Wednesday

As I continue to think about the Roman Catholic Church, I’ve identified 4reasons why I would even being looking in that direction.First there is the Eucharist. Going to our local Episcopalian church for ayear, reminded me how much I missed receiving communion every week. Andthere is a sense of the sacred, the HOLY that goes along with a liturgicalcelebration of the Lord’s Table, that I have seldom experienced inprotestant churches, although there are examples of this in some mainlinedenominational churches, ie. Lutheran and Methodist. But mainline churchesare so getting so liberal in their doctrines. Which brings me to thesecond reason.Leadership and Authority. I’m not a foolish person, naïve or uneducated. Iknow there has been corruption and some very dark ages in Roman Catholic –Papal history. Yet it seems that the problem of changing doctrine, liberalthinking, and church hoping til you find a church that fits, are allsymptoms of not having good, definite leadership…someone, somewhere whogive the final word to settle conflict. And it seems that without thisauthority, there are too many pastors and teachers out there who are undereducated, and unsupervised. When one says they only have to answer to oneauthority, be it the BIBLE or the LORD Himself, that leaves too much roomfor the deceiver to pervert the truth, and lead not only the shepherd buthis flock astray. The third reason follows logically. The question of doctrine. I’ve hadmany debates here and elsewhere about the doctrine of predestination. Butthere are other doctrines as well, that many main line churches, megachurches, and tela-evangelists claim to be ultimate truth, that I can’tswallow. Like tongues and rapture, while there are some, like HolyCommunion (John 6) and Apostolic authority, that they ignore or down play. And as I intentlylisten to Bible teachers, Catholic and non-Catholic, I hear much deeperteaching – more substance and less shouting, from the Catholics. The fourth reason is personal. It has to do with the journey I’ve been on.The journey that my husband and I have been on for the past 30 years.There have been a lot of road blocks and disappointments. Rejection andfrustration. It seems impossible, yet in some way logical that all thishas led us, in a very round about way, to the Catholic Church. And itwould actually make sense, if this were why things have been going the waythey’ve been going. The consideration. Choosing Catholic would be a much more seriousdecision than choosing to hop from the Assemblies of God to the Methodistor placePlaceNameBaptist PlaceTypeChurch. And there is the question of myimmortal soul. I think a true Catholic would tell me that if I didn’t“come home” I would end up burning in hell, having once known the wholetruth and rejecting it. I will not make my decision based on the fear ofhell. Yet, if Catholicism is true, except for the hope of Divine Mercy,that is a serious issue. Especially now.Which brings me to my prayer request. On March 14 I am going in for a biopsy on my kidney. I am not reallyworried about this. But the situation is real and could be serious. Ithink probably, at the least, I will have to have the kidney removed. Ihonestly expect the worst. But your prayers would be appreciated. Time to go back to work. Blessings All!

Wednesday

I’m not sure where I’ll be going to Church the next few Sundays. We’ve been worshiping in the local Episcopal congregation for about a year, but our friend the priest resigned last week. God bless him and his family for taking a stand for the Gospel of Christ and the authority of the Bible over the authority of man, or in this case woman.
Ah, the chain of authority, submitting to authority. I know there is a lot that can be said against the Roman Catholic Church. But look at the depths to which so many main line denominations have fallen. Churches which exist because their founders rebelled or at the very least protested against the authority of the RC church.
The Bible alone! Yet so many argue over what it means. If we were in agreement, there wouldn’t be so many different denominations. Faith alone? But even the demons believe.
I recently heard a priest address the idea of faith alone. First that in that oft quoted verse, “by faith alone” the word alone was added by Luther in his translation into German.
Second, that when talking about entering into the kingdom of God, Jesus included the “sacraments”. In John 6 He says unless we eat of his body and drink of his blood we can not enter the Kingdom of God - not a direct quote but I often wonder if non-catholic ministers really meditate on that intense teaching. Or perhaps, like giving honor to Mary, they think that Communion is “too Catholic” to give much attention to. And baptism for the forgiveness of sin.
And James, the brother of Jesus, (his step brother or cousin if you go along with Catholic teaching) says “not by faith alone” 2:24. When the rich young ruler asked Jesus what he should do to be saved, Jesus answered, obey the commandments and sell all your stuff and give to the poor.
Like I said, I don’t know where I’ll be going to Church now that Fr. Carl quit. Maybe the LORD will open a door for Pastor Art to minister again. Maybe I’ll find a good Wesleyan type church. We were discussing our options on the way home last Sunday. Oh well, I will trust in the LORD, trust that He will direct my paths. At least I know, that today I will watch the sun rise, go to work, teach and drink green tea. I know my students will frustrate me and make me smile. I know I will try to tackle the paperwork piling up on my desk, and come home exhausted. Yesterday my husband - Pastor Art - and I got to share a glorious sunrise and sunset. Praise to the LORD, the Almighty, the maker of heaven and earth - amen