Pope makes it easier for Anglicans to convert !

I believe this to be big. I do hope so. The Anglican Church has about 77 million members worldwide. Normally it takes about 9 months to become a Catholic. There is much to learn. I accept this as we all should know our faith. The Catholic Church expecting you to know what they believe before you become one just makes sense to me.
And I am a convert. As an adult in my late 40’s I studied Catholosim as a history student. I was a lifetime Protestant. I knew the Catholic Church was very serious about marriage and ending abortion. These two things were important to me. I also knew my faith has been carried and upheld for 1500 plus years by the Catholics before the leaders of the reformation decided the Church was wrong. What I found was an IMMENSE amount of fabulous works of the Holy Spirit I knew nothing about. I felt like I had left the appetizers and moved to the main course and dessert. I am still, 12 years later, amazed at God’s work for the last 2,000 years and what he does today.
This in no way condemns the Protestant Church. The Catholic Church acknowledges the salvation of Protestants. But we are divided. Christ formed HIS Church. Not 30,000 plus churches!
And let’s be honest. The Anglican Church was formed when King Henry VIII wanted a divorce and a new wife. It was never about a problem with the Church teaching. It was about sin. So hundreds were killed and the decadent King became head of the church.
We all agree with Hebrews 13:8 Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Well, unless we want to use contraception, get a divorce, an abortion, sleep in on Sunday and on and on. We love and acknowledge Christ up to it interferes with what we want. We really don’t want to pick up the cross and follow him. That requires suffering. I am no exception. I suffer because I know better. I do miss that ignorant state I lived in years earlier. Once you learn the material, you are responsible for it.
Anyway, much of the Anglican Church has joined the current radically autonomous society. If it feels good, do it. I decide what God believes and he believes what I believe. Forget the teaching, God has matured. So we have practicing gay and women Priests among other things. God no longer is the same. He has changed and we are hip to it.
Anyway, the Pope (Peter’s successor) has invited the Anglican to cross the Tiber and become Catholic, yet keep much of the Anglican flavor. He has even prepared an “Apostolic Constitution” to help the process. Know that the 2 Churches are very similar. The authority of the Pope will be one of the biggest changes. We believe Christ started one Church with Peter as the cornerstone. For over 1500 years that was it. One Catholic Church. God’s perfect Church with much less that perfect people in it.
Yes, we are ALL sinners and not all Popes are in heaven. Their was plenty to complain about when Martin Luther started the reformation. But the problem wasn’t the Church and it’s teaching. It was sinners running the church at the time. It’s unfortunate Luther didn’t work on the sinners instead. Now we are divided. We are divided much less than one might think.
The problem is people focus on the 10% differences and not the 90% agreement. And, by the way, that is exactly what that “bible toten” Jimmy Carter is doing when he calls America a racist nation. The 90 plus that aren’t deserve better. Anyway, this is big. I hope millions of unhappy Anglicans become Catholic. God’s work needs to be done. We agree with Matthew and Luke relaying God’s message, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few”.

So Long City Manager.

My business is in a small town, Grantville, GA. It has always been the other side of the tracks but many of us have been working to change the historical image. I personally have invested all my finances here, not to mention 6 days a week working. Anyway, after a disastrous former city manager the town finally hired one with skills. He had a tainted past because he pumped up his resume falsely. But he hung in there and gained our respect with the job he did. Well, last Friday he was busted buying pot right in town. Clean bust evidently, he resigned the next business day. He is catching tee total hell from everyone. I have to admit, I was more than a little miffed early on. Late that same night I went to Adoration. I am there 3 to 4 AM. It is a time to pray in Christs' presence. (google Adoration or Eucharist for more info). As I prayed for this man it occurred to me, he is a child of God, no worse than me. We all have human nature and sin. The Church is a congregation of sinners. He puffed up his resume and he smokes pot. Not exactly in the same league as wife beating, embezzlement, drunk driving or a host of others. And he is paying dearly for his sin. Loss of job in a deep recession. Probably loss of his career. This man needs what we all need. God's redemption and our support. Our support as loving Christians helping him find peace during this time. He is remorseful. He accepts responsibility. He will pay the price. But he shouldn't be verbally stoned by people who profess the love of Christ. Love is a verb. It is an act of the will. Our actions show what we believe. Is there someone out there you need to "act towards"? Yea, me too.

Protestant? Think about this!

This blog is food for thought. We were designed by God to learn and grow. It begins at birth and if we're smart, continues to death. This is not about judgement. It is about knowing your faith. I do not question the salvation of Protestants. And neither does the Catholic Church. A little background. I was born into a southern Christian protestant family that didn't attend Church. However I attended various Protestant Church's on a regular basis beginning when I was 23 years old. 25 years later I studied the Catholic Church as a history student. I also studied Buddhism, the Hindu faith, and some others. I was thunderstruck by what I learned about our Christian Faith at the Catholic church. I converted.
I know I am a sinner. I know my real work in this life is to get me straight, try to keep me straight and help others.
Here are a few questions, the answers to, pulled the rug from underneath me.

1. Where did the bible come from?
2. How did we split from the Catholic Church?
3. How did we wind up with thousands of Protestant Churches?
4. Why do we protestants ignore John 6?
5. What is the Eucharist?

Well, it's late and I'm tired. Just ask which question you want my answer to or ask your own.