Hi, I'm new

[Trskit]

Hi my name is James, most people call me Trskit (like the cracker...it's "an odd little name, for an odd little cracker"...don't ask). I want to first off say how excited I am to see this section on these forums (Catholic). I found this site through my car club's forum that I am heavily involved in and was worried about the usual "Catholic bashing" in so much that I've decided not to display my denomination yet till I see how things are here.

A little about me.So if you didn't know I'm James and I'm Catholic (Hi James...it ok buddy get it out), some would even say "Super Catholic" (Ohh no, did he just say that). I live in Atlanta, GA(no I don't have an accent and at least the people are nice) which has been the biggest blessing for my faith since we have one of the biggest and most amazing young adult communities in the nation.

I love explaining the faith at all times and consider myself to be a good apologist (nothing like Scott Hahn, but maybe after 30 years of non-stop learning I might be able to touch his expertise). I take every opportunity to learn more about apologetics's by reading every book I can get my hands on and looking on the net. This has come in handy over the years since I'm faced constantly with defending our faith on another forum (my car one). I am the moderator on there for our "faith" section and sometimes the natives get restless and we have the next 10-20 posts come with the endless questions on why we (The dreaded "C" word..shhhh) do things. Well, this is still going on and I was really apprehensive to come here for that reason. Don't get me wrong I love explaining our faith and answering questions, but when they almost never listen an just end up bashing or arguing is when it gets old.

I have been a Core member for Life Teen (basically an assistant youth minister for a teen group) for about 7 years now helping in 4 parishes and doing Archdiocese wide talks, retreats and such. I love speaking and take every opportunity to get out there and speak about anything (ok, that tupper-ware convention doesn't count).

I also helped start up and run a young adult group called S&T in Auburn, Alabama (I was an original member for the first one here in Atlanta and it has grown pretty big since then) and I'm pretty sure all of the people are not related to each other, but I think it's rude to ask. I also do college and young adult activities when i can around the area and just try to pop in when ever I can. I also used to be Prez of the Catholic Student Union at my University and started the first Ecumenical organization of all Christian religions (They didn't know I was Catholic at first so by the time I dropped the news they were totally cool with me)

I am what you would consider a charismatic Catholic in the way I pray, worship, and praise. I am extremely in touch with our own roots and love a good "traditional" mass every once in awhile, just prefer the stuff more to my liking as long as it doesn't interfere with the Mass, my faith, or any teachings. I'm always seen with my Bible (have to be equipped for any moment down here in the "bible belt") with a million tab's, the whole thing highlighted and notes all over the place.

Now comes the time to appologize for my long post, but I will warn you this will probably be the average size when you find me having something to say. I hope to jump right in and look forward to learning and adding to this section without having to always have to explain everything. God Bless.

PAX,
James

 

[faerieevaH]

Greetings, and welcome to OBOB! I'm glad to be the first to welcome you here. We have heated discussions, wonderful fellowship, inspired prayers for eachothers, and always a lot of well read people ready with advice. *ss* And a few equally well read people ready with some silliness. We're one here in our love for Christ and the Church, though we often dare to differ *G*
Welcome, and I hope you'll feel at home.

 

[MParedon]

I absolutely loved your post!

Welcome to OBOB. This is a really great place and I will say it was a lifesaver when I first started looking more into Catholicism. I think you will really enjoy it here. I like long vibrant posts (probably because I can only get out the little short comments myself) so I look forward to reading more of your posts.

 

[ZooMom]

Welcome, James, to our Catholic community. OBOB is our 'home' forum, and there is a 'No-Debate' rule in place here for non-Catholics, so don't worry a bit about things getting out of hand. If you start to hanker for a good debate, then General Theology is the place to go. It gets a little hotter in there, but the Mods are usually on top of things.

So, we're glad you came, and look forward to seeing more from you. If you have any questions, just send a PM to any of our Mods and we'll be glad to help you out.

Peace be with you!

Sandy

 

[ProCommunioneFacior]

Hello James,

I'm curious, since you're involved with LT in the Atlanta area, did you know Paul George before he left to Louisiana.

Paul George and I were great friends, he was once my youth minister at my former parish, St. Timothy's in Mesa, AZ, so I was just wondering if you knew him.

WELCOME TO THE FORUMS!

 

[Paul S]

Welcome to OBOB, James!

 

[ByzantineDixie]

Hey James!

I am Lutheran from the Athens area...but my brother and his family are Catholic and live in Atlanta. I have attended their life teen services (St. Ann's) many times...found them to be quite reverent and inspiring.

Hope you enjoy your stay here and come back often!

Peace

Rose

 

[Gwendolyn]

Hello, James!

Greetings in the Lord! I am a LIFE TEEN CORE member as well. Welcome to OBOB - we have fiery discussions, but we also love to have a good laugh. It's like a family here at OBOB, and I wish you all the best! God bless!

 

[Brother Simon]

Brother, peace be with you,

Welcome to OBOB. You'll find we are quite diverse...with one passion in common...Jesus and His Church.

Enjoy your stay, I pray it is lengthy.

With love,
Simon

 

[epiclesis]

Welcome.

 

[NDIrish]

Hey James!

 

[gennypearl]

Hi there!

welcome to cf and have fun

 

[Trskit]

Wow, I'm only away for a minuite and look what happened. Thanks for the welcome so far and I'm glad that some people actually read the whole thing (I think people on my other forum have decided to print them out to read when.....nevermind).

faerieeva vbmenu_register("postmenu_14080348", true); - Thanks for being first and I hope to be involved in al of those things. Just imagine how long my prayers are after reading that post (they won't let me do it at dinner anymore if the food is cooked...hehe)

MPardon - Glad you liked it, I always like to put things out in the beginnning so people don't feel bad asking questions. I'm an extremely open and talkative person. That's why I'm so good at youth ministry...that and being completely nuts.

Hi Mom, (wow, fell like I'm on TV) Thanks for the welcome to my new "home" and glad to hear about the rules. When I feel up to it I'll go take a swim in the "other" pools, but for now I'll keep the floaty's on if you promise not to push me into the deep end....thanks mom.

proud2becatholic - First of I have to say I love the name and wish I would have thought of it. (I'll get to the PG thing in a sec...man I love that guy!)That is something I would totally do...me and my girlfriend are involved in a lot of Protestant ministries too and a lot of our friend's are "Prot's" (are we allowed to say that), well one day we were walking up to see our friend play in the band for a Non-Denominational church and I saw them handing out nametag's. I said I was going to write "Hi I'm Catholic, ask me about it"...she wouldn't let me.

Now about Paul George..(if you speak to him any time tell him you talked to "Trskit", he knows who I am).he has to be one of the greatest guys I have ever meet in my life and I've always dreamed of being just like him. People actually relate the 2 of us when they talk about my speaking. If you've seen him speak then you know what I look like. He is just amazing though in all asspects of his life, including his family. He just has this way about him that is amazing. My girlfriend is doing psycology to become a youth minister and I hope to maybe do some speaking stuff like him flying around and such. By the way St. Tim's is an amazing place since it was the birth place of Life Teen. I have met Tom Booth and a bunch of other people from over there and they all seem amazing. My mom has even flown out there just to visit your parish. By the way I was at St.Ann's which was the first one over here.

Hi Paul S - Thanks for the welcome and for me not having to write a paragraph to you...j/k I actually love writing if yo didn't notice, but thanks for the welcome.

Hi Luthers Rose - Thanks for the welcome and yes, that was my original parish so I know what you mean. It is a wonderful place that set me and grew the seed's to grow such an amazing area of young adults that have come from that parish to now be leaders in the community.

 

[Trskit]

Ok, while I was typing that last novel a whole bunch more have posted. Just so I don't bore anyone I'm just going to say thanks all and either answer questions or make comments if they pop up.

Veritas_et_Puritas vbmenu_register("postmenu_14080758", true); - cool to see a CORE member up there in Canada. Keep up the good work and I am sure things will go well with your parish.

 

[ProCommunioneFacior]

Now about Paul George..(if you speak to him any time tell him you talked to "Trskit", he knows who I am).he has to be one of the greatest guys I have ever meet in my life and I've always dreamed of being just like him. People actually relate the 2 of us when they talk about my speaking. If you've seen him speak then you know what I look like. He is just amazing though in all asspects of his life, including his family. He just has this way about him that is amazing. My girlfriend is doing psycology to become a youth minister and I hope to maybe do some speaking stuff like him flying around and such. By the way St. Tim's is an amazing place since it was the birth place of Life Teen. I have met Tom Booth and a bunch of other people from over there and they all seem amazing. My mom has even flown out there just to visit your parish. By the way I was at St.Ann's which was the first one over here.

The last time I saw Paul George was in October. He came up to Franciscan University (where I go to school) for a meeting about this summer's Steubenville/Life Teen conferences. So I went out to eat with him, and we caught up on each other's lives. I don't know when I'll see him next, but he told me if he comes up here again, he'll email me.

Please pray for St. Timothy's, they are going through alot right now, as you may know. Msgr. Dale Fushek and Phil Baniewickz are being investigated right now for sexual improprieties with young men. Phil will probably get off, because of the lack of evidence, but its getting worst and worst for Msgr. Dale, more and more people are coming out with accusations, and its not looking good.

Once again, WELCOME TO THE FORUMS.

 

[Glynnw]

Welcome James to OBOB. It was about this time last year that I found this board, or should I say someone from this board found me on another christian site where I was being blasted. Thank God they directed me here. Since I have been here, I have gone through RCIA, have been brought into the Church early, and received my first communion in early December. What a year and everyone on OBOB has been so supportive and it has made the conversion so much easier. So, what I'm saying is dig in right along with us. You are welcome here. Its like home.

In Christ, Mary, and all of the Saints, especially Saint Therese, GlynnW

 

[Trskit]

Hey Proud2be, Good to see your up at Franciscan! I have a bunch of friends who either went there or go there now and I had debated going there myself for a long time. They didn't have the degree I wanted, but I would have jumped at the chance to have a class with Dr. Hahn. How do you like it up there?

I will defiently keep St. Tim's in my prayers, that's crazy to hear. I've meet both of them on numerous occassions and they are both wonderful people. Sad to hear about the "scandel" hitting close to home on such a grusome level. I hope all things work out to God's plans and that his grace and mercy may fall on those in need.

 

[BAChristian]

Welcome to OBOB...

Sounds like you stay pretty busy. What kind of topics do you speak about around your Diocese? Also, how did you get involved in that?

 

[Gwendolyn]

its getting worst and worst for Msgr. Dale, more and more people are coming out with accusations, and its not looking good.

That's awful... when we had our CORE team meeting at the beginning of this semester, just after the news broke, the pastor of my parish was really upset about this news because it is devastating either way. We have been praying for the truth to be known, whichever that may be... it's a very difficult situation.

 

[Seek Ye First]

Welcome to OBOB James.