I'm beginning to understand the introverts.

Have you ever felt like you are so incredibly surrounded by noise that you can't even think straight? Well, I have.  Many times.  And all these years I've been talking to the Lord and trying to figure out how I can quiet down my life.  Little did I know that the answer was hanging up on my wall for the past two years.  I found it while I was in Austria...

"You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait, be quiet, still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet." - Franz Kafta

I'm finally realizing the importance of taking silence out of every single day, and how beautiful it is to hear the voice of God during these times.  Sometimes, though, that means quieting our thoughts as well.  How can we listen during prayer when our minds are racing a mile a minute?  If we want to be His servants, then we have to learn the art of quieting our minds and hearts in order to hear what the Master is saying.  And this is not only for the designated times that we have taken out of our days for prayer, but even throughout the entire day.  


Holiness Challenge: 
Practice having conversations with God as if He is walking next to you through every situation of your day.  He's always having the conversation, but are we listening? Maybe we're texting or maybe, if you're an extrovert like me, you're even talking right over Him?  Give Him a chance to speak, He's got a lotta wisdom to share...I mean, He's been around for well...at least all of eternity ;)


Seek peace.

Learning to become a fool

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written:  "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate" - 1 Corinthians 1:18-19

Here I am, studying Theology and Catechetics at Franciscan University of Steubenville - we've got the best program there is for this stuff...and Christ has called me to foolishness.  Um...what???

I've worked my tail off for the past four years and God never ceases to surprise me with His infinite wisdom.  He said, "This is all well and good.  Yes get your degree.  But do you know me yet?"

BOOM.

I found myself recollecting the words of the infamous St. Thomas Aquinas, who after studying theology for years and year, declared on his death bed - "All is straw."

So what if I can tell you the 4 pillars of the Catechism and exactly what's in each of them off the top of my head.  If I am not in a relationship with the Lord, then what good is this truth?  This is what St. Thomas was saying...he studied his whole life and barely touched the surface.  What is most important is that we know Christ, as a PERSON, a friend.

Yes, we should learn as much as we can about the Lord while we are on this earth, because to know IS to love.  But we must realize our motives.  Is it just to make ourselves look intelligent?  Or do we want to know Christ on a deeper level?  Do we truly want to bring others to a relationship with Him?

The road to holiness is not dependent on how battered and used your catechism is...but it is however, dependent on how whether or not you are in LOVE!

The world tells us to be the best, to do it all on your own, to know it all.  But Christ tells us to be foolish.   Not in a way that is a cop-out in our studies...rather a stepping-out-of our comfort zones foolishness.  It's about not being afraid to look like a goober if it means that you fall more in love with God or bring another to His love.

Go out on a limb today!  Tell somebody that Christ loves them, no matter what's going on.  Throw out the good 'ol PTL in conversation (Praise the Lord, that is =] ).  Don't be afraid to use the name of Jesus.  There is power in the name of Jesus and we should never be ashamed to use it!

Last thing:

Have you ever seen a couple who are just absolutely and completely in love?  Have you ever SEEN the way they act?  It's like nothing else in the world matters...they look like total goofs!!  They don't even realize that there's a world around them. They're just fixed on each other's eyes.  If we are truly in love with Christ, we should have that same look in our eyes.  Because the truth is that NOTHING else is more important than falling in love with Jesus Christ.  Don't be afraid to seek foolishness, if it means attaining holiness.  This life is too short to not risk being foolish if it means our salvation.  Let's just learn to become a fool for the sake of the Gospel.  Who's with me?! 

Remember that time we walked around on earth?

"You are my refuge and shield; in your word I hope." - Psalm 119:114

C.S. Lewis once said, Jesus was either a liar, a lunatic or the Lord.  That the fact that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God was either as crazy and ridiculous as someone claiming to be a poached egg, or that it was a complete lie, or that He was in fact the Son of the Living God - the Word became flesh.

I don't want this to be a theological debate, you can do more research on this topic if you'd like...but let's break it down:

A lunatic would not have had so many followers...people don't follow crazy people to death.
And a liar wouldn't have taken his lie so far as to be crucified for it.

That leaves us with one last option...Truth be told:  Jesus Christ is the son of God, the second person of the Trinity.

My second proof: They don't even make Jesus is "lunatic or liar" t-shirts.

Assuming you're on board with me at this point (if not, I cannot wait until you are), then we as Christians better get our act together.  If everything that Jesus taught was true...then why don't we place our hope and trust in Him in every aspect of life.  Why do we still sin?  Why haven't we properly trained our conscience to follow this God?  The One who flat out told us, only some 2,000 years ago that He was "the way, the truth and the life", that He was the way to happiness, fulfillment, and love - no, that He is love!

Why is it not a big deal when sin enters a conversation or a situation. And why is it such a big deal that we don't get involved in other's business, when we know that people are trapped in such massive sin?  Why don't we stand up for the truth Himself, He who was un-deservedly crucified for us?  Why don't we speak up?

Let us hope in the Lord, and keep this life and the next in proper perspective.  My friend and I were joking about how funny it's going to be when (God-willingly) we are in Heaven and we say to each other, "Remember that time we walked around on earth?"  This life is too short not to speak up in these situations, because it could literally determine our eternity. We have two options: Heaven or Hell.  That's right, we choose.  We will not only be judged by the sinful actions that we commit, but by the loving actions that we omit.  And if we truly believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, our Savior, then why aren't we shouting it on the rooftops for all the world to hear!  St. Francis said, "preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary use words."  I think a lot of us take this as a cop-out...because there are SO many times that we keep quiet, when words are necessary!  Wake up call: We need to start first of all living out our faith boldly, and secondly speaking it. Out loud. In situations that aren't comfortable.  Pope Benedict XVI said, "you are not made for comfort, you are made for greatness."  Truth be told again: We must stand up for truth.

"You are my refuge and shield; in your word I hope."

Be you. Follow Him

A lot of people think that in order to completely give their life to Christ and become a saint, they need to become the pope or the next mother Teresa.


The truth is that if you try to become somebody that your not, your gonna go backwards.  In order to attain sainthood, what needs to happen has nothing to do with the saints that have gone before us.  Sainthood means embracing everything that God has given YOU.  Every single person on this earth has unique gifts to offer to the world, but few people really find them.  


Most people just go through life trying to be successful, but in order to do that they think they need to compare themselves to the guy in the cubicle next to them. Newsflash!  Success has nothing to do with that guy in the cubicle!!!   Success - holiness - is found when you find YOUR unique gifts and let the Lord work with them. Trying to be something that you're not is wasted time.


Take Peter for example: He was a simple fishermen, who just went about doing his job day in and day out.  Until one day the Lord asked him to do things a little differently. Here's what the Gospel of Matthew says...




As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who      was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him - Matthew 4:18-20


Peter had a gift for fishing.  God didn't just abandon that gift that he had given him in order to make him holy. No. He took that gift and used it to bring others to Himself, through Peter. And Peter didn't hesitate.  How many times do we hesitate when God asks something of us...The Lord saw something that Peter didn't see in himself. He was not only a fisherman, but a fisher for men - for souls.  In fact, the Lord made him the first Pope!  If the Lord can multiply Peter's gifts to build up the kingdom of God, what more can He do with our gifts?

What's your gift?  


Whatever it is...I promise that if you let Him, God's going to use these gifts to make you a fisher of men...


or a basketball player for men
or a coin collector for men
or an actor for men
or a musician for men
or a comedian for men
or a people person for men
or an introvert for men
or an artist for men




So take a risk. Let the Lord show you your gifts.  He'll take you places.

"Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks."

It's my last Christmas break as a student and I'm not sure how I feel about that just yet.  But that's besides the fact.  It is however,  a perfect time to find new talents, hobbies and interests.  I'm finding that being home without a car is giving me a whole lot of time to get in touch with my artsy, expressive and creative side.

Today I played the  guitar for over 3 hours (my fingers are killing me haha) and just last week I worked on 2 paintings.  I've always been interested in music, but painting is a new hobby for me.  I've found that, in a sense, it's kind of like journaling. It allows me to just get out everything on my heart and turn it into color, shape, and movement.  Instead of worrying about the wording, it helps to just focus on feeling and emotion. So, I just wanted to share a bit of my heart with you.  Enjoy =]

'I'm a broken stone, so lay me in the house You're building"

"Italian Tree of Glory"... this one was just for fun =]

"To be Free"

This one was  team effort =]

"Truth"

Shake him up!

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot;  I wish that you were cold or hot.  So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth." - Revelation 3:15-16

Holiday Trees...

Apparently the White House referred to Christmas Trees as “Holiday Trees” for the first time this year which prompted CBS presenter, Ben Stein, to present this piece which I would like to share with you. I think it applies just as much to many countries as it does to America . . . 


The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.


My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejewelled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, “Merry Christmas” to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a crib, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her: “How could God let something like this happen?” (regarding Hurricane Katrina). Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said: “I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?”

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbour as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit.

If not, then just discard it.... no one will know you did. But if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein