The HCOS Weekly: Vol. 2, Ed. 5

The HCOS Weekly Vol. 2 Edition 5

Occultus: Part One An Article

By Deanna Burmatoff It’s getting nearer to that time again. People are eagerly decorating their front lawns with ghosts and pumpkins, while children put the finishing touches on their costumes. Department stores are rapidly multiplying their stock of candy and chocolates. Yep, it’s Halloween.

Being raised in a “strict” Christian home, I was never allowed to participate in the Halloween activities at school. Colouring pages were alright, but anything more than that was discouraged. At first, I didn’t understand why I wasn’t allowed to do what my friends were doing.

As I got older, I had a bit more freedom to make my own choices, so I went along with the crowd. Then I started to see the real face of Halloween; it wasn’t all just candy and fun. There was a darker, supernatural side to it.

and I agree. I do think Christians could use this holiday to witness to other people, and should glorify God and have fun with other Christians on this day, just as any other day. But I just hope Christians don’t get caught up in the fun and candy and forget about one of the main themes of Halloween: occult.

Because this is really, really serious.

The occult is real, and it is alive even today. Especially today. For those of you who don’t know, “occult” comes from the Latin word “occultus”, meaning "clandestine, hidden, secret". It means “things which are hidden or secret”, or “to cover up or hide”. Occult is any attempt to gain supernatural knowledge or power apart from God. The occult will kill spiritually, just as the AIDS virus will kill physically.

The AIDS virus disguises itself as harmless and tricks a cell into accepting it. It later reveals itself, and attacks. The occult works in a similar way.

The Bible has a lot to say about the occult. Deuteronomy 18:9-12 says, ““… never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediSome would argue that Christians ums or psychics, or call forth the should be active on Halloween, spirits of the dead. Anyone who

does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you.” It says these things are detestable in the Lord’s sight. Pretty serious stuff.

Leviticus 19:31 also says, ““Do not defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead. I am the Lord your God.” God is reminding us that He is our God; we have no need to turn to other spiritual activities.

There are many instances where occult events are mentioned in the Bible (2 Kings 21:6; Acts 8:4-25; Acts 19:18-20; 1 Samuel 28; Exodus 7:8-13, 22; 8:7,18,19; Acts 16:16-19, etc.). But that doesn’t make the occult a good thing; on the contrary, God is showing us examples of the evil done back then and how we can counter it when it occurs today. Of course, we might not be

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able to visibly cast out demons, but we can earnestly pray for people who have been ensnared while making sure we ourselves don’t fall into the same trap. And we can help other Christians stand up for Christ through prayer and fellowship.

Just as a disclaimer: this article wasn’t meant to cause arguments, but to inform people about the truth. The world is a dark place, and we as Christians are to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).

In order to shine out to the fullest, we must have a better understanding of certain things, so we can empathize with people as we try to witness to them and share with them the love of Jesus.

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your qualities and being thankful for what you are blessed with is Sometimes, we can be our own NOT equal to pride. worst enemy. We have to learn to love ourselves before we can love + God uses our talents and quirks anyone else. Understand that we to reach out and touch others' are imperfect, but that’s what lives in some way. makes us unique. Embrace being No talent is too insignificant for different (I’m not saying you God to work with! Oftentimes, God should embrace your flaws -- that uses our personality to touch the could go off on the wrong tangent) lives of people around us in ways and let your personality shine we’ve never thought of. Stay true through! Confidence is beautiful. to yourself! (This is a tricky topic which requires another TBH in it- + Learn to give and accept compliself.) ments.

God didn't create us to watch us beat ourselves up, or act vain.

As humans, it’s in our nature to crave appreciation and love. That’s completely normal and healthy!

Someone wise on the internet said, "Butterflies can’t see their wings.

They can’t see how beautiful they are, but everyone else can. People are like that." Voicing a small compliment could brighten someone's day instantly and boost their confidence. You never know how much impact a small compliment could make.

“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope He has given to those He called—His holy people who are His rich and + Realizing that you are a very glorious inheritance.” special, valued, loved and purposeful human is ultra important.

Ephesians 1:18 NLT Never let your flaws and weaknesses dominate and blind you from (Keep your eyes open for Part Two, seeing your great qualities. You are coming soon.) enough. You are worth it. You are However, it’s important that we so loved. You are beautiful inside know where to draw the line beand out. tween genuine compliments that builds someone up, and flattery, Catie Prendergast once said, “We which makes the other person becannot expect someone else to love come negatively self aware. Chew Self Appreciation/Recognition us if we do not love ourselves. We on this -- your best friend got a need to be committed to who we new shirt and it’s fabulous. You tell A Humanitarian Column are. We need to support all our her “Wow, that shirt is really flatBy Jubilee Chiu hopes and dreams. We need to be- tering on you!” versus “Daaaaang lieve we are funny if we want to girl, boys are gonna be dropping To be honest, people often don't make someone truly laugh. We have like flies!” Do you see where I’m gogive themselves enough credit. In to learn how to take care of our- ing with this? People have become fact, we are so caught up in our selves before we let someone else so shallow. Most compliments are flaws and weaknesses that we for- try. We need to know what we want actually flattery, and they are so get just how wonderfully God cre- out of an argument before we start grossly overused AND underused ated us. We are talented, beautiful, bickering. We need to listen to our- that it barely has any value anyintelligent, humorous, compas- selves. We need to take a deep more. Complimenting in such a sionate, noble -- you name it! De- breath and listen. We have to have way that causes the person to fospite popular belief, recognizing confidence.” cus on material, vain things is

TBH With Jubs

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wrong, in my humble opinion. This brings me on to my next point.

Verse of the Week

+ Acknowledging your awesomeness does not involve comparing yourself to others and looking down on them, or acting superior.

When I plead you to learn to love yourself, I am by no means giving you a license to be the queen bee.

Loving yourself isn’t flaunting your social status, looks, wealth, power, etcetera. It’s embracing who you are, and presenting the best version of you! Have you ever considered how ridiculous it is to compare yourself with others and judging them, knowing that we’re all unique and great in our own ways?

Think about that. Just because someone else isn't as talented as you are at something doesn't mean they are a lesser human.

By Megan Ferguson

+ Think about your belief -- your philosophy, if you will. You really see how much purpose you have in life as a Christian!

This is true for me: my goal in life is to be a living example of a child of God, a salt and light to the people around me. I'm constantly doing my best to look out for others and help them whenever and wherever I can. Maybe one day someone will come up to me and ask why I'm different. Wouldn't that be amazing, to be able to share the gospel with someone simply by living as a light? I think it's worth it.

I challenge you to take at least one thing away from this TBH, and put it into practice this week. I would love to hear from you about how putting these little tips into action has worked out for you! Feel free to post comments on Ning, the Forums, Skype, or by email (hcosweekly@outlook.com).

Until next time! || Jubs ||

Autumn

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you he will never let the righteous be shaken." - Psalm 55:22 October has seemed like a month of sickness and death. It’s very depressing. I personally know at least Word Search by Melody Brocke 3 people that have cancer or had surgeries for cancer. As well as the 1. AUTUMN conflict with ISIS and the Ebola 2. CRANBERRIES crises I start to wonder why God 3. FALL does this. It’s a dark time right now 4. FROST but you have to remember there is 5. LEAVES light in the darkness; hope where 6. TREES there appears to be none. Talk to God about your sadness. If you hold it all in it’s a fast downhill slope.

I know this is a bit cliché, but talk to Jesus like he’s a friend. In the same tone, and the same way, using the same words as you would with a friend. Take time to ‘hang out’ with Jesus and tell him your worries. Trust me, it’s worth it!

A Drawing by Deanna Burmatoff

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Super Comics art by Joshua Wlodarczyk

Who Is Worthy - by Joshua Wlodarczyk

Editor's Note For this edition, Josh decided to go head-on with the topic of superheroes. The coloured comic was taken from the new extended trailer for Marvel's Avengers 2: Age of Ultron. Not only did Josh give us a superhero-themed comic this week, but he also submitted a drawing about the DC Comics TV show Arrow. He did an absolutely fantastic job this week, and we can't wait to see what he comes up with next edition! If you'd like to send him a prompt, a funny homeschooler story or stereotype you may have, or simply some comments on his work, please write an email to Josh at hcosweekly@outlook.com. Thank you!

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Procrastination: Just Do It An Article

By Jennica Wlodarczyk Over the past twelve years of my schooling experience, there has been one thing ingrained into me more than any other academic fact. (No, it wasn’t that flashcards are essential to life. My parents tried to get me hooked on those, but it didn’t work. Sorry, parents.) I have heard multitudes of people – students and teachers alike – say that procrastination is the deadliest evil that a student can face. You know what I’m talking about, right? Procrastination? It’s that feeling you get when you really don’t want to do your English homework, or when a new episode of Arrow is far more appealing than the math lesson you’ve been assigned to complete. (I’m so not speaking from experience right now; why would you think that?)

Most students have taken hard blows from procrastination over the years, and the cycle is still continuing. While it is nice to take short breaks from our work during a long, hard day of essays, each and every one of us is capable of break overkill. This is – you guessed it – a way that procrastination can tear us down and get us behind in our classes.

You might be thinking to yourself, “Geez, she’s pretty caught up on this whole procrastination thing.

Isn’t there some way I can avoid (or defeat) this terrible foe?” Well, there is a way to get over procrastination. The answer is simple, and easier than you think. If you find yourself stretching out deadlines, avoiding responsibilities, or skip-

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ping your physical activity requirements, the best way to stop procrastination is to simply take a hold of your goals and complete them. That’s right. Like the Nike company has been saying for years, “Just do it.” Procrastination is all about skirting your problems until they become even bigger problems. The best way to prevent your algebra assignment from becoming a mountain is to get on it fast – while the information you need is still fresh in your mind – and work on it with a positive attitude. If you’re going to “just do it”, make sure that you’re doing it with a smile. It may sound corny, but keeping yourself happy while focusing actually reduces stress levels, thus causing you to get your work done both better and faster.

one of you to take into consideration all that I have written here. We all have the strength to overcome procrastination: we just have to believe in ourselves and make the choice to give it all we’ve got. I believe that this is possible, and I believe that you are completely able to face the deadly evil called procrastination and knock it to the ground.

Just do it.

Free-Falling A Batman Fanfiction

By Jazzannah Green Jason stood at the edge of the building, the crisp air filling his lungs. The moon could be seen faintly through the clouds above, and the stars were twinkling merrily as Jason became lost in thought.

"Come on Jace, you can do it. Just try, you know you want to. You've been working on this for weeks!"

So, am I saying that procrastination is an evil monster that needs to be defeated? Yes. Am I saying that you have all it takes to defeat it? Yes. All you need in order to beat procrastination is a perseverant attitude, a promise to stay off the internet until your work is done, and possibly someone to be accountable to in case you need a pep talk in between essay paragraphs. It is important to realize that we are only human, and need the help of others in certain areas.

Even so, it is our responsibility to take the initiative drive that we all possess and use it to get our work done well. For these next two weeks, I challenge each and every

Nightwing was standing beside him, and Jason nodded slightly. "I know, it's just kind of daunting. I haven't tried it like this before, from this high up. I've always been close to street level."

Rolling his eyes slightly, Dick shoved Jason's shoulder lightly.

"I'm gonna push you if you don't go first." He mock threatened, and Jason stuck his tongue out at his older brother.

"Fine, fine."

Taking a deep breath, he stepped over the edge, spreading his arms out and dropping into a free-fall.

The wind rushed past him, ruffling his black hair and causing his heart

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to pound loudly in his ears. The ground slowly started coming closer, and thirty feet above the pavement Jason whipped his grapple gun out, twisting midair and shooting at one of the nearby buildings.

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ly "Just, please don't kill yourself or anything? Because Bruce would have my head if you got killed from something I had taught you."

Smart People Answering Stupid Questions Jason smirked, and answered "Alright. I won't purposely kill myself A Comical Advice Column

By Jazzannah Green and with this."

S.P.A.S.Q.

His heart leapt into his throat as the ground came closer, and there Taking a running start, he jumped was a hard tug on his arm that was off the edge and tumbled through holding the gun before he swung the air, a content grin on his face. into the air. Flying. He was almost literally flying.

Ninja Invasion

A grin broke out onto his face, and he let out a whoop of excitement A 100 Word Story Challenge before retracting the grapple For Knights of the Pen cable, letting himself fall as close as twenty feet before pulling up By Jubilee Chiu again.

"You've got it, Jay-bird!" Nightwing shouted with excitement, as he ran across the rooftops, keeping in pace with Jason.

"This is epic!" Jason shouted back, before letting himself fall again. He closed his eyes, letting the wind blow past him as he fell again and again, the adrenaline coursing through his body. When he finally stopped, he landed on a nearby roof top and almost tumbled off, his whole body shaking.

"You okay bro?" Nightwing had run up to him, and Jason put a trembling hand up, catching his breath.

"Y-yea, I'm fine. But that was freaking awesome!" A grin grew on Nightwing's face, and he clapped Jason on the shoulder.

My eyes flew open. They’ve come for us again.

Who are they, you ask? Well, they’re thieves – ninja thieves. Why they’ve targeted my house for a while now, I do not know. All I am sure of is that I must keep them out and protect my family. I’m experienced with this particular group of ninjas; they tend to attempt invading my home by forcing doors and windows open. However, this is of no help to me, as I’ve always had an indescribably dreadful gut feeling that windows and doors are of no match to them. Although I’ve won the past few attempted invasions, there was no telling how this one would play out.

Deanna Burmatoff Question: If I look at photos of the sun, will I go blind? ~ Blinded Answer: No, you'll only go blind if you stare at one thing for too long.

You know how you start seeing that object everywhere? It's not because you've been cursed. It's because you're starting to go blind.

That object will over-take all your vision, and soon you won't see anything but that. Blindness.

Question: I swallowed an icecube whole, and I haven't pooped it out yet? Is it stuck or something?

Please help, I'm really scared. ~Stuck Ice Answer: Yes, this is a very critical condition... your ice cube has deconstructed into H2O. Very serious if not treated immediately. You must eat something, anything will be fine, and drink a glass of water.

The whole glass. Then wait about, oh, 20 minutes or so, and then go relieve yourself. In the washroom, of course. And voilà! No more icecube! And you'll feel much better, too.

Question: Why is Math so stupid? ~Frustrated.

Answer: Well, it likes to be difficult.

It takes pity on you when you're younger, and as you grow older it presents its self with harder and harder questions, to challenge you.

It only has your best interests in mind.

"Told ya! That's sort of what the trapeze is like. But this is more free, less control. This is usually how I let my anger loose; it might I’ve just discovered a fridge-like work for you too." He paused for a door in my parents’ closet, and it ~Doctors I. Jones and H. Quinzel moment, and then asked hesitant- had no lock.

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Student Photo Gallery A Photography Contest Notice

By Jennica Wlodarczyk This week, both of the submitted photographs were taken by Deanna Burmato, who is a Grade 11 HCOS student as well as a valued member of the HCOS Weekly. The photo submissions in the HCOS Weekly are a great reminder that there is a So You Think You Can Photograph Contest taking place on the NING this fall. Entries are to be fall-themed, and will be judged

by Jenessa Joy Klukas and Lara Merz. There are Amazon gift card prizes awaiting winners in both high school and elementary divisions of the contest. If you'd be interested in showing o your photography skills while simultaneously entering a contest for an Amazon gift card, this is the contest for you! There is a limit of three entries per person, and there is still room for plenty more submissions.

As a secondary note, if you'd like to submit your pictures, articles, stories, or art to be published in the HCOS Weekly, shoot an email to me at hcosweekly@outlook.com.

We are always looking for wellwritten articles and great content to join our pages. Enjoy this edition, and have a great day!

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Weekly LOL compiled and submitted by Genevieve Ward