http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2632 A Rare Bird, A Strange Duck, One Funky Blog Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:16:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2632#comment-47950 Micky Sat, 25 Aug 2007 19:21:16 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2632#comment-47950 About 3 years ago I dropped into a black hole – four months of absolute terror. I wanted to end my life, but somehow [Holy Spirit], I reached out to a friend who took me to hospital. I had three visits [hospital] in four months – I actually thought I was in hell. I imagine I was going through some sort of metamorphosis [mental, physical & spiritual]. I had been seeing a therapist [1994] on a regular basis, up until this point in time. I actually thought I would be locked away – but the hospital staff was very supportive [I had no control over my process]. I was released from hospital 16th September 2004, but my fear, pain & shame had only subsided a little. I remember this particular morning waking up [home] & my process would start up again [fear, pain, & shame]. No one could help me, not even my therapist [I was terrified]. I asked Jesus Christ to have mercy on me & forgive me my sins. Slowly, all my fear has dissipated & I believe Jesus delivered me from my “psychological prison.” I am a practicing Catholic & the Holy Spirit is my friend & strength; every day since then has been a joy & blessing. I deserve to go to hell for the life I have led, but Jesus through His sacrifice on the cross, delivered me from my inequities. John 3: 8, John 15: 26, are verses I can relate to, organically. He’s a real person who is with me all the time. I have so much joy & peace in my life, today, after a childhood spent in orphanages . God LOVES me so much. Fear, pain, & shame, are no longer my constant companions. I just wanted to share my experience with you [Luke 8: 16 – 17]. PEACE BE WITH YOU MICKY PEACE BE WITH YOU
MICKY]]> http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2632#comment-47713 efi Sun, 19 Aug 2007 15:24:38 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2632#comment-47713 You can pray for my conversion all you want if it makes you happy. But just realize that the bible you believe in has God telling us that the laws of the Torah are eternal and that we should never abandon them under any circumstances. So if you pray for our conversion, you are in effect asking God to go against His stated will. How do you figure that? http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2632#comment-46575 Funky Dung Thu, 02 Aug 2007 15:34:39 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2632#comment-46575 My contact page should be working now. http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2632#comment-46569 Pistos Thu, 02 Aug 2007 14:53:32 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2632#comment-46569 Hi, Funky Dung. I'm trying to get in touch with you in private, but your Contact page doesn't offer much help, and I see no other way to contact you (no e-mail, no feedback form, etc.) How can I send you a private message? :) ]]> http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2632#comment-46504 Funky Dung Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:05:37 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2632#comment-46504 I've always thought it odd that Judaism is not evangelical. IIRC, God instructed Israel to be a light to the nations. One would presume that He wanted everyone to be among His chosen people. Indeed, it seems to me that a lot of Jesus' beef with the Jewish authorities had to do with their xenophobia and insistence that Judaism be insular. http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2632#comment-46503 Gretchen Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:55:01 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2632#comment-46503 Looking at it from a Jewish point of view...which naturally includes gobs of anti-semitism from the historic Church, not to mention most everyone else in the world...one may understand that Jews would be upset. Also, the Jewish religion is not an evangelical faith, so the idea of praying for another's conversion can seem strange and even invasive to them. And, most Jews probably haven't read the latest version (which is sweet, kind, loving, and all that any Christian could hope for), but have the previous ones in mind. http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2632#comment-46475 just another day of Catholic pondering: Catholic Carnival 130: Fair Daze Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:51:39 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2632#comment-46475 <!--%kramer-ref-pre%-->[...] “Praying for the Conversion of Jews” at Ales Rarus – Praying for the conversion of Jews…is this a big deal or not? Let’s all do it, right after we run on over to read this post and enjoy the commentary. [...]<!--%kramer-ref-post%--> [...] “Praying for the Conversion of Jews” at Ales Rarus – Praying for the conversion of Jews…is this a big deal or not? Let’s all do it, right after we run on over to read this post and enjoy the commentary. [...]]]> http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2632#comment-46283 Chad Fri, 27 Jul 2007 05:40:28 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2632#comment-46283 Eric, Your best column yet. In order for two dissenting sides to see eye to eye on something, its best if they both state honestly and truthfully how they feel about each other. This is a far better strategy than the 2 sides saying nice things about the other just to please people even though its not what they really believe. For far too long, the Catholic Church has been saying nice things about the protestant and jewish traditions for the sake of "ecumenism". Hence, this is why the document about the Centrality of the Catholic Church released two weeks ago and this Jewish prayer are so important - its a straight forward and honest realization of what the Catholic Church believes. I have heard a-lot of protestants blast the Catholic Church for bigotry due to the statement, but the more sophisticated ones have actually praised it more than anything else, because they now know clearly where the Catholic church stands. The same is true with this prayer and Judaism. Personally, if Evangelists or Jews had prayers about the conversion of Catholicism, I would not take any offense to it at all because of your statement: "Besides, either they're wrong about the deity hearing their prayers, in which case their prayers for conversion will be answered in the negative, or they're right, in which case I'm living a lie (or at least a mistake) and should be thankful for divine assistance in finding the truth." That wraps up all of ecumenism right there...
Your best column yet. In order for two dissenting sides to see eye to eye on something, its best if they both state honestly and truthfully how they feel about each other. This is a far better strategy than the 2 sides saying nice things about the other just to please people even though its not what they really believe. For far too long, the Catholic Church has been saying nice things about the protestant and jewish traditions for the sake of "ecumenism". Hence, this is why the document about the Centrality of the Catholic Church released two weeks ago and this Jewish prayer are so important - its a straight forward and honest realization of what the Catholic Church believes.

I have heard a-lot of protestants blast the Catholic Church for bigotry due to the statement, but the more sophisticated ones have actually praised it more than anything else, because they now know clearly where the Catholic church stands. The same is true with this prayer and Judaism.

Personally, if Evangelists or Jews had prayers about the conversion of Catholicism, I would not take any offense to it at all because of your statement: "Besides, either they're wrong about the deity hearing their prayers, in which case their prayers for conversion will be answered in the negative, or they're right, in which case I'm living a lie (or at least a mistake) and should be thankful for divine assistance in finding the truth." That wraps up all of ecumenism right there…]]> http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2632#comment-46248 Funky Dung Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:25:51 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2632#comment-46248 <blockquote>Does it bug you to think there are people out there praying for your conversion away from Catholicism to something else?</blockquote>Nope. In fact, if they didn't pray for my conversion, I'd doubt their faith. Besides, either they're wrong about the deity hearing their prayers, in which case their prayers for conversion will be answered in the negative, or they're right, in which case I'm living a lie (or at least a mistake) and should be thankful for divine assistance in finding the truth. Does it bug you to think there are people out there praying for your conversion away from Catholicism to something else?Nope. In fact, if they didn't pray for my conversion, I'd doubt their faith. Besides, either they're wrong about the deity hearing their prayers, in which case their prayers for conversion will be answered in the negative, or they're right, in which case I'm living a lie (or at least a mistake) and should be thankful for divine assistance in finding the truth.]]> http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2632#comment-46213 Advogado de Diabo Wed, 25 Jul 2007 21:12:54 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2632#comment-46213 This is a very interesting and touchy issue. I remember back to when I was 15 seeing a prayer in church with words to the effect of the eventual conversion of everyone to Catholicism. It actually was one of the first things I remember that ultimatly made me stop being religious. Now, to be honest, I mostly don't like the idea of people praying for me but I figure it can't hurt and if it makes someone else feel better I can tolerate it. I can't decide if there has been an over reaction to this issue or not. Does it bug you to think there are people out there praying for your conversion away from Catholicism to something else?
Now, to be honest, I mostly don't like the idea of people praying for me but I figure it can't hurt and if it makes someone else feel better I can tolerate it.

I can't decide if there has been an over reaction to this issue or not. Does it bug you to think there are people out there praying for your conversion away from Catholicism to something else?]]>