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Periodically our resident clown stops clowning around and reminds us that we are saved. He gets irritating when he presumes to tell us who is and who isn’t saved; when he matures in the Lord he’ll find he’s better off leaving that judgment to the only Just Judge; He and He alone knows who will be saved. He’ll also find that thinking that you are once saved, always saved, is a bit presumptuous too. But he has a point all the same. The Blood of the Lamb is shed for us all, and though all will not embrace the Lord, all have the chance. That mad and bad idea that God makes some of us for eternal damnation is a most damnable idea itself. What Father makes a child for hell? It is the child who will, as man or woman, reject the Father and embrace hell. I’ve a suspicion, but it’s no more, that heaven and hell are the same place, and that those who reject God and his love experience heaven as hell; they bring it on themselves and to the last, God leaves open the way. The way is narrow, but many are saved as well as lost, and we’re better not speculating on such high things. I find it hard enough to keep my eyes on the finishing line (though I’m near enough to it, God knows), and that’s my main job – as well as helping others know the Lord Jesus.
Our recent disagreements about annulment and the like are part of the wider divide between the Protestant and the Catholic world. I can see why my Catholic friends might think I am preaching cheap Grace when I say that those who embrace Jesus are covered by his blood – where’s the justice in a fellow who has been wrong all his life being able to come to God just the way a fellow who has been serving him all the days of his life? I tell you where, in God. The God who told us that the worker who comes at the last gets the same as the worker who came at the first hour; the God who tells us the Prodigal and the adulterous woman are forgiven. No one who truly embraces the Lord gets cheap Grace, because if they are real in their faith the know the price with which they were bought, and they kneel in amazement before the Lord in thanks and humility. They are not going to go off and so it again – that’s like a Protestant supposing that Confession is a cheap way out – just say sorry and you get let off. It isn’t so. If we are in Christ and He in us, there is sorrow, there is pain, there is penitence.
That’s why, though, some of us get a bit indignant about things like Canon Law and Indulgences and the rest of it. Yes, I can see the argument that you need a system of justice, but most societies have one and we abide by it. Among the brethren we sit down and we work it out. Christ didn’t say go to the lawyers, and if the Church got so big and complex it needs them, it ought to think why and what it could do to be more like the early Church.
There is one mediator – Jesus Christ the righteous. I take my case to him direct. I know some take it to him through a priest or a saint, and that was how they used to do things in the kingdoms of old, when the Queen Mother or the nobles were men and women you lobbied. But Our King is humble, He sits with the sinners whom he came to save. He exalts the little child and the women, those who were outcast. Those whose faith takes them in the direction of intercessions, fine, as with those whose faith does not.
In the end we come to him as we can, as he draws us. if he does not draw us we cannot come. His arms are out for us all, and for me, all who embrace him, however they do, as the saved. I hope we all persevere together, in faith, and meet in the sweet by and by.
Dave Smith said:
Sounds like you have got your blood pressure under control and have picked up your sword again, my friend. I praise your perseverance. 🙂
Matthew 18:17,18 “If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Yes, we take it to the Church, my friend, just as Jesus told us to. And yes the Church stands willing to forgive 70 times 7 times the sins committed by those who are repentant. But one is not considered repentant until and unless one stops doing what it was that they are repentant for: such as adultery. And it is the Church that could, if it was so inclined, bind or loose the sins of the sinner but we do not and can not do what Christ forbid men to do, such as:
Matthew 19:6 “Therefore now they are not two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.”
Your real objection to what I have been saying all along is that the Church has no competency to judge if a Christian marriage is truly a Christian marriage or is a complete fraud. I think the Church has all the wisdom necessary to decide this. And thus we disagree.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
Fair point mu friend, but I’m mightily puzzled. One moment everyone thought they were one flesh, and then with a flourish of the Canon Law, they never were.
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Dave Smith said:
That is the reason for the questions from the Church, my friend: to determine if both thought as they should when they married. Without the questions and the answers to those questions there is no way that the Church could sanction a second marriage when the first spouse was yet alive.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
And, of course, everyone in that position is going to go there if they know there will be a problem? It seems a system ripe with opportunities for sinful man. Still, what isn’t?
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Dave Smith said:
Indeed, even the loosing of sin in Confession offers the sinner a chance to sin again; thus heaping sin upon sin. But the Church must loose the sinner if it has no proof to the contrary.
And so it is during the questions and answers about a previous marriage. We must accept what is stated. If they lie to the tribunal simply to free themselves from their obligations then they sin twice.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
Thye capacity of people to ‘misremember’ is remarkable 🙂
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Dave Smith said:
I think hypocrites will continue to be hypocrites and remember what they want to remember and forget what they want to forget until the day of judgement comes, my friend.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
Very true. But then we should all thank God that he will forgive us our many sins. I shall never cease from being in awe that he died and suffered for me. What am I but a poor sinner who loses his way constantly? Yet he guides me home with love and care. For this mercy, many thanks.
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Dave Smith said:
Indeed our thanks and praise cannot match His generosity nor our mercy match His. Though we condemn ourselves long before He gives up on us, there is hope even to the last breath we take upon this earth: and so the necessity of the immense grace of Faith, Hope and Charity for the possibility even of our own salvation.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
He assure us that if we follow him we shall, at the end of the race, attain the victor’s crown, and to that end we put all we have – even if not as often as we should. What a God we have that despite our best efforts, he wishes us to be saved 🙂
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Dave Smith said:
May His Will be done, as it surely will be in the end. For it is mercy that even us sinners can continue to live with hope for final perseverance in faith. 🙂
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Bosco the Great said:
The Church.
The Church is the sum total of the born again. And the born again wouldn’t be caught dead in a room full of costume holymen and graven images. I cant even get someone how is born again to come in here and comment. Well, you know, some are the feet, some are the legs. Its a body and it has different parts. Im the part who witnesses to those in religions.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
Be careful you’re not the backside 🙂
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Bosco the Great said:
Ive seen the Church. Ive been with the church. Its amazing. Its amazing who He reaches down and saves. I didn’t know I was saved. All I knew was that I knew him, somehow and the world looked foreign to me. Then He guides the new saint to others to which this has happened to. He makes you go where he wants, like Jonah. Heres how it happened to me;
I was chosen by the pastor of the church I went to, the pastor also was a family friend, to go to some meeting of reps from other branches of congregational churchs, I guess. I wasn’t going to go. Spend my Saturday at some church meeting? No dice. No freakin way. Somehow, I guess the good reverend called my mother and told her about it, she told me I was to go. I figured he called her because she didn’t even hardly ever go to church anymore….I was the one who went. She would drop me off because I was in the choir. Come that Saturday she said I was going. I said forget that….im gonna sit in my room and play guitar and listen to Hendrix. Oh yes, I was reading about Jesus in the bible everyday. I just couldn’t put that book down. Well, she made me go and I was so mad at her, I could have cried. At the meeting was lots on teens like myself. Lots of girls. And the funny thing was, a fair number of them had the same thing happen to them. To make a long story short, from there I met other saved in my area. Some times we met in home, well most of the time we did. Small groups. Different walks of life. Rag tag kids sitting next to a businessman or doctor. A mother, a father, a grandpa, a grand ma, and me. We all had one thing in common. This funny thing had happened to us all and we were led there. It felt like we were in the water after our ship sank and a life raft came along and fished a few people out of the water. And here we sat. We were all greatful for the life raft.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
That life-raft is avaialble to all who will get on it Bosco. Don’t go thinking you know what only God knows. He, and he alone, knows who will be saved. For our part, just do the best you can – he knows that. He doesn’t ask for superhumans – just obedient ones.
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cathy said:
That is a lovely story, Mr Great. Happy days. 🙂
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Bosco the Great said:
You too good sister cathy can know the Lord. He stands at your door
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cathy said:
No, the Lord is not at the door; he has lived in my home for many, many years now. The metaphor is not one of standing at the door; the Lord is sprawled on the sofa, eating popcorn and enjoying listening to the radio with me. 🙂
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Bosco the Great said:
A couch potato eh. I hope hes not also a slob.
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cathy said:
Well, I am sorry to say that if I pray for the grass to be cut, it remains to me to do it. So you can draw your own conclusion from that one. : D
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Bosco the Great said:
that means you don’t know if you are saved.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
It means, like Paul, I am running the race, and you, unlike Paul, have your head in the sand and your thinking parts exposed to a kicking.
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Bosco the Great said:
Youre not sure of salvation. Salvation to you is a turkey shoot. You hope you get lucky.
Time is running out good brother.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
I am sure I am saved now, but if tomorrow I kill someone in a fit of temper, I will not be saved. If you think that ‘being saved’ means you cannot kill someone, the devil is fooling you.
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Bosco the Great said:
That’s a good question. What if a saved kills someone. Being save is knowing Jesus personally and you have a new spirit. I don’t see how one can un know someone, and I don’t think he will take back his spirit. You know, im not sure how Jesus would handle that.
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Bosco the Great said:
For our part, just do the best you can – he knows that
So, is that how it works? During judgment Jesus says….Hey, you tried. Come on in.
Very few people want to go to hell. Is the desire to go to heaven enough? Just DO the best we can and hope to be saved? That’s a crap shoot. Roll the dice and hope to get a 7 or 11.
Let me continue my testimony;
Those sitting in the room at the prayer meeting, all the different people, young and old, educated and not, we all knew we were on our way to hell and we were chosen to be saved. All figured they were OK befor and a few didn’t even believe in Jesus or god. Ill tell you what…the big religious people were the most greatful because they thought they were doing what god wanted, especially the Marys. The Marys were really glad to be deliverd from that web of works salvation. Lots of the discussion was about friends and family who were unsaved. It wasn’t about us….its was about the others who are going to wake up in hell. Some people brought unsaved friends, and lots of times they would accept the Lord, eventually. Its not about us anymore, but those around us who don’t know the Lord. Its painful to think of them spending eternity in torment and fire, reserved for the devil and his angels.
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cathy said:
I am pleased that you are motivated by concern for other people’s suffering, Mr G. That is good to know.
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Bosco the Great said:
I don’t want my friends to suffer for eternity. Its a heavy burden on me.
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cathy said:
Leave that burden at the foot of the cross. It is for the Holy Spirit to convict of sin, not you.
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Bosco the Great said:
Yes, leave it at the cross. Good idea.
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Rudy Carrera said:
I always preferred this example of salvation. It’s from Metropolitan Kallistos:
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Bosco the Great said:
Salvation isn’t a mystery. And either one is saved or one isn’t. Theres no halfway saved. Its only a mystery to the unsaved. Hes being saved. How come god didn’t completely save him? He better not get hit by a bus.
Costume holymen
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Rudy Carrera said:
There is absolutely no such thing as ‘once saved, always saved,’ Bosco. There never was. It’s a very lazy, excuse-laden way of ducking your responsibility to Christ. Typical of bedroom Evangelicals. You’re not practicing Christianity. Just the Jack Chick school of Gnosticism.
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Bosco the Great said:
Well, you know good brother Rudy, I guess someone can be born again and then turn against Christ. Its possible. But I don’t know of any instances of it happening. I know Satan rebelled. And he knows Christ better than I do. But does he? Blessed is he who has not seen but believes. Ive never seen Christ, yet I believe and know him. I guess im better than your master Satan. You and you costumed holymen.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
Quote me Paul, Jesus or an Apostle saying that and I’ll believe you.
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Bosco the Great said:
Saying what? I don’t read minds.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
Saying that once you are saved you can’t lose salvation. The whole point of 1 Corinthians and Galatians is that you can.
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Bosco the Great said:
Ill give those another look. But my first idea is that some among the followers were not born again, and they usually were a bit of trouble.
Running the race doesn’t mean getting more saved. Born again is in an instant. One isn’t even aware of it.
Hold on there people. Im being hit with the accusation that I said one can never lose his salvation. Ive never said that. You wanna know how I know I never said that……because im not sure. I don’t know if one can lose it. My guess is that it is possible….because Satan lost his place in heaven. Somewhere in the NT it mentions loosing ones first estate.
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Gareth Thomas said:
For the moment, I think I will take a break from reading and/or contributing pieces to this blog. There are some good people here and I thank you for your appreciation of the pieces I have recently contributed, but the predictable way that the whole comments sequence just becomes the playground of one person repeating the same mindless slogans is rather depressing. It is also very disappointing when one has put a lot of thought into a piece and it is then treated with utter disdain by one who is only concerned with his own shallow and bad mannered stand-up tragedy act. There is little point in writing a piece when you know – in the end – it is all going to be treated to the gramophone record of “costume holy men’ and insulting dribbling headbanging emptiness with not a shred of wit nor intelligence. For that reason I find it impossible even to recommend the blog to others, as it contains this rather embarrassing Punch & Judy theatre in every episode. I shall look in later on – in a few weeks – and see if things have settled down. Good luck with it all.
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Bosco the Great said:
Don’t let the door knob hit you where the dog shoulda bit you
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cathy said:
Mr Great has given us an honest testimony which ought to help us all to understand why he speaks as he does. I don’t see that as shallow or bad mannered.
The only bad mannered comment suggested that he might be the backside (of the Body of Christ), and that came from Geoffrey. I don’t know about Mr G, but I found that comment distasteful in the extreme.
I would like to suggest that everyone take a step back and look at what they have written before posting it. Perhaps ask whether you would want your priest or minister to read it, and whether you would feel proud if they did.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
I understand why he talks as he does. He’s told us often enough. If you don’t mind being told you are an idol worshipper bound for hell, that’s your prerogative; mine’s to tell him what I told him.
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Bosco the Great said:
Good brother Jeff, I have never told anyone specific that they are going to hell. All men are born unsaved and if they die unsaved they will suffer hell. I tell everyone that Jesus stands at their door and knocks, like he did at my door. I invite every person to open the door. It is my hope that every read open the door. Its not me who says idolaters go to hell. Its Christ that says that. You get pissed at me for reminding you of that. You brown nose the idolaters instead of offering salvation. Then at times you expose their rotten religion. You vacillate like the wind.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
No, I get tired of you telling me that I’m not one of the sheep whose voice you recognise. I received the Lord as my saviour more than sixty years ago, and if you can’t hear it in what I write, you’re deaf.
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Bosco the Great said:
Once in awhile I hear it in you.
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cathy said:
I don’t mind a bit what Mr Great calls me. I mind very much what I call him.
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Steve Brown said:
Hear, hear! Come on C, can’t you see?
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Bosco the Great said:
I second your sentiments good brother Steve. Lets ban this troublemaker who says Jesus stands to your door. You just can stand it, can you. You hate it.
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Steve Brown said:
No Bosco, what I hate is a lying scumbag who calls his own daughter an idiot. By the way, what’s your current chess rating? It does not matter because all of us know whatever comes out of your mouth is a lie.
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Grandpa Zeke said:
Unfortunate but understandable.
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Bosco the Great said:
Whatsbothering good brother Graeth? He acts like hes mad that I point outhis sick sad religion has costume holymen, as if they don’t. Good brother Gareth has some mental issues, I always noticed. Poor sap.
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cathy said:
Kindly refrain from the pathologising, Mr G. Many thanks.
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Bosco the Great said:
Ive known good brother Gareth for at least 8 or nine yrs good sister Cathy.
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Grandpa Zeke said:
And he has known you for the same amount of time.
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cathy said:
Nice try, but knowing someone for a long time does not give you the right to pathologise them. 🙂
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Bosco the Great said:
Good sister, you’ve seen all the names im called in here. I usually don’t reciprocate. I understand that they are offended when I tell them to open the door to Jesus. They suppose they are saved and how dare me tell them to invite Jesus in. Now good brother Jeff is sore at me. I don’t believe ive ever told someone that I don’t hear the voice of the Lord in them. I do insinuate it by saying that I know it when I hear it. I try not to beat these people over the head with it. That doesn’t help. I bring it up when people ask me how I know who is a fellow saint. I tell them….I hear Jesus in their voice, even if its typed. To every man an answer. The last thing I want to do is beat someone over the head with my salvation. It was a gift to me. I didn’t earn it.
Any way, no time like the present to invite Jesus in.
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cathy said:
It is not for you (or me ftm) to determine whether anyone has the voice of the Lord in them. Good if you can hear it, but if you cannot that proves nothing at all. As for insinuations, well, I think they have no part in our walk of faith. Either say it or don’t say it. : )
As before, the Lord is happily at home in my home. Sitting beside me, looking at the cat playing in the garden, and enjoying coffee.
God be with you.
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Bosco the Great said:
Good sister, you are a voice of reason in this boiling cauldron. It repents me that I was critical of you earlier.
Fight the good fight.
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cathy said:
Were you critical of me?
I didn’t notice.
🙂
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Grandpa Zeke said:
No Bosco, wrong again. Gareth is none of the things you say. You have been asked numerous times to keep your comments relevant to the blog posts. I wonder if Cathy is aware that you are welcomed as this blog out of Christian love whereas you have been banned from most other Catholic blogs due to your bad manners? I also wonder if she knows that you are also welcomed here as a full contributor and have the right and privilege to write blog posts in order to voice your views? My suggestion to you is that you spend more time writing blog posts to express yourself and less time writing irrelevant comments that divert attention away from other contributor’s posts. This is disrespectful and not a good fruit of your conversion experience.
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cathy said:
Mr Great follows the example of John Wesley; he preaches only Christ and him crucified. I have no problem with that.
I do have a problem with bad manners on either side. He is far from the worst offender.
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Grandpa Zeke said:
Well Cathy, in time I believe you will have a better perspective on what it is that your new friend is preaching. What you see as bad manners is the culmination of many faithful Christians who have dealt with Bosco online for many years (he admits to knowing Gareth for 8 years), not just a month or two. He has had ample time to clarify his beliefs. I would ask you to take the time to look over past posts. Has Bosco ever said a kind word to anyone who has written (often eloquently and humbly) of their love for the Lord? Or does he post links to scandles and sensational news items which amount to a slap in the face to the blog writer? Does he disparage Catholics who receive the Eucharist as having “a mouth stuffed with crackers”? Does he demonstrate love for the mother of our Lord by referring to her as Diana? Has he responded to you about the links you have suggested he read? Why not ask him what he thinks of the Marian prayer you sent to him and if it was helpful to his understanding of the faith and church that you love?
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cathy said:
Thank you for your comment.
If I were as close to perfection myself as everyone else here clearly is, I might ask all those questions of Mr Great. As I am far from perfection, however, I will only ever ask them of myself.
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Bosco the Great said:
Good sister Cathy, those who are whole need not a physician.Those of us who are sick, need the Great Physician.
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Grandpa Zeke said:
That is a curious response, Cathy.
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cathy said:
Why, thank you.
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Grandpa Zeke said:
Would you like to help me understand what you meant?
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cathy said:
Usually I mean what I say. The only person I feel authorised to ask searching questions of, is myself. I am not authorised to go around catechising anyone else. I am not a priest, or a theologian, or anyone particularly learned. I am only trying to do my best to see what is good in other people, and to overlook what is less good, in the hope that the Lord will do the same with me.
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Grandpa Zeke said:
I see. I was surprised that you assumed I was saying that anyone was perfect, and in your response you suggested that I meant to say everyone here (except Bosco) is perfect. That was not at all my meaning and I was baffled why you would make that leap as my mind often works in a slow and literal way. I do perceive that I have irritated you and I beg your pardon for that. That is rarely if ever my intent but I do not claim to be perfect in any way.
Many of the blog posts offer deep spiritual refreshment. I hope that you stop and stay awhile (and your paintings on your website are very beautiful).
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cathy said:
No, you were not saying everyone was perfect. I was the one who said other people here are more perfect (spiritually speaking) than I am, which is true. I have no deep insights into anything, and certainly could not write anything that others would find of value here.
You have not irritated me. If there is any irritation showing in my posts it is nothing to do with this place, and everything to do with being overtired from looking after my parents. My father was ill before, my mother has also become ill from trying to look after him, and I have been much occupied with trying to find help for them both, in between posting here. It is a difficult time.
I try to remain placid, but it is not always possible. I also try to find the best in everyone, and not to over-defend. If there is an issue here irt our mutual friend, I think it may well be one of over-defensiveness being interpreted as attack, and then that leading to escalation on both sides. I have seen that many times over the years. The only response that can work is non defence; remain open to what is good. As in the link I posted, from St Silouan. Don’t take my word for it; read what he says.
Thank you for your kind words about my pictures; I appreciate that very much.
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Grandpa Zeke said:
Thank you for the more detailed response so I can understand. I will pray for you, I cared for my mother with dementia and had sole responsibility for all her medical needs, it was a very trying time and I often felt overwhelmed. However, I did survive the ordeal and in fact my conversion occurred as a result of that trial. I extend to you my deepest concern, care, and prayers.
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cathy said:
Thank you. I appreciate that very much. My cousin has cared for his own mother as you did; he is a real star.
I did formerly put comments on my blog about dad and his illness, but it never really seemed to fit, so now I don’t say anything about it. If there is any effect at all it will be to increase sympathy for anyone who is outside or other, simply because I am the same.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
He’s bored with you. We’re all bored with you. There’s a reason for that – you are very boring.
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Rob said:
I agree and think it is now time for some rules to be put on Bosco e.g. that comments will only appear if they meet the the sort of suggestions just made by Grandpa Zeke.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
I third that – and hope C will do that.
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chalcedon451 said:
I have seen what you have all been written, and I think that has to be the way to go. Work commitments will take me away from being able to attend to the blog as much as I should like over the next few days, although there will be the usual postings. I shall endeavour to act accordingly when I am back. But will leave a note for Bosco.
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Bosco the Great said:
Good brother Jeff, yes, lets ban the only voice that asks people to open the door to Christ. Your message is 95 % good food and 5% poison. Its only good for poisoning Rats.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
No, let’s not. Let that voice write a post if he wants, or comment on the substance of someone else’s post; but let him not divert someone else’s post to something he wants to say. if he wants to say it, say it in a post. How hard is that? Or are you going to carry on playing the world’s smallest violin?
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chalcedon451 said:
Bosco, I don’t know whether you read the comments of others, but there is an overwhelming consensus that your comments, often not on post, add nothing to the experience of our readers and are becoming intolerable. Rob and Geoffrey, neither of them Catholics, have backed a suggestion from Zeke to this effect: ‘ My suggestion to you is that you spend more time writing blog posts to express yourself and less time writing irrelevant comments that divert attention away from other contributor’s posts. This is disrespectful and not a good fruit of your conversion experience.’ We would, all of us, benefit if you would do this. Do you think you can? I most reluctant to put you on moderation, but the view of the fellowship here is it would be better to hear from you in posts and less in comments. C451
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Bosco the Great said:
I fully understand good brother CXhalcedon. The reason I don’t start a post for every idea I get is because I don’t want to fill up the blog with my own posts. Like everyone notes, I say the same thing all the time. As you note, even the protestants are weary of me.
I am the only person in here who tells people that Jesus stands at their door and knocks. My master has told me that if people hated him, they will hate his servants.
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chalcedon451 said:
Bosco, no one ‘hates’ you, fr from it. It is simply that people seem to weary of you banging on saying the same thing over and over again. They would rather you put up a post saying what you need to say than your derailing posts on other topics. You know you are welcome here, but what people are saying is have a little consideration for other people.
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cathy said:
I have not been here for a long time, admittedly, but I read some comments from our friend today that seemed to be honest and open about his coming to the Lord. Is that really him saying the same thing over and over?
I know a lot of people are tired of his comments, but are they really reading them without prejudice? I think his attitude can be unfortunate, but frankly he is not the only one on that front, and I really get the impression that his heart is in the right place, albeit not always expressed in the most fortunate manner. When he is attacked (which happens a lot!) he does not respond with malice. When he is addressed with respect, he answers with respect.
I am not weary of his comments, nor do I despair of finding common ground with him. I might feel the same had I been here for years like everyone else, but what can you do? I can only speak for where I am now.
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chalcedon451 said:
As you say, Cathy, you have not had four years of him saying the same things. that is what is turing people.
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Steve Brown said:
Cathy, you don’t know what you’re talking about. He should have been banned long ago.
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Bosco the Great said:
I don’t know if anyone has noticed, ive been trying to stay on topic.i promised good brother Chacedon and others I would try harder to play fair.
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cathy said:
Mr Brown; you may well be right. I may well not know what I am talking about; that would not be a surprise to anyone.
However, St Julian of Norwich knew what she was talking about: ‘Thou wouldn’st know the Lord’s meaning in this thing? Know it well; love is the answer.’
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cathy said:
*wouldst 🙂
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cathy said:
No, I have not had four years. But I have also not had much negativity directed my way.
I wonder why that is?
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chalcedon451 said:
He only goes for Roman Catholics.
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cathy said:
Are you sure? Or does he react?
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chalcedon451 said:
No, he’s a Jack Chick tribute act. He came here from the Telegraph where he’d been putting over anti Catholic links.
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cathy said:
Regardless, I will follow St Silouan’s advice and example.
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Bosco the Great said:
Good sister Cathy, good brother Chalcedon is exaggerating a bit.I don’t only go after cathols. I actually don’t go after my catholic brothers…..I go after their religion. I go after all religions and good brother Chalcedon knows this. Its that the church of Mary gives me so much comedic material, its endless and very funny. Other religions aren’t as colorful.
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chalcedon451 said:
Since our religion in part of who we are, that would be you admitting I am right.
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Grandpa Zeke said:
I agree C. He may as well be mocking our family members.
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chalcedon451 said:
If he can’t see it, then he’s been told often enough, alas.
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Bosco the Great said:
Good brother Chalcedon, you are a human. You have membership in a club, the club of Mary. I was a boy scout. I took off the uniform when the meeting was over and I was just plain old Bosco. Religions are air. You are you. You find solace with some particular mental image this club gives. That’s all it is, is a mental image. You still put your pants on the same way all men do.
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chalcedon451 said:
If you think the church founded by Jesus is a club, you need to reread your New Testament. It is the body of Christ.
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Bosco the Great said:
Ok, ill do a postinstead of commenting in others dry legalist blasé posts. But that will severely limit my contributions to this blog. I really don’t have anything new to say.
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Geoffrey RS Sales said:
In which case, fine. Anyone who believes what you say knows it. But you never engage when I say prove ‘once saved always saved’. I’ve asked you to show me where in Scripture it says that? You don’t. Do it if you believe it, show us why you think you are right, don’t just do the parrot stuff.
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Bosco the Great said:
I don’t prove it because im not sure of once saved always saved. I don’t believe ive ever said that. Maybe it sounds like I said it. Lots of time im not real clear.
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cathy said:
Don’t worry. We all struggle to find words for what cannot be put into words.
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cathy said:
I don;t have anything new to say either, Mr Great. God be with you.
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cathy said:
http://myocn.net/st-silouan-athonite-talk-heterodox/
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Bosco the Great said:
My message is always the same…..repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Gods speed to you good sister Cathy.
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cathy said:
And with thy Spirit, Brother Bosco.
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Al DeFilippo said:
Thank you for the post. For more on John Wesley and George Whitefield, I would like to invite you to the website for the book series, The Asbury Triptych Series. The trilogy based on the life of Francis Asbury, the young protégé of John Wesley and George Whitefield, opens with the book, Black Country. The opening novel in this three-book series details the amazing movement of Wesley and Whitefield in England and Ireland. The book also richly brings to life the life-changing effect on a Great Britain sadly in need of deliverance from addiction to gin and illiteracy. Black Country also details the Wesleyan movement’s effect on the future leader of Christianity in the American colonies, Francis Asbury. The website for the book series is http://www.francisasburytriptych.com. Again, thank you, for the post.
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Luisa said:
Oh, dear. We now have TWO idiots.
Please, C, please. I very rarely comment, but please, spare us Bosco’s illiterate rantings -and, if possible, his silly apologist…
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Bosco the Great said:
Have a nice day to you too.
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cathy said:
I assume you mean me? Why thank you.
If Chalcedon wants me gone, I will certainly go.
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