Author: Mark Joseph

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Weekly Blog

Time for a New Chapter


 
Every once in a while, it’s time for a change, a new chapter in our lives. That time has come for me. 
 
Having worked at Franciscan University for 11 years, as part of both its Steubenville Conference Office and Center for Evangelization and Renewal, I’ve decided it’s time to leave. Working at Franciscan has been the greatest single privilege of my professional career. I love the University, I love its mission, and I love the people I’ve been so blessed to work with on campus and around North America. 
 
I’m not retiring…I get bored on a Saturday. I have a lot of fuel left in the tank. Not sure where I’ll land, but I see God’s hand in all of this. Cyndi and I are looking forward to the next chapter, both at peace and filled with gratitude. God is good!!!
 
It’s also time for a new chapter in my ministry. After blogging for almost 6 years, we’re going to pause…maybe permanently, maybe temporarily. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.
 
In exiting this space, I need to thank two people. First Cyndi, my wife who has supported me in all my endeavors. She’s my best friend and I love her dearly. 
 
Then there’s Mary Kate Cuccari, who has been with me for these 6 years. Whether the blogs, my online course, social media, or general creative genius…she does it all. Thank you Mary Kate for your diligence, outstanding work, support, and friendship. I truly could not have done this without you. 
 
To all those who have followed me, my ministry, and this blog, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Know of my gratitude and prayers for you. Please pray for me, especially as I discern what God has next. 
 
This 2-minute video, which we pulled from the archives, is what my ministry is all about. Feel free to watch.
 
Couple closing points. Please remember…God loves you more than you’ll ever know, no matter what you’ve ever done. Lastly, let’s all pray for our country and our world. We are living in crazy, crazy times. My answer to the chaos (in addition to staying well informed) is the Cross. We know the end of the story. We know Jesus won victory for us. We thank him for dying on that Cross and rising so we can live in His glory. I pray that all of us, including our kids and grandkids, truly come to understand that reality. I’m convinced that if those of this world were more Jesus focused, this would be a better world. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph….pray for us!!!
 
As always, please email me at [email protected] with questions, concerns, comments, or prayer requests. Feel free to reach out now or anytime.
 
God Bless you on your Path to Peace, Joy, and Fulfillment!!!
Remember…God made you for Greatness!!!

Mark Joseph

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Weekly Blog

The Gift of Jesus

Forever Christmas has been my favorite holiday. From a spiritual standpoint, it’s the reality of Jesus in His divinity entering into our humanity. With who God is, we witness the humility of Jesus coming to this world in a manger. The story of the three kings. The prophecies of Jesus spoken by many, including from the Old Testament. Without Jesus, where would we be? It all begins at Christmas, with celebration of the Mass, one of the most beautiful Liturgies of the year. 

While there’s so much to reflect on and be thankful for spiritually, I’ve always loved the human elements of Christmas as well. It’s not about the presents but the joy of the season. All the smiles and well wishes. There is more laughing, hugs, and kisses. It seems people are friendlier at Christmas, more genuine, more loving. 

Houses decorated. Lights on trees. Snow on the ground. Christmas cookies in abundance. Family and friends. All the get-togethers and celebrations. It’s a great time. 

Cherished Memories

My Dad’s sister (Aunt Lou) lived right down the street from us. Ten kids in the two families, we saw each other often, us at their house or them at ours’. The annual Christmas tradition took place at theirs’, where my Uncle Pete would have assembled a life-size manger in their front yard. On Christmas Eve, our two families, with dozens and dozens of neighbors, would sing Christmas Carols in their front yard, followed by Christmas cookies and hot chocolate inside. In some years, our family watched theirs’ opening their gifts. We’d often then all go to Midnight Mass. 

My parents would then host a party on New Years Day, where the entire extended family (no small number) and friends would come over for the day, filled with food, fellowship and more fun. 

Fast forward to when I had kids…I remember purchasing a Santa suit. For several years, my cousins Greg and Mike (Aunt Lou’s sons) would alternate, dressing up and coming over Christmas morning. They’d bring for the kids the gifts Santa supposedly forgot to leave the night before. The kids would light up. All of the above are the best of memories. 

I’d invite you to reflect on the good memories from your childhood, your Christmas experiences among them. Think about this time of year as compared to others, then and now. Even the memories you’re making today. If you’re like me, you smile more and are nicer. You’re looking to surprise someone with a gift or nice note. You’re wanting to make someone a little happier, maybe help them with a burden they’re experiencing. 

I think that’s what Christmas is all about. It’s what Jesus is all about…LOVE!!! What would the world be like if every week of the year we were all as generous, compassionate, forgiving, and loving as at Christmas? The love of Christ is the answer…yesterday, today, and tomorrow. 

As we leave this Christmas season and head into a new year, please understand that Jesus loves you more than you’ll ever know, no matter what you’ve ever done. Let us share that love with as many people as humanly possible….all year long. 

I sincerely hope that you and your family had a very Merry Christmas. On behalf of my wife Cyndi and Mary Kate, who does all the creative work, Happy New Year. May God abundantly bless you and your family. 

As always, please email me at [email protected] with questions, concerns, comments, or prayer requests. 

God Bless you on your Path to Peace, Joy, and Fulfillment!!!

Remember…God made you for Greatness!!!

Mark Joseph

Categories
Weekly Blog

Why Bad Things Happen to Good People

The age old question….why do bad things happen to good people? Does God create evil in the world? Why does He allow tragedy to take place? If God is all-loving, why do people experience suffering?

The human condition is to experience these things, to suffer at some point during our lives. It skips no one. It doesn’t matter our race or religion, our gender or socioeconomic circumstances. It could start as something global like a natural disaster, war, or terrorism. Or it can be much closer to home, like the death of a loved one, addiction, divorce, serious illness, or significant financial crisis. We’re all going to experience something bad in our lives, maybe many things. The question is “why”, given that we have an all-loving God. 

Although an avid reader of faith-based books, including the Bible, I’m no Scripture scholar or theologian. For the Church’s teaching…in easy to understand terms, I’d suggest watching Fr. Mike Schmitz, my favorite Homilist and speaker on our faith, in this 7-minute video.

For me, every time I’ve experienced tragedy or heartache or pain in my life, it’s brought me closer to God. I’m currently going through something which I’d love to not be dealing with. It’s not one of the global things from above, but closer to home. It’s not something I’d wish for me or anyone else. Like past challenges it’s brought me closer to God. As such, it’s caused me to look within, reflecting on how my actions have impacted the situation. It’s also caused me to reach out for help. It’s not only helped me grow in my faith, but be more who God calls me to be. 

Things are crazy in our world today. With so many challenges, I think it’s sometimes easy to wallow in our sorrows. I’m not suggesting there’s no time for sadness or empathy. And I’m not suggesting that life is easy. My sense is that it’s not supposed to be. We’re certainly not guaranteed that it’s going to be. 

Know that God loves you more than you’ll ever know, no matter what you’ve ever done. As Fr. Mike says, God doesn’t create the bad times, but does allow them to take place. As tough as it may be at times, I’d encourage you to embrace all in your life, growing in everything you experience. And if I can be so bold, be in a place of gratitude, thanking God for all. 

I sincerely hope that you and your family had a Happy Thanksgiving, grateful for all as we head into the Advent season. 

As always, please email me at [email protected] with questions, concerns, comments, or prayer requests. 

God Bless you on your Path to Peace, Joy, and Fulfillment!!!

Remember…God made you for Greatness!!!

Mark Joseph

Categories
Weekly Blog

This Faith Thing is a Great Theory

I had breakfast with a friend the other day and we agreed that what’s going on in our world and country today was unimaginable 3-4 years ago. I won’t go through the litany but suffice to say that the disorder, distrust, division, and destruction are all significant. 

Internationally, nationally, in our communities, and impacting many families. I know some who have turned off the news because it’s too depressing. Cyndi and I watch much less today for that reason. 

Couple the above with the everyday challenges most people have…the outward ones we talk about like paying the bills, loss in our retirement accounts, sickness, etc. Then those that we don’t dare share with others, i.e., feelings of doubt, despair, lack of confidence, lack of self-worth, etc. I suspect that how we react to all of this is based on our worldview….and whether that view involves faith.

In my men’s group, where we use Steubenville’s Discipleship Quad Model, I’ve joked lately that this surrender thing is great theory…surrender to God’s will, living our faith to the fullest. In these times, some may be asking “is our faith real…or is it just theory?” 

Our Faith is Real

Given my life experiences, including and maybe especially since my conversion in 2006, God is very real to me. That reality is based on His love that I feel on a consistent basis, coupled with the efforts that I’ve continued to make in growing in faith. 

The question then…what do we do for ourselves and others in these challenging times? I’d suggest we: 

  • Surrender
  • Serve

Surrender

You can only get to surrender by understanding that God loves you more than you’ll ever know, no matter what you’ve ever done. He not only knows what’s best for you, but what will make you happy…having created you with unique gifts and talents for a specific purpose. It’s also believing that all happens for a reason, according to God’s grand plan for your life. Lastly, it’s getting yourself out of the way and allowing Him, through prayer, to guide your life. 

Easier said than done, it’s like standing at the edge of a cliff, with one leg on the ground and the other dangling…and Jesus saying to you “jump, I’ll catch you”. While not always being at this place, the times I’ve experienced surrender have been incredibly freeing. I yearn to be there more consistently…knowing that God knows and loves me so much more than I do. 

Mark and Cyndi were in Horseshoe Bend, AZ in September. If you look closely, you see left eye open, right eye winking, with a smile below. The thought that came to their minds, “God’s got this”. 

Serve

I’d suggest that in prayer we discern how God is calling us to serve. That may be in some public way or in joining an organization. Or it might be within our families or with neighbors. Regardless, I’d suggest it’s one person at a time, one soul at a time. If we all did this with intentionality and others did it too, it’s my thought that we would be making an impact on all the disorder, distrust, division, and destruction…and feel peace, joy, and fulfillment in doing it. 

Like so much of life, it’s simple although not easy. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is always there for us. Just reach out and He’ll reach right back. Together let’s pray for our world, country, communities, and families…and let’s pray that we do our part…surrender and serve. 

As always, please email me at [email protected] with questions, concerns, comments, or prayer requests. 

God Bless you on your Path to Peace, Joy, and Fulfillment!!!

Remember…God made you for Greatness!!!

Mark Joseph