Caught Up In Christ

Can you feel it—the heartbeat of a country out of rhythm… the heart of churches throbbing in crisis…a friend or family member who can feel their heart pounding at the sight of a spiritual wound. Perhaps you have been searching your heart for any feeling at all and are ready to give up and surrender to the numbness of a flat-lined faith life. We wake each morning to a world that is more and more antiGod and anti-Christian. Confusion and fear runs rampant in our emotionally charged, hyper sexualized, me-driven society. Unanswered questions lead to doubt and, if left unchecked, mature into total disbelief. People hear about the latest mass shooting and stand by utterly dismayed and perplexed by the increasing presence of evil in our world. With everything going on in our country, around the world, in our homes, and in our hearts, should we be surprised that many of us are in need of spiritual first aid? In these trying and revealing times, you may have doubts but continue to attend church because it has been the center of your spirituality for years. As the world around you questions the very existence of God, holding true to your beliefs may be getting harder. My Roman Catholic sisters and brothers may find it harder to hold true to church doctrine. If you are not sure that Christ died and rose from the dead, it will be hard to believe that He is present in the Sacraments. You may be part of a second or third generation of families who have been enjoying beautiful and meaningful fellowship in your church since the doors opened, but you fear your faith is empty. You may have been born into a Catholic family and survived twelve years of Catholic education but have not been to church since your high school graduation. You may have walked away from church and no longer believe in God, period. You might be at the other end of the spectrum and still believe in God and have a fulfilling personal relationship with Jesus Christ v but are fearful of the failing faith of family and friends. Perhaps you are one of those who have been hurt by a member of the clergy or a pastoral minister or others. You may also be a newly confirmed member of the faith and wonder what all the fuss is about. Perhaps you are a member of the clergy or a non-Catholic Christian concerned for your Catholic family and friends. You see them hurting, angry, confused, and searching for answers but are unsure about how to care for them. This book is for all of us. Our faith is about Christ reaching out to us with a life-giving and life-changing relationship with the one, true, living God. Jesus Christ is the foundation of the Christian faith and the cornerstone of Catholicism. This book will encourage you to get caught up in the grace and mercy of Christ, not fear and despair; caught up in the qualities of Christ, not the elements of church; caught up in clarity and not confusion; caught up in healing, not hurt. We will go beyond the warm and fuzzy metaphysical discu...