The truth hurts (or does it?)

  Jesus IS TRUTH!  "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
This was proclaimed  and confirmed to me in the most profound way by Jesus himself, that He turned me into a "freight train" No stopping!

  The friends I attended church with when I returned to faith thought I was completely crazy for my Catholic conversion because I was a cradle Baptist. To this day I have no problems with other denominations, them being of the same spirit. I do though, question the fact of completeness. After all, one Church was established by Jesus, however over time people caused the reformation. One spirit, one Lord period. I really did understand as to why my friends did not believe Catholicism was the truth, Why? Because I had been in that same "fishing spot." They threw in "lines" toward me such as "Oh! You want to worship Mary, statues, Saints..etc..etc.." Having learned through a priest that this certainly wasn't the case, my response was merely this: "I earnestly wanted the truth from God, and it was given to me, if you have any issues about it, take it up with Him, not me." God has a very profound way of answering prayer, and He does it in His time, terms, and conditions, not ours. I am fine with that!

  Yes, sometimes the truth does hurt on a personal level, but I am here to tell you, certainly not on a spiritual level.

God's existence

  One of the reasons people dismiss the fact that God exists is merely this:" I can not see, hear, touch, smell, or taste God, therefore He doesn't exist." Well, if that is the case, lets take love for example. I can not see, hear, touch, smell, or taste love therefore it doesn't exist. Right? Wrong! We all know love exists because, well.. we just do.  The word love is so taken for granted, I love ice cream, or this song, or my new phone ect.. When love is used to express feelings for someone, it is taken to a "new" level, it means more that just words, which really can't be expressed, or explained by anyone in mere words, you just expect them to know. Love knows no bounds.

  Now, lets take the mind (thoughts) I can not see, hear, touch, smell, or taste your mind (thoughts) (neither can a doctor) therefore, it doesn't exist. Right? Wrong AGAIN! We all know everyone has a mind (thoughts) and we all think and make decisions by it. How many times have you heard or used the phrase: " I can read your mind?" plenty I am sure. The mind is a terrible thing to waste.

  It is settled then, love and the mind (thoughts) exist without verification of the 5 senses to prove it. God also exists in the same manner. Turn then to Him and his love will engulf your mind, and you will be able to love at a greater level! Don't just take my word for it, find out for yourself.  God is willing, are you?

Truth (and conversion)

  Yes indeed, God was on my side, and was ready to tell me the truth, but was I ready to hear it? Of course I was since I had fervently prayed for it. My wife and I had agreed to disagree, but there was a slight clash about each other's faith, nothing detrimental, just some uneasiness. Our Lord was more than willing to end the dissension. So here is the word I received from God that set me straight right real quick and in a hurry. Ready for this?......."I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh,which I will give for the life of the world." John 6:51
  The Jews were like" WHAT?" .."Verily Verily I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood. ye have NO life in you.Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even shall live by me. This is the bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever." John 6:53-58. AMEN! Verse 66 goes on to say " from that time on many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him." Yesiree, THAT is what did it! I certainly was NOT going back, I wanted to walk hand in hand with Him as He has asked me to do. The Eucharist He had established, and so I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt the TRUTH had been dumped right into my lap! Could Jesus have been any clearer than this? No way! After all, when Jesus saw those who chose to leave, he never exclaimed "WAIT! COME BACK! I WAS JUST KIDDING!".

  The truth you see, is given to us all, when we so choose to listen. About 6 or so months later I was confirmed in the Catholic church, and definitely had no qualms about it in the least. I decided not to be one of those who had walked away after Jesus rendered the truth. This also is the chapter in the bible that isn't taken literally by other faiths. By far the most important in my eyes. ( I took the bait and Jesus "set the hook")

 

Returning to faith

  A new husband I had become, a new bride I had received, a new state to reside in, a new little apartment for my home and a new job to support these. My lifestyle was shall we say, a little out of "whack". Deep down I knew that even though my life had taken flight, my heart was still grounded. As time went on we both decided to retreat back to our spiritual upbringing. Two different faiths, we were in an interdenominational marriage. Marriage in THE Catholic church means agreeing to raise children in the faith. I needed answers!  Being raised in a church going family as a kid, is exactly what Sundays and church were for...FAMILIES! My new immediate family was split on Sundays as we went to different churches. Something was not "clicking". My heart being troubled with this situation, I turned to God in sincere prayer to find the TRUTH.  "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness."  Ephesians 6:14

  Finally (God being beyond time heehee) I was hit with the scripture that turned "my boat" around, it was the only chapter in the bible that my Protestant brothers and sisters do not take literally. Any guesses?....

Just a little background

  I was born and raised in Texas. Baptized into the Baptist faith (who isn't down south? lol) and had "jumped" faiths to Pentecostal (a parental decision) as an adolescent. Reaching the point of becoming a man around the age of 19 with little or no direction, (other than being an avid fisherman) I joined the Army and off to Germany I went. After a two year term there, my next set of orders were to Massachusetts. The unit I was assigned to was sent to Desert Storm. (the first gulf war)  After the war I met an intriguing young lady from New Hampshire and as my "time" in the military quickly came to its end, my decision to stay instead of returning to my roots in Texas prevailed. We married shortly after and this is where the REAL journey of faith begins! Stay tuned Y'all!