In the 4-part apologetics series, we take up more difficult Catholic questions like: creation, aliens, the Eucharist, Confession, and Purgatory.

Concluding our series on the Our Father, we look at the last two petitions in this prayer. Every human person faces trials and temptations. Scripture refers to a battle between flesh and spirit. What does this mean? What does this petition have to do with it? What value is there in temptation? What does these two petitions teach us about the battle between good and evil. In this episode we will answer all of these questions!

"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." This petition in the Our Father offers us both a challenge and an invitation. Each time we pray this, we acknowledge that we are forgiven and so we too must extend forgiveness. But how do we live this? In this episode Fred reflects on this petition and offers some advice from his own experience of finding forgiveness.

This petition of the Our Father carries with it great meaning and depth. On one hand it is pointing toward the practical daily needs we all have and our dependence upon God. On the other hand, we also see great spiritual truths that should shape our relationship with God and with one another, as well as our role in helping to provide for the needs of others. What are these truths? What are we praying in this petition? What difference does it make? In this episode we will find out!

Continuing to dive deep into the Our Father, in this episode Fred takes a look at the petitions, "Thy Kingdom Come" and "Thy Will Be Done." How can the Our Father help us to direct our hearts toward him and better understand his will? How should these two sentences shape our daily lives, our relationships, and the way we approach the world in which we live? Find out on this episode!

To both grow in the life of prayer, and pray more fruitfully, it is important that we take the time to reflect on what we are praying, and what those words mean. This helps our prayers to be offered to God with greater devotion and fervency. That said, in this episode we continue our discussion on the Our Father. This week we will look at the line, “Hallowed be thy name.”

Despite the title, this episode (and part two that will follow next time) really is a LIGHTHEARTED discussion on the Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell. This episode takes a different direction than listeners may expect. Reflecting on the Four Last Things and our own eventual death lead us to a greater intimacy with Christ, and it could do the same in your life!

With guest-Sister Fidelis Marie, we talk about living holiness in our every day lives. It's easy to get bogged down discerning the future options, vocations, or the many choices placed in front of us. Sister Fidelis gives wonderful, spiritually balanced, guidance on discerning where God calls us.

In this Shorty, Fred shows us how to not only pray with Scripture, but also how to pray with the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is itself filled with Scripture. This book, a summation of the Catholic faith, is not merely a reference book. The Church teaches Truth, and we are invited to not simply learn this truth, but pray with it! Fred presents a method for praying the Catechism, and reflects on the profound truth and beauty that is revealed in the process.

This "shorty" (what we decided to call short/bonus episodes) teaches on Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant.

What is the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament? How does Luke's Gospel present Mary as the New Ark? What does this have to do with the Assumption? Find out in this shorty!

We have many "friends," or more accurately, "best acquaintances," but we often lack the meaningful relationships; the friendships we long for that are characterized by love, vulnerability, mutual encouragement and accountability. What does friendship look like? Find out on this episode of Draw Near as Fred and Kara discuss all of this and share from their own close friendship!

The spiritual IS the practical. Nothing in our spiritual lives (or lives in general) is more integral than a prayer life. This is where we grow in friendship with God! Listen for more on this topic, biblical examples and teachings, and tips to overcoming obstacles in prayer. 

There are many questions we may never intentionally reflect on. In this episode, we ask each other a couple of these questions and share parts of our testimonies. What led Fred to convert to Catholicism? What impacted Kara's faith in a dramatic way?

Continuing the series on the Invisible World, demons are quite real. Evil wants to remain hidden, because it can do so much more damage in the dark. Listen to this episode to bring evil and the attempts to drag you away from God into the light!

(Note: God is all powerful and has dominion over good AND evil. There is no fight. The fight is already won when we run to God.)

Continuing the "Invisible World" series, we provide practical tips to increase devotion to guardian angels and allow them to work more in our lives. The invisible world works in the visible world... in your life!