Manage Account

Delete Account

Contact Us

I was baptized Lutheran by my Lutheran mother and Baptist father before being sent to a Methodist preschool. In kindergarten, I was sent to a Catholic school. Eight years later, I chose to become Catholic and was confirmed in the faith.&nbsp;
I was only 13 when I became Catholic, so it was more of an emotional decision. I was moving toward what seemed more familiar. However, when I was in college, I decided to do a full evaluation of the Catholic faith. If I was going to be Catholic, I needed to know why.&nbsp;
Should we base our faith on Scripture alone? Should Church history matter? What is God's will in all of this?&nbsp;
In today's podcast, I explain the top reasons as to why I choose to be Catholic instead of Protestant.&nbsp;
This is part one. Stay tuned for part two coming out next week!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.hallow.com/seekingexcellence">Start your free trial with Hallow here!&nbsp;</a>
<a href="//thosewhoseek.org">Sign up for the Seeking Excellence Newsletter here!&nbsp;</a>

Ep 112 | Catholic vs. Protestant: Why Am I Catholic?

Episode 199: What Could I Possibly Have to Offer Jesus? 

This week John dives into our feeling of having nothing to offer. Jesus fed the 5000 with just a few loaves of bread that a boy offered, so why do we doubt what he can do with us? You were born for a REASON! Listen to this episode to find out how to live into that reason! 

In this episode, John points out:

- The devil tells you to “sit back down” and discount your gifts
- A “yes” to Jesus leads to abundance
- Living in the scriptures is CRUCIAL
- You gotta quit thinking about your poverty.  

#Catholic #Podcast #JustaGuyinthePew #Littleness #Ministry #Men #Evangelization #Offering #Christian #Christianity #Jesus #Trust #Scripture #Gift

DOWNLOADS
Get a copy of my new eBook, “12 Ways Guys Can Get Closer to Jesus”! HTTPS://JUSTAGUYINTHEPEW.COM/EBOOK

NEW: Shop the store!
We have a new Just a Guy in the Pew store where you can stock up on great merch HERE: HTTPS://STORE.JUSTAGUYINTHEPEW.COM/

What Could I Possibly Have To Offer Jesus?

Two young saints, one who loved mountaineering and the other rocked Nike sneakers: Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati prove holiness doesn’t mean leaving normal life behind—it means living it to the fullest with Christ. 

Father Dave and Deacon Bob reflect on Pope Leo’s homily at the canonization Mass for these two young Italians and explore why so many saints begin saying yes to God in their youth. 
True to They That Hope form, they take a lap through the weekend in sports, from NFL openers to U.S. Open storylines to the eternal LeBron vs. Jordan debate. Then they settle into the title’s theme: modern sanctity. Carlo’s wisdom (“In front of the sun you get a tan; in front of the Eucharist, you become a saint”) and Frassati’s cry “to the heights!” frame a simple invitation: say yes to the Lord today. 
They close with campus updates, a prayer, and a warm invitation to share your favorite podcast memories. Saints Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati, pray for us! 
 
Highlighted Sections 
(00:29) Jubilee of Hope and Merch Madness  
Father Dave and Deacon Bob kick things off with playful banter about sponsors, <a href='https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en.html'>the Jubilee Year of Hope</a>, and whether the pope might be a secret podcast listener. They also remind everyone there’s one last chance to snag They That Hope merch, <a href='https://www.catholictothemax.com/our-partners/they-that-hope-mug-that-heather-khym-illegally-stole-from-deacon-bobs-house-and-vandalized-with-abiding-together-propaganda/'>including the highly prized Heather Khym mug, at CatholicToTheMax.com.</a> 
(07:24) NFL, Tennis, and the LeBron vs. Jordan Debate  
They next jump into sports to discuss the <a href='https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2025/reg1/'>NFL’s opening weekend</a>, recap the <a href='https://www.usopen.org/en_US/about/eventschedule.html'>US Open finals</a>, and, of course, argue over <a href='https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/tag/the-basketball-100/'>The Athletic’s “Basketball 100.”</a> Jordan or LeBron? The debate continues. 
(15:47) Franciscan Homecoming Preview  
Campus is buzzing for <a href='https://encounter.franciscan.edu/portal/homecoming'>Homecoming Weekend</a> with chapel tours, a St. Francis Festival, and alumni reunions. Father Dave and Deacon Bob share details on the newly renovated <a href='https://chapel.franciscan.edu/'>Christ the King Chapel</a> and joke about who may—or may not—be getting awards at the banquet. (<a href='https://encounter.franciscan.edu/portal/homecoming'>Pssst, sign up to join Homecoming here.</a>) 
(21:43) Five Years of Movies, Memes, and Memories  
Looking back on the podcast’s run, the hosts laugh about their obsessions (<a href='https://hamiltonmusical.com/new-york/'>Hamilton,</a> <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gun'>Top Gun,</a> <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Widow_(2021_film)'>Black Widow</a>) and reflect on milestones from solar eclipses to campus life during COVID. They recall both joyful and sobering moments, always framed through the lens of hope. 
(26:16) Modern Saints for Modern Times  
Next, they move into the heart of the episode: celebrating the <a href='https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2025/09/07/250907a.html'>canonizations of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati</a>. Father Dave and Deacon Bob highlight the families present in Rome, the youthful joy of both saints, and the reminder that holiness often begins with a simple yes lived in ordinary life. 
(32:54) Carlo’s Wisdom in His Own Words  
“In front of the sun you get a tan; in front of the Eucharist, you become a saint!” The hosts share Carlo’s best lines on joy, sin, and holiness, and <a href='https://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/blessed-carlo-acutis-and-the-many-miracles-of-the-eucharist/'>revisit his Eucharistic Miracles project</a> as a reminder of how young people enrich the Church. 
(35:37) Prayer and Sending Forth  
The episode closes with gratitude for these new saints, a prayer for their intercession, and a heartfelt thank-you to listeners. As the season draws to a close, Father Dave and Deacon Bob invite fans to send memories and well-wishes to <a href='mailto:Hope@Franciscan.edu'>Hope@Franciscan.edu</a>. 
 
Resources Mentioned  
<ul>
<li><a href='https://www.catholictothemax.com/our-partners/they-that-hope-mug-that-heather-khym-illegally-stole-from-deacon-bobs-house-and-vandalized-with-abiding-together-propaganda/'>They That Hope Mug that Heather Khym Illegally Stole from Deacon Bob's House and Vandalized with Abiding Together Propaganda</a>— purchase your own at CatholicToTheMax.com. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href='https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/tag/the-basketball-100/'>“The Basketball 100”</a>— from The Athletic  </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href='https://faithandreason.com/'>FaithAndReason.com</a> — more Catholic content from Franciscan University </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href='https://encounter.franciscan.edu/portal/homecoming'>Homecoming Weekend</a>— learn more about Franciscan’s upcoming homecoming from September 26-28, 2025 </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href='https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2025/09/07/250907a.html'>Papal Chapel with the Rite of Canonization of Blesseds Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis</a>— Pope Leo’s canonization homily </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href='https://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/blessed-carlo-acutis-and-the-many-miracles-of-the-eucharist/'>“Blessed Carlo Acutis and the Many Miracles of the Eucharist”</a> by Timothy P. O’Malley— learn more about the Eucharistic Miracles project inspired by St. Carlo Acutis </li>
</ul>