Catholic history is disturbing

[ron77nyc]

Most are from other countries. They come here and kill Americans or there own. I know, I live right near a neighborhood that in order for you to join, you must kill someone for the heck of it…oh…but they never had a chance…

This is a true story about the depth of God’s love.

David Wilkerson is the founder of Times Square Church which is still thriving today.

David Wilkerson was a country preacher from Pennsylvania who later founded Teen Challenge, which reaches out to street gang members and drug addicts in New York. In his bestseller book which sold 14 million copies, The Cross and the Switchblade, Wilkerson shares about his amazing story.

When he met Nicky Cruz, a vicious teenage knife-fighter and a leader of the Mau Mau gang, Nicky told Wilkerson, “Go to Hell, Preacher.” He replied, “You don’t think much of me, but I feel different about you. I love you, Nicky.” As Wilkerson took a step towards him, Nicky said, “You come near me, Preacher, I’ll kill you.”

He replied, “You could do that, you could cut me into a thousand pieces and lay them out in the street and every piece would love you.” In a dramatic manner, Nicky was later convicted by the Holy Spirit and received Jesus during an evangelistic meeting organized by Wilkerson. It’s an amazing story but how did it all begin?

One night on the 9th February, 1958, David Wilkerson was sitting in front of the TV set watching the “Late Show.” As he switched off the TV, he wondered, “How much time do I spend in front of that TV screen each night?” He figured that it must be a couple of hours at least. “What would happen, Lord, ‘IF’ I sold that TV set and spent that time praying?” Substitute 2 hours of prayer for television, and see what happened.

His life has not been the same since. It was during one of these late evenings of prayer that he picked up a Life magazine. He had been restless in his spirit and wondered what the Lord was saying to him. The Spirit of God kept drawing him to that magazine. As he opened the magazine, he looked at a pen drawing of 7 boys who were on trial for murder, and tears started streaming down his face. He received clear instruction to go to New York City to help those boys.

He laughed aloud. “Me? Go to New York? A country preacher barging into a situation he knows less than nothing about?” Go to New York City and help those boys. The thought was still there, vivid as ever, apparently completely independent of his own feelings and ideas. He was to go at once while the trial was still in progress.

So he went on the journey and the rest is history. His amazing story is told in his bestseller book, The Cross and the Switchblade, which was later made into a movie. It all started with prayer.

(Reference: The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson, Chosen Books)

 

[ron77nyc]

How many times does God have to tell us not to judge others, before we begin to understand what he is saying?

I agree. Here is Nicky Cruz’s story.

CBN.com – “You can get high on sex. You can get high on alcohol. You can get high on all kinds of drugs. I was high on hate and violent.”

When Nicky Cruz showed up on the scene, people had every reason to run and hide. He wasn’t just the leader of the renowned Mau Maus – the toughest gang in New York City – Nicky was an animal.

“New York was a jungle. The law of the jungle… you behave like an animal,” Nicky Cruz recalls. “Animals don’t know the difference between right and wrong. An animal has to kill another animal for survival.”

Pain and violence weren’t anything new to Nicky. He grew up in Puerto Rico, where his parents brutally abused him. Nicky’s father used to throw him in a room with pigeons.

“He put me there naked, and I used to scream,” Nicky says. “The pigeons used to get scared, and they’d scratch me all over.”

And Nicky’s mother?

“She hit me so much and knocked me unconscious so many times over and over that, honestly, if I grab a knife and I put it [in], I didn’t feel the pain anymore.”

It wasn’t just because they were cruel… They were possessed!

“I know that I was planted into the womb of a witch,” says Nicky.

Seances, satanic worship, animal sacrifices… they were all a normal part of his parent’s lives.

“I saw my mother possessed by the devil many times,” Nicky recalls. “My mother had to eat everything when she was under the influence of Satan. So did my dad. All those animals sacrifice, all the blood, all the blood that was shared and the smell was so repulsive and the spirit used to manifest. It was scaring.”

So when he hit the streets of New York, Nicky was a hardened man void of love and full of hate.

“I wanted to do to others what my mother did to me,” Nicky says. “I used to feel good when I hurt some people.”

But alone in his tiny apartment in the projects, he didn’t feel good.

“Privately. When I was alone, loneliness became like a seductive woman that crawled inside my chest and eat me. I was there twisting and fighting; I felt so lost. The most you can live the way I lived is 20 years. I was 19 already. One year, I be dead.”

Only two people that saw the desperate condition of Nicky’s heart. One was a psychologist.

“He told me about five times. ‘There’s a dark side in your life that nobody can penetrate. Nicky, you are walking straight to jail, the electric chair, and hell. There’s no hope.’”

The other was a pastor named David Wilkerson. He risked his life to tell Nicky there was hope.

“I heard his voice: ‘God has the power to change your life.’ I started cursing loud,” says Nicky. “I spit in his face, and I hit him. I told him, ‘I don’t believe in what you say and you get out of here.’”

Nicky never expected what he heard Wilkerson say next.

Wilkerson replied, “You could cut me up into a 1000 pieces and lay them in the street. Every piece will still love you.”

Nicky says, “It did damage. Good [damage] in my brain and in my heart. I began to question, and for two weeks I could not sleep thinking about love.”

Nicky and his gang showed up at one of Wilkerson’s rallies. One by one, they gave their lives to Christ. It was the crucifixion – Jesus’ death on the cross – that grabbed Nicky.

“I was choked up with pain, and my eyes were fighting and tears became to come down and more tears and I was fighting and then I surrendered,” says Nicky. “I let Jesus hug me, and I let my head rest on His chest. I said I’m sorry. Forgive me, and for the first time, I told somebody I love you.”

The love Nicky got in return radically changed his life.

“When I had opened my eyes, I got a new heart. I’d been born again. I’m a child of the Lord.”

Nicky left the gang scene. He enrolled in Bible college and met Gloria. The two married and moved back to New York City where they ran “Teen Challenge,” a program to help troubled teens. Since then, Nicky has raised four girls and traveled all over the world as an evangelist and head of Nicky Cruz Ministries.

“I am the most happy human being because I have reached thousands upon millions of people that have come to Jesus through my message,” says Nicky. “But the greatest success of my life was when I brought my mother to Jesus and my father and my brother.”

Nicky chose to forgive his parents, and he asked them to forgive him. Nicky writes about this in his latest book Soul Obsession.

“When true forgiveness come in and out from you, that dark cloud will disappear,” says Nicky. “You have access straight to the heart of Christ.”

Once an “animal” filled with hate, today, a lover of souls. Now if you met Nicky Cruz on the streets, you probably wouldn’t run from him. You’d run to him, and here’s what he might say.

“You can turn all this deep pain, hurt, and rejection and do what I did. Give it to Christ. You are going to be more happy with your life!”

 

[Symux]

What an inspiration!! I have got to get that book, and it would be interesting to read the other stories. David Wilkerson is most definitely one who God works through, and Nicky’s story is amazing.

 

[Cinette]

With the exception of the Blessed Mother do you think it is possible for anyone to obtain sinless perfection in this life?

I don’t think so but we certainly can try. Maybe we will only spend a week-end in Purgatory!

 

[Cinette]

I agree. Here is Nicky Cruz’s story.

…

The love Nicky got in return radically changed his life.

“When I had opened my eyes, I got a new heart. I’d been born again. I’m a child of the Lord.”

Nicky left the gang scene. He enrolled in Bible college and met Gloria. The two married and moved back to New York City where they ran “Teen Challenge,” a program to help troubled teens. Since then, Nicky has raised four girls and traveled all over the world as an evangelist and head of Nicky Cruz Ministries.

“I am the most happy human being because I have reached thousands upon millions of people that have come to Jesus through my message,” says Nicky. “But the greatest success of my life was when I brought my mother to Jesus and my father and my brother.”

Nicky chose to forgive his parents, and he asked them to forgive him. Nicky writes about this in his latest book Soul Obsession.

“When true forgiveness come in and out from you, that dark cloud will disappear,” says Nicky. “You have access straight to the heart of Christ.”

Once an “animal” filled with hate, today, a lover of souls. Now if you met Nicky Cruz on the streets, you probably wouldn’t run from him. You’d run to him, and here’s what he might say.

“You can turn all this deep pain, hurt, and rejection and do what I did. Give it to Christ. You are going to be more happy with your life!”

Thank you for that Ron. I read that book by Wilkerson and bought several copies to give away I liked it so much - I can’t remember who took my copy. You have inspired me to get another because I often think back on that book. Now I must also get Nickey’s book.

Thank you sooooo much!

 

[Cinette]

What an inspiration!! I have got to get that book, and it would be interesting to read the other stories. David Wilkerson is most definitely one who God works through, and Nicky’s story is amazing.

Another book you should get Symux is “The Hidden Room” (or The Secret Room) by Corrie Ten Boom. That is an amazing book. Another unforgetable book about forgiveness and thanking the Lord in all circumstances. Corrie Ten Boom was a Protestant of the Dutch Reformed Church and has written many good books but that book is something special. Actually I have to go out and buy another copy as I lent mine and can’t remember who has got it!!

Cheers
Cinette

 

[ron77nyc]

Another book you should get Symux is “The Hidden Room” (or The Secret Room) by Corrie Ten Boom.
Cheers
Cinette

The Hiding Place------also a movie

 

[ron77nyc]

Thank you for that Ron. I read that book by Wilkerson and bought several copies to give away I liked it so much - I can’t remember who took my copy. You have inspired me to get another because I often think back on that book. Now I must also get Nickey’s book.

Thank you sooooo much!

You can get Nicky Cruz on youtube. You can also get sermons from Times Square Church at their website if you’re interested. tscnyc.org/

In keeping with the thread subject I’ve been reading a book by Bernard of Clairvaux who successfully reformed the Church before his death in 1153. Anything written by him is worth reading and a lesson in Church history.

 

[Cinette]

You can get Nicky Cruz on youtube. You can also get sermons from Times Square Church at their website if you’re interested. tscnyc.org/

In keeping with the thread subject I’ve been reading a book by Bernard of Clairvaux who successfully reformed the Church before his death in 1153. Anything written by him is worth reading and a lesson in Church history.

I saw on a posting by Benedictus she mentioned the conversion of a Jew (can’t remember name and have lent the book so can’t check) I am sure she has this book about 16 conversions of Jews. I particularly like conversions from Judaism because the emotion is just overwhelming. One of the stories is the story of Rabbi Zolli - he was the Chief Rabbi of Rome and worked with Pius XII to bargain with the Naziz to release large numbers of Jews - they managed to get gold to pay the Naziz and more than 800 000 lives were saved. His conversion is so special. So if you are interested the book is Honey from the Rock.

Thanks Ron
Cheers
Cinette

 

[OneTrueCathApos]

I saw on a posting by Benedictus she mentioned the conversion of a Jew (can’t remember name and have lent the book so can’t check) I am sure she has this book about 16 conversions of Jews. I particularly like conversions from Judaism because the emotion is just overwhelming. One of the stories is the story of Rabbi Zolli - he was the Chief Rabbi of Rome and worked with Pius XII to bargain with the Naziz to release large numbers of Jews - they managed to get gold to pay the Naziz and more than 800 000 lives were saved. His conversion is so special. So if you are interested the book is Honey from the Rock.

Thanks Ron
Cheers
Cinette

Try reading about Edith Stein, the Jewish woman who was strictly raised in Juddaism, who converted to Catholicism, who became a nun, who died at Auschtwiz. Beautiful story. She was a brilliant philosopher too.

 

[Cinette]

Try reading about Edith Stein, the Jewish woman who was strictly raised in Juddaism, who converted to Catholicism, who became a nun, who died at Auschtwiz. Beautiful story. She was a brilliant philosopher too.

Got it - read it.

Gosh we are going to start a library here !

 

[Methodi]

That’s it - thank you Benedictus.

I would say that an example of this would be a case where a Catholic priest willfully turned his back on the Church. As for anyone else, I cannot say because I do not know their heart. But there is a danger - it depends how well catechised they are I suppose.

I turned my back on the Church for 27 years.

Cheers
Cinette

My neighbor was a former Catholic Priest for 11 yearsAfter he Left the priesthood, he didnt attend mass. He told me that he goes to bed every night & never has any thoughts that he will Die In his sleep & go to hell. He also told me that if any Priests did an honest days work it would kill them. He must have had some type of bitterness toward the church. He Passed about a year ago, Hopefully the Lord will wash him clean & take him into his kingdom. Jesus came for the unjust, not the just, the just had no need of him. We all need forgiveness, & I hope we all get it

 

[OneTrueCathApos]

My neighbor was a former Catholic Priest for 11 yearsAfter he Left the priesthood, he didnt attend mass. He told me that he goes to bed every night & never has any thoughts that he will Die In his sleep & go to hell. He also told me that if any Priests did an honest days work it would kill them. He must have had some type of bitterness toward the church. He Passed about a year ago, Hopefully the Lord will wash him clean & take him into his kingdom. Jesus came for the unjust, not the just, the just had no need of him. We all need forgiveness, & I hope we all get it

That is very unfair of you to say this. I personally can name 4 priests off the top of my head that work tirelessly for the community, the people and Our Lord. They are exhausted with having something going on every night at their parishes.
Monday thru Friday 24 hour Adoration with the Blessed Sacrament
Monday nights Worship and Praise with the Eucharist
Tuesday night a Healing Mass
Wednesday a Healing Soaking Prayer night
Thursday night Bible Study
Friday Night Holy Hour with the Blessed Sacrament
Saturday night 2 Masses
Sunday 3 Masses plus another Holy Hour after the Mass.
AND the priest runs the School Kindergarten thru High School.
It is not fair to say this meaning for all priests. These people give their lives up for God. All of them.
Priests are the umbilical cord to God.

 

[Methodi]

That is very unfair of you to say this. I personally can name 4 priests off the top of my head that work tirelessly for the community, the people and Our Lord. They are exhausted with having something going on every night at their parishes.
Monday thru Friday 24 hour Adoration with the Blessed Sacrament
Monday nights Worship and Praise with the Eucharist
Tuesday night a Healing Mass
Wednesday a Healing Soaking Prayer night
Thursday night Bible Study
Friday Night Holy Hour with the Blessed Sacrament
Saturday night 2 Masses
Sunday 3 Masses plus another Holy Hour after the Mass.
AND the priest runs the School Kindergarten thru High School.
It is not fair to say this meaning for all priests. These people give their lives up for God. All of them.
Priests are the umbilical cord to God.

I am saying what he said, not me, so where is the unfairness on my part. I Love all priests, good & bad cause they can absolve me of my sins & Bring me the Holy Eucharist

 

[OneTrueCathApos]

I am saying what he said, not me, so where is the unfairness on my part. I Love all priests, good & bad cause they can absolve me of my sins & Bring me the Holy Eucharist

Well, when you open up a can of worms, you’ll get responses as mine. I defend my church and it’s loyal priests, I don’t talk about them.

 

[rikkk1958]

What is this fuzz about priests? I can say 100% of them sinned. Who then can judge? Non-catholics? Do we have to associate the divinity of the Church to human wrongdoings? or We just have to keep praying so our lives can walk with righteousness?
What is important for Catholics is the idea that the Church is based on the Words of God and humans have no power over what is God’s. The Church will always be divine in the hearts of the true Catholics. Although humans dictated the doctrines of the Church, we also believed that their works were inspired. And who would better interpret the inspired words of God than the writers themselves and their associates who succeeded them.

 

[Methodi]

Well, when you open up a can of worms, you’ll get responses as mine. I defend my church and it’s loyal priests, I don’t talk about them.

You made it a can of worms & I probably love my church more than You do

 

[OneTrueCathApos]

You made it a can of worms & I probably love my church more than You do

I love my church too.

 

[OneTrueCathApos]

What is this fuzz about priests? I can say 100% of them sinned. Who then can judge? Non-catholics? Do we have to associate the divinity of the Church to human wrongdoings? or We just have to keep praying so our lives can walk with righteousness?
What is important for Catholics is the idea that the Church is based on the Words of God and humans have no power over what is God’s. The Church will always be divine in the hearts of the true Catholics. Although humans dictated the doctrines of the Church, we also believed that their works were inspired. And who would better interpret the inspired words of God than the writers themselves and their associates who succeeded them.

It was all predicted that Satan would come into the churches and start from the very top. I just wish Christ wouldn’t give him so much reign.

 

[Methodi]

I love my church too.