"It's just uncle Eben..."

If you know me well at all you know that my twin sisters Erin and Emily have boys. Kain and Coby. You also know that I would cross the world for them in a flash. I love them very much and they love their aunt Jennifer even more.
It used to be really hard to get Coby to talk on the phone. Emily would say that uncle Eben wants to talk and Coby would say no and run into the other room. Kain would talk but usually only for a couple of minutes. I came up with a plan. I started disguising my voice as sponge Bob square pants. It worked like a charm. I simply told Emily tell Coby that sponge Bob wants to talk. He came running. I was elated. It was so much fun. I called daily. The excitement was next to none. In fact one time when we went to Arkansas I looked for a sponge Bob outfit in the airport and was going to put it on as we walked to the baggage claim. After a while I thought it would be a good idea to let them talk to "sponge Bob" and then he would tell them uncle Eben had come to the pineapple and wanted to say hi. They squealed with excitement "you know uncle Eben?!?" I was in heaven. I started to add characters, I was sponge Bob, Patrick and squidward. We were all hangin at the pineapple and thought we would call the boys.
Then they caught on. I called the other day and asked to speak to Kain and Coby. I heard them say in the background, "it's not really sponge Bob it is just uncle Eben." Oh well. I must now come up with another adventure to go on with the boys. Maybe I will dress up like a Sasquatch next time I see them or something.

The Pope Visits

The news has been 'buzzing' about the visit of the Pope to the United States. I was very glad to hear of his visit and after hearing him speak I am excited about being Catholic. It is wonderful to be part of a rich Christian history that can trace it's roots back to the first pope Peter. I am equally as excited about the journey toward confirmation. Through my quest for a more full Christian spiritual life I have realized that most of what I believed was based upon the prejudice and opinion of people. I whole heartedly believe that my brothers and sisters in churches other than the Catholic church seek God but I am thankful that we have been led to the Catholic church. The reformation of the 1500s created a Christian sub-culture in which all opinions were equally valid and authoritative. When I was a protestant I would read my Bible and interpret it through my own eyes and biases. Now as a member of the Lord's true church I am constrained to the pillar and foundation of the truth which is the church. Since the 1500s there have been hundreds of thousands of people who think they have definitively arrived at the true faith. Groups that began less that 300 years ago would arrive at the conclusion that they were the true church. The sole problem is that this truth has always been based upon the personal interpretation of scripture by these reformers. Would it not be better to trust people whose guardianship had been passed on from people who walked the earth with Christ. Not only that, but the true spirit that surrounds those who are faithful Catholics excites me. When I see the graciousness and virtue that flows from their lives I am humbled. I am eternally grateful to my background, and all who made it so rich, but I am at peace with where the Lord has led us. In light of the response to my conversion to this wonderful body it has been bittersweet. Bitter in the dishonest interpretation of events and intentions as well as the gossip that determined what most thought of our conversion. Sweet by the truth of what we now experience and by being a part of the church whose roots are as rich and deep as anything I could imagine. I would encourage you to study. Study your Bible. Study history. Most of all pray that our Lord would lead you to His church. I am convinced that if you do this you will come to appreciate the Catholic church for what is actually is and not what we have been, falsely, taught it is.
I haven't posted for a while because I was mad. I was mad about the things that were said about me. It made me mad that many people took as truth the words that came from gossip and out-right dishonesty. In truth it was disappointing, but the Lord has led me past this. It was the Church that gave me the peace and strength to do so.

Can we call you Christian?

The other night some friends of ours were over for supper. It was a great time and they are a wonderful Christ loving couple. We talked about our journeys. They knew of our journey as we talked we found they were searching for God as well and not content with where they were. They said they considered us Christians but didn't know if it was ok for Catholics to be called Christian. I quote..."well we consider you brother and sister but is it ok to call you Christian." Yes it is, that is what we are. I used to not think that Catholics were Christians. In fact I spent several years converting these Catholics to Christianity. I used to feel sorry for them. I thought they were miserable people and idol worshippers. A few years ago a young man who I knew in South America had returned to the Catholic church and I remembered thinking that he has lost his salvation. What is really interesting is the reason I believed this. When I was taught church history it went something like this...Acts was the start, a few years later everyone fell away, then reformers who weren't really Christians either questioned the Catholic church...then came the restoration movement and the church was back on the map. That is a crude breakdown of course but no wonder I felt sorry for them. Then when I would teach or be taught the Bible it was always based upon what I believed the Bible said. I had friends and brothers in other pulpits teaching from the same texts and arriving at different conclusions. Were we all right? I really don't know. I say that to say that the Catholic church has been Christ's church throughout history. I fully embrace as saved brothers those who come from churches other than the Catholic church. I appreciate your faith and am glad to know Christians in other groups. I say that to say this: we are Christians.

Why I love being Catholic.

It has been a couple of months since I convereted and I am very glad to be on this journey. It is true that the effects of my decision were much further reaching than I had realized. Much of what has been said about us in circles I used to be a part of is speculation that comes from gossip. I have come to the realization that assumptions, speculation and gossip usually determine what people believe about a given situation. All I can say is if your concerned, thank-you. If you are worried let me know. If you hear speculation and assumption please examine the person who is making it. It bothers me because I know that most of the perception of this decision has not been based on fact but rather the words of agitators. It was not an easy decision to become Catholic but I will say it is a very easy decision to stay. I have found a depth that I did not know was there and my spiritual life has changed significantly. I am so glad to be a part of the first church. As I stated before I am going through confirmation classes and we are learning some things about the Church. The more I learn the more I realize that the reformation, that gave birth to all other churches in the 1500's, really robbed people of a wholisitic spiritual experience. Now Christianity is based on the Jesus we create. The early church didn't have to proper view of Jesus without the apostles and the church today cannot keep the proper view of Jesus without the succesors of the apostles. Christ told Peter that on the rock He would build the church and that church would withstand it all, namely the gates of Hades. (Matt. 16:16-18) Jesus was right; only one church has withstood. It feels good to know that my church is not blown by the winds of religious popularity but rather traces itself back to Christ. Just some thoughts.
Anyway...
I have received a lot of responses from people I know and people I don't know. Much of what has been said to, or at, me in these posts has revealed where many are getting their information. Most times the posts are anonymous. Please don't post anonymously.