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How should I counsel someone who wants to follow the Church's teaching while his wife wants to use contraception? Should I break up with my girlfriend since we've been falling to sexual sin? How can I discern between cellibacy and marriage when those around me are convinced of my path? Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body. Free Word Made Flesh Lenten Sunday Mass Companion! (https://tobinstitute.kartra.com/page/WMFLent) Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and receive ongoing formation? Join our Patron Community (https://tobpatron.com)! Q1: As a priest, I have been trying to help someone who is struggling within his marriage about contraception – specifically, he wants to follow the Church's teaching, but his wife does not. What advice can you give me about how to counsel him? Q2: My girlfriend and I have been struggling to live out the church's teaching on pre-marital sex and have fallen into sin a few times. Sometimes this leads to arguments between us where I voice how I feel like I have to choose between her and God when we sin. However, I also recognise our relationship isn't just about our struggles with sexual sin and she does inspire me in many other ways to grow closer in my relationship with the Lord. I'm unsure whether it's God's will for me to break up with her or continue to struggle to be chaste with her. Q3: Hello Christopher and Wendy! First, thank you so much for the joy and witness you bring as a married couple. Your example has brought so much healing to my view of marriage so from the bottom of my heart thank you. For my question: I had been discerning religious life for a long time but recently felt the call to start discerning marriage instead. Whenever I tell my friends this, they typically say something along the lines of, "Well, God is probably just calling you to marriage with Him." This language has truly been so painful because I feel like I can no longer even read about the beauty of what marriage can be because I am constantly told it's not for me. Could you please speak to this? Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com (http://www.askchristopherwest.com). Resources mentioned this week: Theology of the Body Institute Course Schedule (https://tobinstitute.org/programs/tobi-schedule/) TOB Virtual Conference (https://www.tobvirtualconference.com) VADEMECUM FOR CONFESSORS CONCERNING SOME ASPECTS OF THE MORALITY OF CONJUGAL LIFE (https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/family/documents/rc_pc_family_doc_12021997_vademecum_en.html) Good News about Sex & Marriage (https://shop.corproject.com/collections/other-featured-products/products/good-news-about-sex-and-marriage) If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: michele@tobinstitute.org Find Christopher West on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/cwestofficial) and Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/cwestofficial). Discover the Theology of the Body Institute (http://www.tobinstitute.org). If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-christopher-west/id1448699486). Thanks for listening! Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals (https://tobinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/TOBI-Recommended-Psychologists-Updated-6-8-20.pdf). Featuring music by Mike Mangione (https://www.mikemangione.com/).
Materialism 1 John 2:15-17, the Apostle John writing: "Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world-wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important-has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out-but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity. " I wonder what you think is quite possibly one of the greatest challenges to the Christian Disciple standing alone and being faithful to God in the twenty first century? I want to propose to you that this threat is the temptation of materialism, or to be materialistic. This is where following Jesus' command to follow Him, take up the cross for ourselves becomes practical. This is where loving God and loving others becomes difficult. Materialism grips both the Church community and also Christian Disciples if it is allowed. Eschewing and casting off materialism will see Christian Disciples who are radical by the very society, which we are trying to win for Jesus. What is materialism? Every person has in differing quantities: possessions and money. These things, in and of themselves, are not evil. It is however our reaction and attitudes toward them that causes us to be seduced in this area. Materialism is a reliance on possessions, money people or even the church, as our ultimate objects of trust, instead of God. The Apostle John writing in 1 John 2v16 gives a very accurate picture of materialism: "lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life." That, brother and sisters, is materialism! A Particular Sin If there were to be a particular sin that marks our generation, especially in the West, then it would be this sin of materialism and the worship of money, objects and people. Every day hundreds of thousands of people die from lack of food, water, clothing and shelter. For each of us in the West, these things are taken for granted. When we feel like a change of house or location, we just move. The whole Christian community is one that reflects the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Spirit. The Church is to be a community where the strongest members support the weakest members. Where one member of the Christian community suffers and hurts, the whole Christian community suffers and hurts! This applies not only to the local church in a local community context, but also to the universal Church and therefore has a national and international context as well. Too often as Christians we are found turning a blind eye to the suffering of others where the bare necessities of life are in sparse existence. Too often we gather possessions and people, instead of giving up our time and money generously to help the poor and needy of both our local and global communities. When one member of the universal body of Christ is hurting, the whole body hurts! So what? As Christian Disciples living in the world of the twenty first century, where wealth is seen as a sign of success, the cult of celebrity is rife and where family, morals, ethics, community and God have taken a back seat, how should a Christian Disciple respond to materialism? A lot of Churches measure their success solely by the number of members in the congregations or by how much money goes into the offering pot each week. However, not just good things grow. Islam measures its success on the so-called growth in those who would consider themselves a Muslim. It is probably the fastest growing religion in Australia. However, every gardener will tell you that even weeds grow! So counting numbers is not the best way to measure success. The measure of a successful Christian Disciple can be seen in thee verses from 1 John 2:15-17. The Apostle John writing: "Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world-wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important-has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out-but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity. " Also in Matthew 22v37-40: where Jesus is saying: "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them." Action Stations! By doing these two things, we show we trust in God and not in anything or anybody else. By exhibiting these commands, we cast off materialism and any thought of materialism from our lives. By doing those two things, both as a Church and as individual Christian Disciples, society will see we are neither dangerous nor deluded. To Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and their aficionados who think all religion is pure evil, based on delusion and that religion has never done a good thing in history to benefit humanity, it will help show the folly and irrationality of their thinking. If Church communities and Christian Disciples make radical steps such as eschewing materialism, both in being and making Disciples, I think the Church and Christian Disciples would no longer be seen as evil, deluded and irrelevant. Rather they would be seen as a thriving community of people, resulting in Jesus being glorified and holy transformation sought. After all, Jesus is to be the master of those who would call themselves a Christian Disciple and the Head of the Church. As Christian Disciples, and the church as a whole, you and I are to eschew materialism, cast it off and live a life worthy of our God, living in total obedience to Him and reflected in the love we display for both our local and global communities. For more to think about, please do read for yourself Matthew 22:37-40. Ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together. Q1 - As a Christian Disciple, in what ways am I being seduced by materialism and the gathering of possessions, people and power? Q2 - What things can I do, not do or give up in order to aid the weakest members of my community - local, national and global? Q3 - How can I better use my "passion, prayer and intelligence" this week for the glory and honour of God? Tap or Right mouse click to save/download this as a MP3 file You can now purchase our books! 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While a car metaphor may be a bit dated, it does seem to hit the nail on the head… Usually, we’re attracted to the shiny exterior, but when we look under the hood, the excitement may fall away. Would the reverse be possible then? Look under the hood, get excited, and then get attracted to the exterior? Are men and women different on that front? Join Tony, Ron, and Andrea as they tackle all of those questions, almost naming names, always brutally honest, and often skirting the lines of what’s acceptable! Key Takeaways [2:53] Tony opens up the discussion with a metaphor leading to the question: can intellectual and emotional connection pave the way to sexual excitement for men, or is it only ever the other way around? Andrea offers examples on how, for her, it absolutely does work that way… She’s met solid tens that lost their luster when she peeked under the hood and has also met sevens and eights whose maturity and intelligence turned them hot in a heartbeat! Do men and women fundamentally differ in that aspect? can you even find a partner that is deep, that is hot, and that has everything you want? From religious constraints to fighting 10,000 years of history [5:04] Is it really on one person that rests the burden of your happiness and satisfaction? Yin (feminine, right brain, sex) and Yang (masculine, left brain, conversation) are complementary energies. However, even if they are not gendered, shifting between yin and yang energies is hampered by social gender narratives. This prevents both men and women to express feminine and masculine energies at any given (and opportune) time to accommodate an eventual partner. Doing the work [9:27] Andrea explains that “doing the work” at its core means identifying your common patterns in order to break them up and adapt them to the reality you’re looking to build around yourself. The rules of engagement [7:25] Ron offers that the rules of engagement when it comes to what is expected of a relationship have been broken up by so many external forces like religion, society, and biology, that the diversity of backgrounds means that everyone has a particular “broken pattern” and that getting your puzzle piece to meet with that of another is difficult. [12:44] “How much older do I have to get to realize that unicorns just don’t exist?” Wisdom [13:00] Realising long-term satisfaction vs. a temporary high is the goal, but that means many things to different people — Margaret Mead suggested you should marry your first love, marry for family, and marry a third time for companionship. Andrea enjoins that Tony should not be Margaret, Tony should be Tony. Excitement [17:20] Dating is the pinnacle of excitement, but now that we can’t really do all that, people are getting more real. The pandemic has exposed this American dating format — trips, fancy restaurants, events — as a fun culture but one that may be a little rotten. Blondes make better wives [19:27] Yep, we go there. They’re not the same [22:30] Tony touches on the difference between love and lust. Ron loves a lot of people. He speaks to his relationship with his wife and some of his previous girlfriends. And lusting for multiple people at the same time. Poly wants all the crackers [26:05] We keep doing things because it’s what we think we have to do. But doing the opposite, say, the polyamorous thing, you’re turning your back on society and you can become a pariah. If we could work it out with society, we’d be waaaay more poly! HELP TONY [28:06] Though Tony is not a rule follower all of this relationship stuff is so complicated, can’t someone just tell him what to do? Let's talk about Andrea [29:05] Though she prefers monogamy, she is looking for a partner: a person who will support her, be competent, strong mentally and emotionally, flexible, and able to have productive conversations. Companionship and flexibility sound like keys to Andrea. On Unicorns [33:05] As the expectations of having it all in a relationship increases, the complexity goes up and it requires more skill. Now the male and female have to be able to adeptly shift between yin and yang energies, it requires a whole lot of communication and emotional intelligence skills. You’re going to move in and out of a relationship flow state, and when you’re out of it, the question will become, was the flow deep enough to maintain the relationship? AHA! [35:27] Tony’s teacher said “relationships are the crucible of life.” To be able to work out your sexual desires, your intellectual needs, your emotional needs, that’s all of life! That’s it! How we try to make it work [36:10] Monogamy, it’s a tough tackle. Once you’re past the lust part, how do you value the rest of a relationship? Tony speaks to his own experience with a “hall pass.” Following society’s rules won’t necessarily make you happy, but when you love someone you want them to be happy! QUESTIONS FOR ANDREA! [44:07] Q1: As a man, how do you separate yourself from the pack? Just be you, and have the balls to come say “Hey! How are you” and have a casual conversation. Be mindful of how you carry yourself in a group of people — hold your own but don’t be attention-grabbing. Be as casual and friendly as you can. Q2: Is “hard to get” still a thing during COVID-19? NOBODY LIKES THOSE GAMES. And no one has time for that sh*t. Have the guts to just be honest. Brutal honesty [50:40] Andrea shares two key moments when brutal honesty enabled meaningful conversation for her recently. Tony looked at Andrea’s guy and he’s a normal-looking dude! Becoming a better person [57:30] Tony’s date is driving her to be better, Ron touches on the work that needs to be done on both parts for a relationship to work. Andrea gives an example of the energy exchange required in order for a relationship to click; guess what, it all boils down to intangibles. Conclusions? [1:07:50] There are some tangible things to productive relationships, and some others are completely out of our control. Maybe we need 5,000 years of zen to figure relationships out, but in the meantime, maybe the best you can do is figure yourself out and be true to that. Thanks for tuning in. More about your hosts Podcast: tonywongpodcast.com Agile Coaching: Agiletony.com Executive Coaching: Agiletony.com/mental-and-emotional-agility Twitter: Twitter.com/agile_tony LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/tonywongdigitalonion Youtube: Youtube.com/channel/UCJyT0C_nrzAZ9GhmOXaSRRw Co-host Ron Williams on LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/ronwilliams More about our guests Andrea Hollenbeck on Instagram @andreajileen and on LinkedIn
Luke 15:1-32 Hope Small Group Questions Q1: As a group, look over Leviticus 11 and the Jewish ritual dietary laws for cleanliness and holiness. Now read the accusation from the Pharisees in Luke 15:1-2. Do you see why Jesus’ table fellowship with “sinners” here is so scandalous? Q2: Now compare question 1 with Matthew 15:1-20? […] The post “The Lost Parables” Part I appeared first on HOPE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH.
How do I help my future potential spouse understand the shameful parts of my sexual past? I have many secular friends, whom I love very much. How do I respond to an invitation to a same-sex wedding from one of them with love and respect? Is there a theology to sexual positions? Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body. Like the podcast? Become a patron (https://community.theologyofthebody.com) of the TOB Institute. This week’s questions: Q1: As a 30-something woman who’s made some mistakes in the area of sex and sexuality, I feel immense shame. I hope that there is a holy marriage in the future, and that has always been a deep desire, but I worry about sharing some of these areas of my shameful past, that I may be rejected. Christopher, how did you go about sharing the painful parts of your past, and is it necessary to share all? Wendy, did you have to work through disappoint or concerns related to this? (Part 2) Q2: So much of my life is secular. I love TOB and all our faith stands for. All my friends know I’,m a devout catholic who stands for everything the church teaches. But being immersed in so many secular circles has led me to knowing and loving many different people in different walks of life. I have not been asked yet, but I am nervous for the day when a friend invites me to a same-sex wedding? What do I say? How can I treat that situation with love and respect. Q3: Is there a theology to sexual positions? For example, face-to-face versus other positions? Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com (http://www.askchristopherwest.com). Resources mentioned this week: The Good News About Sex and Marriage (https://shop.corproject.com/products/good-news-about-sex-and-marriage) Holy Sex!: A Catholic Guide to Toe-Curling, Mind-Blowing, Infallible Loving by Dr. Greg Popcak (https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Sex-Toe-Curling-Mind-Blowing-Infallible/dp/0824524713) Find Christopher West on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/cwestofficial) and Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/cwestofficial). Discover the Theology of the Body Institute (http://www.tobinstitute.org). If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-christopher-west/id1448699486). Thanks for listening! Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hIV5v0vJVxMFuaKyAtDreWwv_5218Rqw/view?usp=sharing). Featuring music by Mike Mangione (https://www.mikemangione.com/). Produced by Sounder and Key (http://www.sounderandkey.com).
Welcome back to the “Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast” this is Andrea Samadi. This interview will be broadcast on YouTube as well as on the regular podcast channel, so be sure to look for the YouTube link in the show notes if you would like to view the video.Our special guest today is Greg Wolcott. He is someone who is “always on the cutting edge of education.” Greg is the author of the book Significant 72: Unleashing the Power of Relationships in Today’s School[i] and is on a serious mission to impact our schools with this movement. Greg currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning in a suburb of Chicago as well as an adjunct professor. As an educator in the Chicago area for over 20 years, he is passionate about developing opportunities for all students to succeed as well as finding ways for all teachers and staff members to utilize their strengths to maximize learning. I’m excited to have Greg share more about the “Significant 72” initiative that’s implemented in over two hundred schools across the United States and Canada. Welcome Greg.Q1: As we dive into the relationship competency, I know there isn’t anyone I could think of that could cover this topic better than you. Can you give some background on the reason why you wrote this book? I remember hearing you talking about the concept of “Significant 72” on an SEL Webinar back in 2016. I remember you mentioned it had to do with the importance of relationship building after 3-day weekends. Where did the concept begin, what does Significant 72 look like in a school (every day, every month and after long breaks)?Q2: When you mentioned the research you had done, and found the key attribute that all great teachers do—their ability to form strong, caring relationships with students, how did you take this information to help build on this strength to connect with students on a deeper level? Q3: We know from the research that “When students perceive that their teacher knows them both academically and personally, they are better positioned to take ownership of their learning.” (Edwards & Edick, 2013). We can all recall are favorite teachers who inspired us to learn, but how did they do it? There’s that fine line of showing you care and being too intrusive when asking students about their feelings or personal lives. How did you handle this to get the results you were looking for? GREG: It all began with John Hattie’s research on effect size and how relationship building yielded a gain of 2 years.[ii]Q5: Can you give us your TOP tips used in “Significant 72” for improving relationships with students?Q4: What are the outcomes and results from the schools using this method? How are you measuring this data? GREG: They use Panorama Education Surveys[iii]Q5: What is your 3-5 year vision of where you see “Significant 72” going?Q 6: To sum this all up, what are some final words of wisdom that you think we can all do (parents, as well as educators) to build stronger, meaningful relationships that foster that home/school connection? GREG: Connections Before Curriculum!Thank you Greg, for taking the time out of your day to speak with us and share your Significant 72 book, ideas and resources. If someone wants to learn more, they can go to www.significant72.com and find you on Twitter @GregJWolcott to reach you.[i] www.significant72.com[ii] https://visible-learning.org/hattie-ranking-influences-effect-sizes-learning-achievement/[iii] www.PanoramaEd.com
#PPCChat Twitter discussion that runs on Tuesdays at 5pm GMT - Led by Mark Kennedy (@markkennedysem) Q1 As you know RSA's are relatively new, but first, let's get a feel about how many are using them and if you are using them a lot or just testing them a little Q2 Many of you may be testing them on your own, but I also wanted to get a feel for how much pressure the agency-folk are getting from their reps, and why you think (in your opinion) that is. Q3 We'll get into some of the negative aspects of RSAs in a minute, but first, let's focus on the positives. Let me know what you like so far. Q4 And as a quick follow-up, are you seeing RSAs outperform ETAs (from a conversion standpoint), even without knowing which specific combination? Q5 Okay, diving into the negative side, what's your biggest issue (or issues) with RSA's so far. Q6 A few mentioned already (feel free to repeat) - Anyone have any strategies, theories or tips they are using/testing with RSA's they want to share Q7 [skipped] Q8 Are you using all title and description lines in RSA's? Q9 If Google had full transparency on the ads (conversion data, CTR, etc) by combination, would you be more likely to use these ads? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ppcchat/message
As a single young woman, should I be open to marrying someone who doesn't share my faith? How does Wendy feel about not being able to tour and speak like Christopher? What bible verse has resonated the most with you through life? We continue taking questions from people who have taken part in TOB Pilgrimages. Check out the upcoming pilgrimages to Mexico and the Holy Land at TOBPilgrimages.com (http://corproject.pages.ontraport.net/tobpilgrimages)! Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body. This week’s questions: Q1: As a young single woman whose faith matters deeply to me, should I be open to the possibility of marrying someone who doesn't share my faith? Q2: Wendy, how hard is it to watch your husband do something that you are also passionate about, when you have to stay home and do everything else? Q3: Which bible verse or passage has resonated with you the most through life, individually or as a couple? Also in this episode: the follow-up to "Cake or Pie", Christopher answers "Ketchup or Mustard!" Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com (http://www.askchristopherwest.com). Resources mentioned this week: Apocalypto (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472043/) -- Christopher recommends this film as part of the last questions of the episode, but please be advised that its content are not suitable for all ages. Find Christopher West on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/cwestofficial) and Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/cwestofficial). Discover the Theology of the Body Institute (http://www.tobinstitute.org). If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-christopher-west/id1448699486). Thanks for listening! Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hIV5v0vJVxMFuaKyAtDreWwv_5218Rqw/view?usp=sharing). Featuring music by Mike Mangione (https://www.mikemangione.com/). Produced by Sounder and Key (http://www.sounderandkey.com).
Any recommendations for a couple that is dating who wants to include TOB in their relationship? Do you think the "Culture of Death" that we currently live in can be overcome? Do you have any tips for overcoming jet lag? Christopher and Wendy dive into these questions, while finding time to muse on Cheese Whiz as a valid cheesesteak component. Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body. This week’s questions: Q1: As someone who travels a lot, do you have any recommendations on how to deal with jet lag? Q2: Do you have any recommendations with TOB for a couple that is dating? I’m currently dating a Christian (Non-Catholic) and is interested in TOB. I’m trying to figure out a way to bring it into the conversation while our relationship is young. Q3: After going on the 2016 TOB Pilgrimage to Mexico, and seeing how Our Lady of Guadalupe was able to turn a culture of death into a culture of life, I am hopeful that the same can happen in our own culture. Do you think this is a reasonable hope? Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com (http://www.askchristopherwest.com). Resources mentioned this week: Our Lady of Guadalupe Youtube Series by Christopher | Part 1 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsTQrTOR1m0) Mike Mangione's Music (https://www.mikemangione.com/) Our theme song is "Lay Down"! Theology of the Body for Beginners (https://shop.corproject.com/collections/other-featured-products/products/theology-of-the-body-for-beginners) Fill These Hearts (https://shop.corproject.com/collections/books/products/copy-of-fill-these-hearts-paperback) Cooked on Netflix (https://www.netflix.com/title/80022456) Christopher recommends Episode 4! Find Christopher West on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/cwestofficial) and Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/cwestofficial). Discover the Theology of the Body Institute (http://www.tobinstitute.org). If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-christopher-west/id1448699486). Thanks for listening! Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hIV5v0vJVxMFuaKyAtDreWwv_5218Rqw/view?usp=sharing). Featuring music by Mike Mangione (https://www.mikemangione.com/). Produced by Sounder and Key (http://www.sounderandkey.com).
I understand mentally how important Jesus is, but how do I cultivate a real relationship with him? Why does St. Paul speak so negatively about marriage and sexuality? What's all this about the eyes of Our Lady of Guadalupe? What's the difference between "soul" and "spirit"? Wendy and Christopher dive into these questions and more on this episode of Ask Christopher West. Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body. This week’s questions: Q1: As someone who has been raised Catholic but is feeling kind of stagnant and shallow in his faith, how would you DISCOVER a passionate love for Jesus? I don't think I've ever had this. I often wish I had the passion that many converts had, but I find myself struggling to bridge what my mind knows to what my heart feels. Q2: Why does St. Paul speak so negatively about marriage and sexuality? Q3: I just watched your 4 part video series of "The Theology of Mary's Body: Hidden Mysteries of Our Lady of Guadalupe" and it was wonderful. My question for you is if you could share your perspective on the symbolism of Our Lady of Guadalupe's eyes? I know this is a new discovery with modern technology, but I haven't been able to find out very much about it and would love to hear your thoughts since this seems to be a very important message about the family for our current times. Q4: What is the difference between our soul and our spirit? Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com (http://www.askchristopherwest.com). Resources mentioned this week: TOB Pilgrimage to Mexico City (http://www.tobpilgrimages.com) Find Christopher West on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/cwestofficial) and Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/cwestofficial). Discover the Theology of the Body Institute (http://www.tobinstitute.org). If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-christopher-west/id1448699486). Thanks for listening! Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hIV5v0vJVxMFuaKyAtDreWwv_5218Rqw/view?usp=sharing). Featuring music by Mike Mangione (https://www.mikemangione.com/). Produced by Sounder and Key (http://www.sounderandkey.com).
As a newlywed, how can my spouse and I live out the TOB message in our parish community? What do we do when our first year of marriage doesn't feel like a "honeymoon year"? Where should unmarried couples draw the line at physical intimacy? Christopher and Wendy share some stories from their own marriage Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body. This week’s questions: Q1: As a newlywed, what are your thoughts on how my husband and I can best live out the TOB message in our parish community, beyond living it out in our own lives? Q2: Even though we were well-prepared and devout Catholics, the first year of our marriage has been difficult. The fact that it should be a “honeymoon year” is very discouraging. It seems like we are having a harder time than most other couples we know. What is your advice? Q3: In ACW3, you talked about how married couples can be intimate but abstain from sexual acts during periods of fertility. How should unmarried couples go about deciding where to draw the line with sexual intimacy? Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com (http://www.askchristopherwest.com). Resources mentioned this week: The Good News about Sex and Marriage (https://shop.corproject.com/products/good-news-about-sex-and-marriage) (Christopher referenced Chapter 4 in this podcast) Made for More Parish Event (http://corproject.com/madeformore/) The Couple to Couple League's Live the Love Blog (https://ccli.org/blog/) Find Christopher West on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/cwestofficial) and Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/cwestofficial). Discover the Theology of the Body Institute (http://www.tobinstitute.org). If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-christopher-west/id1448699486). Thanks for listening! Produced by Sounder and Key (http://www.sounderandkey.com).