I just came back from Christmas get together with my family and I just kind of had to take a moment to cry it out. I was so happy and excited to share my testimony with my family about how I came to make Jesus Christ as the Lord and savior of my life, how I became closer to God over these past few years and how through the Holy Spirit I've changed. My own mom and step dad could not stop judging me, because God has called me to be a Christian and not Catholic. My step dad got angry with me for being a Christian. I have never tried to create a barrier with my family but always edified them, uplifted them, encouraged them and prayed for them. But My Step dad practically demanded that I state what the difference between Catholicism and Christianity was ... so I shared what I knew 1.) I don't pray to Saints because I do not believe that I need to be praying to them, or pray to them, to pray to Jesus, to intercede for me.. because I could go straight to Jesus. My step dad said,"Just like there are heroes in the world, we have heroes inspiring our faith and this is why we pray to Saints. We dont pray to them, we pray for them to intercede on our behalf and talk to Jesus." I kindly asked for scriptures on this and they couldn't point any out. 2.) I explained there beliefs on communion and how they differ 3.) I explained how and why we do not pray to Mother Mary 4.) I talked about how they believe in purgatory. I was not being rude about anything, just simply talking and calmly answering the questions but my step dad would not let me finish and kept cutting me off and because he would not let me finish, he kept saying I was cutting him off. Him and my mom were continuously giving me dirty looks as I was speaking but it did not stop me from sharing the truths I have learned. My step dad's final straw, when he did not provide scriptures was him saying, "Well, which religion is the oldest? I have a list and I will show you." and he brought our a list of Pope's from now until 67AD? saying that these pope's were there during the time Jesus was alive or the Apostles which means Catholicism is the only true religion. I then found out that my step dad has been telling my siblings bad things about Christianity... and he gifted me some Catholic Bible books on Catehisms and many other things. He also said, "Jesus said this would happen" and then quoted Luke 12:51 and then insinuated it was me trying to divide our family. When in reality I had done nothing of the sort. I found myself in a place I had not been before. I came home and continued my study on Ephesians and I am so thankful because these words could not have come at a better time. So thank you Pastor Paul. All Glory be to God.
Dear Pastor, thank you for this study of Ephesians. I have been listening to it over and over for more understanding and clarity. You are truly an amazing teacher. All praise and glory to God.
Please pray for my son Jesse who has a bad case of pneumonia and for the doctors who plan to perform surgery to drain the fluid that is in his lower right lung. He is 13 months old. We are from San Jose, CA. USA. Thank you in advance and thanks to all for continually sharing the good message.
Calvary Chapel Ontario, Follow up - Jesse was released from the hospital yesterday after 2 weeks and 2 days of procedures and treatments. All glory to God! Thank you all again for your prayers.
We are called to marry folks who are equally yoked with us…(this is with believers and non believers, believers and other religions) My husband isn’t a believer and I am and it can be very hard at times. I’m always praying for him….i think it might be easier than trying to be with someone who is a practicing pagan (anyone who believes in other gods). There are very very large differences between us and Muslims…you need to pray on it. I could give you my opinion and all the reasons you shouldn’t , but ultimately you need to hear it from God before you’re going to accept anything people will say.
