No worries, and thanks for reading. I meant retail :) as in Collins English Dictionary: "If someone retails a story or event, they tell it to someone else, often in detail and in an exciting way."
God’s providence at work! 😄 I’m thankful for Christie’s dad’s efforts too and your parents library, because so many souls have been enriched by what you do, me included! I love your show.
I spent three years studying scripture through the attendance of a local men's Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) group. The class included structured reading assignments along with formal questions that were subsequently discussed in a group setting. The meeting was concluded by a formal presentation and the handout of BSF scripture notes. The presentation and notes were basically Baptist in theology but I remember not being convinced by them on justification and the eucharist. The bible is so Catholic but thanks to a grace of humility - I never left the church and the experience taught me to defend Catholic doctrine from Scripture.
One of my first girlfriends was Protestant. I never got the detailed arguments against Catholicism as Patrick did in this article, but I would get a lot of 'jabs' from her mother about how, "You Catholics think you're the only church", and things of that nature. She kind of a would berate me a little bit for being Catholic. Me, being a dopey 16 year old and not knowing how to defend myself or my faith at that point, would just kind of say 'ok' and just move on with the conversation, and my life. It never shook my faith, and I guess in a way made my faith a little stronger. I loved my Catholic faith, and I guess I just didn't care what she thought about it. Again, that might of been due to being a dopey 16 year old. Although being of different faiths (denominations) wasn't the reason for our breakup, I have looked back on it and Thanked God numerous times that a couple of years down the road He put a wonderful Catholic girl of the same level of faith as myself, into my life. We've been together 44 years, married for 37, and I can't help think that the faith/religious aspect of our lives has been so much easier because of it. Thank you for sharing this Patrick. Love your RR show!
My OB-GYN, a fallen away Catholic, who delivered my 3rd baby in 1997 challenged me with scripture against the Catholic Church at each visit. He and I were both strong personalities who liked to win. Fortunately we had a great relationship and loved to “spar” with each other. But I quickly realized I didn’t know the Bible well enough to respond to his carefully chosen verses. The challenge was on. And it made me a stronger Catholic.
Providentially I had attended a Catholic apologetics conference which inspired me to learn the truths of the teachings of the Catholic Church (Thank you, Patrick, for speaking at this conference on two occasions!). I was given a lot of tools to help me know where to find answers.
He and I continued this friendly debate until he suddenly passed away this summer. Unfortunately he never came back to the Catholic Church before passing. He and his wonderful wife (also a fallen away Catholic) had 8 beautiful children, including 3 adopted from China. 🙏🏻May his soul rest in peace.
Only in my case, a couple of classmates handed me two J. C. tracts: Why is Mary Crying, and The Death Cookie.
Luckily for me, my mother was raised Presbyterian. She converted to Catholicism when she married my father. She rather inculcated me against false doctrine.
While I grew up with the B. C., and new a bit more about the Bible than most Catholics, I still wasn't in a position to refute some of the claims.
Complete answers wouldn't come until the advent of the internet, and my discovery (quite by accident) of people like Dr. Scott Hahn, and others, including yourself.
Delete after reviewing. 13th paragraph "retail" or "retell"? Insufferable grammarian in me...
Beautiful story. Thank you for sharing yourself with us.
No worries, and thanks for reading. I meant retail :) as in Collins English Dictionary: "If someone retails a story or event, they tell it to someone else, often in detail and in an exciting way."
God’s providence at work! 😄 I’m thankful for Christie’s dad’s efforts too and your parents library, because so many souls have been enriched by what you do, me included! I love your show.
I spent three years studying scripture through the attendance of a local men's Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) group. The class included structured reading assignments along with formal questions that were subsequently discussed in a group setting. The meeting was concluded by a formal presentation and the handout of BSF scripture notes. The presentation and notes were basically Baptist in theology but I remember not being convinced by them on justification and the eucharist. The bible is so Catholic but thanks to a grace of humility - I never left the church and the experience taught me to defend Catholic doctrine from Scripture.
One of my first girlfriends was Protestant. I never got the detailed arguments against Catholicism as Patrick did in this article, but I would get a lot of 'jabs' from her mother about how, "You Catholics think you're the only church", and things of that nature. She kind of a would berate me a little bit for being Catholic. Me, being a dopey 16 year old and not knowing how to defend myself or my faith at that point, would just kind of say 'ok' and just move on with the conversation, and my life. It never shook my faith, and I guess in a way made my faith a little stronger. I loved my Catholic faith, and I guess I just didn't care what she thought about it. Again, that might of been due to being a dopey 16 year old. Although being of different faiths (denominations) wasn't the reason for our breakup, I have looked back on it and Thanked God numerous times that a couple of years down the road He put a wonderful Catholic girl of the same level of faith as myself, into my life. We've been together 44 years, married for 37, and I can't help think that the faith/religious aspect of our lives has been so much easier because of it. Thank you for sharing this Patrick. Love your RR show!
-Deacon Jeff R.-
God writes straight with crooked lines!
My OB-GYN, a fallen away Catholic, who delivered my 3rd baby in 1997 challenged me with scripture against the Catholic Church at each visit. He and I were both strong personalities who liked to win. Fortunately we had a great relationship and loved to “spar” with each other. But I quickly realized I didn’t know the Bible well enough to respond to his carefully chosen verses. The challenge was on. And it made me a stronger Catholic.
Providentially I had attended a Catholic apologetics conference which inspired me to learn the truths of the teachings of the Catholic Church (Thank you, Patrick, for speaking at this conference on two occasions!). I was given a lot of tools to help me know where to find answers.
He and I continued this friendly debate until he suddenly passed away this summer. Unfortunately he never came back to the Catholic Church before passing. He and his wonderful wife (also a fallen away Catholic) had 8 beautiful children, including 3 adopted from China. 🙏🏻May his soul rest in peace.
And thank God for your parents' extensive collection of reference books. I presume you have thanked them.
Oh Patrick, keep that Bible open wide!
You bring the Truth with joy
and a twinkle in your eye.
From saints and sacrament to why
we kneel and pray,
We thank the Lord for Patrick
and the wisdom he conveys!
(Hear the whole thing here:
https://songer.co/song/x6tnop6tgvf40l9qil5wo7kh)
sacraments
Same.
Only in my case, a couple of classmates handed me two J. C. tracts: Why is Mary Crying, and The Death Cookie.
Luckily for me, my mother was raised Presbyterian. She converted to Catholicism when she married my father. She rather inculcated me against false doctrine.
While I grew up with the B. C., and new a bit more about the Bible than most Catholics, I still wasn't in a position to refute some of the claims.
Complete answers wouldn't come until the advent of the internet, and my discovery (quite by accident) of people like Dr. Scott Hahn, and others, including yourself.
Hi Barbara, I assume that “JC” means Jack Chick. What is the acronym you use, “BC”? Just curious… :)
May God bless and guide you & all your loved ones!