Endure small seed 1/28/11

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Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor of the church. Hebrews 10:32-39. Psalm 37. Mark 4:26-34. The persecution of the early church was horrific. The things they went through required a faith that endured through trials and real persecution. The mustard seed was a small seed that through cultivation became a large tree. Such is our faith. Persecution and trial, when coupled with faith in what God has done and will do, cultivate a strong faith. Endurance through those rough times is what separates those who will make it and those who will not. What kind of faith do you have? Would it last if actually tried?

How do you deal with others? 1/27/11

The new podcast is here.

Hebrews 10:19-25. Psalm 24. Mark 4:21-25. As Jesus invites us into the sanctuary with Him we must reflect on how we treat people. The Hebrew text shows us that we are able to enter into the sanctuary with Christ but also shows us how we are to treat other people as well. The power of what Jesus did to allow us entrance into His presence is priceless. We can help others start their relationship with Jesus by how we treat them. We can also encourage those who are His followers to better works of faith and a deeper relationship with Him. Consider how you treat people.

We are Legion. Podcast.

Listen to the we are Legion podcast here. Most of what I am doing now is on this site. I am doing a daily podcast over the Mass readings Monday through Friday. You can listen to the podcast through the website or on itunes. I recommend, if you have itunes, to listen to it that way.

If this is your first time I recommend going back to the first podcast and listening to it here. This first episode was pretty rough. They have since improved so if you prefer just jump ahead and listen to the podcast respective for the day.

I have a job so I don't get to spend as much time with the publishing side of this so bear with me and my technical weaknesses.

Thanks for stopping by,

Eben

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Tithe?

Churches would be able to fund their mission projects, outreach and benevolence if all the members would tithe. (10%)

Christian tradition and scriptures seem to make it clear that we should be.

Jesus said where we spend our money shows our heart.

Why don't we tithe?

I don't know who all reads this but please give some response.

Thanks.

Also look for ebenemerson.com soon.

Ok ok ok!

Well the last several months have left me wondering what I am supposed to do with my life.

-Am I supposed to build my current business?

-Am I supposed to get back into some kind of teaching ministry?

It is a very hard call because I am not sure how ministry, that I am familiar with, would manifest itself as a Catholic....Then tonight happened.

We live in town and so we have dumpsters. Jennifer asked me to take out the trash and the compost. I dumped the compost in our natural fertilizer bin and then proceeded to the dumpster. I opened the gate, the dogs running to mark their spots.

When I opened the dumpster there was a black three ring binder on top that said "Sermon on the Mount, Eben Emerson." What is that all about? I haven't thrown anything like that away, certainly not since the last time the trash ran. It usually runs every three days. I pulled it out and asked Jennifer is she was doing some cleaning and threw it away. She did not.

I opened the folder and some of the study series from that folder was gone but there were several other studies that I had done years ago. I was really freaked out. We checked all the areas where things like that are stored and didn't find any sign of things being moved.

What is going on?

I was a little freaked out. Jennifer sent me to the store to get oil for fried okra and I just kept thinking about it. Did I throw it away? Why was it in the dumpster? It had my name on it!!! And I didn't throw it away!!! What is going on?!?!?!

When I began to look through the folder I found notes from a class from Richard Rogers and several sermon notes and outlines I had preached. There were also many many pages of research I had done on those respective sermons.

As I looked through them I remembered how much I loved preaching. It is the only thing I ever felt I was supposed to do.

I am very skeptical of signs and modern miracles. Not because I don't believe they still happen but because of the way I think, more later.

I don't know what is going on but I will say that now, more than ever, I want to be back in ministry. I don't know how or what but I loved it and tonight's events reminded me of that.

I thought I would have things figured out!

If you would have asked me at 18 if I would have things figured out by 33 I would have eagerly responded "yes." I had thought for so long that I knew what I was supposed to do. I had spent all of my energies working to that end only to realize that that very journey led me to a place where I have more questions than answers. I do believe that I have certain gifts suited for some kind of ministry but what kind? I struggle with this daily. What am I supposed to do with my life? What career am I supposed to pursue etc? Those who are most certain of their own contribution to the world, i.e. how much they have figured out etc. repulse me, it's just misguided arrogance or maybe insecurity. (I would explain but I am not in the mood for apologetics right now.) Then there are those who seem to have figured somethings out and yet humbly would say the journey may very well be their destination. Who knows? I certainly don't.

The only thing that I have learned this far in my bewildered journey is:

I know that God made Jennifer McGuire to be my wife.

I know that I was given a gift I am too confused to know how to use.

I know that there is a God and He has sent Jesus so that I may know Him.

I know I have much to learn.

I just want to know what I am supposed to do. I am considering going and getting another masters but I am past the point in my life of wanting to go for going sake. Anyway, I wish I knew as much as I pretend to know at times.