Can I ask you a question?

What are you looking for?

Me?

I search for understanding.

Several years ago, on my birthday, I had a vision, a visitation. To me, the message was clear: read the Bible, educate and minister. Ahhhhhhh!!!! Not me. I'm not religious, I am irreverant, loud, questioning. God clearly dialed the wrong number.

I followed the call. Doors opened, 2 years of seminary, candidacy for the ministry, teaching Bible studies, leading worship. Doors closed. A son in need of my focus, ambivalent church leadership. My friends were ordained, writing books, ministering. I was stuck.

For years, my daughter has been called to the Roman Catholic Church and through seminary I searched to find the doctrine closest to the original church. Over the holidays we decided to check it out and began Inquiry classes at the local church to learn more.

Not long after, at a party, I was asked: 'Where are you going to church?' After telling him, I learned a few things: Catholics would not go to heaven, need to be saved and they do not believe in Jesus. I thought that was odd what with Christ hanging from the Catholic cross and all.

The good thing about parties is when you find yourself in a truly bizarre conversation, they type you try to figure out for days and weeks afterward, it's easy to get away. I headed for the food.

Later acquaintance advised me that I would not be able to minister if Catholic.

Both of them approached me saying, "We need to talk." I would have been happy to have a conversation. But they seemed to want to fix me. They are well meaning and loving. But their approach hurt and shocked me. I decided then to provide a platform for an open, respectful discussion about the topics most important to our leading full, productive, joyful lives.

Thank you for joining.