Draw Near

PREVIEW: My Lord and My God Ep 1: Doubting Thomas

January 24th, 2023  |  7 mins 13 secs

big news, eucharist, my lord and my god, new show

We have a new podcast coming out on January 24th, 2023! This weekly, year-long show is called, "My Lord & My God," based on the words of St. Thomas. Our focus in every episode will be helping listeners to encounter Christ in the Eucharist and to better understand this most beautiful and sacred mystery: Christ present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. We will explore Scripture, the teachings of the Church, and the writings of the saints. We will also hear many powerful testimonies of how lives have been changed through encountering Christ in the Eucharist. What difference should this encounter with Christ make in our lives? How does it shape our relationship with the Lord and with one another? Listen to find out!

Be sure to subscribe/follow on your favorite podcast platform to catch all the new episodes. In the meantime, enjoy this preview of episode 1 in which we reflect on the inspiration for this show, "Doubting Thomas," and those beautiful words of encounter, "My Lord and My God." This episode will post Tuesday, January 24! Here, we take some time to reflect on the words of St Thomas, "My Lord and My God." He speaks these words after his famous doubt... "Unless I stick my fingers in his wounds I will not believe." Why did Thomas say this? What can we learn from him? How is St Thomas' encounter with the risen Christ similar to what we are invited into every time we attend Mass and receive Communion? These are just some of the topics we will explore in this episode!

My Lord & My God website

You talkin' about me?

January 18th, 2023  |  45 mins 25 secs

draw near, gossip, guest, love your neighbor, venting

"Treat me like a human being." These were the words of a friend of ours recounting a difficult situation to us recently. These words have stuck with us since. We - like so many we'd be willing to guess - often speak of the "dignity of the human person," and yet belief in that dignity is not always evident in the experiences of daily life. Christ tells us that the world will know us by our love for one another; that we are to love one another as he has loved us. Yet, we gossip, we slander. We are quick to desire empathy and we want to be given the benefit of the doubt, but we are not always so quick to extend that to others. How can we overcome this? What are the implications of the dignity of each human person, on the way we live our lives as social beings? These are some of the topics we dive into with our good friend, and special guest, Sr Fidelis Marie.

NEW PODCAST COMING! My Lord and My God

January 18th, 2023  |  3 mins 1 sec

big news, eucharist, my lord and my god, new show

The hosts of Draw Near, Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell, have a new podcast coming out on January 24th. This show is called, "My Lord & My God," based on the words of St. Thomas. It will be centered on the Eucharist... helping people understand this great mystery and come to a deeper encounter with the love of Christ through the Eucharist.
Be sure to subscribe/follow to catch all the new episodes.

Dad Joke Challenge

January 4th, 2023  |  23 mins 46 secs

dad jokes

Enjoy some lighthearted fun and conversation with our good friend, Phillip Grothus! Back by popular demand, in this bonus episode as we begin the new year, Fred and Phillip battle in an exchange of dad jokes to see who can make Kara laugh. Will she crack? Who will be the winner? This is really just pure silly fun and we hope you enjoy it! Happy New Year!

We will be back with the usual Draw Near discussions in our next episode!

The Eucharist: Ch. 9 - I Believe in Love

December 30th, 2022  |  24 mins 11 secs

book study, catholic, chapter 9, i believe in love, the eucharist

Week 9 discussion on "The Eucharist" from the I Believe in Love book study led by Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell from the Draw Near podcast!!
This book is a personal retreat based on the teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux written by: Book by Fr Jean C J D'Elbee

The Cross: Ch. 8 - I Believe in Love

December 30th, 2022  |  28 mins 25 secs

book study, catholic, conference 8, draw near, i believe in love, the cross

Week 8 discussion on "The Cross" from the I Believe in Love book study led by Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell from the Draw Near podcast!!
This book is a personal retreat based on the teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux written by: Book by Fr Jean C J D'Elbee

The Apostolate: Ch. 7 - I Believe in Love

December 30th, 2022  |  24 mins 2 secs

book study, conference 7, i believe in love, the apostolate

Week 7 discussion on "The Apostolate" from the I Believe in Love book study led by Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell from the Draw Near podcast!!

Fraternal Charity: Ch. 6 - I Believe in Love

December 26th, 2022  |  29 mins 37 secs

book study, catholic, conference 6, fraternal charity, i believe in love

Week 6 discussion on "Fraternal Charity" from the I Believe in Love book study led by Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell from the [Draw Near](drawnear.me) podcast!!
This book is a personal retreat based on the teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux written by: Book by Fr Jean C J D'Elbee

BONUS: The Gift of the Magi

December 22nd, 2022  |  10 mins 57 secs

christmas, stories, the gift of the magi

Continuing to share some of our favorite Christmas stories this holiday season, here is a a classic that may just bring you to tears: "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry. For this reading, Fred is joined by Siouxland Catholic Radio's, Joanne Fox, who narrates. He is also joined by his wife, Krystal, in the role of Della and his daughter who plays the part of Mrs. Sofronie.
We both love inviting listeners into our homes and into our families as we celebrate this year by sharing some of our favorite Christmas stories. This is a purely "sit back and relax," "story time" sort of "shorty" episode. We hope this reading will be a blessing to you this Christmas season. Thank you for listening and allowing us to be a part of your lives this year! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Great Desires, Humility, and Peace: Ch 5 - I Believe in Love

December 21st, 2022  |  23 mins 4 secs

For a limited time, as a "Christmas gift" to our listeners, please enjoy our full discussion from our I Believe in Love book study on the fifth chapter of this life changing book. Here we discuss the desires of our hearts, how are we to follow and discern those desires, and how the Lord has given us gifts to build the kingdom. Shorter than a typical episode of Draw Near, but also a bit more personal at times, we hope and pray, but also believe, that these discussions will be a blessing to you (whether you have read the book or not - but we hope you will!).

Abandonment to Jesus: Ch 4 - I Believe in Love

December 21st, 2022  |  24 mins 8 secs

For a limited time, as a "Christmas gift" to our listeners, please enjoy our full discussion from our I Believe in Love book study on the fourth chapter of this life changing book. Here we discuss what it means to abandon one's self to Jesus; to live the prayer, "Thy will be done." Shorter than a typical episode of Draw Near, but also a bit more personal at times, we hope and pray, but also believe, that these discussions will be a blessing to you (whether you have read the book or not - but we hope you will!).

Unshakeable Confidence: Ch 3 - I Believe in Love

December 21st, 2022  |  27 mins 5 secs

For a limited time, as a "Christmas gift" to our listeners, please enjoy our full discussion from our I Believe in Love book study on the third chapter of this life changing book. Here we discuss the danger in becoming too dependent upon ourselves, how our weaknesses are actually opportunities to encounter the Lord and why we must "become like little children." Shorter than a typical episode of Draw Near, but also a bit more personal at times, we hope and pray, but also believe, that these discussions will be a blessing to you (whether you have read the book or not - but we hope you will!).