There's just something about making a really good entrance. That doesn't happen too often in real life, but it does on the Silver Screen. Allow me to share three of my favorite movie character entrance scenes with you today! To avoid spoilers ahead of time, make sure you listen first and then follow these links to see for yourself (you can also click them at certain moments I suggest within the podcast):

> Clip 1 (from 1971)

> Clip 2 (from 2002)

> Clip 3 (from 1960)

As you have probably heard me explain at some point, "The Gracious Guest" is a title that works on many levels. Today I would like to just share a few practical suggestions on how to go about being one in general. I'll share just 5 tips on how you can be a truly gracious guest wherever you go. SPECIAL BONUS: I check-in with Noelle, my 3-year-old daughter/field correspondent!

Some musical pieces just strike you in a really special way. One song inexplicably lifts you up with a spirit of bold resolution. Another brings you to your knees in a quivering, emotional outburst. Why is that?! To muse on this a bit, I've selected a few to share with you! Click the links below or look these up to hear what I mean:

- "Vaughan Williams: Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis" - New Queen's Hall Orchestra; Master And Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)…full version performed by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra here

- "The World I Know" - Collective Soul (1995)

- "O Magnum Mysterium" - Morten Lauridsen (2012)

- "Wait for Me" - Susan Tedeschi (2002)

- "The Parting Glass" - The High Kings (2008)

In 1897 an editorial entitled "Is There a Santa Claus?" appeared in The New York Sun. Prompted by an inquiring 8-year-old girl, the response remains famous to this day. But even though the editorial made some important points, I have some issues with it. Tune in to hear my breakdown!

> Newseum article on the original editorial: https://www.newseum.org/exhibits/online/yes-virginia/

> Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes,_Virginia,_there_is_a_Santa_Claus

Remember that scene in the original Men in Black movie where the outgoing agent looks up and just marvels at the stars saying, "They really are beautiful, aren't they? We never just look anymore…" He's right! And when we do look, we always get more than we bargained for. Tune in for more…

A few years ago I was inspired to write a blog post about a particularly troubling attitude that is quite prevalent out there. Folks who hold to a "reductionist" view of life tend to think they're realists, but in truth they close the door on the most real experiences of all! For more, check out this episode and read the blog post here: click for link.

After several high school students kept asking me if I was going to review Kanye's new album, I finally caved! As it turns out, there was a lot to consider when taking this on. So to help me take a closer look at "Jesus Is Lord", I invited my seminarian brother Joe Creavey to become the very first guest on The Gracious Guest Show! Here are some links we mentioned along the way:

"Seminarian Casual" - the official seminarian podcast at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia where Joe is the regular host

"Jesus Is King" album link at Amazon and IMAX film link

Critical reviews of the album (notice the seeming inability to understand the concept of genuine religious conversion/lifestyle): Wired's review and Pitchfork's review

Wikipedia's article on Kanye West

The Latin root of conspiracy means "to breathe together" with someone else. We use the word to mean the plotting/planning of some illegal activity. So what in the world does that word have to do with innocently entertaining far-out-there ideas about stuff that keeps the wonder and awe door wide open? Today, I'm just going to muse about 3 of my favorite such theories!

Can he be saved? Is he beyond redemption? It's one of the big questions ahead of the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Join me while I lay out my thoughts on the matter!

In the Army, we were often encouraged to develop and follow a 3-part leadership paradigm: BE, KNOW, DO. Well guess what, I just found a connection between that Army adage, the "Transcendentals" (Beauty, Truth, Goodness), and the Holy Trinity! Tune in to hear more.