A Paranormal Christmas Story

Beth Harris, Case Manager

One dark, wintry Christmas Eve, many years ago, the spirits of Christmas were busy gathering supplies to make Christmas Day a special one for the spirit world. The spirit of Father Christmas was out of sorts for some reason and not able to fully concentrate on his tasks at hand which made him nervous that he would not be able to make Christmas Day so special.

At this time, a Christmas Angel appeared before Father Christmas. “Excuse me”, she said timidly, “Can you tell me where the ribbons are?” Father Christmas looked lovingly at the angel, knowing she is new to the spirit world, “My dear angel, the ribbons are directly behind you.” he smiled. “Thank you Father Christmas,” the Christmas Angel sweetly replied. Mother Christmas secretly rolls her eyes.

The aged Father Christmas has a smile on his face now, thinking about how it was for him when he was just a young spirit. How exciting it was to celebrate Christmas with the others in the spirit world. Suddenly the young Christmas Angel appears before him so excitedly, “Father Christmas, look!” she exclaimed, “while trying to find the ribbons, I used a light source to make these colorful blinking lights!” she was so excited. “Well done sweet Angel” Father Christmas laughed as he went about his tasks, “Thank you, but, what do I do with these lights?” Father Christmas saw a fir tree in the distance. “Why don’t you wrap them around that tree?” Mother Christmas has a tear in her eye.

The spirit of Father Christmas was getting nervous again, thinking about everything he wanted to get done to make sure it was the best spirit world Christmas. “Father Christmas, Father Christmas!” the Christmas Angel squealed. “Are you okay, Christmas Angel?” asked Father Christmas as he rushed to her aid. “Oh, I am just fine, thank you – I was just thinking” “I was trying to help Mother Christmas prepare for the party when I accidentally made all of the corn kernels pop”. “Do you think it would be a good idea to string the popped corn and wrap it around the lighted tree?” Father Christmas looked at Mother Christmas as she smiled at him. “Well, of course, that sounds like an excellent idea” he said.

“Sweet husband, you are so kind” she cries. “Perhaps, I have been too hasty with my judgment of the new Christmas Angel.” “I felt she was the reason, you were out of sorts and nervous”. She cries harder, “She has driven me absolutely mad”. “She has no skills, no drive and she has been trying to help me”. “I give her tasks to do but she can’t get anything right.” Father Christmas took her by the hand, “Let’s go for a walk” he says.

They walk hand in hand in the Wintry mix through the forest neither saying a word. They hear something in the distance that sounds like a screech owl. They turn to see the Christmas Angel coming toward them. “I found your gingerbread men, Mother Christmas, that I lost”. “What do you want me to do with them?, she asks. Mother Christmas thinks of the patience that Father Christmas displayed and told her she was welcome to put them on the tree with the colorful twinkling lights and strands of popcorn. The Christmas Angel was happy to do so and the spirits of Father & Mother Christmas continued their walk.

Once back from the walk, Father Christmas realizes the time and is hurriedly trying to finish his tasks. He still has to carve the ice sculpture for the festivities. He will need complete concentration knowing that he has been so clumsy all day. He sees the Christmas Angel coming toward him. “Christmas Angel, I need to focus on what I am doing at this moment so you will need to handle whatever it is you need” he says to her. The Christmas Angel goes away. The ice sculpture is coming along nicely as he moves with precision. This sculpture will be the greatest one yet to make this the best Christmas Day. He is very nervous though because he doesn’t know if he will have it ready in time. “Um, Father Christmas” the angel is standing behind him. “Go away, I’m trying to get this done in time and I want it to be perfect”, he says to her. “But, Father Christmas” she is still standing behind him. “Go away, I said, I do not have time for you” his patience was pretty thin.

The spirit of Father Christmas is just about complete with the most amazing sculpture he has ever created when he hears “I just have one question, Father Christmas, what should I do with the decorated tree now?” He turns around swiftly to scold her for interrupting him one more time, knocking the sculpture over where it crashed to the floor. He looks at his hard work lying on the floor, broken in a million pieces and says to the Angel. “Cram the tree up your ass and go back to where you came from”

And that boys and girls is where the Christmas Tree with an Angel on top began.

Merry Christmas.

Founder’s Note

Johnny Rushing, Founder and Lead Investigator

We Are Not Satanists

First of all, let me start with my own beliefs and standings on Christianity. I was brought up in a Presbyterian/Pentecostal family. Much of my young life was filled with myself and my family being very active in the Church of God church we were members of. Normally, in the South, you are either Baptist , Pentecostal or Catholic. Satanism was something we heard of either in a fiery sermon or from news reports of happenings in some Northern state. Most of all satan worshiping was thought of as unacceptable or something misguided teenagers did to anger their parents and was more often than not the practice of rebellious offspring of ministers to simply, “buck the system” of which their fathers preached. Some few “rebel” teenagers, most of whom were only mimicking rock lords of the seventies and eighties, were from low income and diverse backgrounds. With 100% only using the term “satanist” as a ploy to explain their ill-doings and drug usage.

After a Paranormal experience, I started researching and investigating the field as a hobby and then, in later years, became more and more interested as time and experience became more and more of the norm. As it does with anyone who investigates the Paranormal for any length of time. All the while never abandoning my Christianity or belief in the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. However, I did not practice the beliefs of any certain sect. I’m very happy to say that now, while I am very active in the Paranormal, I am also a Christian.

I am so very sick of so called, “Christian Critics” referring to Paranormalist as, “devil worshipers” or satanist! In the most part, this is simply NOT true.

These critics say they use the Bible as their tool of legitimate argument. Ok, let’s look at the Bible and the verses the Christian Critics say damn us all to hell! They often use, Leviticus 19:31. Now they say it reads, “Do not resort to ghost or spirits, nor make yourselves unclean by seeking them out. I am the Lord your God.” Now look at your King James Bible and you will see that this verse actually reads, “Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.” Now, this does not speak of ghost or spirits, but about using people who channel entities and those that seek wizards. This warns against mediums and psychics who call upon guides, not about documenting the spirits of the dead. Some will use the passage, Leviticus 20:6. Their interpretation, “I will set my face against the man who wantonly resorts to ghost and spirits, and I will cut that person off from his people.” What the Bible says, “And the soul that turneth after such as familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face off from that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.” Christian critics have taken the term, “familiar” as to mean ghost or spirits, but if you look at the full verse, it talks of those that have familiar spirits and to avoid wizards. O where in the verse does it speak of ghost or ghost hunters. The verse, Leviticus 20:27 is often used, as well. Again, their version, “Any man or women among you who calls up ghost or spirits shall be put to death. The people shall stone them. Their blood shall be on their own heads. Kings James version, “A man or also a woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones; their blood shall be upon them.” Once again, the verse speaks of psychics and mediums who call upon their spirit guides to channel information.

With over 2200 Christian sects, there are many interpretations of the Bible. The King James version is the earlier version. And from that, Christians have created another dozen plus versions of the Bible. Consider the verse in ST. Luke 24:37 when Jesus appeared to his eleven. The verse reads, “But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.” The verse did not read a “familiar” spirit but just a spirit. Furthermore, verse 39 says, “Behold my hands and my feet, that is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” Jesus did not refer to himself as a “familiar spirit”, but simply as a spirit. If Jesus did not refer to a spirit as a “familiar spirit”, how can Christian critics claim to know more than Jesus.

The problem with quoting from scripture is that they were written to a specific person or group of people and must be read in it’s completeness. For example, the scriptures quoted in Leviticus was directed to Moses by God. If Christian critics feel it is proper to quote the above verses, what about the warnings in Leviticus chapter 19, that says men and women should not get haircuts, that men should not shave their faces, or that clothing can only be worn made of one material, not two? The warning that our gardens must not have more than one type of seed planted or that we must leave a portion of our crop in the field so that the poor have access to it.

The sundry laws and ordinances were given by God to Moses, for how we needed to live our lives. If we shave our faces or get a haircut, we are breaking God’s law, the same as calling upon a familiar spirit or wizard. Christian critics can not pick and choose which scriptures they will follow and which they reject.

One cannot use Leviticus as evidence of God’s condemnation of ghost. Quoting out of context is perhaps the greater sin, as the true meaning is lost. Ghost are not “familiar spirits”. Jesus Himself never called spirits as being “familiar” spirits. Jesus did not condemn His eleven for speaking to Him, when they thought Him to be a ghost. Jesus explained the difference between ghost and Himself. If Jesus did not condemn His eleven for speaking to a ghost, why are the Christian critics condemning ghost hunters for only recording the existence of ghost?

The Bible reflects the philosophy that mediums, psychics and wizards were a threat to a jealous God, who required His people to turn to only Him for help, guidance and answers. The “familiar spirit” refers to the spirit guide used by mediums, psychics and wizards. The Witch of Endor spoke with her guide for answers that King Solomon asked. He was condemned for not asking God.

The 66 books of the Bible are considered to be complete, but we know that the Coptic and Gnostic texts, that referenced Jesus were not included, nor any of the other texts from splinter Christian groups that were rejected in AD 325, when the bishops voted on which books to keep and which to toss.

Ancient scriptures are in conflict with today’s society. Today, mediums and psychics are apart of our society. Their services to the law enforcement community are well documented as they help find lost people and buried bodies. The purpose of this is not to condemn mediums, psychics or wizards, but to show how they were targeted and condemned in the Old Testament, just as ghost hunters are judged and condemned by various Christians today.

CAPI Camp 2

CAPI held its second camping trip last month at the beautiful Kymulga Grist Mill Park. We were so happy to fellowship together with good people, good food and great accommodations. Granted we had some pretty cold nights and Johnny woke up that Saturday morning thinking that is where he was going to freeze to death, the days were beautiful. Johnny taught a Paranormal 101 class by the waters edge and we thought any minute he would fall in. John Bowen gave students a tutorial on paranormal investigation equipment. We are so thankful for everyone who made the camp happen and especially thankful to those who braved the elements to spend time with us. We love you guys and look forward to seeing you again at events to come.

Local Lore

John Bowman, Team Leader

Where the Dead Children Play

Of all the types of human spirits that can haunt a location none is more thought provoking than when you realize you are dealing with the spirit of a child. Today we look at a site in Huntsville, Alabama that has been dubbed by locals, The Dead Children’s Playground.In 1822 Maple Hill Cemetery was started and would grow to eventually be the largest Cemetery in the state of Alabama. Hidden away in a far corner, seemingly carved into the side of a stony hill a play park was built for the children to be taken during graveside services. As local legend states, all was well until the 1960’s when several children went missing throughout the Huntsville area. Weeks later the children were found dead on the playground where the jungle gym now sits. No suspects were ever found or charged for these grisly murders. In 2007, when the cemetery was looking to expand, the playground equipment was dismantled and the site was set for heavy equipment to level the area. The construction company began to experience problems with their equipment breaking down. Around this same time the people in the area mobilized and stopped the work in it’s tracks. The playground was refitted with all new equipment and the park was placed under Huntsville’s Parks and Recreations Department.  To this very day people bring toys and candy to leave to this park to pay tribute to the dead children that were abandoned here. People describe a heavy feeling when approaching the playground, reports of the swing moving by itself, sounds of running, as well as hearing the disembodied voices of children singing, playing, and even calling out to them. The swings, which are said to sometimes swing back and forth, side by side.Peak times to witness this activity is rumored to be between the hours of 10 pm and 3 am, though the park closes at 7 pm. Over to one side of the park is a wooded trail where many of the toys have been collected and dumped. Most notably a mound of dolls can be found almost appearing as a grave to innocence lost. As someone that has visited the park, even during daylight hours the location feels very heavy. Is this location haunted by the spirits of the children that were murdered back in the 60’s? Do the spirits of the children in the cemetery come out to play when the sun goes down? I’ll let you be the judge.

Do you have any creepy local legends you want featured here drop me a line at: JBowen.CAPI@gmail.com 

CAPI Book Club

We are excited to announce that CAPI’s Book Club will begin in January. Our first book will be The Demonologist, The Extraordinary Career of Ed and Lorraine Warren by Gerald Brittle. Anyone who is interested in joining the Book Club, email bharris.capi@gmail.com to be entered in the group.  For over five decades Ed and Loraine Warren have been considered America’s foremost experts on demonology and exorcism. With thousands of investigations to their credit, they reveal what actually breaks the peace in haunted houses. It is a fascinating read. We hope you join us!

We Are Launching on Patreon

We are so happy to have all of you as CAPI Family members and we want to welcome you to become a Patreon. Click here to learn what benefits you will receive with the different levels where we share updates, deliver benefits and grow our CAPI community.

Tech Notes with Bryan

Bryan Johnson, Investigator in Training

EMF Meter

In the upcoming articles, we will go into more detail on each piece of equipment we use in the Paranormal research filed. This issue will focus on the EMF meter.

EMF is short for electromagnetic fields or sometimes known as electromagnetic radiation (EMR) or electromagnetic energy (EME). Electromagnetic fields are present everywhere in our environment – the earth, sun and ionosphere are all-natural sources of EMF. You can also have EMF from Electrical Appliances such as vacuum cleaners, hairdryers, refrigerators, AM/FM radio, police band radio, cordless phones, mobile phones, remote controls and WIFI modems. You may also pickup high EMF readings from faulty electrical wiring.

There is a host of different brands and types of EMF meters available today. We will focus on two types: the traditional analog meter and a simplified version known as the K-II.

EMF’s are measure in Milligauss (mG). The detection range is dependent on the individual meter, but generally anything above 2.5 mG is a suspect reading and considered unsafe levels for humans.

The traditional EMF meter does not have any fancy lights, bells or whistles. It is a simple needle that moves along a grid of increasing EMF levels. The ranges vary from meter to meter, but generally go from 0 mG to 5 or more mG.

The K-II meter uses simplified colored lights to indicate the EMF strength. The range of these meters is 0-5 mG. The lights go from green (0mG) to red (5+mG). The colors are green, light green, yellow, orange and red. The higher up the lights, the stronger the EMF reading.

It is thought that spirits emit EMF in their presence, which would register on the EMF meter. Since there is a host of natural EMF’s in our atmosphere, we must approach these readings carefully.

The first step is to measure any natural EMF’s on site. This is done by an initial “scan” of the area, noting any valid reading or spike. This data must be considered during your investigation. You must try to either remove or stay clear of these sources of natural EMF’s. Once you have removed or isolated any natural source of EMF’s, you may continue with your investigation.

Spikes on the EMF meter during an investigation is evidence of a possible “entity”. This does not prove the existence of a spirit. This data along with all other data obtain, is used together to conclude the possible existence of a spirit at the investigation location.

Next newsletter we will focus on the digital voice recorder.

Thank you for a GREAT year!!

The CAPI Team will be taking time off to be with our family this Christmas but will be back January 5, 2020. We want the CAPI Family to know that we love you, we pray for you and your families and we wish that you have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We have great things coming in 2020 and we look forward to sharing them with you. Much love to all. Merry Christmas!