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	<title>Defenders of the Catholic Faith : Hosted by Stephen K. Ray</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com</link>
	<description>Author of &#34;St. John&#039;s Gospel&#34;, &#34;Upon This Rock&#34;, &#38; &#34;Crossing the Tiber&#34;</description>
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		<title>Pre-wedding Party in Nazareth</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/09/02/pre-wedding-party-in-nazareth/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/09/02/pre-wedding-party-in-nazareth/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:09:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Friends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fun Stuff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Israel and Middle East]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pilgrimages]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/09/02/pre-wedding-party-in-nazareth/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Janet and I are in Nazareth, as I&#8217;ve already shared, and right now we are at the pre-wedding party of 1,000 people &#8212; family and friends of the bride and grooms family. We are honored to be guests. </p>
<p>The groom&#8217;s family puts on this huge party to welcome the family and friends of the bride (including us). Amer and his family had hosted a party for the groom&#8217;s family a few days earlier. </p>
<p>Families are very involved in the weddings to a degree unknown in the West. No wonder divorce and premarital sex is virtually unknown here. </p>
<p>I am posting  ... <a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/09/02/pre-wedding-party-in-nazareth/"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/themes/catholic-convert/images/btn_read_more_01.png" alt="Read More" title="Read More" align="absmiddle" /></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Janet and I are in Nazareth, as I&#8217;ve already shared, and right now we are at the pre-wedding party of 1,000 people &#8212; family and friends of the bride and grooms family. We are honored to be guests. </p>
<p>The groom&#8217;s family puts on this huge party to welcome the family and friends of the bride (including us). Amer and his family had hosted a party for the groom&#8217;s family a few days earlier. </p>
<p>Families are very involved in the weddings to a degree unknown in the West. No wonder divorce and premarital sex is virtually unknown here. </p>
<p>I am posting lots of pictures and videos to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/jerusalemjones">http://www.facebook.com/jerusalemjones</a></p>
<p>Enjoy! If you gone with us on pilgrimage you will enjoy seeing Amer and his family.  Pass it on!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/p_640_480_B4B30687-73C8-40FA-AB37-9203552284D6.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6675];player=img;"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/p_640_480_B4B30687-73C8-40FA-AB37-9203552284D6.jpeg" alt="" class="alignnone size-full" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_2592_1936_E8BCBDA4-7F39-428E-9FF7-C3E8B47FF6D0.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6675];player=img;"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_2592_1936_E8BCBDA4-7F39-428E-9FF7-C3E8B47FF6D0.jpeg" alt="" class="alignnone size-full" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_2592_1936_91C3F8BF-C27E-48A2-B66C-9B6F61C52E16.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6675];player=img;"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_2592_1936_91C3F8BF-C27E-48A2-B66C-9B6F61C52E16.jpeg" alt="" class="alignnone size-full" /></a></p>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Running in Israel</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/09/02/running-in-israel/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/09/02/running-in-israel/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:50:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fun Stuff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health/Running]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Israel and Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/09/02/running-in-israel/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>I will add to this over the next few days. </p>
<p>JerusalemJones Just posted a new Running trip, &#8220;2010-09-01 Rosh Pina, Galilee&#8221;, to @EveryTrail. Check it out here: <a href="http://bit.ly/bKoiip">http://bit.ly/bKoiip</a></p>
<p> Picture below: Overlooking Sea of Galilee. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_2592_1936_DB4999B2-7C4A-41BE-B627-0718B442E2AC.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6672];player=img;"></a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I will add to this over the next few days. </p>
<p>JerusalemJones Just posted a new Running trip, &#8220;2010-09-01 Rosh Pina, Galilee&#8221;, to @EveryTrail. Check it out here: <a href="http://bit.ly/bKoiip">http://bit.ly/bKoiip</a></p>
<p> Picture below: Overlooking Sea of Galilee. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_2592_1936_DB4999B2-7C4A-41BE-B627-0718B442E2AC.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6672];player=img;"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_2592_1936_DB4999B2-7C4A-41BE-B627-0718B442E2AC.jpeg" alt="" class="alignnone size-full" /></a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>World Will End Next Year</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/09/02/world-will-end-next-year/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/09/02/world-will-end-next-year/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:38:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Miscellaneous]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Protestant/Other Christians]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/09/02/world-will-end-next-year/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>You might want to mark this date on your calendar <a href="http://www.familyradio.com/portal-en.htm/">http://www.familyradio.com/portal-en.htm/</a>  just so you don&#8217;t schedule any important events after the end of the world has come :-)</p>
<p>Seriously, it&#8217;s always amazing that there are people gullible enough to follow such nut cases in the wake of innumerable false predictions over the last 2,000 years. </p>
<p>I am so grateful for the sanity of the Catholic Church!</p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You might want to mark this date on your calendar <a href="http://www.familyradio.com/portal-en.htm/">http://www.familyradio.com/portal-en.htm/</a>  just so you don&#8217;t schedule any important events after the end of the world has come :-)</p>
<p>Seriously, it&#8217;s always amazing that there are people gullible enough to follow such nut cases in the wake of innumerable false predictions over the last 2,000 years. </p>
<p>I am so grateful for the sanity of the Catholic Church!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>On Our Way to a Wedding in Cana</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/30/on-our-way-to-a-wedding-in-cana/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/30/on-our-way-to-a-wedding-in-cana/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:15:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fun Stuff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Israel and Middle East]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pilgrimages]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/?p=6668</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Actually the wedding is in Nazareth, but that is only four miles away. Janet and I are going to the wedding of Nagum Shehadeh who is the beautiful daughter of our friend and local Catholic guide Amer.</p>
<p>If you want to keep updated sign up to follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Both of them are at JerusalemJones.</p>
<p>www.Facebook.com/JerusalemJones</p>
<p>www.Twitter.com/JerusalemJones</p>
<p>I will also be posting YouTube videos of this authentic Holy Land pilgrimage here on my blog at http://www.CatholicConvert.com/2010.</p>
<p>While there Janet and I will be renting a car, exploring new places, running new trails (like from Nazareth to Cana) and working on our next  ... <a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/30/on-our-way-to-a-wedding-in-cana/"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/themes/catholic-convert/images/btn_read_more_01.png" alt="Read More" title="Read More" align="absmiddle" /></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Actually the wedding is in Nazareth, but that is only four miles away. Janet and I are going to the wedding of Nagum Shehadeh who is the beautiful daughter of our friend and local Catholic guide Amer.</p>
<p>If you want to keep updated sign up to follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Both of them are at JerusalemJones.</p>
<p>www.Facebook.com/JerusalemJones</p>
<p>www.Twitter.com/JerusalemJones</p>
<p>I will also be posting YouTube videos of this authentic Holy Land pilgrimage here on my blog at http://www.CatholicConvert.com/2010.</p>
<p>While there Janet and I will be renting a car, exploring new places, running new trails (like from Nazareth to Cana) and working on our next book for Ignatius Press. Keep us in your prayers.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/30/on-our-way-to-a-wedding-in-cana/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Interesting Items in the News</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/28/interesting-items-in-the-news/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/28/interesting-items-in-the-news/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:47:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News, In the]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Politics/United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/?p=6666</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103618703771&#38;s=3710&#38;e=001rYQbZIc5CwY9HRCXqBaImaj8noV9SLGgHoLGa0TGpdvsHEBZvgXijgcKyUHu2d5h_strSf_bc6lgX-eDuDCZCZGypHX6YqR4xNrl1we64ozdHqE_BK0489jc9jfqArHnllTxR8_IAev7D3HwPaqAxw==">The world readies for Mother Teresa&#8217;s 100th</a></p>
<p><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103618703771&#38;s=3710&#38;e=001rYQbZIc5CwaJUT2mvuMXCLt-fTZ_iI2nOoPrrxiGCbllqK0ahNEvWz96TrlOEXKYIb_Dr0QXrkPvgzqCy84j6x3oxh7yiKayhP15IKA7dP5dv8khYIx765ytvEdvNW0q3dmYjIEoCziTSmlzTfDm663tKSzTc6B-pFv3haWfJ1UuhFb-YUT_clp_ySp2KlJlTKXt2ojSHO_qz6pFRTVSGw==">Americans uncertain about Obama&#8217;s faith</a></p>
<p><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103618703771&#38;s=3710&#38;e=001rYQbZIc5CwYv_UYl6zY7qfvrTy9ngQIkeVLZTUK0ZRKJWPCdT902y-zJMF3ZGEyNf7ITazJ9co9K0gJGDJL7B_6z57mVk_N2rJnNn6-9Ba2fZZOwNRr17iLo9c48WLEHua43LmUKrmxNL6c_pOvDcOfWmsts88Ev">Obama admin blocks abstinence study</a></p>
<p><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103618703771&#38;s=3710&#38;e=001rYQbZIc5CwbfotqV4wRca8zO2TCiZVNjSRx9_JejjPT2QiEBJBzRJHvJTVBAYIwR36hgpMx-hPHkeldAITF8APtVQrJfuRHC00w-4Mjo7F-wWKSv5spyNj3py--IWA8VP336UbON_wuq_YGd4SX0xw5zYbMGZ3O1mRd_k-vhTmP1roljWuzOR9kkMqXsudNlBFiAJISeNG1Ucszkx3jIGA==">Priest for Life&#8217;s new iPhone app</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103618703771&amp;s=3710&amp;e=001rYQbZIc5CwY9HRCXqBaImaj8noV9SLGgHoLGa0TGpdvsHEBZvgXijgcKyUHu2d5h_strSf_bc6lgX-eDuDCZCZGypHX6YqR4xNrl1we64ozdHqE_BK0489jc9jfqArHnllTxR8_IAev7D3HwPaqAxw==">The world readies for Mother Teresa&#8217;s 100th</a></p>
<p><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103618703771&amp;s=3710&amp;e=001rYQbZIc5CwaJUT2mvuMXCLt-fTZ_iI2nOoPrrxiGCbllqK0ahNEvWz96TrlOEXKYIb_Dr0QXrkPvgzqCy84j6x3oxh7yiKayhP15IKA7dP5dv8khYIx765ytvEdvNW0q3dmYjIEoCziTSmlzTfDm663tKSzTc6B-pFv3haWfJ1UuhFb-YUT_clp_ySp2KlJlTKXt2ojSHO_qz6pFRTVSGw==">Americans uncertain about Obama&#8217;s faith</a></p>
<p><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103618703771&amp;s=3710&amp;e=001rYQbZIc5CwYv_UYl6zY7qfvrTy9ngQIkeVLZTUK0ZRKJWPCdT902y-zJMF3ZGEyNf7ITazJ9co9K0gJGDJL7B_6z57mVk_N2rJnNn6-9Ba2fZZOwNRr17iLo9c48WLEHua43LmUKrmxNL6c_pOvDcOfWmsts88Ev">Obama admin blocks abstinence study</a></p>
<p><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103618703771&amp;s=3710&amp;e=001rYQbZIc5CwbfotqV4wRca8zO2TCiZVNjSRx9_JejjPT2QiEBJBzRJHvJTVBAYIwR36hgpMx-hPHkeldAITF8APtVQrJfuRHC00w-4Mjo7F-wWKSv5spyNj3py--IWA8VP336UbON_wuq_YGd4SX0xw5zYbMGZ3O1mRd_k-vhTmP1roljWuzOR9kkMqXsudNlBFiAJISeNG1Ucszkx3jIGA==">Priest for Life&#8217;s new iPhone app</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Exhausted and a Bit Sore</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/25/exhausted-and-a-bit-sore/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/25/exhausted-and-a-bit-sore/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:06:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family and Kids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fun Stuff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health/Running]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/25/exhausted-and-a-bit-sore/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Home this week catching up on a lot of things. Going to see our friend Liz Lev from Rome who us here speaking at Our Lady of Good Council in Plymouth Michigan. She is the only guide I work with in Rome. </p>
<p>But that is not why I&#8217;m a bit weary today. The cause of the weariness is a new personal record. Today I ran 11 miles. </p>
<p>I ran the first two with my wife Janet who is building up her running so we can run together. We are using a new iPhone app &#8220;Couch to 5K&#8221;.</p>
<p>Then my son Jesse  ... <a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/25/exhausted-and-a-bit-sore/"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/themes/catholic-convert/images/btn_read_more_01.png" alt="Read More" title="Read More" align="absmiddle" /></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Home this week catching up on a lot of things. Going to see our friend Liz Lev from Rome who us here speaking at Our Lady of Good Council in Plymouth Michigan. She is the only guide I work with in Rome. </p>
<p>But that is not why I&#8217;m a bit weary today. The cause of the weariness is a new personal record. Today I ran 11 miles. </p>
<p>I ran the first two with my wife Janet who is building up her running so we can run together. We are using a new iPhone app &#8220;Couch to 5K&#8221;.</p>
<p>Then my son Jesse joined me to for next nine miles. We ran around the huge country block and took a few excursions off road through trails and side roads. We even met a couple from our parish out running. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/p_960_640_D33AD637-2E2F-4B1B-B570-C3C8C1D92A6B.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6662];player=img;"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/p_960_640_D33AD637-2E2F-4B1B-B570-C3C8C1D92A6B.jpeg" alt="" class="alignnone size-full" /></a></p>
<p>We are now eating a healthy lunch, resting, trying to catch up with e-mail and a lot of other things while waiting for the plumber to fix the leak which caused a flood in our basement. </p>
<p>Next Monday we head to Nazareth for a wedding, four miles from Cana of Galilee. Our friend Amer&#8217;s daughter Nagum (means Princess) is getting married and we&#8217;re going to the week long wedding. </p>
<p>We will run there too!</p>
<p>Our run today http://bit.ly/ca7dzQ</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>A Brit Speaks Out about USA and the Mosque in NY</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/24/a-brit-speaks-out-about-the-mosque-in-ny/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/24/a-brit-speaks-out-about-the-mosque-in-ny/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:01:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Islam]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Politics/United States]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/?p=6653</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>I couldn&#8217;t agree more!   <a href="http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/06/pat-condell-on-ground-zero-mosque-is-it-possible-to-be-astonished-but-not-surprised.html"></a></p>
<p></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I couldn&#8217;t agree more!   <a href="http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/06/pat-condell-on-ground-zero-mosque-is-it-possible-to-be-astonished-but-not-surprised.html"></a></p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="425" height="350" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vjS0Novt3X4&amp;feature" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vjS0Novt3X4&amp;feature"></embed></object></p>
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		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Home at Last!</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/23/home-at-last/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/23/home-at-last/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:15:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fun Stuff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/23/home-at-last/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Home at last! And home for a whole week before heading to Nazareth for a wedding &#8211; only four miles from the Wedding in Cana of Galilee (John 2:1-11). </p>
<p>Our friend Amer&#8217;s eldest caught Nagum is getting married on September 5 and we will be at the Church of the Annunciation for the wedding. </p>
<p>At the same time my parents will celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary.</p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Home at last! And home for a whole week before heading to Nazareth for a wedding &#8211; only four miles from the Wedding in Cana of Galilee (John 2:1-11). </p>
<p>Our friend Amer&#8217;s eldest caught Nagum is getting married on September 5 and we will be at the Church of the Annunciation for the wedding. </p>
<p>At the same time my parents will celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Mary, Queen of Heaven</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/23/mary-queen-of-heaven/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/23/mary-queen-of-heaven/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Aug 2010 09:20:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Apologetics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Biblical Exposition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mary]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/?p=4796</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>August 22: Feast Day of Mary Queen of Heaven</p>
<p>A while ago a man called in to say my argument for the Assumption of Mary including references from the Old Testament was wrong.</p>
<p>I had quoted 1 Kings 2:19 where Solomon had raised his mother up to a throne to be Queen of the Kingdom. He said that was the ONLY case of a mother being a queen in the Old Testament.</p>
<p>He prefaced his comment by saying that he knew the Old Testament well and it does not support what I had asserted.</p>
<p>Well, if he knew his Old Testament as well as  ... <a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/23/mary-queen-of-heaven/"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/themes/catholic-convert/images/btn_read_more_01.png" alt="Read More" title="Read More" align="absmiddle" /></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>August 22: Feast Day of Mary Queen of Heaven</strong></span></p>
<p>A while ago a man called in to say my argument for the Assumption of Mary including references from the Old Testament was wrong.</p>
<p>I had quoted 1 Kings 2:19 where Solomon had raised his mother up to a throne to be Queen of the Kingdom. He said that was the ONLY case of a mother being a queen in the Old Testament.</p>
<p>He prefaced his comment by saying that he knew the Old Testament well and it does not support what I had asserted.</p>
<p>Well, if he knew his Old Testament as well as he said, he would realize I was correct.</p>
<p>In the Old Testament, the kings of Judah had queens but the queens were not their wives &#8212; but their mothers &#8212; with one exception of the queen being a grandmother.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/080284278X/sr=1-1/qid=1155651472/ref=sr_1_1/103-6702823-6399048?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books"><img style="margin: 5px; float:  left;" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/AncientIsrael.jpg" alt="AncientIsrael.jpg" width="86" height="124" /></a>Solomon had 1,000 wives and concubines &#8212; but he only had one mother. Click <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/documents/GreatLadyQueen.pdf"><span style="color: #0000ff;">here</span></a></span></strong> to read the section on The Great Lady or Queen Mother in Roland de Vaux&#8217;s book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/080284278X/sr=1-1/qid=1155651472/ref=sr_1_1/103-6702823-6399048?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books"><strong><span style="color: #0000ff;">Ancient Israel: Its Life and Institution</span></strong></a>.</p>
<p>The Queen Mothers of earthly kings of Judah were not always good examples or godly queens. Many of them were egregious sinners and would intercede for the people with improper requests to the king. But, this takes <em>nothing</em> away from the fact that the mother was the queen and intercessor. It only confirms that many of the Old Testament kings and queens were disobedient to God.</p>
<p>But there is a perfect King and a perfect Queen &#8212; Jesus and his mother Mary. They follow the pattern of protocol and  It is the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>royal protocol</em></span><em> </em>and the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>historical precedent</em></span> and the <em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">office</span></em> that is important in the analogy.</p>
<p>Jesus is a king sitting on the throne of his fathers David and Solomon (Luke 1:30-33; Daniel 7:13-14; Rev 5:5; 19:16) and all the subsequent kings of Judah. Solomon was called the son of David because that&#8217;s what he was. But the phrase &#8220;Son of David&#8221; became a title of the Messiah. Jesus is referred to as teh Son of David (Matt 1:1; 21:9) and is therefore the ultimate and true king.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/Queen-of-Heaven.jpg" rel="shadowbox[post-4796];player=img;"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-6582" style="float: right; margin: 5px;" title="Queen of Heaven" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/Queen-of-Heaven-167x300.jpg" alt="Queen of Heaven" width="167" height="300" /></a>The kings of Judah all had queens and the queens were not their wives &#8212; they were their mothers. This is the royal protocol of the Old Testament and the kings of Judah. It is ultimately fulfilled in Christianity and the Kingdom of God which, obviously, is based on the Old Testament model.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Follow the logic</span>: <strong><span style="color: #0000cc;"><br />
1)</span></strong> Solomon and subsequent kings of Judah raised their mothers to Queenship which became established as an official office; <strong><span style="color: #0000cc;"><br />
2)</span></strong> the mothers were referred to as the Queen Mothers or the Great Lady; <strong><span style="color: #0000cc;"><br />
3)</span></strong> they sat on a throne near their sons (1 Ki 2:19);<br />
<strong><span style="color: #0000cc;">4)</span></strong> Jesus is the quintessential Jewish King with an eternal kingdom;<strong><span style="color: #0000cc;"><br />
5)</span></strong> Jesus is the fulfillment of the Israelite offices of Prophet, Priest &amp; King; <strong><span style="color: #0000cc;"><br />
6)</span></strong> As the Davidic king, Jesus who obeyed the Law perfectly, would honor his mother more than earthy kings honored their mothers;<br />
<strong><span style="color: #0000cc;">7)</span></strong> It is biblical, historical, and reasonable to expect the perfect Jewish king to follow the protocol of the kingdom and his fathers by assuming his mother to a throne at his right hand. <strong><span style="color: #0000cc;"><br />
8)</span></strong> It is proper and biblical to consider Mary in a position of intercessor as the Queen of Heaven.<br />
<span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>9)</strong></span> Mary is seen as the Queen of Heaven in Revelation 12:1.</p>
<p>Is it impossible or unlikely that God would assume someone into heaven body and soul? All of us will be taken us some day (1 Cor 15:52). In the Bible there are at least two clear examples of humans taken up to heaven body and soul. Both Enoch (Gen 5:24; Heb 11:5) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:1-11) were taken up into heaven body and soul. Mary was not the first!</p>
<p><em>Queenship of Mary</em> is a Marian feast day in the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church,  created by Pope Pius XII. On 11 October 1954, the Pontiff  pronounced the new feast in his <a title="Encyclical" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encyclical">encyclical</a> <em><a title="Ad  caeli reginam" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_caeli_reginam">Ad caeli reginam</a></em>. The feast  was celebrated on May 31, the last day of the Marian month. In 1969, Pope  Paul VI moved the feast day to August 22.</p>
<p>***********************************</p>
<p>One question was asked today about the Queen in Psalm 45. If the queen was the bride marrying the king, then how can we say the queen was always the mother and that it was a pattern by which we could see Jesus, like other Jewish kings, appointing his mother as his queen. I speculate a bit on the matter <a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/documents/MaryQueenPsalm45.pdf">here</a>.</p>
<p>For a response to the argument that Jeremiah condemns those who worship the Queen of Heaven, click <a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/23/jeremiah-condemns-worship-of-queen-of-heaven/"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p>
<p>For more on Mary, get my documentary filmed on location. It is  entitled Mary, Mother of God. You can learn more about it and order it <a href="http://www.steveraysstore.com/dvds.html"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.steveraysstore.com/dvds.html"><img title="15" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/15.jpg" alt="15" width="135" height="135" /></a></p>
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		<title>Jeremiah Condemns Worship of Queen of Heaven</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/23/jeremiah-condemns-worship-of-queen-of-heaven/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/23/jeremiah-condemns-worship-of-queen-of-heaven/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Aug 2010 08:12:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Apologetics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Biblical Exposition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mary]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/?p=1459</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>I recently received an e-mail.  How would you answer this question?</p>
<p>Now if I could get past Jeremiah, chapter 44, I’d really be a happy camper, (LOL).  Stumbled on that passage this morning and wondered about the “Queen of Heaven” that the people of Judah were burning incense to.  God sure was mad! Who was this “Queen” they were venerating (worshiping?)?  I wonder if they were putting her ahead of God? The struggles continue&#8230;.but the Lord is faithful!!</p>
<p>I had dealt with this argument and confusion before, so I thought I would wrote an explanation comparing the idolatrous worship of the pagan Queen  ... <a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/23/jeremiah-condemns-worship-of-queen-of-heaven/"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/themes/catholic-convert/images/btn_read_more_01.png" alt="Read More" title="Read More" align="absmiddle" /></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I recently received an e-mail.  How would you answer this question?</p>
<blockquote><p><span style="color: #0000ff;">Now if I could get past Jeremiah, chapter 44, I’d really be a happy camper, (LOL).  Stumbled on that passage this morning and wondered about the “Queen of Heaven” that the people of Judah were burning incense to.  God sure was mad! Who was this “Queen” they were venerating (worshiping?)?  I wonder if they were putting her ahead of God? The struggles continue&#8230;.but the Lord is faithful!!</span></p></blockquote>
<p><img style="margin: 5px; float: left;" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/Mary2.jpg" alt="Mary2.jpg" width="139" height="171" />I had dealt with this argument and confusion before, so I thought I would wrote an explanation comparing the idolatrous worship of the pagan Queen of Heaven and veneration of Mary the legitimate Queen of Heaven.</p>
<p>Be ready to defend your faith, and our Holy Queen. Click <span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/documents/QueenOfHeaven.pdf"><strong>here</strong></a></span> for an explanation of Jeremiah 44 and his condemnation of Jews worshiping the pagan goddess and queen of heaven and why it is right and good to venerate our Queen Mother in Heaven.</p>
<p>If you haven&#8217;t heard the argument yet, you will some day. Be ready!</p>
<p>For more on Mary, get my documentary filmed on location. It is entitled Mary, Mother of God. You can learn more about it and order it <a href="http://www.steveraysstore.com/dvds.html"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.steveraysstore.com/dvds.html"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-6629" title="15" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/15.jpg" alt="15" width="135" height="135" /></a></p>
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		<title>Experimenting with iMovie on my iPhone on a Plane 35,000 Above the Heartland!</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/22/experimenting-with-imove-on-my-iphone-3500-feet-above-the-american-heartkand/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/22/experimenting-with-imove-on-my-iphone-3500-feet-above-the-american-heartkand/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Aug 2010 23:25:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Conferences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fun Stuff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health/Running]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/22/experimenting-with-imove-on-my-iphone-3500-feet-above-the-american-heartkand/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>The new iPhone 4 has the ability to make movies using a new app called iMovie. It is pretty easy to use and I thought I would experiment while sitting for over three hours flying home from Seattle. This is the result. Not perfect but I am learning.I will be more aware of the pictures and videos I take with the iPhone knowing now what I need to make a better movie.</p>
<p>You will see a handsome young man named Isaac in this video. He was an exceptional young man who came right up to me, looked me in the eyes  ... <a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/22/experimenting-with-imove-on-my-iphone-3500-feet-above-the-american-heartkand/"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/themes/catholic-convert/images/btn_read_more_01.png" alt="Read More" title="Read More" align="absmiddle" /></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The new iPhone 4 has the ability to make movies using a new app called iMovie. It is pretty easy to use and I thought I would experiment while sitting for over three hours flying home from Seattle. This is the result. Not perfect but I am learning.I will be more aware of the pictures and videos I take with the iPhone knowing now what I need to make a better movie.</p>
<p>You will see a handsome young man named Isaac in this video. He was an exceptional young man who came right up to me, looked me in the eyes and said, &#8220;My name is Isaac and I want to be an apologist like you!&#8221; I was very impressed with his manner, his forthrightness and his intelligence. He also, along with his whole family, had a palpable love for Jesus and the Church.</p>
<p>So you will see a brief segment where he states his name and says &#8220;and I want to be an apologist.&#8221; There were a good number of very impressive young folks at this conference. Watch out world, there is a new generation on the horizon that will rock the world with their love for Jesus and his Church. They will fact tough times I think, but the Lord will bless and prepare them to be lights in the darkness.</p>
<p>Hope you don&#8217;t mind my little experiment with technology.</p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="425" height="350" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PUpR1cfca0k" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PUpR1cfca0k"></embed></object></p>
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		<title>Catholic Conference and Run in Anacortes Washington</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/22/catholic-conference-and-run-in-anacortes-washington/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/22/catholic-conference-and-run-in-anacortes-washington/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Aug 2010 19:39:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Conferences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fun Stuff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health/Running]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/?p=6593</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_0945.JPG" rel="shadowbox[post-6593];player=img;"></a>I will add more about the conference when I get home. I had a great time with all these wonderful Catholics in the upper NW of Washington State. I ran in the Washington State Park which you can see <a href="http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=771440">here</a>.</p>
<p>You can also see a few pictures and videos of the Faith on Fire Conference where I had the privilege of sharing the microphone with Tim Staples and Sister Miriam (a wonderful and eloquent SOLT nun). You can see more at <a href="http://www.Facebook.com/JerusalemJones">www.Facebook.com/JerusalemJones</a>. I will try to add more when I get home.</p>
<p>To see the map and pictures  ... <a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/22/catholic-conference-and-run-in-anacortes-washington/"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/themes/catholic-convert/images/btn_read_more_01.png" alt="Read More" title="Read More" align="absmiddle" /></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_0945.JPG" rel="shadowbox[post-6593];player=img;"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-6596" style="float: right; margin: 5px;" title="IMG_0945" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_0945-300x224.jpg" alt="IMG_0945" width="300" height="224" /></a>I will add more about the conference when I get home. I had a great time with all these wonderful Catholics in the upper NW of Washington State. I ran in the Washington State Park which you can see <a href="http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=771440">here</a>.</p>
<p>You can also see a few pictures and videos of the Faith on Fire Conference where I had the privilege of sharing the microphone with Tim Staples and Sister Miriam (a wonderful and eloquent SOLT nun). You can see more at <a href="http://www.Facebook.com/JerusalemJones">www.Facebook.com/JerusalemJones</a>. I will try to add more when I get home.</p>
<p>To see the map and pictures of my run thru the wilderness, click here  Just posted a new Running trip, “2010-08-22 Washington State Park”,  to  @EveryTrail. Check it out here: <a href="http://bit.ly/9NlBmg">http://bit.ly/9NlBmg</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_0951.JPG" rel="shadowbox[post-6593];player=img;"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-6597" title="IMG_0951" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_0951-300x224.jpg" alt="IMG_0951" width="300" height="224" /></a><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_0983.jpg" rel="shadowbox[post-6593];player=img;"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-6599" title="IMG_0983" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_0983-300x225.jpg" alt="IMG_0983" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/p_2592_1936_AEF25AAA-08D7-4095-B1D0-5F2B310DE50E.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6593];player=img;"><img class="alignnone size-full" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/p_2592_1936_AEF25AAA-08D7-4095-B1D0-5F2B310DE50E.jpeg" alt="" width="207" height="277" /></a><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/screen-capture-81.png" rel="shadowbox[post-6593];player=img;"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-6637" title="screen-capture-8" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/screen-capture-81-300x220.png" alt="screen-capture-8" width="300" height="220" /></a></p>
<p>Comment from a participant at the conference:</p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">Thank you for sharing your time, stories, and wisdom with all of us, Steve!  The Holy Spirit was rocking Anacortes this weekend.  We all felt it.  You were central to that &#8211; what a blessing.  I hope you&#8217;re now enjoying your family back home&#8230;let them know that we appreciate their willingness to share you with all of us here.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">Oh, and the slugs you photographed are banana slugs (some have irregular black spots)&#8230;native to these parts, and wonderful help if you brush up against stinging nettles&#8230;the slime works wonders if you can get over the idea that a slug is crawling on you : )  Glad you found the park.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #800000;">Thanks again for being part of Faith on Fire!</span></p>
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		<title>Catholic Answers Live &amp; Loving Technology!</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/20/love-technology/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/20/love-technology/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:10:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Computers-Software]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conferences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fun Stuff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/20/love-technology/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/p_960_640_900BA7AB-8ADF-4202-9068-8F4C607C6F01.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6588];player=img;"></a>I will post the link to the audio archives on Monday when the link is ready at Catholic Answers.</p>
<p>Link for Real Audio http://www.catholic.com/audio/2010/real/ca100820b.ram. For other listening options: http://www.catholic.com/radio/event.php?calendar=1&#038;category=&#038;event=6358&#038;date=2010-08-20</p>
<p>I am writing this on my iPhone at 34,000 feet above the heartland of America. Below is a real-time map of our location. Very cool!</p>
<p>I am on my way to Anacortes Washington, just north of Seattle. I will be joining Tim Staples to teach there this weekend.</p>
<p>On the way I will be stopping to use a conference room at a Hampton Inn to use my laptop and iPhone as the guest  ... <a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/20/love-technology/"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/themes/catholic-convert/images/btn_read_more_01.png" alt="Read More" title="Read More" align="absmiddle" /></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/p_960_640_900BA7AB-8ADF-4202-9068-8F4C607C6F01.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6588];player=img;"><img class="alignnone size-full" style="float: right; margin:  5px;" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/p_960_640_900BA7AB-8ADF-4202-9068-8F4C607C6F01.jpeg" alt="" width="274" height="411" /></a>I will post the link to the audio archives on Monday when the link is ready at Catholic Answers.</p>
<p>Link for Real Audio http://www.catholic.com/audio/2010/real/ca100820b.ram. For other listening options: http://www.catholic.com/radio/event.php?calendar=1&#038;category=&#038;event=6358&#038;date=2010-08-20</p>
<p>I am writing this on my iPhone at 34,000 feet above the heartland of America. Below is a real-time map of our location. Very cool!</p>
<p>I am on my way to Anacortes Washington, just north of Seattle. I will be joining Tim Staples to teach there this weekend.</p>
<p>On the way I will be stopping to use a conference room at a Hampton Inn to use my laptop and iPhone as the guest on Catholic Answers Live tonight.  The topic is Open Forum for Non-Catholics.</p>
<p><strong>Questions I Answered:</strong></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;"><strong>1)</strong> Will there still be a Purgatory after judgment day?</span><br />
<span style="color: #008000;"><strong>2) </strong>Who do Catholics believe are God&#8217;s chosen people?</span><br />
<span style="color: #800000;"><strong>3) </strong>Why do the Eastern Orthodox churches not believe in the Immaculate Conception like the Catholic Church does?</span><br />
<span style="color: #008000;"><strong>4) </strong>How do Christians explain why people are sometimes born with disabilities?</span><br />
<span style="color: #800000;"><strong>5)</strong> I am divorced and remarried and my husband is offended that the Church doesn&#8217;t recognize our marriage. What is your advice?</span><br />
<span style="color: #008000;"><strong>6)</strong> How do we decide which traditions to follow?</span><br />
<span style="color: #800000;"><strong>7)</strong> If Mary was without sin, why does she praise God as her savior?</span></p>
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		<title>Flint Knives and the Gospel</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/19/flint-knives-and-the-gospel/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/19/flint-knives-and-the-gospel/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:15:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Artifacts & Biblical History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jews & Judaism]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/?p=689</guid>
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<p align="left">Ah, excuse me? What do flint knives have to do with the Gospel? A whole lot! Abraham believed God against all odds and as a reward he was given the special sign of the Covenant with God. And what was that wonderful sign between them?</p>
<p align="left">In Genesis 17:10-11 God announces this sign to Abraham: &#8220;This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between  ... <a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/19/flint-knives-and-the-gospel/"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/themes/catholic-convert/images/btn_read_more_01.png" alt="Read More" title="Read More" align="absmiddle" /></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p align="center"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/FlintKnife%20sm1.jpg" alt="FlintKnife sm1.jpg" width="397" height="233" /></p>
<p align="left">Ah, excuse me? What do flint knives have to do with the Gospel? A whole lot! Abraham believed God against all odds and as a reward he was given the special sign of the Covenant with God. And what was that wonderful sign between them?</p>
<p align="left">In Genesis 17:10-11 God announces this sign to Abraham: &#8220;<!--StartFragment--><span>This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. </span><span>You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span>Ouch! What kind of sign is that? But Abraham obeyed and at 99 years old, Abraham dropped his . . . well, anyway, he did the surgery and again demonstrated his faith and obedience to God. And so did all the men with him.</span></p>
<p><span>Next we read of Joshua&#8217;s bloody job after the hundreds of thousands of men with their families crossed the Jordan River to possess the Promised Land. </span></p>
<blockquote><p><span><!--StartFragment--></span><span>&#8220;At that time the Lord</span><span> said to Joshua, &#8216;Make flint knives and circumcise the people of Israel again the second time.&#8217;</span><span> </span><span>So Joshua made flint knives, and circumcised the people of Israel&#8221; (Joshua 5:2-3).</span></p></blockquote>
<p><span>In the early Church, many of the Jews insisted that all gentiles be circumcised before they were allowed to be Christians. The Apostles, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the first recorded Church Council (Acts 15) said &#8220;NO!&#8221;  Thanks be to God!</span></p>
<p><span>These flint knives were made for me as a generous and remarkable gift by Mike Cook of Portland Michigan. He is a &#8220;flintknapper&#8221; and primitive skills enthusiast (and also a student of the Bible!). The large one has a handle made from the jawbone of a black bear!</span></p>
<p><span>They are beautifully crafted and will always be a gift I treasure and which I will use in my Bible studies and apologetic work. I am overwhelmed with his skill and kindness. </span></p>
<p><span>I have also provided his letter about his craft and the biblical wisdom regarding flint knives and circumcision. You can read it <strong><span style="color: #0000cc;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/FlintKnife.pdf">here</a></span></span></strong>. Enjoy &#8212; and thanks so much Mike!</span></p>
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		<title>Graphic Stoning of Young Girl by Muslims</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/17/graphic-stoning-of-young-girl-by-muslims/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/17/graphic-stoning-of-young-girl-by-muslims/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:35:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Islam]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/?p=6559</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/stoning1.wmv" rel="shadowbox[post-6559];width=640;height=385;"></a>UPDATE: Looks like they took the unedited version off the internet, but <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rgSH0h45Eo&#38;feature=related" rel="shadowbox[post-6559];player=swf;width=640;height=385;">here</a> is a sanitized version at CNN. If the original is still available, you can see it here</p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/stoning2.wmv" rel="shadowbox[post-6559];width=640;height=385;">stoning</a></p>
<p>This is graphic and sick but is further proof that Islam is at heart an evil religion. Notice the cell phones taking pictures of the stoning!</p>
<p>This is a very graphic and disgusting film, a horror, of the execution by stoning of a young Muslim girl by her own Muslim community.  She had refused to marry the old man her father had picked for her  ... <a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/17/graphic-stoning-of-young-girl-by-muslims/"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/themes/catholic-convert/images/btn_read_more_01.png" alt="Read More" title="Read More" align="absmiddle" /></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/stoning1.wmv" rel="shadowbox[post-6559];width=640;height=385;"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-6561" style="float: right; margin: 5px;" title="screen-capture" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/screen-capture15-300x157.png" alt="screen-capture" width="300" height="157" /></a>UPDATE: Looks like they took the unedited version off the internet, but <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rgSH0h45Eo&amp;feature=related" rel="shadowbox[post-6559];player=swf;width=640;height=385;">here</a> is a sanitized version at CNN. If the original is still available, you can see it here</p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/stoning2.wmv" rel="shadowbox[post-6559];width=640;height=385;">stoning</a></p>
<p>This is graphic and sick but is further proof that Islam is at heart an evil religion. Notice the cell phones taking pictures of the stoning!</p>
<p>This is a very graphic and disgusting film, a horror, of the execution by stoning of a young Muslim girl by her own Muslim community.  She had refused to marry the old man her father had picked for her husband.</p>
<p>She was taken to court and sentenced to death by stoning under Shari Law.  This is a common occurrence in most Muslim countries.</p>
<p>Our press very rarely reports it.  Why would that be?  Where are the feminists, the human rights people, the U.N.? Why doesn’t anyone in the administration including our president, say or do something? Probably because he is so busy expressing his admiration for the &#8220;peace loving&#8221; Muslims and promoting a Mosque at Ground Zero.</p>
<p>If you click on this link (<a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/stoning1.wmv" rel="shadowbox[post-6559];width=640;height=385;">STONING</a>) or the image to right, you will see the graphic and painful movie. Don&#8217;t click unless you are prepared. This is not a rarity &#8212; visit YouTube and search of stoning, execution or similar items to find out how common this really is among Muslims. CNN&#8217;s report and video can be seen <strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rgSH0h45Eo" rel="shadowbox[post-6559];player=swf;width=640;height=385;">here</a></strong>.</p>
<p>Oh, you might say, &#8220;why the over-reaction? This is in some backwater area of Iraq.&#8221; Really? It is an ever increasing occurrence in the USA too, and other Western countries. One happened in London while we were there but the killers got the wrong address and killed a whole family by mistake!</p>
<p>Click <strong><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,598689,00.html">here</a></strong> for a news report on the ever increasing number of cases of honor killings in the USA. Why are people afraid to criticize Islam, a religion that fosters such horrors. It is not a aberration, rather, it is the ripe fruit of Islam and Sharia Law.</p>
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		<title>Obama Scares Him</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/16/obama-scares-him/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/16/obama-scares-him/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:35:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Politics/United States]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[<p>Chilling Letter from Proctor &#38; Gamble to Obama by Lou Pritchett,   Procter &#38; Gamble (Confirmed true by <a href="http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/youscareme.asp">Snopes.com</a>)</p>
<p>A LETTER FROM A PROCTER  AND GAMBLE EXECUTIVE TO THE PRESIDENT</p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/FwdFwChi1111.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6547];player=img;"></a>Lou Pritchett is one of  corporate America &#8217;s true living legends &#8211; an acclaimed author, dynamic teacher and one of the  world&#8217;s highest rated speakers. Successful corporate executives  everywhere recognize him as the foremost leader in change management.</p>
<p>Lou changed the way America does business by creating an audacious  concept that came to be known as &#8220;partnering.&#8221; Pritchett rose from soap  salesman to  ... <a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/16/obama-scares-him/"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/themes/catholic-convert/images/btn_read_more_01.png" alt="Read More" title="Read More" align="absmiddle" /></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Chilling Letter from Proctor &amp; Gamble to Obama by Lou Pritchett,   Procter &amp; Gamble (Confirmed true by <a href="http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/youscareme.asp">Snopes.com</a>)</p>
<p>A LETTER FROM A PROCTER  AND GAMBLE EXECUTIVE TO THE PRESIDENT</p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/FwdFwChi1111.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6547];player=img;"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-6549" style="float: right; margin: 5px;" title="FwdFwChi1111" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/FwdFwChi1111-209x300.jpg" alt="FwdFwChi1111" width="209" height="300" /></a>Lou Pritchett is one of  corporate America &#8217;s true living legends &#8211; an acclaimed author, dynamic teacher and one of the  world&#8217;s highest rated speakers. Successful corporate executives  everywhere recognize him as the foremost leader in change management.</p>
<p>Lou changed the way America does business by creating an audacious  concept that came to be known as &#8220;partnering.&#8221; Pritchett rose from soap  salesman to Vice-President, Sales and Customer Development for  Procter and Gamble and over the course of 36 years, made  corporate history.</p>
<p>AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA</p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">Dear President Obama:</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">You are the thirteenth President under whom I have  lived and unlike Any of the others, you truly scare me.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">You scare me because after months of exposure, I  know nothing about you.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">You scare me because I do not know how you paid for  your expensive Ivy League education and your upscale lifestyle and  housing with no visible signs of support.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">You scare me because you did not spend the formative  years of youth growing up in America and culturally you are not an  American.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">You scare me because you have never run a company or  met a payroll.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">You scare me because you have never had military  experience, thus don&#8217;t understand it at its core.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">You scare me because you lack humility and &#8216;class&#8217;,  always blaming others.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">You scare me because for over half your life you  have aligned yourself with radical extremists who hate America   and you refuse to publicly denounce these radicals who wish to see  America fail.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">You scare me because you are a cheerleader for the  &#8216;blame America&#8217; crowd and deliver this message abroad.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">You scare me because you want to change America to a  European style country where the government sector dominates  instead of the private sector.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">You scare me because you want to replace our health  care system with a government controlled one.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">You scare me because you prefer &#8216;wind mills&#8217; to responsibly capitalizing on our own vast oil, coal and shale reserves.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;"><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/obama185x185.jpg" rel="shadowbox[post-6547];player=img;"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-6551" style="float: left; margin: 5px;" title="obama185x185" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/obama185x185-300x300.jpg" alt="obama185x185" width="178" height="178" /></a>You scare me because you want to kill the American  capitalist goose that lays the golden egg which provides the highest standard of living in the world.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">You scare me because you have begun to use &#8216;extortion&#8217; tactics against certain banks and corporations.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">You scare me because your own political party shrinks from challenging you on your wild and irresponsible  spending proposals.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">You scare me because you will not openly listen to  or even consider opposing points of view from intelligent people.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">You scare me because you falsely believe that you  are both omnipotent and omniscient.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">You scare me because the media gives you a free pass on everything you do.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">You scare me because you demonize and want to  silence the  Limbaugh&#8217;s, Hannity&#8217;s, O&#8217;Reilly&#8217;s and Becks who offer  opposing, conservative points of view.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">You scare me because you prefer controlling over  governing.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;"><strong>Finally, you scare me because if you serve a second  term I will probably not feel safe in writing a similar letter in 8 years.</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800000;">Lou Pritchett</span></p>
<p>This letter was sent to the NY Times but they never  acknowledged it. Big  surprise. Since it hit the Internet, however, it  has had over 500,000 hits.</p>
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		<title>Gay Marriage or No Gay Marriage?</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/16/gay-marriage-or-no-gay-marriage/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/16/gay-marriage-or-no-gay-marriage/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:09:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Moral/Sexual Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Politics/United States]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[<p>http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=326971849&#038;mt=8</p>
<p>California&#8217;s Proposition 8 forbidding gay marriage was overturned last week  by Judge Walker.</p>
<p> Today the Appeals Court rescinded her order until further determination. Homosexual marriages are on hold, no longer allowed in California for now. </p>
<p>But, how long is &#8220;for now&#8221;?</p>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=326971849&#038;mt=8</p>
<p>California&#8217;s Proposition 8 forbidding gay marriage was overturned last week  by Judge Walker.</p>
<p> Today the Appeals Court rescinded her order until further determination. Homosexual marriages are on hold, no longer allowed in California for now. </p>
<p>But, how long is &#8220;for now&#8221;?</p>
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		<title>Obama Approves Mosque</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/14/obama-approves-mosque/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/14/obama-approves-mosque/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 14 Aug 2010 12:04:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Islam]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Politics/United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/14/obama-approves-mosque/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/wtc-plane2-crash2-orig-550x438.jpg" rel="shadowbox[post-6544];player=img;"></a>Obama approves a mosque at Ground Zero in New York. Why doesn&#8217;t this idiotic and insensitive decision of his not surprise me?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.aolnews.com/surge-desk/article/president-obama-supports-ground-zero-mosque/19593492">http://www.aolnews.com/surge-desk/article/president-obama-supports-ground-zero-mosque/19593492</a></p>
<p>Why this and other blunders could make <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0810/41134.html">Obama a one-term president</a>, written by Roger Simon in Politico.</p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/wtc-plane2-crash2-orig-550x438.jpg" rel="shadowbox[post-6544];player=img;"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-6567" style="float: right; margin: 5px;" title="wtc-plane2-crash2-orig-550x438" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/wtc-plane2-crash2-orig-550x438-300x238.jpg" alt="wtc-plane2-crash2-orig-550x438" width="231" height="184" /></a>Obama approves a mosque at Ground Zero in New York. Why doesn&#8217;t this idiotic and insensitive decision of his not surprise me?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.aolnews.com/surge-desk/article/president-obama-supports-ground-zero-mosque/19593492">http://www.aolnews.com/surge-desk/article/president-obama-supports-ground-zero-mosque/19593492</a></p>
<p>Why this and other blunders could make <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0810/41134.html">Obama a one-term president</a>, written by Roger Simon in Politico.</p>
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		<title>Oklahoma, Hot this Time of Year</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/13/oklahoma-hot-this-time-of-year/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/13/oklahoma-hot-this-time-of-year/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:22:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Conferences]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[<p>On the road again. This time to Tulsa for a full Saturday of talks and Mass and dinner with friends. Thanks to Joe Casey for sponsoring this event. Supposed to be 107 degrees with high humidity! It will be interesting to run there Sunday before flying home!</p>
<p>I&#8217;m lucky enough to be giving three of my favorite talks on Saturday:</p>
<p>1) Mary: Real Girl &#38; Woman of Mystery
2) Peter: the Rock, the Keys &#38; the Chair
3) Defending the Eucharist: You Are What You Eat</p>
<p>You can purchase these talks <a href="http://www.steveraysstore.com/audio.html">here</a>.</p>
<p>Looking forward to it very much. If you&#8217;re in the area &#8212; hope  ... <a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/13/oklahoma-hot-this-time-of-year/"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/themes/catholic-convert/images/btn_read_more_01.png" alt="Read More" title="Read More" align="absmiddle" /></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On the road again. This time to Tulsa for a full Saturday of talks and Mass and dinner with friends. Thanks to Joe Casey for sponsoring this event. Supposed to be 107 degrees with high humidity! It will be interesting to run there Sunday before flying home!</p>
<p>I&#8217;m lucky enough to be giving three of my favorite talks on Saturday:</p>
<p>1) Mary: Real Girl &amp; Woman of Mystery<br />
2) Peter: the Rock, the Keys &amp; the Chair<br />
3) Defending the Eucharist: You Are What You Eat</p>
<p>You can purchase these talks <a href="http://www.steveraysstore.com/audio.html"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p>
<p>Looking forward to it very much. If you&#8217;re in the area &#8212; hope to see you. If you&#8217;d like me to speak at your event, visit <a href="http://www.InviteSteve.com. ">http://www.InviteSteve.com. </a></p>
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		<title>Persied Showers</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/13/persied-showers/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/13/persied-showers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Aug 2010 09:11:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fun Stuff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nature & Birds]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/13/persied-showers/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_2592_1936_25E6EE0B-7C3E-4776-9DC4-5FD868209E1D.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6529];player=img;"></a>Janet and I (crazies) laying out in the driveway at 4 AM watching the Perseid Meteor Shower. This year we only saw one but last year a whole bunch way up north where there was no ambient light. Jupiter was very visible and so was the Milky Way. We didn&#8217;t stay out long because of pesky mosquitoes. (Why did God create them, or are they a result of the Fall like thorns and thistles?)</p>
<p>Another name for these showers is St Laurence&#8217;s Tears because it occurs on the feast day of this famous Roman deacon who was martyred by  ... <a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/13/persied-showers/"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/themes/catholic-convert/images/btn_read_more_01.png" alt="Read More" title="Read More" align="absmiddle" /></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_2592_1936_25E6EE0B-7C3E-4776-9DC4-5FD868209E1D.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6529];player=img;"><img class="alignnone size-full" style="float: right; margin:  5px;" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_2592_1936_25E6EE0B-7C3E-4776-9DC4-5FD868209E1D.jpeg" alt="" width="285" height="213" /></a>Janet and I (crazies) laying out in the driveway at 4 AM watching the Perseid Meteor Shower. This year we only saw one but last year a whole bunch way up north where there was no ambient light. Jupiter was very visible and so was the Milky Way. We didn&#8217;t stay out long because of pesky mosquitoes. (Why did God create them, or are they a result of the Fall like thorns and thistles?)</p>
<p>Another name for these showers is St Laurence&#8217;s Tears because it occurs on the feast day of this famous Roman deacon who was martyred by being roasted on a griddle.</p>
<p>It is a good exercise to gaze up into the heavens like this once in a while to remember how small we are and how big God us. The ancients took more time for things like gazing at stars than us too-busy Americans with TVs on all the time (we pulled the plug on TV two years ago &#8211; great decision for the family).</p>
<p>Read Psalm 19:1-3 and Romans 1:18-22. Below is similar to what we saw tonight.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_284_177_0C433174-6DC7-4596-8272-DA6DCAF64C6E.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6529];player=img;"><img class="alignnone size-full" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_284_177_0C433174-6DC7-4596-8272-DA6DCAF64C6E.jpeg" alt="" /></a></p>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>It&#8217;s Just a Piece of Paper</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/11/pictures-worth-a-thousand-words/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/11/pictures-worth-a-thousand-words/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:22:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Politics/United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/11/pictures-worth-a-thousand-words/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/p_687_597_EB7FA8B6-2CD2-4DD8-B678-3E28AEF2D8F2.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6523];player=img;"></a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/p_687_597_EB7FA8B6-2CD2-4DD8-B678-3E28AEF2D8F2.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6523];player=img;"><img class="alignnone size-full" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/p_687_597_EB7FA8B6-2CD2-4DD8-B678-3E28AEF2D8F2.jpeg" alt="" width="328" height="377" /></a></p>
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		<title>In the Air Again</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/10/in-the-air-again/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/10/in-the-air-again/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:42:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Conferences]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/10/in-the-air-again/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>On my way to speak to the Wichita Kansas chapter of Legatus. It will be 102 degrees (39 celsius). I LOVE sharing and teaching the cosmic truth of Catholicism.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_327_236_4CADB597-1EBA-4E0A-8A01-EF9059BBA3D2.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6521];player=img;"></a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On my way to speak to the Wichita Kansas chapter of Legatus. It will be 102 degrees (39 celsius). I LOVE sharing and teaching the cosmic truth of Catholicism.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_327_236_4CADB597-1EBA-4E0A-8A01-EF9059BBA3D2.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6521];player=img;"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_327_236_4CADB597-1EBA-4E0A-8A01-EF9059BBA3D2.jpeg" alt="" class="alignnone size-full" /></a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Phill Bennetzen&#8217;s Conversion Story</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/09/phill-bennetzens-conversion-story/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/09/phill-bennetzens-conversion-story/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:01:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Conversions]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/?p=6518</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Phill decided it was better to lose everything to follow the truth than to stay comfortable. He explains all the issues wrestled with and the final conclusion. Hope you enjoy <a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/documents/Story-Phill-Bennetzen.pdf">Phill&#8217;s story</a>.</p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Phill decided it was better to lose everything to follow the truth than to stay comfortable. He explains all the issues wrestled with and the final conclusion. Hope you enjoy <a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/documents/Story-Phill-Bennetzen.pdf">Phill&#8217;s story</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>A Deeper Look at the Many Evangelicals Turning Catholic</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/08/a-deeper-look-at-the-many-evangelicals-turning-catholic/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/08/a-deeper-look-at-the-many-evangelicals-turning-catholic/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Aug 2010 01:48:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Apologetics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conversions]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/?p=6509</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Excellent article about the thousands of Evangelicals converting to the Catholic Church. Click <a href="http://www.ncregister.com/blog/a-deeper-look-at-the-many-evangelicals-turning-catholic">here</a>.</p>
<p>And, Evangelicals &#8220;Crossing the Tiber&#8221; to Catholicism, <a href="http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/atheologies/2731/evangelicals_%E2%80%98crossing_the_tiber%E2%80%99_to_catholicism/">here</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Excellent article about the thousands of Evangelicals converting to the Catholic Church. Click <a href="http://www.ncregister.com/blog/a-deeper-look-at-the-many-evangelicals-turning-catholic">here</a>.</p>
<p>And, Evangelicals &#8220;Crossing the Tiber&#8221; to Catholicism, <a href="http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/atheologies/2731/evangelicals_%E2%80%98crossing_the_tiber%E2%80%99_to_catholicism/">here</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Steve&#8217;s Short Story &#8220;The Last Nightmare&#8221; Might Scare the Hell Out of You!</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/07/the-last-nightmare-a-terrifying-short-story-by-steve-ray/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/07/the-last-nightmare-a-terrifying-short-story-by-steve-ray/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 07 Aug 2010 14:34:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Apologetics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Steve's Writings]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/?p=670</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p align="center">The Last Nightmare
A Short and Terrifying Story by Steve Ray
</p>
<p align="left"><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/Munchs-Vampire-to-go-up-for-auction.jpg" rel="shadowbox[post-670];player=img;"></a>Everything went blank for a moment, but that moment seemed like eternity. He felt a motion, not with wind and breeze, but a motion none the less. He was traveling, moving, floating, transcending-he wasn’t really sure. The sudden blackness gave him time to regain his thoughts, just enough time to recapture the last moments.</p>
<p>Though his first thoughts were garbled and dreamlike, they slowly began taking shape, like a tree seen through a thick fog, slowly it all came back to him out of the swirling, traveling, blank  ... <a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/07/the-last-nightmare-a-terrifying-short-story-by-steve-ray/"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/themes/catholic-convert/images/btn_read_more_01.png" alt="Read More" title="Read More" align="absmiddle" /></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p align="center"><span><strong>The Last Nightmare<br />
</strong></span>A Short and Terrifying Story by Steve Ray
</p>
<p align="left"><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/Munchs-Vampire-to-go-up-for-auction.jpg" rel="shadowbox[post-670];player=img;"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4978" style="float: left; margin: 5px;" title="Munchs-Vampire-to-go-up-for-auction" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/Munchs-Vampire-to-go-up-for-auction-200x300.jpg" alt="Munchs-Vampire-to-go-up-for-auction" width="200" height="300" /></a>Everything went blank for a moment, but that moment seemed like eternity. He felt a motion, not with wind and breeze, but a motion none the less. He was traveling, moving, floating, transcending-he wasn’t really sure. The sudden blackness gave him time to regain his thoughts, just enough time to recapture the last moments.</p>
<p>Though his first thoughts were garbled and dreamlike, they slowly began taking shape, like a tree seen through a thick fog, slowly it all came back to him out of the swirling, traveling, blank void. Utter confusion was giving way to bits of clarity.</p>
<p>They had rushed him to the hospital. He remembered the sirens and the cold hands of the paramedics. Cold hands all over his body, probing and poking. Yes, there had been screams, he remembered now—and the sound of sobbing.</p>
<p>Then the horrendous sound resurfaced, a sound that could be felt. It was a sound that had subsumed his whole being, wrapping itself around him, ripping through him. Then the sound of crunching metal, broken glass, and twisted carnage. What must have lasted only seconds seemed to him a long and troubling nightmare—then the dark, foggy void.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>For the rest of the 12-page story, click </strong></span><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/Nightmare.pdf"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>.</strong><span style="color: #000000;"><strong><br />
</strong></span></p>
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		<title>I Hate &#8220;No Service&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/06/i-hate-no-service/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/06/i-hate-no-service/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:55:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Computers-Software]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/06/i-hate-no-service/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>I&#8217;ve been to many third world countries and have had better mobile service and Internet than the abysmal service I&#8217;ve had so far in England. Sorry! I&#8217;ll catch up soon. </p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I&#8217;ve been to many third world countries and have had better mobile service and Internet than the abysmal service I&#8217;ve had so far in England. Sorry! I&#8217;ll catch up soon. </p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
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		<title>My Runs through England</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/06/my-runs-through-england/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/06/my-runs-through-england/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:43:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fun Stuff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health/Running]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/06/my-runs-through-england/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>See my latest runs with map and pictures &#8212; through England.</p>
<p>Just posted a new Running trip, &#8220;2010-08-04 London Run&#8221;,  to @EveryTrail. Check it out here: <a href="http://bit.ly/bGGiI9">http://bit.ly/bGGiI9</a></p>
<p>Just posted a new Running trip, &#8220;2010-08-05 Norfolk Countryside&#8221;,  to @EveryTrail. Check it out here: <a href="http://bit.ly/9EHDRj">http://bit.ly/9EHDRj</a></p>
<p>Just posted a new Running trip, &#8220;2010-08-06 Another Country Run&#8221;,  to @EveryTrail. Check it out here: <a href="http://bit.ly/a94HN1">http://bit.ly/a94HN1</a></p>
<p>Just posted a new Running trip, &#8220;2010-08-05 Reading England Countryside&#8221;,  to @EveryTrail. Check it out here: <a href="http://bit.ly/dlJwzS">http://bit.ly/dlJwzS</a></p>
<p>Pictures below: 1) country road, 2) idyllic cottage, 3) location of execution of Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher, 4)  ... <a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/06/my-runs-through-england/"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/themes/catholic-convert/images/btn_read_more_01.png" alt="Read More" title="Read More" align="absmiddle" /></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>See my latest runs with map and pictures &#8212; through England.</p>
<p>Just posted a new Running trip, &#8220;2010-08-04 London Run&#8221;,  to @EveryTrail. Check it out here: <a href="http://bit.ly/bGGiI9">http://bit.ly/bGGiI9</a></p>
<p>Just posted a new Running trip, &#8220;2010-08-05 Norfolk Countryside&#8221;,  to @EveryTrail. Check it out here: <a href="http://bit.ly/9EHDRj">http://bit.ly/9EHDRj</a></p>
<p>Just posted a new Running trip, &#8220;2010-08-06 Another Country Run&#8221;,  to @EveryTrail. Check it out here: <a href="http://bit.ly/a94HN1">http://bit.ly/a94HN1</a></p>
<p>Just posted a new Running trip, &#8220;2010-08-05 Reading England Countryside&#8221;,  to @EveryTrail. Check it out here: <a href="http://bit.ly/dlJwzS">http://bit.ly/dlJwzS</a></p>
<p>Pictures below: 1) country road, 2) idyllic cottage, 3) location of execution of Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher, 4) inside Bell Tower where Tomas More was imprisoned.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_2592_1936_DD31671C-9D12-44A0-B954-01075A88DCF5.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6497];player=img;"><img class="alignnone size-full" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_2592_1936_DD31671C-9D12-44A0-B954-01075A88DCF5.jpeg" alt="" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_2592_1936_826E7E08-CDCF-4489-AD6B-E0DA525FEF7F.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6497];player=img;"><img class="alignnone size-full" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_2592_1936_826E7E08-CDCF-4489-AD6B-E0DA525FEF7F.jpeg" alt="" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/p_640_480_1B1ED90B-E64E-43DB-8F52-0EDA6B4CA959.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6497];player=img;"><img class="alignnone size-full" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/p_640_480_1B1ED90B-E64E-43DB-8F52-0EDA6B4CA959.jpeg" alt="" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/p_2592_1936_55B6FBA1-E63B-4077-9632-886AF64F952A.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6497];player=img;"><img class="alignnone size-full" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/p_2592_1936_55B6FBA1-E63B-4077-9632-886AF64F952A.jpeg" alt="" /></a></p>
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		<title>England and New Dawn Conference</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/06/new-dawn-conference/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/06/new-dawn-conference/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Aug 2010 07:37:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Conferences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Patristics/Church History]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/06/new-dawn-conference/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Finished my three talks at New Dawn where 2,000 fired up Catholics gather in tents for a week of family camping outdoor Masses and teaching. Great to be here.</p>
<p>Lots if new contacts to help promote my return next year for a full two day apologetics conference at Westminster Cathedral and to again visit New Dawn.</p>
<p>Today we drive to Reading where I will speak twice at the Evangelium Conference in the school begun by Cardinal John Henry Newman.</p>
<p>The map below shows all the seminaries and Abbeys closed and confiscated by King Henry VIII. What a disaster! Second picture is the Shrine  ... <a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/06/new-dawn-conference/"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/themes/catholic-convert/images/btn_read_more_01.png" alt="Read More" title="Read More" align="absmiddle" /></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Finished my three talks at New Dawn where 2,000 fired up Catholics gather in tents for a week of family camping outdoor Masses and teaching. Great to be here.</p>
<p>Lots if new contacts to help promote my return next year for a full two day apologetics conference at Westminster Cathedral and to again visit New Dawn.</p>
<p>Today we drive to Reading where I will speak twice at the Evangelium Conference in the school begun by Cardinal John Henry Newman.</p>
<p>The map below shows all the seminaries and Abbeys closed and confiscated by King Henry VIII. What a disaster! Second picture is the Shrine of our Lady of Walsingham.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/p_2592_1936_DDBD0BB7-7D5E-4AB3-A1EB-5F8BD9047503.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6488];player=img;"><img class="alignnone size-full" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/p_2592_1936_DDBD0BB7-7D5E-4AB3-A1EB-5F8BD9047503.jpeg" alt="" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/p_2592_1936_9884C34D-58D9-400D-856B-E4C92E494505.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6488];player=img;"><img class="alignnone size-full" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/p_2592_1936_9884C34D-58D9-400D-856B-E4C92E494505.jpeg" alt="" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_2592_1936_B2093BBD-5B02-41E0-96C6-D83E833740CA.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6488];player=img;"><img class="alignnone size-full" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_2592_1936_B2093BBD-5B02-41E0-96C6-D83E833740CA.jpeg" alt="" /></a></p>
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		<title>Marsh Weed for Dinner in Norwich</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/04/marsh-weed-for-dinner-in-norwich/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/04/marsh-weed-for-dinner-in-norwich/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:08:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Conferences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/04/marsh-weed-for-dinner-in-norwich/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Salmon, marsh weed, mashed with crawfish for dinner. Gave conversion story in a tent during a rain at the Marian Shrine in Walsingham near Norwich England. Made 100 Brits cry! Glad to be Catholic. Two or three talks tomorrow. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_2592_1936_D3884152-1F06-4383-89AB-A84DB1334005.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6485];player=img;"></a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Salmon, marsh weed, mashed with crawfish for dinner. Gave conversion story in a tent during a rain at the Marian Shrine in Walsingham near Norwich England. Made 100 Brits cry! Glad to be Catholic. Two or three talks tomorrow. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_2592_1936_D3884152-1F06-4383-89AB-A84DB1334005.jpeg" rel="shadowbox[post-6485];player=img;"><img src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/l_2592_1936_D3884152-1F06-4383-89AB-A84DB1334005.jpeg" alt="" class="alignnone size-full" /></a></p>
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		<title>Catholic Convert Stories</title>
		<link>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/04/catholic-convert-stories/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholic-convert.com/2010/08/04/catholic-convert-stories/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:46:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Ray</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Conversions]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholic-convert.com/?p=6472</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://catholic-converts.blogspot.com/"></a>You can read hundreds on my site <a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/community/conversion-stories/">here</a></p>
<p>There are many others <a href="http://catholic-converts.blogspot.com/">here</a> &#8211; click on the image to the right.</p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://catholic-converts.blogspot.com/"><img class="alignright  size-medium wp-image-6473" style="float: right; margin: 5px;" title="screen-capture-1" src="http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/screen-capture-111-300x95.png" alt="screen-capture-1" width="300" height="95" /></a>You can read hundreds on my site <a href="http://www.catholic-convert.com/community/conversion-stories/">here</a></p>
<p>There are many others <a href="http://catholic-converts.blogspot.com/">here</a> &#8211; click on the image to the right.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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