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Man Who "Died" 5 Times Is Becoming Catholic (Thousands to Enter Church at Easter)
zna ^ | March 29, 2010

Posted on 03/30/2010 10:38:29 AM PDT by NYer

WASHINGTON, D.C., MARCH 29, 2010 (Zenit.org).- This Easter, thousands are planning to become Catholic, including a man who almost lost his life five times.

The U.S. bishops' conference shared the story of Jeremy Feldbusch, 30, from Blairsville, Pennsylvania, who is among the thousands preparing to enter the Church Saturday evening.

Feldbusch was in the armed services in Iraq, and on April 3, 2003, he was wounded with shrapnel from the conflict, which resulted in blindness in both eyes and traumatic brain injury.

He was expected to die shortly after, or if he lived, to sustain extensive brain damage. Doctors put him into a coma with a ventilator for six weeks in order to reduce brain swelling.

The medical professionals attempted to remove the ventilator five times, but on each attempt, Feldbusch "died" and had to be resuscitated. On the sixth try, he finally regained consciousness.

The patient, who had been baptized a Methodist, asked his father, "Why did God take my eyesight?"

His father replied with a different question, "Why did God let you live?"

The bishops' conference reported that through the process of rehabilitation, Feldbusch "began to think that things happen for a reason and resolved to spend his life helping other wounded service members."

He decided to enter the Catholic Church, and will be received on Saturday, the 7th anniversary of his life-changing injury in Iraq.

Growth

The conference press release noted that thousands more will join Feldbusch, with especially high numbers of new Catholics expected in the South and Southwest regions of the United States.

The Diocese of Dallas, Texas, is preparing to receive 3,000 new Catholics. Of these, 700 are catechumens (never before baptized) and 2,300 are candidates (already validly baptized into the Christian faith, but seeking full communion with the Church).

Also in Texas, the Archdiocese of San Antonio is reporting that 1,112 people will enter the Church. A good number of these are young people, who have already reached the age of reason, including 214 child catechumens and 124 candidates.

The Diocese of Forth Worth in that same state will welcome around the same number of new Catholics.

The Archdiocese of Atlanta is preparing for 1,800 new Church members, which is the largest group ever recorded for that region, the press release reported.

On the West Coast, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which is the largest diocese nationwide, will receive 2,400 new members.

In Seattle, 682 people will be baptized into the Church, and 479 welcomed into full communion.

The Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon, will welcome 842 new Catholics.

Other dioceses who are expecting over a thousand new members are: Detroit, Michigan (1,225); Cincinnati, Ohio (1,049); Denver, Colorado (1,102); Arlington, Virginia (1,100); Washington, D.C. (1,150).

In the Archdiocese of Washington, 18 of those preparing to enter the Church are students from St. Augustine School, the oldest African American school in the nation's capital.

The conference communiqué noted that the Catholic Church, which is the largest denomination in the United States, with over 68 million members, has shown a 1.5% increase in membership numbers this past year.


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Mainline Protestant
KEYWORDS: catholics; convert; easter; methodist; oifveterans
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To: MarkBsnr

I had thought of that very same thing.


161 posted on 04/01/2010 8:26:45 PM PDT by Running On Empty ((The three sorriest words: "It's too late"))
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To: Dutchboy88
You, according to Paul's further explanation in Romans, are not actually seeking God, but some relief from your pain, escape from your guilt, life after death.

Reading the mind of another Freeper is a form of "making it personal."

Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.

162 posted on 04/01/2010 8:42:42 PM PDT by Religion Moderator
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To: fish hawk

Whether the priest was preaching homilies based on the Scripture readings does not change the fact that if the nun was sitting in Mass every week, she WAS hearing the Word of God.


163 posted on 04/01/2010 9:45:28 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: SuziQ

It’s pretty evident that preaching is preaching to you. Call me crazy but I would rather be listening to a dynamic Bible scholar and teacher than that guy we all know who comes out every Sunday and makes you yawn and wish you were home watching football. I’ve seen plenty of that and won’t and don’t have to subject my self to it anymore. Of course you Catholics have to brag on your Priest as you have no where else to go no matter how boring their routine is.


164 posted on 04/01/2010 11:30:59 PM PDT by fish hawk
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To: fish hawk
Call me crazy but I would rather be listening to a dynamic Bible scholar and teacher than that guy we all know who comes out every Sunday and makes you yawn and wish you were home watching football.

I see. So it's not about content, but rather about the presentation. A stage presentation with Wayne Newton, topless burlesque dancers, laser lights, and The Who might be able to keep your attention over some boring old priest speaking on the Gospel message of the day. Perhaps a massage and manicure / pedicure might be sufficient to draw you in at least a couple of times a month.

I’ve seen plenty of that and won’t and don’t have to subject my self to it anymore.

Perhaps we can contact James Cameron and see if he'll do Avatar II - Bible Preaching next just to keep jaded folks' attention.

165 posted on 04/02/2010 6:20:53 AM PDT by MarkBsnr ( I would not believe in the Gospel if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: SuziQ
if the nun was sitting in Mass every week, she WAS hearing the Word of God.

Well, the word of God is preached in every Mass every day (if she was a nun, she ought to be attending Mass every day). However, it does not mean that she actually heard it.

166 posted on 04/02/2010 6:22:51 AM PDT by MarkBsnr ( I would not believe in the Gospel if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: Running On Empty
I don’t like it when posts are made on this forum that are highly personalized, as was done to you.

I hate to admit it, but some of the best exchanges I've had are at the somewhat, umm, personal level. I'm sure that the RM gets occasional irritation from me rising to the exasperated. Plus, I consider the source.

167 posted on 04/02/2010 6:36:32 AM PDT by MarkBsnr ( I would not believe in the Gospel if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: MarkBsnr; Dr. Eckleburg; fish hawk; Graybeard58; wmfights; xsmommy; marshmallow
Well, here we go again...reading lessons. Read Acts 1:1 and notice that while Luke is writing an account, much of it chronological, the text is first directed to Theophilus as a follow-on to Luke's "first account". This implies the first account was to Theophilus, also (Luke 1, the Gospel according to Luke is our name not his). Since he directed the two to an acquaintance, I loosely described them as letters. Okay, it was an "account" #1 & #2. But, to even use this as a talking point exposes the weakness of your arguments over the substance.

"If you consider the poor my children, then that will be correct. May I ask if you have done anything similar?"

Certainly. I attempted the vain efforts of doing law of conscience (for Gentiles) and the Law (for Jews). Tried it all, until the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to see that Jesus was setting the bar of needed righteousness so high (the way Paul describes) that I would give up my attempts to work. This was managed by God to drive me to Himself, and Him alone, not some group that promises to wave water over me, absolve me from sin, sell indulgences to escape purgatory (I guess this is back!), and the myriad of other superstitious substitutes for the sweet faith that grows from unmerited favor...grace. But, I digress.

You have claimed these tenets, these commandments are to be followed to become a faithful Christian. I do not. So, I ask again...are you doing this? Are you being perfect as the Heavenly Father is perfect? You don't need to ask me, because I know I cannot/don't/won't the same way Paul finally understood (Rom 7).

But, you advocate that obeying these commands are part and parcel of the Gospel. So, we ask...have you sold all your possessions and given the money to the poor and followed Him? Then where did you get that computer? That car? That retirement plan? Surely there are those that need them more than you, are there not? And, please, don't tell me all the gold in the Vatican couldn't be used to feed the poor better than draping the self-appointed oppressors with robes, hats, Prada shoes and popemobiles? Remember, Mark, "sell it all".

And, if your "free will" is now restored, please do us the favor of going one hour, just one hour and will yourself to do that which is holy at all moments. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind. Actually do what it is you claim should be done.

And, re read my post, Mark. I did say that all of the Gospel verses were true...just not to be used the way the RCC uses them. Anymore than we would pick up the Book of Leviticus and begin to inflict Mosaic Law upon believers. For some reason, the RCC allows the eating of shrimp, don't they. How is that possible? It says right there in black and white, don't eat shrimp (Lev. 11). But, your hermeneutic is inconsitently applied and selective.

The RCC picks up the addition of Gentiles at the beginning of the Gospel accounts and doesn't read the end of the story where Gentiles are actually grafted in (the cross - Eph.2). Instead, they have used the words of Jesus prior to His death as boot on the chest of the parishoners, just as you do. Please begin to do all this that you claim must be done or it will be evident that there is no substance in your argument.

Look at all of the RCC threads on FR that adore men's performances, the canonization of men, the ceremonies of men, the veneration of Mary, the adolation of the pope. Rome has concocted a man's religion...not the Gospel.

But, the scales cannot be dropped on one's own. God must reach down open the eyes and draw the man to Himself...something the Catholic Church cannot do. But, the misdirected, self-righteous cult of Rome clearly teaches that it, and it alone, is the director of the "church" in the world. We are just setting that record straight and telling folks that Rome's entire thrust is a man-centered theology, although that is an oxymoron of epic proportion. Run, don't walk away.

168 posted on 04/02/2010 7:58:08 AM PDT by Dutchboy88
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To: Dutchboy88
Well, here we go again...reading lessons.

I am happy for you that you are taking them. I've thought that it was needed ever since I started noticing your posts.

I loosely described them as letters.

I guess we Catholics take them more seriously than Calvinists do and refer to them as the Gospel according to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. This also reflects on the Catholic primacy of Jesus versus the Calvinist primacy of Paul and the OT.

Certainly. I attempted the vain efforts of doing law of conscience (for Gentiles) and the Law (for Jews). Tried it all, until the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to see that Jesus was setting the bar of needed righteousness so high (the way Paul describes) that I would give up my attempts to work.

I suggest that it was not the Holy Spirit - I bring to you the words of Jesus:

John 3: 14 And just as Moses lifted up 5 the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 6 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." 16 For God so loved the world that he gave 7 his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn 8 the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

If you do not believe you are condemned.

Matthew 12: 36 25 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak. 37 By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

Your words matter and all men are accountable for theirs.

Matthew 16: 24 19 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, 20 take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 21 26 What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? 27 22 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct.

If you do evil or do nothing, you will be Judged by it.

Matthew 25: 19 After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. 10 He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.' 21 His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.' 22 (Then) the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.' 23 His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.' 24 Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, 'Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; 25 so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.' 26 His master said to him in reply, 'You wicked, lazy servant! 11 So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? 28 Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. 29 12 For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 13 And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'

What you do with the talents on loan from God, you will be Judged by.

This was managed by God to drive me to Himself, and Him alone, not some group that promises to wave water over me, absolve me from sin, sell indulgences to escape purgatory (I guess this is back!), and the myriad of other superstitious substitutes for the sweet faith that grows from unmerited favor...grace.

Anyone who tells you that a believing Christian's acts in front of God do not matter repudiate the Gospel message. I don't know what group you are referring to here, can you enlighten me?

You have claimed these tenets, these commandments are to be followed to become a faithful Christian. I do not. So, I ask again...are you doing this? Are you being perfect as the Heavenly Father is perfect?

We as Christians are called on every single day to imitate Christ. How is your imitation of Christ? Does a Calvinist even bother?

1 Corinthians 11: 1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. 2 1 I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions, just as I handed them on to you.

Paul is telling us to imitate Christ and to do as the Church instructs them to do.

But, you advocate that obeying these commands are part and parcel of the Gospel. So, we ask...have you sold all your possessions and given the money to the poor and followed Him? Then where did you get that computer? That car? That retirement plan?

I do advocate the commands of Jesus. I have not yet sold all possessions; but I am in the service of God and His Church, and my possessions will be dealt with before I meet Him. On the other hand, you seem to be saying that since one of the commands of Jesus will only be imperfectly met, then none of them have to be met at all. Do you see the evil in this idea?

And, please, don't tell me all the gold in the Vatican couldn't be used to feed the poor better than draping the self-appointed oppressors with robes, hats, Prada shoes and popemobiles?

I didn't know that oppressors were draped in hats, shoes and popemobiles. That presents quite a vision. I am also not aware of any Prada shoes in the Vatican. Can you enlighten me on this one please?

And, re read my post, Mark. I did say that all of the Gospel verses were true...just not to be used the way the RCC uses them.

I'm not sure of what you mean by RCC, but the Catholic Church wrote them, selected them, interpreted them and bring them to you today after 2000 years of study. We do not believe that a couple of hours sitting around a table and fuelled by ethanol results in proper interpretation of Scripture.

For some reason, the RCC allows the eating of shrimp, don't they. How is that possible? It says right there in black and white, don't eat shrimp (Lev. 11). But, your hermeneutic is inconsitently applied and selective.

It is very consistently applied. Peter told us that the dietary laws have been revoked in Acts 10. We take the words of Jesus over all, and we interpret the NT through the words of Jesus and the OT through the New.

Look at all of the RCC threads on FR that adore men's performances, the canonization of men, the ceremonies of men, the veneration of Mary, the adolation of the pope. Rome has concocted a man's religion...not the Gospel.

It is entirely Gospel, and NT and OT. Some more Jesus:

Luke 15: 1 1 The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, 2 but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." 3 So to them he addressed this parable. 4 "What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? 5 And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy 6 and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' 7 I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. 8 "Or what woman having ten coins 2 and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.' 10 In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

We celebrate the perseverence of men who do the will of God. We do not abandon our efforts to do the will of God, as you have indicated that Calvinists do, since the will of God is impossible for Calvinists to follow.

God must reach down open the eyes and draw the man to Himself...something the Catholic Church cannot do.

The Church has never said that it could. Why would you say this?

But, the misdirected, self-righteous cult of Rome clearly teaches that it, and it alone, is the director of the "church" in the world.

Negative. There is no cult of Rome that I am aware of. The Catholic Church is directed by God. I think you may be mixing epithets here.

We are just setting that record straight and telling folks that Rome's entire thrust is a man-centered theology, although that is an oxymoron of epic proportion.

You may wish to try writing lessons after taking the reading lessons. You wouldn't care to rephrase this in English would you?

Run, don't walk away.

From Jesus? I know that that is the thrust of Calvinism, but I must decline. I serve Jesus, however imperfectly, but I do not serve the lord of this world.

169 posted on 04/02/2010 9:55:43 AM PDT by MarkBsnr ( I would not believe in the Gospel if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: MarkBsnr

I actually laughed out loud when I saw your tag line. The Holy Spirit did for me what you credit your church for doing for you. I’m sure the Holy Spirit feels left out in your life, but then you have Mary.


170 posted on 04/02/2010 10:27:27 AM PDT by fish hawk
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To: fish hawk
I actually laughed out loud when I saw your tag line.

So did the heretics when Augustine addressed them with these and other words.

The Holy Spirit did for me what you credit your church for doing for you.

I've seen your posts. I'm not convinced that it is the Holy Spirit.

I’m sure the Holy Spirit feels left out in your life

Do you have a basis for that surety? I recite the Apostle's Creed as the first prayer of the Rosary each day, and in it I profess my belief in the Holy Spirit - the Lord and Giver of Life. I'm sad that the Holy Spirit, in direct transmission to you, would tell you that. I'm not sure that He would say that. Are you in communication with spirits? How do you know that it is the Holy Spirit?

but then you have Mary.

What does the Mother of God have to do with you listening to spirits?

171 posted on 04/02/2010 10:37:58 AM PDT by MarkBsnr ( I would not believe in the Gospel if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: MarkBsnr
"This also reflects on the Catholic primacy of Jesus versus the Calvinist primacy of Paul and the OT."

Again, the Catholic misunderstanding of the words of Jesus (I think this is called YOPIOSNTSTCC). We believers in Christ, as opposed to those stuck in the Vatican errors, treat the Scriptures as the Word of God throughout. Rather than pick and choose to support bathrobes and big hats, we read the story through.

The Gospel of John, as do the other Gospels, calls us to believe. The question that you cannot seem to address is, is it men who by agency of an organization or by their own free will (the Catholic view) come to Him and believe OR is it by agency of God alone drawing them to Himself, based upon His decision from before the foundation of the world. Which is it? Heretical or Calvinism?

172 posted on 04/02/2010 10:46:13 AM PDT by Dutchboy88
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To: MarkBsnr

You are only digging your hole deeper. It’s obvious that you depend on your church for your salvation. Good luck with that. And as usual with you people ANYONE that does not agree with your man made church rules is a heretic. Burning people at the stake is against the law now.


173 posted on 04/02/2010 11:04:26 AM PDT by fish hawk
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To: Dutchboy88
"This also reflects on the Catholic primacy of Jesus versus the Calvinist primacy of Paul and the OT."

Again, the Catholic misunderstanding of the words of Jesus (I think this is called YOPIOSNTSTCC).

Jesus never said that we should abandon His Words and only select snippets of Paul and the OT. Long acronyms notwithstanding.

We believers in Christ, as opposed to those stuck in the Vatican errors, treat the Scriptures as the Word of God throughout.

If you call the Scriptures the Word of God, then you are unbiblical. The only words written by God are the Torah, according to Jewish tradition, and given to Moses. You may believe what you wish, but it is apparent that it is not of Christ. And not of Scripture. At least not the entire Scripture. Where is your Matthew and Luke? Where is most of Mark and John? Not in Reformed doctrine.

Rather than pick and choose to support bathrobes and big hats, we read the story through.

Negative. Reformed theology repudiates the Sermon on the Mount and the Plain, to begin with. It also repudiates most of Mark and John as well. Read your Reformed Confessions and see their proofs. As well, see what they are missing: the Gospels.

The Gospel of John, as do the other Gospels, calls us to believe. The question that you cannot seem to address is, is it men who by agency of an organization or by their own free will (the Catholic view) come to Him and believe OR is it by agency of God alone drawing them to Himself, based upon His decision from before the foundation of the world.

You are against misrepresenting the Catholic / Christian view of belief. It has been addressed here and by hundreds of other posts either to you or on threads that you have posted to. I will once again post the Catholic / Christian view. You invoke John. Here is John.

John 12: 25 Whoever loves his life 16 loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me. 27 "I am troubled 17 now. Yet what should I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it and will glorify it again." 29 The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, "An angel has spoken to him." 30 Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. 31 Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world 18 will be driven out. 32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself."

Jesus will draw everyone to Himself. But the Father will honour only those who serve Him. Calvinism is unable to handle this point. The Church draws nobody. Jesus does. Why?

John 3: 14 And just as Moses lifted up 5 the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 6 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." 16 For God so loved the world that he gave 7 his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn 8 the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 9 And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. 21 But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

So that everyone may have eternal life, based upon their Judgement. Only those who work in Christ will be saved. The ones who do not will be condemned. Jesus draws all men. He wills that all will be saved. It's up to you whether you open that door or answer that phone call. Jesus gives us His Grace. It's up to us to accept it and work in His Grace in line with the parable of the talents in Matthew 25.

Which is it? Heretical or Calvinism?

Since Calvinism is heresy of the finest level, any Christian will choose neither of these, only Jesus.

Mark 8: 34 He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said 8 to them, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel 9 will save it.

You prate about not following the commands of Jesus. What say you now?

174 posted on 04/02/2010 12:08:33 PM PDT by MarkBsnr ( I would not believe in the Gospel if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: fish hawk
You are only digging your hole deeper.

Really? I lift my soul up to the Lord in the manner which He has instructed us. You are attacking His Church on Holy Week. Good luck with that.

It’s obvious that you depend on your church for your salvation.

You may wish to try a stronger optical prescription if that's what you see.

Good luck with that.

I shall depend upon Jesus rather than upon the minions of the lord of this world. That's all the luck I need.

And as usual with you people

Oooh, I just LOOOOOVE this phrase. Can't wait for the finish of this sentence.

ANYONE that does not agree with your man made church rules is a heretic.

I don't have a man made church. I follow the Church established by Jesus Christ and commissioned by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. And, by definition, the Church establishes what is heresy and what is not.

Burning people at the stake is against the law now.

Is that all you've got after my Scriptural arguments? The Sola Scriptura crowd is collapsing faster than Bernie Madoff's empire after his arrest.

175 posted on 04/02/2010 12:17:36 PM PDT by MarkBsnr ( I would not believe in the Gospel if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: MarkBsnr
I've read and studied Acts for years and not once do I see where “Catholic” is mentioned. The Romans killed Christians up until the Catholics started doing it. Well, I guess they are all Romans after all. I use the phrase “you people” when dealing with man made cults.
176 posted on 04/02/2010 1:32:26 PM PDT by fish hawk
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To: MarkBsnr; fish hawk; Graybeard58; Dr. Eckleburg; wmfights
"Negative. Reformed theology repudiates the Sermon on the Mount and the Plain, to begin with. It also repudiates most of Mark and John as well. Read your Reformed Confessions and see their proofs. As well, see what they are missing: the Gospels."

Where are the RCCs using Leviticus? Why isn't Rome leaving Egypt for a sojourn in the desert? Mark, it is so blatantly obvious that the story needs to be read through before you can understand how it fits together. But, Rome uses the smorgasbord approach. Let's see, the Jews used priests, so let's use priests (although the Law was done away with for Jews and never applied to Gentiles to begin with)Eph. 2. But, we are waiting...if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. Waiting to see how serious you are....or aren't.

And, if you are worried about leaving out the Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, we offer this little nugget...Matt. 15:24, "But He (Jesus) answered and said, 'I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But, Rome wants to nose right into the story right alongside the Jews and try that Law on for size. Yet, even Peter noticed no one could do it (Luke #2 (Acts of the Apostles): 15). But, for an RC to stop and ask "What is going on here?" would obviously require pushing back on Rome's suffocating man-centered theology and will raise the ire of those self-appointed thugs that think they hold the "keys"

"If you call the Scriptures the Word of God, then you are unbiblical. The only words written by God are the Torah,"

Mark, the Torah, w/Nebuiim, w/Kethubim is all Jewish Scriptures. The Law, the Prophets and the Writings. No wonder there is a deficient understanding of this important story by Rome. Instead of reading the Book through, the Roman leadership makes up indulgences, penance, hail mary's (please tell me where the Scriptures say to repeat this bogus chant), and all the demonic demands to divert the view from Jesus, to them.

And we certainly do not "repudiate" the Sermon on the Mount. It is there to provide good hard evidence that anyone who thinks they can be righteous, is wrong. Listen up Rome.

"Jesus will draw everyone to Himself. But the Father will honour only those who serve Him."

Do you see how this is slightly twisted from the actual text? You added the part about, "BUT the Father will honor only those who serve Him." No problem, because that is the Catholic way. Stack it on, turn it a little, and Rome can lead the party to hell.

"To the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness." Paul, the Apostle. But, Rome doesn't like Paul, does it? So you spout about doing the Law, something even Paul & Peter recognized they could not do, and you do not sell all your belongings now (that, incidentally was what Jesus was asking the young man to do, not when he died. That is a cheesy, self-justifying cop out). You do not tear out your eyes for failure, but you tell us you faithfully follow Jesus.

We will continue to offer to those whom God has chosen and called an alternative to the religion of Rome...Jesus and Him crucified, risen, ascended and coming again for His true Body of Believers. No ceremonies, no men mediating, no priesthood (except the priesthood of all believers) but instead, the entire story making sense.

177 posted on 04/02/2010 2:06:51 PM PDT by Dutchboy88
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To: fish hawk
I've read and studied Acts for years and not once do I see where “Catholic” is mentioned.

It precedes the part where Christmas and Easter are declared. Keep going.

The Romans killed Christians up until the Catholics started doing it.

I'm not aware of any Christians that Catholics killed. I'm aware of anti Catholic persecution in this country that the Protestants wallowed in and still do.

Well, I guess they are all Romans after all.

Who are "they"? Am I part of "they"? Are you accusing me of being Roman?

I use the phrase “you people” when dealing with man made cults.

Very good. So "you people" of the Reformation are all going straight to hell according to fish hawk. Good luck with all that explaining that to your friends.

178 posted on 04/02/2010 7:56:17 PM PDT by MarkBsnr ( I would not believe in the Gospel if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: Dutchboy88
Where are the RCCs using Leviticus?

I'm not sure who the RCCs are. The Catholics use Leviticus to oppose homosexuality, witchcraft, and a whole host of other things that modern Presbyterianism does not. It is sad that one must find that one must defend the current crop of Calvinists who are as far from Christ as the Chicago Cubs are from a win.

And we certainly do not "repudiate" the Sermon on the Mount.

Calvinists certainly do. You use it in the negative only. Calvinists use the Sermon to illustrate how the Reformed vision Christians are not. Which is the opposite of Christianity. Which kind of defines Calvinism. The opposite of Christianity.

We will continue to offer to those whom God has chosen and called an alternative to the religion of Rome...

A false identification. You claim that you are chosen by God. Who among you is chosen? How do you know? Let us see your proofs.

No ceremonies, no men mediating, no priesthood (except the priesthood of all believers) but instead, the entire story making sense.

You reject almost all of the Gospels and you would have us believe that it makes sense? Get thee behind me satan. We Christians believe in the God of Love for all men, and not for the third grade girls selected without reason to be beauty queens.

We Christians believe in John 3: and the fact that Jesus came for all men. We believe that Paul spoke correctly when he said that Jesus came for all men. We believe that Calvin is wrong when he said that Jesus only came for certain men. We have Scripture and the Church. You have the Institutes. I know where I am putting my faith.

179 posted on 04/02/2010 8:08:00 PM PDT by MarkBsnr ( I would not believe in the Gospel if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: MarkBsnr

“I’m not aware of any Christians that Catholics killed.”

Joan of Arc...

And how many in the inquisition?


180 posted on 04/02/2010 8:38:39 PM PDT by GGpaX4DumpedTea (I am a tea party descendant - steeped in the Constitutional legacy handed down by the Founders)
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