Hi Kiwi,

I don't come on here too often any more - drop in now and then.

When I came on here today and saw you back, I was so glad! Glad to see you are doing well. No one stays away for too long and I am glad you did not.

I do frequent another Catholic forum now and it is so warm and welcoming - there are some very heated debates there as well...but handled appropriately.

I am saddened to see that John is no longer here.. He has so much to offer and is a very good example for us all - especially unorthodox Catholics like myself.

Take care, Kiwi.

MaryLu

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), January 25, 2003

Answers

Dear David,

Don't mind your jumping in at all. So nice to hear from you. My days are getting somewhat better - some are better than others. Grief is a strange process - our feelings lay dormant for a while and then hit us full force. It takes time.

How are you doing? How are things going for you?

I think God uses people like John to bring his message to us and John never waivers on what he believes to be true. I like that about him. He stands up for what he believes in, despite the fact that he knows he will, at times, be persecuted for that.

He is so learned, so faithful, and so willing to share his knowledge with us. He will be back in time, I'm sure. He has too much too offer and it certainly would be a loss for this forum if he doesn't come back. Let us leave that up to God. If God wants John here carrying the message, He will see to it that he comes back.

Take care, David.

MaryLu

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), January 25, 2003.

I miss them liberals too. Come on back John and Eugene; I miss sparring with you all.

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), January 25, 2003.

Dear Kiwi,

I was thinking about something you said on another thread about your friends being athiests.

I think God is going to use you in a very special way, Kiwi. He is preparing you for the next part of your journey. You, dear Kiwi, are going to be the 'light of Christ' that brings your athiests friends out of their darkness and into the light - not by preaching, but by your example. Your friends are going to see an extraordinary change in you, Kiwi, extraordinary! Your friends and family are going to be bewildered by the change they see in you. They are going to question that change, and want to know what is going on and you will tell them, and you will show them, and you will lead them.

Mark my words, Kiwi, mark my words!

God Bless.

ML

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), January 25, 2003.

Dear Kiwi,

I was thinking about something you said on another thread about your friends being athiests.

I think God is going to use you in a very special way, Kiwi. He is preparing you for the next part of your journey. You, dear Kiwi, are going to be the 'light of Christ' that brings your athiests friends out of their darkness and into the light - not by preaching, but by your example. Your friends are going to see an extraordinary change in you, extraordinary! Your friends and family are going to be bewildered by the change they see in you. They are going to question that change, and want to know what is going on and you will tell them, and you will show them, and you will lead them.

Mark my words, Kiwi, mark my words!

God Bless.

ML

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), January 25, 2003.

Hello, MaryLu.

A "little birdie" told me about this thread. I wouldn't have known about it, because I have been away from the forum for more than a week (working on a couple of projects). I'm not yet in a position of being able to predict if/when I will return to the forum.

I just wanted to thank you for all the extremely nice things you said about me. I was deeply moved and a bit embarrassed, because I don't think that I deserve such high praise.

Be seeing you ...
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), January 25, 2003.

Marly Lu nice to hear from you again. Your thoughts as always are so positive and optimistic although I suggest a bit hopeful for me. We can all only do our best hey. ANyhow thanks, take care and God Bless

Hi John youre back?!

-- Kiwi (csisherwood@hotmail.com), January 25, 2003.

Kiwi,

God uses the most ordinary people to do the most extraordinary things,'not that I am saying your are ordinary at all, but you know what I mean - the most unlikely people...like myself..not that I have done anything extraordinary!

Take care, Kiwi...and see what you can do about getting John back!

ML

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), January 25, 2003.

Believe me Im trying ML :-) God Bless

-- Kiwi (csisherwood@hotmail.com), January 25, 2003.