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Paul T. McCain
First Thoughts Articles
Astronaut Jeff Williams on CBS Evening News
Here is the video from last night’s CBS evening news, in case you were unable to see it:Watch CBS News Videos OnlineHis book is available here. . . . . Continue Reading »
Commemoration of Onesimus and Philemon
Philemon was a prominent first-century Christian who owned a slave named Onesimus. Although the name “Onesimus” means “useful,” Onesimus proved himself “useless” when he ran away from his master and perhaps even stole from him (Philemon 18). Somehow Onesimus came . . . . Continue Reading »
Quinquagesima Sunday: Last Sunday Before Lent
The Scripture Readings Appointed for Quinquagesima Introit: Ps. 31:1, 5, 9, 16; antiphon: Ps. 31:2b3Psalm of the day: Psalm 89:18-29 (antiphon: 20)Old Testament: 1 Samuel 16:113Gradual: Psalm. 77:1415Epistle: 1 Corinthians 13:113Verse: Ps. 100:13Gospel: Luke . . . . Continue Reading »
Vatican Official Proposes Ecumenical Catechism
Cardinal asks dialogue partners if an ecumenical catechism might workBy Cindy WoodenCatholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY (CNS) — A Vatican official has floated the idea of a shared “ecumenical catechism” as one of the potential fruits of 40 years of dialogue among Catholics, . . . . Continue Reading »
Christian By Virtue of What’s Happening Inside Your Head?
In light of a number of recent posts dealing with a range of topics on the nature of Christianity, I came across an observation that I think offers a bracing challenge to much that is American Protestantism today.“Stanley Hauerwas has said that modern Protestantism has been the only form of . . . . Continue Reading »
An Amazing Story of Discovery and Faith: Colonel Jeff Williams’ Space Voyage
On Monday February 15, Colonel Jeffrey Williams will be featured on CBS Evening News as part of the Everyone in the World Has a Story series from journalist Steve Hartman. Over the past months as part of the series, Williams and other astronauts at the International Space Station have spun an . . . . Continue Reading »
When you fast . . .
Did you know that our Lord Jesus Christ assumed that His disciples would fast, just as He assumed they would pray? Jesus commended fasting as a private act of humility and devotion to God (see Matthew 6:16-18). Note particularly that he says, “When you fast...” not “If you . . . . Continue Reading »
St. Silas: Evangelist and Co-worker with St. Peter and St. Paul
Saint Paul chose Silas, a leader in the church at Jerusalem, to accompany him on his second missionary journey from Antioch to Asia Minor and Macedonia (Acts 15:40). Silas, also known as Silvanus, was imprisoned with Paul in Philippi (Acts 16:16-40) and experienced the riots in Thessalonica (Acts . . . . Continue Reading »
Why Pope John Paul II Whipped Himself and Why It Bothers Us So Much
The concept of self-denial is foreign to most American Christians who, in our consumer culture, as as well conditioned as the rest to indulge and spend, to consume, consume, consume. We consume food to the point that most of us are overweight. We consume so much food that many chronic illnesses are . . . . Continue Reading »
In Christ, Death Died
As such He came; He came as Saviour. He died, but He vanquished death; in Himself He put an end to what we feared; He took it upon Himself and He vanquished it, as a mighty Hunter He captured and slew the lion. Where is death? Seek it in Christ, for it exists no longer; but it did exist and now it . . . . Continue Reading »
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