About the show

Thoughts from the Trailer is a weekly blog from ACTS XXIX (https://www.actsxxix.org/trailer)
This podcast is the audio version of those articles.

If you are blessed by our podcast, and wish to support us, please click https://www.actsxxix.org/give

Thoughts from the Trailer with Fr. John Riccardo on social media

Episodes

  • Episode 32: Minds and Bodies and What to Do About Them

    August 30th, 2023  |  5 mins 38 secs
    acts xxix, actsxxix, encouragement, faith, fr. john riccardo, hope, inspiration, mission, prayer, reflections, weekly

    Paul urges us to present our bodies as “a living sacrifice.”

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    Episode 31: Of Course

    August 23rd, 2023  |  5 mins 24 secs
    acts xxix, actsxxix, encouragement, faith, fr. john riccardo, hope, inspiration, mission, prayer, reflections, weekly

    The simple reality, Paul writes, is that God’s ways are not our ways. Our puny, finite minds simply cannot understand what He is about, the plan He has, and how it is all going to be fulfilled. He is God and we are dust and ashes

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    Episode 30: Great (Un)Expectations

    August 16th, 2023  |  6 mins 50 secs
    acts xxix, actsxxix, encouragement, faith, fr. john riccardo, hope, inspiration, mission, prayer, reflections, weekly

    The problem was that since the Jewish people were part of the original human project it turns out they were in “the ditch” too, hopelessly bound by Sin and Death. The “tow truck” also needed to be rescued. In such a hopeless predicament, how could humanity ever be rescued? 

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    Episode 29: God of Abraham, Forgive

    August 9th, 2023  |  5 mins 56 secs
    acts xxix, actsxxix, encouragement, faith, fr. john riccardo, hope, inspiration, mission, prayer, reflections, weekly

    Over and over in these chapters Paul reminds the Church in Rome that God has not and will not ever reject His promise to the Israelites.

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    Episode 28: The One We Can Trust

    August 2nd, 2023  |  5 mins 53 secs
    acts xxix, actsxxix, encouragement, faith, fr. john riccardo, hope, inspiration, mission, prayer, reflections, weekly

    In the political landscape, well, does anyone really trust our leaders – no matter their party affiliation?

  • Episode 27: Who's In Charge Around Here?

    July 26th, 2023  |  9 mins
    acts xxix, actsxxix, encouragement, faith, fr. john riccardo, hope, inspiration, mission, prayer, reflections, weekly

    For those who believe in God, however, and not just a god, but the God who has revealed Himself to be Love, then suffering, pain, injustice and the rest can become very problematic indeed. Nobody asks more questions of God about suffering than Scripture.

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    Episode 26: The Gift of Weakness

    July 19th, 2023  |  4 mins 55 secs
    acts xxix, actsxxix, encouragement, faith, fr. john riccardo, hope, inspiration, mission, prayer, reflections, weekly

    Personally, I hate the feeling of being weak, in any way. Yet, the Holy Spirit seems to be telling us through Paul that we need weakness.

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    Episode 25: As Nothing?

    July 12th, 2023  |  6 mins 42 secs
    acts xxix, actsxxix, encouragement, faith, fr. john riccardo, hope, inspiration, mission, prayer, reflections, weekly

    Paul reminds us of a most important truth. There, he teaches us that while suffering is never a good, it can be used for good things.

  • Episode 24: Shedding What is a Hindrance

    July 5th, 2023  |  4 mins 37 secs
    acts xxix, actsxxix, encouragement, faith, fr. john riccardo, hope, inspiration, mission, prayer, reflections, weekly

    As I prayed with this, I was immediately struck by how relevant that little detail is for so many of us. How tempted I am to think that many of the things that other people, or other ministries, need I must also need.

  • Episode 23: The Real World

    June 28th, 2023  |  7 mins 43 secs
    acts xxix, actsxxix, encouragement, faith, fr. john riccardo, hope, inspiration, mission, prayer, reflections, weekly

    Americans don’t usually like bad news. Oh, to be sure, we seem to enjoy reading other people’s “dirty laundry,” as an 80’s song once put it. But confronting the reality of demons who hate and are seeking to degrade, enslave and destroy us…? Uh, no thanks.

  • Episode 22: Doomed to Succeed with Special Guest: Albert Faraj

    June 21st, 2023  |  5 mins 40 secs
    acts xxix, actsxxix, encouragement, faith, fr. john riccardo, hope, inspiration, mission, prayer, reflections, weekly

    We live in a time which is simultaneously permissive in the extreme while being merciless on anyone who makes mistakes. Our society makes no allowance for those who have messed up… there can be no redemption.

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    Episode 21: The Sin of David with special guest: Albert Faraj

    June 14th, 2023  |  5 mins 53 secs
    acts xxix, actsxxix, encouragement, faith, fr. john riccardo, hope, inspiration, mission, prayer, reflections, weekly

    What is the role of a father?