit with any fantasy role playing, stop and ask yourself of its influence on your mind and life.

“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, if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Paul the Apostle wrote these words. You can read them for yourself in Philippians chapter 4 and verse 8.

* D & D Handbook

If you want or need further assistance please call or write to:

Gospel Tract Society, Inc.
P. O. Box 1118
Independence, MO 64051

Reprinted with permission – the Gospel Tract Society is maintained by the gifts of God’s people. Help them if you can…. Sysop

Computers for Christ – Chicago

DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS

Parents of a 16-year-old high school student who committed suicide say that a ‘curse’ from the Dungeons & Dragons game led to his death. A law suit filed by the parents has revived the controversy about the popular fantasy game which is available for home computers.

The parents of the boy who died June 9, 1982, are seeking $1 million plus legal expenses and interest. The suit alleges that Dr. Robert A. Bracey III, principal at Patrick Henry High School in
Virginia, was negligent in allowing the game to be played at the school and was aware of potential dangers posed by the game.

The suit filed at the Hanover Courthouse in Virginia’s Hanover Circuit Court states that Irving Lee ‘Blink’ Pulling II shot himself after a ‘curse’ was placed on him by another ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ player. The lawsuit further says that the curse was ‘Intended to inflict emotional distress upon (Pulling) at a time when he… was already under extreme psychological stress and emotional pressure from playing the game.’

‘Dungeons and Dragons’ is a fantasy-type board and computer game. Players assume the role of mythological characters such as sorcerers and warriors. A character’s qualities, such as strength magic or wisdom, are determined by chance. One player, the ‘dungeon master’ sets the course of the game by placing characters in confrontations who sometimes ‘win’ or ‘die.’

Christian Computing
May-June 1984

Parent-Child Conflict
Beth D. Baus

Often, when parents come for help because they are having difficulty with their child’s behavior, the problems have been going on for a very long time. There are no simple solutions. Nevertheless, there is hope. With proper intervention, support, and lots of prayer, most parents and children in conflict can work out their problems and experience many moments of happiness throughout the rest of their lives.

I’m going to focus on a particular stage of life called “adolescence” because more often then not, this is the time period that parents and children experience challenges within their relationship. I am not saying that this stage offers nothing more than conflict and frustration. To assume that would be a fallacy, possibly resulting in self-fulfilling prophecy since children tend to rise and fall to our expectations of them. The truth of the matter is that most teens go through this stage without any major problems.

One common misconceived notion is that parents have little influence over their children after their pre-teen years. This is also not correct. Parents continue to exert a great deal of influence on their children during the adolescence stage. This is an important time of continued shaping of their character and spiritual beliefs, howbeit, done more carefully and prayerfully than before. One of the main things that can help an adolescent who is dealing with frustration and parental conflict is simply giving them hope for a better tomorrow, as well as helping them feel secure in their parents’ love, in your (the church and ministers) support, and in the love of God.

It will be important to help parents understand that taking care of their teen is very similar to taking care of a young child. All children, in spite of their age, need love, age appropriate discipline, emotional support, and direction. However, in this stage of development some flexibility is often in order.

Teens are young people whose main task is to form their own identity and prepare for adulthood. This is the time of life when once young and obedient children, challenge the authority of their parents. Everything is a catastrophe for them; a pimple, a slightly soiled outfit, or the wrong color shoes can send them spiraling through a variety of emotions including anger, frustration, and even depression. They are very sensitive to criticism and live in the extreme (things are either awesome or horrible). This can also be a time when parents express frustration because their once loving and affectionate children show them little affection and even seem embarrassed to be associated with them. Their behaviors are often inconsistent, one minute wanting the parent to treat them like an adult and the next minute asking for help on the simplest of tasks.

This is not a comprehensive view of this stage. There really are so many physiological and environmental factors involved which vary from family to family. However, helping parents prepare for this journey, and adjust to the changes, can help them get back on the right road of their relationship.

The next part of this chapter will give some ideas on various intervention techniques that may work during your sessions to elicit conversation and find conflict solutions to their problems.

* Consider asking the parents and child prior to your initial meeting, to join with you in daily prayer for one week regarding their family and your upcoming meeting with them.
* Meet with the parent and child in conflict (preferably individually) to get their perspective on the problem.
* Determine the severity of the problem and whether pastoral intervention is sufficient or if a referral to another counselor who specializes in family relational issues may be needed.
* Don’t take sides and be drawn into the conflict. Be as impartial as possible.
* If after your initial meeting you determine that they may need a few sessions to sort out the conflict, obtain a commitment from both the parent and child to attend additional future meetings.
* Do not ignore the healing touch and power of God’s spirit to move in the lives of these individuals by leaning only on your own knowledge of the counseling process.
* Encourage them by helping them understand God’s grace and love during times of crisis.
* Invite the entire family to join together in one session in order to make observations as to their particular dynamics and communication styles, Notice how they all relate to one another, who sits by who and why, is this child the only one having conflict issues, and how the parents discipline the children in the session. These things can you give insight into how this family functions and why the child and parent may be in conflict.
* Ask the child and parent to list a few changes in the other’s behavior that they would like to see. Process the lists.
* Process their feelings of hurt, disappointment, and regret.
* Ask the child and parent to list a few changes in other’s behavior that they would like to see. Process the lists.
* Ask the child and parent to list a few changes in their own behavior that they need to make in order to improve their relationship.
* Help them verbalize what their expectations are, as well as their needs and responsibilities as members of the family.
* Help them come to some agreement on how these positive changes will be implemented.
* Help them verbalize the need to be sensitive to each other’s emotional needs.
* Explore any spiritual struggles they may be experiencing that are related to their feelings of disappointment.
* Process their beliefs about God and their social relationships in the church.
* Help them understand God’s expectations for respectful behavior from both the child and parent. (Prov 22:6; Deut 6:7; Eph 6:1-4)
* Pray with both child and parent before and after each session.
* Promise to pray for each of them every day for the next few weeks and ask them to commit to do the same.

Raising Children to Love God

For Christian parents, the ultimate goal is to rear children in a God-centered environment so that they will desire a more intimate relationship with Him. To do that, we lay a foundation in their lives that includes knowing, believing, loving, fearing, and serving. In the church, we help encourage these things by providing a setting that stimulates spiritual growth through teaching, preaching, mentoring, role modeling, and making church a place where children feel safe to ask questions about God.

Clearly, each child is born with their own temperament and personality traits that can make helping some make good choices, a little more challenging. We can guide and provide positive Christian opportunities; however, no one can force someone else to make good life choices. Even God gives us (and our children) the ability to choose right from wrong. God promises to lead and direct us, but He will not force us. The goal is to help children want to walk in the footsteps of their God loving parents and those ministers He has placed in their lives, just as we want and desire to walk in the footsteps of God.

Modeling a life of discipleship is of the utmost importance! We are what we observe. Therefore, it is imperative that children see what it means to love God and love this Christian walk through lives of their parents and other people God has placed in their path. A child’s perception of what it means to serve God is built upon their example. It is impractical to believe that we can raise God fearing children if there are not genuine godly examples for them to emulate. If children see prejudice, hypocrisy, and selfishness, they will not be attracted to this Christian way of life. Instead, they will most likely succumb to negative peer influence and later have a negative attitude toward God and the church.

A friend of mine shares this story about her son Richard, who is a bright, but often impulsive young boy. He had gotten in trouble at school and his mother, driving him first to the store and then home, asked Richard to please remind her that she needed to discipline him for the problems he had caused at school that day. She was concerned that because they had to so many errands to run, she might forget. Recently her pastor had made the statement “If you don’t do what you tell your children you are going to do, you are lying.” Not wanting her children to see her as a liar, she asked Richard to remind her.

Just as she had suspected, she forgot. But Richard didn’t. As she was putting her things away, Richard piped up, “Mom, don’t forget about the discipline. I don’t want you to be a liar.”

Teaching children by role modeling God’s character, and not just teaching them His commandments, provides them evidence that living for God is of ultimate importance. Faithfulness to His Word and to the church is crucial. If we have not clearly demonstrated to our children that following God is first-rate, then how will we ever persuade them that understanding and following His laws are worth their effort and time? Simply put, our lips and lives need to say, “I believe in God and His Word.”

Assuring that children have their physical needs such as food, shelter, and clothing provided for is only part of what we do as helpers of God. Equally as important is to help ensure that each child and family member is provided emotional support and spiritual guidance. This is true biblical teaching and modeling of but faith in God, a message that is often not taught with words, but is caught and modeled by our Christ-like actions toward others. No child should ever leave our churches feeling unwanted or unloved; just as no parents should leave without a clear understanding of the principals to Christ centered living. And the most effective way to provide this … is to model it.

The following list can be shared with parents and/or other s of the church staff who provide encouragement and support for children.

Follow Me as I Follow Christ

27 Ways to Show Kids You Care

1. Notice them. Catch them doing something right and tell them about it.
2. Listen to them. Take some time, make eye contact, smile, and seem genuinely interested in what they are saying. You might be surprised what you will learn.
3. Laugh together. (Prov 15:30)
4. Model the life of discipleship.
5. Teach them good manners.
6. Give them space when they need it. This is especially important for teenagers.
7. Talk to them about their dreams.
8. Be faithful to church.
9. Relax. Don’t let your own stress get the best of you and rob you of a good relationship with the child God has placed in your care.
10. Apologize when you’ve done something wrong.
11. Keep your promises.
12. Teach them the Word of God. (Deut. 11:18)
13. Appropriately discipline them. (Prov 22:15)
14. Love God with all your soul, mind, and strength. (Mark 12:30)
15. Wave and smile when you part.
16. Ask them for their opinion.
17. Let them act their age.
18. Praise more and criticize less. Give them lots of compliments.
19. Encourage them. (Prov 18:21)
20. Be consistent
21. Be flexible. Say yes more often.
22. Respect them and their opinions. Thoroughly listen to what they have to say before making any comments or suggestions. Never yell at or humiliate them in front of others.
23. Teach by example.
24. Love them, no matter what.
25. Never forget that to a child, LOVE is often spelled T-I-M-E. (Prov 29:15)
26. Pray for them and with them.
27. Ask them to pray for you.

Balanced Discipline

Love without discipline is harmful to children. Love that that gives too many “things” can spoil, rob, and give them a false perspective on how life really works. If children get everything hey want and have no responsibilities or rules, and have parents that bail them out of every situation, those same children often grow up to be irresponsible and unthankful adults whose view of ministry and God become more about what they can get, than what they can give.

On the other hand, love that is too demanding and insensitive isn’t love at all. Parents who express their love with rigid rules and have unrealistic expectations, can kill the joy out of any family relationship. When children are always being grounded, punished, and get very little praise, they grow up to become bitter and resentful adults who struggle with feelings of low self worth. In addition, how they see and experience God becomes similar to how they view their parents. If they view their parents as harsh and demanding, they will often view God the very same way.

Children need discipline, schedules, clear expectations, and family responsibilities. But they also need tolerance, tenderness, and support with no strings attached. In I Corinthians 13, Paul describes for us the qualities of this type of authentic love which can also result in a healthy intimacy between both parents and children; “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

Discipline can consist of positive reinforcements such as praise for cleaning their room or taking them out for ice cream because they got a “B” in their math class. There are times when negative reinforcements can also be beneficial. Some negative reinforcements that can help teach children what is and is not acceptable are:

* Natural Consequences
– When she/or he throws the toy because they are mad and it breaks, they learn a natural consequence; when I’m mad, throwing my favorite toy only means I won’t have it any more because it’s broken.
* Losing Privileges
– If she doesn’t put away her clean clothes she won’t be able to go out and play. Parents must be consistent and follow through with the consequence or the only thing taught them is that the parent is untruthful and can be manipulated.
* Time Out
– If a child is having difficulty controlling their anger, give them some time to cool down. Be reasonable. The punishment must fit the crime. Be sure to evaluate whether or not they are feeling tired, sick, or hungry, and if those things could be exhibiting itself in the form of anger.
* Spanking
– This usually works best with younger children between the ages of 2-7 and becomes less appropriate when a child gets older. spanking should be used infrequently and only as a last resort. A good “rule of thumb” is to administer this type of correction only in instances of defiance on the part of the child and not for mishaps, carelessness, or displays of immaturity in their judgment. Spanking should never be abusive, never done when the parent’s anger is out of control or at a high level, should never leave any marks, and should be administered with an open hand 2-3 swats on their buttocks, over their clothes, never on their face, or on any other part of their body. Spanking is more beneficial if followed by statements such as, “I spanked you because….” Next time do . . . .,” and should be followed with assurance of the parents’ love for them, if not immediately, than within a relatively short period of time.

Discipline = Love

One of the most virtuous women that I know once told me how she used a simple verse in scripture to teach her son about a very real and intimate expression of love called “discipline.” Proverbs 13:24 says, “He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.” (NKJV)

Her son, a now vibrant, Christian, middle aged man, will tell about the time that his mother lovingly sat him down and showed him this verse. She went on to explain that she loved him very much, and because she loved him so deeply, if he should misbehave in a way that required her to discipline him, she had no alternative but to do so. Not doing so would mean she didn’t really love him. She then gently hugged him and sent her very energetic son out to play.

Not long after their little talk, there came a day when Richard got himself into some trouble. His mother sat him down in his room and reminded him how much she loved him and how easy it would be for her to just turn her head and not spank him. She then reminded him of the scripture in Proverbs and her commitment to God to love her son. To her surprise, Richard, a rambunctious and self willed young boy, looked his mother in the eyes and said, “Ok, mother.” He then slowly turned over and lay on the bed ready to receive his spanking. After the spanking, her beautiful little blued eyed boy, with tears in his eyes, turned around and hugged her neck and said, “Mom, thank you for loving me.”

Sometime later, little Richard got into another skirmish. His father, who knew nothing of the earlier incident, proceeded to spank his young son. Once the spanking was over, Richard, who had not forgotten the scripture that his mother had taught him, reached over and lovingly placed his little arms gently around his father’s neck and with tears in his eyes, whispered, “Thank you Dad for loving me.”

Scripture Reference on Parenting & Children

Deut 6:6-7
Hear, 0 Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shall love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Prov 1:8-9
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

Tim 3:4
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

Col 3:21
Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

Prov 29:17
Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall gi ve delight unto thy soul.

Heb 12:11
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Prov 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Ps 127:1
Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Ps 127:3
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Prov 29:15
The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

Major Points
– With proper interventions, support, and lots of prayer, most parents and children in conflict can work out their problems and experience many moments of happiness throughout their life.
– Parents continue to exert a great deal of influence on their children during adolescence. This is an important time of continued shaping of their character and spiritual beliefs.
– All kids, in spite of their age, need love, age appropriate discipline, emotional support and direction.
– Teens are young people whose main task is to form their own identity and prepare for adulthood.
– Encourage the family by helping them understand God’s grace and love during times of crisis.
– It is impractical to believe that we can raise God fearing children if there are not genuine godly examples for them to emulate.
– The goal is to help children want to walk in the footsteps of their God loving parents and those ministers He has placed in their lives.
– Children need discipline, schedules, clear expectations, and family responsibilities. But they also need tolerance, tenderness, and support with no strings attached.
– Love without discipline is harmful to children. Love that that gives too many “things” can give them a false perspective on how life works in our society.
– On the other hand, love that is too demanding and insensitive isn’t love at all. Parents who express their love with rigid rules and have unrealistic expectations, can kill the joy out of family relationships.
– Discipline can consist of positive reinforcements such as praise for cleaning their room or taking them out for ice cream because they got a “B” in their math class. There are times when negative reinforcements can also be beneficial.
– If children view their parents as harsh and demanding, they will often view God the very same way.

The above article, “Parent-Child Conflict” is written by Beth D. Baus. The article was excerpted from chapter 7 of Baus book Christian Counseling.

The material is copyrighted and should not be reprinted under any other name or author. However, this material may be freely used for personal study or research purposes.