Non-faith-based versions of Social Justice, versions that advocate identity politics and victimhood, tend to promote division and conflict. Instead of focusing on collaboration, consensus, and unity — they focus on differences.

Episode 34: Lies

Apr 20th, 2019 7m 53s

Creative storytelling used to protect self-image differs from lies intended to take advantage of others. Lies that sweeten the conflict narrative and Save Face differ from intentionally destructive lies. Peacemakers must discern the difference.

Episode 33: Empathy Not Sympathy

Apr 9th, 2019 10m 44s

In this episode, I want to point out a common trap that awaits peacemakers: Sympathy is often equated with empathy. When peacemakers fail to discern the difference between sympathy and empathy, they get into trouble.

Episode 32: Love & Wisdom Part II

Apr 5th, 2019 6m 41s

When peacemakers reconcile relationships they deliver a bonus — people better understand Life. This is especially true when a person’s relationship with God is reconciled. When a loving relationship with God is restored, people gain an ability

Episode 31: Love & Wisdom Part I

Apr 3rd, 2019 6m 55s

As a practical matter, love precedes knowledge. Love comes first. When love is absent, knowledge is absent. At first, this idea may seem strange. Ordinarily, we do not consider that we must first to love something in order to know it. Let’s ref

Episode 30: Sin

Mar 22nd, 2019 9m 56s

We must seek a dynamic and operational definition of sin, a definition that integrates with peacemaking. What does that mean? As peacemakers, we seek a definition of sin that focuses on relationship. Sin ends when divine love is brought back in

Episode 29: “I” Messages

Mar 19th, 2019 7m 20s

One way we avoid threatening Face is by using “I” messages. These messages describe how a situation or event made you feel. They are your personal, interior accounts of the conflict. Ordinarily, you would make statements that seem to accuse the

Episode 28: Deception, Part IV

Mar 15th, 2019 12m 54s

Peacemakers probably do not anticipate being called upon to be detectives, but Destructive Hidden Influences make this necessary. Peacemakers must become sleuths in the tradition of Columbo, the television detective.

Episode 27: Deception, Part III

Mar 12th, 2019 7m 41s

How does a peacemaker know a Destructive Hidden Influence is at work? Evidence is found in the irrational or illogical fears expressed by parties. Evidence is found in the distrust that lingers when it should have dissipated. Evidence lies in t

Episode 26: Deception – Part II

Mar 8th, 2019 7m 42s

In the previous episode, I introduced Destructive Hidden Influences, covert agents that foster fear and distrust. The prototype was the Serpent, also known as the Deceiver, introduced in Genesis. In this episode I will explore how the Destructi

Episode 25: Deception – Part I

Mar 6th, 2019 10m 47s

The first instance of a Destructive Hidden Influence, the prototype we call the Serpent, appears in Genesis. The passage describes the primary source of all conflict. In this mystical lesson we discover what we might call Original Deception. Th

Episode 24: Apology

Feb 22nd, 2019 11m 24s

All too often we do not know how to craft a valid apology. We’re not certain what we should say. An effective apology addresses the primary concern of the wronged party — assurance that “this will not happen again.”

Episode 23: Body Soul Duality, Part II

Feb 14th, 2019 12m 19s

If I believe I am the Flesh Body and I believe in an After Life, then the Flesh Body must be resurrected. But the belief that the Flesh Body is resurrected is false, incorrect, a widespread faulty belief.

Episode 22: Body Soul Duality, Part I

Feb 14th, 2019 13m 24s

As we study and reflect on scripture, we discover a duality between Flesh Body and Immortal Soul or Spirit. They are not the same thing. The Flesh Body is perishable. It is transitory. Its existence is fleeting. In contrast, an immortal soul —

Episode 21: Expectations

Feb 5th, 2019 8m 36s

There are times when we fully expect to be something or do something or have something — then, when we are denied what we want, we’re ready to fight, ready to go into battle. Disappointed expectations drive us into conflict.

Episode 20: False Attribution Error

Feb 1st, 2019 5m 46s

When we create our inner story, we blame our trespasses on situations, on other people, or even on God. We protect our self-image. When another person crosses the line, we attribute their behavior to bad character, nasty disposition, or evil mo

Episode 19: Face of a Franciscan

Jan 29th, 2019 11m 15s

Peacemakers must become skilled in giving this gift of Divine Face. They will want to turn to the example of Francis who spent the entire night in prayer before he traveled to meet the besieged people of Gubbio, where he tamed the fierce wolf w

Episode 18: Authority, Rights, Interests

Jan 25th, 2019 7m 18s

In Matthew 18:15 we read: “If your brother sins (against you), go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.” This passage advises us to take a conciliatory approach.

Episode 17: Dear Bishops

Jan 23rd, 2019 11m 55s

The bishops meet again next month to reflect further on the path forward beyond the scandals destroying trust in the Catholic Church. With that in mind, I would like to offer the following suggestion for their consideration.

Episode 16: God is Love

Jan 18th, 2019 12m 8s

Immortal souls immersed in Divine Love are drawn into divine relationship. And, ultimately, this unity of “Being-In-Love” is what makes peacemaking possible.

Episode 15: Divine Collaboration

Jan 15th, 2019 12m 42s

In a faith-based approach, we expand the collaboration model. We not only seek to satisfy our interests and the interests of the other party, we also seek to satisfy God’s interests — typically referred to as “the Will of God.”

Episode 14: Sculpting False Self

Jan 11th, 2019 7m 47s

All conflict is the result of one False Self becoming entangled in opposition to another False Self. Each False Self is comprised of ego traits and swirling clouds of intentions desires. There is one way to de-escalate conflict: Vanish the clus

Episode 13: Worldviews

Jan 8th, 2019 10m 17s

Peacemakers encounter a clash of two primary worldviews: The dominant secular culture advances Materialism. The other worldview, a spiritual worldview, rests on the philosophy of Idealism.

Episode 12: The Ombudsperson

Jan 4th, 2019 10m 51s

Large institutions, such as universities, typically employ ombudspersons. But the Catholic Church lacks such a program.

Episode 11: Celebrating the Incarnation

Dec 21st, 2018 9m 4s

At Christmas we celebrate not only the birth of the baby Jesus, but also a major supernatural event — the Incarnation. Caught up in celebrating the birth, we forget to reflect on the Incarnation, on the idea expressed in John 1:14, “And the Wor