Stephen K. Ray's Blog, page 515

Pilgrimage Last Day, Part I & II

Today we went to Qumran, Masada, Jericho and the Dead Sea. After floating in the Dead Sea we rode camels.

Part II is below.The group is now probably home.

Part II is the Final Mass with blessing of religious objects, comments from pilgrims as they reflected on their trip, and their departure.

Part II

Pilgrimage Last Day, Part I (Part II added soon)

Today we went to Qumran, Masada, Jericho and the Dead Sea. After floating in the Dead Sea we rode camels.

I will add Part II below tomorrow as soon as I can.The group is now at the airport ready to fly home.

Part II will be the Final Mass with blessing of religious objects, comments from pilgrims as they reflected on their trip, and their departure.

Why No One Holds up a 7-11 Story in Israel

Why No One Holds up a 7-11 in Israel

Where Do You Find that in the Bible?

Protestants often accuse Catholics of making up doctrines or tradition. They often press their point by asking "Where do you find that in the Bible?"

A good answer, of course, is to respond, "Where do you find in the Bible, that you have to find everything in the Bible?"

The idea that everything has to be found in the Bible is itself an unbiblical tradition! It is found no where in the Bible.

Pilgrimage Day 8: Mt. of Olives, Mt. Zion & more

What My Grandpa Said about the Pope

(Billy teaches Grandpa a thing or two)

"My grandpa is a nice old gentleman, with gray hair, and gold spectacles, and very fond of his little grandson Billy—that's me. Grandpa and I often go out to walk together, that is, on fine days, because on cloudy days he never goes out of the house, but stays at home to keep "comfortable with the gout", as he says.

One day we strolled along the edge of the woods and into the park, and after walking about for a while we sat down on a nice sunny bench. Grandpa took out a newspaper to read. As his eye glanced down the columns, he suddenly gave a grunt and hit the ground very sharply with his cane.

"Got the gout, Grandpa?" I asked.

"No, my dear, it's nothing but the old Pope again."

For the rest of the story, click here.

For other stories and articles, click here.

Via Dolorosa & Mass at Tomb of Christ & Pilgrims Run

We started the day with a 4:30 AM wake-up call. Too early? None of our pilgrims thought so since we could enjoy the Way of Sorrows, the Stations of the Cross, without crowds that swell the streets of Jerusalem these days.

We prayed the Stations of the Cross into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where we all touched the top of Calvary. Had we touched it 2,000 years ago our hands would be sticky with His Blood.

Then we toured the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and got our benches for Mass in front of the Tomb of Christ. This is a very special honor and very few people get the privilege of this Mass. Fr. Tom and Fr. Ambrose did a great job.

Then we walked back to Notre Dame's Vatican Hotel for breakfast and to freshen up. Then to the Western Wall and the Church of the Visitation.

After that we gave everyone the afternoon and evening free to go back and visit the Tomb, shop, rest, take walks, and more. I took three pilgrims on a run around the Walls of Jerusalem.

Tomorrow is a busy day exploring the Mount of Olives and Mount Zion. We will have Mass at Gethsemane.

Pilgrims run with me around the Walls of Jerusalem.

Via Dolorosa & Mass at Tomb of Christ

We started the day with a 4:30 AM wake-up call. Too early? None of our pilgrims thought so since we could enjoy the Way of Sorrows, the Stations of the Cross, without crowds that swell the streets of Jerusalem these days.

We prayed the Stations of the Cross into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where we all touched the top of Calvary. Had we touched it 2,000 years ago our hands would be sticky with His Blood.

Then we toured the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and got our benches for Mass in front of the Tomb of Christ. This is a very special honor and very few people get the privilege of this Mass. Fr. Tom and Fr. Ambrose did a great job.

Then we walked back to Notre Dame's Vatican Hotel for breakfast and to freshen up. Then to the Western Wall and the Church of the Visitation.

After that we gave everyone the afternoon and evening free to go back and visit the Tomb, shop, rest, take walks, and more. I took three pilgrims on a run around the Walls of Jerusalem.

Tomorrow is a busy day exploring the Mount of Olives and Mount Zion. We will have Mass at Gethsemane.

A Letter to an Anti-Catholic Fundamentalist

Beware, this is a little feisty and some may be offended by my confrontation. But this man has attacked many Catholics and raised his arrogant head against the Church. So, I responded appropriately, at least I did in my opinion.

Here is a portion of the beginning of a long letter. it is actually a good letter to print out and pass on to Fundamentalist anti-Catholics.

Answers To Your Two Preliminary Questions

But before I get off the track, I will start out by answering the two questions you asked at the end of your letter, and then I'll return to the body of your letter. I must first comment that I am under no obligation to answer your questions, but since I understand their purpose — to prove I was never in the Protest-ant, Fundamentalist, "Bible-Christian" tradition — I will humor you with a few historical minutiae to slacken your curiosity.

I understand that you find it hard to believe that anyone who is a born again believer, "washed in the blood of the Lamb", could possibly fall for the "Romish tradition," as you call it.

However, here I stand (didn't someone else say that back in the 16th century?), a convert to the Catholic Church and knowing I have finally pulled into port.

First, you asked if I married a Catholic. Heavens no! I was anti-Catholic. I had never set a foot in a Catholic Church before January of 1994 and had never met a Catholic clergyman. I married a fellow Fundamentalist. My wife was raised in southern California and got "saved" in the Maranatha Ministries with Chuck Smith. Calvary Chapel which he started now boasts that 80% of his members are ex-Catholics.

She moved to Michigan and immediately joined Calvary Baptist Church in 1971, where my family fellowshipped. We later joined Salem Christian Fellowship whose pastor was Bill Nottenkamper and he was a graduate of Detroit Bible College (which is now William Tyndale College), and had a Gospel Program on the local Christian radio station.

My wife and I got married at Salem Christian Fellowship six years later. During our eighteen years of marriage we have attended several Evangelical Churches including Trinity Evangelical Presbyterian, and Trinity Baptist where I was a teacher for several years.

To read the whole letter, click here. I go through great detail on salvation, the Church, and much more.