Writings, readings, and reflections which helped me make it on through to the other side
Here are the promised accompanying documents to my first episode of, "The Process of the Paraprosdokian".
A little less than two weeks ago I started a weekly podcast where I go through my week and talk about the pain I endured patiently with the help of people, how I engaged with my purpose, gained/ shared my perspective, and lived to tell the tale.
Along the way I learned life lessons, prepared for lessons to come, tried my best to sacrifice for the people I love, learned to teach a little, maybe did a little preaching, and most of all, wrote a bunch of paraprosdokians.
I titled it, “How To Not Want To Kill Yourself”, because if there’s one thing that I feel qualified to teach, it’s how to go from wanting to kill yourself, to feeling grateful for life and my God-given purpose, which I’m finding more and more about every day.
In each episode I go over a variety of different things I’ve read, reflected upon, and written about and after each episode I’ll be publishing exclusively to Substack a list of said documents, as well as personal reflections I’ve done, that you can do yourself. I hope they help you create a life worth living.
As promised, here are the accompanying writings, readings, and reflections which helped me make it on through to the other side.
Writings…
My Performance at the CTY Talent Show (Transcript)
A piece for contemplation:
“A wolf in sheep’s clothing seeks to devour the sheep by appearing as one of them. A sheep in wolf’s clothing seeks to survive the wolves who have devoured their flock by appearing as one of them. And yet, as a wolf in sheep’s clothing shall be slaughtered by the shepherd as sacrifice to the Father, so shall a sheep in wolf’s clothing be devoured into darkness.”
Readings:
Bible in a Year
“Father Mike Schmidt from Ascension Press reads the Bible daily and offers insight and prayer.”
Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef
“The gripping tale of the son of Hamas’ main founders and his experience as an active participant of Hamas, an IDF spy, and his turn to Christ.”
Prodigal God by Timothy Keller
“There are two sons in the tale of the prodigal son and they both offer perspectives on how we miss the mark and miss the love of the Father.”
Praying Life by Paul E. Miller
“Pray better, be like a child in humble supplication, go to the Father with an open heart as He greets you with open arms.”
Fighting Shadows by Jon Tyson and Jefferson Bethke
“Fighting the shadows which taint the life of a Man seeking to imitate Christ.”
There is also a great podcast called “Forming Men” about being a Christian Man that they both host here: https://open.spotify.com/show/7zuQJ0g1aW1npoQPxCabNM?si=641cdefef5b74991
St. Augustine Confessions
“The seminal conversion memoir and autobiography from a man whose Mother prayed ceaselessly for his salvation long before he knew he needed saving.”
The Art of War and other Classics of Eastern Philosophy
“A collection of foundational eastern texts such as the ‘Tao Te Ching’ which have shaped the civilizations who have shaped the world.”
My Utmost for His Highest Oswald Chambers
“A daily devotional for those who wish to take up their cross daily and understand the grave cost which comes attached, as well as the abundant grace which follows.”
Reflections:
Instructions: please make a copy for yourself before you fill this out. Then fill it out as you go with your own personal reflections. I recommend filling this out over the course of days, weeks, and even months if it so moves you so that you can really take the time to deliberate upon your answer and see how it changes over the course of time through prayer and application. Find what rhythms work for you, especially as you see it transform your day to day life while you apply it.
(Template) From Occupation to Vocation to Vacation (Hierarchy of Callings)
How does one go from working a job to engaging with their calling and purpose? Here is a nifty framework for thinking about it.
(Template) Priest, Prophet, Provider, Protector
How does be a Christian Man and accept the responsibility outlined in the Bible many have labelled as “priest, prophet, provider, protector”? My friend Nehemiah and I added one last piece, “Prodigal Son”.
(Template) The Cycle of Restraint and the Call of the Spirit:
How does one accept the call of the Holy Spirit and all the roadblocks/ warfare which follow?
You can sign up for Jordan Petersen’s program, https://selfauthoring.com/ and go through a much needed personal reckoning. I highly recommend it, although I also recommend putting aside at least an hour a day of uninterrupted writing for 2-3 weeks. I also recommend allowing yourself to personally feel broken apart, abjectly poor, then on the other side abundantly grateful for your life.
The Other Side (other stuff, fun stuff):
People makes the patience less painful.
I’m hosting my wonderful friend Richie Rosales’ first headlining show in Santa Monica on Saturday, October 5th. We’d love to see you there.
https://jetbook.co/e/rich--broke-friends-with-rich-rosalese8we
Here’s the set he did at my show on May 19 to give you a little taste of why I’m such a big fan of my best friend. I interviewed him after:
Volunteering/ mentoring through Big Brother/ Big Sister has been a wonderful experience and I highly recommend it. Become one here:
The folklore around the Center for Talented Youth is wild and insane and laugh out loud hilarious.
I realized that many of the concepts in the podcast require much more fleshing out for the reflections and techniques to make sense and so I will be releasing mini-episodes where I go more in depth and explaining the processes. Those will have accompanying Substack posts as well with the documents pertaining to said processes/ techniques.
If you stumble upon any pieces above that you feel like I should go more in depth about, send me a message/ comment and I’ll consider making a mini-episode.
Yours Truly,
Nathanael Philip Mosher
AKA The Paraprosdokianist
