Open Doors: Conversations with Heart of the Father

Be awakened, empowered and equipped as you listen to Matt and good friend Dan DeMatte, founder and Executive Director of Damascus Catholic Mission, the Catholic Youth Summer Camp and Mission in Columbus, OH that reaches young people, enabling them to encounter Jesus and raise up missionary people to live missionary lives. 

Together, Matt and Dan discuss the power of  the Gospel. By proclaiming the Good News of Jesus' victory, we are given the authority to set the captives free and release the prisoners from darkness.

It is not by our own strength but by the transformation of the Holy Spirit that we can walk in righteousness, joy, and peace. In Christ, we find new life and are set free!

Want to experience more righteousness, more joy, more peace?

Listen to these two men on FIRE for Jesus share wisdom and insights and be called to go deeper in your journey with Jesus!

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners. 

Isaiah 61:1

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Release: April 2023
Music by Christian Harper
Artwork by Rosemary Strohm at Command-S

You won't want to miss this week's episode with special guest Dr. Bob Schuchts of Restore the Glory Podcast and the John Paul II Healing Center.
 
What is healing? What is deliverance? We cannot understand one without the other.

Dr. Schuchts defines healing as an "ongoing encounter with the love of God that brings us into wholeness and communion." In light of 2 Corinthians 3:18, healing is gazing at the face of Jesus until we become the face of Jesus for others. 

Deliverance is the freedom from barriers that perpetuate our brokenness. 

Like Unbound, Dr.  Schuchts' ministry advocates for the transformation of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of those who experience wounds, such as abandonment, rejection, and broken trust. 

How often do we treat woundedness with unforgiveness, judgment, identity lies, or sinful patterns instead of turning to the Lord? The deliverance and healing promised by Our Father is experienced through the salvation of Jesus Christ. 

This one's so good you'll want to listen again!

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 

2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV

Find Dr. Bob Schuchts' book Be Healed and his other books as well.

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Release: April 2023
Music by Christian Harper
Artwork by Rosemary Strohm at Command-S

 A short conversation in her counselor's office ultimately led Priscilla Strapp of New Life Philly to bring Unbound to her church. Before long, she found herself across the world leading an Unbound conference in Japan -- the same place her journey of faith began as a child of missionaries. Priscilla's experience with Unbound is a story of deliverance and bridging divides, with an ending yet to unfold. 

Listen to this joyful conversation as Rachel and Priscilla reflect on what the Lord can do, often behind the scenes, working all things together to bring glory and healing. 

Every day God calls to share the Good News. It is easy to be discouraged by obstacles, and oftentimes we do not see the fruit of His work. Other times He places opportunities right in our laps, where we serve as His hands and feet with a front-row seat to powerful testimonies of lives changed by deliverance.

That's the way the gospel spreads.  You always hear people say,  it's just a one starving person saying to another, 'this is where I found bread.'

"Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV

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Release: April 2023
Music by Christian Harper
Artwork by Rosemary Strohm at Command-S

In today's episode, join Neal as he and ChristLife's Dave Nodar (Neal's longtime friend) reflect on this Holy Thursday gospel passage in John 13:1-15.

Here we find that Jesus, the Son of God, rose from supper, laid aside His garments, and girded himself with a towel. His service was based on who He was in the Father.

This is God who becomes man,  humbles Himself and  becomes a servant. Jesus says, "I came not to be served, but to serve and to give my life as a ransom."

 Jesus tells us that this is the way He wants us to live.

But Jesus was able to serve from His identity as the beloved Son. He has won that for each of us. We are called to serve like Jesus, to wash oneanother's feet, but that giving of ourselves comes from knowing who we are in Christ.

Come and be moved by His desire for you! Listen as you hear Peter's struggle to understand. Find out just how much you are LOVED!

Dave Nodar is the founder and senior leader of ChristLife, a ministry that equips Catholics for the essential work of evangelization, so that all people might personally encounter Jesus Christ and be transformed into His missionary disciples.  Dave authored several books as well as  the ChristLife courses.   

But the thing we most love about Dave is his passion to help others to know the love of God the Father in Jesus Christ.

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Release: April 2023
Music by Christian Harper
Artwork by Rosemary Strohm at Command-S

Reflecting on John 11:17-44, Matt Lozano is joined in this episode by Nick Jorgenson from Acts XXIX Ministries. 

"So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, 'Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.'" John 11:41-42 NIV.

Jesus is God speaking human. He chooses to speak with us through the humanity of His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Like the tomb of Lazarus, we have parts of ourselves that we shrink away from, things in our life that we want to hide from Jesus. But it is in our darkest place, our vulnerable moments, that the Gospel holds the most truth. 


As He did for Lazarus, He longs to  call your name. In calling YOUR name from YOUR tomb,  He's saying that He knows you. He knows all of you. He desires you.  He desires ALL of you.  

He says,  "Dead man come out!" 

We all have access to the Father. God always hears us! He rejoices in our triumphs and weeps for our sorrows.

What is the Good News for you today?

Can you hear Him call YOUR name?

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Release: March 2023
Music by Christian Harper. 
Artwork by Rosemary Strohm at Command-S

As we continue these beautiful Lenten reflections on the Gospel readings, join Jacqueline and Ann in today's podcast on John 9:1-41, the story of the man born blind. 

What does it mean to be seen? How does it feel to be known? 

What can we learn from this story of Jesus seeing and knowing and healing the man born blind?

Like the disciples, our first response to a problem is often with a "fix-it" mentality -- what did I do wrong, and how can I make it right? If we focus on what we see on the surface, we miss out on understanding the truth. Where is God when we face trials? How does He reveal Himself to us and make Himself known? How deeply do we understand that we are known by Him?

From understanding comes healing. 

Listen to the word of God and our reflection on the story of the man born blind. What is the Lord's invitation for you to respond to him today?

Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when He found him, He said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"

"Who is he, sir?" the man asked. "Tell me so that I may believe in him."

Jesus said, "You have now seen Him; in fact, He is the one speaking with you."

Then the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshipped Him. 

Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that they blind will see and those who see will become blind." 

(John 9:35-39 NIV)

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Release: March 2023
Music by Christian Harper. 
Artwork by Rosemary Strohm at Command-S

In today's episode, Rachel and Neal reflect on Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, found in John 4:5-42. 

A beautiful story of conversion, this passage illustrates the intentionality of Jesus when He encounters the Samaritan woman and the same intentionality He has for each of us. 

He knows our hearts and is always waiting for our response, just as He waited and revealed Himself to the truth-seeking heart of the Samaritan woman. 

This passage is read in the middle of Lent, a sacred time of preparation for the renewal of internal faith through external practices. Fasting, almsgiving, and prayer are powerful reflections of our internal conversions and gratitude for what the Lord has given us. These things are fulfilled with a deep connection to Jesus, with a heart in pursuit of God. 

What is going on in your life as you listen today? 

What are you experiencing?

Through suffering and triumphs, Jesus sits at the well and awaits your engagement to reveal the Love of the Father. 

Find the Woman at the Well scene from the Chosen
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In this beautiful episode, Janet and Jenn reflect on the gospel reading from  this past Sunday,  the Transfiguration of Jesus in Matthew 17:1-9.

This powerful account starts with Jesus taking Peter, James and John high up on that mountain.  These were the same three disciples who were going to be with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane on another mountain, the Mount of Olive. He was transfigured before them.

What was this transfiguration?

What was the meaning of the transfiguration for Jesus?

What did it mean for His disciples?

Why were Moses and Elijah there?

Join today's conversation and hear some beautiful thoughts on this powerful gospel. 

May His face shine upon you!

Find Free to Be Holy by Matt Lozano
Listen to Home by Jeremy Riddle

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Release: March 2023
Music by Christian Harper. 
Artwork by Rosemary Strohm at Command-S

During the next few weeks, we're going to  be reflecting on the Lenten gospel passages and having some special guests as well, so that we can really prepare ourselves for this season.

Today though, we want to do something a little different. Recently, all of us at Heart of the Father Ministries were shocked and saddened by the news of the tragic death of Bishop David O'Connell, an Auxiliary Bishop in the Diocese of Los Angeles. Bishop Dave was a servant of the poor, the immigrant, and the marginalized.

 He spent most of his priesthood loving the people in the city of Los Angeles. He had a tremendous sense of humor and  a warmth for everyone he met. Bishop Dave was a friend of ours and an enthusiastic supporter of Unbound. He hosted two Unbound priest retreats in his diocese, and he never hesitated to share his testimony about how he experienced freedom when a friend ministered to him using the Five Keys.

So in this episode, we share with you a beautiful interview  Father Boniface Hicks OSB did with Bishop Dave in 2017 on WAOB Radio. Bishop Dave tells his story of freedom and  talks about the great need people have for deliverance in their lives. We know you'll be blessed to hear Bishop Dave, and we just want to honor and thank God for his life.

Well done. Good and faithful servant David O'Connell.

Thank you Fr. Boniface Hicks, OSB.
Interview used with the permission of WAOB (We Are One Body) Radio.

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Release: March 2023
Music by Christian Harper. 
Artwork by Rosemary Strohm at Command-S

We have two very special people joining us today, Elaine and Miguel Ventura, a beautiful couple passionate about sharing God's love with others. Elaine and Miguel help lead a ministry called Ministerio Catolico Jesus esta Vivo (Jesus is Alive) in Northern Virginia. They spend most of their free time evangelizing and sharing the message of freedom in Christ in the US and beyond. 

Join us for a warm-hearted and soul-touching episode filled with stories of God's faithfulness and compassion. Hear how lives have been changed!

It was this thirst for God that He gave me about His word, and I felt so much love from the Father that He loved me. There was this fire that He put inside of my heart, and I just felt so much love. And I told God,  "I hope that this passion that you gave me for you, that's this love that I feel that you have for me, that it doesn't go away." And it's going to be 31 years now since He first came to me.

Learn more about the Ventura's ministry Ministerio Catolico Jesus Esta Vivo.
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Release: February 2023
Music by Christian Harper. 
Artwork by Rosemary Strohm at Command-S