Draw Near

Concluding our series on the Our Father, we look at the last two petitions in this prayer. Every human person faces trials and temptations. Scripture refers to a battle between flesh and spirit. What does this mean? What does this petition have to do with it? What value is there in temptation? What does these two petitions teach us about the battle between good and evil. In this episode we will an...

"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." This petition in the Our Father offers us both a challenge and an invitation. Each time we pray this, we acknowledge that we are forgiven and so we too must extend forgiveness. But how do we live this? In this episode Fred reflects on this petition and offers some advice from his own experience of finding forgiveness. Check o...

This petition of the Our Father carries with it great meaning and depth. On one hand it is pointing toward the practical daily needs we all have and our dependence upon God. On the other hand, we also see great spiritual truths that should shape our relationship with God and with one another, as well as our role in helping to provide for the needs of others. What are these truths? What are we pray...

Continuing to dive deep into the Our Father, in this episode Fred takes a look at the petitions, "Thy Kingdom Come" and "Thy Will Be Done." How can the Our Father help us to direct our hearts toward him and better understand his will? How should these two sentences shape our daily lives, our relationships, and the way we approach the world in which we live? Find out on this episode! Detailed notes...

To both grow in the life of prayer, and pray more fruitfully, it is important that we do take the time to reflect on what we are praying, and what those words mean. This helps our prayers to be offered to God with greater devotion and fervency. That said, in this episode we continue our discussion on the Our Father. This week we will look at the line, “Hallowed be thy name." “Hallowed” can seem a...

Many people know how to say the Our Father and learn it from an early age. We can recite it almost without thinking about it. But what do the words of this prayer really mean? Could it be that there is more significance in these words? Jesus Christ gave us this prayer. What is He teaching us in and through this prayer? What can reflection on the words we say so often in this prayer reveal about ou...

Despite the title, this episode (and part two that will follow next time) really is a LIGHTHEARTED discussion on the Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell. Drawing on our desire to become saints (strive to be a saint and to hell with everything else), as well as our desire to help others become saints, this episode takes a different direction than listeners may expect. Reflecting on...

We recently heard a question about us. Someone asked another friend, "why do THEY have a podcast?" Instead of assuming their intentions behind the question, we prayed with the question. "Why?" In this episode we share why 2 nobodies, sinners, introverts, friends... felt led to begin a podcast. What are we trying to accomplish? What is the future of Draw Near? We also wanted to welcome our hundreds...

With a recent Catholic movie hitting theaters, we thought we would throw our voices in the mix on whether it is worth watching. Yay of nay on Father Stu? Listen to hear a new take on the film... and for some feistiness! In this episode, Fred and Kara review the movie Father Stu, starring Mark Wahlberg and Mel Gibson. This story is unique, unlike most movies with Christian themes, but filled with m...

In this episode, we spend some time reflecting on the past few weeks and what the Lord has been speaking to our hearts and doing in our lives as we have moved through the end of Lent and into Holy Week. We also discuss the Netflix series, Cobra Kai, and examine some lessons we can draw from it in light of our faith. How does the redemption of Johnny Lawrence resemble our own? Listen to find out! F...

Having a spiritual director can be “trendy.” Nevertheless, there is great value in spiritual direction! We often need help in making decisions for ourselves in the light of faith and going deeper in our spiritual lives; in hearing the voice of the Lord and being accountable for what is or is not happening in prayer. So, who needs a spiritual director? When do we need one most? What can we do if we...

Pope Benedict XVI said, “The world promises you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.” Yet Jesus tells us in John 16:33 that we can expect tribulation and suffering in this world if we seek to follow Him. How are they both right? What does this mean for us? How are we to live these truths? What role do “comforts” play in our lives? How might they hinder our walk...

If you think you are good at Lent… You are not. No one is good at Lent. But there is a good reason for this. Lent is often a challenge because it requires letting go of things that hinder us in following the Lord. It requires taking up the cross and denying ourselves for something much greater and more beautiful: a deeper encounter with the love and person of Jesus Christ. This helps us to begin t...

The Church teaches that parents are the primary evangelists and teachers of their children and goes so far as to refer to the family in the home as “the domestic church.” But what does this mean? Practically, how do we live this out? The Church also places a great emphasis on the role adults play in helping children encounter the love of Christ. In many ways, the Christ children know, the love of...

Who is the Holy Spirit? Why is a relationship with Him so important? In Scripture, Christ promises the gift of the Holy Spirit, the love of God poured out into our hearts (Rom 5:5). He is Comforter, Teacher, Counselor and Guide. In Acts 15, when the Church is faced with a difficult decision, they seek Him in prayer, trusting in Christ’s promise that the Holy Spirit will lead and guide in all truth...

Our work and our lives with our familes has kept our plates full in the new year. We also have continued to battle with germs and sickness. Pray for us as we pray for you! We needed some extra time for rest this month. That said, we still want to make sure we get something out for listeners to enjoy. So, instead, please enjoy this bonus content, a cover of Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) we rec...

In the most wonderfully busy Christmas Holiday season full of sick kids and lost voices, we were not able to record a full episode for all of you this week! So, instead, please enjoy this bonus content of a cover of "No Longer Slaves" by Bethel Music we recorded a while ago. (writer credit: Brian Johnson, Joel Case, Jonathan David Helser) Cover Vocals: Kara Kardell Cover Guitar: Fred Shellabarger

Following up on our Christmas Spectacular episode, we invite you (and your family) to enjoy a timeless story that Fred reads to his children every year! 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 H...

In this episode, we take a step back, relax, get a little bit silly, and invite you into our own lives and friendship. We discuss some of our favorite Advent traditions as well as some of our favorite Christmas memories and share how we celebrate this most beautiful time of year with our families. We also discuss New Year’s resolutions, what ours are, and offer some suggestions on how to approach...

For such a long time, I (Kara) thought the Immaculate Conception was all about Jesus. After all… he was miraculously conceived! BUT this Feast, which we celebrate today on December 8th, is All. About. MARY! Mary was immaculately conceived in the womb of her mother. She was created without the stain of Original Sin. She was always “Full of Grace.” In this “shorty” Kara dives into a Scriptural study...

In this Scriptural shorty, Kara takes on the topic of the Papacy. Have you ever wondered why the Catholic Church has a Pope? Where is that in the Bible? What is the purpose of the Pope? Study of Scripture and the teachings of the Church should always point us to the love of Christ! The papacy does this; it points to the love of Christ! How? Mentioned in this episode : Matthew 16: 13-20 2 Samuel 7:...

In this episode, we speak with guest, Catholic speaker, author, and podcaster, Sonja Corbitt! You won't want to miss it!! Sonja is known as the "Bible Evangelista" and that she is! Her knowledge and incorporation of the Scriptures is exactly what we need more of in the Church! Our spiritual growth and knowledge of the faith should not be based on opinion, but rooted in the Word of God! Sonja does...

In this episode, we talk about living holiness in our every day lives with special friend and guest, Sister Fidelis Marie of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters. It's easy to get bogged down discerning the future options, vocations, or the many small choices placed in front of us. How do we know what we are supposed to do? What happens if we get off the path God wants for us? What if I'm not living...

In this episode, we again take up the theme of “life lessons” from the Saints. We share our encounters with St. Therese of Lisieux, the “Little Flower,” and share some deeply personal experiences of how her words, and no doubt her intercession, helped us draw near to the Lord during very difficult times. We consider St. Therese a very dear friend and we hope that this episode will help you to also...

No doubt we have all wrestled with discouragement. Thoughts of our own failures and shortcomings, whether real or only perceived, can often surround us like a heavy storm. We can feel like we have given it our all, but our efforts still seem to fall short of our expectations. It can be difficult to hear the voice of the Lord, much less to see him in the midst of the storm. BUT even if he is asleep...