Interesting week

Hello everyone!

This week has been a very interesting week. Everything has been the same as the past few weeks, with lunches and our weekly dinner. But there have been a few exciting and not so exciting things happen also.

We had a group of students go to the Charismatic Prayer Group on Tuesday. And on Wed. I met with a board that was reviewing the Campus Ministry at Lynchburg College. It went very well and it was great to meet with a good friend of mine from Radford. I also threw in about the Campus Ministry going on at Liberty!

On Wed. night we had our weekly dinner. Not many people showed up (because its coming down to the end of the semester), but we had some very good conversations. There was a non-Catholic that showed up and was asking all of us what the Catholic Church believed. It was great! I know that she is not interested in joining the Church, but she wants to know if what she has been told about the Catholic Church is True (this is how my conversion started).

On Thursday I met with Fr. Richard and we talked more about my vocation, which was very helpful. He told me stories of when he was in seminary and what I could expect. By the way, I have been praying about it and I feel that after much prayer and discerning, that I should apply for the Arch-diocese of Cincinnati! So please pray for me as this process continues.

Then Friday I had lunch with Deacon Cartwright, and I am very thankful that he is doing better! Thank you to everyone who has been praying for him! Hopefully on Monday I will be able to go to the prison with him so I can help him out with the prison ministry next semester.

Finally, yesterday was a very interesting day. I woke up and wanted to do some homework, but had to take a student to the hospital (he is doing fine). Then I went to the football game (my last Liberty football game, unless we make the playoffs). It was great to see Antonio play and we ended up winning!!!

However, the bad thing that happened is that I lost my wallet after the football game and I checked where I knew I lost it (I think someone has picked it up). I have already canceled all my cards and everything, but it is a hassle. I am very thankful though that I have/had what I do. I lost my meal pass, so today I am without food (until I can get a new one tomorrow). But, thanks to some people from the church (my 2nd moms) they provided for me! But it makes me wonder, I am without food for today, what about the people who have nothing all their lives?

I am very blessed to have friends and family that look out for me, and we should look out for the ones who have nothing. I am only going 1 day without food, but then because of friends, I have food. What about the ones who have no one? This really opened my eyes, and for that, I thank God!

God bless,
Chris Osgood

From the USCCB

STATEMENT of the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops"If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do its builders labor; if the Lord does not watch over the city, in vain does the watchman keep vigil." (Psalm 127, vs. 1)

The Bishops of the Catholic Church in the United States welcome this moment of historic transition and look forward to working with President-elect Obama and the members of the new Congress for the common good of all. Because of the Church's history and the scope of her ministries in this country, we want to continue our work for economic justice and opportunity for all; our efforts to reform laws around immigration and the situation of the undocumented; our provision of better education and adequate health care for all, especially for women and children; our desire to safeguard religious freedom and foster peace at home and abroad. The Church is intent on doing good and will continue to cooperate gladly with the government and all others working for these goods.

The fundamental good is life itself, a gift from God and our parents. A good state protects the lives of all. Legal protection for those members of the human family waiting to be born in this country was removed when the Supreme Court decided Roe vs. Wade in 1973. This was bad law. The danger the Bishops see at this moment is that a bad court decision will be enshrined in bad legislation that is more radical than the 1973 Supreme Court decision itself.

In the last Congress, a Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) was introduced that would, if brought forward in the same form today, outlaw any "interference" in providing abortion at will. It would deprive the American people in all fifty states of the freedom they now have to enact modest restraints and regulations on the abortion industry. FOCA would coerce all Americans into subsidizing and promoting abortion with their tax dollars. It would counteract any and all sincere efforts by government and others of good will to reduce the number of abortions in our country.

Parental notification and informed consent precautions would be outlawed, as would be laws banning procedures such as partial-birth abortion and protecting infants born alive after a failed abortion. Abortion clinics would be deregulated. The Hyde Amendment restricting the federal funding of abortions would be abrogated. FOCA would have lethal consequences for prenatal human life.

FOCA would have an equally destructive effect on the freedom of conscience of doctors, nurses and health care workers whose personal convictions do not permit them to cooperate in the private killing of unborn children. It would threaten Catholic health care institutions and Catholic Charities. It would be an evil law that would further divide our country, and the Church should be intent on opposing evil.

On this issue, the legal protection of the unborn, the bishops are of one mind with Catholics and others of good will. They are also pastors who have listened to women whose lives have been diminished because they believed they had no choice but to abort a baby. Abortion is a medical procedure that kills, and the psychological and spiritual consequences are written in the sorrow and depression of many women and men. The bishops are single-minded because they are, first of all, single-hearted.

The recent election was principally decided out of concern for the economy, for the loss of jobs and homes and financial security for families, here and around the world. If the election is misinterpreted ideologically as a referendum on abortion, the unity desired by President-elect Obama and all Americans at this moment of crisis will be impossible to achieve. Abortion kills not only unborn children; it destroys constitutional order and the common good, which is assured only when the life of every human being is legally protected. Aggressively pro-abortion policies, legislation and executive orders will permanently alienate tens of millions of Americans, and would be seen by many as an attack on the free exercise of their religion.

This statement is written at the request and direction of all the Bishops, who also want to thank all those in politics who work with good will to protect the lives of the most vulnerable among us. Those in public life do so, sometimes, at the cost of great sacrifice to themselves and their families; and we are grateful. We express again our great desire to work with all those who cherish the common good of our nation. The common good is not the sum total of individual desires and interests; it is achieved in the working out of a common life based upon good reason and good will for all.

Our prayers accompany President-elect Obama and his family and those who are cooperating with him to assure a smooth transition in government. Many issues demand immediate attention on the part of our elected "watchman." (Psalm 127) May God bless him and our country.

I want to learn the TRUTH!!!!!!

As many of you know, I grew up without going to church. However, when I started going to church it was the Baptist Church. One of the things that I was taught in the church was the Rapture. This is something I have believed all of my "churched" life. It wasn't until just a few weeks ago that I found out that the Catholic Church does not believe in the Rapture and that the Rapture is a fairly new doctrine (and if I might add un-Biblical).

I was heartbroken to hear this and to find out. Although I am a student here at Liberty University (very pro-Rapture) I faced with this lie and heresy just about every day. After doing some research I have found that the verses used to support this doctrine are taken out of context (either out of context in the Bible or in the time that it was written).

The same thing happened to me in the Protestant Church with communion. What else is there? I feel like I have been/am being lied to. Oh man, I can't wait to graduate and enter the seminary.

I WANT TO LEARN TRUTH!!! NOT LIES!!!!!

Catholics at Liberty!!!

Greetings from Liberty!!!

There was really nothing different on campus over this past week. I had the usual lunches with Antonio and others (Antonio has asked me to ask you to keep him in your prayers). On Tuesday however, we had a group of students go to the Charismatic prayer group (there where around 5 of us I believe). Then on Wed. we had our weekly dinner and what an amazing dinner it was! We have now outgrown the big table and started using 2 of them! We had 14 students show up! And 5 of which weren't Catholic! I am excited to say that because that means that the students here at LU are out and inviting others to come! We even ran into another Catholic student this week. He is a law student and friends with Jon (who wants to become Catholic)! It's amazing to see how God is working in this ministry and lets it keep growing!

Over this past weekend Jake, Maria and myself went up to Newark, NJ to visit the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal! What a trip!!! We got there at 5 am on Sat and spent all day on Saturday and part of Sunday with them. It was a great time to just relax and draw closer to our Lord! (I had many great pictures that I was going to share with you all, but I left my Camera at the Friary. So as soon as I get it back (if I do) I will send you some of the pictures).

I just want to thank you all for your prayers and support! And please continue to keep us in your prayers! The students here are starting to get home sick and tired from the end of the semester.

God bless,
Chris Osgood

Update from conference

Sorry for the late update everyone!

As you all know I was at a conference in Columbus, OH last this weekend/week.

For the new people joining these updates, welcome! These updates are sent out every week and lets everyone know what is going on with the Catholic's at Liberty and what's going on in my life.

The Coming Home Network put on a conference in Columbus, OH this past weekend and man was it AWESOME!!! I have learned so much about the Catholic Church here in America (and it really answers a lot of questions I have had about the Catholic Church). All I am going to say is, YOU BETTER COME NEXT YEAR!!!

It was great to meet a bunch of new people (especially from the Arch-diocese's of Cincinnati), and also Jim Anderson and Mary Clare who are with the Coming Home Network. There were also some very nice people that set me up with books and cd's on the faith in some areas that I am not as strong in. So thank you!

The retreat was just amazing! It was so good to meet other Protestant Minister's who have come into the Catholic Church. It was a great encouragement to me and everyone. Great friendships where made and I know they will last a life time. It was hard for me to say good-bye to them all on Wed.

As for the ride back to Liberty...It was probably the worst ride ever! I got a speeding ticket for thinking the speed limit was 65 and it was 55. Then about 4 hours later, my back tire blew. What was supposed to be a 7 hour trip turned into 10 hours. But, it was a time to be thankful because my tire blew out right in front of a gas station (out in the middle of nowhere and so God provided).

Sorry it was long, but this is worth a week and a half so the next one this Sunday will be very short! :)

God bless,
Chris Osgood

God is GREAT!!!

Hey everyone!

This post is going to be very short for a few reason's, one I don't have time and two, I can't put how great God is into words!!!

This past week we had our weekly dinner and 10 people showed up (4 of which weren't even Catholic)! It is great to see how God is working in student's lives here on campus. Most of the Catholic's couldn't come to the dinner due to the sports.

As for the rest of week, I have been here at Deep in History Conference put on by the Coming Home Network. I can't even tell you all that has happened here because I can't put it into words. But what I will say is that ALL OF YOU NEED TO COME NEXT YEAR!!!

Well, as I said it is a short email, I would talk more about this past week but we are going to the retreat now for the clergy converts. I will send out another update just for the conference and the retreat on Wed. night.

Update October 13-19

I want to start off by apologizing for it being so long. And also welcoming the new people who are just joining this update list! I can't believe how big this list is getting...It started out my first year here at Liberty with just the ones from Louisville/New Hope, KY (3 or 4 people) and I probably sent just a few a semester (unless I had questions about the Catholic Church), to now where we have over 50 people and it is every week! We serve a great God!!!

What an interesting and exciting week!

On Tuesday I went to a Holy Spirit (Charismatic) prayer group. It was different from what I am used to, but I did enjoy it! There I met a man from Kenya, he is a principal of a school there. What an amazing guy!!! He is here in America trying to raise support for his school. He will actually be speaking in chapel here at Liberty, this upcoming week. His name is Patrick and here is some of his websites incase you feel lead to donate or find out more info about him and the school: https://webmail.liberty.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=f65a97cd7f5647eb97815be283be6aaa&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.newsfrommcc.blogspot.com%2f and https://webmail.liberty.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=f65a97cd7f5647eb97815be283be6aaa&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.mercycarecentre.com%2f anything you give to the second site is tax deductable!

On Wednesday we prayed the Rosary at the chapel at St. Thomas More, then Jake and I went to Lynchburg College to hang out with the Catholic Campus Ministry there (free ice-cream). That was a very fun and interesting night. I wish I got to spend more time over there (I did my internship with them last school year), but this year most of the time is spent with the Catholic's at Liberty.

On Thursday a small group of us got together in the chapel and prayed the Rosary for Liberty University (founder, students and the whole campus). It was great! Thank you all by the way that prayed with us at 7 pm (no matter where you were in the country)! It's amazing to think that pray can and does bring us all together!!!

After the Rosary on Thursday we had our weekly dinner. We had a nice turnout for it. I think it was the longest time we spent together for dinner. Even though not everyone could make it (due to last minute study groups), it was a lot of fun. We actually decided to throw a cook-out this Sunday after Mass and just have a chance to hang out.

On Friday, we planned on going down to Danville to hear Josh Johnson's testimony at Theology on Tap. As many of you know, those plans ended up changing at the last minute. (Thank you to everyone who kept Josh and Katie in your prayers)!!! Since there was a last minute emergency with Josh and Katie, I ended up giving my testimony at ToT. It was a lot of fun, and I think it really inspired the people who came! (Side note: Cincinnati got a new Archbishop!!! https://webmail.liberty.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=f65a97cd7f5647eb97815be283be6aaa&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.catholiccincinnati.org%2findex.php%3foption%3dcom_content%26task%3dview%26id%3d434%26Itemid%3d1023)

On Saturday, I spent most of the day with Juan and Jake. We went to Wal-Mart to buy the food for the cook-out (never let 3 guys go buy food with no list, it was horrible! We spent 3 hours in Wal-Mart). After going shopping, we went to the football game. Liberty was 6-0 this season, but ended up losing the game. So the three of us went to grab some dinner, and came back to watch the women's soccer game. They WON!!! And Maria scored in the beginning!!! After the game Antonio, Kristi and I hung out for awhile.

Then today (Sunday), we went to Mass and had our cook-out (I have attached pictures). It was a great time! We stayed for probably 3 or 4 hours. It was a lot of fun!

The only other thing I want to say is that on Saturday we met another Catholic at Liberty! He is on the football team and we just keep meeting more and more!!! Thank you for the prayers, and please keep praying for us!!!

God bless,
Chris Osgood