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Absent Monk Podcasts
Modern life is like a desert—a parched and barren expanse where the soul thirsts for the living water Jesus promised at the well. Amid the ceaseless distractions and allurements of materialism, God can seem absent. As the Desert Fathers of old fled the noise of the world to seek God in silence, we too have been been called into the desert. Guided by Bishop Erik Varden, this year-long series—beginning January 1, 2025—invites listeners to encounter the profound wisdom of the Desert Fathers. Dr ...
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Episode 28: Lacerated Body | Desert Fathers with Bishop Erik Varden
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Join Bishop Erik Varden, a Trappist monk and Bishop of Trondheim, Norway, in this episode of Desert Fathers with Bishop Erik Varden, where he unpacks the timeless wisdom of the Desert Fathers through the lens of Abba Antony’s striking lesson. In this episode, titled "Lacerated Body," Bishop Varden reflects on a story from the sayings of the Desert …
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Episode 27: Q&A with Bishop Erik Varden: Wisdom from the Desert - Answers on Chastity, Temptation, and Communal Redemption
49:27
49:27
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In this special Q&A episode of Desert Fathers with Bishop Erik Varden, host Jamie Baxter welcomes Bishop Varden to answer listener questions, offering profound insights from the Desert Fathers’ wisdom. Recorded as Jamie prepares to travel to Norway to join Bishop Varden for future episodes, this session covers topics from the recent chapters on sel…
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Bonus Roundtable: Sympathy | Desert Fathers in a Year
29:21
29:21
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Bearing One Another’s Burdens - Lessons from the Desert Fathers on Lust and Fraternity In this powerful bonus roundtable discussion for Episode 26 of Desert Fathers in a Year, host Jamie Baxter, joined by Adam, Doyle, and Jared, dives into the Desert Fathers’ wisdom on sympathy, focusing on a poignant saying from the systematic collection’s chapter…
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Episode 26: Sympathy | Desert Fathers in a Year
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Episode Overview In this episode of Desert Fathers in a Year, we delve into a poignant story from the Systematic Collection of the Desert Fathers about two brothers navigating the aftermath of temptation in the marketplace. This narrative, rich with lessons on compassion, repentance, and the power of communal support, serves as a mirror for our own…
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Bonus Roundtable: The Source of Strength | Desert Fathers in a Year
35:06
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Have a question for Bishop Varden? In this bonus roundtable for Episode 25 of Desert Fathers in a Year with Bishop Erik Varden, host Jamie Baxter and guests Adam, Doyle, and Jared dive into the powerful story of Amma Sarah, the first Desert Mother featured in the series. For thirteen years, Amma Sarah battled the demon of lust, never praying for th…
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Episode 25: The Source of Strength | Desert Fathers in a Year
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Submit your question to Bishop Varden Episode Overview Join host Jamie Baxter from Exodus 90 for Episode 25 of Desert Fathers in a Year, titled “Amma Sara and the Battle Against Temptation.” This episode dives into the fifth chapter of the Desert Fathers’ systematic collection on lust, featuring a powerful saying from desert mother Amma Sara. Guide…
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Bonus Roundtable: On Discernment: Three Approaches | Desert Fathers in a Year
42:39
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Have a question for Bishop Erik Varden? Bonus Roundtable Discussion - On Discernment: Three Approaches Join us for a special bonus roundtable discussion in Desert Fathers in a Year with host Jamie Baxter from Exodus 90, alongside Adam, Doyle, and Jared. In this episode, we dive into Abba Anthony’s profound teaching on the three bodily movements rel…
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Episode 24: On Discernment: Three Approaches | Desert Fathers in a Year
12:16
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Episode Overview Join host Jamie Baxter from Exodus 90 for Episode 24 of Desert Fathers in a Year, titled “On Discernment: Three Approaches.” This episode continues the exploration of the fifth chapter of the Desert Fathers’ systematic collection on lust, featuring a profound saying from Abba Anthony. Guided by Bishop Eric Varden, the episode situa…
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Bonus Roundtable: Lust | Desert Fathers in a Year
39:38
39:38
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Do you have a question for Bishop Varden? Submit your questions here. Episode Overview Join host Jamie Baxter from Exodus 90 and guests Adam, Doyle, and Jared for the bonus roundtable discussion of Episode 23 of Desert Fathers in a Year, titled “Lust.” This episode marks the start of a new focus on the fifth chapter of the Desert Fathers’ systemati…
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Submit your questions to Bishop Erik Varden by emailing [email protected]. Episode Overview This episode delves into the Desert Fathers' insights on lust, drawing from Abba Poemen’s counsel to a brother wrestling with lust and anger. We explore how the Fathers understood lust (porneia) as distinct from eros, emphasizing its self-centered natu…
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Bonus Roundtable: Austerity at Home, Charity Abroad | Desert Fathers in a Year
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Desert Fathers in a Year: Episode 22 Bonus Roundtable - Austerity at Home, Charity Abroad Episode Overview: In this Bonus Roundtable for Episode 22 of Desert Fathers in a Year, host Jamie Baxter, joined by Adam Doyle and Jared, dives into the profound saying of Abba Makarios from the Systematic Collection of the Desert Fathers. The discussion explo…
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Episode 22: Austerity at Home, Charity Abroad
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11:12
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Austerity at Home, Charity Abroad In Episode 22 of Desert Fathers in a Year, we continue our journey into the wisdom of the Desert Fathers, focusing on self-mastery through the lens of Abba Makarios’ life. This episode explores the delicate balance between personal asceticism and communal charity, drawing from a saying in the Systematic Collection …
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Bonus Roundtable: Necessary Words (Desert Fathers in a Year)
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Desert Fathers in a Year: Episode 21 Bonus Roundtable - Necessary Words Overview In this bonus roundtable discussion for Episode 21 of Desert Fathers in a Year, host Jamie Baxter and guests Adam, Doyle, and Jared dive into the fourth chapter of the systematic collection of the Desert Fathers, focusing on self-mastery. The episode explores a powerfu…
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Necessary Words: Confession, Freedom, and the Danger of Silence 🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year! In today’s episode, we explore the powerful story of Abba Serapion, who struggled with a seemingly small vice—secretly stealing rusks after meals. What unfolds is a deeply human and spiritual lesson in shame, secrecy, and the liberating power of …
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Bonus Roundtable: Words that Wound (Desert Fathers in a Year)
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Desert Fathers in a Year: Episode 20 Bonus Roundtable - Words That Wound Episode Overview Welcome to the bonus roundtable discussion for Episode 20 of Desert Fathers in a Year, hosted by Jamie Baxter from Exodus 90. In this episode, titled "Words That Wound," Jamie is joined by Adam, Doyle, and Jared to explore a powerful saying from Abba Achillas …
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Episode 20: Words That Wound 🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year! In this episode of Desert Fathers in a Year with Bishop Erik Varden, we explore the story of Abba Achillas, who transforms a wounding word into a path of peace. Spitting blood after a brother’s hurtful remark, Achillas reveals the spiritual battle against anger and resentment. Thr…
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Bonus Roundtable: Donkey on the Loose (Desert Fathers in a Year)
36:21
36:21
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To Speak or Not to Speak? Jamie, Doyle, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 19: Donkey on the Loose. Want to follow along? The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks (Penguin Classics) Each week, we'll meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection and what practical takeaways we can gle…
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Donkey on the Loose - Mastering Speech with Abba Antony 🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year! In this episode of Desert Fathers in a Year, we dive into a timeless Desert Fathers story where brothers journey to meet Abba Antony, joined by a silent elder who offers profound wisdom. His metaphor of a "donkey on the loose" critiques their unrestraine…
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Episode 18: Q&A - Ask Bishop Varden
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🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 18: Q&A - Ask Bishop Varden Episode Overview In this special episode of Desert Fathers in a Year, we mark the one-third milestone of our series with a listener Q&A featuring Bishop Erik Varden. Bishop Varden answers questions submitted by listeners, covering topics from the organization of the systema…
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Bonus Roundtable: The Fear of God (Desert Fathers in a Year)
39:03
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What is the Fear of God? Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 17: The Fear of God. Want to follow along? The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks (Penguin Classics) Each week, we'll meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection and what practical takeaways we can gl…
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Do you have a question for Bishop Varden? Submit your question to Bishop Varden for our upcoming Q&A episode. You can submit your question here. 🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 17: The Fear of God. In this episode of Desert Fathers in a Year, we explore the profound teaching of Abba Peter on the "fear of God." Far from nervous anxie…
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Bonus Roundtable: The Monk and the Actress (Desert Fathers in a Year)
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38:33
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Do you have a question for Bishop Varden? Submit your question to Bishop Varden for our upcoming Q&A episode. You can submit your question here. Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 16: The Monk and the Actress. Each week, we'll meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection and wha…
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🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 16: The Monk and the Actress. Discover the profound story of Abba Pambo, a Desert Father, whose encounter with an actress in Alexandria reveals deep Christian compassion and humility. In this episode of Desert Fathers in a Year, we explore Pambo’s tears, sparked by the tragic loss of a soul and his ow…
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Bonus Roundtable: Penthos (Desert Fathers in a Year)
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Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 15: Penthos. Each week, we'll meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection and what practical takeaways we can glean from it and apply to our lives. New Roundtable Discussions will be published every Thursday. We owe a special thanks to our par…
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🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 15: Penthos. Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to download a free PDF of Athanasius's Life of Antony. Modern life is like a desert, parched for the life-giving water that Jesus promised to the woman at the well. The Desert Fathers offer timeless insights for our g…
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Bonus Roundtable: Compunction (Desert Fathers in a Year)
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Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 14: Compunction. Each week, we'll meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection and what practical takeaways we can glean from it and apply to our lives. New Roundtable Discussions will be published every Thursday. We owe a special thanks to our…
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🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 14: Compunction. Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to download a free PDF of Athanasius's Life of Antony. Modern life is like a desert, parched for the life-giving water that Jesus promised to the woman at the well. The Desert Fathers offer timeless insights for o…
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Bonus Roundtable: Silence in Grief (Desert Fathers in a Year)
37:52
37:52
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Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 13: Silence in Grief. Each week, we'll meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection and what practical takeaways we can glean from it and apply to our lives. New Roundtable Discussions will be published every Thursday. We owe a special thanks t…
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🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 13: Silence in Grief. Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to download a free PDF of Athanasius's Life of Antony. Modern life is like a desert, parched for the life-giving water that Jesus promised to the woman at the well. The Desert Fathers offer timeless insights …
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Bonus Roundtable: Staying Put (Desert Fathers in a Year)
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Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 12: Staying Put Each week, we'll meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection and what practical takeaways we can glean from it and apply to our lives. New Roundtable Discussions will be published every Thursday. We owe a special thanks to our …
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🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 12: Staying Put. Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to download a free PDF of Athanasius's Life of Antony. Modern life is like a desert, parched for the life-giving water that Jesus promised to the woman at the well. The Desert Fathers offer timeless insights for o…
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Bonus Roundtable: Flee, and Be Saved (Desert Fathers in a Year)
40:08
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Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 11: Flee, and Be Saved. Each week, we'll meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection and what practical takeaways we can glean from it and apply to our lives. New Roundtable Discussions will be published every Thursday. We owe a special thanks…
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🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 11: Flee, and Be Saved. Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to download a free PDF of Athanasius's Life of Antony. Modern life is like a desert, parched for the life-giving water that Jesus promised to the woman at the well. The Desert Fathers offer timeless insight…
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Bonus Roundtable: Peace (Desert Fathers in a Year)
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Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 10: Peace. Each week, we'll meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection and what practical takeaways we can glean from it and apply to our lives. New Roundtable Discussions will be published every Thursday. We owe a special thanks to our partn…
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🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 10: Peace Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to download a free PDF of Athanasius's Life of Antony. Modern life is like a desert, parched for the life-giving water that Jesus promised to the woman at the well. The Desert Fathers offer timeless insights for our grow…
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Bonus Roundtable: Singing with the Angels (Desert Fathers in a Year)
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Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 9: Singing with the Angels. Each week, we'll meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection and what practical takeaways we can glean from it and apply to our lives. New Roundtable Discussions will be published every Thursday. We owe a special th…
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🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 9: Singing with the Angels? Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to download a free PDF of Athanasius's Life of Antony. Modern life is like a desert, parched for the life-giving water that Jesus promised to the woman at the well. The Desert Fathers offer timeless ins…
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Bonus Roundtable: What Defines a Christian (Desert Fathers in a Year)
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Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 8: What Defines a Christian. Each week, we'll meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection and what practical takeaways we can glean from it and apply to our lives. New Roundtable Discussions will be published every Thursday. We owe a special t…
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🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 8: What Defines a Christian? Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to download a free PDF of Athanasius's Life of Antony. Modern life is like a desert, parched for the life-giving water that Jesus promised to the woman at the well. The Desert Fathers offer timeless in…
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Bonus Roundtable: Take Up Your Cross (Desert Fathers in a Year)
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Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 7: Take Up Your Cross. Each week, we'll meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection and what practical takeaways we can glean from it and apply to our lives. New Roundtable Discussions will be published every Thursday. We owe a special thanks …
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🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 7: Take Up Your Cross. Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to download a free PDF of Athanasius's Life of Antony. Modern life is like a desert, parched for the life-giving water that Jesus promised to the woman at the well. The Desert Fathers offer timeless insights…
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Bonus Roundtable: Pursuit of Perfection (Desert Fathers in a Year)
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Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the team at Exodus 90 meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on the pursuit of perfection. Each week, we'll meet discuss Bishop Varden's reflection and what practical takeaways we can glean from it and apply to our lives. New Roundtable Discussions will be published every Thursday. We owe a special thanks to o…
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🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 6: Pursuit of Perfection Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to download a free PDF of Athanasius's Life of Antony. Modern life is like a desert, parched for the life-giving water that Jesus promised to the woman at the well. The Desert Fathers offer timeless insigh…
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🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 5: Question & Answer with Bishop Varden Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to download a free PDF of Athanasius's Life of Antony. Modern life is like a desert, parched for the life-giving water that Jesus promised to the woman at the well. The Desert Fathers offer …
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Bonus Roundtable: Antony - A Strength to Others (Desert Fathers in a Year)
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Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the team at Exodus 90 meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Antony's solitude in the desert transformed him into a man for others. Each week, we'll meet discuss Bishop Varden's reflection and what practical takeaways we can glean from it and apply to our lives. New Roundtable Discussions will be published …
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🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 4: Antony - A Strength to Others Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to download a free PDF of Athanasius's Life of Antony. Modern life is like a desert, parched for the life-giving water that Jesus promised to the woman at the well. The Desert Fathers offer timeles…
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Bonus Roundtable: Become Who You Are (Desert Fathers in a Year)
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Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the team at Exodus 90 meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on the effects that Antony's asceticism had on his life and nature. Each week, we'll meet discuss Bishop Varden's reflection and what practical takeaways we can glean from it and apply to our lives. New Roundtable Discussions will be published every …
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🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 3, Become Who You Are. Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to download a free PDF of Athanasius's Life of Antony. Modern life is like a desert, parched for the life-giving water that Jesus promised to the woman at the well. The Desert Fathers offer timeless insights…
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Bonus Roundtable: Facing Antony's Temptations (Desert Fathers in a Year)
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Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the team at Exodus 90 meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Antony's temptations. Each week, we'll meet discuss Bishop Varden's reflection and what practical takeaways we can glean from it and apply to our lives. New Roundtable Discussions will be published every Thursday. We owe a special thanks to our pa…
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Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 2, Facing Antony's Temptations. Visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to download a free PDF of Athanasius's Life of Antony. Modern life is like a desert, parched for the life-giving water that Jesus promised to the woman at the well. The Desert Fathers offer timeless insights …
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