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Free2Think
Member
| Joined: | Thu May 10th, 2007 |
| Location: | Brooklyn, New York USA |
| Posts: | 42 |
| First Name: | Maureen | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Born into Catholicism. 10 yrs communal cult &then dif. churches-revert ... |
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 07:36 am |
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I haven't visited this forum in months so hi to everyone. (Especially to ChildofGod/Darlene--I didn't see your private message from a month ago until now.)
My husband, Joe, who was somewhere between an agnostic and an atheist, went to mass with me last Sunday. He had been an assistant pastor at a non-denominational charismatic church where he was really injured. He hadn't been to a service at any church for about 12 years. For years it seemed to me that he would never have a faith life again. This would often grieve me because in the beginning of our marriage we had a real partnership of ministry together.
He really got a lot out of the homily and really liked the priest (who's the pastor) as I knew he would if he ever got to actually hear him.
When I decided to return to the Catholic Church after more than 3 decades I did so based on where I was at. I had no barometer to think about what my husband would be drawn too since he had been gone for so many years and seemed so far from having a life of faith. I know perhaps different ones on here may disagree with me, but I was fully ready to go somewhere else if my husband (who was never Catholic) again walked with the Lord and would have wanted me to go with him.
One thing he did for me which was really neat was renew our vows in the Catholic Church for our 20th wedding anniversary at the end of January of this year.
Joe experienced a turning point in his life a month ago in which he felt his eyes had been openned and felt a deep conviction that he needed to turn to the Lord again. This has been a much welcomed event for me and that he is serously considering Catholicism is beyond amazing. I know he went because this is where I am going. I'm not so sure if he would have picked a Catholic Church on his own, but I think he didn't want to disrupt where my own walk has taken me and wants to give the Catholic Church a fair shake. He told me that he really likes the deep reverence for God that the Catholic Church has and told me he got a lot out of being at mass. As of now he's planning to attend regularly with me.
Anyway, please keep him--and us--in your prayers.
Much love to all.
Maureen
Last edited on Fri Aug 15th, 2008 08:20 am by Free2Think
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Free
Member
| Joined: | Wed Nov 28th, 2007 |
| Location: | Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 357 |
| First Name: | Jane | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Presbyterian, Gnostic, non-denominational, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 11:50 am |
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I'm rejoicing with you and will keep you and your husband in my prayers. Glory to God!
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David W. Emery
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 2410 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 12:38 pm |
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It is so good to see you again, Maureen. We always wonder what happened to those who are on the forum a while and then leave. I am gratified to hear how things have turned out.
Joe experienced a turning point in his life a month ago in which he felt his eyes had been opened and felt a deep conviction that he needed to turn to the Lord again.
God’s grace can “come out of nowhere” sometimes. Yet we can presume that someone was praying for him, because this is how he prefers to work.
I will include your husband in my daily prayers for the needs of those on the forum.
David
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ChildofGod
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| Joined: | Sat Jul 12th, 2008 |
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| Posts: | 192 |
| First Name: | Darlene | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Evangelical Christian |
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 05:17 pm |
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Hello Maureen,
I was just thinking of you this morning and wondering what you were up to. Yes, I'm back on this forum under a different identity. ( ) Not really of course. Just a new username. I was wondering why you hadn't answered my pm.
Those of us from the COBU cult have an especially difficult time attending any church, let alone a Catholic or Orthodox church. It takes time just to stop the tapes from replaying over and over in our heads. I know you understand what I mean here. And you and your husband were in the group when it had become even more destructive. John and I had already left.
Let's keep in touch. I'm home today if you'd like to chat.
Love to you and your family,
Darlene
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Free
Member
| Joined: | Wed Nov 28th, 2007 |
| Location: | Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 357 |
| First Name: | Jane | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Presbyterian, Gnostic, non-denominational, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 08:36 pm |
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Darlene, what is the COBU cult? (Maybe you'll need to start a new thread). TNX Jane
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ChildofGod
Member
| Joined: | Sat Jul 12th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 192 |
| First Name: | Darlene | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Evangelical Christian |
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 08:57 pm |
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Free wrote: Darlene, what is the COBU cult? (Maybe you'll need to start a new thread). TNX
Jane,
COBU stands for Church of Bible Understanding. If you were to hear what members endured there, you would think it was something out of Bazzarro Land!
Darlene
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Free
Member
| Joined: | Wed Nov 28th, 2007 |
| Location: | Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 357 |
| First Name: | Jane | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Presbyterian, Gnostic, non-denominational, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 09:54 pm |
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Yikes! If you ever feel like writing about it, I'd be interested in reading it.
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Prayerie Pal
Member
| Joined: | Sat Mar 24th, 2007 |
| Location: | Omaha, Nebraska USA |
| Posts: | 254 |
| First Name: | susie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Presbyterian,Methodist, Charismatic Catholic, Pentecostal, Evangelical, and now Truly Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 10:15 pm |
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Hi Maureen~ 
Glad to hear the good news! I will pray for you at Mass tomorrow. AND incase I forget to do that? I just prayed right now, while holding my favorite Mary statue.
God is sooooo GOOD!
PP
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God gave us memory so we could have roses in winter.
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CajunRick
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 10:55 pm |
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Free wrote: Yikes! If you ever feel like writing about it, I'd be interested in reading it.
I think if you search for COBU you'll find extensive discussions involving a couple of former members. One of the threads is available here.
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Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1423 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 11:45 pm |
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Maureen, it's good to have you back on the forum.
You and your husband are in my prayers.
Grace and peace,
Becky
____________________
Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials. . .the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life. . . NAB James 1:2-4,12
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Free2Think
Member
| Joined: | Thu May 10th, 2007 |
| Location: | Brooklyn, New York USA |
| Posts: | 42 |
| First Name: | Maureen | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Born into Catholicism. 10 yrs communal cult &then dif. churches-revert ... |
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Posted: Sat Aug 16th, 2008 12:40 am |
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| Dave...thank you ever so much. I'm still adjusting to this huge change. Good problem to have! Joe never tried to stop me from having a spiritual life myself, going to church, never made fun of me, etc., etc. which I always thought showed that there was a lot hopeful about him despite what he said to the contrary.
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Free2Think
Member
| Joined: | Thu May 10th, 2007 |
| Location: | Brooklyn, New York USA |
| Posts: | 42 |
| First Name: | Maureen | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Born into Catholicism. 10 yrs communal cult &then dif. churches-revert ... |
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Posted: Sat Aug 16th, 2008 12:44 am |
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Darlene it was great to talk to you. Joe was in COBU 2 years, and I was there for 10. By far the greatest injury I received was with COBU. However, Joe was an associate pastor after having been in COBU, and his greatest injury occurred there. Although he was able to see through COBU and leave after 2 years it still didn't provide a very good base for him and he wasn't able to see the subtleties.
I treasure your friendship and appreciate your prayers.
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Christine Ann
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | An Hours' Drive From Cincinnati, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 171 |
| First Name: | Christine Ann | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | former Lutheran, Baptist, now Catholic. |
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Posted: Wed Aug 27th, 2008 09:35 pm |
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Dear Maureen,
Thank you for sharing your wonderful news. It is an encouragment to me...as my husband is far from the Lord at this time. I have prayed that your husband will be healed and that he may see the Truth of the Catholic Church.
My husband, who thankfully is no longer hostile to my becoming Catholic, still is using the excuse that he sees so many "fallen" Catholics on his job. He no longer attends the Baptist Church, citing hypocriscy among its members.
Has anyone on the Forum had this kind of objection to churches in general that my husband holds? If so, I could use a good response to him which is gentle but to the point...I don't know what to say to him other than we are all sinners.
In His Love,
Christine Ann
P.S. Laura, thanks for the new "going it alone" thread! No offense meant to our male Forum moderators, but it's nice to hear from a woman! I've been away from the forum for a time and it's refreshing to see you participating.
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Tina in Ashburn
Member
| Joined: | Mon May 21st, 2007 |
| Location: | Ashburn, Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 282 |
| First Name: | Tina | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Roman Catholic, Ukranian Catholic, presently practicing as Roman Latin ... |
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Posted: Wed Sep 3rd, 2008 03:05 pm |
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Hey Maureen,
Glad to see your happy news.
____________________
Tina
Arlington Diocese
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Dave Armstrong
Network Apologist
| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Melvindale, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 2169 |
| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Evangelical (1977): Diverse Protestant Influences / Catholic in 1990 |
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Posted: Wed Sep 3rd, 2008 06:16 pm |
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| Fabulous, Maureen. I'm ecstatic to hear this. I think it is a prime example of what happens surprisingly often with non-Catholic spouses, if we don't push them, exercise charity and respect, and pray pray pray! So often they will come around. I hope this offers hope to those who are still waiting for such a joyous outcome. Hang in there, folks! God is always at work.
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I'm happy to offer whatever theological & personal assistance I can. My blog, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, contains 2000+ papers & web pages (absolutely free) & 16 apologetic books (for sale):
http://www.biblicalcatholic.com/
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