Podcast Powered By Podbean

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.

I sit on a mower for the greater part of the summer. My ipod is in my ears around 4-6 hours a day. It is much better to listen to music than the constant loud hum of landscape equipment. Last weekend the worst thing happened. I was bouncing around, the ipod fell out of my pocket and was run over by the mower deck. It didn't survive.

When I turn it on the screen still comes on, a sign that life still exists in my fallen friend. There is little hope though that any music or audiobooks will ever be shared with me from my little pearl white buddy ever again.

Whether it's an ipod or not nothing can sustain a horrible beating and then be expected to play for us. Paul tells us that the body of Christ is like the human body with Christ as our head. If one part of that body is cut off, damaged or destroyed it the mutual responsibility of the body to get that person singing with the choir again. After all that is what we collectively make up, a sacrificial choir. Offering ourselves and our gifts as an instrument to God's glory. My question would be have we thrown some of the most valued members under the deck to the detriment of the body or are we seeking to build up what we have destroyed.

I feel very fortunate that I have had the opportunity to have been around some wonderful encouraging people in my walk with God but I know that others have not. The light is on but because of the beatings there is no music.

Because I busted my ipod I have been on ebay hunting for a deal. Did you know that you can find ipods that are refurbished? I was stoked about that because they are cheaper and they work like they were new.

"Encourage one another as long as it is called today."

Do what?

"There are only 2 people in the world who hate what the Catholic church is, there are millions who hate what they think it is." Padre Pio.

The Catholic Church is the most misunderstood church in the world. Especially in the Bible belt where protestant churches have taught classes on what the Catholic church is. I used sit in some of the these classes. In my journey of studying the history of Christianity I took out some notes from a class I took in AIM called "Catholicism." By this time I had been studying the Catholic church, from their literature, for a couple of months and was hoping to rebuke the whore of Babylon. I read four pages of notes and realized that none of it was true. Everything I had been taught about the Catholic church was wrong. It was also equally absurd that I had been taught that a protestant church was the church of the first century only that it was founded in the 1800s. The reformation of the 1500s forever hurt Christianity. I am not saying that the church was/is perfect, it is not. I am convinced that if anyone will take an honest look at the Catholic church and their own protestant church they will either become Catholic or at least appreciate Catholicism. However, because of the misinformation there remains a wall that will forever stand and be built up by misinformed "experts" on the Catholic church.

I write this because we were eating out last night and the folks behind us were talking about what the Catholic church teaches. It was absurd but I used to think those things too.

I am eternally grateful to be a Catholic. Especially now! Look around at the continual splintering of Christianity caused by the reformation. Now it has got so bad that if you don't like what the church you are a part of teaches you just leave, start your own church and define your own doctrine. Be honest you know it happens. Some of those who worry most about my being Catholic are members of churches that were started in response to what another church wasn't doing right.

I am just rambling now but if you really want to know what the Catholic church teaches ask a faithful Catholic. There are many unfaithful ones, who claim to be Catholic, that perpetuate the misinformation. Just because their grandparents were Catholic and they went four times in the last ten years does not mean they know what the church teaches. You can also read the Catechism. If you want to ask questions ask.

Kwan and Jwan

Saint Philomena (sp?) was venerated on the basis of her intercession alone. I know that most of the people who read this are protestant and don't appreciate, nor accept, the intercession of the faithful who have already died. I have a favor to ask just listen.

The last several weeks Jennifer and I have been asking for the intercession of a great prayer, person not act. Her name was Mary. Several times we have asked Mary to pray for a friend of ours. We will call her Kwanva. The first two initials may have something to do with the name. I use the funny name because you never know who might read this. Anyway...Kwanva had confided in Jennifer and I several weeks ago that she had a hard time conceiving. That is getting pregnant, when you want to. She is married to a good man who I know would be a good father.

This may seem out of line but please follow me here. A couple of nights ago Jennifer and I learned about St. Philomena. She is the only saint to have been inducted on the basis of her intercession alone. In other words lots of people prayed to her and the prayers were answered. Thus the induction into sainthood. I thought I would ask her to pray for Kwanva. We, Jennifer and I, still regularly ask Mary to pray to our Lord for Kwanva's most intimate desire; to have a child.

We had supper with Kwanva and Jwanva, her husband...duh, tonight. We found out she is pregnant.

I write this for two reasons. One, because blogging about my prayer life helps me remember that it actually is a worthy cause. Second, to let everyone know that Kwan and Jwan will prayerfully be parents.

Praise God. Thank God. Thank you Mary and Philomena for your prayers.