How Islam Led Me Back to Christ w/ Charbel Raish

[@Dustin_Quick_Holy_Smokes]

Welcome home Charbel! I’m a former Muslim and former Protestant. God bless brother!

[@bria1648]

Half the reason I'm liking this comment is because you've got a bomb username Lol

[@Dustin_Quick_Holy_Smokes]

@@bria1648 you’ll love my channel.

[@Ange0967]

Great to see you here brother

[@inJesusname1992]

Maybe the name is a little bit disrespectful, but whom am i to say, check it with GOD if you want. May the LORD, the one and only true GOD, and His only Son, the LORD Jesus Christ, (which are One) bless you and bless you all!!!❤️❤️❤️

[@truthtailer_orthoworld]

Me too!

[@afm1410]

Please invite Mario Joseph from Kerala, India on your show. He was a former Muslim Imam and is now a lay Catholic preacher.

[@Happilyahousewifelife]

I would be very interested in this as well

[@warrenphilips8441]

I would be very interested in shining some light on the Catholic church in India and the many challenges we face there. Many brother priests of my diocese are on loan from religious orders in India. There is something a bit off putting in the way you worded that though. While we're all called to "preach" the Gospel through our lives, a lay catholic catechizes. It is specific to clerics (deacons, priests, bishops) to preach the Gospel by giving homilies. Granted, there are people who have received Holy Orders and probably should have their preaching faculties revoked, but it is important to consider the teaching authority of the church and the precision of the language we use. Peace be with you.

[@bibibuu6646]

Yes, please

[@savyojoy6615]

Or Sebastian Punnakal, Anilkumar Ayyapan, Jerry etc..

[@racheldsouza8895]

Yess! His journey into catholic faith is incredible. A very touching story. He needs to be heard.

[@YeshuaAkbar7]

One of the best testimonies ever. May this brother win many Muslim souls.

[@AnasSuhaimi]

No he won't. There's a lot of things incorrect in what he said about Islam.

[@morghe321]

​@@AnasSuhaimi muslims always get salty whenever they hear about ex-muslims. It's humiliating to see someone leaving the faith that is so dear to you. Very easy to understand.

[@lawriemcdonald4554]

@@AnasSuhaimilike what?

[@AnasSuhaimi]

@@lawriemcdonald4554 One, he said that it's Muhammad's wife and uncle that convinced him that when Muhammad was in the cave the entity he met was Gabriel. There's a wrong fact there. Muhammad's wife Khadijah comforted him that night, but didn't say anything that would convince him that the incident meant he's a prophet. The "uncle" was Khadijah's uncle, not Muhammad's uncle. His name is Waraqah bin Nawfal and he was a Christian priest. It was he who SUGGESTED that it's a revelation and Muhammad could be a prophet. Khadijah has nothing to gain if he convince Muhammad that he was a prophet. They spent all their wealth for the work spreading Islam. However, Gabriel came to Muhammad in front of other people many times in many different form. There was once during a lecture, there was a man never seen before by the companions, was sitting in front of Muhammad, and once in a while would interrupt with a loud voice. Muhammad didn't seem disturbed, but the companions find it weird because no one would do that. Later that man stand up and get out of the tent and disapper. Muhammad then told the companions that was Gabriel, came to teach.

[@AnasSuhaimi]

@@lawriemcdonald4554 Another wrong is 1:35:45 about "Muhammad tried to convince the Jews, they didn't buy it, and he got angry with them and start to call them the infidels". There wasn't many Jew in Mecca, there were a big group in Madinah (at that time called Yathrib) but still a minority. Muhammad didn't go there to preach to the Jews. Most of the Medinan Arabs was already Muslims when the Hijrah (exodus) happened. Muhammad then as the leader made an agreement with the Jews that they would be protected provided that they pay tax (Muslims have to pay zakat and have to fight in war if necessary). The agreement was called The Hudaybiyah Agreement. The Jews then became traitors, violated the agreement by collaborating with the Meccans who are going to attack Madinah. They gave false information to the Muslims, and they give away security information to the Meccans. Muhammad upoin receiving revelations from Gabriel about this, turn back his horses and head to Medinah. Once he get to Madinah he ordered ditch to be dug around it as defence. The Jews involved was then punished for treason. The Jews in Madinah hated Muhammad because Islam forbid usury and also regulate unfair practices in business. The Arabs of Madinah before the Hijrah often fell victim to the greed of the Jews. That's why they collaborated with the Meccans.

[@bria1648]

Hearing this guys story, the "Not Yet" stood out to me. That was the same message that I was getting a couple years back when seriously considering suicide. I wasn't strong in my faith, but I was given enough "Not Yets" to wait till I started going to a wonderful traditional church and started to love God again. God doesn't tell us no, he says give me a chance.

[@miltadmshiha]

I'm gobsmacked that, Mr. Raish, my religion teacher from Redfield is on Pints! His journey to Christ has always been inspiring to me. May God bless him and his family

[@CJ1403UTube]

@@miltadmshiha ikr lol

[@CJ1403UTube]

Ikr lol

[@cassiusclay8916]

Mr. Charbel Raish is a great man and devout Catholic! Had the opportunity to meet him earlier this year at a camp and even cut his hair. God bless from a fellow Aussie!❤🙏😁

[@chaldeang7687]

It's so satisfying seeing another Aussie get on the podcast, we need more Aussie Catholics on here.

[@pocketvelero]

@YAJUN YUAN He's probably Chaldean 😉

[@markoz673bajen8]

Mel Gibson too.

[@chaldeang7687]

@YAJUN YUAN I'm Chaldean

[@discipleofra4354]

Charbel is a Lebanese saint. This guest is probably of Lebanese origin.

[@danielquinn1300]

Agreed, one thing that I do have hope about Australia is that young Catholics in Australia are quite orthodox with their faith, and there are some good young Catholic priests coming out of the seminary, maybe it’s because they are the only ones left who actually believe in what the Church says

[@amalghalie3973]

God bless U Charbel ... I'm a Maronite Catholic too ... Like U my late dad would make us pray the rosary every night when my siblings and I were very young ... I lost dad last yr ... I was hurt lost afraid .. and wanted to know where dad really go ... I asked My baby sister if she had a bible .. yes she did and it's been a yr now my life has completely changed ... I've devoted my life to My Lord Jesus and Mother Mary ... I'm sure dad is so proud of me cause when he was here with us ..he would beg me to pray and go to church unfortunately I was a lost soul ..... My Lord Jesus protect your people especially now from what's happening in this evil world ... Great video Matt and Charbel ... I'm from Sydney and I use to go to Mary Mackillops High School in the mid 1980's ...

[@Jack-uo7gz]

I’m praying for your father. He sounds like an excellent man.

[@rahawa774]

What a beautiful testimony, Amal! I’m around the same age as you, and have returned to my faith about a year ago too. Thank you for telling us your story (I’m over the other side in Perth) 🇦🇺 ❤

[@patrickcullen3950]

Blessed to have stumbled across this video. Charbel was my religion teacher at school for a number of years, it's come full circle, thank God. His formation placed a great foundation for my faith and where it stands now

[@FigaroHey]

There's a big difference between "not being afraid to say your prayers in public" and being terrified of what your God will do to you if you do NOT say your prayers slavishly at the prescribed times. I have Muslim converts to Catholicism whom I teach and whether they were lax, lapsed or fervent, from Russia, Uzbekistan, Tunisia or Iran, they all say the same thing: God is like an angry policeman who is waiting for you to make one false move, one mistake, to crush you like an insect. He can do anything to you and he will. And even the most devout cannot be perfect no matter how hard they try, so they will be punished too. It's all cowering terror of a God who is raw power. That doesn't sound like a very "manly" faith to me. Real men are free to choose, not terrified into submission by fear of punishment.

[@DuncanAndrewHaywood]

Super interesting thanks for sharinh

[@anntahhan8930]

OK. However do not forget the culture of countries some Muslims come from. Islam is often used as a weapon to control. I lived with Muslims in a less Islamic country who were only ny name. Some were very secular. The Catholic Church in ireland for example where I come from used their power to put fear and obedience into the communities also. If yoy missed mass or confession you were doomed. He'll fire and brimstone was tge order if the day. I'm now a Catholic who is happy with my religion and my love for Jesus Christ. My point is its not always the religion its the culture of the country that's using the religion to put fear into people to control them.

[@raider7829]

He did the right thing because I experienced divine intervention/experiences! Jesus IS VERY REAL, ALIVE AND WELL!

[@marianweigh6411]

What a beautiful story and told so sincerely. Every day we discover a little more of the infinite depths of Christ. We may start learning just to figure out our childhood faith. Then maybe we study in order to win arguments. Then maybe a day comes when Scripture strikes us in a brand new way. Then maybe Mass unveils its mystery and the Eucharist takes on a whole new life for us. Then we fall more and more in love with prayers-short and long, public and private. Soon we are radiant with the love of the Gospel. We walk the streets looking for people to love, who to aide, who to share this joy with. Our hope is so full! And then, Christ says, "Would you like to see the Cross?" And we realize we have only just begun to reach his feet. God bless you all 🙏

[@zealousideal]

On fasting: Catholics originally fasted a lot too and were very dedicated. Over time they reduced the fasting rules more and more and plus people are lazy, or super busy, or whatever now so it’s harder to do. But the rule is still basically there to refrain from meat on Friday’s. Also the Orthodox (as Matt mentioned) are STILL practicing very hard core fasting rules. Most of their year is fasting and not just refraining from meat. But Wednesdays and Fridays as an orthodox you can’t have meat, wine (alcohol) , oil, dairy, and usually even fish! So basically you become a hard core vegan 🌱for most of the year. Then during nativity fast and lent they do a 40 day fasting everyday of doing this! They also prostrate 🧎🏻‍♂️when praying 🤲🏽Iike Muslims do and They face East and all that. It was actually Muslims/Muhammad that stole this from early Christianity. Muhammad admired monks and Christians and Kadija (his wife) had a brother or relative who was a Christian monk who helped inspire Muhammad. He also prophesied that he was gonna be a great prophet.

[@happysoul2773]

The Muslim fasting is actually a great paradox, as the fasting starts with a big feast before sunrise and is followed by a great feast after sunset.

[@zealousideal]

@@happysoul2773 exactly. I agree.

[@Ziiphyr]

Catholics prostrate too, and during that time Jews and Christians would pray towards Jerusalem and Muhammad was just trying to convince the Jews and Christians that he was a prophet and started to pray towards Jerusalem as well before he got all maniac with “Holier Than Thou” mentality when no one was listening to him. I’m not too familiar with Orthodox dietary restrictions however during lent us Catholics are restricted to three meals a day however the first or second meal should never exceed the amount of the other, meaning a full meal with a couple of snacks with water will do, then we are restricted to not eat warm-blooded meat on Friday. I do believe over time, especially in modern ere in the western society, it has been much more relaxed or just flat out ignored. It’s very obvious that Muhammad copied from the Jews and Christians and called it his own with some twist.

[@Mikemanify]

It has to be pointed out that whilst the Muslims fast from Sunrise to Sunset, outside those parameters they eat to excess. It defies the purpose of fasting.

[@j.athanasius9832]

Food consumption *increases by 50%* during Ramadan in the Arabian Peninsula.

[@pensivegrammaticus8876]

@@j.athanasius9832 Is there data on this?

[@shaunsaega]

@@pensivegrammaticus8876 just an anecdote; my country is majority muslim so when its time for them to break their fast, they really gorge down on their food. Its a common phenomenon you'll see at muslim households or restaurants.

[@carolphillips8802]

My thought exactly. I intended to make that comment, and there it was... Currently it's the first comment.

[@hxyzazolchak]

Do you fast to lose weight? That's not the point of fasting for us but it is to rather restrict ourselves for God and when that time passes, we can do whatever we want within the constraints of the law

[@johnbuenger]

I have never heard an explanation of the trinity put so well. Not sure I even understood it before hearing this. Thank you.

[@FigaroHey]

Now you'll start hearing it everywhere. I think it's from Augustine originally. Quite a common explanation of the Trinity: If God is Love, he has to love someone real - the Beloved; if he loves someone then there's love going between the Lover and the Beloved - the Spirit of Love. The Lover = God the Father; the Beloved we call God the Son; the Love that flows inside God we call the Holy Spirit. I've even explained it to children this way.

[@TonyKeeh]

I wasn't going to watch this, but clicked on it when I had a long drive. So glad I did! Charbel's story is amazing, and he seems like a very wise and holy man. Also, it's so strange how Matt and Charbel's lives share so many similarities!

[@jgdaillet79]

@ www.churchpop.com/2015/06/28/5-extraordinary-eucharistic-miracles-with-pictures/

[@TenSeventeen]

As a Lutheran, I love apologetics like this. I can testify myself that defending catholic (lower case C) faith leads one into a deeper understanding of that faith. Thank you, gentlemen.

[@TheRealMagicBananaz]

Just curious, what's your objections against Catholicism?

[@sleeplesshead602]

The first doubt I got bout Islam was from my Coptic Christian friend long time ago. I didn't live in melting pot society, rather was homogenous in super conservative muslim community. I was abroad. They also said Alhamdulillah, Masha Allah, and everything I was taught to praise God. They said, "Of course we praise Allah. Allah is word for God! But not it's the name of 'God'!". I think that doubt I kept in secret or I would get severe punishment from family. But it wasn't like big doubt, rather questioning what I believed at that time. I think when I was in college, got my freedom to learn many religions and objections to Christianity, I started to left the practice and then decided to be an atheist. Many many years later, long story short, I was introduced to Christianity. Well, after cathecism, the teaching of Jesus makes sense and does bring much bigger peace to my life.

[@Anna-mz4ij]

Watching this on 3rd August 2022 : happy birthday Charbel This was a great, interesting, informative conversation.

[@WillCenteno1]

My mother Yvette is the reason why im back because when i was at my worst she never gave up praying i love her so much for that thank you ma.

[@anchoreddeep]

So wholesome- grown men enjoying Candies and Lollies over love for Jesus ! Love, Indian catholic

[@janefrancesblackburn]

What a lovely guy! He's such a good communicator too. This is a very moving interview. Thank you.

[@tar0286]

I love the physicality of their prayer, it must derive from early Christian prayer and prostration, there is talk of this all through the Bible it really gets you out of your head & connects you wholly into prayer lowering yourself, kneeling down, bowing your head to the ground, covering your face, deep bows and holds I am Catholic but this kind of physical prayer helps me give my heart to Him

[@hogandonahue9598]

That conversion attempt at the mosque was so creepy.

[@shaunsaega]

It is common. They'll bombard you with questions and will sneak in those attempts.

[@Caritasaveritas]

Just watched a clip of this and had to see the whole piece - intriguing. Thank you!

[@winsmen009]

My goodness, this was an absolute treat!! I honestly didn't think that I'd get through the whole video, but I did! Love the format of these discussions! And love the thoughts and persons of Charbel and Matt!! Looking forward to following more of these. :D

[@karolinaska6836]

People taking their faith seriously is a force to be reckoned with. It can draw people to Christ or pull them away if there's not hardcore Christian examples around. I too was intrigued by Islam's apparent seriousness compared to the lukewarmness of Christians in my circle of influence. Interestingly, after years of searching and disillusionment with the Latin Rite Novus Ordo Mass, I've now joined a Maronite Catholic Church.

[@cristeromoderno-apologetic112]

At 13 I was about to go with the adventists, but a Jehova Witness kept me inCatholicism. It is true that the challenges to our faith keeps us strong in it.

[@feliciajoachim5510]

Thanks so much Charbel for sharing your awesome story. God is so good!

[@SharonFowle]

Great to see the beautiful Charbel on your show, an awesome man doing phenomenal work in Australia!

[@lovejesuschrist3063]

I've just enjoyed watching Fr Chris Alar's talk on St Charbel. What a coincidence! God bless your great ministries Matt and Charbel. ✝️

[@mastereon895]

42:00 nearly brought me to tears, this podcast brings me closer to Christ each time I listen to it

[@michaelvielma8017]

I literally thought Matt said “Good day” twice before realizing the Charbel is Australian! Haha

[@catkat740]

😂 Same

[@marianafaria6960]

Lol. me too

[@maryclaudettevencio5419]

Oh that’s so weird!!! I’m listening today on the 3rd of August and it’s Charbel and his son Alexander’s birthdays too. How awesome! 🥳🎉🎂 GOD bless you all!! GOD is Good all the time!!! 🙏🏻🥰

[@jgdaillet79]

@ www.churchpop.com/2015/06/28/5-extraordinary-eucharistic-miracles-with-pictures/

[@brendanieuwstad8850]

St. Theresa, Little Flower 🌷 Pick me a rose from the Heavenly Garden and send it to me with a message of love

[@justhonest41]

I enjoy very much listening to Charbel's talk. He is very good in explaining his faith.

[@STOPPROCASTINATING]

I would love to see his mother on this show. Her perspective on having a kid walk through a spiritual journey seems like it would set up an interesting convo.

[@Clarifytruth]

wow this podcast was moving, God bless Chabel

[@theresarezac7502]

This is so good. Actually one of the best guests ever

[@samvimes9510]

1:08:24 my high school was run by an Independent Fundamental Baptist church. I was taught that God had created us for the sole purpose of praising him, and that gave me the impression that God had an ego so huge that even the angels' praise wasn't enough to satisfy him. There was never any talk of freely coming to love God or anything like that. Odd how both Muslims and non-Catholic "Christians" ended up with the same wrong conclusion.

[@DF-fo9bh]

Sam, Baptist fundamentalism wounded me as well brother. I’ve been catholic 3 years

[@samvimes9510]

@@DF-fo9bh I started going to the Catholic church near me back in March, been probably 16 years since I set foot in a church. Gonna be starting RCIA in September.

[@DF-fo9bh]

I’m glad to hear that. I never felt home at any church other than at mass in the Catholic Church. There’s a channel here on KZbin I really like for people with our backgrounds called “blue collar catholic”. I think you’d like him. Before I was catholic I didn’t even go to church, I had me and my Bible why did I need church?! Lol There’s also so many good books out there! Living the sacraments, and participating in the liturgy is what takes time to grow in understanding and it has its own way of teaching you I believe. You’re gonna be starving for the Eucharist but rcia I’ll go quickly.

[@samvimes9510]

​@@DF-fo9bh thanks, I'll check out that channel. I've been watching some other channels just trying to learn about the history of the Catholic church and it's kind of wild just how much stuff there is. I always thought Catholics made up the whole transubstantiation thing, but nope, there are early church fathers talking about just a few short decades after Christ ascended. There's so many links to the past in Catholicism and the Protestant church just said "nah, we're gonna ignore 1500 years of history and do our own thing"

[@DF-fo9bh]

@@samvimes9510 alos, Learn what the church teaches and don’t let church politics scandalize you. There are many wolves trying to change the teachings of the church today. But realize, Christ is the head. Faith and morals don’t change.

[@megaloschemos9113]

Excellent interview, this has really helped and informed me 💯

[@lolas185]

I love Fr George Pell and always will.

[@denisehitchens1418]

I said Rosary for cardinal pell and a church Peay for him on Friday after adornment

[@marcialaguinaldo1071]

A very riveting story. Although I never converted to the Islam religion in my younger years despite reading part of the Koran, I adhere to my faith. I am glad Charbel's curiosity and persistence to rediscover Catholicism is simply awesome. God bless you!

[@Thisshouldsufficeright]

My boyfriend who is Muslim, Shareef, has brought me closest to Christ. Hallelujah-please, pray for him.

[@johngwass4989]

Wonderful discussion Charbel and Matt. Fr Chris Alar has just released St Charbel story in "Explaining the faith". Awesome 🙏🙏🙏

[@emelinaphillips6232]

Hey Charbel! So nice seeing you on Pints with Aquinas! 🙂🙂

[@victoriairias7703]

Me being a coffee lover, great start!!! My two favorite things, coffee and Christian faith talk and apologetics

[@marshallluddite]

Matt, went all gruff ozzy in this interview, we do the biscuit thing here in the UK but with a TWIX, its a much better straw...I my gosh, i just realised i only read about St Charbel a few days ago, Then this pod turns up ! I need get St Charbel in my life.

[@Vereglez-d4z]

Loved this conversation. Matt and Charbel, please write a book on all the hilarious Aussie sayings 😁

[@p.as.in.pterodactyl1024]

Happy birthday! I happened to watch this on August 3rd, so when he said his birthday is August 3rd I thought "that sounds nearby." No wonder - that's today! Two years after the video was posted.

[@LetsTalk055]

Nice conversation

[@joshuaracey7967]

I immediately noticed they both had accents, then he started talking about it. When I was down under, having an American accent was so fun. I miss it bad!

[@John081590]

I am a Filipino Catholic convert from a Protestant background. Was attracted to the Catholic Church because I first admired the artworks, culture and the music but later on had a moment that made me think of converting. While I was in the deliberation of whether to become Catholic or not, I transferred to the Middle East for a great job opportunity. I asked God why He would put me in what is a predominantly Islamic area when I'm in the midst of deliberating my conversion. Later on, I realized He did so to answer a question I asked myself. Am I converting because of the physical beauty the churches in the Philippines have, the fiestas and the traditions the Filipino observe, or am I converting for what Catholics really stand for? The Church in the Middle East is stripped with all the grandiosity of what I see in my home country. It was there that I see the Mass in its simplest, most bare form. And I fell in love with that. I converted in Abu Dhabi in 2015. The way the Muslims take their religion seriously impacted me greatly just like with Mr. Charbel. It has influenced me to be more active in my faith too. God indeed works in mysterious ways.

[@justforrfunnn]

God truly works in mysterious ways! I’ve strengthened my Roman Catholic faith as well by witnessing first hand how faithful my Muslim friends in high school and university were. They pushed and I spired me me to learn more about the truth and just reaffirmed Catholicism.

[@marysalmond5273]

Charbel gives great explanation of the Trinity with Q&A with his friend. Wonderful interview!

[@wendynovotnak3638]

Speaking of “Aussie sayings”, ‘rubbish bins’ is something said commonly in Pittsburgh PA, sometimes called Pittsurghese. Supposedly a lot of words in Pittsburgh sayings were of Scottish origin, maybe the same saying came to Australia from British/Scottish origins

[@Bananaaaa765]

37:44 women deserve all their husband’s love. It not possible to be a father, in all that that requires, to four families. Being a father is more than being able to financially provide. Polygamy is associated with highly unstable societies. There’s lot of research on this.

[@melissalisaandrean6803]

Yeah. And even Muhammad have a favorite wife (Aisha, his baby bride) and favorite sex slave (Maria thr Copt). So lots of Muslim scholar said a husband only need to be able to provide equally, not love equaly.

[@sabrsabrsavr]

​@@melissalisaandrean6803 the scholars do not recommend more than one, it used to be for practical reasons (taking care of widows)

[@brendanieuwstad8850]

Thanks for your amazing talk and discussion today 🌹

[@brendan9663]

So glad to hear you love cricket Matt! It's the most explicitly Christian sport that has been made. The batter vs the bowler is a representation of virtue and sin. The bowler tries to deceive the batter, to trick and to lure him in to a false shot. The batter patiently builds a mountain (innings) that the bowler tries to destroy, and it only takes one ball to level that mountain. Even the pitch represents the world. When the pitch is a road it is far harder to decieve the batsmen, but when the pitch deteriorates it becomes so much harder to play well. The archetypal bowler is someone like Shane Warne - a trickster who is loved by all of us in the cricket world despite his various public scandals, which is no surprise as that is consistent with his role in the game. The alternative archetype is someone like Steve Waugh or Rahul Dravid - stoic and inspirational. They didn't have the flashiest technique but had steel wills that resisted the temptation of a wayward shot. Justin Langer once noted during a particularly difficult innings in the subcontinent that he kept marking his crease with the sign of the cross, that inspired him to persevere through the conditions and carry his own cross (or bat) through the innings. Even the chorus of fielders who mock and sledge the batsmen, and who laugh and cackle like little demons after a wicket - that too is part of this participation in the Christian reality. So many batsmen, religious or not will look up to heaven when they score 100, lifting the wood they carry and raising their eyes to thank heaven for the graces they were given to endure. It's a beautiful game and so meaningful for Christians. Baseball in its basic structure is an inversion of Cricket. Rather than the bowler breaking open the game it is the batter who has the most impactful act (home run) - and it's the batter who steals bases. The pitcher needs to accumulate an innings in order to be great. In doing so I think they have lost the participation in the carrying of the cross that is at the heart of cricket - . But I'd be interested to hear if there is something uniquely Christian in baseball that I can't see as an outsider with only a superficial knowledege of the game.

[@bobgriffin2503]

Love this

[@threelilies9453]

Baseball is one game in which the number 3 plays a significant role. 3 strikes you're out, 3 outfielders, 9 innings (a number divisible by 3). The infield is a diamond which, if you connected the bases by invisible lines, form a cross. In the center of the diamond is the pitcher's mound which is 60 feet 6 inches from home plate. The pitcher (who stands in the center of the cross) controls the game by the types of pitches he throws the batter. "When life throws you a curveball" can be seen as a biblical trial or test. And finally, the game is about perseverance in the face of all the difficulties of the 3 hours spent on average on the field. 🙂 Also, a "sacrifice bunt" is a play designed to advance a player on base while the batter usually becomes an automatic out, thereby giving himself up for the good of the team.

[@garysuarez9614]

Stay blessed, please keep sharing your story.

[@avemaria5994]

Thank-you this was another wonderful interview.

[@sabrinamclani]

Hello comment section I was raised Shia Muslim and I’ve converted to Catholicism just recently. My family is still pretty strong with the faith. I’m looking for any Muslim to catholic conversion books that are from a female perspective? Or any books about Mary being the bridge. She is the bridge for me to join the church and I was hoping to find more resources about that

[@ick_incinerator]

God bless sister. What are your thoughts on Islam now that you converted? What are your thoughts on Shia theology?

[@sabrinamclani]

@@ick_incineratorI think Mohammad may have been misguided by something other than the angel gabriel. Shia seems to be more tame but the roots are still misguided. Mary led me to Christ and I am grateful. Mary will be the guide for a lot of muslims to Christ I’m sure

[@yanayoriginals8498]

This is more than a year ago and yet it is very timely. I love this man, Charbell, he is so humble and very inspiring. He os right, do charity to our moslem brothers, don’t embarrass them in public.

[@antoniomanfredi951]

Thanks!

[@lynngraham5841]

Laughed out loud at the koala story! Love Matt, and he always has fantastic guests on.

[@salsadelivery]

Great Podcast!

[@melissalisaandrean6803]

Please invite Sam Shamoun from Shamounian. He is an Assyrian that live in the USA. Usedto follow Nation of Islam. After that he became Calvinist. And now he is on his journey to The Apostolic Church.

[@jesusforever4729]

PWA knows Sam, David Wood and Anthony Rogers well and has also had David Wood on his Channel 2 years back. And PWA knows the unstable temperament of Sam Shamoun and this is why other than William Albrecht, NO other Catholic KZbinr in USA wants to have anything to do with Sam. Sam Shamoun is unstable with huge mental problems. If PWA says the wrong thing or disagrees with San Shamoun, Sam will just go ballistic. And Sam will insist on reading comments of the guests, which is another huger trigger. Sam over all is a bad testimony for JESUS CHRIST, beit on a Roman Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant channel.🌄🤗🙏♥️✝️🌄

[@Vereglez-d4z]

Sam has been on before. 👍🏽

[@asterayelemma3986]

Lent in Ethiopian orthodox is 2 months of no animal product at all and fasting on weekdays up to 12 or 3 PM in the afternoon (individual discretion)...

[@colettegraack1124]

As a well traveled American, I remember my first chocolate experience overseas... And it caused me to write to every American Choclatier and Candy Cabal asking why they don't have better product... It's just DIFFERENT and BETTER darn near everywhere else. So far, Belgian is still some of my favorite...

[@carolphillips8802]

A few years ago, Cadbury experimented with palm oil in chocolate. The chocolate tasted waxy. It was awful. They then changed back. Could it be palm oil?

[@fruzsimih7214]

I am a European who first visited the US 25 years ago. I was shocked how bad and drab the chocolate there tasted. I guess there is a process called conching that makes the chocolate smooth, and if you don't invest enough time in it, it will not be as good and have crumbs.

[@DuncanAndrewHaywood]

This is really amazing.

[@navidemelo348]

I would just like to say this. This was the first video I watched on my journey to understand my faith in Christianity. I believe that God is testing me but also has put me on this journey to better understand the Holy Trinity and the Bible. And to strengthen my faith. As I said, this was the first video I watched (as it was recommended by me mother) to help me better understand my faith. I will say that it actually gave me a spark to continue on this path and try my best to learn more. But I guess another reason as to why I am going on this journey is because I felt that Islam disproved everything about Christianity. So I got scared. But now, I am not as scared as I once was. Or at least I am trying not to be. I just want to say thank you for this this video. God has put me on a journey and I pray that I get to the other side. With his help and his guidance, anything is possible. He strengthens me and is the light of my life. God bless. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@navidemelo348]

I didn't have a strong faith. Lets just say that.

[@kaya1481]

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. Say, “He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent.”

[@kaya1481]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGTEn4aigMqNhZo Learn about both if you are confused, the truth will God-willing reveal itself. God loves a person 70 x than their mother in Islam, please don't turn away from Him. May Allah guide your heart and protect it aameen

[@kaya1481]

“Perhaps you hate something and it’s good for you, and perhaps you love something and it’s bad for you. Allah knows, while you don’t know.” (2:216) “Whenever My servants ask about Me, indeed, I am near. I respond to the call of the supplicant whenever he calls upon Me.” (2:186) ❤

[@danielquinn1300]

Talking about Australian rules football, one of the coaches for the Sydney Swans is a devout Catholic his name is Jared Crouch and his brother is a Catholic priest who was also a very good football player (he played second level Football (equivalent to College Football)) anyway I read a story about how Jared Crouch was trying to incorporate the gospel with the training group with the Sydney Swans. Garry Ablett was doing the same with Gold Coast although he is Protestant.

[@fsnicolas]

Loving this. I heard MGL mentioned. Our spiritual director, Fr Steve Tynan MGL, just got reassigned back to Australia after being in the Philippines for more than 20 years. It would be great if you had someone from MGL as a guest. Blessings, Matt!

[@joaquinboscheseverri9159]

I hope muslims see this with open mind

[@716lm]

God can do anything beyond human reason for the sake of Love. God is Love. I am a Catholic convert from a non-religous background. I did go to a Catholic primary school but did not get involved much with the Catholic school after public secondary schooling. After I was received into the Catholic via baptism in the Evangelical church and discovered that people from other faiths have all these logical arguments against the Catholic faith, that would be my simple answer.

[@tivolivaiotu6278]

Thanks Matt and Charbel! Great show! And great to see Charbel on there, (and Jimmy Akin was in there as well) you are all doing wonderful work. God bless you all. Just wanted to add a comment about the North/South discussion - did you know that every few hundred thousand years, the North and South Poles will switch!! So in the history of Earth as a planet, it has flipped several times. Just goes to show that there is still a lot that we don't know about God's creation. God is good †

[@mizcand4436]

Captain cook sailed along the coastlines and Drew the coastline of the countries he visited - what he drew was his prediction and when he went back to England and told them what he found 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@paulalucas1744]

Matt’s right! It’s about orientation, there is no right side up in space.

[@mssixty3426]

Thank you for sharing your very inspiring story Charbel (beautiful name). Thank you Matt for your excellent interviewing skills. Kudos Matt, for keeping your white shirt spotless during the Tim Tam Slam😄

[@pathue1196]

The "true man" is the one who is willing to give his life for another, more so if that person is an 'enemy.' There are countless examples of such 'true man' among us, in our communities. Jesus is our divine example. This separates Christianity from Islam, Christians from Muslims & Christian societies from Muslim societies.

[@Mary-cv3fh]

So sad that my relatives in Australia rejected Our Lady's Rosary..my heart is really broken..

[@paulinebalaban3850]

This was great, thank you!

[@sheilatejada7748]

Welcome home 🙏

[@Thomasfboyle]

“So the fun thing with the serpent is…” Everybody else get that ad?

[@emmanuelrossi3087]

I would say that the Muslim fast is not that hard considering that once the sun goes down you can go to town on anything you want.

[@MarkyMarkJ]

It appears to be a feast if you look at the Muslim families preparing to break their fast on tiktok and social sites. A really indulgent banquet where people gorge themselves after sunset.

[@MarkyMarkJ]

@YAJUN YUAN self mastery of your bodies inherent desires seems a noble thing that’s supposed to lead to better discipline and spiritual growth. It appears to me that if you are just enduring suffering for a fixed period of time knowing you are going to be stuffing your face hours later then the reward is the food at sundown and not the enlightenment you are supposed to desire.

[@la.x-neverthedodgers]

April 21, 2022, Gulf News: Egypt shuts down restaurant for refusing to serve Christian during Ramadan fasting hours. MAY 09, 2019, Asia Times: Raids on restaurants open during Ramadan. July 9, 2016, NYT: Raid on Indonesian Food Stall Prompts Fears of Fundamentalism. 12.07.2015, dw: Pakistan's Ramadan laws force everyone to go hungry. Just stating some facts on "self mastery".

[@nanashi2146]

@@MarkyMarkJ Good thing that one of the things Muslims are actively discouraged from doing during Ramadan and other times when breaking one's fast is to "stuff one's face"

[@zealousideal]

@@MarkyMarkJ true. Exactly my thoughts.

[@joanw9091]

Well done , thankyou! So much to learn. God is great🤍

[@Encyclicals]

US chocolate sucks because of regulations. It has to have a specific minimal shelf-life. I think it's a little more dehydrated to last longer in a package and that impacts the flavor.

[@zealousideal]

Yes exactly.

[@denisehitchens1418]

Oh... just watch the bill gates sprayed veges....it's called apeel...even Braggs vinegar going to get it in. After oct 23..made don't buy. We are meant to protect one another. In australia too.

[@Red.OG.]

Eastwood baby!!!! I’m from Dundas Valley

[@bluewrenreilly8090]

What a really nice man I could listen to him ,

[@karolinaska6836]

Forbidden questions? That's a major red flag. God is big enough to handle our questions. God has nothing to hide. Preventing my questions would've killed my faith right away.

[@gosiachaaban2484]

The hardest type of fasting is Orthodox Christians from Ethiopia and Etitrea, IMO. They go vegan for sooo long. Muslims fast during the day but eat at night and think and talk a lot about food, cook a lot during Ramadan in my experience....

[@AJKPenguin]

Eastern Rite Catholics, especially of the Greek tradition, have Great Fast in Great Lent. Even Advent is pretty rigid.

[@gosiachaaban2484]

@@AJKPenguin I know the Russisn Orthodox and some Greek Catholics, but the way they do it in Ethiopia or Eritrea seems much tougher, not only going fully vegan for a longer Lent than in Catholic Church but also having times during the day when they don't eat.

[@tar0286]

We went off all meat and sweets for Lenten sacrifice and fasted completely on Fridays

[@Orthodoxy4life...]

Me being An Eritrea Orthodox I kinda agree what I mean is that yea the fact that our fasting is harder than Muslims cuz they eat at 6pm I guess but we Don't plus no we don't go for vegan for so long... U know if ur Ethiopian or Eritrean then u will know about injera, shro and food like that well that ain't vegan but it ain't even meat the ingredients are nothin to do w fasting the fact Muslims think that they're fasting is harder than Christians but the fact its the opposite...

[@Emily-me]

Matt is right about the north and south stuff. There is no “up” in space.

[@nathanielodell2575]

That final conversation though... 🤣😜😂

[@TheChampion097]

Awesome work guys

[@gracebailey385]

Go Charbel!

[@willk6185]

This is actually pretty interesting. Regarding the last part of this episode on north vs south, north and south refer to directions but are actually two kinds of poles (geographic and magnetic north vs south). Geographic poles, the earth’s axis of rotation, and magnetic poles, which are the positive and negative pulses that magnetic energy of the earth aligns to. The magnetic poles to switch every now and then (every few thousand years or so). Although the two kinds of poles are different, they’re close enough together that they point pretty much in the same direction. The choice or orient maps around north being up and south being down is totally arbitrary, but we’ve become so familiar with it that flipped maps look upside down. However down and up really just refer to being closer to the center of the earth vs the atmosphere

[@chiukid]

Missing piece fell in place for me here. Wow.

[@P-zz2pw]

‘My sheep hear My voice and they follow Me.’ Hebrews 7,8,9,10. 1 Tim 4:1-4 ‘Sanctify them through the truth. Your Word is truth,’ ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me.’ Christ and Christ alone. Soli Deo Gloria. 🕊️👑

[@CarlosRivera-lv3uc]

YOOOOO as an avid nerd, gamer and active Catholic.....I love that Street Fighter style transition screen. I will share with my fellow "Cats" in the know...I have always loved those 70s style vans with the mural on the side and still have a dream to have a van with a mural of Jesus blasting demons in the vain of the Doomguy's art in Knee Deep in the Dead. Probably will be unpopular to share such a thought but being rebellious to the establishment of man is what being a Catholic is about.

[@catkat740]

Beautiful testimony, Charbel! God bless you.

[@clarkjojo005]

Loved hearing two Aussies chatting…what accent! And yes I agree, I have always wondered why people think Australia is downunder and not on top, turn the map upside down.