Presence: Experiencing the Nearness of God

Are you, right now, facing a time of change and uncertainty? I was, exactly two years ago. Please listen as I share how I wrote and prayed during June 2021. And how my life has unfolded in amazing ways from then until now. God - The MORE - moved & worked in my story. I believe that The MORE is moving & working in your own story right now too. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/presence/support

Do you know how to use Microsoft One Drive? I kind of do. On Memorial Day I Zoomed with my 83 year old dad and showed him how to use this often confusing computer tool. I was surprised to experience The MORE (how I am growing to know God) in this mundane act of service. It got me wondering about the deeper more in a child teaching and/or supporting their aging parent - especially as the child does so in far more expansive ways than how I served my dad and helped him to figure out (at least a bit) the confounding One Drive platform. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/presence/support

I listen to Peter Gabriel - an artist who has inspired me for 35 years now - sing as I walk my pooch on a beautiful Saturday AM. In his new song "I/O" he declares a truth "I'm just a part of everything." So much of the world around us shows this to be true. Listen as I ponder how even one H2O molecule in the saliva in your mouth reveals this truth. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/presence/support

I finish listening to the outstanding 24 hour long audiobook of King's newest novel "Fairytale". The simple, yet engaging telling of a familiar tale allows me to go deep into the more it holds. Like the 'Fairy Stories" about which Tolkien spoke this fairytale illuminates the light and dark in our world. The MORE ultimately dispels the darkness, yet in this not yet time, the shadows within each of us remain. Learn more at https://presenceexperiencingthenearnessofgod.wordpress.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/presence/support

I return to a theme which is at the center of hundreds of prior episodes - experiencing God - The MORE. Today I reflect on how my dog Lucy, with her intense focus on a patch of grass as we walked in the rain, reminded me of how I can use my senses to ponder any sliver of the world I encounter as a go about my day. By finding the deep more to everything, I experience The MORE who creates and sustains it all. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/presence/support

Screwtape celebrates how The Enemy's own self-identified followers are facilitating his Dark Father's cause as these Reds claim that they and their boy Prince Chaos are the actual victims. ST21 is pleased that dark history was again made on April 4th like it was made on January 6th (Epiphany.) Yet, he relishes the irony of how it might have taken place a day later on Spy Wed. - the day Judas' betrayal is remember during Screwtape's "Profane Week." --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/presence/support

Screwtape is excited that the first ever indictment of a former US president will take place as a spectacle and thus distraction for the faithful during what he calls "Profane Week". --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/presence/support

It's Code Yellow when Wormwood tells ST21 that Fr. Steven Bell, a thoughtful and authentic priest is coming for a three day mission. ST21 commands that Wormwood must prevent his Patient from attending and being drawn closer to The Enemy and his warm embrace. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/presence/support

Screwtape encourages Wormwood to guide his Patient to find pleasure and doom in one of the greatest inventions by The Agency of Enticement to Obsession -- online sports betting. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/presence/support

ST21 explains to Wormwood the risk and potential reward for their Dark Father on the U.S. day of Thanksgiving. While the Seven Slippery Slides - gluttony, greed and envy - are there at the table, so too is the risk that The Patient may feel the vilest of attitudes - that of gratitude. ST shows WW how he can deploy two of their most effective tools - distraction and entitlement to keep the man away from the generosity their Enemy is always showing to His creation. And to lead the man ever closer to the hungry maw of darkness. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/presence/support

ST21 speaks to Wormwood for the first time in the week since the 2022 election. He encouragea WW to "keep his chins up" as The Prince of Chaos has announced that he is running again for president in 2024. ST21 extoles the vices of this remarkable figure and prepares for the decisive chaos ahead on the road to 2024. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/presence/support

ST21 explains to Wormwood what it means that "democracy is on the ballot today." ST21 recounts the dark reality of how some of the same people who fought for democracy 80 years ago and in decades since, will today vote for candidates who boast of how they will ignore the will of the people when votes are cast. This makes ST21 proclaim - "Truly this is Our Dark Father's century!" --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/presence/support

Screwtape brings Wormword out of exile and gets his nephew up to speed with smartphones and other aspects of the 21st century. WW's "patient" - a white middle aged American Evangelical Catholic is preparing to vote. ST21 tells Wormword of the delicious hypocrisy this man and others like him show as they hurt those whom Christ identified as "my little ones." --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/presence/support

"The Screwtape Letters," written by C.S. Lewis and published in 1942 is one of the most remarkable novels ever written about good and evil. What would the character Screwtape have to say about our world and the U.S. in 2022 and beyond. Listen and follow along at www.ST21century.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/presence/support

The Church begins the age old "O Antiphon" prayers on Dec 17th? Learn about these centuries old prayers and how they connect with the hymn O Come O Come Emmanuel. Today we pray for the coming of God's Wisdom to come upon us. Learn more at EdTechEmergent.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/presence/support

Its the rose-colored Third Sunday of Advent and we hear St. Paul's exhortation to "Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing!" How do we do this in the brutal 2020 though? By remembering that Emmanuel - God with is - is here even in the midst of the mess. Find more at EdTechEmergent.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/presence/support

Its the first weekday of Advent 2021 and the Church remembers Saint Andrew the Apostle. For the readings of the day and a video about St. Andrew, visit EdTechemergent.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/presence/support

The Advent journey begins with Jesus telling us to 'Be watchful!' and 'Be alert!' We hear the prophet Isaiah reminding us that God has already done amazing deeds for those who wait for God. Listen to hear the themes of the four weeks of Advent and an invitation to be more mindful in your prayer during this season. For more resources visit EdTechEmergent.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/presence/support

The last week of the liturgical year begins with Christ the King Sunday. The week ends with a vision of a "new heaven and a new earth" as well as word from Jesus warning us "to stay vigilant" so we can endure "the tribulations to come". How do we do this, especially as we are on the cusp of the new liturgical year? For links to the scripture cited and more resources visit EdTechEmergent.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/presence/support

My newest subpodcast for Advent 2021. Listen to the sevenish minute reflections on one or more of the liturgical readings - posted before each day of Advent. Follow my blog EdTechEmergent.com for links to the readings and much more! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/presence/support