I had decided to do the Meet the Parents series before I got asked to take over for Mike Aquilina on the Way of the Fathers Podcast. So then my plan was to do both, but it feels like I'm doubling up a lot on work Mike already did. Mike's first 56 episodes are on the individual Church fathers, and so as I've been working on the podcast, it doesn't seem to make sense for me to just redo the same episodes that Mike did.
Now, he didn't do every Church father, I do have several in mind that he didn't do, and I've already done my two-episode series on Novatian in The Way of the Fathers. Overall, my goal was to present podcasts where you could learn about the Church fathers I mention in The Journey, and who gave us the interpretations of Scripture we're talking about in that Bible Study.
So I'm going to keep going through the Church fathers - more or less chronologically - but where Mike has already done an episode on one of the Fathers, I'll post his, and then when there's a gap in his list, I'll do that one myself. I'll also keep posting the new Way of the Fathers Podcast as they become available, so you can listen to my current series on The Heresies, and of course I mention the relevant Church fathers in those episodes, too.
So far I've posted Meet the Parents episodes on:
1. Clement of Rome
2. Ignatius of Antioch
3. Polycarp of Smyrna
4. Papias of Hieropolis (the first one that Mike didn't do)
So, we'll just keep on going, but by integrating Mike's episodes, I'll be able to keep them coming more often. Let me know if you have any questions...
Dear friends - Please take 10 minutes to watch this personal update from me:
I'm back, up and running, and ready to go - I should have a new JOURNEY episode within the next week or so - and because you are my loyal peeps, here is an exclusive, just-for-you, behind the scenes SNEAK PEEK into my new office:
I mentioned in The Journey that I wrote a song based on Isaiah 2, which is one of my favorite OT passages:
In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain, and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it. Many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations, and set terms for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
I hope you like the song!
The problem with us men is that often we don't have the wisdom to be a father until we're a grandfather.
This may sounds like some ironic statement that makes you nod your head in agreement but shrug your shoulders in resignation, thinking, well there's nothing we can do about that. But the practical application of that is that it demonstrates how important it is for kids to grow up around their grandparents. But as in our culture the family becomes ever more fractured and spread out, that is harder and harder to do.
Lately I've been thinking that part of the problem is the whole concept of college. It used to be that everyone thought a person had to go to college to make a good living. Not only is that not the case (truck drivers make more money than I do) but now college has gone from useless to actually ruining our kids. But when I went to college, what you were supposed to do is figure out what career you wanted (as if anyone knows that at age 18) and then go away to the college ...
And don't forget, if you would like to read my latest novel:
The Sword and the Clover - just let me know by email.
I'm happy to send you the PDF version, even if you haven't been a monetary supporter of the community - all I ask is that you don't share it with anyone else.
My email address:
Keep in touch!
JIm
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