William Hemsworth's Blog, page 78

How I Came To Believe That The Catholic Church Is True.

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-dtu47-115f014

On Dec 20, 2021 I was honored to once again be a guest of Gary Michuta on his Hands on Apologetics radio program.  His show airs Monday-Friday at 1Pm EST on Virgin Most Powerful Radio.  On that episode we discussed my conversion to Catholicism.  Enjoy!

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Using Fiction To Share The Faith with Thomas Salerno

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-nxpdi-114811f

Author Thomas Salerno joins me to discuss his work as an author of #catholicfiction. We discuss how he began writing, how fiction can share the #faith, and how he has grown in his faith through writing. He is a talented and inspirational writer that you should follow. #catholicism

Check out his website at www.thomasjsalernowrites.com

About Thomas (from his website):

My name is Thomas Salerno and I am a freelance writer. In my nonfiction work, I enjoy exploring the intersection between Christianity and nerd/geek culture. I’m also a short story writer and aspiring novelist working in the genres of science fiction and fantasy. In addition, I enjoy writing articles that help communicate science (particularly the fields of paleontology and anthropology) to the general public. I hold a BA in Anthropology from Stony Brook University and between 2013 and 2020 I worked (first as a volunteer and later as a paid employee) at the American Museum of Natural History. I have been writing professionally since 2020 and have composed multiple articles for Bishop Robert Barron’s Word On Fire Catholic Ministries as well as Philip Kosloski’s Voyage Comics & Publishing.

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Answering The Claims Of The Prosperity Gospel (HOA 11-11-21)

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-sb4ya-113d482

Today’s video is from my appearance on Hands on Apologetics on Virgin Most Powerful Radio. The show is hosted by Catholic speaker and apologist Gary Michuta and airs Monday-Friday at 1pm EST. We discuss what the #prosperitygospel teaches and how to answer their claims with #scripture. I show that it is a man centered #theology that needs to be confronted as it is spreading throughout the world.

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Revolt Against Reality with Gary Michuta

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-mj3jh-11335fd

How did we get where we are as a society? #Catholic speaker, radio host, and apologist #GaryMichuta joins me to discuss how humanity is lost its way. In his #book “Revolt Against Reality” Gary takes a deep dive into these issue that span centuries. He exposes the enemies of faith and reason and shows us how to fight back.

Check out the book at https://shop.catholic.com/revolt-against-reality-fighting-the-foes-of-sanity-and-truth-from-the-serpent-to-the-state/

Check out Gary’s website at www.handsonapologetics.com

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Discussing The Father‘s Son with Jim Sano

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-pt3ee-1127977

#catholic author Jim Sano joins me to talk about #faith and his great book titled “The Father’s Son”. It is book one of as trilogy in the #catholicfiction genre that is filled with great apologetics and evangelization content. Jim discusses how the book came about, his research, how the story developed, and the amazing feedback that he has received.

Learn more about Jim by visiting his website at www.jimsano.com.

Check out the book at https://www.amazon.com/Fathers-Son-Jim-Sano/dp/1987970128/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=the%20father%27%20s%20son&qid=1607534338&sr=8-4

About Jim: Jim Sano grew up in an Irish/Italian family in Massachusetts. Jim is a husband, father, life-long Catholic and has worked as a teacher, consultant, and businessman. He has degrees from Boston College and Bentley University and is currently attending Franciscan University for a Master’s degree in Catechetics and Evangelization. He has also attended certificate programs at The Theological Institute for the New Evangelization at St. John’s Seminary and the Apologetics Academy. Jim is a member of the Catholic Writer’s Guild and has enjoyed growing in his faith and now sharing it through writing novels. The Father’s Son (released August 15, 2019) is Jim’s first novel and is the recipient of the Catholic Writers Guild’s Seal of Approval Award for editorial integrity and faithfulness to Catholic teaching. Gus Busbi is Jim’s second novel and was released on December 8, 2020 and Stolen Blessing will be his third novel was released on March 25, 2021. Jim resides in Medfield, Massachusetts with his wife, Joanne, and has two daughters, Emily and Megan.

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Warning Against Idolatry

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-hncqy-111d2a0

The #scriptures have several warning against the sin of #idolatry.  Today I look at the examples from two #OldTestament prophets and the warnings that they give.  Their words and advice are still something that we need to pay attention to,

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Exodus 90: Growing In Faith

What is Exodus 90 and how does it assist men in growing in faith? Exodus 90 is a 90-day Catholic spiritual exercise for men that offers a challenging journey through the book of Exodus based on three pillars: prayer, asceticism, and fraternity.

What Is Exodus 90?

The men’s movement continues to expand — reaching more than 50,000 men of all generations and stages of their faith journey. Exodus 90 summons men back to the foundations of their faith in order for them to experience freedom from worldly addictions to better love those entrusted to their care. Learn more on their website at www.exodus90.com.

About Nathaniel Binversie

Nathaniel Binversie serves as the Director of Content for Exodus. Nathaniel graduated from the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota where he spent two years in formation at St. John Vianney Seminary. Nathaniel began his career serving one year as Campus Minister at the University of Utah. Leading up to his time with Exodus 90, he has spent the past three years serving as a missionary with FOCUS, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students.

Nathaniel joins Exodus with a master’s degree in Theology from the Augustine Institute. Nathaniel lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana with his wife Sherry, their daughters Lucia and Annie. They attend St. John the Baptist Parish.

Listen To The Interview

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Idolatry In The Old Testament Prophets

The Old Testament prophets have much to say to us today.  In their time they were speaking the words of Yahweh to a people who were utterly lost and trying to find their own way.  The way had rescued them from slavery in Egypt and led them to the promised land.  Time and again the people of Israel strayed from the Lord, and time and again the Yahweh stayed faithful and loved them with an everlasting love.  One of the issues that the Prophets consistently spoke against was the issue of idolatry. 

That issue is still true for the church today, and thus the message of the prophets is just as relevant now as it was then.  In this article, a couple examples of idolatry will be given from the prophets, the background surrounding it, and lastly how this message is still a contemporary one for the church today.

Idolatry In The Prophets

One of the prophets that comes to mind with the issue of idolatry is the prophet Jeremiah.  Chapter two of the book of Jeremiah is a good example of this.  Jeremiah uses marital language to highlight the idolatry that the people have committed[1].  The first nineteen verses of this chapter recalls the purity that the bride, Israel, had with her husband Yahweh.  In verse twenty the people are called a whore that went under every green tree. 

The people are called a donkey in heat (Jer, 2:24), but the people ultimately say that they prefer the foreigner and will go after them (Jer.2:25).  This would also include the foreign nations way of life and gods[2].  The image of the green tree is highly significant to Jeremiah’s argument of idolatry among the people.  Green trees were emblematic of a goddess in the region of Judah and surrounding nations.  There is also some evidence that the green tree imagery indicates worship of the gods Asshur and Ishtar[3].  The people chased after the promises of false gods instead of the one who saved them.

Twisting The Words Of God

 There are many more examples of idolatry in Jeremiah, but there is a good example in Micah that many today can identify with.  Micah 3:11 describes a horrible sin that the priests were committing. Micah 3:11 describes priests teaching for a prices and prophets practicing divination for money.  Micah gives a scathing indictment of the priests and prophets for twisting the words of Yahweh and perverting them for economic gain[4].  In ancient Judaism the role of the priests and prophet placed essential roles as intermediaries between Yahweh and the people.  The priests performed essential functions, and the prophets heard their message directly from Yahweh.  Yet here they were abusing this sacred charge and committing economic idolatry.  Money had become their god instead of what they were charged to do.

Relevance Today

Idolatry is just as much a problem now as it was in the time of the prophets.  A simple definition of idolatry is whatever you cling and look to for security[5].  We are called to place God above all things, but idolatry places something else in the place of God.  The passage from Jeremiah 2 that was mentioned above may seem hard to place in today’s context.  However, one only need to examine their life to see that we have betrayed the faithful Lord more often than we think. 

As the Israelites chased after the false promises of fertility goddesses, many in our pews chase after the false promise that sex will make them be accepted.  Sex and womanizing is as much an act of idolatry as worshiping an image of Ishtar if they are put in the place of God in our lives.  Some may say that the sins mentioned are not a problem, but there is something else that Satan is dangling.  It could be the constant need to be busy, a career, or even social media.

Money Can Become An Idol

The passage from Micah 3 highlights the idolatry of money.  Money is something that we all need to survive.  It is needed to pay bills, feed out families, and to fund ministry.  However, there is a reason that Paul calls the love of money the root of all evil in 1 Timothy 6:10. Sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking that all we need is more money to make us happy.  The fact is hat true happiness can only be found in God, and the idolatry of money leaves one unhappy no matter how much is attained.  The priests in Micah 3:11 were able to be bribed to do things, and the prophets took pay to serve favorable oracles[6]. 

This sin of economic idolatry is one that can easily creep into the church via church leadership.  Unfortunately, at least it seems, that the most popular preachers have succumbed to this.  They tell the people what they want to hear and fail to rightly preach the scriptures and the Gospel.  This leads to those whom rightly divide the word of truth to work much harder to correct the errors of others.  However, this sin does not stop with the leaders as the leaders spread this message to the congregation and it proliferates.

Idolatry Is Still An Issue

The message of these prophets must be heeded to guide people to the truth.  The world is turning more and more hostile to the faith, and there are more potential idols than never before.  Idolatry is a real threat to the church and the souls it seeks to serve.  The message of the prophets rings true today and it is one that must be preached often.  In Micah 3 the sins of the priests and prophets were judged with the destruction of the temple[7].  Likewise, the church today will have its faithfulness judged in the same light.  Is it faithful to God and leading souls to him?  Or is there an idol that has been placed ahead of God that will destroy the church?  Idols are not a thing of the past, but vanquishing it is a pathway to the future.

[1]. Raymond C. Ortlund Jr., God’s Unfaithful Wife: A Biblical Theology of Spiritual Adultery (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2003), 83.

[2]. Dalit Rom-Shiloni, “’How Can You Say, ‘I Am Not Defiled…’ (Jeremiah 2:20-25): Allusions to Priestly Legal Traditions in the Poetry of Jeremiah,” Journal of Biblical Literature 133 (April 2014).

[3]. Dirk Büchner, “Boshet in Jeremiah 3:24: Disenfranchisement and the Role of the Goddess in Seventh-Century Judah,” Journal of Theological Studies 59 (February 2008).

[4]. Blessing Onoriode Boloje, “Trading Yahweh’s Word for a Price: Ethical Implications of the Collusion of Prophets and Priests in Micah 3:5–7, 11,” Old Testament Essays 31, no. 3 (2018).

[5]. G.K. Beale, We Are What We Worship: A Biblical Theology Of Idolatry (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2008), 17.

[6]. Julia M.. O’Brien, Micah (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2015), 3.

[7]. Stephen G.. Dempster, Micah (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2017), 89.

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The Secularization of the Bible

I am once again honored to have recently interviewed Dr. Scott Hahn. We discussed the book he wrote with his coauthor Dr. Benjamin Wiker titled “The Decline And Fall Of Sacred Scripture: How The Bible Became A secular Book”.

History And The Bible

In this interview we discuss the inspiration behind the book and many of the historical circumstances that have led to many politicizing and secularizing the Bible. Check out the book at https://stpaulcenter.com/product/the-decline-and-fall-of-sacred-scripture-how-the-bible-became-a-secular-book/. Learn more about the Saint Paul Center and their many resources for learning more about scripture at www.stpaulcenter.com.

About Dr. Scott Hahn

Dr. Scott Hahn is the Fr. Michael Scanlan Professor of Biblical Theology and the New Evangelization at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. He is the Founder and President of the St. Paul Center, an apostolate dedicated to teaching Catholics to read Scripture from the heart of the Church. Dr. Hahn has been married to Kimberly for forty two years. They have six kids and twenty one grandkids and one of their sons are currently in priestly formation with the Diocese of Steubenville and the other was recently ordained.

Dr. Scott Hahn

The author and editor of over forty popular and academic books, Dr. Hahn’s works include best-selling titles Rome Sweet Home, The Lamb’s Supper, and Hail Holy Queen. His most recent release is titled Hope to Die: The Christian Meaning of Death and the Resurrection of the Body and It is Right and Just: Why the Future of Civilization Depends on True Religion now available at StPaulCenter.com.

Interview About The Secularization of the Bible

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Loving And Caring For The Marginalized With Anne Desantis

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-g9q5n-10e5b14

Catholic author, speaker Anne DeSantis joins me to discuss her new book “Love And Care For The Marginalized”. It is a book that gives 40 reflections for #Catholics on how we can reach out those around us. In this interview we will not only discuss the book, but who the #marginalized are and how we can reach them with the good news of the Gospel of Jesus.

Check out Anne’s website at https://www.annedesantis.com/

She is also the director of the Saint Raymond Nonnatus Foundation and you can learn more about them at https://www.nonnatus.org/ To purchase the book visit https://charispublishing.com/collections/frontpage/products/love-and-care-for-the-marginalized-40-meditations

#annedesantis

About Anne (From Her Website): I am a Wife, Mother of two adult daughters, Catholic Author, Speaker, and a 55+ Model/ Actress from the Greater Philadelphia area. Although I had a career before motherhood, spending quality family time will always be one of the best decisions I have ever made. In 2014 at the age of 49, I started a journey in the modeling and acting realm and have been active in the field up to the present time. Previous to this, I had been a stay-at-home homeschooling Mom to my two daughters. Currently, I host a weekly TV show called ” Journeys in Faith” on Fiat Ministry Network and Patchwork Heart Radio interviewing people doing good things and spreading faith! From 2018-2020 I hosted the weekly TV show called “The Positive Side” on RVNTV and interviewed amazing people doing work. My experience in the acting/modeling field ranges from background work in TV, local and national TV commercials, spokesperson work, QVC skincare progressionals, pharmaceutical ads, and online and print modeling and acting. I consider my roles as a commercial actress and model as a “hobby” and a great way to earn extra income for my family and in meeting new people. I have a standard with the work I accept in the field and do my best to accept jobs that reflect my life standards, goodness and positivity. With all of this said, I am honored to be the director for the St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation for Freedom, Family, and Faith since it is my primary profession. Serving the Lord in this way is an honor for me. It is a true gift to be able to help families and individuals through the work of this Catholic foundation. We are an expression and an application of the charism of the Mercedarian Religious Order. Since “Catholic” means universal, God’s love is for all people. I try to reflect this belief in my interactions. Christianity is a life modeled after Jesus Christ who gave his life for others in order to bring life to the world through the gift of faith.

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