Episode 50: Vices and Devices

Kyel and Matt discuss the constant battle we wage against ourselves due to our own concupiscence, and our tendencies to allow our fallen nature to lead us towards ruin.  How should we view these moments when our depravity is brought to the forefront, and why does God allow us to undergo such trials?

Episode Notes

The nether world and the abyss are never satisfied; so too the eyes of men.  Proverbs 27:20

The two daughters of the leech are, "Give, Give." Three things are never satisfied, four never say, "Enough!"  The nether world, and the barren womb; the earth, that is never saturated with water, and fire, that never says, "Enough!"  Proverbs 30: 15-16

Episode 49: The Year of Penance

Kyel and Matt discuss the inevitability of change, and how we should turn to God for support during times of change. Stick around until the very end of the episode if you want to hear a brief reflection Matt shares about the life his Grandad lived.

EPISODE NOTES:

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"And Jesus said to him, 'The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.'"  -Luke 9:58

"Who Moved My Cheese?"  -  https://www.amazon.com/Moved-Cheese-Spencer-Johnson-M-D/dp/0743582853

"After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side,
while he dismissed the crowds.  After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. 
When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,
was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.  At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down.  Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”  -Matthew 14:22-33

"Because Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, 'I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.' Genesis 29-18

Episode 48: Death, In Brevity

Matt speaks briefly about the topic of death, on the heels of his Grandad's passing. 

Please pray for the soul of Dennis Dusek. 

Grandad, pray for us.

Episode 47: It's About Time!

Kyel and Matt dive straight into a somewhat more philosophically oriented discussion, and Matt immediately shares a somewhat heretical opinion about “reality” that he doesn’t really believe, and is somewhat confused as to why he said it at all, but will leave it in the podcast because Kyel did such a good job of using it to kick the conversation in the right direction. It’s not mentioned in the episode but it’s worth noting that “reality” is objective, not subjective, and is therefore not relative to each person’s individual life experiences, feelings, or emotions. But I digress…

EPISODE NOTES:

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“The City of God” by St. Augustine.  https://www.amazon.com/City-God-Image-Classics-Augustine/dp/0385029101

 “As the men turned and walked on toward Sodom, Abraham remained standing before the LORD. Then Abraham drew near and said: “Will you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there were fifty righteous people in the city; would you really sweep away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people within it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike! Far be it from you! Should not the judge of all the world do what is just?” The LORD replied: If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake. Abraham spoke up again: “See how I am presuming to speak to my Lord, though I am only dust and ashes! What if there are five less than fifty righteous people? Will you destroy the whole city because of those five?” I will not destroy it, he answered, if I find forty-five there. But Abraham persisted, saying, “What if only forty are found there?” He replied: I will refrain from doing it for the sake of the forty. Then he said, “Do not let my Lord be angry if I go on. What if only thirty are found there?” He replied: I will refrain from doing it if I can find thirty there. Abraham went on, “Since I have thus presumed to speak to my Lord, what if there are no more than twenty?” I will not destroy it, he answered, for the sake of the twenty.32But he persisted: “Please, do not let my Lord be angry if I speak up this last time. What if ten are found there?” For the sake of the ten, he replied, I will not destroy it. The LORD departed as soon as he had finished speaking with Abraham, and Abraham returned home.”  Genesis 18: 22-33

“Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?”Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word. Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad. So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.”  John 8:53-58

 “God has all eternity in which to listen to the split second of prayer put up by a pilot as his plane crashes in flames.”  Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Episode 46: Lead Me, Lord.

Kyel and Matt discuss a particular situation in Matt’s life in which he’s trying to discern the will of God.  Spoiler alert, it revolves around the third commandment; “Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.” 

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Episode 45: Let Freedom... Reign?

Kyel and Matt discuss a couple current events that seem to all point towards a common theme, namely, an affront on our individual freedom and liberty.  The question, then, is what is the Christian response to these issues, and how, as a Christian, should we view “freedom”?

Episode Notes:

Happy Independence Day!  This topic came up completely unrelated to the 4th of July holiday, but upon reflection it couldn’t have taken place on a more appropriate date!

“Can’t see the forest for the trees.”

Does the Black Lives Matter movement move us to look more deeply at our own faults and imperfections, or does it fan in us a level of indignant pride?  Based on your answer to this question, what does that say about you?

What should we think about the current call to remove sacred art that depicts religious figures in certain skin colors?

The Calling of Saint Matthew, by Caravaggio.  This is the painting Matt refers to during the podcast in which the artist depicts Jesus and His apostles at 17th century Italians.

What are your thoughts on the state mandate that all peoples must wear a mask in public?

"Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought." - Saint Pope John Paul II

"Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis; https://www.amazon.com/Mere-Christianity-C-S-Lewis/dp/0060652926/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1NBISTAW108Q&dchild=1&keywords=mere+christianity+by+c.s.+lewis&qid=1593951100&s=books&sprefix=mere+%2Cstripbooks%2C172&sr=1-2

Episode 44: To Know, Or Not To Know

Kyel and Matt ask the question; “Is it better to live a life in ignorance of the Gospel Truth, or to be fully aware of God’s laws and therefore required to follow them?”

Episode Notes:

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”  -C.S. Lewis

“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.”  G. K. Chesterton

“A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.”  -Seneca

The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A’ Kempis  Book 1: Chapter 22

Episode 43: God's Presence

Kyel and Matt discuss the importance of being aware of God’s presence in our lives at all times, based on the contents of a book Matt is currently reading; “The Practice of the Presence of God”. 

Episode Notes:

The Practice of the Presence of God: https://www.amazon.com/Practice-Presence-Brother-Lawrence-Resurrection/dp/0385128614/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2GS3PHC0VTAFQ&dchild=1&keywords=the+practice+of+the+presence+of+god&qid=1592707723&s=books&sprefix=the+practice+%2Cstripbooks%2C177&sr=1-4

“But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I, But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” 1 Corinthians 7:8-9

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.”  John 15: 4