Category Archives: Purgatory

On “The Gospel You Win Them With” (Be Careful)

Posted on October 31, 2014 by pbn

Phyllis Nissila I’ve been pondering an expression spoken by a pastor who was emphasizing the critical need to “preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2) to the unsaved. “What you win them with,” he said, is what you … Continue reading →

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Out of the Fire: On Leaving Roman Catholicism 8 (Witnessing to RC’s–A Labor of Love and of Angst)

Posted on August 29, 2014 by pbn

Phyllis Nissila From the riches of reader responses to my posts, I often glean inspiration for more essays, devotionals, and commentaries. This reader, with whom I share a common joy–having through time come further out of and away from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentaries, devotionals and commentaries featuring technology, encouragement in hard times, Ex-Roman Catholic/Catholicism, Out of the Fire: On Leaving Roman Catholicism, Purgatory, Witnessing to Roman Catholics | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Out of the Fire: On Leaving Roman Catholicism 6 (Fear)

Posted on January 20, 2014 by pbn

Phyllis Nissila (Put your seatbelt on, here. This ride is a little bumpy at first.) FEAR, B.C. According to my careful Roman Catholic upbringing, topic, “sin,” there are the seven deadlies to watch out for, the eight horribles, the nine … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentaries, Ex-Roman Catholic/Catholicism, most recent posts, Out of the Fire: On Leaving Roman Catholicism, Purgatory, spiritual survival | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Out of the Fire: On Leaving Roman Catholicism 5 (From Dust to Redemption)

Posted on August 21, 2013 by pbn

Phyllis Nissila “There’s never an end to dust and dusting,” my aunt would say as her rag, like a thunderhead, scudded across the yellow oak of her little house. There she lived seventy years with a ball of compulsion closed … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible/literary themes, elements, Commentaries, Devotionals, Ex-Roman Catholic/Catholicism, most recent posts, Out of the Fire: On Leaving Roman Catholicism, Purgatory | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Out of the Fire 4: On Leaving Roman Catholicism (Ashamed or Redeemed?)

Posted on January 2, 2013 by pbn

Phyllis Nissila ASHAMED “How (Christians) fail every day is noted by God,” said the radio preacher, “and may result in personal shame at the (Bema) judgment seat of Christ.” Her guest concurred, but he was quick to add this “assurance”: … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentaries, Ex-Roman Catholic/Catholicism, most recent posts, Out of the Fire: On Leaving Roman Catholicism, Purgatory | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Out of the Fire 2: On Leaving Roman Catholicism

Posted on September 17, 2012 by pbn

Phyllis Nissila THE POWER OF UNCERTAINTY I am reading How Mankind Committed the Ultimate Infamy at Auschwitz, a New History by Laurence Rees. He chronicles the history of the infamous World War II concentration camp with new perspective based on … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentaries, Ex-Roman Catholic/Catholicism, most recent posts, Out of the Fire: On Leaving Roman Catholicism, Purgatory | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Out of the Fire: On Leaving Roman Catholicism

Posted on June 15, 2012 by pbn

Phyllis Nissila ACCESS ENTIRE SERIES HERE. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.-Jesus If to be free is the most important goal of all, then to help someone else to be or to become … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentaries, Ex-Roman Catholic/Catholicism, most recent posts, Out of the Fire: On Leaving Roman Catholicism, Purgatory | Tagged , , , , , | 20 Comments

“Mrs. P.” and the Gold Rosary Beads: The Danger of One Degree Off

Posted on June 2, 2012 by pbn

Phyllis Nissila The following story happened some years ago when I worked as an administrative assistant for a ministry set up to help people leave religious cults. [1] The woman at the center of the story was not one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentaries, Contemplative/Mysticism, Ex-Roman Catholic/Catholicism, most recent posts, Postmodern/Emergent Church, Purgatory | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Response to a Contemplative Prayer Advocate from a Former Roman Catholic

Posted on May 9, 2012 by pbn

Phyllis Nissila A CONTEMPLATIVE DISAGREES Recently, I read a letter from a contemplative prayer advocate expressing disagreement with writers of articles critiquing that practice. The letter writer wonders why the authors would denigrate the prayer form that “had its flowering … Continue reading →

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