Deacon Speakin'

Deacon Tom Scarlett shares weekly motivational, spiritual, and inspiration podcasts for you weekly!

Unsolved Mysteries 06/15/2025

Unsolved Mysteries Season 7 Episode 183 Unsolved Mysteries What is it to these wonderful mysteries of our faith that we embrace as foundational ground stones of our belief, why would we continue to seek an understanding for something that has been deemed a mystery and accepted as a mystery for thousands and thousands of years? Why do we keep going back to the spring of knowledge and understanding when there are scores of others who cannot know, understand, or define? /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/36971340

When the Music Stops and the Dance is Done 06/01/2025

When the Music Stops and the Dance is Done Season 7 Epiosde 182 When the Music Stops and the Dance is Done You are dancing with your partner to your favorite song when the music stops and the dancefloor disappears. Does the dance make sense anymore? With no beat to synchronize your steps, is it a dance with meaning anymore? I’d say not. It becomes awkward movements to a song that doesn’t exist and none of it matters: not the rhythm, the flow, the grand crescendo, nor the big dip at the end. When the world goes away, or our time in it – when the music stops and the dancefloor goes away – when you are faced with the heavenly notions of God, do you expect to be doing the same things you were doing on this earth? /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/36805475

These Problems and the Pain they Cause 05/18/2025

These Problems and the Pain they Cause Season 7 Episode 181 These Problems and the Pain they Cause There is a recurring problem in the world and its one that we don’t particularly enjoy dealing with it and its as CS Lewis puts it: the problem of pain. Everywhere we look we see suffering and agonizing through the trials of life and we see folks who carry heavy, heavy loads – some that are so heavy we wonder how they are not crushed under the weight of it. Pain comes in many different shapes and sizes and it does not discriminate to whom or when it rears its ugly head, but come to us it does, often in such a way that it makes little sense of the who, what, when, where, or why of things. /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/36612875

A Mother's Love 05/11/2025

A Mother's Love Season 7 Episode 180 Mother's Love I want to begin by telling you about a woman I know who I was introduced to as a child and continue to have a wonderful relationship with her to this day. Her story is amazing and inspiring, and I share it with you in the spirit of this Mother’s Day in the hope that it might inspire you too. /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/36526450

Cease and Desist 05/04/2025

Cease and Desist Season 7 Episode 178 Cease and Desist! There are many: MANY who would love to silence the Word of God in this world; who would like us – you and me – to not mention the name of Jesus, the promise of Salvation, the victory over death, or any of the amazing miracles of a life lived in Christ. Many who would have us tried and slapped with a mandate to cease and desist our Christian belief and practice. What is to become us? /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/36429710

These Men - These Priests 04/28/2025

These Men - These Priests Season 7 Episode 178 These Men - These Priests In an otherwise dark world, the priest is the light of Christ that cuts through the darkness, chasing the shadows and bathing the world in the truth and hope of Jesus. We must pray that they hear His call daily and stay the path and stay the course, lest he go astray – which is always a great tragedy when there is one less priest to afford us the blessed Eucharist. Pray for priest and pray for those discerning vocations. /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/36332015

What Has God Done for You? 04/20/2025

What Has God Done for You? Season 7 Episode 177 What Has God Done for You? “Do you realize what I have done for you?” That line says so much by asking all of us a big, big question. “Do you realize what I have done for you?” I think THAT is the question that should be in our hearts and on our minds when we awaken on Easter Morning. We should meditate on that and bake that into our prayers daily and then spend our lives answering that question – or trying to answer that question. /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/36219625

Dry Bones Come to Life 04/14/2025

Dry Bones Come to Life Many fall asleep in faith and many die. Still living, but spiritually and faithfully asleep. Going through the motions, not really sure and not really unsure of what it is their faith has in their life. Not completely engaged with their faith; going through the motions, existing. Those who die to their faith quit; as a dead man: unable to move; unable to be. Listless and without response. What does it take to awaken the sleeping and the dead. /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/36119695

Throwing Rocks 04/06/2025

Throwing Rocks Season 7 Episode 175 Throwing Rocks Who are we to judge? Who are we to be judged by the scribes and the Pharisees of our time? Do we find ourselves the unknown man in this story and know that we have sinned – have been caught red-handed in sin, and carry that sin like a yoke around our necks…never approaching Jesus in our sinful state with all the humility and shame that comes with it and never asking for that yoke to be removed from us. He is the only one who can remove the yoke and the burden and pain and the suffering of that yoke – He’s the only one who can absolve you and forgive that sin; the only one who can free you from the imperfect and sinful creatures that we are and heal us. /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/36022140

The Ghosts of the Monastery 03/31/2025

The Ghosts of the Monastery Season 7 Episode 174 The Ghosts of the Monastery When I stepped onto the familiar grounds of the monastery, checked into my room, and began to tread the trodden trails of the monastery halls and places – I was immediately greeted by the ghosts. But not before running into my dear friend Steve who was parked upon a wooden bench, walking stick by his side, journaling as he has faithfully done for years. When I sat with him, we remembered Tony... /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/35943275

Bickering and Complaining 03/23/2025

Bickering and Complaining Season 7 Episode 173 Bickering and Complaining Bickering and Complaining is really a one-sided argument when not a means to resolution – a resonant noise; a clanging of cymbals; a resounding gong (to quote First Corinthians) and a lot of “hoo-ha” in some cases. We all have that right to complain, and I’ve been complained to, I have complained, and I have been complained about and it always begs the question: to what end? /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/35827090

The View from the Top 03/16/2025

The View from the Top Season 7 Epsiode 172 The View from the Top It is a common belief that mountains have much significance as places where people can connect with God. A high place depicting a closeness to God, not to mention the challenge to ascend to that high place. Great things seem to happen on the mount, but I tend to only focus on the end-result: the blessing or the event at the top. What I tend to lose track of is the effort it takes to ascend to a height. When folks say things like “it’s an uphill battle,” it is to suggest that the battle itself is more difficult due to the greater challenge of the hill. I’ve also heard it said that the best view comes after the hardest climb. /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/35715435

Let's All Go to the Desert! 03/09/2025

Let's All Go to the Desert! Season 7 Episode 171 Let's All Go to the Desert! The desert is humbling for certain, taking the best and the strongest and reducing them to simplest form. You all remember the guy on TV in any given desert with his ripped and torn clothes, his burnt skin with sweat popping off his head, crawling on his belly in the hot sand and sun begging in a raspy voice, “water…water…water.” Well, that’s kinda like Lent. /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/35592575

How to Grow a Good Garden 03/02/2025

How to Grow a Good Garden Season 7 Episode 170 How to Grow a Good Garden The seeds that you plant, and tend, and care to, one day turn into something much bigger and that look much different than what you began with – maybe even bigger, better, and more fragrant than you even expected. Families plant the little seeds and grow the little flowers that glorify God’s garden. /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/35502885

Weaning the Calves 02/23/2025

Weaning the Calves Season 7 Episode 169 Weaning the Calves While I was writing this homily, I called a dear friend of mine who I could rely on to tell me how the weaning process works on a farm and she gave me some keen insight to the baulking, complaining, and protesting as dairy calves and beef calves are separated on the farm from their mothers – sometimes right away. She mentioned how very common it is to hear them bawl for their mothers throughout the night because they are hungry and scared. I have read that “there is no event we impose on these calves more stressful than weaning.” But, in the end, the calf is removed from its dependence on its mother and is fed elsewhere for its betterment and well-being. /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/35395930

A State of Utmost Bliss 02/16/2025

A State of Utmost Bliss Season 7 Episode 168 A State of Utmost Bliss For those of us who have raised kids, you will attest that there are probably more times than not when the same message must be repeated a few times in hopes that it will stick. And, often in order for that message to stick, you need to make eye contact to get your point across. I see Jesus on the Plains as a parent, getting down to a child’s level, looking them in the eye, and being very clear on a familiar lesson of obvious importance to the disciples, as if to say, “In case you didn’t catch this from the hilltop, I will give it to you again down here where you live. /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/35305675

The Path to Truth 02/09/2025

The Path to Truth Season 7 Episode 167 The Path to Truth So, John the Apostle saw someone who does not follow the path that Jesus has put the Apostles on and here they are “driving out demons in the name of Christ.” Mincing words here, but they were not trying to drive out demons, he says they were driving out demons in the name of Jesus and they weren’t even on the same path that the Apostles were on. How do you suppose Jesus respinds to this? How do you respond? Have a listen to Episode 167 Now Playing! /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/35211685

Hocus Pocus 02/02/2025

Hocus Pocus Season 7 Episode 166: Hocus Pocus The words 'hocus pocus,' were often chanted during tricks involving sleight of hand and would entertain and draw the crowd into a veil of mystery. The words had become familiar in our vocabulary for over 400 years now and has perhaps lost the impact that it once had, but is still used nonetheless to refer to an impossible or unbelievable feat. The term has its origins in the Latin blessing from our Catholic Mass. Observers and those less informed in the Catholic faith or perhaps not versed in Latin would hear the Priest say during the Consecration portion of the Mass: Hoc est corpus meum (mayum) Which means - “This is my body” To the misinformed and unaware; hapless onlookers of the Mass were told of the great miracle of transubstantiation at the altar and heard the words Hoc est corpus…and explained what they did not fully understand as Catholic hocus pocus – changing wine and bread into another substance, as if magically. /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/35115770

A Hometown Welcome 01/26/2025

A Hometown Welcome Season 7 Episode 165 A Hometown Welcome When I go back to my hometown, everyone knows me as Tommy – that’s a pretty clear indicator of people who knew me growing up. But it’s not only that. For me, my family is tied to Tommy – my parents and my brother and sister; the friends I kept; the good and the bad decisions; all the bones. And you are held to that. Jesus was held to that as a child who grew up in Nazareth. “This is Josephs boy,” and not anything beyond that except everything connected with his upbringing as a boy in Nazareth. They had to wonder what he was alluding to with his bold assertion of the fulfillment of a 700 year old prophecy. /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/35018375

A Nick in your Shell 01/19/2025

A Nick in your Shell Season 7 Episode 164 I believe that we can all look at moments in our lives when we have grown, and flourished, and when we have been stalled and been pruned, and I am sure we can recognize times in our lives when we have gone to seed and seem to start over. When appropriate in the course of our lives, in all of its ebbs and flows, and all the anticipation of growing into something useful and beautiful; the Gardener will nick the shell to encourage good growth in us. /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/34911980

What's Your Talent? 01/12/2025

What's Your Talent? Do you think that you have no particular talent – well that is simply not true. Do you think that you can’t do some things or anything very well – well that is not true either. Do you feel that your gifts pale in comparison to others – that is just a lie. Listen to Episode 163 of Deacon Speakin to realize your talents! /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/34825365

The Hired Hand 01/05/2025

The Hired Hand Deacon Speakin is back! All new Season 7 Episode 162 "The Hired Hand" available now. When we are looked after by a hired-hand you can expect a greater level of risk: primarily the risk that your care is only as complete as his compensation. So, I guess it begs the question then from one sheep to another: to whom do we entrust our care? /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/34725785

Starting Over 12/30/2024

Starting Over Deacon Speakin is back! All new Season 7 episode "Starting Over" available now. Good timber does not grow with ease, The stronger wind, the stronger trees, The further sky, the greater length, The more the storm, the more the strength. By sun and cold, by rain and snow, In trees and men good timbers grow. - Douglas Malloch /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/34656735

The Patience of Job 02/05/2024

The Patience of Job Season 6 Epiosode 160 All around us is suffering and pain; we feel it – we see it – we experience it. But we should not allow ourselves to be made blind by it when all around us is also caring, and hope, and faith, and love…and God. God will never abandon you in all the suffering and pain – He will lift you. He will bolster you, He will call out to you, and He will shine a light in the darkness. Do not be made blind to what God gives you by the problems of pain. /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/29794793

The Conversation 01/15/2024

The Conversation Season 6 Episode 159 - The Conversation It all really is a conversation with God that he started with us at the moment life began for us. I say it all the time, “You will find God exactly where you look for him.” That is why it is so important to ask yourself daily in all situations: the good and the bad – where am I finding God in this? That really does provide the same answer as “Here I am,” when you start your daily search for Him. /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/29486128

Christmas Okra 12/18/2023

Christmas Okra To my mother’s disappointment, I never had a taste for okra. She was born and raised in the south and her family loved it, fried okra, okra gumbo, stewed okra; it seems that it was a staple for them. So when mom married a fella from southern Indiana and moved here with him to raise a family I'm sure she looked forward to many meals around the Scarlett table with okra as a part of it. My grandmother’s maiden name was Carrencegie and I’ve been told that I did not get the Carrencegie okra gene; that is the taste for this (in my opinion) vile little vegetable. So, I spent my entire life trying it if I had to and rejecting it back to those with iron clad stomachs and a penchant for slimy foods. /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/29127298

Thanksgiving - Feeding the People 11/17/2023

Thanksgiving - Feeding the People Podcast #157 All of us cook, I think, in part to feed our daily hunger, but just as important and perhaps more so, we cook and eat to feed our spirits, to keep us all in the same orbit of life. As the generations turn, as our family expands, the table and its simple pleasures – never just the food- but the food and the talk, the food and the laughter, the tears, the jokes, the memories, the hopes – still hold us in place, well anchored in a safe harbor. There may very well be another depression or endless other troubles, big or small, lying in wait for us. But rather than freezing in fear about what may come, we try our best to live and enjoy the lives we’ve been served forth. /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/28694763

Gone Fishin' 06/21/2023

Gone Fishin' Podcast #156 “People who don’t fish think that fishing is lazy or boring, but it is the complete opposite. There are 100 little decisions to be made; variables to be considered and you’re never quite sure what made the difference. Did I cast too high, too far to the left? Did I reel it in too slow or too fast? Is the lure too shiny or too dull? Should I stay here, or should I go over there? And you know it’s not luck, but you do not know by how much." /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/27224712

Moms Love - No Charge 06/12/2023

Moms Love - No Charge ...I sat there witnessing a moment in time, a moment that looked much differently a year ago when my mother-in-laws health was very different. She celebrated this Mother’s Day meal with us in this wonderful place due to the heaviness of this life and we celebrated with her due to the promise of this life to love – always. /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/27128496

Disagreeing Badly 04/23/2023

Disagreeing Badly Throughout all of history, we really do have a terrible track record of disagreeing. Some might think that we could eliminate that by simply all agreeing together on everything that comes about, but that would be an rather dull and honestly an unsuccessful civilization. Disagreement is really a good thing – no scratch that – disagreement is a great thing! Disagreement fosters conversation and encourages growth. It breeds revelation and more than anything, if done rationally, can strengthen relationships. Disagreement can be spirited and lively, it is often best when fueled by passion and it can be enduring. /episode/index/show/deacontomscarlett/id/26627985

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