I am a thrice-Baptisted Christian.

I’m not saying I am a Baptist, I’m not.  I am saying I have been baptized 3 times.

1) My mother was Catholic and I was christened as a newborn in the Catholic Church.

2) I was raised as a Protestant within a Bible-based Pentecostal church where I was baptized at age 8.  I accepted Christ receiving me as His Child; according to the grace He afforded me in the perception of reality, through the enabling of spiritual sight wherein I choose, and do choose to exercise faith in the most logical consideration given a human being – that of being a Christian  (I hate the expression of “accepting Christ,” it sounds so presumptuous and arrogant, when in reality it is only a fool that turns down such a great gift from the King – especially if the gift is the life of His own Son to take my place for the punishment I deserve – it is in humility that we should address our own salvation, having less to do with our own insights and understanding, and more to do with God’s “Amazing Grace” in choosing such flawed and sinful creatures as we are all).

3) I made a God inspired profound transformation at the age of 18, fulfilling being born again; and was baptized for the third and last time into the church of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

While I believe that anyone that exercises Biblical faith in Jesus Christ can be saved; there are some Christian churches, organizations, and movements which I believe handicap its parishioners concerning salvation, as well as living a life of faith.

And some of these so-called Christian movements which aren’t Christian at all.

Concerning Catholicism, I have met a few Catholics I look forward to spending eternity with (as well as some self-proclaimed Protestants, which I do not), yet I must also say that if YOU COMPLETELY follow the ordinance of the Catholic church, I fear you will not be one of them.

I say all that to say I find great delight when I find a leader within the Catholic Church that speaks wise Biblical words that I find I agree with, and even greater delight when I hear a Catholic leader say words which are so wise, that I am envious that I did not think of the myself, the following words such as these. (In spite of how arrogant the above paragraph sounds, there is no way of presenting how much I admire the following words, especially the last paragraph.)

“God beholds you individually, whoever you are. He calls you by your name. He sees you and understands you, as He made you. He knows what is in you, all your own peculiar feelings and thoughts, your dispositions and likings, your strength, your weakness.

He views you in your day of rejoicing, and your day of sorrow. He sympathizes in your hopes and your temptations. He interests Himself in all your anxieties and remembrances, all the rising and failings of your spirit. He has numbered the very hairs of your head and the height of your stature.

He compasses you round and bears you in His arms; He takes you up and sets you down. He notes your very countenance, whether smiling or in tears, whether healthful or sickly. He looks tenderly upon your hands and your feet; He hears your voice, the beating of your heart, and your very breathing.

You do not love yourself better than He loves you. You cannot shrink from pain more than He dislikes your bearing it; and if He puts it on you, it is as you would put it on yourself, if you would be wise, for a greater good afterwards.

God has created you to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to you which He has not committed to another. You have your mission — you may never know it in this life but you shall be told it in the next.

You are a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created you for naught. You shall do good, you shall do His work. You shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in your own place while not intending it if you do but keep His commandments.

Therefore I will trust Him. Whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me — still He knows what He is about.“

John Henry Newman, Catholic Cardinal
(02/21/1801 to 08/11/1890)

And yes the above picture is of Cardinal John Henry himself just before his death.

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