A cathedral in space

Posted on July 13, 2022 by jwfisch

(Click here for a video of John reading this Catch.)

main_image_deep_field_smacs0723-5mb

So far, NASA’s new Webb telescope has revealed “cosmic cliffs,” the glittering landscape of a star’s birth, black holes never seen before, a dying star’s final performance, the steamy atmosphere of a distant planet in detail, and the deepest images ever of a formerly unseen universe. The picture above is of a tiny sliver of the universe represented here on the ground as looking through a window the size of a grain of sand held at arm’s length. 

Continue reading →

Posted in Natural beauty, worship | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Six things to remember about coming alongside

Posted on July 12, 2022 by jwfisch

(Click here for a video of John reading this Catch.)

th-5

I am normally not a fan of ten steps to this or five steps to do that, but I recently came up with these six things to remember about being a marketplace Christian. Think of them not as steps to get somewhere, but as ways to think which might be different than what’s gone before.

Continue reading →

Posted in relationships | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

God’s HR Department

Posted on July 11, 2022 by jwfisch

(Click here for a video of John reading this Catch.)

OIP-7

“I can say I have met the most amazing people on this planet when I have pushed the walls aside and just gotten to know people for who they are.” So writes one of our Catch members. He works in the Human Resources Department of a major university and describes himself as a “Generalist.”

Continue reading →

Posted in image of God, Marketplace Christian, relationships | Tagged , | Leave a comment

What Christians should be known for

Posted on July 7, 2022 by jwfisch

(Click here for a video of John reading this Catch.)

download-4

I’M FOR THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND HATE — a popular bumper sticker that speaks a volume of truth.

Every once in a while, it becomes necessary to refocus our sight. Who are we as Christians; what do we stand for; and what are we supposed to be doing? This has become increasingly hard to do and increasingly necessary in a society where Christians have become associated with causes that run far afield of what Jesus championed and the early church adopted. So much so, that before we can talk about what a Christian is, it becomes necessary to point out what a Christian is not, because the presuppositions formed by a culture war will color everything else you try to say and do.

Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity and politics, community, grace turned outward, Worldview | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Hemingway slept here

Posted on July 6, 2022 by jwfisch

(Click here for a video of John reading this Catch.)

download-3

Richard Mouw, President Emeritus of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, and our guest last week on BlogTalkRadio told a story about a janitor he got to know when we had a job as a night watchman. He related how he really didn’t like the janitor very much. He wasn’t very intelligent, he talked a lot when Rich wanted to do other things, and just basically irritated him. One night when he was chatting the janitor brought up somebody named Ernie. He went on and on about “Ernie” as if Richard knew who he was talking about. Finally Rich asked him who was this “Ernie” guy he was always referring to. “Oh,” said the janitor. “I guess I didn’t tell you, that was Ernest Hemingway.” Turns out that for three summers this janitor was Hemingway’s fishing guide on special trips. They were together all the time — even slept in the same tent. This definitely made a difference in how Rich viewed this person. 

Continue reading →

Posted in image of God | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Celebrating the fifth of July

Posted on July 5, 2022 by jwfisch

(Click here for a video of John reading this Catch.)

Dear Catch Community Citizens:

You have probably noticed that the Catch website became unavailable recently. We found that this was a case of domain name theft, and only that. The Catch is still there and everything inside of it is perfectly safe, but without our domain name the public cannot access it… and you will see unhelpful error messages if you try.

All of your personal and financial information remains safe and untouched, and was never under threat of exposure.

Domain theft is a hard thing to track down and reverse.

Therefore, make note of our brand new domain name — www.catchjohnfischer.live — And it is Live!

______________________________________

th-7

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free … But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:1,13-14

The Fourth of July here in America is all about freedom and independence. But the fifth of July is even more important. The fifth of July is when we celebrate what that freedom and independence are for.

Continue reading →

Posted in freedom | Tagged | Leave a comment

We the (fallen) people

Posted on July 1, 2022 by jwfisch

(Click here for a video of John reading this Catch

OIP-6

In his book, We the Fallen People: The Founders and the Future of American Democracy, Robert Tracy McKenzie, PhD, and professor of history at Wheaton College, brings out the most important “Christian” thing about the Founding Fathers of America. Not that they were Christians (there is a lot of discussion about this with no real conclusion), but that one very important biblical doctrine greatly influenced their thinking, regardless, when it came to the founding of this country. And that would be the doctrine of original sin. 

Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity and politics, freedom | Tagged , | Leave a comment

John and his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day

Posted on June 29, 2022 by jwfisch

(Click here for a video of John reading this Catch.)

OIP-5

Ever had one of those days you wish you had just stayed in bed, or maybe gone for a drive in the country or something better than banging your head against the wall getting nowhere. Welcome to my day yesterday.

Continue reading →

Posted in diversity, freedom | Tagged , | Leave a comment

This is our time

Posted on June 27, 2022 by jwfisch

(Click here for a video of John reading this Catch.)

OIP-4

by Marti Fischer

I don’t think there is any way we can overstate the importance of our presence in the world and the urgency of our message to introduce the Gospel of Welcome — Grace Turned Outward — to Everyone Everywhere. 

Continue reading →

Posted in gospel of welcome, grace turned outward | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Friends forever

Posted on June 24, 2022 by jwfisch

woman-feeling-good-and-free

Here is the best news ever. The greatest truths are often the simplest and most profound, and it’s hard to get more profound than this: you and I get to be in this universe with God. Whatever happens, this is bottom line. You and I get to be in this universe with God. This transcends economic downturns, depressions, heartaches, sickness and death. We get to be in this universe with God. And we don’t have to wait until we die to realize it. We can realize it now. (Enoch realized this in this life, so much so that he walked right into heaven with God without ever dying! Genesis 5:24) Regardless of what we might be currently experiencing, nothing takes away from the reality that we are permanently, eternally tied to God through the love of Jesus.

Continue reading →

Posted in God's love, relationships | Tagged , | 2 Comments