Podcasts

Jesus says in the Gospel of Luke that the kingdom is within us. So can we experience heaven in this life? Really? How do we do that? What is heaven like? Where does purgatory fit as an option when we die? Why don't we know more about what heaven is like? Deacon Tim and Cyndi explore these eternal questions.

Yes, Deacon Tim says emphatically, you are a leader. Maybe not in the conventional sense, but Christian leadership does not depend on having a formal position of authority. Deacon Tim and Cyndi discuss the issue of leadership in a Christian perspective, and they explain how each of us has more influence than we think. We need to use it well!

Deacon Tim and Cyndi discuss the messages of Fatima and how, as acknowledged by St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, the prophecies of Fatima are applicable to the present time.

As baptized Christians, we share in the ministry of Jesus as priest, prophet and kind. In this show, Deacon Tim and Cyndi talk about the role of Christian prophets in the world today, and they identify some modern prophets.

In this podcast, he describes the work he does, the reception he has received from his co-workers and some of the unique experiences that the work has involved. Corporate chaplaincy is not widespread, but it is something that is growing slowly but steadily around the country.

Do Catholics have an edge, an advantage, when it comes to happiness and having a sense of humor? In this program, Deacon Tim brings up the Catholic comedian, Stephen Colbert, and the relationship between tragedy, pain, happiness and humor. Perhaps there is something about accepting adversity in life that leads to authentic happiness and even the ability to enjoy humor. Listen in, and find out more!

So often in our lives, we end up on something like a treadmill, repeating the routine activities in our life over and over. The busy pace of life in the United States reinforces this pattern. In this show, Deacon Tim and Cyndi discuss the importance of not only finding the meaning and purpose of life, but also of being open to changes and finding new levels of meaning.

The Bible is literally filled with references to music, the music of praising God, the music of the angels and saints in heaven, the music of the Psalms. The questions Deacon Tim and Cyndi address in this program are: "Do we hear the music? Are we part of the music? Are we making music?"

Deacon Tim and Cyndi continue their discussion of Islam, focusing on specific passages from the Koran and other Islamic documents. They also focus on the prospects for lasting peace with predominantly Muslim countries.

One of the biggest questions facing the entire world is what to make of Islam. Islamic terrorists are active in virtually all parts of the world. Is Islam a religion of peace? What is the history of this popular religion? Deacon Tim and Cyndi explore the development and basic tenets of the Islamic faith.

The recent movie "Risen," which presents a fictional account of the impact of the Resurrection of Jesus on a prominent Roman military commander, prompted this discussion between Deacon Tim and Cyndi. The conversation isn't so much about the meaning of Jesus' Resurrection as it is about what might have happened to the disciples and Jesus' own mother after He rose from the dead.

When a loved one is near death, it seems that life dramatically changes. What normally seems important in our lives fades into the background, and new priorities take over. Deacon Tim and Cyndi discuss these new priorities. They conclude that these "new priorities" should be integrated into our lives independently of end of life situations.

There is a way of knowing that is beyond conscious thought. It is possible to have an experience of God that is not the product of our actions or intellectual activity. Deacon Tim and Cyndi discuss the mystical life, whether it is reserved for the saints or whether it is available to every Christian. And, if it is possible for each of us to have mystical experiences, how is it that these experiences can occur in our lives?

Deacon Tim has been seeing the word "intractable" in various religious commentaries recently. This refers to those who stubbornly resist God's commands, explanations and invitations. Listen to Deacon Tim and Cyndi's conversation, then you can determine whether intractability is something that might need attention in your own life.

There are elements of our Catholic faith that we can understand, and there are aspects of our faith that are mysterious and beyond human understanding. Sometimes it helps us if we have images which inspire us and help us understand our faith in a more concrete way. Deacon Tim and Cyndi discuss some of these images in this podcast, which we think will increase your understanding and inspire you in your own spiritual growth.

We received a suggestion to address the issue of habits. The listener indicated that in his opinion there were only bad habits, temptations to do the wrong thing that brought about constant battles. In this show, Deacon Tim and Cyndi indicate that good habits exist and are very possible and fruitful in the spiritual life. It takes discipline, but good habits can be developed and become ingrained in our lives.

What is a pilgrimage? What makes a pilgrimage special from a spiritual perspective? Deacon Tim and Cyndi discuss these questions and point out that the benefits of a pilgrimage can apply even to some relatively simple actions that are available to all of us. Being a pilgrim is as much a mentality as it is an act of traveling to a unique location.

The widely held view today is that faith does not mix well with reason and science. The Catholic view is that reason and faith are not only compatible but are necessary companions. In this show, Deacon Tim, assisted by his wife, Connie, explains the relationship between reason, science and faith. He also discloses some very surprising information about the contributions of Catholic priests to the field of science.

Deacon Tim and Cyndi discuss the need to identify our charisms and put them to work in building up the Body of Christ.

This presentation on the Blood Covenant will give our listeners an education on a major theme in the Bible and also greatly enrich their appreciation for the Eucharist. The understanding of the Blood Covenant was likely very prominent in Christianity for many centuries, but it seems to have almost been lost in modern times. The practice of drinking from the cup in the Eucharist will never be the same again for those who listen in.