tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286410242024-03-14T11:25:23.404-05:00Catholic ConvertsWe have heard the call and followed it home to Rome.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.comBlogger180125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-90510203160380343062009-06-21T13:34:00.002-05:002009-06-21T13:39:55.277-05:00It is good to be back<p>This is a repost from my other blog, <a href="http://callingromehome.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Calling Rome Home</a>. I hope it will help to explain the inactivity of the Catholic Converts blog over the past few months. Please bear with me as I start the process of catching up while trying to stay focused on my own relationship with Christ.</p><p><br />It's been just over 14 months (about 10 months here) since my last post. It's amazing how quickly time goes by.The past year has been one of spiritual struggle which reached a cresendo about eight months ago when I stopped going to confession, a month later stopped going to Mass, and fell back into some old, and into some new, sinful ways.I reached a point where I felt as though my prayers weren't being heard, or possibly even ignored, because I felt like I wasn't getting any answers. I let bitterness take over and turned away. Over the last few months God has gently guided me to the realization that maybe I wasn't hearing any answers because I was listening too intently for what I wanted to hear instead of what he was saying. This realization came through a series of nudges from God when I wasn't thinking about Him, on the way to work, while eating dinner, etc. Just little thoughts that would pop into my head.I made my first confession in 8 months yesterday afternoon. I have never felt more vulnerable nor more emboldened than when my confessor spoke about it being the grace of God that prevented my faith from being destroyed and lead back to the sacraments.I'm not sure yet what God has to say to me, but I pray and ask you friends to pray for me, that I may put aside what I want to hear and listen to Him. </p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-24852886286607107712009-06-09T13:14:00.001-05:002009-06-09T13:15:36.815-05:002009 Catholic ConvertsGet the 2009 badge for your website or blog by vising "A Catholic Life"<br /><br /><a href="http://acatholiclife.blogspot.com/2009/05/proudly-entered-catholic-church-2009.html">http://acatholiclife.blogspot.com/2009/05/proudly-entered-catholic-church-2009.html</a>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-55736498361377287382008-08-23T23:06:00.001-05:002008-08-23T23:08:32.892-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">A Journey in Prayer<br /><br />By Randy Hain<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I was recently reflecting on my faith journey over the last few years. I converted to Catholicism in 2006 with my wife. I was raised in the Baptist church until I stopped attending as a 15 year old and had no relationship with God until I experienced a powerful personal conversion in late 2005 while attending my second mass. My 23 years in the “spiritual wilderness” were challenging in that my life revolved around only work and then after my marriage, family and work. God was always watching over me during these years, but I didn’t have a relationship with Him and I certainly didn’t pray to Him until after my conversion and surrender to His will. <br /><br />Before I began my RCIA classes in the Fall of 2006, I studied the Catholic faith in earnest. I tend to intellectualize everything and my first thoughts were to learn everything I could about our faith. I quickly realized there was more to our wonderful Faith than knowledge, history and tradition! I then began to focus on being the best Catholic I could be and started on my true faith journey, versus simply immersing myself in books. One of the biggest obstacles for me in those days was my lack of prayer life. I knew I needed to pray, but I couldn’t ever remember sincerely praying about anything. I was struggling with the typical male challenge of asking for help, especially asking God for help! Who was I to bother Him with my petty problems?<br /><br />I went to one of our Deacons, shared my prayer challenges with him and asked for guidance. He looked at me with some amusement and said I was approaching prayer in the wrong way. “Don’t worry about asking for help just yet,” he said. Simply go to the Lord with thanks and be grateful for the blessings in my life. Eventually, I learned to ask God for help and guidance, but my prayer life started by offering thanks to Him. The light bulb went off and I finally got it! I now understood that my faith journey would never grow unless I had an active prayer life. This was the beginning of my prayer journey that has continued to unfold and grow with each passing day. I would like to share with you the stages of my prayer journey as a Catholic, lessons I have learned and insights into how I pray in hopes you will find my experiences to be helpful.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stage One</span> of my prayer life was learning to thank God and be grateful. Going to Him in prayer and reflecting on the blessings and burdens in my life every day is how I learned to appreciate and acknowledge the Lord’s role in my life. To this day I never start a prayer without thanking Him.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stage Two</span> for me was learning to ask for forgiveness. I go to reconciliation frequently, but it is still important for me to ask the Lord for his pardon and forgiveness when I commit a sin-which is more frequent than I care to admit! It has become a daily Examination of Conscience for me to reflect on where I have failed Him and ask for forgiveness and the grace to not commit that sin again. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stage Three</span> was asking for His help and guidance. This stage of prayer is also when I also learned to pray for others and their needs. I think men in general struggle with asking for help and I am no exception. My growing prayer life and deepening faith journey has given me the humility to realize that I don’t have all the answers and that Jesus absolutely wants to help me. Early on I would tentatively ask for help with the BIG stuff like getting my family into Heaven, blessing our Priests and Deacons, giving our government leaders wisdom and so on. Now, I am very comfortable asking for His help and guidance in every facet of my life. But, first I had to gain the humility to recognize that without our Lord I am nothing and I need His strength.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stage Four</span> in my prayer journey has been learning to completely unburden myself to the Lord. This has occurred only in the last several months. I have always been inclined to carry my stress, frustrations, worries and fears like a secret weight around my neck. As I got better at asking the Lord for help, I began asking for His help to lighten these mental and emotional burdens. I am so grateful that I now can go to Him and absolutely give Him whatever is weighing me down, from work stress, to concern about my children’s future. Whatever it is, I share it with Jesus as he asked us to in Matthew 11:28-29, “Come to me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. Your souls will find rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden light.”<br /><br />I am confident that there will be more and evolving stages of prayer growth for me if I am humble and focused on deepening my relationship with Christ. St. Teresa of Avila wrote frequently on the stages of prayer, especially in her book The Interior Castle. I hope to reach the contemplative and mystical prayer life she describes in her works and pray that Jesus will lead me there.<br /><br />Some important lessons I have learned (and keep learning!) in my prayer life and would like to share include:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> * Make time for prayer-just do it!</span> If you don’t schedule prayer time and stick to it, it will not happen. Starting the day with prayer is often best and it builds slowly from there. Ask yourself if you would be willing to spend only 30 minutes a day with your loved ones. Hopefully the answer is a resounding NO! Ok, then why do we struggle to give the Lord at least 30 minutes a day in prayer? How you do it is not nearly as important as the act of doing it!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> * Have the proper disposition before praying.</span> It is important to have the right attitudes of humility and faith that God can and will help us before we start praying. Reading scripture or a book of meditations such as In Conversation With God or Imitation of Christ every day before prayer will help prepare our heads and hearts to approach the Lord in a deeper and more meaningful way.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> * Work through the “dry patches.”</span> We all experience dryness in our prayers or have trouble focusing. We may feel that God is not listening. We may fall into the trap of asking God to validate what we want instead of submitting to His will. I am certain that you will experience this, but keep at it! Mother Teresa’s book revealed decades of dryness and despair in her prayer life and yet she persevered!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> * Eucharistic Adoration is a gift. </span>We are so fortunate to have perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in our parish. Going before the Blessed Sacrament and having quiet prayer time in the presence of Christ often energizes you and becomes a catalyst for dramatically growing your prayer life.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> * Practice more listening and less talking in prayer.</span> Adoration is the perfect place to listen to the Lord in complete silence. We are often so busy talking that we fail to hear Him which detracts from our quality prayer time.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> * We can’t grow our Faith Journey without growing our Prayer Life!</span> We simply will not grow our relationship with Christ unless we do so through prayer. According to the Catechism (2744): Prayer is the lifeblood of your faith. Without prayer, your faith will die.<br /><br />Finally, I would like to share some insights on how I pray in hopes that it will inspire you and help you deepen your own prayer lives:<br /><br /> * I start every day by reading the bible or the Magnificat and the scripture for the mass that day. I then read In Conversation With God by Francis Fernandez and reflect on the meditation it contains and how it applies to my life. I follow with prayer and offer the day up to God.<br /><br />* I have been a Eucharistic Guardian since January of 2007 and this is the best hour of my week. No matter what is happening in my life, I can come into the True presence of Christ and open up to Him in prayer. It is absolutely uplifting and energizing and a great way to start my day.<br /><br />* I started praying the Rosary just three weeks ago and typically pray it on my way to work or while on the treadmill. I put praying the Rosary off for so long, but it is becoming a critical part of my prayer life and a true blessing. This goes hand in hand with my ever deepening love and appreciation for Mary and asking for her intercession and prayers.<br /><br />* The Daily Examen, developed by the Jesuits, is a critical part of my daily routine. Basically, we are asked to stop five times throughout the day for a few minutes of reflection and prayer. Each stopping point has a specific purpose such as the Prayer of Thanksgiving, Praying for Insight, Praying that you will find God in all things that day, Praying for your desires and what you seek from God and finally a Prayer about the Future and what you will resolve to do tomorrow. It is best to actually put these 5-minute blocks on your calendar throughout the day so you will be reminded.<br /><br />* Pray at every meal-public and private. It is important for us be thankful and acknowledge Christ and ask for His blessing.<br /><br />* My wife and I pray with our children every night. It is important for them to develop their own prayer lives, but they see our example and we also grow by sharing our prayer lives with them.<br /><br /><br /><br />Brothers and sisters, I certainly don’t have all the answers and I am no expert on prayer. I simply want to share with you as someone who struggles with the same issues and obstacles, that my prayer life and my faith journey have grown together. I didn’t have any kind of prayer life just three years ago and now I couldn’t imagine living a life without one. To me prayer is anytime that I turn my attention to God and away from myself alone. It can be accomplished in a variety of ways and acts. Feeling worthy or inspired is not a great barometer for measuring our prayer life. Praying for….the desire for prayer is worthwhile and a good start. <br /></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-86571107862098469502008-08-23T22:55:00.002-05:002008-08-23T23:05:53.994-05:00Big UpdateI apologize for being gone for so long. There have been a lot of links submitted since I last updated. Here they are:<br /><br />Todd: <a href="http://threenails.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Waiting in Joyful Hope</a><br />Reversion Story:<a href="http://threenails.blogspot.com/2008/05/why-i-am-catholic.html" target="_blank">Why I am Catholic</a><br /><br />Dan: <a href="http://www.beatvsvir.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Beatus Vir</a><br />Conversion Story: <a href="http://beatvsvir.blogspot.com/2008/06/how-i-became-catholic-i-wasnt-part-1.html" target="_blank">How I Became the Catholic I Wasn't</a><br /><br />J.R. <a href="http://www.jrbenedict.com/" target="_blank">Benedicite, Pater reverende</a><br /><br />Deana: <a href="http://deenyssimplejoys.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Simple Joys</a><br />Conversion Story: <a href="http://deenyssimplejoys.blogspot.com/2008/06/my-faith-journey.html" target="_blank">My Faith Journey to the Catholic Church from Fundamentalism/Evangelicalism</a><br /><br />Jennifer: <a href="http://runtherace121.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Running the Race</a><br /><br />Leslie: <a href="http://crusader888.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Young and Once Good Pundit</a><br /><br />Katie: <a href="http://justanothercatholicmom.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Just Another Catholic Mom</a><br /><br />Christian: <a href="http://vikingvocation.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Viking Vocation</a><br /><br />Serena: <a href="http://www.reasonsupportsbelief.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Reason Supports Belief</a><br /><br />Joanna: <a href="http://joannab-everyday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Everyday Catholic Woman</a><br /><br />Sarah: <a href="http://www.texassiren.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My Wonderful Life</a>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-20054191129928999972008-07-15T23:31:00.001-05:002008-07-15T23:32:40.954-05:00<div style="text-align: justify;">Travel (leaving tomorrow for another work trip), moving to a new office across town and a new puppy have kept me pretty busy lately. I have an email inbox full of new sites to add to the blogroll and promise I will get them up this weekend.</div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-42976438430542586732008-06-11T18:34:00.004-05:002008-06-11T22:49:42.656-05:00Seeking Lazarus<strong><em>Seeking Lazarus</em></strong><br /><br /><strong>By Randy Hain<br /></strong><br />I find this to be a difficult and complex topic: Being good stewards of God’s blessings and truly helping those in need. Donating money to good causes is very important, but actually lifting the burdens of the Lazarus in your life is even more essential. If you will recall Jesus’ parable in <strong>Luke 16:19-31</strong>, Lazarus was the poor man covered with sores lying outside the door of the Rich Man. Lazarus would have been content with simply the scraps from his table, but the Rich Man did not take notice of Lazarus until it was too late-then Lazarus was in Heaven with Abraham while the Rich Man was tormented in Hell.<br /><br /><strong>Proverbs 21:13</strong> says, <em>“He that stops his ear against the cry of the poor shall also cry himself, and shall not be heard.”</em> Let’s prayerfully consider how we can return to basic human interaction with our brothers and sisters in Christ who are struggling and share not only through charitable giving, but also through love, prayer, witness, listening or even a warm embrace. Let’s also expand our definition of Lazarus to include not only the countless poor, sick, homeless and hungry of the world, but also more locally: the jobless neighbor, depressed co-worker, sick relative, financially struggling friend or special needs child that attends school with your own. Lazarus is everywhere in our lives…if we have the courage to seek him.<br /><br />Consider the possibility that in today’s society our problem is not that we don’t see Lazarus. We see him, accept his plight and either throw money at him or ignore him. I realize that sounds harsh, especially in light of these statistics from a 2006 report written by <em>Giving USA</em> on American philanthropy:<br /><br /><ul><li>In 2006, Americans gave $295.02 billion to their favorite causes, an estimated $11.97 billion more than they gave in 2005. This accounts for a 4.2 percent increase over the previous year.<br /></li><li>The greatest portion of charitable giving, $222.89 billion, was given by individuals or household donors. In 2006, gifts from individuals represented 76 percent of all contributed dollars. </li></ul><p><br />We obviously live in a financially-generous country. The enormous sums of money that flow from individuals and corporations to good causes is overwhelming. So, what is the problem? I recognize that many people generously give their time, talent and treasure to good causes and they are truly a blessing. But, many of us may be hiding behind walls of our own creation from which we only dispense money to address the problems of the world or worse, <strong>we do nothing at all</strong>.<br /><br />As I thought and prayed about this article, I recalled Christ’s words in <strong>Matthew 25:35-46</strong>: <em>“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.' Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.' And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."<br /></em><br />This scripture is the source of the Catholic Church’s teaching on the 7 Corporal Works of Mercy, which have helped me more deeply understand our obligation, as instructed by Christ, to help the less fortunate. They are:</p><p align="center"><br />To feed the hungry<br />To give drink to the thirsty<br />To clothe the naked<br />To shelter the homeless<br />To visit the sick<br />To visit the imprisoned<br />To bury the dead</p><p align="left"><br />Nowhere in the scripture or this list do I see instructions to “write a check” or “donate online.” I recently took stock of my own stewardship and was surprised and disappointed that most of what I do consists of raising money for charities, writing personal checks and attending non-profit board meetings. Less than a quarter of my time actually placed me in front of those who needed me the most. I care very much about the charities and groups I help, but I have allowed a wall to be formed around me that keeps me from the personal interaction needed to really make a difference. I know the money I raise and the influence I wield is important, but “showing up” and really ministering to the people in need is what is required. Using our expanded definition of Lazarus, I have countless opportunities around me on a daily basis to help others, but I own the responsibility to be more proactive and reach out. <em>“If a brother or sister be naked, and want daily food, and one of you say to them: Go in peace, be you warmed and filled, yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit?”</em> <strong>James 2: 15-16.</strong></p><strong><p align="left"><br /></strong></p>If you reflect on the many references to almsgiving in scripture, you must remember that in biblical times, people were most likely seeing, touching and talking directly with the people to whom they were giving alms and showing mercy. Today, however, the size of the world’s population, the economic segregation within our cities, the distance between us and advances in technology often reduces our almsgiving and acts of mercy to a “point and click” exercise on the computer. I know full well that the counter-argument to this article will be that I am negating the impact of financial giving and that there is not enough time to physically be present and reach out to others. I strongly and respectfully disagree. We are running the risk of losing our basic humanity if we continue to avoid the personal interaction I am advocating.<br /><br />Again, donating money is very important, but showing up and lifting or sharing the burdens of the Lazarus in your life is even more important. My friend and fellow St. Peter Chanel parishioner John Ruane, author of <strong>Parish the Thought, An Inspirational Memoir of Growing Up Catholic in the</strong> <strong>1960<em>s</em>,</strong> gave me his thoughts on the struggles he faces with this issue, <em>“We are all so busy dealing with our own schedules and problems that it has become very easy to walk by Lazarus without seeing him. I find it very easy to recognize and help Lazarus when he or she approaches me on the street asking for food or money. We get into our own pace in life. We have our own habits, our priorities and focus. I have got to get a hundred things done today. I just have to get it done. We are focused on our mission. Taking time to stop, step outside of our habits, our pace - to recognize and help Lazarus, is the new habit I am working to develop.”</em> <p align="left"><br />How do we reach beyond the cultural, emotional and spiritual walls we have created to show mercy to Lazarus as Christ intended? How do we meet our obligations to help our brothers and sisters in Christ? Are we overwhelmed by the world’s problems or do we feel that they don’t affect us? Is it uncomfortable to be vulnerable enough to admit the problem and act on it? Are we afraid that people will want more from us than we can give? Do we even know where to start? I struggle with these answers myself, but humbly and prayerfully encourage everyone to embrace the following actions or ideas to help us develop the courage and commitment to change our attitude towards Lazarus and make a difference:</p><p align="left"><br />· <strong>Pray</strong><br />Pray for the clarity of sight to see Lazarus all around you. Pray for the courage to break free of the silos we have created and help Lazarus. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide your actions. I am grateful for this insight from my friend and fellow Catholic Charlie Douglas, author of <em><strong>Rich Where It Counts</strong></em> and <strong>Awaken the American Dream</strong>, <em>“Prayer today is so often about informing God of our wishes and our will. The truth is, however, that prayer is about conforming our will to God's. Jesus made this clear in the Garden of Gethsemane when he earnestly prayed that above all his Father's will be done. And part of our Father's will is to sacrificially carry our crosses in service to the homeless, the poor, the despondent and the unloved. To be the hands and feet of Christ to the Lazarus' all around us is a beautiful prayer.” </em></p><em><p align="left"><br /></em></p>· <strong>Be Present….and Act Today<br /></strong>Watch, listen and act. Look daily for the presence of Lazarus in your family, friends, co-workers and strangers. Someone is struggling at this very moment with any number of personal ailments or challenges. In fact, we spend the majority of our adult lives at work, so your best opportunity to directly help others may be through your work colleagues. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you discern who needs your help today….don’t wait until tomorrow. Francis Fernandez shares this insight from <strong>In Conversation With God</strong>, “<em>We cannot let a single chance of doing good slip through our hands. Today does not come round again, ever, and God expects us to fill it with love and with little acts of service towards others.” </em><em><p align="left"><br /></em></p>· <strong>Love Your Neighbor</strong><br />God is love. He loves everyone the same without prejudice. From <strong>Genesis 5:1-2</strong> we know God created man in his own likeness. We need to remember this as we regain our humanity through the loving generosity we show our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus shares the Great Commandment in <strong>Luke 10:27</strong>, <em>"First is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. Second is to love your neighbor as yourself." </em><em><p align="left"><br /></em></p>· <strong>Practice and Encourage Generosity<br /></strong>Consider another passage from <strong>In Conversation With God</strong>, <em>“The greatness of soul our Lord asks of his own will lead us not only to be very generous with our own time and economic means, but also to assist others to feel moved themselves to help, according to their own means, for the good of their fellow man. Generosity always leads people closer to God. On countless occasions this is the greatest favor we can do our friends-encourage and foster their generosity."</em> Scripture says the Lord loves a “cheerful giver.” We must let the love for Jesus that we feel in our hearts be obvious to all we encounter. Forced giving or obligatory assistance to others is not pleasing to Christ and absolutely runs counter to His teachings. <p align="left"><br />· <strong>Faith Without Works is Dead<br /></strong>Get involved by physically being there. There are countless ministries and charities that need help, not just money. Serving at soup kitchens, visiting the elderly, participating in prison ministry, volunteering with the Special Olympics, building homes and schools in Haiti are some of the countless opportunities available. My friend Glen Jackson, head of an Atlanta based PR firm and a faithful servant of Christ recently shared these thoughts with me: <em>“In the Book of James in the New Testament, we read an often quoted and discussed passage: ‘For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead.’ This scripture reminds us that as the body of Christ, we are to work-really work- for our Lord. We are to be men and women of action and joy because the Holy Spirit lives in us.But how should we work? James gives us the answer in a later passage when he says ‘show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.’ It is the type of work that it’s recipients respect, appreciate and are touched by because of its unforced sincerity. Now, you simply can't do this by just sending a check. Our time on earth is a mist that appears for a little while and vanishes. So make the most of it. A prayer to say to help us stay focused is: ‘Lord, help me make a difference for you that is utterly disproportionate to who I am.’ Amen to that and let's press on and be about our work of advancing the kingdom with our time, talent and treasure.”</em></p><p align="left"><em><br /></em>· <strong>Practice Detachment<br /></strong>This may well be the hardest for us to accomplish-detach ourselves from the pursuit of wealth for wealth’s sake and put more time and energy into our relationship with Christ and helping others. Remember Lazarus and the Rich Man? The Rich Man’s wealth and abundance blinded him to the plight of Lazarus and in the end he lost everything while Lazarus was comforted in Heaven. Pope Benedict XVI says, <em>“According to the teaching of the Gospel, we are not owners but rather administrators of the goods we possess: these, then, are not to be considered as our exclusive possession, but means through which the Lord calls each one of us to act as a steward of His providence for our neighbor. In the Gospel, Jesus explicitly admonishes the one who possesses and uses earthly riches only for self. In the face of the multitudes, who, lacking everything, suffer hunger, the words of Saint John acquire the tone of a ringing rebuke: ‘How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses to help?’ (<strong>1 John 3:17).</strong> In those countries whose population is majority Christian, the call to share is even more urgent, since their responsibility toward the many who suffer poverty and abandonment is even greater. To come to their aid is a duty of justice even prior to being an act of charity.” </em></p><p align="left"><em><br /></em>· <strong>Serve Quietly</strong><br />We can’t honestly provide aid to Lazarus and honor the Lord if the motivation is recognition and glory for ourselves. As Christ said in <strong>Mathew 6:1-4</strong>, <em>"(But) take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”<br /></em><br />My friend Jacqui Welch, VP of Human Resources for a local Atlanta company and a devout Christian, gave me her thoughts on this topic: <em>“I've found in my own life that the most frequent and uncomplicated opportunities to embody Christ are when only you, Christ and "Lazarus" are watching. Rather than seek opportunities for a "BIG" impact, what has been most fulfilling for me (fulfilling in terms of where I've best exemplified what I think Christ teaches us) have been those quiet moments in the shadows- clasping hands in prayer with a fellow believer, silently wiping tears and simply bearing witness. The checks are necessary but they aren't sufficient. To experience what Christ experienced we have to vigilantly seek those opportunities to serve quietly, to roll up our sleeves and get in the muck and mire of humanity.”<br /></em><br />It is a sad indictment of our times that the more perceived gain we see from technology and the pursuit of wealth, the more distant we are becoming from the less fortunate. I have explored the scriptural basis and moral imperative for helping Lazarus, but we are also encouraged to do so through countless scriptural references to “blessings we will receive” and the “building up of treasure in heaven.” Consider the simple and compelling scripture references found in <strong>Proverbs 14:21</strong>, “<em>He that shows mercy to the poor shall be blessed</em>.” and <strong>Proverbs 11:24-25</strong>, <em>“Some give freely, yet grow all the richer, others withhold what is due, and only suffer want. A generous person will be enriched.”</em> <strong>Hebrews 13:16</strong> says, <em>“Do not forget to do good and to impart; for by such sacrifices God’s favor is obtained.”<br /></em><br />God will show us the way if we only ask it and His pleasure is clear and unmistakable when we give freely of ourselves and our treasure to those in need. Jim Schippers, my close friend and the founder of the St. Peter Chanel Business Association, recently shared with me a touching story about his encounter with a homeless person in downtown Atlanta and the struggles he had leading up to that encounter, <em>“Let us be real with God… The more we are honest with God the greater our graces will be. I realize that is such a simple statement, but let me explain what I mean. I work in downtown Atlanta and as I walk to and from work, and during my lunch break, I come across a number of homeless people. As I walk by each and every one of them, conflicts and reasons for not giving rise up within me. What will this person do with the money? I can’t give to every “beggar” that comes across my path, right? Or, I have left my wallet in the office- so no guilt there… I have struggled with this, and interestingly enough as I pass by each homeless person, I find it difficult looking them in the eye. Yes, I have these excuses per se, and after much struggle and stubbornness on my part I asked Christ to help me – I gave to Him my doubts, the whole lot of my feelings (good and bad) regarding this situation. A few nights later I was leaving a Braves game and a homeless person asked me for money. I looked him in the eye and gave him a dollar. He smiled, I smiled back, and peace entered my soul. It took awhile for me to get there, but Christ was with me prodding me along the whole way, all I had to do was be honest with myself and ask for His graces.”</em></p><p align="left"><em><br /></em>In conclusion, I would again ask that we broaden our definition of Lazarus to include those people you see every day as well as the less fortunate in our community and around the world. Avoid the trap the Rich Man fell in, which cost him a life in torment. As my friend Dr. Ron Young observed, <em>“Most of us are more like the Rich Man than the beggar, Lazarus. We have abundance, especially when compared to the rest of the world. There is so much we can do to reach out to those in need in our everyday lives, but unfortunately we can become so consumed with the trappings of success and relative prosperity (emotional and financial) that we fail to see the people who need us most</em>.” I believe a majority of us want to help and that most are well intended. Try to reflect at different points each day on your actions towards others and examine those missed opportunities to help someone who is struggling, so you can rectify them later. Expanded horizons and active engagement is what is required. Let’s evolve our good intentions to a higher standard where we begin to recognize Lazarus more clearly and frequently and our first words are “please let me help you.” Also, remember that we all have the potential to be Lazarus some day-“<em>There, but for the grace of God, go I.”</em></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-47289551941687222612008-05-17T23:57:00.003-05:002008-06-08T22:52:52.528-05:00Catching upI apologize for not posting in a month. To be honest I didn't check the email but a couple of times during the last month. I needed a break from the blog. In a way I had started feeling hypocritical by keeping up with this blog devoted to converts to the Catholic Faith while I myself was doing little to actually practice it. I think it is important to remember that many converts have their ups and downs, from the sometimes overwhelming zeal of a new convert to the general spiritual apathy that I've been going through the last few months. It is important that we all remember to pray for each other on this spiritual journey.<br /><br />All that being said, here is what I found in the inbox:<br /><br /><a href="http://bigcheesehouse.blogspot.com/" target="" _blank="">The House of Big Cheese</a><br /><br /><a href="http://todayscatholic.typepad.com/todays_catholic" target="_blank">Today's Catholic</a><br /><br /><a href="http://etwist.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Of Priests and Paramedics</a> with <a href="http://etwist.blogspot.com/2008/02/why-catholic-part-i.html" target="_blank">conversion story here</a><br /><br /><a href="http://demachina.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Compendium</a><br /><br />and from Deborah <a href="http://finestre.blogspot.com/2008/04/conversion-to-orthodox-catholicism.html" target="_blanK">Conversion to Orthodox Catholicism</a><a><br /></a>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-21430919983596214062008-04-18T23:03:00.003-05:002008-04-18T23:05:49.385-05:00Thank you to everyone who participated in the Rosary for Vocations. We didn't have quite as many people as hoped and didn't cover the full 24 hours but with prayer a few can accomplish great things.<br /><br />I wanted to pass along this email I received from a reader however. I think it made the effort worth it just getting this message. <br /><blockquote><br />Just wanted to let y'all know that we here at St Thomas Aquinas in Charlottesville, VA are participating a bit early--we started our Adoration for Vocations last night at 6 and are ending around 5 (when Mass starts) tonight--we're the prequel, if you will, to your 24-hr Rosary :) (a good bit of those 23 hours were filled by converts--some fresh out of RCIA this year!) I saw your first post on the Rosary for Vocations and took the idea to my parish, but bc having Adoration and Mass at the same time doesn't really work, we had to go a day early. So thank you for the idea!</blockquote>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-65395548055118882942008-04-12T11:47:00.003-05:002008-04-12T12:39:13.575-05:0024 Hour Rosary for Vocations: Starting Soon!<div style="text-align: justify;">If you haven't signed up to participate in praying the <a href="http://catholic-converts.blogspot.com/2008/03/24-hour-rosary-world-day-of-prayer-for.html">Rosary for Vocations</a>, please consider doing so. April 13 is World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Since we are going off the time in Vatican City it starts at 6:00 PM tonight on the US East Coast.<br /></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-60025360345954790052008-04-10T21:50:00.001-05:002008-04-10T21:51:23.085-05:00Addition to the RCIA Prayer listPlease add Mrs. P at <a href="http://lynnski.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Where Boundaries Don't Exist</a> to your prayers.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-82334032089337267092008-04-07T12:49:00.002-05:002008-04-07T12:51:42.207-05:00Jennifer's Conversion Story<div style="text-align: justify;">Jennifer at <a href="http://www.conversiondiary.com/" target="_blank">"ET TU?"</a> share's her <a href="http://www.conversiondiary.com/2007/10/why-im-catholic.html" target="_blank">conversion story</a>from atheism to Christianity and the Catholic Church.<br /></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-68848544148927333112008-04-03T16:27:00.004-05:002008-04-03T16:33:25.869-05:0024 Hour Rosary: World Day of Prayer for Vocations<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiViNy_tMlOAO-IALgyKksU3JEajEAifi51foDb_4hMehvuvnKgmZwzKhGpzswTmjrmWry4FZAStOx8WD39OkD8RN9CWN3IdarFu1eSLMDw9yR7ctgM7-VzDmNZPUIfM5eRak83/s1600-h/24+hour.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiViNy_tMlOAO-IALgyKksU3JEajEAifi51foDb_4hMehvuvnKgmZwzKhGpzswTmjrmWry4FZAStOx8WD39OkD8RN9CWN3IdarFu1eSLMDw9yR7ctgM7-VzDmNZPUIfM5eRak83/s400/24+hour.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185134994885751042" border="0" /></a><br />Please consider signing up for the <a href="http://catholic-converts.blogspot.com/2008/03/24-hour-rosary-world-day-of-prayer-for.html">24 Hour Rosary for Vocations</a>. So far we have three hours out of the 24 covered. April 13 is World Day of Prayer for Vocations and we'd like to get as many people as possible involved in this effort. Click on the link above for more information.<br /><br /><blockquote><br /><br /><br /><br />The Church prays everyday to the Holy Spirit for the gift of vocations. Gathered around the Virgin Mary, Queen of the Apostles, as in the beginning, the ecclesial community learns from her how to implore the Lord for a flowering of new apostles, alive with the faith and love that are necessary for the mission. - Pope Benedict XVI</blockquote>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-11713051841539844392008-04-01T23:51:00.001-05:002008-04-01T23:52:48.780-05:00Thanks for visitingThings got sort of busy around here last month:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxF253beSBrbNOHl_pq4XQLrRXIMoZjtKos9v9970iFysSWrw4lDnYUQYKJ8CR-5Hi_t1rmB3dMR8A1cZb4F7mFVStCvVQzWH-Q7CXvafcpJITHUmsf646DMuOpcVW32gkk7Ph/s1600-h/graph_summary_barchart.php.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 483px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxF253beSBrbNOHl_pq4XQLrRXIMoZjtKos9v9970iFysSWrw4lDnYUQYKJ8CR-5Hi_t1rmB3dMR8A1cZb4F7mFVStCvVQzWH-Q7CXvafcpJITHUmsf646DMuOpcVW32gkk7Ph/s400/graph_summary_barchart.php.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184506293277995234" border="0" /></a>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-15799644263832568042008-04-01T23:47:00.001-05:002008-04-01T23:48:52.631-05:00Entered the Church in 08Stop by and welcome <a href="http://cowbikerider.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Chris at Cow Bike Rider</a> home to the Catholic Church!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-29366837673473407452008-04-01T23:34:00.001-05:002008-04-01T23:37:01.913-05:00Welcome to the blogrollWelcome to <a href="http://www.catholicmindset.com/" target="_blank">Catholic Mindset</a> to the Catholic Converts blogroll.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-67059402771431836472008-04-01T23:29:00.005-05:002008-04-01T23:34:41.350-05:00Randy Hain: The Fortress<div style="text-align: justify;">Below is a new article by Randy Hain addressing evangelization. I am also happy to announce that Randy has joined the Catholic Converts blog as one of our authors. Look for the Blog Authors section on the right sidebar and click on Randy to find his other articles.<br /><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" ><b><i>The Fortress</i></b></span></p><div> </div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:85%;" ><b>By Randy Hain</b></span><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >When I imagine a fortress, it invokes thoughts of strength, security and protection. The image is comforting, particularly when used in relation to one’s faith. I was speaking with someone I met recently about my faith and learned that he, too, was Catholic. After hearing my story, he explained to me the role faith played in his life. He described it as a <i> fortress</i> in that it made him feel safe and served as the foundation of his life. A little probing on my part led me to discover that he was generally very quiet about his beliefs and the thought of sharing Christ’s message with others was daunting and uncomfortable. Before my very eyes, the safe and foundational fortress of faith he described was transformed into a <u>fortress mentality</u>.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" > </span><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >As Catholic Christians, do we some times fall into this trap and exhibit behavior that is absolutely contrary to scripture and the teachings of the Church regarding the call to evangelization? Do we hide within “faith fortresses” of our own making?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >Like many, I some times struggle with evangelizing and I am writing this not to render judgment, but to hopefully inspire all of us to think differently, change our behavior and be Lights for Christ. One only has to read the Great Commission given to us by Jesus Christ himself in <b><u>Matthew</u> 28:19-20</b> to understand our expected role, “<i>Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the world.”</i> Our Lord also calls us to evangelization in <b><u> Matthew</u> 9:37-38</b>, “<i>The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”<br /></i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" > </span><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >I choose to believe that all of us mean well and have good intentions when it comes to bearing witness for Christ, but there are obstacles (many of our own making) that keep us from doing so. What are some of these and how can they be overcome?</span><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><b><i>I don’t know what to say.</i></b></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >It is said that St. Francis of Assisi once offered this advice, “<i>Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.” </i> It is through the love and charity we give others and our daily example of Christ’s love within us that allows us to bear witness. If we are truly Lights for Christ, people will be drawn to us and the Holy Spirit will work through us-if necessary, the words will come.</span><br /></p></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><b><i>I am not secure enough in my faith to witness to others.</i></b></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >Author Peter Kreeft is fond of saying <i>“ …that the Catholic Church is not a museum for Saints, but a hospital for Sinners</i>.” We are not perfect-only God is perfect. We can wait our entire lives to be prepared and worthy to evangelize and we will have wasted <u>a lifetime of opportunity</u>. Don’t let your pursuit of Sainthood keep you from sharing Christ’s message with other potential Saints.</span><br /><br /><br /></p></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><b><i>I am not comfortable sharing anything personal, especially about my faith.</i></b></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >Transparency invites transparency! We can’t expect someone to open up to us unless we are willing to do the same. Your faith journey is a blessing, meant to be shared, and the witness you give may have a profound influence on someone. As we read in <b><u>1 Peter</u> 3:15-16</b>, <i>“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame.” </i> Ask a new convert or someone experiencing a spiritual renewal how they reached this point on their faith journey. They will likely credit the Holy Spirit and name someone who reached beyond their comfort zone to share Christ’s message. Try viewing yourself as a vehicle through which the Holy Spirit can utilize your witness to connect with others.</span><br /></p></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><b><i>I don’t want to appear judgmental.</i></b></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >So don’t judge. It’s not our place. Our mission is to spread Christ’s message of love and mercy, not tell people their sins. Pope Benedict XVI shares this guidance, <i>“Nowadays, in a special way the world needs people capable of proclaiming and bearing witness to God who is love. The Church’s mission is the extension of Christ’s mission: to bring God’s love to all, proclaiming it with words and with the concrete testimony of charity.” </i> The Holy Father is clearly saying that we must witness with love-God’s love. Be encouraging, listen attentively, offer assistance, share Christ’s message and absolutely pray-these are the actions of love that will allow you to effectively bear witness.</span><br /></p></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><b><i>Isn’t evangelization the primary responsibility of the Priests and Deacons in our parish?</i></b></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >Absolutely not. We are <u>all</u> called to go and make disciples (<b><u>Matthew</u> 28:19</b>). In his encyclical <b><i><u>Redemtoris Missio</u></i></b><i>,</i> Pope John Paul II wrote, <i>“No believer in Christ, no institution of the Church can avoid this supreme duty: to proclaim Christ to all peoples.”</i> In <b><i><u>Lumen Gentium</u></i></b>, Vatican II specifically describes the mission of the lay faithful, “<i>The apostolate of the laity is a sharing in the salvific mission of the Church. Through Baptism and Confirmation all are appointed to this apostolate by the Lord himself. Moreover, by the sacraments, and especially by the Eucharist, that love of God and man which is the soul of the apostolate is communicated and nourished. The laity, however, are given this special vocation: to make the Church present and fruitful in those places and circumstances where it is only through them that she can become the salt of the earth. Thus, every lay person, through those gifts given to him, is at once the witness and the living instrument of the mission of the Church itself, according to the measure of Christ’s bestowal.” (LG 33) </i> This is crystal clear direction for all of us to understand our special responsibility within the Church. </span><br /><br /><br /></p></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><b><i>I don’t want to alienate my friends or new people I meet.</i></b></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >There is a difference between <i> preaching</i> and <i>judging</i> versus <i>loving</i> and <i>sharing</i>. If people respond to the “hope you have” and the “joy within you”, then they will be curious and ask <u>you</u> questions. But, this will <u>not</u> work if we stay inside our fortress of faith. Consider this passage from <b><u>In Conversation With God</u></b> by Francis Fernandez, <i>“On our part we are called upon to be good channels through which His grace will flow and to facilitate the action of the Holy Spirit in ourselves, in friends, relatives, acquaintances and colleagues….If our Lord never gets tired of giving His help to everybody, how can we who are only instruments ever become discouraged? Once the carpenter’s hand is firmly placed on the wood, how can the tool ever have any reservations about doing its work?”</i></span></p><p><br /></p></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >So I ask, do these obstacles resonate with you? I personally am challenged by these, but my commitment to evangelize and witness for Christ remains strong. I grew up in the Baptist church, stopped going when I was 15 and became a convert, along with my wife, to the Catholic Church 23 years later in 2006. I am eternally grateful that I have been given a second chance to experience Christ’s love after living most of my life in the “spiritual wilderness”. Reflecting on the profound impact Christ has had on my life since my conversion makes me want to share my story with everyone I meet. All of us have been given an incredible gift-Christ’s redeeming love! At times we are weak, we may stumble on our faith journey and we are sinners, but we must remember to be grateful and joyful for the countless blessings we have been given. In fact, one of the easiest ways to evangelize to others is to be joyful. When we are happy in our faith, we inspire and encourage others and create opportunities to witness for Christ-they want to hear the Good News!</span></p><p><br /></p></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >Consider the fortress illustration again. In order to evangelize, we need to operate <u>outside</u> the walls of our faith fortresses. Francis Fernandez shares additional insight from <b><u>In Conversation With God</u></b>, “<i>Ours is an age when Christ needs men and women who are able to stand beside the Cross, strong, daring, simple, hard workers, without any human respect when it comes to doing good; men and women who are cheerful, who have as the foundation of their lives prayer-a relationship with Jesus that is full of friendship</i>.”<br /></span></p><p><br /></p></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >If we only share our faith and witness with other Catholics or worse, keep it to ourselves, how will the Church grow and spread Christ’s message of love? Will we make the necessary commitments to heed the call of the Great Commission, other supporting scripture, the leadership of the Popes, Vatican II and the Catechism? What are simple ways we can all evangelize and bear witness for Christ? I prayerfully and respectfully ask you to consider doing the following:</span><br /></p></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><b><i>Pray</i></b></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >Pray for courage. Pray that the Holy Spirit will work through us. Pray for opportunities to bear witness. Pray that God will allow us to recognize opportunities for evangelization. Make the Sign of the Cross and pray Grace before each meal (public and private) and say prayers as a family. Prayer is the key, because it prepares both our hearts and those of others for those moments of truth and grace.</span><br /></p></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><b><i>Be a Light for Christ……</i></b></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >……in your workplace, at home, in the community and with your friends. Be a joyful, forgiving and generous person: Next to prayer, this is the most effective thing you can do. Let Christ’s love and the blessings he has given you be apparent to others. They will want to know the source of your happiness and will likely initiate a faith conversation. “<i>You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”</i> <b><u>Matthew</u> 5:13-14, 16.</b></span><br /></p></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><b><i>Keep your own faith journey on track</i></b></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >It would be hypocritical for us to share the message of Christ’s love unless we believed it and lived it. This means living our faith at home and teaching our children about the Church and Christ’s love for them. Pray, attend mass, go to reconciliation frequently, go to Eucharistic Adoration, observe the sacraments, study our faith and be joyful Christians. These actions will prepare us to share with <u>sincerity</u> the impact Christ has in our lives.</span><br /></p></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><b><i>Share your story with others-give witness to the blessings of Jesus in your life</i></b></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >As I suggested before, be transparent! If you feel uncomfortable asking questions about their faith, why not share yours? They will most likely be moved by your example and be open in return. My willingness to be open about my Catholicism has given me countless opportunities to evangelize. As Maurice Blumberg wrote in a recent Catholic Exchange article, “<i>Don't be afraid of witnessing to the love and mercy of God. All you have to do is tell your own story. This may sound daunting, but it isn't. Just share how your faith has made a difference in your life. The Holy Spirit will give you the right words</i></span><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;" ><b>.</b>”<b> </b></span><br /></p></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >We do not need to always have a Bible or pamphlet handy in order to evangelize because our greatest witnessing resources are the Holy Spirit and our own faith experience. Most of us have had moments in which we were touched, helped, encouraged or healed by God, were deeply comforted by hearing or reading a Bible passage or listening to a moving Christian song. Often the encouragement or help came through some person, yet we were convinced it was really God who brought it about. That is what we share with the one who has opened up their heart to us: "You know, I've been through something like that in my own life. And what helped me most was my faith in the Lord." </span><br /></p></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><b><i>Reach out to the Lazarus in your life every day</i></b></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >Lazarus is the poor man covered with sores at the gate of the rich man in Christ’s parable related in <b><u>Luke</u> 16:19-31</b>. Can you think of a greater witness for Christ than to emulate our Lord and help those most in need? Think of the sick, jobless, depressed, troubled people in your life and reach out to them. Parish ministry is one of the best ways for you to get involved and make a difference. As you help them through their troubles, the Holy Spirit can work through you to share God’s message of love!</span><br /></p></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><b><i>Share or give a book, CD, DVD, article or homily related to the Faith</i></b></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >This is a wonderful act of kindness that will help someone grow spiritually and give you ample opportunity for further discussion about the Lord. An interesting perspective on this type of evangelization is that it creates a safe environment to begin a faith dialogue. “The book I gave you really touched my heart and helped me learn to pray-what did you think of it?” or “Did you listen to the CD I sent you by Peter Kreeft on the 7 Reasons to be Catholic? After hearing it I really feel better prepared to explain our Faith to others!” You get the picture-let your gift open the door for a rich and engaging conversation, then allow the Holy Spirit to take over.</span><br /></p></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >The fortress mentality is a real issue for many Christians and we have to remain committed and diligent about living our faith beyond those walls. This article is focused on simple ways to witness, but there are countless other ways to bring people Christ’s message including extending an invitation to mass or a parish event. What ever you do or plan to do, God will bless you for heeding the call to evangelization.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >I conclude with a quote from Pope John Paul II, who wrote in <b><u>Springtime for Evangelization</u></b>: <i> “Evangelization is the Church’s effort to proclaim to everyone that God loves them, that he has given himself for them in Christ Jesus, and that he invites them to an unending life of happiness. Once this Gospel has been accepted as the “good news”, it demands to be shared. All baptized Christians must commit themselves to evangelization, conscious that God is already at work in the mind and hearts of their listeners, just as he prompted the Ethiopian to ask for baptism when Philip told him “the good news of Jesus” </i><b><i>(<u>Acts</u> 8:35</i></b><i>). Evangelization is thus a part of the great mystery of God’s self-revelation to the world: it involves the human effort to preach the Gospel and the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in those who encounter its saving message. Since we are proclaiming a mystery, we are servants of a supernatural gift, which surpasses anything our human minds are fully grasping or explaining, yet which attracts by its inner logic and beauty</i>.”</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >I am hopeful that this image of the fortress and its dual nature will encourage you to reflect on your approach evangelization. We can either live securely inside our faith fortress or we can heed the call to evangelize and operate outside its walls. To those who faithfully practice evangelization the way our Lord intended, thank you for showing us the way by your example. As lay people, we can make a dramatic impact on the lives of so many individuals if we will only accept our responsibility to share the dramatic impact Christ has on <u>our</u> lives. Thank you and God Bless you.</span><br /></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-56982276556732444502008-03-31T19:40:00.002-05:002008-03-31T19:48:31.711-05:00Jennifer: My Journey Into the Catholic Faith<div style="text-align: justify;">Jennifer at <a href="http://www.acatholicjourney.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My Journey Into the Catholic Faith</a> was recently interviewed on American Catholic Radio. Listen to her interview <a href="http://www.franciscanradio.org/ACRepisode.asp?EpisodeNum=209" target="_blank">here</a>. <br /><br />During the interview she mentions that she has hand made rosaries for sale. Check them out <a href="http://www.jifner.com/rosary.htm" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-2251278959047713602008-03-31T19:38:00.002-05:002008-03-31T19:48:31.712-05:00Welcome Chrystal<div style="text-align: justify;">Welcome to the Catholic Converts blogroll to Chrystal at <a href="http://musingsofahumblebeing.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Musings of a Humble Being</a>. Also, be sure to check out her <a href="http://musingsofahumblebeing.blogspot.com/2008/03/my-conversion.html%22" target="_blank">conversion story</a>.<br /></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-32425026768107619842008-03-28T01:33:00.003-05:002008-03-31T19:48:31.712-05:00Open Letter to New Catholics<a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.arkansas-catholic.org" target="_blank">Arkansas Catholic</a> published this <a href="http://www.dolr.org/openlettertonewcatholics.php" target="_blank">Open Letter to Our New Catholics</a>.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-75781381670029607162008-03-27T00:04:00.001-05:002008-03-31T19:48:31.713-05:00Welcome LeighWelcome to Leigh at <a href="http://themommymemoir.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">the mommy memoir</a> to the Catholic Converts blogroll.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-49298195856171244302008-03-25T23:55:00.003-05:002008-03-31T19:48:31.714-05:00Conversion Story of the Month<div style="text-align: justify;">This is something new for the Catholic Converts blog. Each month a different conversion story will be chosen to highlight. As soon as I get a chance I'll PhotoShop a button for the sidebar to make it easy to find each month.<br /><br />We are still a few days away from April but I'm going to go ahead and put up the Conversion Story of the Month for April anyway.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Conversion Story of the Month: April 2008</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Julie at <a href="http://happycatholic.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Happy Catholic</a>: <a href="http://happycatholic.blogspot.com/2005/01/my-conversion-story.html" target="_blank">Becoming Christian</a>.</span><br /><br /><span>Julie shares her story about growing up in an atheist home and how God used her daughter to get the ball rolling on her eventual conversion. She shares a story about a deal she made with God in which she learned that God might take our deal but sets His own terms. There is also a nice surprise at the end but you'll have to click the link to find out what it is.</span><br /></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-58026890338278401602008-03-25T00:49:00.002-05:002008-03-31T19:48:31.715-05:00Conversion of Magdi Allam<a href="http://www.zenit.org/article-22151?l=english" target="_blank">Magdi Allam Recounts His Path to Conversion</a><br /><blockquote>On my first Easter as a Christian I not only discovered Jesus, I discovered for the first time the face of the true and only God, who is the God of faith and reason. My conversion to Catholicism is the touching down of a gradual and profound interior meditation from which I could not pull myself away . . .</blockquote>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-41687719316060427902008-03-24T00:06:00.016-05:002008-04-18T23:06:44.452-05:0024 Hour Rosary: World Day of Prayer for Vocations<div style="text-align: justify;">Vocations are obviously important for the continued growth of the Church. Converts to the Catholic Faith often have a lot of tough questions to be answered and we need strong leaders to answer them. The World Day of Prayer for Vocations will be observed on April 13, 2008. In Pope Benedict XVI's World Day of Prayer for Vocations he said,<br /><blockquote>The Church prays everyday to the Holy Spirit for the gift of vocations. Gathered around the Virgin Mary, Queen of the Apostles, as in the beginning, the ecclesial community learns from her how to implore the Lord for a flowering of new apostles, alive with the faith and love that are necessary for the mission.</blockquote>I would like to ask all of you to join in <span style="font-style: italic;">24 Hours of the Rosary for Vocations</span> on April 13. The minimum we need is 24 people to each take a different hour of the day. Easier said than done I know.<br /><br />Here is how it will work:<br /><br />We will use the UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). Times will be based on Vatican City time 12:00 AM April 13 - 12:00 AM April 14. Vatican City is in the CET which is +1 hour UTC.<br /><br />So when it is 12:00 PM (NOON) in Vatican City it is 11:00 AM in London, England; 7:00 AM in New York City, US; 8:00 PM in Tokyo, Japan; so on and so forth. Go to <a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock" target="_blank">The World Clock</a> to figure out where you are.<br /><br />Sign up for as much time as you would like (please sign up for a minimum of 30 minutes) to commit to praying the Rosary continuously for vocations. You could also take separate times such as once in the morning and once in the evening.<br /><br />Send an email to <a href="mailto:catholicconverts@gmail.com">catholicconverts@gmail.com</a> with the following information:<br />Name<br />Time Slot: Vatican City time and length (ie. 1 hour, 1/2 hour, etc) please.<br />Your Country<br /><br />Having more than one person praying at a time is okay (the more the merrier).<br /><br /> <table str="" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 466px; height: 196px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><col style="width: 137pt;" width="182"> <col style="width: 75pt;" width="100"> <col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"> <tbody><tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl28" style="height: 12.75pt; width: 137pt;" height="17" width="182">Time</td> <td class="xl28" style="border-left: medium none; width: 75pt;" width="100">Name</td> <td class="xl29" style="border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">Country</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl25" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" height="17">12:00:00 AM - 1:00 AM</td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">Chris L.</td> <td class="xl26" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">USA</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl25" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" height="17">1:00 AM - 2:00 AM</td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">Stein Family (10)</td> <td class="xl26" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">USA</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl25" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" height="17">2:00 AM - 2:30 AM</td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">Heidi S.</td> <td class="xl26" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">USA</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl25" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" height="17">3:00 PM - 3:30 PM</td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">Diane B.</td> <td class="xl26" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">USA</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl25" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" height="17">8:00:00 PM - 9:00 PM</td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">John O./Angie</td> <td class="xl26" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">USA</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl27" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" height="17">10:00 PM - 11:00 PM</td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none;">Bruce G.</td> <td class="xl26" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">Canada</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl25" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" height="17">11:00 PM - 11:30 PM</td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">Paul C.</td> <td class="xl26" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">USA</td> </tr> </tbody></table><br /><br /><br />If you would like to help spread the word about the effort, feel free to use this image on your website or blog. The code below will give you the image with a link back to this post.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AZ-336RCIKzN833NW8k9uKkALiCXkDpGE_hpKDo_GBkjk95l641JpA7DiV05DmD5gdbnojlkuaOxCJxRcypJkELKdBEHzcTs9JaOND2LQ3Q3JPqHJCWSvPMwI2G207qY1upD/s1600-h/24+hour.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AZ-336RCIKzN833NW8k9uKkALiCXkDpGE_hpKDo_GBkjk95l641JpA7DiV05DmD5gdbnojlkuaOxCJxRcypJkELKdBEHzcTs9JaOND2LQ3Q3JPqHJCWSvPMwI2G207qY1upD/s400/24+hour.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181409037742026962" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://catholic-converts.blogspot.com/2008/03/24-hour-rosary-world-day-of-prayer-for.html"><img src="http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j318/clansde/24hour.jpg"<br />></a><br /><br /></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-7930690067839778572008-03-23T22:49:00.002-05:002008-03-24T21:18:56.265-05:00Welcome Kristi<div style="text-align: justify;">There's no time like the present to start praying for the next potential convert to the Catholic Faith. Please pay a visit to our newest blogroll member, Kristi at <a href="http://hotpinkgiraffe.wordpress.com" target="_blank=">...In Progress...</a> and add her to your prayers as she begins her journey.<br /></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28641024.post-61858692379845291832008-03-23T19:20:00.000-05:002008-03-24T00:44:25.794-05:00New Catholics: ‘The Church gives me energy’<blockquote>LOS ANGELES, CA (The Tidings) - More than 1,200 heretofore unbaptized adults and children in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will receive the sacraments of initiation — baptism, confirmation and Eucharist — at the Easter Vigil March 22 in their respective parishes.<br /><br />Just a few days before their formal reception into the church, two of these new Catholics individually met with The Tidings to share their inspiring journeys of faith.</blockquote><a href="http://www.catholic.org/diocese/diocese_story.php?id=27273" target="_blank">Read Entire Article</a>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17292939705525651500noreply@blogger.com0