The Mediocrates Podcast

Happy Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, y'all!  Today's episode is the last one in this format.  I'm making some changes.

Something New: I'm making a format change.  For some reason, I've got it stuck in my mind that I've run off my audience.  I don't know what I've done or said, but something happened for everyone to leave, and it bothers me.  Coming in Episode 20, I'm making a format change and we'll see if you like it better, okay?  

Mind of Mediocrates: Thanks to Elizabeth Scalia, I was introduced to an article in America Magazine that intrigued me.  It was all about the sacrifice of motherhood, but it certainly applied also to dads.  I'll tell you more on the show, but it reminded me of our need for utter dependence on God and exquisite trust in His desire to give us and our children what we need.  That thought reminded me of St Louis De Montfort's True Devotion to Mary and my total consecration to Christ several years ago.  I'll share that with you too.

Something Old: Let me tell you something, brother.  I miss professional wrestling!  I especially miss wrestling from the 80s and 90s.  It will be a hoot to hear from any wrestling nerds out there.  

Contact me: You can always find me on Twitter @MediocratesPod or email me at mediocratespodcast@outlook.com.  In addition, if you go to https://anchor.fm/mediocrates you can leave me a voice message!  

Don't forget to subscribe, review, and share!  Thanks!!!

I'm so excited to record this episode.  It took a major effort to take my full-scale conversion story as a Baptist minister becoming Catholic and condense it into one small segment.  However, I think I got the major points across.  It's not so much that I left anything of my former denomination behind as much as it is what I've gained through the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation.  I hope the story encourages you. Something New: We're in week 2 of our RCIA and I am really enjoying getting to know the inquirers and the reasons they have for coming to RCIA.  I'm stoked to have the opportunity to walk this spiritual journey with them. Mind of Mediocrates:  I've been a Catholic for some time now, but before I was making podcasts and lame Twitter posts, I was an ordained Southern Baptist minister and pastor.  Lemme tell you, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss being a pastor, but the spiritual and emotional gains I have made because of the Eucharist make my decision worthwhile.  I don't cover every detail of my story, like my time with the Coming Home Network, or covert meetings with priests to grill them with questions, but I hit the highlights.  Ask me more sometime. Something Old:  I have missed College Football, specifically SEC Football for a while.  The Olympics definitely helped, because I don't really watch baseball.  But now football is back.  I've got my Marty & McGee Talkin' Season interviews with the SEC coaches watched, and now I'm ready to start watching the games.  I've been a Tennessee fan my whole life, and I won't ever stop.  #GOVOLS #OPENTHET   Wanna talk smack about my Vols?  Want to tell me why your team is gonna do well (or not)?  Got a question or comment about anything?  Well, by golly, connect with me.  Email me at mediocratespodcast@outlook.com, DM or Tweet me @MediocratesPod or leave a voicemail at Anchor.fm. As always, I appreciate your feedback, and I look forward to talking with you.

Does anybody else remember the Mr. T cartoon where he was like a Gymnastics coach or something, yet they solved mysteries?  Well I do.  It's time for the 2020 Olympics, and I couldn't be more excited.  Certainly, with all the world talking about it and watching remotely (since we can't be there), media is going to be live with opinion and reaction (mostly reaction).  This reminds me of the way I've noticed people treating each other online and in person during the pandemic. It's not pretty, and it's on my mind.

Something New: We'll talk about the Olympics and the excitement I have to watch everything, especially Wrestling.  I'm also very excited to see what is Olympic Kumite, because when I hear that word all I can think about it Bloodsport and Frank Dux.  

Mind of Mediocrates: My brain is really bouncy right now thinking about the way we are treating each other.  It's got me thinking about the way I treat people, how easily I write people off and get written off by others.  When we instantly label someone and characterize their whole person by one statement, one trait, one action, are we making a mistake?  What about when they do it to us?  We seem to favor insulating ourselves, perhaps out of a fear that if we don't conform to particular expectations we won't be accepted or loved.  What do you think?

Something Old: I really miss competing as a wrestler.  I encourage every parent to consider letting their sons and daughters wrestle.  The physical benefits should be obvious, but the emotional and mental benefits are just as huge.  Wrestling is the BEST!

Contact the Show: I accept messages and tweets @MediocratesPod on the Twitter.  You can also email me at MediocratesPodcast@outlook.com. 

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Keywords: #Olympics, #GOAT, #USAWrestling, #Bloodsport #CatholicTwitter #Steakumm #covid #isolation

Why are airports so hot?  I mean, you're organized kinda like an 80s era shopping mall with shops and stalls and vendors.  So why can't you control the climate like a mall did?  I'm asking for a friend.  Today's release should have happened earlier, but life happened.  Oh well.  I didn't get any hate mail. There's a lot going on in the ol noggin this week.  I hope you have fun crawling between my ears.  

Something New: Airports, Airplanes and Air Conditioning.  These three things should get along well together, but last week they did not.  My personal belief is that if you plan on having thousands of people using your services, you make it as pleasurable as possible, so those thousands of persons return with their money the next time.  It would also appear that the airport management is facing the same staffing issues the rest of the nation is dealing with.  I saw flights on the schedule as late as midnight, but all the shops and food places were shutting their doors at 8p.  Lots of hot and hangry people by the time 10 rolled around, let me tell you.

Mind of Mediocrates: Today I'm reflecting on the Mass readings for Sunday, July 18.  All of the passages are dealing with God's care for us as our shepherd, our peace, and our justice.  Bottom line - God sees you and your situation.  He most certainly sees the Church and what is going on. He even sees #CatholicTwitter and the clawing and eye-gouging there.  We are not called to be the Magisterium.  We are called to communion with God, who has made that possible in the person of Jesus Christ.  Jesus is calling us not to do work for him, but to do all that we do with him.  That change in preposition makes all the difference in the world.  Know that if you are having challenges and difficulty, someone else is as well.  We should use our energies to work with each other and help each other.  To that end, I'm inviting anyone who has struggles and difficulties to give me the privilege of praying for you. DM me @mediocratespod or email me at mediocratespodcast@outlook.com.  I'd love to pray for you.  Pray for me also.

Something Old: I miss my #Atari2600, especially now that my copy of Howard Scott Warshaw's book has arrived.  I found some archive spots online that have emulated versions available, and I have some of the retro plug and play stuff at home, but it isn't the same as the real deal.  In case you were into this stuff, my last Atari2600 was one of the "Darth Vader" all black units. I'd be curious to know what your favorite Atari games are, or what was the weirdest one you played?  Honestly, I could do a whole series of shows just talking about games.  I'd love to hear from you though.  DM or email me.  

Special welcome to my new subscribers!  Thank you for listening and interacting with me on the Twitter and email.  You are the reason I do this, and I'm grateful to know you.  You can help the show by sharing episodes with your friends and inviting them to give it a go.  You can also help by leaving a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts.  This helps the show get noticed by persons who are browsing.  Lastly, you can help by reaching out to me @MediocratesPod on Twitter or MediocratesPodcast@outlook.com on email and let me know what you think of the show and how I can make it better.  You can also just chat with me.  I love getting to know folks, especially if they are listeners.  Come on over.

Today was the most fun I've had on Twitter in a long while, after getting Twitter responses from Howard Scott Warshaw, the creator of such #Atari2600 hits as Yar's Revenge and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, as well as learning Twitter life lessons from Steak-Umm.  Who knew?  So much fun today on the Tweeter Machine.  This week we're going to dive deep into what it means to have a crisis of credibility, and how we can try to work to fix it.  That, and how much I miss the community pool and actually living like we knew each other.

Something New:  Tweets from Howard Scott Warshaw and Steak-Umm.  No joke.  It was a highlight and a delight!

Mind of Mediocrates: From the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B) we have readings in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 and Mark 6:1-6.  They've got me thinking of pride vs. humility, station versus meekness, defensiveness vs. apology and ownership.  Jesus had done nothing wrong, but still the people ignored his teaching because they had his character pegged as something less than spectacular.  Guess what?  He "could not" (look it up, Greek nerds) do mighty things there because of their unbelief.  God isn't going to step on our free agency, our will.  It is a freedom he's given us.  The answer to most of our problems right now is humility, ownership, and acknowledgement/confession of faults of our past and the past of what we represent.  Humility - get you some, and pick up two for me because I need it always. 

Something Old: I miss the community pool, especially all the fun activities we used to do at the pool around 4th of July.  Those were fun times when it seemed like a million people were there at once, but all the neighbors, an actual community, showed up and spent time together, regardless of all the other things that divided us outside.  I miss that.  I think it can happen again though.

I never get tired of getting your comments.  I'd like to hear more.  DM me on Twitter @MediocratesPod, email me at mediocratespodcast@outlook.com or leave a voice message at https://anchor.fm/mediocrates.  Wanna be on the show?  Leave a cool message or pitch a show idea.  

I hope everyone had a great Father's Day, but I know there are parents out there who struggle.  Well today's for you.  Please join me in celebrating a win for the regular joe at team trivia before diving inside my skull for a look at parenting.  Parents, mentors, family leaders, this episode is for you.  Definitely praying for moms and dads, but I want to pray for those of you who occupy a parenting role also.  

Don't forget to reach out to me on the Tweeter Machine @mediocratespod or via email mediocratespodcast@outlook.com.  I love to hear from you, and I read every message.  

Something New:  Team Trivia!   We won, sucka!  This was a great date night with some friends and I cannot recommend this activity enough.  Even the non-trivia people had a good time, and everyone contributed to at least one question.  I'm definitely not a pro, but I can help in some areas.  Just wait till Bible night comes around at the bar.   Whooooooo!

Mind of Mediocrates: I can't speak for mothers, but there are probably a lot of similarities with dads when it comes to being a parent.  The family is an earthly image of the Holy Trinity, but how often do we measure up to that model of complete self-giving love?  For me, not often.  I bet some of you might relate.  Ultimately though, for us parents, the buck stops here.  We are going to be judged for the product we put on the field, whether that is our kids or the way we carry our own selves.  People are watching and judging you and me every day.  A lot of that judgement comes from within too as our kids observe and learn from our words and deeds.  It scares the crap out of me sometimes.  But look, we cannot live in a bubble.  We can't isolate ourselves.  That does nothing, and can lead to even worse problems.  Part of the answer is definitely Christian community, and we can definitely benefit from that.  I encourage you to find a way to network with other men and women, other families, to share your faith and your life and build relationships of support and encouragement.  We need it, y'all.  One last thing.  In Mark's gospel, Jesus tells the disciples to get in a boat and cross the sea.  Then he sacks out and sleeps.  Meanwhile a storm comes in and threatens to capsize the boat.  Jesus is asleep and they wake him in a panic.  You know the rest.  Jesus calms the storm, but how can he sleep in a time like this?  He can because he is in control.  He knows what is going on even if it doesn't look like it.  He sees your situation, mate.  He knows where you are.  Trust.

Something Old: Man, do I miss Dragon's Lair by Don Bluth and Rick Dyer in 1983.  Compare the graphics in this game to some other big games from 1983 like Pole Position II, Mario Bros, and Elevator Action.  There's no comparison.  Anyway, I miss it.  

Mediocrates Podcast S1:E9 show notes:

Let me tell you something, Brother.  If haven't gone to Buc-ee's, you need to make it happen.  Nuff said. 

Something New: This is the special Father's Day edition of the Mediocrates Podcast.  I hope you brought your dad jokes.  I'm taking all dads, biological or otherwise, to Mass with me this morning in prayer, and I'm especially praying for those who are lonely, or hurting, or have no one to pray for them.   

Mind of Mediocrates: Understanding our whole person is the key to lasting happiness.  Ever sing in the car and you hit the note in the same way as Steve Perry and Journey, or whoever you listen to?  When you hit that same note, something clicks, like two sounds merging.  Same when we tune a guitar or a piano.  Well, God has created us on purpose for a purpose, and when we discover what that looks like and live in it, we'll feel that tuned in feeling.  I can tell you from scripture and experience this is the case.  Also, check out the Catherine of Siena Institute.  They do good stuff! 

Something Old: I miss roadside kitsch.  The old roadside attractions.  You can still find them but they are few and far between.  I have, however, discovered Buc-ee's in the past few years and I absolutely love them.  You need to find one and just go.  Like Rock City, you gotta SEE IT!   

Keywords: #bucees, #buc-ees, #fathersday, #catherineofsiena, #purposedriven

Contact Us: mediocratespodcast-at-outlook-dot-com

What would St Thomas Aquinas do about bad drivers? How do we search for and communicate truth? 

• Something New: How do you handle bad drivers where you live and work? Does Mediocrates run them into a ditch? 
• Inside the Mind of Mediocrates: Philosophy and the pursuit of truth are well worth the effort, but how do we do it? Once we think we have gotten hold of something, how do we communicate it in a Post-Christian world? 
• Something Old: I miss honest to goodness arcades and video games. Who's with me? Do you have an arcade near you that isnt just racing games or token eating ticket redemption games? 

Got questions or comments? Email me at mediocratespodcast@outlook.com. 

Keywords: Philosophy, Aquinas, Summa, Christianity, Truth, Communication, Community, Video Games, Arcades, Showbiz Pizza, Putt Putt, Moon Patrol, Pac Man