Podcast appearances and mentions of Francis Thompson

Garth Heckman The David Alliance  TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    James 3 Neither bitter water and sweet water should come out of your mouth as a believer.   More frequently, "πικρός" is employed metaphorically to describe a state of emotional or spiritual bitterness. This can refer to feelings of resentment, anger, or harshness that can take root in a person's heart. The New Testament warns against allowing such bitterness to grow, as it can lead to division and strife within the community of believers.         How do we deal with Bitterness?     - 1 Get rid of it. Eph. 4:32 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.   Get rid of GK - to raise up your voice to deal with it.    YOU HAVE THE POWER OF YOUR OWN VOICE.  SPEAK IT OUT!       - 2 GO TO THE PERSON: Aaron stood before Moses. Peter Stood before Jesus.       - 3 Immediately deal with the root   Heb. 12:15  Deal with the root   This verse goes back to Deut. 29:18 which speaks of roots growing and causing a coldness of heart toward God.        - 4 Finally Don't react - Respond David Rostad - Bulls - overreacting, yelling or pushing the bulls would only cause greater injury to yourself.    The hound of heaven - Blue Heeler dog "Hound of Heaven" comes from the famous poem of the same name by Francis Thompson, published in 1893.       Harboring resentment, bitterness, anger, unforgiveness steals the joy of our salvation…  HOW?  Holding on to these is unbelief in what God has done for you -      -   forgive as God has forgiven you!       -  And what he can do through you, He can forgive through you.      -  He has the power to forgive anything!      Helmut Thelike - don't let misplaced resentment misplace you.  In a bitter cold winter nothing can grow A bitter cold heart is the same! 

Discover how a timeless poem about God’s relentless pursuit of the human soul intersects with one seminarian’s remarkable path to priesthood. Kyle Lang, currently studying in Rome, shares his transformative journey from a Catholic family in West Salem to the heart of the universal Church. Through the lens of Francis Thompson’s “The Hound of Heaven,” […]

2nd Sunday in AdventIn our second reading, St. Paul is writing to the Philippians encouraging them that, he is "confident, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus." Biblical scholars would call God the "hound of heaven." We love God because God first loved us (1 John 4:19). Here is how Jesus acknowledged this truth, “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16). With these Bible verses in mind one, Francis Thompson described God as “The Hound of Heaven.” God is always in search of his creation and that whatever God begins, He intends to finish. During this holy season of Advent, may God help us to prepare the way of the Lord!Scripture Reading for December 8, 2024Baruch 5:1-9Psalm 126:1-6Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11Luke 3:1-6 

Lee Selleck was a journalist in Yellowknife when, after a bitter and months-long strike, nine people were killed in an explosion at Giant Mine in 1992. He and Francis Thompson wrote a book about Giant, Dying for Gold, five years later. Now, the pair are releasing an updated version. Lee tells us what the updated book covers, how it felt to be a part of the recent CBC podcast series about Giant, and whether he and the city have ever really moved on from what happened on September 18, 32 years ago.

El amor de Dios nos persigue. Es Su Gracia, la que con Su bendita terquedad no nos da tregua. Tenemos esa confianza por las palabras de Jesús en este sexto capítulo de la Buena Noticia según Juan. El poema "El lebrel o sabueso del Cielo" lo escribió en a finales del siglo XIX, Francis Thompson. Es la historia de cómo un joven abandona su vida acomodada para caer en la adicción en un sórdido Londres, donde encuentra al final a Dios en los brazos de una prostituta, atrapado por una Gracia irresistible. Tras la sintonía de Ruta 66 por la orquesta del trompetista Harry James, escuchamos la actualización del poema de "Hound of Heaven" que hizo uno de los grupos más extraños que salieron de la Revolución por Jesús. Daniel Amos, formado por Terry Scott Taylor en 1974, no encajaba en la edulcorada etiqueta de música de alabanza que había creado la Capilla Calvario, Maranatha. Años después de grabar su "Disco horrendo", logran publicar en 1981 su versión de la historia de Thompson en el Hollywood de los 70 con el sello que hace Larry Norman. Otro músico que no se amolda a la incipiente industria de la "música cristiana contemporánea" fue el tempranamente fallecido Mark Heard, muerto a los 40 años de un ataque al corazón. Tras estudiar periodismo en Georgia, se va a la comunidad suiza de L´Abri con Francis Schaeffer y al volver, publica su primer disco con el sello de Larry Norman, Solid Rock. Su canción "Corazón de corazones" (Heart of Heart)" la popularizó, sin embargo, Sam Phillips en 1983, cuando todavía utilizaba el nombre de Leslie, antes de casarse con T-Bone Burnett. "Como un vendaval con toda su fuerza / fui levantado de nuevo por el Señor", canta Van Morrison en 1979. En su canción "Full Force Gale" vuelve a la experiencia que tuvo cuando iba a la Asamblea de Hermanos que había abajo de su calle en Belfast, confiando de que "encontrará el camino de regreso a casa / siempre volverá al Señor". La película "Minari" (2020) da un cuadro de la fe tan honesto y verosímil, que sólo puede haber sido hecho por un cristiano, como es el joven cineasta coreano-americano Lee Isaac Chung. Premiado con el Oscar a la mejor actriz de reparto, cuenta la llegada de su familia a la América profunda en los años 80. El asombro de la Gracia de esta historia contrasta con la débil fe de sus protagonistas. Escuchamos escenas de la versión doblada con los comentarios de José de Segovia sobre la banda sonora de Emile Mosseri. "Puedes escuchar la llamada de Dios", canta Neil Diamond en la canción que popularizó Elvis Presley a finales de los 60 (And The Grass Won´t Pay No Mind). Su iniciativa da la seguridad a Mike Scott de los Waterboys, por la que puede descansar en sus "Brazos eternos" (Everlasting Arms) en 1996.

A book I've often returned to over and over is Thomas R. Kelly's  A Testament of Devotion. Kelly was a Quaker and a mystic. His book centers on what the Big Book calls “the Great Reality within.” Since it's a Greater Reality we can never understand it – but we can experience it – and mystics like Kelly come as close as humans can come to describing what such an experience - and still more – what such a relationship is like. In this episode, Fr. Bill focuses on Kelly's second chapter: Holy Obedience. It's OK to listen even if you're not wholly there! Show Notes: A Testament ofDevotion by Thomas R. Kelly Poem: The Hound of Heaven by Francis Thompson http://www.houndofheaven.com/poem Wiki page on the life of Francis Thompson (a recovered opium addict) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fatherbillw/support

Hosts: Fr. Steve & Rich Budd In today's episode, we talk about in vitro fertilization. We hear a reflection on the third beatitude, “blessed are the meek.” And we listen to a poem by Francis Thompson, “Heaven and Hell,” read by Craig Galer.

Francis Thompson was born in Northwest England in 1859. The son of Catholic converts, as a boy he was initially educated for the priesthood. When he was 18, at his parents' insistence, he entered Owens College in Manchester to follow in his father's footsteps and study medicine. But before long, he left for London hoping to pursue what he believed was his true vocation of being a writer. As a result of ill health and subsequent medical treatment, like many before him, Thompson became addicted to opium. He soon fell into a life of despair and destitution, sleeping on the banks of the Thames with London's homeless and selling matches just to stay alive.Yet it was during this time, in the midst of all his hunger, deprivation and hopelessness, that he was most able to see the kingdom of Heaven. These devastating experiences honed his poetic focus and insights. In 1888, Thompson sent a tattered and torn manuscript to the Catholic periodical Merry England. Its editors, Wilfrid and Alice Meynell, devout Christians themselves, not only recognized Thompson's poetic ability, they took him under their care and gave him a home. They also arranged for the publication of his first book in 1893, simply titled Poems, which included The Hound of Heaven. The poem was immediately recognized as a masterpiece.Thompson spent the years from 1893-1897 nursing his frail health in a monastery in Wales. He died of tuberculosis on November 13, 1907. He was 47. After his death, Alice Meynell wrote that no change in poetic tastes in the years to come could ever "lessen the height or diminish the greatness" of Thompson's profound accomplishment. In his eulogy for Thompson, G. K. Chesterton simply concluded: "He was a great poet." Among those who would be influenced by Thompson was the young J. R. R. Tolkien, who purchased a volume of Thompson's works in 1913, and later claimed that it had played an important role in his own writing.-bio via HoundofHeaven.com Get full access to The Daily Poem Podcast at dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe

Psalm 139 shows us God's loving care, for looking after us wherever we are. Chad quotes from Francis Thompson's Hound of Heaven, "How little worthy of any love thou art! Save Me, save only Me? I fled Him, down the nights and down the days; I fled Him, down the arches of the years." Colin Henirch sings "Redeeming Love". Show Notes: Support 1517 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: 30 Minutes in the NT on Youtube Remembering Rod Rosenbladt Preorder: Encouragement for Motherhood Edited by Katie Koplin Available Now: Be Thou My Song by Kerri Tom Last Chance: NWA Conference May 3rd-4th More from the hosts: Chad Bird Lyrics for "Redeeming Love" Psalm 139a.   If I take the wings of morning If I dwell in the deepest part of the sea The dark is as bright as light to you And you are always there with me   O my Lord, you alone have searched me There is nothing you don't already know You know my thoughts from far away You surround me as I come and as I go    (Chorus) Where can I hide? You will always find me Where can I run? You're already there I want You to find me I want to be found In Your redeeming love  In Your redeeming love    You alone created my being You formed me in my mother's womb I have been so wonderfully made I've never been hidden from you   (Chorus) Where can I hide? You will always find me Where can I run? You're already there I want You to find me I want to be found In Your redeeming love  In Your redeeming love 

Recorded by Academy of American Poets staff for Poem-a-Day, a series produced by the Academy of American Poets. Published on January 20, 2024. www.poets.org

Hello Creatives, As we wind down for Christmas I thought I would keep it nice and simple, 10 poems about snow from authors Walter De La Mare, Robert Lee Frost, DH Lawrence, Charles Bertram Johnson, James Russell Lowell, Hannah Flagg Gould, James Thomson, Emily Dickinson and Francis Thompson. Need more? Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook www.instagram.com/sleeplesscreativespodcast www.twitter.com/createsleepless www.facebook.com/sleeplesscreatives You can also listen and learn about the show on our official website www.sleeplesscreativespodcast.co.uk  Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happiest New Year! Florence x The Music in this episode is Deck The Halls by Solitude. Sleepless Creatives is produced, hosted and edited by Florence St Leger. Opening theme is Reflection by Birds of Norway.

In 1890 Francis Thompson, a Roman Catholic poet, described God as “The Hound of Heaven.” He wrote: I fled Him,...

Hosts: Fr. Steve & Rich BuddIn today's episode, we talk about scapegoating. We hear a reflection on the virtue of patience. And we listen to an excerpt from “The Hound of Heaven,” a poem by Francis Thompson, read by Sandi Walczak.

God Reveals His Nature I fled Him, down the arches of the years; I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways Of my own mind; and in the midst of tears I hid from Him, and under running laughter. Up vistaed hopes I sped; And shot, precipitated, Adown Titanic glooms of chasmed fears, From those strong Feet that followed, followed after. But with unhurrying chase, And unperturbed pace, Deliberate speed, majestic instancy, They beat – and a Voice beat More instant than the Feet – ‘All things betray thee, who betrayest Me.' “The Hound of Heaven” by Francis Thompson (1893) Exodus 33:11 says God spoke to Moses “face to face.” That meant that by demonstrating his commitment to God, Moses now got to speak to God “openly and honestly,” one of the main benefits of believer's seeking to live holy lives! And He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you My name, “The Lord.” -Exodus 33:19 Read Exodus 34:1-9 The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and truth, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but Who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the sins of the fathers on the children and the children's children to the third and fourth generation. -Exodus 34:6-7 Slow to anger involve 2 words in the original Hebrew. The word for slow is Arek (H750 – 16x), which literally means long-winged, like an eagle. The word for anger is Ap (H639 – 269x), which literally means nostril, nose, face. God soars above mankind in a thoughtful, deliberate, and overshadowing way; He could deal with sin at any moment, but hasty anger cannot be seen in His “face, His nostrils.” As God reveals His name in our passage He wants us to know that He is NOT like we often are – He is not hasty to exercise His rightful anger at sin; He is thoughtful, He is deliberate – He judges sin, but never in sinful anger like we do. Why should God be angry at all? Why does God take sin so seriously? God has to deal with ALL sin or He is not 100% holy, just, and righteous! The Triune God's “John 3:16 Filter” allows God to be slow to anger, because it makes it possible for God to show both mercy and grace to unworthy sinners who repent, believe in, and follow Him! Because of God's John 3:16 filter He doesn't need to express anger like we do, because to repentant believers He can say, “My Son is going to take care of that for you!”

Leitura bíblica do dia: Jonas 2:1-9 Plano de leitura anual: 1 Crônicas 1–3; João 5:25-47; “Dele fugi, noites e dias adentro”, abre o famoso poema O cão de caça do céu do poeta inglês Francis Thompson. O autor descreve a busca incessante de Jesus — apesar de seus esforços para se esconder, ou até mesmo fugir, de Deus. O poeta imagina Deus falando com Jesus e dizendo: “Eu sou aquele a quem buscas!”. O amor de Deus que vai ao encalço é o tema central do livro de Jonas. O profeta recebeu a ordem de falar ao ninivitas (notórios inimigos de Israel) sobre a necessidade de eles se voltarem a Deus, mas, em vez disso, Jonas fugiu do Senhor (Jonas 1:3). Ele comprou uma passagem num navio que seguia em direção oposta de Nínive, mas o barco logo foi vencido por uma violenta tempestade. Para salvar a tripulação do navio, Jonas foi jogado ao mar sendo engolido por um grande peixe (1:15-17). Em seu belo poema, Jonas contou que, apesar de seus melhores esforços para fugir de Deus, o Senhor o alcançou. Quando Jonas foi vencido por sua situação e precisava ser salvo, clamou a Deus em oração e voltou-se ao Seu amor (2:2,8). Deus respondeu e providenciou o resgate não apenas a ele, mas também aos seus inimigos assírios (3:10). Em ambos os poemas, há momentos na vida que tentamos fugir do alcance de Deus. Mesmo assim, Jesus nos ama e orienta-nos de volta ao relacionamento restaurado com Ele (1 João 1:9). Por:  Lisa M. Samra

Francis Thompson wrote a poem called "The Hound of Heaven", in which he described the immense love of God as like a hound that never gives up chasing the hare. God pursues us relentlessly because He loves us and desires us to be in love with Him now, and in eternal life in heaven. What Jesus did at the well in Samaria was to pursue this poor woman whose life was an utter mess. He always does the same for us, whether we are in a mess or all is going well. God always and unrelentingly loves us. Support the showIf you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this via email:frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au

The Hound of Heaven is the title of a poem by Francis Thompson, and speaks to us the love of God which pursues and seeks us out. Psalm 23 and verse 6 says of God, 'Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.' We have a good, good Father, who ultimately demonstrated his love for us in the sacrifice of his only son Jesus, who died that our sins would be forgiven and forgotten. In the past, the present and the future.

When I met Heath Hyatt at SHOT show a few weeks ago, I knew I needed him on the show. Heath is a fellow podaster with his show. The Journey on Houndsman XP https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/houndsman-xp-sportsmens-empire/id1462431615 He is a dedicted and talented dog trainer. His passion is running bears with hounds. But Heath is also a K9 Trainer for law enforcement. This is a fascinating discussion about dogs and hounds. Throughout the discussion I was reminded of the poem by Francis Thompson where he writes;  "As the hound follows the hare, never ceasing in its running, ever drawing nearer in the chase, with unhurrying and imperturbed pace, so does God follow the fleeing soul by His Divine grace." I think you will enjoy this episode.

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Recorded by Academy of American Poets staff for Poem-a-Day, a series produced by the Academy of American Poets. Published on January 1, 2023. www.poets.org

Dr. Nyshawana Francis-Thompson, Deputy Chief of Curriculum and Instruction in the School District of Philadelphia, has played an integral role leading and sustaining a transition to the Science of Reading in the Philadelphia public school district. But making such a change across a large district is difficult. In this episode, Dr. Francis-Thompson (who goes by Dr. Ny) talks with Susan about Philadelphia's experience. She also talks about her own experience learning about the Science of Reading, and offers tips to other district-level leaders and wisdom about providing all students with the liberation that comes through reading and leading—all with love at the center.Additional Resources:Dr. Ny's LinkedIn profileFocused implementation: Doing less to do more with Dr. Doug Reeves—Podcast episode2021 The Philadelphia Citizen story: “A Better Way to Teach Reading” 2021 Chalkbeat Philadelphia story: “Just 32% of Philadelphia third graders read on grade level. Freedom Schools Literacy Academy could be a model to change that.”A 2017 Accountability Review Council report on Philadelphia: “Promoting the Science of Reading Instruction in Philadelphia Public Elementary Schools: Early Implementation Lessons”Video of Dr. Ny speaking: “Equity in Curriculum”Dr. Ny's 2017 dissertation: “Beyond the Pink Sand: Case Studies of Experiences of Multi-Tier System of Supports Implementation in the Bermuda Public School System”Quotes:“I have never met a student that did not want to learn how to read or a family that did not understand the importance of their children knowing how to read.” —Dr. Nyshawana Francis-Thompson“We have to listen to our young people in order to be able to move with that sense of urgency.” —Dr. Nyshawana Francis-Thompson“Liberation is connected to our students being literate… In order for our students to truly be free, we [need to] understand the power that reading has in their future.”—Dr. Nyshawana Francis-Thompson“We have to remember who we are serving and why we are serving them.” —Dr. Nyshawana Francis-Thompson“A lot of times when you're in a large system and you're leading a large system, it can become very robotic-like a machine. You do this, you get this, you do this, you get this. But there's a human aspect that if you have not considered that human aspect, you could very well end up in the same place that you're trying to move away from.”—Dr. Nyshawana Francis-Thompson“And while it's a five-year strategic plan, we do have a sense of urgency and I'm sure within that there are gonna be benchmarks and hundred-day plans and smaller plans to make sure that we are actually doubling down again on the things that truly matter, that are gonna lead, outcomes for our students here in the school district.”—Dr. Nyshawana Francis-Thompson“If we're only in the business of educating some students, then what are we really doing? It's important to look at the students that are not benefitting and really identifying the things that work for that population of students rather than continuing with practices that aren't meeting the needs of the students we're serving.” —Dr. Nyshawana Francis-Thompson

We continue our consideration of the wonderful spiritual poem and testimony by Francis Thompson, "The Hound of Heaven."Here is a copy of the poem to read.Or, you may prefer listening to it in audio version.Also, here is a modern, animated adaptation that might help you into the work. Slide presentation

We begin our fall series with the work that G.K. Chesterton called, "the greatest poem ever written in modern English," namely, Francis Thompson's devastating piece, "The Hound of Heaven."  J.R.R. Tolkien credited this work with having a significant influence on his masterpiece trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, noting that the poem is "one of the most profound expressions of mature spiritual experience."  Dorothy Day was also strongly impacted by Thompson's poem writing: "It is one of those poems that awakens the soul, and recalls to it the fact that God is its destiny."Here is a copy of the poem to read.Or, you may prefer listening to it in audio version.Also, here is a modern, animated adaptation that might help you into the work.

Louisiana State Representative Francis Thompson District 19 has been in Louisiana politics at the Capital for ... let's just say a very long time. But when you get to know him you find that he is a very gentle, kind-hearted, jovial, and professional person. He likes to joke around about how long he as been at the Capital, but he is one of the few that deserves to be there so long. Service to others and Louisiana is in his heart.

Jack Benny hosts this week's show, starring Dan O'Herlihy and Rod O'Connor, telling the tragic story of Francis Thompson, mystic and poet who found grace in the midst of much suffering. Originally broadcast in 1949, the program has been digitally remastered and is presented here with a new introduction from Father David Guffey, C.S.C.

Hugh Walpole (1884 - 1941) Hjalmar Johanson (novel, 1926) is a boyish unworldly Swedish body builder come to Walpole's fictional cathedral town of Polchester. His name is “simplified” by the townsfolk to Harmer John. He is attracted to Polchester by the cathedral. He has a vision of transforming the town and its populace to a healthier and more beautiful state. He establishes a business, essentially a gymnasium, to help people become healthier. He envisions tearing down the slums along the river and rebuilding the area with more attractive and publicly healthier buildings. But not everyone shares his vision, especially the slumlords who make their money by renting the slum to those who are poor and vulnerable, those unable to afford anything better. Harmer John encounters xenophobia, jealousy, and malice. In an earlier story Walpole novelized the Francis Thompson poem The Hound Of Heaven about a fearful soul pursued by an insistently loving God. Some observers see in Harmer John a parallel to Francis of Assisi, that is, a naïve holy man opposed by the selfish worldliness around him. Genre(s): Literary Fiction, Published 1900 onward --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/3daudiobooks0/support

Hosts: Richard Budd, Fr. Steve Mattson In today's episode we talk about being a vibrant community at the parish. (0:44) We hear a reflection on The Community of Believers. (28:38) And we listen to a poem by the poet Francis Thompson, “The Hound of Heaven,” read by Sandi Walczak. (38:07)

Blessings in disguise certainly apply to this week's episode, gentlemen. Our mistake on forgetting a crucial part of the 'Our Father' prayer on last week's episode turned into an episode jam-packed full of gems this week.  It seems that James' sleepless nights are starting to catch up with him!In this episode, discover how profound the disciples' question to Jesus on how to pray the 'Our Father,' the benefits of putting yourself in the disciples' shoes when you read Scripture, and how Jesus expects us to forgive others.  Forgiveness is the greatest gift we can give someone else and the one that is probably the hardest to give. Men, forgiving others, truly forgiving others, is one of the surest signs of strength in a man. Don't let the shackles of anger and resentment hold you back from this gift.Father Dom's Challenge! This week men, buy the Catechism! Follow the link below to purchase one or dust the one on your bookshelf off and start reading it. Read 1, 2, 10, 100 paragraphs a day. We must know our faith to grow in faith. If we do not know what the Catholic Church teaches, we are in trouble gentlemen.  Thank you to our partners at Hallow! Hallow is the #1 Catholic app that helps deepen your prayer life, meditate on Holy Scripture, fall asleep to Bible stories, and so much more! Make sure you click on this link to receive an extended 30-day free trial of their premium content exclusively for our listeners. Click the link here to sign-up.As always, please pray for us! We are men who are striving every day to be holy, to become saints and we cannot do that without the help of the Holy Ghost! Get social with us:Follow us on the ‘gram' here.Join our private FB group exclusively for our listeners.Support this apostolate on Patreon. Contact Father Dom and James directly:james.cr.caldwell@gmail.comdcouturier@olcparish.net Resources mentioned in the episode:1. Catechism section on prayer2. Francis Thompson's "The Hound of Heaven"3. Blake Shelton's "Ol' Red"4. Litany of Humility prayer5. Hallow6. The Power of Silence by Cardinal Sarah7. How to pray the Rosary8. Catechism to Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/themanlycatholic?fan_landing=true)

Welcome to Part 2 on Prayer! Prayer is indeed your greatest spiritual weapon against Satan and the evil one. Listen to find out what specific prayer will help you against the wickedness and snares of the devil (I tease, I know, but it is not the St. Michael prayer.) In this episode, learn the different types of prayers, how St. Paul is a little crazy but also extremely manly, how the Mass is the ultimate form of prayer, and why the "Our Father" is something we should reflect on every single day. Thank you to our partners at Hallow! Hallow is the #1 Catholic app that helps deepen your prayer life, meditate on Holy Scripture, fall asleep to Bible stories, and so much more! Make sure you click on this link to receive an extended 30-day free trial of their premium content exclusively for our listeners. Click the link here to sign-up.As always, please pray for us! We are men who are striving every day to be holy, to become saints and we cannot do that without the help of the Holy Ghost! Get social with us:Follow us on the ‘gram' here.Join our private FB group exclusively for our listeners.Support this apostolate on Patreon. Contact Father Dom and James directly:james.cr.caldwell@gmail.comdcouturier@olcparish.net Resources mentioned in the episode:1. Catechism section on prayer2. Francis Thompson's "The Hound of Heaven"3. Blake Shelton's "Ol' Red"4. Litany of Humility prayer5. Hallow6. The Power of Silence by Cardinal Sarah7. How to pray the RosarySupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/manlycatholic)

"A family that prays together stays together." How often have we heard this saying? How often do we roll our eyes and think to ourselves, "oh gosh, here we go again!" Don't be ashamed men, I used to think the same thing. The fact is the healthy do not need a doctor, but the sick. And men, unfortunately, we are all sick. Thankfully, Jesus, the Great Physician, gives us an antidote to our illness...prayer!St. Vincent de Paul summarizes prayer perfectly when he states, "Give me a man of prayer and he will be capable of everything. He may say with the apostle, “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.”  Prayer transforms us. God does not need our prayers. God knows everything already. Prayer is for us, gentlemen. Without prayer, we have no captain driving our ship. Prayer is what keeps us grounded and humble to recognize how great God is and how minuscule we are. Listen to part 1 of our 3 part series on prayer! See why the phrase "hound of heaven" is Father Dom's favorite expression of Jesus and why "The Hound of Heaven," was once called "the most magnificent poem ever written in English" by the great G.K. Chesterton to which J. R. R. Tolkien, the master behind "The Lord of the Rings" stated Chesterton was not giving the poem the credit it deserves.  James' Challenge: Start praying! 1, 5, 15, 60 minutes. Doesn't matter! Begin today. Simply ask Jesus to be present in your life, to direct your path, and give you peace. Jesus always meets us where we are at. He is always knocking on our door. Let Him in and see what He can do! As always, please pray for us! We are men who are striving every day to be holy, to become saints and we cannot do that without the help of the Holy Ghost! Get social with us:Follow us on the ‘gram' here.Join our private FB group exclusively for our listeners.Support this apostolate on Patreon. Contact Father Dom and James directly:james.cr.caldwell@gmail.comdcouturier@olcparish.net Resources mentioned: 1. Catechism section on prayer2. Francis Thompson's "The Hound of Heaven"3. Blake Shelton's "Ol' Red"4. Litany of Humility prayer5. HallowSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/manlycatholic)

Heaven is for real, but how often do we think of it? Do we contemplate our eternity? In this episode, we talk about what heaven is, what our we hope eternity to look like, our misunderstandings about the afterlife, and the confidence we have in Christ for the gift of eternal life. Check out this great talk by Sr. Josephine Garrett, that was part of the inspiration for this episode! You might also enjoy Francis Thompson's poem "The Hound of Heaven." Check out this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1aRwpBQISDU

“I fled Him, down the nights and down the days,” opens the famous poem “The Hound of Heaven” by English poet Francis Thompson. Thompson describes Jesus’ unceasing pursuit—despite his efforts to hide, or even run away, from God. The poet concludes “I am he whom Thou seekest!” The pursuing love of God is a central theme of the book of Jonah. The prophet received an assignment to tell the people of Nineveh (notorious enemies of Israel) about their need to turn to God, but instead “Jonah ran away from the Lord” (Jonah 1:3). He secured passage on a ship sailing in the opposite direction of Nineveh but the vessel was soon overcome by a violent storm. To save the ship’s crew, Jonah was thrown overboard before being swallowed by a large fish (1:15–17). In his own beautiful poem, Jonah recounted that despite his best efforts to run away from God, God pursued him. When Jonah was overcome by his situation and needed to be saved, he cried out to God in prayer and turned toward His love (vv. 2, 8). God answered and provided rescue not only for Jonah, but for his Assyrian enemies as well (v. 10). As described in both poems, there may be seasons of our lives when we try to run from God. Even then Jesus loves us and is at work to guide us back into restored relationship with Him (1 John 1:9).

Listen up! God is in hot pursuit of each one of us!! Let this lesson on the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son, a/k/a

This is the question we are examining in this episode... Before Australia's Stonehenge Richard Patterson spent 20 years exploring this topic in depth.  This is a little bit of a different subject for UTC however a worthy one none the less... I spent some time many years ago delving into serial killers, Jack the Ripper and the twisted mentality behind them so it was interesting to discuss this all these years later... I can truly appreciate how Richard kept pulling at this thread, it's continuing echo through time it both very interesting and disturbing at the same time... I hope this one provides an interesting perspective...

Sermon ManuscriptI'm guilty. I have friends and family members that I've written off for the Gospel. In my mind, I've thought, “no way would they ever believe. They have too much anger, or other sin, or unbelief, or hurt. They are too opposed to the claims of Christ… or they don't see their need… or they're too proud to submit to Christ… and would never to turn their life over to him.” And the sad result of these thoughts is I've stopped praying for them, I've stopped sharing Christ.I don't think I'm alone here. Take a moment and think of one person in your life that you feel is a lost cause for Christ… Is it a sibling, a co-worker, a friend, a parent? Maybe yourself? Whoever it is – there is hope.If there's one takeaway from these verses – it's this: There is not an individual in the whole world whose heart is outside of God's ability to change and forgive. No one. And that includes you.Case in point - Saul here hated the believers in Jesus. He was breathing threats and murder against them. In other words, his hatred oozed out of everything he said and did. Saul wasn't just an enemy of the church – no, he was the chief enemy. I mean, look what happened after his conversion – verse 31 – “the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up.” Before, Saul had been ravaging the church. That's what it says in the beginning of chapter 8 – he had men and women in Jerusalem dragged off to prison. Saul was like a ravenous wolf – in pursuit of prey –he saw that the believers were scattered in Samaria. And so he sought official papers to pursue them in Damascus… and bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. His goal was to snuff out those according to “the Way” – that's what some people called the believers, verse 2. And, of course, the Christians were afraid of Saul. We see a little bit of that in Ananias's initial reaction to the Lord… and even the disciples were apprehensive at first. They had certainly written him off for the Gospel. But God had other plans.In the bigger story of Acts, so far, we've seen this growing opposition to the early church. But what has happened is that the church has grown despite the persecution and actually because of it. And we come now to another big turning point in our church history. I say turning point because of all the ways God would use Saul of Tarsus for His kingdom. Let me note up-front… Saul is his Hebrew name. The translation in the Greek and Latin is Paul. We know him mostly as the apostle Paul– but he wasn't called that until a couple chapters later – so I'll stick with Saul for now. For him:• What seemed impossible was made possible. • Out of the darkness in his heart, came light. • He was an enemy that became a brother. • The one most opposed to Christ became the great proclaimer of Christ. • He was a persecutor but became the persecuted. If you look at the outline in the bulletin – those are all the subpoints. The two main things that happen here are first Saul of Tarsus was Called out of darkness into light and second, we see he was Chosen as an instrument of grace. Called by God and chosen by God… all because of his grace.And let me make this real in your life. This is not just an account of someone 2000 years ago transformed by God…. neither is it just a picture of what God can do in someone else's life who you or I have written off. No, if you are a believer in Christ, this is also the story of your life. Yes, there are a couple of unique things that happened to Saul – but our heart condition… yours and mine. our enmity with God – it's the same rejection of God and impossibility of faith… were not God to have called us and chosen us. I hope you'll see that as we work through these verses.1.) Called out of darkness into light (Acts 9:1-9)So first, called out of darkness into light. Saul had acquired letters from the High Priest so that he could imprison the Christians. And Saul is on the way from Jerusalem to Damascus! It's about a 135 mile journey. A long way back then. And his purpose was to lock up the believers.From a human standpoint – it seemed impossible that Saul could ever believe. In fact, it was impossible, humanly speaking. Romans 3 – “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God… no one is righteous… no not one. No one understands, no one seeks God.” None of us are able to believe God. That's because we are dead in our sins. Spiritually dead and depraved. Our hearts are stone. We are wretched and blind. That's what the Scriptures say and what we sang. And that's the amazing grace. Because what was impossible for Saul – impossible for us. God has made possible. He's done it through Jesus.As Saul was approaching Damascus – everything changed – he was ready to put an end to the Way. And then, all of a sudden, he was blinded by a light all around him. The light was so overwhelming that Saul fell to his knees, verses 3 and 4, and a voice from heaven called to him. “Saul, Saul!” Naming him twice – that's an intimate emphasis. “Who are you, Lord?” “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting”We're not given insight here into Saul's thoughts. But we do know that he and all those opposed to Jesus – believed that Jesus was dead. To them, Jesus was not God and they themselves had had him put to death. But here's Saul, on his knees, blinded by the light… not only was Jesus not dead, he was very much alive, displaying his glory and power in the light and his place in heaven as his voice resonated. The resurrected and ascended Jesus. And Jesus made this profound statement to Saul and for us. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” In other words, “As you, Saul, have been persecuting believers in me… you have been persecuting me”There's not time to get into all the amazing things about this – but when you are in Christ, he is in you. You've been grafted in through His Spirit into the source of life – the true vine. He abides in you. So, any persecution against the church is persecution against Christ.It's here that God called Saul to himself – out of the wretchedness of his sin – his total opposition to Christ, and into belief and forgiveness in him. He was spiritually blind. Before Saul's conversion, he could see on the outside with his eyes, but his heart was dark on the inside. And at his conversion, he became blind on the outside, and the light of the Gospel shone on the inside. In other words, his eyes had gone from sight to blindness and his heart had gone from blindness to sight. Later in Acts, Saul himself recounted his conversion… and he connected his calling to darkness and light. Spiritual darkness and spiritual light. I think God blinded Saul to show him that. To reveal the light of the Gospel within… and his utter dependance on God.This was a very different kind of conversion than the Ethiopian eunuch from last week. The Ethiopian had been seeking the truth. Reading from Isaiah. – when God placed Philip in his life. God was pursuing them both, but in different ways. For Saul of Tarsus – it was a sudden conversion. Saul was stopped in his tracks, literally! But in both cases, in fact, in all cases, it's the Lord's work. He is the one who pursues.In 1893, poet Francis Thompson penned what has been called the most magnificent poem in the English language – titled “The Hound of Heaven.” It describes God's relentless pursuit of a sinner – despite fleeing and hiding. Here are the first lines:“I FLED Him, down the nights and down the days;I fled Him, down the arches of the years; I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways… Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears… I hid from Him, and under running laughter. Up vistaed hopes I sped; And shot, precipitated, Adown Titanic glooms of chasmèd fears, From those strong Feet that followed, followed after. But with unhurrying chase, And unperturbèd pace, Deliberate speed, majestic instancy, They beat—and a Voice beat… More instant than the Feet—‘All things betray thee, who betrayest Me.'”Thompson was likely reflecting back on God's pursuit of him. For multiple stanzas he writes of all the ways that he fled God, all the things that he pursued besides God – He asked the darkness to hide him and the evening to cover him. But happiness and peace eluded him in all his worldly pursuits. For Thompson, that included many things even an opioid addiction. Yet God would not let upThompson ends as he has come to his end. A word from God “Rise, clasp my hand and come! …Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest, …I am He Whom thou seekest” The hound of heaven… the pursuer of sinners… For Saul, nothing would stop God's pursuit. Despite Saul's rejection of Jesus, Jesus himself would call and forgive.Some of you came to faith in Christ as an adult. And as you reflect, you sensed that pursuit of God in Christ. And you know, he pursued you, and not the other way around. Others of you, myself included, believed in Christ as a child. And although maybe you don't remember a day that you didn't know Christ, yet it was still God who pursued you, who turned your heart and mind to him. Or perhaps God is still in pursuit of you – and you sense it – he will not give up - and he's calling you as he called out to Saul. There is no sin so big that God cannot forgive you. Saul was complicit in murder and totally opposed to Jesus, yet God pursued him like the hound of heaven. Maybe you've even written yourself off… maybe you've thought that God couldn't forgive you…. Our God is greater than all our sin, as the hymn goes. Despite Saul's grievous sin, yet he was called and forgiven by Christ - out of the darkness of his sin and unbelief, and into the light of his grace. It's the work of God alone – his pursuit of Saul and you and me. God has made the impossible possible.2.) Chosen as an instrument of grace (Acts 9:10-31)That brings us to the second part of this text. Not only was Saul's heart transformed by the Gospel, God also chose him to be an instrument of His grace. That's point number 2.You see, at the same time as Saul was blinded and entered Damascus, The Lord spoke to a believer named Ananias. Ananias was to seek out Saul and pray for him to receive his sight. His first reaction was “Who?! This guy, Saul? You mean the one who persecuted the saints in Jerusalem and came here to persecute us.” Here's how the Lord responded. Verse 15, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.”God had chosen Saul, before the foundation of the world, to be an instrument of His grace… not because of any worth or value or knowledge that Saul had, but because God willed it. God had prepared Saul for this very time.And Ananias obeyed – and not only did he go and find Saul but look at Ananias's first words to Saul in verse 17. “Brother Saul!” Talk about a heart receptive to God's Word. If you were in Ananias's shoes… would you have called him brother? Or would you have started out by saying, “Saul, you have caused so much pain… I hope you will never forget that.” No, that would be bitterness.“Brother, Saul” Words full of grace and forgiveness. Words that ministered to Saul. This enemy had become a brother! A brother in Christ, a brother in ministry, a partner in the Gospel. As Ananias prayed, Saul regained his sight, he could see… and he received the Holy Spirit. He was soon baptized. He'd been fasting as well, but receved food and was strengthened.Even in the first days or weeks after his conversion… God would use Saul as an instrument of Grace. Verse 20, “Immediately,” it says, “he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogue.”Think of the irony. Saul had been on his way to Damascus to destroy the church… but instead, God used him to build up the church. Instead of carting off believers taking away from their numbers, God used Saul to add to their numbers. What an amazing testimony.A few years ago, I was visiting someone in a state prison. I was there as a pastor to pray for and just be with the son of some dear friends. This young man asked if I would be willing to visit with some of his fellow inmates. Many of these guys don't have anyone to come and visit – their families have disowned them and their friends have moved on. Of course – it was an honor to meet these fellow image bearers. A couple of them were believers… and a couple of them weren't, so it was an opportunity to share Christ or encourage them in Christ.One of these men began to tell me his story. He's serving multiple life sentences with no chance for parole. He'd been a drug dealer and had taken the life of at least one other person. He described to me the initial shock of his arrest and imprisonment… and how in the first decade in prison - he grew more and more angry at God - hateful toward himself and resentful of others. Until the glorious day that God called him out of his sin and darkness and into the light of God grace. It was a transformational experience. He wrote a book about his conversion. In it he writes, “[I was] once upon a time a street dealer and hit man for hire, but now I'm a man forgiven by the Love and grace of God that comes only through His son, our Lord Jesus Christ…”And beyond God's Gospel call in his life, God chose him to be an instrument of grace. Since that day, he's grown in God's Word… taken some remote seminary classes and he's become a pastor to the other inmates. He started a Sunday church service, where he preaches the Bible every week. In fact, right now he's probably preaching God's Word.We stayed in touch for a couple years through email. I sent him a couple books on preaching and pastoring. His days are filled with study, and counselling and prayer for these other men. I remember him saying to me, “I wish there was more time in each day.”God had called Saul out of darkness and chose him to be an instrument of God's grace to the Gentiles and kings and children of Israel, verse 15. And God called this man out of darkness and chose him to be an instrument of grace and the Gospel in prison. In both cases, going from opposing Christ to proclaiming Christ. And we've each been called out of unbelief and sin to be an instruments of God's grace. Proclaiming Christ wherever God has called and placed us.But be warned, being faithful to God's call involves suffering. Back in verse 16, God said to Ananias that he would show Saul just how much he would need to suffer for his name. Saul would soon experience the same persecution that he himself had inflicted on the church.Now, these verses don't tell us how long Saul was in Damascus. but in the book of Galatians chapter 1, the apostle himself tells us that he was there for three years – and that included preaching in nearby Asia. That's a considerable amount of time. Saul was preaching that Jesus was the Son of God, verse 20, and verse 22, proving the Jesus was the Christ. Christ in the Greek is the same word as Messiah in the Hebrew. In other words, Saul was declaring to all the Jews in Damascus… that Jesus had fulfilled the Messianic promises. He was the Christ.Many believed, but of course, many were not happy with Saul! And so now he becomes the target. He had been a persecutor, and now he was persecuted. So much so, that they wanted to kill him. Twice in these verses. First in Damascus, but he escaped. That would have been a sight to behold. First of all, how did he fit in a basket? I'm not quite sure I would fit in a basket. And then, if it was me, the rope would have snapped.But Saul escaped! He made his way back down to Jerusalem – there he met some of the apostles, ministering with them. And he was faithful to boldly preach the word – it says he disputed against the Hellenists. Remember, those were the Greek Jews. Possibly some of the very men that participated in killing Stephen. But now, they wanted Saul killed! But, again, Saul escaped. This time with the help of the disciples… and they sent him off to his homeland in Tarsus to preach the Good news.The called and chosen one… was an enemy, and now a brother, was an opposer, now a proclaimer, was a persecutor and now a persecuted.Let me take a brief tangent before we close. In these 2 cases of persecution, the disciples sought to protect Saul from threats. In another case later in chapter 14, Paul was kicked out of a city. Well, he goes right back in. Applied in our lives, we are given latitude to make decisions based on circumstances –there are times when fleeing a dangerous situation is best and other times we may be called to stay.Christians sometimes have a times a fatalistic mindset. Well, if I die, I die – so be it. But taking precautions is important, it's precedented in Scripture. But yet, we do have eternal rest and peace and joy to look forward to… so remaining in a hostile situation may be God's call, just like Stephen. But we're also given tasks to do. There are people to care for and people with whom we're to share the hope of Christ – Saul had more work to do and so he escaped these two situations. We'll see other examples like this as we continuw in Acts.ConclusionIn summary, God took a man who not only rejected Christ. But who was dedicated destroying Christ. ANd Jesus himself called him and chose him. It's first of all a reminder that there's no one out of the reach of Christ… In fact, faith is impossible without Him, impossible without the Holy Spirit. But utterly possible in Him. Faith in Christ is God's work - it always has been. And so, we should continue to pray for and engage our friends and family who do not know the grace of Christ.If you were drawn here this morning… and have never submitted yourself to Jesus, never come to him with your sin and shame… he is able to forgive and give you great honor. Nothing is too great. It can all been nailed to the cross.And finally, if you are a believer in Christ, you are a chosen instrument of His. You and I are not Apostle Pauls – but you are chosen, I am chosen to bring the message of hope and grace wherever God places us. May we be faithful and obedient to the call of Jesus no matter the suffering that may come – just as Saul was faithful and obedient.

Sofia and Giuliana (with a mic malfunction, sorry!) have a conversation about unfulfilled desires. Does God care about our longing? When we feel unfulfilled, does that mean Christ isn't enough for our hearts? Will our unfulfilled desires ever be answered? How can we live with them today? Our weekly challenge is to pray the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary and reflect on Mary's years of longing after the Ascension. And our media recommendation is the choral work The Long Road by Ēriks Ešenvalds. We'd love to hear from you! Write to us at pilgrimsoulpodcast@gmail.com or find us on Instagram at @pilgrimsoulpodcast. Other resources we mention: - Francis Thompson's poem The Hound of Heaven - Romano Guardini's book The Lord - Saint Anselm's prayer from the Proslogion - Saint Augustine's Discourse on Psalm 37 - The stories of Saint Gemma Galgani and Chiara Corbella Petrillo Our theme music is Nich Lampson's “Dolphin Kicks.”

Francis Thompson was a writer who fell upon hard times. Then through the kindness of a complete stranger, an outcast much like himself, the healing of Francis Thompson began. To him, this girl gave up the little she had; food, clothing and encouragement, but more than that, an ease from loneliness. To her, he gave things unknown in her life; tenderness and reverence and respect. Then at last, Francis Thompson began to write.

A poem a day keeps the sadness at bay.

"Is my gloom, after all, / Shade of his hand, outstretched caressingly?" Francis Thompson was an English Catholic poet who died on this day, November 13, in 1907. He was only 47 at the time, stricken with poor health that followed him from hard experiences he had had as a young man living on the streets of London. His story is a powerful witness to grace. "The Hound of Heaven" was written when Thompson was living at Our Lady of England Priory while recovering from opium addiction. One can hear in it echoed the sentiments of Psalm 139 (which he no doubt would have heard prayed often at the priory): "Where can I go from your spirit, or where can I flee from your face? … even darkness is not dark for you and the night is as clear as the day." Let’s pray for the soul of Francis Thompson on this anniversary of his death, and for all the Poor Souls during this month of November! Links "The Hound of Heaven" full text at CatholicCulture.org: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=10546 Richard Burton's famous reading of the poem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gToj6SLWz8Q Go to http://www.catholicculture.org/getaudio to register for FREE access to the full archive of audiobooks beyond the most recent 15 episodes. Donate at http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio to support this podcast! Theme music: 2 Part Invention, composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.

THE PROMISED OUTCOME OF TRIALS! James 1:2-4 NIV 2] Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3] because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4] Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Santiago 1:1 Mula kay Santiago, alipin ng Diyos at ng Panginoong Jesu-Cristo:Ipinapaabot ko ang aking pagbati sa labindalawang liping hinirang ng Diyos na nasa iba't ibang bansa. Santiago 1:2 Mga kapatid, magalak kayo kapag kayo'y dumaranas ng iba't ibang uri ng pagsubok. Santiago 1:3 Dapat ninyong malaman na napatatatag ang ating pananampalataya sa pamamagitan ng mga pagsubok. Santiago 1:4 At dapat kayong magpakatatag hanggang wakas upang kayo'y maging ganap at walang pagkukulang. > James tells us that when trials come they always have a divine purpose. He says in verse 3, Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (The word knowing speaks of understanding.) James is saying, I want you to understand that when trials come they are not without rhyme or reason. God always has a purpose in the trials that come our way. There is the promised outcome of our trials. (What is the purpose of trials in our life?) > James explains three things that trials produce in our life. A. Trials Produce Spiritual Purity. James speaks of the trying of your faith in verse 3. The word trying speaks of the purging effect of trials. The picture behind the word is that of precious metals being heated in order for the impurities to be removed. Someone has said that God puts us on our back that we might look up. God has his ways of getting our attention and He has his ways to working on things in our life. Trials are often the way He accomplishes this work. Francis Thompson says sorrow, loss and disappointment were "Hounds of Heaven" sent to bring the wanderer back to the haven of peace from which he strayed. Again, trials have a purifying affect. We also see that, B. Trials Produce Spiritual Stability. James also tells us in verse 3 that our trials worketh patience. The word patience speaks of perseverance. James is telling us that one of the ways God makes strong Christians is through trials. (Eph. 6:1 - 9 Message) - Family - Slave - Master (Ephesians 6:10 says,) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (How are we made strong?) As someone has said, > Trials are the divine gymnasium whereby we develop our spiritual muscles. C. Trials Produce Spiritual Maturity. In verse 4 James says, But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James used the word perfect twice in the verse. It is a word that means, complete, full grown. > James is talking about spiritual maturity. He does not want the believer to be lacking, but complete and living a full Christian life. Airplanes take off by overcoming the resistance of gravity and wind. Yet once they become airborne, that wind lifts them higher. Trials have a way of lifting us higher and higher. (Trials are part of Gods way of helping us mature spiritually. )

Father Stephen West reads The Hound of Heaven by Francis Thompson

Here is my podcast about One of the more well known Louisiana State Representatives, Francis Thompson, State Representative, District 19 In this interview he not only tells us about himself but he shares with us his commitment to public service and his love of Louisiana. Getting to know our State Representatives is getting involved in Louisiana, and that is what it is going to take to protect the good things and improve the things that need work.  Find out more about him on his Facebook Page @RepresentativeFrancisThompson   Louisiana State Representative , District 19 Serving Richland, West Carroll, and portions of Madison, East Carroll, Morehouse and Ouachita Parishes. Francis Thompson, State Representative, District 19

Today we celebrate the man who established the science of botany in America. We'll also learn about the botanist who survived a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness - an incredible story. We celebrate a presentation from 1977 that encouraged, "Take a pill if you will; I say take a plant to cope with everyday stress." We also learn about the little orchid that halted road construction in Louisiana and the British Plant Explorer that uncovered the orchid black market. Today's poetry features poems about summer. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book about infusing your garden with more color. And then we'll wrap things up with an adorable story about a botanically-inspired episode of an old TV show. But first, let's catch up on some Greetings from Gardeners around the world and today's curated news.   Subscribe Apple|Google|Spotify|Stitcher|iHeart   Gardener Greetings To participate in the Gardener Greetings segment, send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes and so forth to Jennifer@theDailyGardener.org And, to listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to play The Daily Gardener Podcast. It's that easy.   Curated News Migratory Birds Like Native Berries Best | Audubon “Even when fruits of invasive plants are abundant, migratory songbirds seek out native berries, according to new research. As winter approaches and the food supply dwindles, birds move south and devour fall fruits along the way to fuel their trip. But they don’t eat just any fruit on their autumnal journeys: Birds are after native berries, according to a study published in Biological Conservation in January. Even in late autumn, when fruits of invasive plants like Japanese barberry and multiflora rose dominate the landscape, migratory songbirds traversing New England seek out native blueberries, black cherries, and raspberries instead. North American birds evolved alongside North American plants for many thousands of years, so these are the berries they’re most familiar with. But that’s not the only reason to choose one fruit over another: Previous research has found that native fruits are more nutritious than their invasive counterparts. ‘They can’t be eating fast food before they take off on really long migrations,’ says ecologist Amanda Gallinat at the Utah State University, who led the new study. ‘They need something with high energy.’”   Our Favourite Garden Blogs..... | Sitting Spiritually The Blackberry Garden  Leicester-based ‘amateur and somewhat obsessed gardener’ Alison Levey opens the gates to her own garden, as well as inspirations and things about gardening that make her happy.  Her Instagram is definitely worth a follow to Instagram @blackberrygarden Dig Delve| Dig Delve features the writing of garden and landscape designer Dan Pearson and includes stories about gardens, horticulture, plants, landscape, nature, food ...all with stunning photography by Dan’s partner Huw Morgan. The Patient Gardener Helen Johnstone is the Patient Gardener and she says, “the title ‘Patient Gardener’ is quite aspirational as I’m not a particularly patient person… You will find that my posts are my own thoughts and ramblings mainly about my garden, my trials, and tribulations as well as my triumphs.” The Anxious Gardener David Marsden writes about his life as a full-time, working gardener in East Sussex, England. He tends two, large private gardens and shows them, and their wildlife, through the seasons. Sally Nex A garden writer based in Somerset, in the glorious countryside of the south-west of England. Mr Plant Geek Mr Plant Geek is Michael Perry, who brings over 18 years of experience in the horticultural industry to his blog … if you’re looking for shortcuts to gardening success, his blog is where to find uncomplicated tips – ‘I’m here to clear the fog, and help people enjoy easy gardens again!’ The Middle-Sized Garden Alexandra Campbell uses her blog to cover everything from how to use a garden fertilizer, growing vegetables, and how to improve your pruning. Do you have a middle-sized garden? If your garden is bigger than a courtyard but smaller than an acre, this is the one for you. The Curious Gardener Caleb Melchior describes himself as “a plant geek, writer, and designer. I believe in presence - being close, paying attention”   Plant Your Shade Trees Wisely. Today's chore was featured in The South Bend Tribune out of South Bend, Indiana, on this day in 1952. Here's what it said, "Don't plant your shade tree so that It shades your neighbor's yard Instead of your own. If you set the tree on the eastern border of your property, it will shade your neighbor's yard instead of your own garden during the hottest part of the day, in the afternoon. ...Consider your plantings as a permanent investment in beauty and comfort that is worth real thought."   Alright, that's it for today's gardening news.   Now, if you'd like to check out my curated news articles and blog posts for yourself, you're in luck, because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. So, there's no need to take notes or search for links. The next time you're on Facebook, just search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group.   Important Events 1838 On this day, the botanist Asa Gray resigned from the Wilkes Expedition. Gray was frustrated by all of the delays, he was a person of action, and he also disliked Captain Charles Wilkes. Gray disagreed with Wilkes about the Latin descriptions of the new taxa, and he also disagreed with Wilkes's staffing rules. Wilkes wanted to work with Americans only. But, Gray knew the work of the expedition would suffer without the help of European experts. So, Gray decided to pivot, and he left the expedition to accept a position at the University of Michigan. But, before he could officially start that job, Harvard wooed him away. At Harvard, Gray established the science of botany in America, and he guided the country into the international botany arena and made it competitive. And, that was due, in large part, to all of the great relationships Gray had established with European botanists. And, Gray was also terrific friends with Charles Darwin. So, it's no surprise to learn that it was Asa Gray who said, “Natural selection is not the wind which propels the vessel, but the rudder which, by friction, now on this side and now on that, shapes the course.”   1949 On this day, a 79-year-old botanist, Dr. Melville Thurston Cook, his wife, and their pilot were rescued by an Air Force helicopter after a week in the Alaskan wilderness. Cook reported they survived on 90 dozen eggs after their plane was forced down in the rugged Brooks Mountain range. As luck would have it, one thousand eighty eggs were aboard the plane as cargo. Cook shared their ingenuity with the world, telling how they had not lacked for variety in their preparation of the eggs, enjoying fried eggs, boiled eggs, poached eggs, scrambled eggs, shirred eggs, and omelet. Naturally, when he wasn't eating eggs, Dr. Cook collected specimens. Dr. Cook, who would be 80 in September, and his wife had been vacationing in Alaska. In newspaper accounts, he said he never doubted the party would be saved. But the crash had impacted their priorities. Following the accident, Cook and his wife moved to be closer to their children. One of their four kids followed Cook's footsteps to become a plant pathologist, Dr. Harold T. Cook. Before the accident, Cook was finishing up his career by working as a visiting part-time professor of plant pathology at Louisiana State University. During his prime, Cook had gone botanizing with Nathaniel Lord Britton and Elizabeth Gertrude Britton in Puerto Rico. He had also worked with Henry Allan Gleason at the New York Botanical Garden - rubbing shoulders with botanical giants.   1977 On this day, Ethan Allen and Elvin McDonald of House Beautiful (ww.housebeautiful.com) gave an inspiring presentation called "Decorating with Plants." McDonald revealed many new decorating-with-plant ideas. Keep in mind; this was three decades before Instagram. Otherwise, McDonald would have no doubt share photos of the over 300 plants in his apartment. In the newspaper promotions for his presentation, McDonald was quoted as saying, "Take a pill if you will; I say take a plant to cope with everyday stress."   1983 On this day newspaper headline on this day in The Town Talk in Alexandria, Louisiana said, 'Rare Plant Halts Road Work.' It turns out, a fifteen-million-dollar highway-widening project near College Station was stopped because it threatened a tiny, rare, and unusual orchid plant. The Spiranthes parksii (ii = "ee-eye"), is also known as Navasota Ladies' Tresses because it grows along the Navasota River. This rare orchid is only six inches tall with white blooms. First discovered in 1945, the Spiranthes parksii was described by Donovan Stewart Correll in his 1950 book, Native Orchids of North America North of Mexico.  And, when it became protected, the Navasota Ladies' Tresses were only the 54th U.S. plant species to be classified as endangered.   1988 On this day, British plant explorer Roy Lancaster revealed that a thriving black market for plants was threatening rare Chinese orchids. In the same way, an art collector might buy stolen works of art underground; elite plant collectors are the wealthy clients of orchid smugglers. Lancaster shared the plight of Paphiopedilum armeniacum ("paff-ee-oh-PED-ih-lum ar-MEN-ee-A-cum"), commonly known as the Golden Slipper Orchid - a rare orchid, which was discovered in 1980 but was 100 percent harvested from the world in 1983. In just three short years, the Golden Slipper Orchid had gone from discovery to presumed extinction.   Unearthed Words Here are some poems about summer:   The summer looks out from her brazen tower, Through the flashing bars of July. — Francis Thompson, English poet, A Corymbus for Autumn   Leaving the house, I went out to see The frog, for example, in her satiny skin; and her eggs like a slippery veil; and her eyes with their golden rims; and the pond with its risen lilies; and its warmed shores and the long, windless afternoons; like a dropped cloud, taking one slow step then standing awhile then taking another, writing her own soft-footed poem through the still waters. — Mary Oliver, American poet, Summer   Summer is come, for every spray now springs; The heart hath hung his old head on the pale; The buck in brake his winter coat he flings; The fishes flete with new repaired scale; The adder all her slough away she slings; The swift swallow pursueth the flies small; The busy bee her honey now she mings; Winter is worn that was the flowers' bale. And thus I see among these pleasant things Each care decays, and yet my sorrow springs. —Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, English poet and politician, Sonnet 7   Grow That Garden Library The Flower-Powered Garden by Andy Vernon This book came out in 2018, and the subtitle is Supercharge Your Borders and Containers with Bold, Colourful Plant Combinations. The author Sarah Raven said, "Full of good tips, growing and design guides and an invaluable, zippy-zappy plant encyclopedia, Andy Vernon's new book will help you plot your own flower-powered collections to make your garden glow." Andy Vernon is an award-winning garden writer, photographer, and horticultural consultant. This book is 300 pages of illustrated ideas to improve and redo beds, advice on caring for plants, fifteen incredible color themes, and plant-picks to help you create a garden bursting with color. You can get a copy of The Flower-Powered Garden by Andy Vernon and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $5.   Today's Botanic Spark 1966 On this day, the New York Daily News shared the TV listing for 9 pm: it was a repeat episode of Bewitched starring Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York. In the episode, rare black Peruvian roses robbed Samantha of her witching powers and gave her little green square spots on her face. Aunt Clara remembers that the Peruvian black rose was used to drive witches out of Peru. She sends Darrin off to gather items for the antidote, and then she brewed them all together. She needed bat wings, porpoise milk, the eye of newt, and an ostrich feather. Luckily for Samantha, Aunt Clara said that she could only get Peruvian black rose sickness once.

During this episode I pick Jonathan's brains on the topic of manifestation and how the practise of yoga can be a vital aid to manifesting the life you desire.

After the homily, I've included a reading of Francis Thompson's poem, "The Hound of Heaven," which I reference in the homily. I hope you enjoy the reading in full. Thanks to Mike and Katie Cotter for the beautiful leatherbound copy of the poem, from which I read. P.S. The Spanish word I was hunting for was sabueso. Happy Easter to all!

Top 5 Books for Lent and tips to read more often in this interview with Michael Merimee of Catholic book publisher Scepter Publishers. Books mentioned: Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis Praying from the Depths of the Psalms by Fr. John Henry Hanson Time for God by Fr. Jacques Philippe Call Him Father: How to Experience the Fatherhood of God by Fr. Edward G. Maristany Saints for Sinners by Archbishop Alban Goodier Saints Behaving Badly by Thomas Craughwell The Bishop of the Abandoned Tabernacle by Victoria Schneider Way of the Cross by St. Josemaria Escriva Because God is Real by Peter Kreeft Michael's Favorite Authors: Homer, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Fr. Jacques Philippe, Ronald Knox, Francis Thompson

On this day, we recognize the feast of St. Matthias and remember Oscar Cullman, born in 1902. The reading is from Francis Thompson, "Love and the Child." We’re a part of 1517 Podcasts, a network of shows dedicated to delivering Christ-centered content. Our podcasts cover a multitude of content, from Christian doctrine, apologetics, cultural engagement, and powerful preaching. Support the work of 1517 today.

Today's poem is Francis Thompson's "In no Strange Land." Remember to rate and review the podcast! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

For Amy. The post Poetry: “The Hound of Heaven,” by Francis Thompson appeared first on Air War Media.

Production and Sound Design by Kevin Seaman

We did a Dr. Seuss theme for our 2019 Vacation Bible School. I teach an adult class and each night I took one of Dr. Seuss's best books and used it as a theme for that night's study, so naturally, I preached the Sunday after VBS using Green Eggs and Ham as my theme. The sermon focused on how God is like the Francis Thompson poem says, a Hound of Heaven. Psalm 34:87 served as the key passage for this message. Psalm 34:8, CSB Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in him! Take the Lord for a Taste Test! See that the Lord is Worth Your Investment - give him your resources and more importantly your life. See that the Lord is Good! Yes He Is! Please check out our church on the web, on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/high-peak/message

Hope Frye is a human rights attorney who has been defending the human dignity and civil rights of migrants, refugees and other groups of vulnerable people for 40 years. Hope became involved  when she chaired the Board of Center for Human Rights & Constitutional Law and now leads teams of lawyers and doctors into ORR, ICE and CBP detention facilities to monitor compliance with the landmark 1997 Flores Settlement Agreement governing the treatment of unaccompanied migrant and refugee children. The Flores decision has governed the care of these children until Trump's vile regime circumvented that agreement. Most recently she has lead teams to McAllen, Texas, Homestead, Florida, and several facilities in the Rio Grande Valley. She is the attorney who discovered the premature newborn and recovering young mother at an overcrowded processing facility in McAllen, Texas last month. Hope Frye explains how Donald Trump's regime is violating American and international law in its treatment of migrants and refugees and why the culture of the Border Patrol and ICE encourages cruelty towards non-white immigrants, refugees, and migrants. Frye also shares her experiences documenting the horrible conditions inside of Trump's concentration camps and what it was like to discover a young mother and her premature baby who were suffering at the hands of Trump's Border Patrol enforcers. ****If you learn from and enjoy The Chauncey DeVega Show and great conversations such as this week's episode Hope Frye please show some love by making a donation during the June fundraiser via the Paypal link at ChaunceyDeVega.com or through Patreon. I do not run commercials or advertisements here on The Chauncey DeVega Show despite having received many offers to do so. Instead The Chauncey DeVega Show relies upon your generosity and kindness during its two fundraisers each year. Your generosity and goodness allows the show to continue, stay commercial-free, and grow.**** During this week's podcast Chauncey explains why Donald Trump's authoritarian right-wing July 4th "celebration" was a carnival of white supremacy where Trump's MAGAite faithful eagerly waited for his special love juice and other sacred fluids. Chauncey also "connects the dots" between Trump's vile July 4th event and how the Republican Party is a dangerous revanchist destructive organization on a global scale. And at the end of this week's show Chauncey reflects on America's moral reckoning and the poem "The Hound of Heaven" by Francis Thompson.   SELECTED LINKS OF INTEREST FOR THIS EPISODE OF THE CHAUNCEY DEVEGA SHOW  Hungry, Scared and Sick: Inside the Migrant Detention Center in Clint, Tex. Migrant Children Were Asked to Draw Their Experiences in U.S. Custody. Here's What They Drew Kids Describe In Their Own Words The Dire Conditions Inside A Border Detention Center Border Patrol tried to delete racist and obscene Facebook posts The Goldwater Campaign Donald Trump's “Inoffensive” War on Reality WHERE CAN YOU FIND ME? On Twitter: https://twitter.com/chaunceydevega On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chauncey.devega My email: chaunceydevega@gmail.com Leave a voicemail for The Chauncey DeVega Show: (262) 864-0154 HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT THE CHAUNCEY DEVEGA SHOW? Via Paypal at ChaunceyDeVega.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thechaunceydevegashow  Music at the end of this week's episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show is by JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound. You can listen to some of their great music on Spotify. 

Sit back, put up your feet, or start your lawn mower (Tom), and enjoy a chat with Andrew Osenga of the Normals and Caedmon's Call.  He'll be talking through some of Nate's favorite songs and their stories off his newest album.  If you would like to keep tabs on what Andrew is up to, check him out at http://www.andrewosenga.com/  At the beginning of the episode, the boys listen to a modern adaptation of the poem The Hound of Heaven written by Francis Thompson produced by Emblem Media LLC. The book was written by Brian and Sally Oxley, Sonja Oxley Peterson with Dr. Devin Brown. Illustrations by Tim Ladwig.  Here is the link if you want to check it out in its full glory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXlgz4aBKt8&t=724s

“Relentless.” Does that seem like a good word to describe God? “Relentless” means “persistent, not giving up.” In the late 1800’s, Francis Thompson wrote one of the better-known poems in the English language, “The Hound of Heaven.” In that poem he describes trying to run away from God, only to find that, like a hound chasing its prey, God never gave up His pursuit of him, the foolish, wayward sinner. Yet, the “Hound of Heaven” was not chasing the sinner to destroy him, but to redeem him in his gracious love. That was Jonah’s experience, too. Is it yours? We try to run away from God, the “Hound of Heaven,” only to experience His relentless pursuit of His glory and our eternal good. And, in the end, when He captures us by His sovereign grace, aren’t we eternally grateful? Join us this Sunday as we see “The Relentless God” portrayed in Jonah 1:7-17.

At Lords by Francis Thompson

We often hear much talk about free will. But God is relentless in His pursuit of us even though we have the free will to turn down His persistent chasing. The whole Bible is the story of how God is seeking out His people to return to Him. That’s the heart of the gospel—God going after sinful people. We are constantly hiding and running from a loving God. Many people define religion as man’s search for God. However, the Bible paints a beautiful portrait of God’s search for man. The mystery of it all is that God pursues man! When Adam and Eve hid from His presence, the Lord called, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9).It’s our sin that makes us hide. There’s a poem by Francis Thompson called the The Hound of Heaven that so beautifully depicts this truth. In The Hound of Heaven, Thompson runs from God in order to maintain the pleasures of his riotous living. What God banished Adam and Eve from, He wanted to replace what was taken with Himself. God is pursuing us with the same intent. His purpose in HIs pursuit is so that we find in Him our soul's desire.Reach Out and ChatJoin the conversation on social media by chatting about the show with the hashtag: #unfoldingwords Leave a comment: http://www.unfoldingwords.com/blog/episode28Connect with me on social media: Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/unfoldingwords) Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/nonsuperwoman) Facebook: (http://www.facebook.com/unfoldingwords) If you enjoyed this episode head on over to Apple Podcasts (http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/unfolding-words/id1390433611?mt=2) or Stitcher (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/unfolding-words?refid=stpr) kindly leave a 5-star rating, a review and subscribe!Ways to subscribe to Unfolding WordsClick to subscribe via Apple Podcasts (http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/unfolding-words/id1390433611?mt=2)Click to listen on Google Podcast (http://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xODA5NDgucnNz)Click to subscribe via Spotify (http://open.spotify.com/show/3SfAJ6dbzkqZhPRMd5Rhsl?si=YdqW7JE4Qmynakt_ydPGMQ)Click to subscribe via Stitcher (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/unfolding-words?refid=stpr)Click to subscribe via RSS (http://feeds.buzzsprout.com/180948.rss)Help Spread the Word:We'd love it if you could please share #Unfolding Words with your Twitter followers. Click Here To Post A Tweet

The Patrick Coffin Show is 100% listener supported. Help us keep our show independent and unfiltered. Consider supporting our work with a one-time or recurring donation HERE.   Tweet to Patrick HERE Follow Patrick on Facebook HERE Check out the store HERE Sign up for our Inside Scoop newsletter with the best of The Patrick Coffin Show each week.   Join the Conversation Question of the week: What is one concrete thing I can do to be an ambassador of hope for someone in my life who may be suffering depression or otherwise feeling despair?  ********************** Ours is an age of social disruption, isolation, and atomization. Rates of suicide among young people, rich and poor, along with instances of clinical depression are on the sharp rise since 1999. A dark ennui—call it despair, or melancholia, or depression—has settled into the lives of millions of people. Sources of community support that used to provide a bullwark against all this “apartness,” such as a vibrant parish at the center of family life and vice versa, mens’ and womens’ social clubs, and a culture that supported the ideals of monogamy, have withered or vanished. Psychiatrist Dr. Aaron Kheriaty deals with the fall-out of these disruptions every day in his clinical practice and as an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of California Irvine where he is also director of the bioethics program. This is a fascinating exchange of ideas—from social science data, to poetry, to the life witness of the saints to the truths of Scripture—related to helping those suffering maladies that seem to cruelly evacuate hope from the human heart. Very few doctors see the interconnectedness between the order of nature (and nurture) and the order of grace. Aaron Kheriaty is one of them, and he’s downright evangelical about getting the word out about the urgently needed, good old-fashioned hope. He’s also a fine writer who is attuned to the mystery of suffering in a way that is wise and accessible. The Hail Holy Queen prayer describes the location of our sojourn as “this vale of tears” for good reasons. If you or someone you know has had serious vicissitudes, trials, or setbacks in his or her life, this is a “don’t miss” interview.   In this interview, you will learn: Why the worlds of psychiatry and of faith have large areas of overlap and agreement A workable definition of despair and its antidote How the lives of some of the (mentally ill) saints can be a sign of great hope and consolation Why suicide, and examples of triumph over despair, can both be “contagious” The ways in which the Incarnation of God in Christ provides the direct proof of divine accompaniment and healing regarding mental illness and the loss of hope The difference between human hope and the supernatural virtue of hope   Resources mentioned in this episode: The Catholic Guide to Depression  by Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, with Monsignor John Cihak Man’s Search for Meaning by Dr. Viktor Frankl People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil by Dr. M. Scott Peck The Hound of Heaven and Other Poems  by Francis Thompson, Intro by G.K. Chesterton Dying of Despair essay in “First Things” by Dr Aaron Kheriaty University of California Irvine link to Dr. Kheriaty’s bio and contact info 

Rebroadcast of the long running radio program, "The Ave Maria Hour", a presentation of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. www.AtonementFriars.org Francis Thompson, English poet of the 1890s, whose most famous poem, “The Hound of Heaven,” describes the pursuit of the human soul by God. Thompson was educated in the Roman Catholic faith at Ushaw College, a seminary in the north of England. He studied medicine at Manchester, but not conscientiously, and began to take opium; he then went to London, where from 1885 to 1888 he lived in destitution. In 1888 the publication of two of his poems in Wilfrid Meynell’s periodical, Merry England, aroused the admiration of Robert Browning. Meynell and his wife, Alice, befriended Thompson, induced him to enter a hospital, nursed him through convalescence, and in 1893 arranged publication of a collection, Poems. Thompson is chiefly associated with rhapsodic accounts of religious experience written in a diction much influenced by 17th-century Catholic verse. From 1892 to 1896 Thompson lived near a Franciscan priory in north Wales, during which period he wrote Sister Songs (1895) and New Poems (1897). Thompson died of tuberculosis.

Patrick Guest is an Australian children's author, Olympic physiotherapist, and father of three. He is most noted for his children's books That's What Wings Are For - dedicated to children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and their parents, and The Ricker Racker Club, written for his boys when their baby sister joined the family. Find out more about Patrick's work at PatrickGuest.com.au. What you'll learn: 1. What Patrick's first career was, and why he gave it up for writing.2. The true story that inspired Patrick to write That's What Wings Are For.3. How The Ricker Racker Club is being used to touch and inspire school children in Melbourne, Australia. 4. What success means to him. FULL TRANSCRIPT Elizabeth: Welcome to Writers’ Tête-à-tête with Elizabeth Harris, the show that connects authors, songwriters and poets with a global audience. So I can continue to bring you high-calibre guests, I invite you to go to iTunes, click Subscribe, leave a review, and share this podcast with your friends. I’m delighted to introduce children’s author Patrick Guest (PG) – father of three, Olympic physiotherapist, children’s author. Patrick Guest – born into an ever loving, ever growing family, 7 siblings, in the beachside suburb of Seaford, Melbourne, Australia. Patrick was blessed with all the things that make a childhood magical – plenty of family, friends and freedom to explore this wonderful world. An assortment of careers along the way – cobbler, elephant washer, failed accountant, anatomy demonstrator at Monash Uni, national team physio for Mozambique. Little wonder he’s been dubbed the Forrest Gump of Frankston. Adventures and stories seem to follow him around and now he’s writing them down. 5 books, (signed with a little hair) in the past 2 years, many more in the pipeline. Patrick Guest, welcome to Writers’ Tête-à-tête with Elizabeth Harris. Patrick: Great to be here, Elizabeth. Elizabeth: Great to have you here, Patrick, on this lovely sunny day in Melbourne, believe it or not, we’ve got the sun. Patrick, we recently discovered we attended the same secondary college.  Patrick: We did. Elizabeth: I had to smile when I read you initially became an accountant. Please tell my listeners about that transgression - and how you escaped. Patrick: Ah, the transgression. Let’s start with that. Look. Fear, insecurity, there was a recession kicking in. But really I think, as a 17-year-old, having to work out what subjects to choose, I didn’t know how to make that decision at 17. Elizabeth: So you did Economics … is that right? Patrick: Economics, Accounting, Legal Studies, Maths. I was really probably inspired at that time by my favourite TV show, Family Ties – Michael J. Fox. Elizabeth: Wasn’t he great? He’s great. Still. Patrick: At the time, I think back now – what a dork he was – it probably says a lot about what a dork I was and still am. I thought he was cool. Elizabeth: He was funny, and you’re funny. Patrick: He was cool, and I thought “Who do I want to be like?”, and I thought “Michael J. Fox”. I went down the corporate path, which was a terrible decision. I don’t regret it – I made some friends for life, and I realized early on that money doesn’t make you happy. Elizabeth: It’s such an important lesson at that age, isn’t it, cause many people learn that quite late, if at all. Patrick: Yeah, so that’s something that has stayed with me, and I’m really grateful. Elizabeth: Was there a pivotal moment when you realized “This accounting thing is just not me”? Was there an incident? Patrick: There was. Elizabeth: Can you share that, or is that private? Patrick: No, no, let’s share this. It’s all about sharing in this session. So I’m walking down Flinders St Station, and I’m walking down in my suit and tie, down the ramp… Elizabeth: How old were you at the time? Patrick: It would have been in my first year out of graduation, maybe 22 or something. 21, 22. Walking down the ramp, with cattle class, just walking down, we were all off to work. Against the flow, this lady came through the crowd and just gently put her hand on me and said, “Smile!” Elizabeth: (Laughter) I promise you it wasn’t me. Patrick: She just said “Smile” and I’m walking down – I must have looked so miserable. Elizabeth: Was she an angel or a real person? Patrick: I don’t know. But I hear where you’re coming from there, because from that moment – and I blame Banjo Patterson – and maybe my dad for putting me onto Banjo. Elizabeth: Why? It’s good to blame other people, isn’t it? Patrick: My favourite Australian poem would be The Great Clancy of the Great Overflow… Elizabeth: Oh wonderful. Patrick: …And where Banjo writes: And the hurrying people daunt me, and their pallid faces haunt me   As they shoulder one another in their rush and nervous haste, With their eager eyes and greedy, and their stunted forms and weedy,    For townsfolk have no time to grow, they have no time to waste.   So that poem was just ringing in my ears as I was off to the office sitting there, and from that moment I had come to the end of my fancy – I had a lot to change with Clancy. But I doubt he’d suit the office, Clancy of the Overflow. And for someone who had had that instilled in him, the spirit of adventure at a very young age, and parents – wonderful parents that had fostered that– and here I am in this shoebox, little partitioned office thing, and it just wasn’t for me. Elizabeth: Soul-destroying. Patrick: Soul-destroying. For some people it isn’t, and some of my best friends have continued along that path, and it’s a great path for them, but for me it wasn’t. Elizabeth: We need everybody, don’t we, the array of professions and tradespeople, everybody to do their bit. But you had much more important things in store, Patrick. Which brings me to – our school was really quite traditional in lots of ways, being a Catholic coed college, with all the gender bias that goes with that. And I remember going back to Economics, and I remember being one of the few girls in Chemistry and Economics, because it was always the boys who were going to be the accountants, and the girls were going to be teachers or nurses. And in fact I did go on to be a nurse, but I was very happy to do that. So to me in our school, there was a real gender bias. And you address this in your fantastic book, The Ricker Racker Club. Can you tell us more about this great book please? Patrick: The Ricker Racker Club is based on a real club, invented by real people: my two boys, Noah and Reuben. So Noah and Reuben were roughly 4 and 3 at the time when the Ricker Racker Club was formed. And there was one hard and fast rule: No Girls. (Laughter) There were a few other rules: do something incredibly brave, do something incredibly kind, but the real rock-solid rule was No Girls. And then what happened… Elizabeth: I’m sure that’s changed now. Patrick: …They had themselves a sister, little Gracie. Gracie was born, and really the story of The Ricker Racker Club is what happened next after Gracie. Now Gracie is perfectly named. She is pure grace, she is pure joy. She does have an intellectual disability, and her capacity for joy is extraordinary. And she would – as happens in the book – walk up to the wolf next door and give the wolf a big hug. Her courage, her kindness, her unique joy, won the boys over very quickly. They won us all over, and the story sprung from there. Really, it’s a celebration of the joys of being a kid, and the innocence of these rules. They’re not coming from a nasty place, these rules – just boys being boys. But then, just the power of kindness, if there’s one thing that runs through all my books, it’s the power of kindness… Elizabeth: Yes, definitely. Patrick: …to change hearts. So that’s how that happened. And really The Ricker Racker Club is about a father saying to his two sons, “Be good to your sister.” Elizabeth: And you do it so well, Patrick. Patrick: And so it’s done really well. Elizabeth: When did you know you wanted to be a writer? Patrick: From the moment I could write. So I started very young. I do remember a series, ‘Powerful Patrick’. And I must have been about 5 or 6. I was doing the pictures back then and I was stapling them together, making these little books. And I’m sure Mum and Dad delighted in them. But I’m not sure anyone else did. Elizabeth: Have you still got them? Patrick: I haven’t been able to find them. Elizabeth: Oh no. Patrick: I hope I can find them one day. Mum was always a little bit of a hoarder, so it’ll be somewhere in the house. They’re still in the same place I grew up in, so they’ll be somewhere in that house. So I’ve been a natural storyteller my whole life. The vehicle for that telling a story was just verbal stories and emails and love letters to Lisa my wife … I’ve always found a way to put things on paper. But certainly through the barren accounting years, then really trying to work out where my lane was that had been lying dormant, and then the birth of Noah – my first son, Noah – came a flood of stories and the desire to get these things down on paper. The rest is history. Elizabeth: What was it particularly about that event - the birth of Noah – that opened the floodgates, so to speak? Patrick: Well the birth itself…even before the birth I was starting to work on a book. But it’s, I think it’s just this natural, just as we have a desire to breathe, have food and water, a desire to be heard and understood, and then as a parent, it’s just this innate desire to share stories and to bond through stories. Elizabeth: Legacy. Patrick: Legacy. What my dad did was the same with me. My grandfather – I vividly remember my grandfather declaring over me that “You’re going to be an author one day.” Elizabeth: Oh wow. Did he write? Patrick: My grandfather, no. It was more my grandmother – she was a gifted storyteller. She kissed the Blarney Stone a few times, Ma, and... So it’s flowed through, that Blarney Stone – the kissing of the Blarney Stone gift has been passed through, through Grandmother to my dad. Elizabeth: We have a similar heritage then. Patrick There you go. And I can see it in my kids as well. Noah and Reuben, they love telling stories and they love hearing stories. So it’s been passed on for sure. Elizabeth: That’s fantastic. Can you advise all the aspiring writers out there how to get started, and more importantly, how to keep going? Patrick: How to get started… I can only speak, maybe quote Oscar Wilde: “Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.” So I can only speak from the authority of my own experience. I don’t have a technique or a tactic or a ritual that I go through. I pray. I pray, and one thing that I’ll say to people when asked this question – again I don’t want to get too preachy here – but if you want to get creative, it helps to get in touch with your Creator. That’s all I can say. That might be a bit controversial but for some ears, but that’s what works for me. I don’t get on my knees and say “God, give me another book!” Elizabeth: “Give me a bestseller or a …” Patrick: “Give me a bestseller!” What I actually do is I surrender my agenda. Elizabeth: So ego is left aside. Patrick: Ego is left aside, and any preconceived ideas are left aside. So I’m not sitting there going “Give me inspiration”. I’m giving myself out, and saying “Take away”. Elizabeth: Use me, as a conduit. Patrick: “Use me”, and if that’s to be the best barista in Mornington, or go back to my cobbling beginnings, or elephant-washing beginnings, so be it. So most of – no, really all of – my flashes of inspiration you could say… There’s that great poem by Rumi, Listening, where he says, “When that voice speaks, may I sell my tongue and buy a thousand ears.” So when I’m hearing that voice, that is always followed by a period of prayerfulness or meditation which just opens up that creativity. Sounds easy. I know when I hear that voice, and I sell my tongue, I know that there’s a double emotion. Joy, and dread. Because I know that I’m in for some hard work. Elizabeth: ‘Cause writing can be hard work, can’t it. And the discipline that’s required – and you know you may not particularly feel like writing that day – but you have to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. Patrick: Yes, so back to the question, which was “How do we keep going?” How do we start? For me, I don’t really start until I’ve heard the voice, I’ve heard that voice, I’ve heard that spark of inspiration. How do I keep going? I know that I won’t have peace until it’s done. So I’m listening to that voice but I also know that it’s a collaboration after that. So I’m seeking opportunities to get it on paper or get it onto the computer. And they are taken in the busyness of my life with 3 young kids and a fulltime job as a physio. I have to be creative just to find that time. So often it’s my wonderful patients – patient patients – lying on the physio plinth – and I’ll just seek an opportunity to say, “Now that you’ve got all those needles all over you, there’s no way to run out of here. Would you mind listening to my latest? What do you think of it?” Elizabeth: Do they come back for another appointment after that, Patrick? Patrick: Normally they do. I don’t think I’ve managed to scare anyone off yet. Elizabeth: I might need to book for a session. Do I have to have a needle? Patrick: Not always, but it does – has that influence on my clinical judgment. Might be, if I’m honest. But I call it ‘bibliotherapy’. That works well, so I’m looking for opportunity. Sometimes I’ll pull the car over and send myself a text message for a sentence. Or middle of the night, off to the computer, or scribbling in bed on a bit of paper. I don’t have a routine about how to get these things down. Elizabeth: 2 a.m. is a common time for me to receive a sentence too. Patrick: In the shower can be a good place – you can scratch it into the wall, into the mist, write it down, whatever it is. But I’m in the posture of seeking the opportunity to find that time to write that down once I’ve heard that voice. Elizabeth: Can we talk about your work – who you work with, the wonderful men and women that you care for? Can we talk about that? Patrick: Yes, so 2 days a week, I work at the medical centre at Victoria Barracks, which is a service based in Melbourne. They are wonderful, so when I first started working for the military, I had a bit of a chip on my shoulder about war and the work of the military. Elizabeth: In what way? Patrick: I’d been a bit of a hippie, a bit of a peace lover, a bit biased against the war machine, or whether it’s a valuable service that the Army and Navy and Air Force offer. And then you get to meet these people and hear their stories. Elizabeth: Amazing. Patrick: Amazing, the sacrifice made. I see the plague of PTSD is becoming more public or known as an extension of the epidemic of general mental health problems in the world. As a physio you get a front row seat really, and you get the rare – it’s a real privilege to offer probably two of the greatest needs of the human being: to be heard and understood, and to be touched. Elizabeth: Yes. Beautiful. Patrick: To be touched. There aren’t many mainstream medical professionals that offer both. So as a physio you’re in a really good place and space to offer that service and in that way to gather stories. So in that way it does feed into the other half of my career, which is becoming more than half really, the writing side of things, and the gathering of stories from the confessional plinth is part of that, and the sharing of stories is part of that. Elizabeth: They’re exceptionally lucky to have you. Patrick: Goes both ways. Elizabeth: You’ve had wonderful success with your book sales. What does success mean to you? Patrick: About three bucks fifty? (Laughter) So I remember when my amazing editor and publisher Margrete Lamond sat me down – we met face to face for the first time – she’s based in New South Wales – one of her first pieces of advice was “Don’t give up your day job!” Elizabeth: I’ve had the same advice before. Patrick: So in terms of success it’s been humbling and mind-blowing to think that That’s What Wings Are For – my first book – has cracked the magical 10,000 books sold in Australia within 6 months. Elizabeth: Wow. Congratulations. That’s wonderful. Patrick: So now we’re into our second year of sales. I’m not sure where we’re up to now, but has been picked up internationally and translated internationally to Chinese and Korean and several other languages. What does it mean to me? It means that – it gives me a voice, a chance to talk to your lovely self, and to visit schools. I love that side of being a writer. Most writers are more comfortable in a darkened room tapping away. To my surprise, I was a very reluctant public speaker but I absolutely love going out to the schools. On Wednesday, I had a full school assembly, hundreds of kids there, and the audience and ability to speak and share… Elizabeth: ‘Cause you make that fun, don’t you. We’re just going back to The Ricker Racker Club for a moment, and can we know how you make that fun for the kids? ‘Cause the parents listening there would be really interested – we know we’re there to do hard work but school can be fun as well. So how do you make it fun for them, Patrick? Patrick: Well, The Ricker Racker Club – I invite everyone to join this very exclusive club, The Ricker Racker Club, IF they pass the test. So I read the story, but along the way we pause and issue challenges to the members of the audience to come up on behalf of the whole school, see if they can pass this test. So we follow the story. And one of the characters is Max, and in the first week he sticks his head into the fox’s hole. So I make up a little fox’s hole, and find a willing kid to stick his head into this fox’s hole. The whole school are counting 20 seconds and I bring out this little stuffed fox. So the poor kid doesn’t know I’m tiptoeing up behind him and “Raaaahhh!” Elizabeth: (Laughter) Do you get a lot of screams? Patrick: We get a few of those, and then the villain of the book is this wolf next door, which is based on a great German Shepherd that lived next door to me, and I have the scar to prove, the moment the basketball flew over the fence. I rescued the basketball – and Chance (the dog’s name was Chance) – got me. And so the wolf next door – it would normally have a wolf suit – and it’s normally the PE teacher who dresses up as a wolf. Elizabeth: Would you go to our school? They’d love you. Patrick: I’d love to. Elizabeth: Ours is a service school, so you’ll like it. Ours is a service school, so we have a lot of service families that go to... Nice connection for you. Patrick: I’d love to come out. Absolutely. So the kids build up and up and at the end, “Who wants to join this club?” “Yeah!” “Who wants to learn the secret password?” “Yeah!” So I force it down a little and say, “Unfortunately you haven’t done quite enough yet.” Elizabeth: (Laughter) Oh my, the kids will go “Oh what?” Patrick: So it’s a case of “Do not put up your hand, do not raise your hand, unless you are extremely brave.” All the hands go up. “I mean it, I’m warning you now – extremely brave.” Elizabeth: What age group are we looking at, with the hands going up? Patrick: Prep, all the way to 6. Elizabeth: The whole school, wow. Patrick: At this point, some of the Grade 6s I can tell – folded their arms; it’s a bit babyish for them. So picture it: I do target them a bit at this point. So I’ll normally look for the guy who’s lost interest – the kid can be too cool for school here. And I’ll grab this fellow and bring him up. “So on behalf of the school, let’s talk about Courage. Courage comes in many forms. You’ve already demonstrated Courage by standing up in front of the whole school. But Courage comes in many forms. The courage to make a mistake when you know it’s going to get you in trouble. You’re scared of something. And then there’s taste buds. So we go back to Week 3, if you were listening, what did Zack do in Week 3?” And he’ll say “I’m sorry, I can’t remember.” Again in a loud voice, “What did Zack do in Week 3?” And you get the book out again: Zack drank a tomato sauce milkshake. At this point I’m standing behind him with milk, and then I bring out the tomato sauce. And what’s he do now? At this point he’s shaking his head ‘no’. And the school have already started the chant without encouragement: “Drink! Drink! Drink! Drink!” So I make this milkshake, this foaming tomato sauce milkshake… Elizabeth: Oh no. Patrick: And I pause again and say “Unfortunately my friend, Zack did that for one person. You’re doing it for 700 people right now. That’s not enough. So I look around – I shop for the largest Brussel sprout I can find. And I bring out this Brussel sprout, drop it into the tomato sauce milkshake, and present it to this fellow. Elizabeth: Poor kid. Patrick: The poor kid. Originally, I used this – it occurred to me that this is peer group pressure of the highest order. So I now use this as an opportunity for this poor unfortunate kid to – they’re saying no at this point – I really esteem that courage. I say “Look, you have done something extraordinarily brave. Everyone here at some point is going to face a baying crowd of people saying ‘Drink! Drink!’ or whatever. Elizabeth: That’s so clever, Patrick. Patrick: And to say no in the face of that, is true Courage. So I give him a round of applause and he sits down. “Now who wants to be a legend?” (Laughter) So someone else comes up. Or I’ll turn it into the “What would the kind person do now?” Or even better. “Maybe there’s a teacher in the audience…” Elizabeth: So what I’ll do is I’ll leave it there, because if the school listens to that one they won’t book you. I will leave them in suspense. When I first read That’s What Wings Are For, I was sitting in a coffee shop, with tears rolling down my cheeks. The other patrons respectfully averted their eyes. And you know you’ve found a great book when so much emotion is ... Can you please tell us about your inspiration for That’s What Wings Are For? Patrick: So That’s What Wings Are For … Maybe I can mention one of my favourite poems of all time, which is The Hound of Heaven. The Hound of Heaven, for those who don’t know, written more than a hundred years ago by a homeless opium addict in London, Francis Thompson. So he was asking the big question: how could a loving God allow such suffering in the world, and particularly in his own life? And the penny starts to drop about halfway through. He says maybe, just maybe, You allow us in Your love to burn and burn until we become charcoal, and You pick us up and You create Your masterpiece. So That’s What Wings Are For – I’m not calling it a masterpiece – it certainly came from a burning charcoal in process. And that process was the great sadness in my life. My son Noah has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which is a devastating condition that involves the wasting of muscles. And the heart’s a muscle, and it’s a devastating disease. So in light of that I was asked to write a book about a certain blue dragon Bluey, who is the mascot for all the families affected by this devastating disease. So I was working on another book at the time, and I was asked to write this book. And I jumped at the chance, but I also knew there was a heavy responsibility writing that. So really you can look globally at that and look at the whole community impacted by that, but really it was a love letter from a father to a son. Elizabeth: Beautiful. Patrick: And that’s how it was written, and that is something I do say when I go out to the schools. You’ve heard Ricker Racker – it’s quite a boisterous, joyous occasion. When I go out to talk about That’s What Wings Are For, I basically start off in a fun way, and then I bring it back sharply and I say, I bring out Bluey, the actual mascot, a blue plush teddy, and I say “I actually met Bluey on the worst day of my life.” And to have a school go from being quite boisterous, and the teachers go “Shh! Shh! Shh!” to your pin drop in one sentence… Elizabeth: Wow, that’s powerful. Patrick: They get it. They get it. From the preppies all the way up to the Grade 6s, they get it, and there’s a real reverence suddenly about the book and why it was written. And then I explain what’s happened from there and we go from there. I still struggle to read it without crying, but they are tears of – what will I say - I heard this line yesterday – “what we sow with tears, we reap with shouts of joy”. And there’s something joyous – it’s bigger than me, this thing. It’s bigger than me. Elizabeth: What you’ve created is magnificent. Patrick: Thank you. Elizabeth: You’re welcome. You mentioned in an interview that 80% of That’s What Wings Are For was written over breakfast with your family, and then one sentence that brought tears to your eyes took you 3 months to write. Can you please share that sentence with my listeners and what it was that finally led you to discover the sentence that made you cry? Patrick: What it was was my incredible ego. I just – it went to my head. The idea of being a published author and all this went absolutely to my head. Elizabeth: Well you are only human after all. (Laughter) Patrick: Well, I’m sitting back there, I’m imagining red carpets, imagining walking up the stairs. It was shocking! And here I am, I’ve written a book for my sick kid, and my ego’s having a field day. At this point I hadn’t even had the manuscript finished… Elizabeth: You were strutting around… Patrick: It was appalling. I’m embarrassed about it, at the way I was carrying on in my head anyway. So we needed – Bluey needed a reason to be doing what he did ultimately, which is find a reason for his wings. And I was trying all these sentences about sending him off to Margrete, and very gently and respectfully she would be saying “That is rubbish.” (Laughter) Elizabeth: Thanks Margrete. She just knew there was more to you – she knows how deep you are. Patrick: She knew how to push the buttons and what’s right. And equally my wife Lisa as well. And more so my wife Lisa, she has a great ability to tell me when I’m writing something that’s rubbish - and good as well. Elizabeth: Good. Patrick: So the to-ing and fro-ing went on for months. And then I had this moment of “You complete goose! What are you doing?” And certainly at that moment I decided that every cent from this book would be given to charity, which it always should have been anyway, and I made that decision, and entered some prayer and reflection, and within really minutes of making that decision – within minutes – I was given this sentence. And I have to set the context of that time. And at the time we had a crudely termed … we called it a ‘year of adventure’ – you could call it a bucket list, and we were doing all sorts of things around the world. So the sentence – Bluey was coming back from the Royal Children’s Hospital. It was broadened to be a magical building filled with magical creatures with all sorts of ailments. So at that moment when Bluey looks out, and when I’m reading the story to the school, I’ll have people close their eyes and put their hands on their hearts, and feel. Elizabeth: Which I’m going to do now. Patrick: And if you keep feeling, you’ll feel something. You may not feel it straightaway, but if you keep trying, you’ll get there. You’ll feel something warm and fuzzy. And that feeling has a name; it has lots of names. Kindness, and hope, and love, and what happens – and at this moment, Bluey looks across, and I share this sentence: “Bluey saw the boy’s soft, floppy legs, and at that moment, something happened in Bluey’s heart. He stopped for that moment thinking so much about his own situation, and he looked inward. He looked out, and saw this boy sharing a similar path. That word ‘empathy’. That changed everything for Bluey; it helped him work out what his wings were for.” So we go on from there. Elizabeth: Beautiful. That compassion for another person. The author-illustrator relationship is such a pivotal one. Can you describe what is important to you in such a relationship? Patrick: Respect, and trust, and space. So ‘let there be space in your togetherness’. Certainly for the first two books – the first one, Daniella Germain, extraordinary talent. And then the same with Nathanial Eckstrom, rising superstar of the illustration world. So first book, I had no contact at all with Daniella until after all the illustrations were done. Had no input into the illustrations at all. So in terms of relationship, it’s one of trust. Slightly different with the second book – some feedback. Poor Nathanial, I saw his amazing illustrations, but – and it was amazing that he managed to draw my 3 kids without having seen a photo of them, quite accurately – except for Gracie wears glasses. And I just politely asked whether he might pop glasses on Poppy (Gracie is named Poppy in the book). So he went back and put glasses on. Then I had a look at that and thought, “No. Makes her look too old now. Can you take the glasses off?” So that was a bit of a diva moment for me, I suppose. But other than that it really is letting go and not being too precious and trusting in the selection of the illustrator – that’s up to the publisher – and I trust Margrete to make that decision, and she hasn’t failed me yet. I know how she is with me with the words, and she’s that way again with the illustrator. Elizabeth: What a wonderful person to find! Patrick: She is great, she’s fantastic. Elizabeth: What are you working on at the moment? Patrick: Well, the undercurrent to all the picture books that have been picked up in the last couple of years has been a novel for children called The Last Secret of Ernie Pigwinkle, and I’ve been working on the story for more than 10 years. And it comes and goes, and then another idea overrides that. But I keep coming back to The Last Secret of Ernie Pigwinkle. That is lying dormant again, but I know I will go back to that, so there’s always that in the background. That story is the story of an old man who loves to tell stories. And he has this great secret. Great secret, that he's burning with this secret, to share it with his grandson Arthur. Long story short, he gets invited to the World Storytelling Competition in Marrakesh, Morocco, up against the greats of storytelling. Professor Chinwag from China, Lord Blabbermouth from England. I won’t give too much away, but he makes it to the final and he tells this great secret, but the secret is revealed slowly as the story goes along. Elizabeth: Suspense right through… Patrick: Right through. It has been a lot of hard work, also joy, and I have a sense that one day it will happen. I’ve also recently finished another picture book manuscript that is very, very dear to my heart, called Tiny Dancer. Elizabeth: The Elton John song. Patrick: The Elton John song, so hopefully Sir Elton will approve, and that’s really dear to my heart, and I’m in an acquisitions meeting on that one. And we’re in the process of illustrating and that process does involve some word changes. My next release which will be next year, I thought that was going to be a book called The Second Sky. It sounds like – based on this week’s emails – it sounds like it will be called Rabby the Brave. Elizabeth: You’re just prolific – you’re pounding on aren’t you, one after the other. Patrick: Look, it’s been a blessed couple of years. There’s been a very rich vein of inspiration and creativity that’s happening at the moment. Really grateful. Elizabeth: We’re very, very pleased too, I must say. Can’t wait to read them. What do you like to do in your spare time to unwind from all this work you’re doing – the physio work with the military, your family, and all this wonderful writing you’re doing? What do you do to unwind? Patrick: I’m clinging to my childhood in terms of chasing a bouncy ball around. I still play basketball. There’s a competition going on in Victoria Barracks actually, so at the ripe old age of 45, I’m taking on the burly soldiers, I’m taking on the burly soldiers in this basketball competition. Elizabeth: Well you have to keep up on being brave. (Laughter) Patrick: I love it. I must say I’m shamelessly, every goal I score – there aren’t many of them – I’m celebrating them like they could be my last. So there’s the fist pump and the whooping after every goal I score. And would you believe I’m still sort of – don’t let Lisa know but I’m still playing football. Full contact. There’s a wonderful competition – Reclink, midweek, battlers’ competition. You may have heard of the Choir of Hard Knocks – Reclink was spawned from it and there’s a football league for battlers, whether it be homeless refugees or people battling addiction. So we’ve set up a team in Frankston, and I’ve been the … Elizabeth: You are brave. (Laughter) Patrick: Madness, absolute madness. And so I’ve been the physio, the chaplain, the halfback flank and the water boy, whatever goes on, whatever’s needed for that team. And there’s just something primal about playing Australian Rules football that I just can’t let go of. And if I ever get the chance, I’ll go out surfing as well. Elizabeth: Isn’t it great to tap into that raw energy and just let yourself go? Patrick: It is. With surfing, it’s one of the few pastimes or sports where you spend 95% of the time staring at the horizon. So you get a chance to unwind – then it goes from the serenity to scrambling for your life. It’s great. Elizabeth: It’s a bit of a metaphor, isn’t it? Patrick: It’s great. Yes, so those are the 3 main things. Elizabeth: Do you want to remain in the children’s book genre? Patrick: Absolutely. Maybe one day a book for grownups, but certainly at the moment I’m loving – when you write a picture book, you are writing for grownups – you’re writing for two generations. Elizabeth: It’s that connection, I think, with parent-child. It’s so special. And you both learn so much when you’re reading together. Patrick: Absolutely. And I’ve been trying to make the transition from picture books into early readers, and I’ve found that quite hard. I might have to leapfrog that and go into older early readers. Because to go from a picture book to an early reader is – you got to dumb it down. You really have to dumb it down. That’s a crude way of saying it, but you do. There are certain concepts you have to avoid, and using poetry or metaphors is a bit more tricky. So maybe that’s not for me, that niche. So certainly The Last Secret of Ernie Pigwinkle is for an older reader, an older young reader. And then the picture books as well. I might stick to those, to genres within the broader children’s book genre for now. We’ll see what happens after. Elizabeth: You’re so insightful. Because you haven’t actually studied Creative Writing or completed a formal uni degree in writing, and yet your knowledge is so vast. Is you’re your intuition at play again, do you think? Patrick: Not sure. I think it’s a blessing. Don’t want to use the word ‘gift’, but I think it’s nothing to be proud of if it’s a gift. Elizabeth: I really have to disagree, because so many people are given, receive gifts, it’s then what you do with that gift. And so many people do not do anything with what they’ve been blessed with. I do think you can claim that proudly and whoop, like on a footy field. (Laughter) Patrick: Maybe. I do love whooping when there’s a sense of victory, a sense of accomplishment – once you finish that manuscript, submit to send, and you know it’s off, and have such a beautiful relationship with Margrete. I should mention Alyson O’Brien, who is also with Little Hare – I’m increasingly involved with her. I know that they will read it and give it the full attention and get back to me quite quickly, so that agonizing wait has been reduced to, in some cases, a few hours now, which is great. Elizabeth: It’s cause you’re so clever, and they know it. Do you have a website or blog, Patrick, that my listeners can go to find out more about your wonderful work? Patrick: Yes, there’s a shiny new website, “Patrick Guest dot com dot au”. I know nothing about the technical side of websites, and a great friend of mine, Jeffrey County, has helped set that up, and it’s sparkling. Elizabeth: Aren’t tech people great? I’m not one of those. Patrick: Absolutely not. Absolutely not. There’s no way I could do that. So that’s up and running now, so there’s opportunity to email me and contact me through that. Happy to do that. Elizabeth: Patrick, this is a signature question that I ask all my guests. What do you wish for, for the world, and most importantly, for yourself? Patrick: That’s a big one. Look, the first thing that springs to mind is a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Elizabeth: I’m with you. Patrick: That would be the first thing. But if I thought more about it, more broadly… Maybe I could go back to Ernie Pigwinkle, The Last Secret of Ernie Pigwinkle. So I’ll give away a little bit, so we get to the end of the story. We’re at the World Storytelling Championships, so Ernie, this old man from Ballarat, has made the final and won, thanks to his grandson. So the secret starts off as “Do you know why dogs wag their tails?” We move on from there to “Why dogs and cats fight – the origins of war”. Then he finishes with a little song, a little poem he says to the world: It’s a war that’s continued to this very day. It’s a shame that Dog and Cat couldn’t think of a way To listen and learn and be understood, And love one another as all of us could. You don’t have to carry on like a dog or a cat. You’re not a baboon or as blind as a bat. There’s a heart in your chest and a brain in your head. So before you lose faith, hold on instead. Hold on to your faith in the goodness of others. Never give up on your sisters and brothers. You’ll see for yourself, as sure as the sun, That there’s something worth loving in everyone. He says that. Elizabeth: I need a box of tissues. [Laughter] Oh Patrick, my goodness, that’s so beautiful. Thank you for sharing that. Patrick: That’s the world premiere of The Last Secret of Ernie Pigwinkle and… Elizabeth: What a coup on Writers’ Tête-à-tête with Elizabeth Harris. Wow, Patrick! Superb. Patrick Guest, thank you so much for joining me on “Writers Tete-a-Tete with Elizabeth Harris”. We look forward to more of your stunning work. I totally agree with you: hugging is what wings are for. Thanks for tuning in everyone, and may your wishes come true. [END OF TRANSCRIPT]

While Pentecost seems like God’s conlussion of the work on the Cross, it is really far deeper.  The pursuit of the “Hound of Heaven” as Francis Thompson calls Jesus, was after us from the beginning. Today we will focus on three things: We lost it all, He did it all, We get it all.   Lessons: Genesis 11:1-9, Acts 2: 1-21, John 14: 15-18, 25-27

Episode 68 is a one-on-one conversation with author Richard Patterson about the Jack the Ripper suspect candidacy of the late 19th century poet Francis Thompson. Thompson lived in the rough in the East End of London during the Autumn of Terror on a quest to find the prostitute who had left him, and carried with him a surgeon's knife. Hosted by Jonathan Menges

Hope for those running from God—is it you?

In the late 1800's, English poet Francis Thompson wrote the 182 line poem called "The Hound of Heaven." This autobiographical poem describes God pursuing Thompson like a hunting dog pursues his quarry. God pursued Thompson through drug addiction, homelessness, and sickness, even as Thompson did his best to run away. Yet God, in his love, pursued him. This sermon is called "Pursuing Love" and looks at 1 Corinthians 4:14-21 where Paul tells the Corinthians that he loves them too much to simply let them go down the wrong paths. He pursues them the way he knows Christ pursued him.

REFLECTION QUOTES “…man is an animal suspended in webs of significance he himself has spun…” ~Clifford Geertz (1926-2006), noted American anthropologist “The graveyards are filled with indispensable men.” ~Charles De Gaulle (1890-1970), president of France “I think the world today is upside down. Everybody seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater development and greater riches and so on.” ~Mother Teresa (1910-1997), missionary to India “But for this mystery [of original sin], the most incomprehensible of all, we remain incomprehensible to ourselves.” ~Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), French thinker and mathematician “If God incarnated himself in man, died and rose from the dead, all human endeavors deserve attention only to the degree that they depend on this, i.e., acquire meaning thanks to this event. We should think of this by day and by night…. And most of all about how human history is holy…. Because our kind was so much elevated, priesthood should be our calling, even if we do not wear liturgical garments.” ~Czesław Miłosz (1911-2004), Polish poet and thinker “He has mercifully convinced me that I labour under a complication of disorders, summed up in the word sin; he has graciously revealed himself to me as the infallible physician; and has enabled me, as such, to commit myself to him, and to expect my cure from his hand alone. It has cost me something to bring me to confess that he is wiser than I…” ~John Newton (1725-18047), English clergyman “And all man's Babylon's strive But to impart The grandeurs of His Babylonian heart.” ~Francis Thompson (1859-1907), English poet SERMON PASSAGE Genesis 10:1-11:9 (NASB) 1Now these are the records of the generations of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah; and sons were born to them after the flood. 2 The sons of Japheth were Gomer and Magog and Madai and Javan and Tubal and Meshech and Tiras. 3 The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz and Riphath and Togarmah. 4 The sons of Javan were Elishah and Tarshish, Kittim and Dodanim. 5 From these the coastlands of the nations were separated into their lands, every one according to his language, according to their families, into their nations. 6 The sons of Ham were Cush and Mizraim and Put and Canaan. 7 The sons of Cush were Seba and Havilah and Sabtah and Raamah and Sabteca; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan. 8 Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 From that land he went forth into Assyria, and built Nineveh and Rehoboth-Ir and Calah, 12 and Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city. 13 Mizraim became the father of Ludim and Anamim and Lehabim and Naphtuhim 14 and Pathrusim and Casluhim (from which came the Philistines) and Caphtorim. 15 Canaan became the father of Sidon, his firstborn, and Heth 16 and the Jebusite and the Amorite and the Girgashite 17 and the Hivite and the Arkite and the Sinite 18 and the Arvadite and the Zemarite and the Hamathite; and afterward the families of the Canaanite were spread abroad. 19 The territory of the Canaanite extended from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; as you go toward Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. 20 These are the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, by their lands, by their nations. 21 Also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, and the older brother of Japheth, children were born. 22 The sons of Shem were Elam and Asshur and Arpachshad and Lud and Aram. 23 The sons of Aram were Uz and Hul and Gether and Mash. 24 Arpachshad became the father of Shelah; and Shelah became the father of Eber. 25 Two sons were born to Eber; the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan. 26 Joktan became the father of Almodad and Sheleph and Hazarmaveth and Jerah 27 and Hadoram and Uzal and Diklah 28 and Obal and Abimael and Sheba 29 and Ophir and Havilah and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan. 30 Now their settlement extended from Mesha as you go toward Sephar, the hill country of the east. 31 These are the sons of Shem, according to their families, according to their languages, by their lands, according to their nations. 32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, by their nations; and out of these the nations were separated on the earth after the flood. Chapter 11 1 Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words. 2 It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3 They said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.” And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar. 4 They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” 5 The Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 The Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another's speech.” 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city. 9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.

Father Frizzell interviews Seton Hall Professors, Nancy Enright & John Sweeney, about Francis Thompson's poem, "The Hound of Heaven."

F Thompson  read by Classic Poetry Aloud: http://www.classicpoetryaloud.com/ Giving voice to the poetry of the past. --------------------------------------- Envoy by Francis Thompson (1859 – 1907) Go, songs, for ended is our brief, sweet play; Go, children of swift joy and tardy sorrow: And some are sung, and that was yesterday, And some unsung, and that may be to-morrow. Go forth; and if it be o'er stony way, Old joy can lend what newer grief must borrow: And it was sweet, and that was yesterday, And sweet is sweet, though purchas-ed with sorrow. Go, songs, and come not back from your far way: And if men ask you why ye smile and sorrow, Tell them ye grieve, for your hearts know To-day, Tell them ye smile, for your eyes know To-morrow.   First aired: 5 May 2008 For hundreds more poetry readings, visit the Classic Poetry Aloud index. Reading © Classic Poetry Aloud 2009

Thompson read by Classic Poetry Aloud: http://www.classicpoetryaloud.com/ Giving voice to the poetry of the past. --------------------------------------------- Envoy by Francis Thompson Go, songs, for ended is our brief, sweet play; Go, children of swift joy and tardy sorrow: And some are sung, and that was yesterday, And some unsung, and that may be to-morrow. Go forth; and if it be o'er stony way, Old joy can lend what newer grief must borrow: And it was sweet, and that was yesterday, And sweet is sweet, though purchas-ed with sorrow. Go, songs, and come not back from your far way: And if men ask you why ye smile and sorrow, Tell them ye grieve, for your hearts know To-day, Tell them ye smile, for your eyes know To-morrow.

Francis Thompson, SFO, tells how St. Francis of Assisi helped draw him into the Catholic church.