Jesus started a Church when He was here ...... He started it with 12 men. He taught them, He prayed with and for them. He made one the leader - (Simon) Peter. For almost 1500 years things were the same; one fold, one leader ... and for about 1100 or so years ... one Bible. (The Bible was first compiled in about the year 400 when the Roman Emperor, Constantine publicly condoned Christianity. There was only one Christianity at the time; which painstakingly compiled the books into the Bible ... we know them today as the Roman Catholic Church.)

Around 1500, Martin Luther (a catholic monk), thought that the Church had been wrong in some things for all that time (Particularly about 'working your way to heaven' -as HE phrased it- by doing things for others and penance, which he, unfortunately, took out of context.), so he (and a group of folks; about a third) left the Church, changed the Bible (removed some of the books) to support their beliefs and 'protested' (Hence ... Protestants). (I can't help but shudder when I think of the warnings the Bible gives for anyone changing it in any way!!!) It was discovered since, that one of the strongest reasons Luthor went against the Pope and left the True Church was to marry a nun! Not many folks know this!

9.23.08 ADDENDUM: Here's a link to a couple of factual videos jam packed with information about the REAL REFORMATION Leader's motivations and beliefs ... DON'T MISS IT!
The truth about Martin Luther's Reformation

Anyway, since then, there has been a growing number of different Protestant denominations throughout the world; all from that one break only 500 years ago. But there is still only one Roman Catholic religion, with the Mass as it was in the days of the catacombs. Divide and conquer?? Satan knows us very well. He also knows it's profitable to him if he tells 99% truth, to get in his 1% of lies. I don't believe the folks that split from the Church were bad .... obviously, their Faith was weak and they were searching. Satan saw his "in" and grabbed it. I believe these folks honestly believed that they were doing as God wished. This is not meant to discredit the Protestants in any way. However, we DO pray that they reunite to the Catholic Church so that they may have the fullness of TRUTH that is only found in Catholicism.

I think a big danger today facing folks is relativism. Satan would have us believe that as long as we don't murder, commit adultery (although he's working on that one!), steal and some other big things.... we'll be just fine ....... I don't believe this is the truth. Satan does know us well and he plays on our weaknesses. He knows we like to justify things so that we're "comfortable and relatively guilt free". It's convenient for us to change to conform to new age beliefs and societal reformations, especially if they afford us a little more leeway for sin. AH! but we can't call it SIN! ..... it's just the "new acceptable way". Oh, Satan is so devious! The Bible states clearly that we must be born again in water and the Spirit, or we won't even see the Kingdom of God. And the book of John clearly states that unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His Blood (Holy Communion, the Eucharist) you have no life in you. Unfortunately, I believe most Protestant sects have abandoned this. They have a 'commemorative' or 'symbolic' ceremony with bread and grape juice or wine, but it is not the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist that the Catholics have honored and adored since it began with the apostles. It is the TRANSUBSTANTIATION (The Roman Catholic doctrine that the whole substance of the bread and the wine changes into the substance of the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist, when consecrated by an ordained Priest.) that gives us the most Precious GIFT Of JESUS ... truly present in the Holy Eucharist.

Actually, I should say many Catholics take this Precious Truth and Wonderful Gift for granted today. But it should be remembered that whoever receives Communion unworthily (without serious reflection or while in serious sin), 'eats and drinks condemnation unto himself'.

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Is the End of Times near? Some think so and I'm one of them.
Ponder THIS:
2 Timothy 3
(1) But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. (2) People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, (3) without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, (4) treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (5) having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.


2 Peter 3
(2) I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. (3) First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. (4) They will say, "Where is this `coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."


Matthew 24
(5) For many will come in my name, claiming, `I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. (6) You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. (7) Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. (8) All these are the beginning of birth pains. (9) "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. (10) At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, (11) and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. (12) Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, (13) but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.


Mark 13
(6) Many will come in my name, claiming, `I am he,' and will deceive many. (7) When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. (8) Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

Many will say ... there have always been these things since time began .. yes that's corrrect .. HOWEVER, what Jesus said was that all these things will come faster and faster and be stronger and stronger and THAT will be the beginning of the end .......... I believe we are seeing it now.