December 2004

Conversion Stories Galore

by Steve Ray on December 29, 2004

Many people don’t realize that we have a Conversion Story page on this website. Stories of Catholic converts from all walks of life. Some are long and some are short, but they are all interesting with their own story of God’s grace. Please feel free to read them at www.catholic-convert.com > Stories > Conversions, or [...]

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Roman Gods, January, and Janitors

by Steve Ray on December 28, 2004

Note: Since my secular business — which keeps the rent paid and food on the table — is Distinctive Maintenance Inc., I thought I would share this interesting article I wrote for my company’s January newsletter. January is a Good Time to Talk about Janitors? What is a janitor?  Is it just someone who sweeps [...]

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Christians in Israel: Latest Statistics

by Steve Ray on December 26, 2004

Of the Christians living in Israel, 117,000 are Arab and 27,000 are new immigrants, according to the report. The new immigrant Christians, who came to Israel under the Law of Return that grants citizenship to non-Jewish first-degree relatives of Jews, arrived mainly during the major wave of immigration in the 1990s from the former Soviet [...]

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Brochure and Pricing for Israel Pilgrimage

by Steve Ray on December 22, 2004

We now have the brochure completed for our pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We have finalized the pricing and daily schedule. You can now reserve your space on this exciting trip to follow the footprints of Mary and Jesus! Click on the picture to see the brochure in full size (Acrobat Reader, pdf file), or [...]

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Dissenting Bishops and Catholics

by Steve Ray on December 20, 2004

(A friend’s comments below) Fargo Bishop addresses the roots of dissent among Catholics in pastoral letter FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA, USA, Dec. 17, 2004 (CNA) – In a pastoral letter to be released on Saturday, Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila, Bishop of Fargo, addresses the roots of dissent among Catholics, highlighted during the recent elections in [...]

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Free Chart and Two Articles

by Steve Ray on December 17, 2004

On our way to Washington DC again for two days to help our daughter and return her son Dominic (who spent the week with us — we will MISS him). Grandkids are great! In the meantime: Did the Wise Men Meet the Shepherds? Fascinating Differences in the Story of Jesus’ Birth by Steve Ray   [...]

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Young Kids will Love this Santa

by Steve Ray on December 16, 2004

My two young grandsons sat entranced when they saw this cute, interactive “Dancing Santa and Reindeer” site on the internet. They kept saying “Again, again!” Anyone young at heart will enjoy this. Click on the picture then click on each reindeer, one at a time.

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A Little Creep with Too Much Time on his Hands

by Steve Ray on December 14, 2004

Some people have too much time on their hands and too little of substance in their heads. Some people rise early in the morning to pray to God and serve their fellow man, while others stay up late at night to prey on God’s people and to harm their fellow man. Last night such an empty-headed, [...]

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Pictures of Baby Damian Augustine Brown

by Steve Ray on December 10, 2004

Except for an IV drip, the tubes are out and gone. Damian is breastfeeding, crying and breathing on his own. The doctors are amazed at how quickly this little 5 pound fighter clamored out of the intensive care bed into a regular incubator. Cindy is up and walking around and will come home today or [...]

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Damien Greets the World!

by Steve Ray on December 9, 2004

For Thursday 12-9-04 update, scroll to the end for red text. Modern medicine is marvelous! This little guy would not be with us today without it — and the grace of God. His due date was January 13, 2005, but he decided it was time to make his debut on Tuesday — and the doctor said it [...]

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Emergency C-section; we’re on our way!

by Steve Ray on December 8, 2004

You never know. Our 4th grandchild WAS to be born on December 31. But now there are complications – the umbilical cord wrapped around the baby’s neck and my daughter’s water broke just NOW. So, we are taking an immediate flight from Michigan to Washington DC to help out. Keep us and our daughter and grandson [...]

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Vocations Crisis — oh really?

by Steve Ray on December 7, 2004

Last evening I spend several hours visiting a convent with a serious vocational crisis. It has gotten so bad so rapidly that their convent property is covered in mud with trucks and bulldozers blocking the main road in. Women are being turned away. Last evening I saw the crisis again with my own eyes. But the [...]

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I’ve Arrived!

by Steve Ray on December 7, 2004

Today I received a letter from the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons, I think). They tell me I am now eligible to join — which must mean I am old and ready to get my wheel chair and cane. But I don’t feel old! I don’t creak when I walk and I haven’t started [...]

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Anniversary: 28 Years Married

by Steve Ray on December 4, 2004

Tomorrow, Saturday December 4, I celebrate one of the best things I ever did in life — married a pretty Czech girl named Janet Sklenar. She was 19 years old and I was 21. Twenty eight years later I get tears in my eyes thinking how wonderful it has been and how good God was [...]

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A New Old Book on Tradition

by Steve Ray on December 3, 2004

My friend Mark Brumley, President of Ignatius Press, writes: Theology students, apologetics enthusiasts, and others interested in theology often ask me, “What’s a good book on Tradition?”  Tradition is one of those ideas that people often get muddled—including many apologists.  In part that’s because there are so many different meanings to the word.  Apologists commonly [...]

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