Catholic Defender's Community

[BobCatholic]

At this point, I'm struggling with doubts in myself.

I'm not sure with what way I'm supposed to serve the Lord. I tried apologetics, only to get booted from DCF and almost booted from CAF. I basically gave up on trying. I believe the faith, I just don't think I make a viable apologist.

I'm not going to be on that much over the next few months due to work being crazy. Unless I know what I'm supposed to do in life, I'll just assume I'm supposed to be only a father, husband and regular layman. Nothing wrong with that, I just thought I was called to be an apologist.
I also am concerned that my secular responsibilities are interfering with serving the Lord. I don't want the creation to block out the Creator in my life.

That DCF ban and warnings on CAF both hurt me, and show that the society's enamoration with the mirror has infected areas where I thought I was safe from it - two popular and orthodox Catholic forums.

I'm not resigning as moderator. However, I'm definitely not going to be on as often as I'd like. Please keep me in your prayers and ask the Lord to give me insight on where I'm supposed to go in my life.
_________________
--BobCatholic
I'm praying for the souls in purgatory. Jesus will release 1000 souls each time you pray this!

[Doug]

Bob,

Praying for you that you find peace in Jesus Christ and He reveals to you your mission in following him.

Doug
_________________
"Cults use Christian terminology, but redefine terms to suit their own belief and practices."
-Dr. Walter Martin

[BobCatholic]

Thanks Doug.
_________________
--BobCatholic
I'm praying for the souls in purgatory. Jesus will release 1000 souls each time you pray this!

[RolandJS]

I just PM'd you with the following:

Hey, I've learned something kinda sorta similar to your recent experiences.

Although I have not been boot off of DCF or CAF for my lack of apologetics,
I have realized for some time that I am definitely not a debate/argumentation apologist. I AM a discussion, explanatory, expository, etc. apologist.

Before I began some time ago to cut back lots and lots compared to what I used to do before the DCF hacker and storm, I realized that quite often I was simply just a plain suppository apologist!

I believe God just might be letting you know that it's time to move on.
Maybe, just maybe, He is leading and guiding you away from debate/argumentation apologetics and more and more into discussion, explanatory, expository, etc. apologist.

------end of quoting PM ------

THANKS for remaining on as moderator!!
I hope your joy of moderation increases as the path of your Journey undergoes a little modification.

Roland
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non-Catholic, not anti-Catholic
college cafe - discussions & argumentation
[library - reading & information giving)
http://collegecafe.10.forumer.com/index.php
college library - urls portal & discussion
http://collegelibrary.10.forumer.com/index.php

[BobCatholic]

Thanks Roland
_________________
--BobCatholic
I'm praying for the souls in purgatory. Jesus will release 1000 souls each time you pray this!

[Doug]

Bob,

I'm still having you in my prayers.

Doug
_________________
"Cults use Christian terminology, but redefine terms to suit their own belief and practices."
-Dr. Walter Martin

[BobCatholic]

Thanks. I appreciate it.
_________________
--BobCatholic
I'm praying for the souls in purgatory. Jesus will release 1000 souls each time you pray this!

[Doug]

Hope things are going better for you, Bob.
_________________
"Cults use Christian terminology, but redefine terms to suit their own belief and practices."
-Dr. Walter Martin

[Doug]

Bob,

Still having in my prayers.
_________________
"Cults use Christian terminology, but redefine terms to suit their own belief and practices."
-Dr. Walter Martin

[Evanescence]

Hey if it helps much, I made a decision a long while back to take a break from internet forums and Apologetics. It was something that I really needed to do. Then I focused on more the spiritual life, prayer etc and it worked well as some sort of spiritual retreat from being under the hammer all the time. I'm so much better now and can approach Apologetics in a more mature way and know when to stand back and take a break from time to time. Maybe that's something you just need to do. Hope all is well.

Evanescence

[Doug]

Everyone needs 'breaks' from whatever they are doing from time to time.

I think God lets that happen so we can take a step back and evaluate ourselves to make sure we are focusing on Him and make sure we are doing His will.
_________________
"Cults use Christian terminology, but redefine terms to suit their own belief and practices."
-Dr. Walter Martin

[Doug]

Bob,

Hope things are going better for you.

Still have you in my prayers.

Doug
_________________
"Cults use Christian terminology, but redefine terms to suit their own belief and practices."
-Dr. Walter Martin

[BobCatholic]

Thanks Doug. I appreciate your prayers, and the prayers of everyone.

Things are not going well for me, I'm still out of work, and thinking I'm going through another long stretch of unemployment like 7 years ago.

I tried to get back into the Apologetics game by debating some atheists. I was able to hold my own, but I'm still not feeling like this is what I'm supposed to be doing.
_________________
--BobCatholic
I'm praying for the souls in purgatory. Jesus will release 1000 souls each time you pray this!

[Doug]

[Evanescence]

Have you read Pope John Paul II's Encyclical Ut Unum Sint or Vatican Council II Decree on Ecumenism? Another good one is the Directory for the application of principles and norms on Ecumenism. These three are the essential, core documents in dialogue with other Christians. I haven't read much of the Directory yet since I'm still waiting for it to come in at the bookstore. I highly recommend them, reading those have completely changed my attitude to apologetics.
Hope that helps somewhat.