Bible Study DVDs that are Easy to follow and high quality

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bluecollarjock

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Hi,
Over the past 18 years I have had many VCR and DVD spiritual study resources. I will watch both Protestant and Catholic just to get a perspective on the differences often because I was so highly involved in athletic ministry and nearly always the only Catholic. I still do Christian sports camps in the summer, and I will be the only staff member who is Catholic yet often there will be kids at camps who are Catholic and things can get confusing or intimidating at times for them if someone leads a chapel or prayer group and starts their testimony with “I was raised in a church that was very ritualistic, no one taught me about a personal relationship with Jesus or to study the Bible” and yea so many people in athletic ministry and in my former work places too are ex Catholics…usually convert to mainstream modernized Non Denominational church. I actually am glad they found a place to be active with God, so I am not here to knock it. Just giving some background.

I may be at a point in my life that is yet another Dark Night of the Soul. I am struggling to read scripture, do devotionals, do a number of my “usual” spiritual practices that used to anchor my life. In times like these I need spiritually fed more, but find trying to pray, Adoration, Bible study, reading good spiritual books, the Magnificant, or other resources painfully difficult. In the past I have been blessed with access to a spiritual director who was a Jesuit, who was a spiritual director for priests, nuns, seminarians, and also a therapist. I got all kinds of good stuff wrapped up in one priest as well had a spiritual support network around me. Now I am in a time and place in life without much of a local spiritual support, the groups at my parish I have tried seem to be more into the social and service aspects of the Catholic faith and not into theology, spirituality, or digging deeper. I am thirsty with no real mentors or guides at the moment. Most of my good spiritual friends live in other parts of the country.

Anyways, since I am struggling I was wondering if there were any easy to watch, high quality Catholic bible study DVDs? I have a full library of Catholic resources, but quality of delivery for many of them is low despite high quality content. When life is going smooth I am so spiritually hungry and tuned in I can watch poor quality made DVDs just for the content, but not now. I just do not want to give up and spend this period in life avoiding or forcing prayer or spiritual reading time that seems empty and fruitless. Thinking if I can possibly get some DVDs I can try to spend more time with God that way.

I am a medically retired police officer, and currently have been going over 6 months with no medical care and no disability income. Waiting on judge’s decision in my case, and even then my former employer vowed to appeal and drag it on longer, or gossip is they and the workers compensation company will continue to find technical things to file even more court cases just to drag things out and wear me out until I give up. In a nutshell the workers compensation decisions to always go cheap sent me to a doctor who did a surgery I later found out I never should have had, botched it, caused major permanent damage to my intestines (hence the disability), and severe chronic pain, illness, fatigue and other issues from infections and being over medicated for years. I was forced to retire, found integrative medicine doctors who got me off a handful or narcotics the workers comp doctors put me on, after two years I was healthy enough to get a masters in hopes to apply the following year to PysD or MFT/MSW/LPC. I also did some very limited part time intern work as part of grad school. This past summer right after finishing the masters with 4.0 GPA and top graduate award, I got a new work comp case worker (happens every 6-8 months super high turnover job). He claimed I had to work full time and he would choose the jobs, that I must not be disabled anymore, and that he was going to terminate my benefits. Well they did…with no evidence…and even their expert witness doctor sided with me that I am disabled still. But that does not speed up the legal system, so I were it not for family I supporting me I would be homeless right now…and the longer this drags on and I do not get my medical care, and have no income to pay out of pocket for medical care, I keep going downhill despite trying to remain strong.

I feel like I have forgot alot of scripture and it used to excite me and draw me in, now I avoid it. So…wondering if some DVDs out there can reel me back in.

Thanks
 
First, I will pray for you at Mass this morning. You sound like you are in a really tough place. Know that this fellow sister has you in her thoughts! Scripture has not been “alive” to me for much of my life.

Second, maybe you can list some of the resources you do have? It sounds like you’re beyond anything I can offer, and I’m sure I’m suggesting something you already have and draw upon. For what it’s worth, I like Catholic Productions. They’re pricey, and it’s not the slick presentation you’re looking for, but I have found so much solace in Brant Pitre’s work. I also like author Mary Healy, but her work lies in books. I read her commentary to the Gospel of Mark recently, and it deepened my response to God.

If you want beautiful presentation, there’s always Fr. Barron’s Catholicism series, but it’s not a bible study, and it’s expensive.

PS-thank you for your service.
 
I am also praying for you! I agree with TCEL regarding the ‘Catholicism’ series by Father Robert Barron. It is an overview of the whole Catholic faith shot all over the world, using beautiful art and music and scenery and intelligent dialogue. It is 5 DVDs (each containing 2 episodes, approx 50 min. each), so it might be a little costly for you in your current situation ($85.98 at amazon). If you can purchase it, the DVDs might inspire you again and it sounds like you could use a little of that. You might see if your parish or a friend might already have this series and borrow it.
 
Thanks to both of you so much. I may buy that DVD, if it brings any of my faith more alive it will be worth it. Much of my life from 22 years old (when I went from a habitual Catholic to really seeking my faith with a huge spiritual conversion) the scripture and spiritual readings were magnetic to me, and I was so excited every day to pray, read, talk to people about God, and serve God as a police officer, college coach, and in athletic ministry. Now these past 4-5 years with a forced medical retirement from a job I loved, and a disability that totally changed my lifestyle, its not been the same. The belief is there, but I just struggle and its not all magical and luvy duvy relationship with God like it felt in my 20s and early 30s. I feel like I was so much a better Christian.
 
Thanks to both of you so much. I may buy that DVD, if it brings any of my faith more alive it will be worth it. Much of my life from 22 years old (when I went from a habitual Catholic to really seeking my faith with a huge spiritual conversion) the scripture and spiritual readings were magnetic to me, and I was so excited every day to pray, read, talk to people about God, and serve God as a police officer, college coach, and in athletic ministry. Now these past 4-5 years with a forced medical retirement from a job I loved, and a disability that totally changed my lifestyle, its not been the same. The belief is there, but I just struggle and its not all magical and luvy duvy relationship with God like it felt in my 20s and early 30s. I feel like I was so much a better Christian.
Have you read about any of Mother Teresa’s spiritual struggles? You may also find some comfort in that. I know you said that spiritual reading was difficult right now; but just thought I’d also throw that out.
 
Well, I also have a pricey recommendation 🙂 I see a trend.

I bought the 24-week Bible Timeline found here

I have been through the 8-week one a couple of times and decided to purchase this one (the 24-week) for my family use. It is terrific. It will inspire you to love scripture, want to read more of it and is packed with “life lesson” teaching opportunities.
 
I think I may order the Fr Barron DVDs, they are cheapest on Amazon but there are a number of people who gave the poor reviews for the DVDs failing. Makes me worried about ordering on Amazon, Christianbook.com has it the next cheapest so I may order it from them.

The longer bible study looks amazing, but seeing I have about $100 in my bank account and will be ordering on credit card, I better go with Fr Barron’s for now which is much cheaper!

Please pray, this situation is moving past 6 months and wearing me out. Its unbelievable that in the state I was medically retired, the legal system allows people on disability to be terminated from their income by the employer with zero evidence for 6 months, then we go to court they have no evidence, and now waiting on decision for which they said they will appeal which makes it go another many months…so an employer can force a disabled person into being homeless and dragging it out in hopes the disabled person gives in and agrees to not get their appropriate medical care or to reduce their disability payments. Its insanity. There are no actions I can take against the employer, even with documentation from my doctors that cutting off my medical care has caused severe medical complications and suffering. And since they cut off my income, I cannot even attempt to pay out of pocket for the medical care.
 
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