Fred Shellabarger

As You Did in Egypt (MLMG Ep 17)

January 26th, 2024  |  20 mins 59 secs

eucharist, exodus, jewish, old testament, passover

St Augustine famously said, that in the Old Testament, the New Testament is concealed. And in the New Testament, the meaning of the Old Testament is revealed. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that, "All sacred Scripture is but one book, and this one book is Christ (CCC 134). We hear the St John the Baptist and other New Testament writers refer to Christ as the "Lamb of God." But what does this mean? St Paul refers to Christ as our new Passover Lamb (1 Cor 5:7). but again, what is the significance of this passage? What profound truth was the apostle, inspired by the Holy Spirit, desiring to reveal to us? In this episode we look at the Passover (when Israel was freed from Egyptian bondage) found in Exodus 12, and what it reveals to us about our reception of Christ in the Eucharist.

Jesus, I Trust In You

January 24th, 2024  |  45 mins 8 secs

jesus i trust in you, litany of trust

In this episode, we share some exciting news! We also spend some time reflecting on one of our favorite prayers, the Litany of Trust. Continuing our "Lectio Series" by reflecting on the prayer itself, we look at what it means to "trust" in the Lord. How can we trust in hard times? How does God forge our trust and hope in Him in the midst of our day to day lives? Listen to find out!

I AM the Bread of Life (MLMG Ep 16)

January 19th, 2024  |  36 mins 48 secs

apologetics, bread of life, eucharist, john 6

Continuing our discussion from the episodes, Bread from Heaven and Feeding of the 5,000, in this episode we discuss the meaning of John 6 (particularly, the Bread of Life discourse). In this passage, Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed." What does Jesus mean? Is this a metaphor? Does he mean to be taken literally? If so... what does it mean for us?

I Was Made to Be A Priest (MLMG Ep 15)

January 12th, 2024  |  35 mins 45 secs

father andrew auer, mass, priesthood, st. louis, testimony

When God calls your heart, you answer. Fr. Andrew Auer of St. Louis shares how through an invitation to attend weekly mass, God changed his heart. Father's encounter with Christ in the mass at 16 years old led him to leave sin and desire holiness, and it ultimately led him to the priesthood.
In this episode Fred, Kara, and Father Auer also discuss God's desire for us to approach him with the security and reliance of that like a child to a parent.

New Day's Resolution

January 10th, 2024  |  27 mins 21 secs

encouragement, goals, new year's resolutions

In this episode, we reflect on New Year's Resolutions... Or, more accurately, "New Day's Resolutions" and the idea that the Lord's mercies are new every morning. While there is great value in in resolutions for a new year, should we also place an emphasis on the hope of a new day, every day? How do we evaluate the "success" of our resolutions? How do we avoid the temptation to be overly hard on our selves when we believe we fall short? Listen to find out!

Feeding the 5000 (MLMG Ep 14)

January 5th, 2024  |  27 mins 58 secs

bible, feeding 5000, proof, scripture, teaching

Serving as a "bridge" between our last episode, Bread from Heaven, and our discussion on the Bread of Life discourse (John 6); this week we take up the topic of the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000. From the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, Jesus multiplied the available food such that the crowd that was following him could "eat their fill." Yet, 12 baskets remained leftover. How is this possible? What was John trying to reveal to us about Jesus Christ? What is significant about the language the Gospel writer uses and what are the parallels that can be drawn? How does this miracle point ultimately to the Eucharist? Listen to find out!

Bread from Heaven (MLMG Ep 13)

December 29th, 2023  |  29 mins 8 secs

bread of life, eucharist, exodus, manna, wilderness

Being a podcast on the Eucharist, we wanted to take up the OT account of the manna in the desert (Exodus 16). Referenced in the New Testament several times (especially in John 6). We will be devoting a few episodes to the "Bread of Life Discourse (John 6), but we wanted to first lay a good foundation and highlight some key passages in the book of Exodus, as well as the parallels that can be drawn in the New Testament and the way the reception of the "Bread from Heaven" should shape the way we live our lives.

Love Builds the Church: a Lectio of 1 Cor 13

December 20th, 2023  |  34 mins 33 secs

draw near podcast, lectio divina, love, scripture

LOVE is the root of renewal of heart, renewal in the Church, and renewal in the world. "Love" builds the Church. This is a topic Fred and Kara have wanted to take up for a LONG time on the Draw Near podcast. We share personal reflections or this passage and how God has been moving in our hearts and lives recently.

Christmas Classic: Xmas and Advent Traditions

December 18th, 2023  |  52 mins

advent, christmas, classics

Pulling from the Draw Near archive for this one, please enjoy this classic "Draw Near Christmas Spectacular" where we talk about our favorite Christmas memories and share some of our families' traditions. BONUS: hear all new year-end updates from Fred and Kara.

"Gratitude" COVER by Fred and Kara

December 15th, 2023  |  5 mins 58 secs

cover, gratitude, music

Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell share an acoustic cover of "Gratitude," by Bethel Worship.

Song written by: Benjamin Hastings, Brandon Lake, and Dante Bowe

Your Heart is a Heaven For Him (MLMG Ep 12)

December 15th, 2023  |  26 mins 10 secs

book study, catholic, heart is a heaven, i believe in love, the eucharist

In this episode, we share with listeners one of our "I Believe in Love" Book Study discussions, centered on the Eucharist! We regularly lead studies on this book and in many ways, its a book that changed our lives. We believe that the words of Fr d'Elbee, rooted in the spirituality of St Therese of Lisieux, will be a blessing to you! We begin my looking at the words of Fr d'Elbee, "Give Him the joy of descending upon your heart, which is a heaven for Him!"

In our show, we focus a lot on OUR encounter with Christ in the Eucharist. Yet, in communion, God desires not only that we encounter Him, but He also desires to encounter us! Not only does He dwell in us, but in the Eucharist, Christ becomes one with us! What are the implications of this profound mystery? How should it shape the way we live our lives and how we prepare our hearts for Mass? What does it reveal about God's great love for us? Listen to find out!

DN Classics: There's Something About Mary

December 8th, 2023  |  1 hr 1 min

Reposting one of our most popular episodes ever in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary on her feast day (December 8). In the deeply personal first half of this episode, Fred and Kara reflect on their relationship with Mary, and how that has changed and grown over the years. Fred shares more of his testimony about converting to Catholicism and the role Mary played in that process. He also reflects on issues such as identity, childhood trauma, mistrust, and difficult family experiences and how these can effect our relationship with God; as well as with Mary. He shares the story of his relationship with Mary, and how she has helped him to find healing. Christ, while bleeding out and dying on the Cross, said to his Mother, “Behold your son;” and to his beloved disciple, “Behold your Mother.” Scripture then affirms that from that day, this beloved disciple “took her into his home.” We to, as beloved disciples must take her into our homes, and allow the love of the Mother of God to penetrate our hearts as only that of a faithful mother can. Her heart is to draw us near to the source of peace that surpasses all understanding: her son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In the second half, we return to Kara's teaching on the Immaculate Conception, which we celebrate on December 8. Kara dives into a scriptural study of key texts that point to Mary’s Immaculate Conception with hopes that each listener would be drawn deeper into the celebration of this Holy Day of Obligation.