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Hi Reader, Here in the US where I live, we’re just a few days past Memorial Day. It’s the most somber of our federal holidays. It’s less about celebrating like our other holidays, and more about reflecting and honoring. I wrote a blog post about Memorial Day last year. Click here if you’re interested. In it I reference one of my favorite podcast episodes from several years ago, A Memorial Day to Remember This Memorial Day weekend Janet and I went to a retirement party for a friend given by his family. I know he felt honored. I also had two somber conversations with people that I’m still reflecting upon. Then I planted flowers. They are small now, but before you know it they will be in full bloom. It’s going to be worth the wait. Another thing I hope you feel is worth the wait is the start of Season 9 of my You Were Made for This podcast. It begins next Wednesday, June 4th, with episode no. 220. It’s the first one I’ve done since last Christmas. It takes a look at what makes life truly fulfilling. I hoped you listen in. Until next week, I wish you all the joy that you can wish.* John Certalic * The Merchant of Venice, Act III, scene 2 |
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“At the end of the day, nothing matters MORE than relationships.” — John Certalic
Joy is a Two-Way Street With God
[FIRST NAME GOES HERE], Last week’s podcast episode, #218 (click here if you missed it), discussed how it’s better to listen than to talk. This principle is illustrated in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 17, verses 1-8. It revolves around what God says to three of Jesus’ disciples. “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” The passage seems to suggest we bring joy to God when we listen to his son, Jesus. We sing songs in church about the joy we have in Jesus, and...
Better to Listen Than to Talk
Reader, Season 8 of our You Were Made For This podcast comes to a close today with episode #218. In it, I discuss a story in the Bible in which a man missed out because he chose to talk rather than remain quiet and let things unfold. We can learn from his mistake. It ties in with what made a friend of mine practically gasp out loud at what she saw while eating dinner at a restaurant in San Fransisco’s Chinatown. Click here to listen in. You’re going to like this one. Until next time, I wish...
The Next Time You’re Anxious Try This
Hi Reader, A few weeks ago during a Sunday morning church service we sang "The Goodness of God." Several days later I listened to the YouTube video at home. This time reading through many of the comments about the song. They were quite moving. Listening to the song soothes you like a warm blanket on a cold night during a January blizzard. Click here (or on the image above) to listen in yourself. Then read the sampling below of how the song touched people in such a deeply personal way. It most...
An Unusual Surprise From God
Hi Reader, Today’s episode of You Were Made For This, #217, finishes the story of tracking down my birth father. In it you’ll hear (or read): The odd thing he said to me when I told him I was his son What happened when my birth father showed up at a family reunion The surprising way God prompted two friends to help me get through this chapter in my life The larger relational principle from this story that applies to all of us To listen in, click here. Until next week, I wish you all the joy...
A Timely Quote From Albert Einstein
Reader, Last week’s podcast episode was the story of how I located my birth father by searching through public records and making lots of phone calls. It was using one bit of information to lead to another to another to another. Click here if you missed episode #216. I also mentioned in the episode how God orchestrated four important events in my life to all occur on April 4th, decades apart. It’s one of the most comforting things I’ve ever experienced. Albert Einstein describes it like this,...
Our Past Helps Us Understand Our Present
Reader, Today’s podcast is what its title describes, Our Past Helps Us Understand Our Present. You can listen to it on two levels.The first is the investigative work I did to locate my birth father. It was an energizing exercise to start with very limited information about him. Then overcoming various obstacles in tracking him down. More importantly, there is the role God played in guiding my search and the unusual way he used one particular day of the year, April 4th, to reveal his loving...
Searching For My Birth Father
Hi Reader, If you missed last week’s podcast episode #215 you can listen to it when you click here. I read from a section of my book, THEM about a conversation I had with my mother that began was I was ten years old, and that took 30 years to complete. It had to do with getting information from her to help me track down my birth father. Some people will think, “Why bother? It’s in the past and it’s not going to change anything.” I wish it was that simple. Historian David McCullough describes...
Finishing a 30-Year-Old Conversation
Reader, A number of years ago my friend Bill got me started down a path that eventually brought closure to a troubling part of my life. It wasn’t something he intended to do; it just happened. And It’s the subject of today’s episode, no. 215 of You Were Made For This. It’s about adult children trying to resolve an issue from their childhood with their parents. Click here to listen in. Until next week, I wish you all the joy that you can wish.* John Certalic You Were Made for This is the...
My Favorite Quote This Week
Hi Reader, I may have mentioned this before, but I think it would be fun to do a weekly podcast about interesting quotes. Quote the quote, then talk about it. For example, I recently read a book by Mary Pipher, Letters to a Young Therapist. Each chapter is a letter to the author’s niece who is a newly minted psychotherapist. As one with decades of experience in their shared profession, Pipher offers up nuggets of wisdom she’s learned along the way. I didn’t get the sense she's a person of...
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