Unlocking the Convert's Heart

Catholic Education ^ | November 2007 | Marcus Grodi

[NYer]

Marcus Grodi is host of the popular EWTN program The Journey Home and president of the Coming Home Network International, an organization that provides support for Christians from other traditions who are interested in converting to the Catholic Church. He is the author of How Firm a Foundation and Journeys Home. For more information about the Coming Home Network, please visit

[NYer]

Some day we’ll be posting similar articles written by Alex Murphy and others in this forum ;-)

[SaltyJoe]

The Sacaraments give us vision to understanding the Mysteries of God's Love for us.

[Alex Murphy]

Some day we’ll be posting similar articles written by Alex Murphy and others in this forum ;-)

Not likely. And next time, ping me when you talk about me behind my back.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Alex,

It was well meaning joke, but I understand where you are coming from in your response.

[BipolarBob]

It exists today first because of the grace of God. Period. There fixed it for you.

[reagandemocrat]

A little thin-skinned today, Murph?

[NYer]

And next time, ping me when you talk about me behind my back.

Given the volume of Catholic threads you post to the forum, we expected you were somewhere along the way on your journey into the Catholic Church. Not there yet? Not a problem. We'll continue to pray for you :-)

[NYer]

The entire biblical canon from Genesis to Revelation is a defense of the Catholic Church.

[NYer]

All conversions come about by grace, and so the most important thing we can do to unlock the hearts of potential converts is to pray for them and love them.

So why learn these verses? For this we need to take some advice from the airlines. Whenever we fly, what does the flight attendant tell us to do in the event of a loss of air pressure? Are we to first put the air mask on our children or on ourselves? Ourselves. We cannot adequately help anyone unless we first take care of ourselves. We need to know our faith and why we believe what we do, and we especially need to know the wonderful truths of the Bible so we can pass them on to others. But in all cases, the first heart that always needs to be unlocked by the Bible is our own.

We love you, Alex, and are praying for you!

[NYer]

It exists today first because of the grace of God. Period. There fixed it for you.

Thank you! And now, a very simple question for you:

Can there be more than one interpretation of the Bible? 

[BipolarBob]

Can there be more than one interpretation of the Bible?

There has to be for someone to come up with something like:The entire biblical canon from Genesis to Revelation is a defense of the Catholic Church. Now that doesn't mean there's more than one true interpretation but sure there's all kinds of denominations and theories floating around. But I'll bet you and your church think you have a lock on it. Am I right?

[Salvation]

Why do you think it needed fixing? Isn’t the author good enough for you? Curious minds want to know.

[Salvation]

**We love you, Alex, and are praying for you!**

Amen, praying here too.

[LordBridey]

bump

[LiteKeeper]

INTREP

[NYer]

Bob, I asked you a simple yet sincere question. “Can there be more than one interpretation of the Bible?” To which you replied: “There has to be.....” Do you truly believe that the Holy Spirit leads people to different interpretations of Scripture?

[Tax-chick]

We need to know our faith and why we believe what we do, and we especially need to know the wonderful truths of the Bible so we can pass them on to others. But in all cases, the first heart that always needs to be unlocked by the Bible is our own.

Excellent summary.

I love listening to Marcus Grodi; he has such a pleasant voice and great diction.

[BipolarBob]

Bob, I asked you a simple yet sincere question.

The implication here is that you are a sincere person and I am not. I answered your question. There is but One Holy Spirit and still many people may view the same message/event and interpret what they see/hear differently. That makes us individuals not liars. The first four books of the NT cover the same period/persons/events. Why were there four? Why are they not word for word? Is one correct and three false? The Holy Spirit leads - people interpret.

[BipolarBob]

Isn’t the author good enough for you?

The author doesn't have to please me - only God. You are obviously quite mesmerized by the authors writings (which you each self-reinforce) and I am not. A difference of opinion exists. Go in peace.