What has OBOB meant to you in your time here?

Gnarwhal

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Just for a different flavor, what would you say OBOB has meant to you over the time you've been here? We have some friends here who've been here almost 20 years, others are brand new. All the same, I think this forum has shaped us all in important ways.

What's yours?
 

BrAndreyu

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Well if it weren't for OBOB, I never would have gone to a TLM. That's for sure because I didn't even know that there was an FSSP parish in my diocese until I saw people talking about TLM on here and I decided to scour the parish listing on my diocese website.

Other than that, this is really the only forum I'm a member of and it's just fine. It's a place to talk to other Catholics and get the kind of discussion/interaction that I don't get through my parish, as I don't know a single person in my parish well enough to talk to them about anything.
 
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Gregory Thompson

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Just for a different flavor, what would you say OBOB has meant to you over the time you've been here? We have some friends here who've been here almost 20 years, others are brand new. All the same, I think this forum has shaped us all in important ways.

What's yours?
I appreciate this sub forum is here.

I've learned a lot from the catholics here over the years, and it wouldn't have been possible without a safe space for catholics to just be.
 
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Michie

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To me, it’s been a lifesaver. I have made loads of friends and then there have been some fellow Catholics that liked to push the boundaries and play the devil’s advocate. I never progressed with those types but it was not for a lack of trying. I’m just not into the games and that used to be par for the course here. It’s slower now but I find the posts more sincere and edifying where people can fellowship, discuss, and simply vent.

I was a Protestant when I came here originally. But was feeling the pull to the Catholic Church which I was scared witless about. I read a lot here as part of staff in the beginning. Eventually, I came here when I was going through RCIA and garnered a lot of support and knowledge through out.

We live on a lot of acreage in the woods in a home we have built. I love it but it has made me feel very secluded as well. OBOB was always a place I could go to and connect with other Catholics. I miss many who are now gone. But as I said, just having OBOB has really made me feel more connected and not so alone.

I enjoy sharing news and knowledge concerning the Church here as it is a safe place to do it. I enjoy reading what others have to say and praying for them. No it’s not the hot ticket anymore but I believe these faith forums serve a purpose as long as we stay focused on the Faith and connections we have here. I’m not here to argue and gang up, form cliques, or whatever. I’m here to enjoy the community and post items of interest to discuss whether I agree or disagree with what I posted as far as the controversial stuff. I post educational items, edifying fellowship, and simply fun stuff. It’s not about winning an argument or debate but seeing how God can speak, teach, and support you through others by what they post and hoping you can do the same for them through these turbulent times.
 
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Sword of the Lord

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I'm Michael, formerly Sword of the Lord, which was changed from Mikhael, Disciple of Christ. I've never been Catholic. I was a Lutheran when I showed up here in 2011 or 2012. The I became Orthodox for a couple of years before going back to Lutheranism early in 2020 for reasons I'll tell another time. Always LCMS. I started posting in OBOB because the Lutheran forum is fairly slow moving and every once in awhile gets infested with ELCA liberal nonsense that I simply cannot stand. This forum was a place that was most similar to where I stood and I made a lot of friends here. It was OBOB that first alerted me to the fact that I may have Aspergers, which eventually lead to me seeing some professionals which in turn lead to me being formerly diagnosed. Years later, after getting to know my biological father and finding out that he's schizoaffective and we share many of the same struggles, I think it may have been a misdiagnoses as I did not have this family history at the time of my diagnosis. My grandfather was also schizoaffective. Either way, whatever I do or don't have, seeking professional help was a very good thing for me to do in my life and has helped me a lot. All started by friends here on OBOB. It was OBOB and friends that also helped me defeat alcoholism. It was OBOB and friends that paid for my family's vehicle to get fixed when I could not and we would have been in a really terrible position. It was OBOB and friends who helped me end my adulterous behavior when I went a little nuts in the head and went on a 4 month bender having run away from my wife and kids. She divorced me last year several years after the fact and that was not why, but still, OBOB and friends guided me back home. It was OBOB that I first told about the severe mental, emotional, physical and sexual abuse my step father inflicted on my brother and me for over a decade, and guided me to seeking help for that too. That abuse and the mental health issues is why I always ran to alcohol and became pretty loopy every now and then. It was OBOB and friends that helped me to grow in my faith more than any church ever did. They patiently listened to my borderline psychotic rants against Islam and liberalism, which, you know, all these years later I'm sure many of them now see that maybe crazy drunken Michael was right about some things. It was a couple of friends here on OBOB that helped me get into a good state of mind to do a couple of weeks in the county jail for going after the pedophile who wronged me.

I've always had some problem or another and OBOB was always here. And it's not just the problems that they helped me through. I listed a lot of bad things and made some jokes at my own expense, but a decade is a long time and there were more good times than bad.

I love OBOB, just not your stinkin' pope. ^_^
 
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Michie

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I'm Michael, formerly Sword of the Lord, which was changed from Mikhael, Disciple of Christ. I've never been Catholic. I was a Lutheran when I showed up here in 2011 or 2012. The I became Orthodox for a couple of years before going back to Lutheranism early in 2020 for reasons I'll tell another time. Always LCMS. I started posting in OBOB because the Lutheran forum is fairly slow moving and every once in awhile gets infested with ELCA liberal nonsense that I simply cannot stand. This forum was a place that was most similar to where I stood and I made a lot of friends here. It was OBOB that first alerted me to the fact that I may have Aspergers, which eventually lead to me seeing some professionals which in turn lead to me being formerly diagnosed. Years later, after getting to know my biological father and finding out that he's schizoaffective and we share many of the same struggles, I think it may have been a misdiagnoses as I did not have this family history at the time of my diagnosis. My grandfather was also schizoaffective. Either way, whatever I do or don't have, seeking professional help was a very good thing for me to do in my life and has helped me a lot. All started by friends here on OBOB. It was OBOB and friends that also helped me defeat alcoholism. It was OBOB and friends that paid for my family's vehicle to get fixed when I could not and we would have been in a really terrible position. It was OBOB and friends who helped me end my adulterous behavior when I went a little nuts in the head and went on a 4 month bender having run away from my wife and kids. She divorced me last year several years after the fact and that was not why, but still, OBOB and friends guided me back home. It was OBOB that I first told about the severe mental, emotional, physical and sexual abuse my step father inflicted on my brother and me for over a decade, and guided me to seeking help for that too. That abuse and the mental health issues is why I always ran to alcohol and became pretty loopy every now and then. It was OBOB and friends that helped me to grow in my faith more than any church ever did. They patiently listened to my borderline psychotic rants against Islam and liberalism, which, you know, all these years later I'm sure many of them now see that maybe crazy drunken Michael was right about some things. It was a couple of friends here on OBOB that helped me get into a good state of mind to do a couple of weeks in the county jail for going after the pedophile who wronged me.

I've always had some problem or another and OBOB was always here. And it's not just the problems that they helped me through. I listed a lot of bad things and made some jokes at my own expense, but a decade is a long time and there were more good times than bad.

I love OBOB, just not your stinkin' pope. ^_^
MICHAEL!!!! ***hugs*** So weird! I was just wondering about you a couple days ago. So happy to see you! :)
 
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pdudgeon

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Simply put, I love this forum!
The members here are kind, and intelligent, and patient, and supportive.
You have walked me thru the unexpected death of my late husband, my journey thru widowhood, my resurrection to life after death, my search for the Catholic Church, my struggle with the changes that have come to all of us, and now thru the pandemic, and the coming reconning.
You have been kind, sympathetic, hopeful, patient, and forebearing with me as sometimes I rambled on and on. LOL.
Now in the back half of this year, I look forward to many things:
The coming of a new love, at Christmas this year. YES!!
The challenge of the pandemic,
The strengthening of my faith,
and hopefully a measure of courage supplied by our God to face, understand, and survive what is coming upon us all.
I wear an Immaculate Mary medal now, and I have a row of prayer cards on the mantel of my living room window. Both are the result of my being in OBOB.
And even though these are turbulent times, I have a great assurance that God will bring us through safely, if we listen to Him.
And lastly, I do not fear death, because it brings me that much closer to God, and to His Son, Jesus.
And in that I can truly rejoice!
Thank you, OBOB!!!
 
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Michie

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Simply put, I love this forum!
The members here are kind, and intelligent, and patient, and supportive.
You have walked me thru the unexpected death of my late husband, my journey thru widowhood, my resurrection to life after death, my search for the Catholic Church, my struggle with the changes that have come to all of us, and now thru the pandemic, and the coming reconning.
You have been kind, sympathetic, hopeful, patient, and forebearing with me as sometimes I rambled on and on. LOL.
Now in the back half of this year, I look forward to many things:
The coming of a new love, at Christmas this year. YES!!
The challenge of the pandemic,
The strengthening of my faith,
and hopefully a measure of courage supplied by our God to face, understand, and survive what is coming upon us all.
I wear an Immaculate Mary medal now, and I have a row of prayer cards on the mantel of my living room window. Both are the result of my being in OBOB.
And even though these are turbulent times, I have a great assurance that God will bring us through safely, if we listen to Him.
And lastly, I do not fear death, because it brings me that much closer to God, and to His Son, Jesus.
And in that I can truly rejoice!
Thank you, OBOB!!!
***Hugs and prayers***
 
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BrAndreyu

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I wear an Immaculate Mary medal now, and I have a row of prayer cards on the mantel of my living room window.

I no longer have an immaculate Mary medal as far as I know, but I do have a lot of prayer cards. I just don't have anywhere to stand them all up, so I put my St. Sebastian one on my bedroom altar and use the rest as bookmarks in the various spiritual books I am reading.

At one point in time I had like four of the little pyramid things to stand them up with, but I don't know what happened to the other three of them. I would like to stand up my Guadalupe, St. Francis, and others.
 
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LizaMarie

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I really enjoy this forum and I am not Catholic but Lutheran but I agree with many of the Catholic Church's stance on social issues, and pro-life. I have read many informative articles here and enjoy the posts of Michie and FEnwick and others.
 
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Chrystal-J

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OBOB has been a life-line. Over the years, I've learned SO much about the bible and Jesus. I've also gotten support from so many people. I love it here.
 
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Bob Crowley

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For me it was a replacement for Catholic Answers Forums, which for some reason seemed to become less user friendly a few years ago. It's finished now, although I think Catholic Answers is still going as a Catholic website without a forum.

I haven't had any major personal issues I've needed to deal with (not while I've been a member here anyway), so I can't hand out any kudos on that account.

I find the posters are usually well informed (much more so than I am in some areas), and I suppose I spend most of my forum time in OBOB, with forays into other areas.

I think Michie would originate between 70 and 80 percent of the OBOB posts, plus some elsewhere, so she must be a full time forum browser, or close to it. I couldn't match that.
 
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Michie

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For me it was a replacement for Catholic Answers Forums, which for some reason seemed to become less user friendly a few years ago. It's finished now, although I think Catholic Answers is still going as a Catholic website without a forum.

I haven't had any major personal issues I've needed to deal with (not while I've been a member here anyway), so I can't hand out any kudos on that account.

I find the posters are usually well informed (much more so than I am in some areas), and I suppose I spend most of my forum time in OBOB, with forays into other areas.

I think Michie would originate between 70 and 80 percent of the OBOB posts, plus some elsewhere, so she must be a full time forum browser, or close to it. I couldn't match that.
.
 
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Sword of the Lord

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I work 40 hours a week, have 4 kids, a fiance, and pets to take care of, including a new high maintenance rabbit. I put in 15~ hours of bass fishing and 15~ hours of Call of Duty League Play each week. Technically I'm a full time father of one (I have custody of my son, who is the oldest at 13 years of age), and I get my 3 daughters every other weekend, which requires a 3 hour and 15 minute round trip, or if I make the whole trip, 7~ hours. Among all the other normal things people have to do. The point? I still have time to post 100-200 messages per week on the 4 different forums I use for different things. It takes very little time, especially in the era of smartphones. I can whip out my phone, read an article, share it to a forum or social media platform, and respond to a few posts within 5 minutes before going about my real life business. It's not hard at all.
 
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eastcoast_bsc

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Good Lord I just realized I have been here 16 years. Time has flown by. When I arrived on this forum I was a cradle Catholic who had strayed far from the faith and I identified somewhat as non-denominational and slowly I have migrated back to the faith but with a discerning eye regarding the shenanigans from Rome. In the beginning I clashed a lot with the old guard. I didn’t appreciate the whole clique thing that was big here. There were also some agent provocateur types who insisted on trying to cause dissension.

This forum has been good as a place to grow and share lives with others on our journey home. I think currently we have a good group here who have interesting thinks to say. I think Michie and a few others have been here for quite some time also but I like when newer members add to the dynamic of the forum. It has been a journey.

I have to pick my punches so to speak as to when I post. I work about 55 hours a week . I love to fish , love food, love sports , love culture and learning German.

At this point I don’t have as much time to do these things but in a few years God willing maybe things will change. Balance is a good thing.
 
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Sword of the Lord

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Good Lord I just realized I have been here 16 years. Time has flown by. When I arrived on this forum I was a cradle Catholic who had strayed far from the faith and I identified somewhat as non-denominational and slowly I have migrated back to the faith but with a discerning eye regarding the shenanigans from Rome. In the beginning I clashed a lot with the old guard. I didn’t appreciate the whole clique thing that was big here. There were also some agent provocateur types who insisted on trying to cause dissension.

This forum has been good as a place to grow and share lives with others on our journey home. I think currently we have a good group here who have interesting thinks to say. I think Michie and a few others have been here for quite some time also but I like when newer members add to the dynamic of the forum. It has been a journey.
I remember those people. Their ring leader insisted that he would never lie, not even to a Nazi to save a Jew. There was a whole conversation about how he would have told a Nazi the truth about where he was hiding a Jew rather than say he didn't know, there's no Jew here, because lying in sinful. That will forever stand out in my mind, especially following the drama about his affair with a forum member after that, ripe with hypocrisy. And here I am gossiping, but good Lord some of those times were insane.
 
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eastcoast_bsc

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I remember those people. Their ring leader insisted that he would never lie, not even to a Nazi to save a Jew. There was a whole conversation about how he would have told a Nazi the truth about where he was hiding a Jew rather than say he didn't know, there's no Jew here, because lying in sinful. That will forever stand out in my mind, especially following the drama about his affair with a forum member after that, ripe with hypocrisy. And here I am gossiping, but good Lord some of those times were insane.


They were indeed.
 
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Sword of the Lord

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MICHAEL!!!! ***hugs*** So weird! I was just wondering about you a couple days ago. So happy to see you! :)
I thought about you and a few others all the time in my absence. I went through a lot in the last couple years, as have many people. So much so that I didn't care to discuss anything faith related at all, much less come here. I don't want to get into too much detail, but my ex wife (you know the name) left me in 2019. I had been on a really good path, doing well in therapy, squashed alcoholism due to help in therapy, and made some new friends. Well one wasn't so good of a friend. They were having an affair starting a few months after we became friends, and then she blindsided me with it at all and that they were going to start a formal relationship. My very first instinct was to grab that bottle and drown in it. I wish I could say I was strong enough not to, but I can't. I stayed more drunk than any point in my life over the course of the next 48 hours without any sleep at all period. But then I finally passed out, and when I woke up I decided this wasn't going to be me, that I wasn't going to go back to this. I packed up, moved in with my dad here where you and I both are now, started a new job, met someone along the way, got engaged (been together a year now), and got custody of my son because he was able to choose and he wanted to be with me. And that's only a fraction of my journey these past few years.
 
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