Today on Kresta - May 9, 2011

Talking about the "things that matter most" on May 9

4:00 – The Invisible World: Understanding Angels, Demons, and the Spiritual Realities That Surround Us
Anthony DeStefano is here to explain the reality of the spiritual dimension that surrounds us. All aspects of the spiritual realm are discussed, including the existence of angels and demons, the whereabouts of loved ones who have passed, and even the presence and activity of God in our lives. The Invisible World demonstrates that nothing is more significant than to be reminded that no one is alone. Anthony joins us.

4:40 – Surge in New England Mass Attendance / Bill Maher Mocks “Catholics Come Home”
The notoriously anti-religious Bill Maher recently featured a three-minute segment on his show, slamming Catholicism, and in particular Catholic priests on Ash Wednesday. Maher specifically edited and perverted one of the highly-effective national commercials produced by the lay-Catholic charitable outreach organization, CatholicsComeHome.org. Meanwhile, during Lent, the Archdiocese of Boston, the Diocese of Manchester and seven other dioceses across the nation partnered Catholics Come Home, to air the multimedia (TV and Internet) evangelization initiative inviting Catholics back to church – and the Bishops say it’s working! Tom Peterson, Founder and President of Catholics Come Home, is here.

5:00 – Verily, Verily: The KJV - 400 Years of Influence and Beauty
As historian Tony Lane once noted, without the King James Version of the Bible, it can be speculated that, there would be no Paradise Lost ... no Pilgrim's Progress ... no Negro spirituals ... no Gettysburg Address. And even though today there are more accurate and contemporary translations of the Bible, the KJV reigns supreme in the English-speaking world. It is printed and circulated more widely than any other version. But how did this remarkable work originate? What were the historical circumstances driving its completion? What sorts of errors (many of them outright hysterical) crept into the translation? Why does it still outsell every other English translation? In this 400th Anniversary year of the publication of the KJV, Jon Sweeney offers an informative, inspirational, and light-hearted look into how the world's most popular Bible was created and why it is still important.

5:30 – Small Faith--Great God
In the midst of life's challenges, so often our faith feels small and weak. One of the world's premier Bible teachers, N. T. Wright, is here to remind us that what matters is not so much our faith itself as Who our faith is in. Faith, says Wright, is like a window. The point is not for part of the wall to be made of glass. The point of a window is to allow us to see through it--and let light into the room! Faith allows us to see our situation and our own weakness in light of God who is powerful, holy and loving. Through it all he reminds us, it's not great faith we need: it is faith in a great God.