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Darlene
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 868 |
| First Name: | Darlene | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Christian, trusting His love and forgiveness |
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Posted: Thu Feb 15th, 2007 02:18 pm |
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Hello Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
What can I say? Just when I think I must be going out of my mind on this road to Catholicism, the Lord brings something along to put me back on track. Last night I watched "No Price Too High" on EWTN (9 pm - 10PM est). The episode had a subtitle, "A Dinner with Alex Jones." Did anyone of you watch this?
Alex Jones was a Pentecostal Christian for 42 years and a pastor for about 30 of those years. He started a non-denominational church and his church grew tremendously. Then in 1998, he proposed to his congregation that they should start worshipping like the early church. The congregation agreed. So, he started studying the Early Church Fathers, and that began his journey toward the Catholic Church.
Pastor Jones began to change the worship in his congregation, making it more liturgical. Slowly he progressed to having The Lord's Supper more often, till they were having Holy Communion every week. As his church began to change, many of his close brethren in the faith, whom he had prayed and fasted with, began to leave. Many feared Pastor Jones was becoming more and more like a Catholic.
Suffice it to say, Pastor Jones finally resolved in his heart that the Catholic Church was the true, apostolic Church which Christ founded on Peter. But in the interim, on his journey toward the Catholic Church, he faced many difficulties. He mentioned that Satan would wake him in the middle of the night and say, "Are you crazy? Do you really want to become Catholic?" And many other such things that troubled him. Yet he said that a clear voice would pierce through all the other voices, and remind him of what St. Ignasius said that "the true church is the Holy, Apostolic, Catholic Church founded by Christ." (I may not have quoted that perfectly, but the gist is that Pastor Jones would be comforted by that clear voice, reminding him that he was on the right path.)
As I watched this episode, I began crying. Why? Because I could relate so well to everything Alex Jones was saying. I have been going through such an inward struggle since attending the Catholic Bible study with my husband last week. Yes, I too can relate to being awakened in the middle of the night from a voice telling me I must be crazy to even think the Catholic faith could be right. "How can the Catholic Church be the true church when its history is so questionable, the unfaithful popes, the Inquisition, the persecution of Protestants, the pedophile priests, etc?" Just the other night, I kept dreaming about the Catholic Church. And I kept being pummeled with questions such as, "Do you really want to be part of this kind of church? What's wrong with you?" But the voices don't just come at night. They infiltrate their way into my mind during the daytime as well.
I have felt like I am on roller coaster these past several days. At certain points, I think I might as well just remain a Protestant. It's just too much hassle, too much trouble, too much confrontation, too much turmoil, too much frustration, to become Catholic. Just a few days ago, I said to my husband, "Please understand me. I'm not questioning my salvation. I believe that Jesus saved me, that I have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of me, that I have been forgiven of my sins, and that I am going to Heaven. However, I need to know the truth about all the other doctrines that I have been taught. I see too much contradiction, too many disagreements within the Protestant Church. My reason for investigating the Catholic Church is because I want to know the truth." My husband said at some point regarding which church has the truth, "The Catholic Church ain't it!" He is extremely worried about this path I am on. He thinks to stop me. He has considered having others talk with me, to warn me.
Yet, it isn't as though my husband and I are always confronting each other. Last night, while I was watching Pastor Jones on EWTN, my husband peeked in a few times (taking rest stops while shoveling snow). Once, while he was "peeking in" resting from snow shoveling, I said to him, "I'm watching a testimony of a Pentecostal, born again pastor who became a Catholic, and he is giving his reasons why." It was then that my husband encouraged me to find out how we could purchase the tape. While listening at one point, he even agreed with what Pastor Jones was saying about "being born of water and the spirit." Pastor Jones was taught that "water" meant the Word of God. We were taught that it meant "physical birth." But just at that moment, when Pastor Jones quoted the verse, "Baptism, which now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience" (I Peter 3:21), my husband actually said, "I can accept that. I don't necessarily agree with the way we were taught." Oddly enought, John 3:5 was one of the verses we were discussing the other day, and he was disagreeing with me at that point that it means Baptism. Perplexing, eh? It seems there are moments when it is very easy to speak with my husband, and others when he is unconditionally emphatic that the Catholic Church is not the church Christ founded.
Such is the nature of my journey toward the Catholic faith. Yet I look forward to studying the early Church Fathers with my husband. He is very open to this, which may be the catalyst that draws him. For those of you who have been down this path, I am certain that you can empathize. Each step of the way, my Protestant Evangelical beliefs are being tested. Many are burned up in the fire of truth, so to speak. And each step of the way, I must be convinced, intellectually, spiritually, in my mind and my heart, that the Catholic Church is indeed the One, True, Holy, Apostolic Church, founded on Peter by Jesus Christ. The Church of whom scripture says, "And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18
Love in Christ Jesus,
Darlene
____________________
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. II Corinthians 13:14
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Annie
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| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 734 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Feb 15th, 2007 02:35 pm |
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Hi, Darlene,
I have a slightly different background than you, but it was the writings of the Church Fathers which were the ultimate proof of the rightness of the Church to me.
Just keep studying and praying. The pain we go through in this process is part of the proof of our sincerity.
Your friend just to the west,
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Annie
Ora et labora
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Darlene
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 868 |
| First Name: | Darlene | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Christian, trusting His love and forgiveness |
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Posted: Thu Feb 15th, 2007 02:48 pm |
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Thanks Annie. So you were Quaker and Mennonite? Were they "old order" Mennonites or "liberal" Mennonites? I have always had a deep respect for the old order Mennonites. They take holy living seriously.
Darlene, your friend to the East.
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. II Corinthians 13:14
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Truthseeker
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| Joined: | Wed Oct 4th, 2006 |
| Location: | Costa Mesa, California USA |
| Posts: | 349 |
| First Name: | Laura | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | lapsed and returned CATHOLIC!!!!!! |
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Posted: Thu Feb 15th, 2007 06:18 pm |
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Dear Darlene,
I saw that same episode last year and was also very touched by it. I remember spending months crying all night about whether or not to come home to Christ's dear church. My husband has a bad back and was sleeping on the couch, so I had my room to myself, and I would cry all night long, sometimes until the sun came up, for about eight months, until I finally told God I would go to His church and see if it were true. I would ask my pentacostal friend why she belived her church's teachings and why, and if she would still consider me a Christian if I became Catholic. And I would cry so that I could barely speak. We both thought Satan was after me and trying to deceive me into false beliefe. That is very frightening, to think Satan if after you. And, I beleive he was, but because he was so frightened I was going to Christ in His Body, here on earth.
The dinner program was very reassuring.
God bless.
Laura
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Lord, please make my will your Will!
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5085 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Thu Feb 15th, 2007 07:58 pm |
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Alex Jones is one of my favorite speakers. The program you mention took place while he was still in RCIA (Steve Ray was his sponsor) and he was extremely reserved. He was still learning how to be a Catholic, and his Pentacostal background barely came out at all. I have the tapes of both his original presentation ("No Price Too High") and the dinner that took place after ("Dinner with Alex Jones"). You may have seen both parts.
I saw him speak several years after that dinner was taped, and he was superb. His Pentacostalism was in full force, and he was running across the stage and practically screaming, just like you would imagine a black Pentacostal pastor doing, but his subject was the truth of the Catholic Church and his appreciation for the Eucharist. He was absolutely amazing. After his talk, seeing him kneel at Eucharistic adoration, and then receiving Eucharist at mass the next morning, was an incredible feeling. He exudes his Catholic faith.
That weekend at Franciscan University, with speakers like Alex Jones, Jesse Romero, Scott Hahn, Kimberly Hahn, Steve Ray, Marcus Grodi, and others, is what awakened my interest in Catholic apologetics, and ultimately let to my involvement in this forum.
I've been back to Franciscan a couple of times since, but the subsequent conferences have not affected me like that one did. Pastor Jones conducted a mission in my diocese last year, but it was too far away for me to go after work. I'm still hoping he will return at an event I can attend. I'd love to actually get a chance to meet him.Last edited on Thu Feb 15th, 2007 08:00 pm by CajunRick
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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David W. Emery
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
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| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Feb 15th, 2007 11:15 pm |
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Darlene wrote:What can I say? Just when I think I must be going out of my mind on this road to Catholicism, the Lord brings something along to put me back on track.… I have felt like I am on roller coaster these past several days. At certain points, I think I might as well just remain a Protestant. It's just too much hassle, too much trouble, too much confrontation, too much turmoil, too much frustration, to become Catholic.
This is very much the common experience among those seriously looking into the Catholic faith. I think just about everyone I’ve dealt with over the years — inquirers, converts and reverts — has had this happen, sometimes for months, and in a few cases for years, before they made their final decision. Even those who eventually decide not to become Catholic go through a period of nervousness and conflicting emotions.
Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. Also that there are a lot of people praying for you, so you need fear nothing.
Even though he is not on the same journey, your husband is trying hard to understand you, and also to understand Catholicism because of you. He has a lifetime of prejudices and misinformation to combat if he is ever to begin his own journey, so it behooves you to be patient and understanding. But at least he is willing, out of love, to meet you halfway and not condemn you outright.
David
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Darlene
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 868 |
| First Name: | Darlene | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Christian, trusting His love and forgiveness |
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Posted: Fri Feb 16th, 2007 01:43 pm |
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cajunrick wrote: Alex Jones is one of my favorite speakers. The program you mention took place while he was still in RCIA (Steve Ray was his sponsor) and he was extremely reserved. He was still learning how to be a Catholic, and his Pentacostal background barely came out at all. I have the tapes of both his original presentation ("No Price Too High") and the dinner that took place after ("Dinner with Alex Jones"). You may have seen both parts.
Rick, what year did he actually become a Catholic? I intend to order those tapes. He brought tears to my eyes while he was talking. As a Protestant, I can relate so well to the Pentecostal delivery, especially since I attended a Pentecostal Church at one time and also, many of my Christian friends are Pentecostal. When we pray together, it can get very loud and powerful. But I'm ok with that. So many Pentecostals have a deep love for Jesus and I can truly appreciate that.
I saw him speak several years after that dinner was taped, and he was superb. His Pentacostalism was in full force, and he was running across the stage and practically screaming, just like you would imagine a black Pentacostal pastor doing, but his subject was the truth of the Catholic Church and his appreciation for the Eucharist. He was absolutely amazing. After his talk, seeing him kneel at Eucharistic adoration, and then receiving Eucharist at mass the next morning, was an incredible feeling. He exudes his Catholic faith.
His enthusiasm andzeal is what affected me the most. I just love to see former Protestants converted to Catholicism preach. They are re-awakening the cradle Catholics and bringing life and excitement for the faith back into the Catholic Church. Praise Jesus!
That weekend at Franciscan University, with speakers like Alex Jones, Jesse Romero, Scott Hahn, Kimberly Hahn, Steve Ray, Marcus Grodi, and others, is what awakened my interest in Catholic apologetics, and ultimately let to my involvement in this forum.
Do you remember what year that was?
I've been back to Franciscan a couple of times since, but the subsequent conferences have not affected me like that one did. Pastor Jones conducted a mission in my diocese last year, but it was too far away for me to go after work. I'm still hoping he will return at an event I can attend. I'd love to actually get a chance to meet him.
I would love to meet him also. His love for Jesus and the Church shines right through him.
God Bless You,
Darlene
____________________
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. II Corinthians 13:14
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Darlene
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 868 |
| First Name: | Darlene | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Christian, trusting His love and forgiveness |
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Posted: Fri Feb 16th, 2007 01:45 pm |
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David W. Emery wrote: Darlene wrote:What can I say? Just when I think I must be going out of my mind on this road to Catholicism, the Lord brings something along to put me back on track.… I have felt like I am on roller coaster these past several days. At certain points, I think I might as well just remain a Protestant. It's just too much hassle, too much trouble, too much confrontation, too much turmoil, too much frustration, to become Catholic.
This is very much the common experience among those seriously looking into the Catholic faith. I think just about everyone I’ve dealt with over the years — inquirers, converts and reverts — has had this happen, sometimes for months, and in a few cases for years, before they made their final decision. Even those who eventually decide not to become Catholic go through a period of nervousness and conflicting emotions.
Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. Also that there are a lot of people praying for you, so you need fear nothing.
Even though he is not on the same journey, your husband is trying hard to understand you, and also to understand Catholicism because of you. He has a lifetime of prejudices and misinformation to combat if he is ever to begin his own journey, so it behooves you to be patient and understanding. But at least he is willing, out of love, to meet you halfway and not condemn you outright.
David
Thanks for your comments, David. Yes, I must be patient. Pray that we get a chance to study the early Church Fathers soon. And also to study writiings on the Holy Eucharist.
Darlene
____________________
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. II Corinthians 13:14
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
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Posted: Fri Feb 16th, 2007 03:59 pm |
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Darlene wrote: cajunrick wrote: Do you remember what year that was?
I'm pretty sure it was 2002, at a Men's Conference. I went back to the Men's Conference the following year, and then to the Defending the Faith conference in 2005 (right before Katrina). I was not able to go last year, and this year is highly doubtful. The conferences are very well worth attending, but I can't afford it this year.
Details on the conferences are available at the conference web site. Jones is not scheduled to speak this year (at least not so far).
There's an interesting article on Jones available at the Catholic Education Resource Center, reposted from the National Catholic Register. You'll find the article here. Also quite interesting is Steve Ray's forward to Jones' book, No Price Too High.
You can listen to Jones' appearance on The Journey Home from 7/9/2001 here. Copies are available on CD as well. And of course you can also get it from EWTN.Last edited on Fri Feb 16th, 2007 04:07 pm by CajunRick
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Cindy
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| Joined: | Fri Nov 17th, 2006 |
| Location: | California USA |
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| First Name: | Cindy | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic convert |
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Posted: Fri Feb 16th, 2007 05:11 pm |
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Darlene,
The full story is in his book No Price Too High . You can order it through Catholic Answers.
Don't forget about Rosalind Moss' "Household of Faith" series. Perhaps your husband would be willing to watch those videos with you now.
God bless,
Cindy
____________________
"Where Peter is, there is the Church" -- St. Ambrose of Milan
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Darlene
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 868 |
| First Name: | Darlene | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Christian, trusting His love and forgiveness |
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Posted: Sun Feb 18th, 2007 12:23 pm |
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Cindy,
Sometimes he is more open than others. And it is difficult for me to judge when he is more open or closed. I was actually surprised by the comments he made while I was watching the Alex Jones episode.
Yesterday we were watching a movie in which a priest had committed sexual mmorality. From time to time, he made some comments that were "mildly" negative toward the Catholic Church. I responded at one point by saying, "Then there is the case of Jimmy Swaggart." He was quiet.
So, as I said, I need to take it slowly, one step at a time. I'm not so sure I could just put in Rosalind's video and ask him to watch it with me. Now, if I were watching it already, he might peek in a few times and watch it. It all depends upon his mood, communication or the lack thereof between us, and who knows what else.
Love in Christ,
Darlene
____________________
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. II Corinthians 13:14
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5085 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Sun Feb 18th, 2007 12:57 pm |
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Darlene wrote: I responded at one point by saying, "Then there is the case of Jimmy Swaggart." He was quiet.
Very well done. You reminded him that every faith community is full of fallible humans, and that doesn't make them any less spiritual or faith-filled. When he makes comments about the fallibility of the Church, remind him that every human organization is subject to the same faults and failings. There is no argument that can counter Truth.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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setapart
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| Joined: | Sat Jan 13th, 2007 |
| Location: | Austin, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 117 |
| First Name: | Bill | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Born Catholic, Non-Denominational Charismatic, Catholic |
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Posted: Sun Feb 18th, 2007 06:04 pm |
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In following this thread about Alex Jones and conferences - I want to let you know that Alex Jones will be one of the speakers at a Conference being held in Corpus Christi Texas from March 16-18, 2007. It is being sponsored by the Fullness of Truth Catholic ministry which can be accessed on the web at http://www.fullnessoftruth.org . The name of the conference is Living a G Life in an X World. Other speakers include Fr. Mitch Pacwa, Tim Staples, Dr. Ray Guarendi, Jesse Romero and 6 other speakers including Bishops Rene H. Gracida and Daniel E. Flores.
YBIC,
Bill
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But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. Mal 4:2
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wmschrader
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| Joined: | Fri Dec 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Fort Myers, Florida USA |
| Posts: | 89 |
| First Name: | Bill | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic |
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Posted: Sun Feb 18th, 2007 06:27 pm |
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| If you like the way in which Alex Jones expresses his love the the Catholic Failth you might also like the testimony of Mike Cumbie. He was a Pentacotal Pastor for nearly 20 years and is now a Catholic Evangelist. His web site is http://www.mikecumbie.org His testimony (part 1 of a 3 part series) recently appeared on EWTN. He has also been on the Journey home
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Bill
Glory be to God for all things
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