Excessive planning can lead to failure, as seen in the story of Hamlet, where the king's plotting results in his own downfall. Fortinbras, a character who follows his heart and doesn't overthink, is able to achieve his goals without struggle, demonstrating the importance of living in the present and stepping forward in faith. To find the right path in life, people should follow their hearts and do what they love, rather than trying to think out every detail and plan everything, as this can lead to misery and dissatisfaction. Finding something to love is key, whether it's a career, a person, or a vocation. Living in the present and being satisfied with each day, without worrying about the future or past, is an essential part of a happy and adventurous life. Subscribe on YouTube:    / @ambrosebean  . Visit our website: https://bethlehemsociety.com/. Recorded at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, NH. ©️ 2025 Bethlehem Society

Socrates is willing to die rather than stop practicing his art of philosophy, which involves asking people tough questions and speaking the truth, even if it means going against the majority and facing death. Socrates' willingness to be a martyr for the truth is rooted in a kind of faith, where he believes that death might actually be a good thing, and that it's worse to lie or not speak the truth than to die. In contrast to the modern world, where words are used cheaply and constantly bombard people, Socrates believes that words are extremely powerful and can move people without them even realizing it, which is why he thinks it's essential to use language properly and speak the truth. Subscribe on YouTube:    / @ambrosebean  . Visit our website: https://bethlehemsociety.com/. Recorded at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, NH. ©️ 2025 Bethlehem Society

Joseph's dream, as described in Genesis 37:5, is about his sheaf arising and standing upright, with his brothers' sheaves gathering around and bowing down to it, symbolizing his future reign over them. God is with the dreamers, and He gives them dreams of greatness, as seen in Joseph's life, where he dares to dream despite the darkness and family tension. Three things are proposed to dream about: first, that God is actually good and infinitely good, deserving of all deference and capable of bringing eternal happiness. Second, that the church is actually holy, despite scandals and disunity, and that there are many saints in the world who embody goodness and inspire others. Third, that each individual is good, despite their sins and weaknesses, and that they have a universal call to holiness, to become a saint and achieve radical goodness. Subscribe on YouTube:    / @ambrosebean  . Visit our website: https://bethlehemsociety.com/. Recorded at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, NH. ©️ 2025 Bethlehem Society

Technology in the modern world can be very distracting and harmful. It makes it difficult for us to live in the present. Observing a bird's patience and skill in catching a fish is a great example of God's creation and can be energizing and inspiring, making one want to be the best version of themselves. People often assume God's creation is boring, but it's actually complex and interesting, with even the smallest things like leaves and rocks being more complicated than they seem. Humans are the greatest creatures in the world, created by God on the sixth day, and they deserve each other's attention, being complex and mysterious, and worthy of interest and engagement. Subscribe on YouTube:    / @ambrosebean  . Visit our website: https://bethlehemsociety.com/. Recorded at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, NH. ©️ 2025 Bethlehem Society

When struggling with difficulties or recognizing one's own sinfulness, a simplistic "God loves you" message may feel false or naive, as it doesn't acknowledge the darkness or brokenness in the world. The good news of the Kingdom of Heaven is often preceded by the bad news of repentance, as seen in Christ's first words, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand". Hope in the darkness is more convincing than ignorance or bliss, and great authors often convey this hope subtly through their stories. The paintings of Thomas Cole, such as "The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden" and "The Voyage of Life," depict darkness but also contain elements of hope and light. Faith is the conviction of things unseen, and great authors can evoke a sense of hope in readers without directly showing it, much like the subtle and intuitive sense of hope found in life's small details. Subscribe on YouTube:    / @ambrosebean  . Visit our website: https://bethlehemsociety.com/. Recorded at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, NH. ©️ 2025 Bethlehem Society

The world is facing numerous problems, including political corruption, depression, anxiety, and disunity within the church, and it's essential to identify and solve the root cause of these issues. The modern world is characterized by constant noise, distractions, and access to vast amounts of information through technology, which can be overwhelming and affect people's mental health. People are exposed to a wide range of information, including news, social media, and entertainment, which can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and disunity, as they struggle to process and deal with the constant influx of information. The constant distractions and noise can lead to disunity within the church, as people become divided by their opinions and interpretations of various issues, including the actions and statements of leaders like Pope Francis. The fundamental problem of our time is a problem of distraction, and we need to be careful about what we consume, as we are not infinite creatures and cannot deal with an infinite stream of information and ideas. To solve this problem, we need to find a way to quiet down and focus on the one possible source of our unity, which is Christ, and help people focus on what he did and said. Subscribe on YouTube:    / @ambrosebean  . Visit our website: https://bethlehemsociety.com/. Recorded at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, NH. ©️ 2024 Bethlehem Society

David, a skilled artist and musician, steps forward to fight Goliath despite being young and inexperienced in warfare, showing his confidence and faith in God. David's confidence comes from his past experiences of killing lions and bears while protecting his father's sheep, and he believes God will deliver him from Goliath just as He did before. David attributes his strength and abilities to God, stating that it was the Lord who delivered him from the paw of the lion and the bear, and will deliver him from Goliath. David's perspective is the inverse of worldly wisdom, which focuses on physical strength and appearance, as embodied by Saul, who was chosen for his tall and handsome appearance. David sees that the battle is not between him and Goliath, but between Goliath and God, and that God's power far surpasses Goliath's physical strength. True courage and victory come from allying oneself with God, specifically for Christians, allying oneself with Christ and bowing to Him as king. Subscribe on YouTube:    / @ambrosebean  . Visit our website: https://bethlehemsociety.com/. Recorded at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, NH. ©️ 2024 Bethlehem Society

The fantasy genre can convey truth through metaphor, similar to how metaphors are used in regular human language to help people understand complex ideas and concepts. Metaphors can contain truth, as seen in examples such as Jesus saying "I am the light of the world" or describing someone as a "beast" on the football field. Allegory is a type of storytelling where the story itself is a symbol or metaphor, and while some writers are comfortable with allegory, others like Tolkien resist being labeled as allegorical writers. Tolkien preferred to think of his work as creating a "possible world" rather than an allegory or metaphor for our world, suggesting that his stories can convey truth in a more nuanced way. The use of metaphor and allegory in fantasy literature can be a powerful way to convey serious and important truths about the world and human experience. Tolkien's work is not allegory, but rather high contemplative literature that explores similarities between his world and ours, which come from the nature of God. Subscribe on YouTube:    / @ambrosebean  . Visit our website: https://bethlehemsociety.com/. Recorded at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, NH. ©️ 2024 Bethlehem Society

The story of Peter healing a lame man in Acts 3 shows that Peter's actions are not just a reflection of God's goodness, but also an identification with Christ, as if Christ is acting through Peter. The apostles' actions and preaching in Acts demonstrate that they are witnessing to Christ and telling his story, and that their actions are a form of preaching that shows Christ's presence and power. The idea that the church is the body of Christ means that Christians are not just metaphorically, but really, the body of Christ, and that Christ lives in them and moves them to act. When Christians act motivated by pure love of God, they are being moved by the spirit of Christ, and it is Christ who is acting through them, like a pen in the hand of an author. The example of St. Maria Goretti, who maintained her purity and forgave her attacker even as she was dying, is a powerful form of preaching that can change people's lives. For actions to be a form of preaching, one must know Christ well, and he must live in them, be their top priority, and guide their actions through prayer, study, and self-surrender. Preaching with words is also important, but the practice of virtues moved by the spirit of Christ is another essential element of preaching. Subscribe on YouTube:    / @ambrosebean  . Visit our website: https://bethlehemsociety.com/. Recorded at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, NH. ©️ 2024 Bethlehem Society

The devil's actions are repetitive and unoriginal. Christ's sacrifice on the cross can cover every sin, no matter how big or numerous, because it was done out of infinite love for God. The key to understanding the infinite merit of Christ's sacrifice lies in his divine nature and his ability to act with infinite charity, which is beyond our capability. Christ's love for God the Father made his sacrifice so powerful that it only had to happen once, and it brings forth endless resources of grace. Recognizing the infinite love of Christ's sacrifice should help individuals understand that their sins are boring and meaningless in comparison, and that they should not be anxious about them as long as they repent and continue to seek God. Subscribe on YouTube:    / @ambrosebean  . Visit our website: https://bethlehemsociety.com/. Recorded at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, NH. ©️ 2024 Bethlehem Society

God chose Abram because he saw something special in him, which is evident in the first few verses of chapter 12 in the Book of Genesis. Abram was asked by God to leave his country, kindred, and father's house to go to a land that God would show him, with no prior relationship or justification given. Abram, who was 75 years old at the time, obeyed God's command without hesitation or questioning, demonstrating an extraordinary display of faith. Abram's faith is characterized by his perfect receptivity and docility to God's will, which is a remarkable and borderline miraculous trait. God's promise to Abram was to make him a great nation, bless him, make his name great, and make him a blessing to all the families of the Earth. Subscribe on YouTube:    / @ambrosebean  . Visit our website: https://bethlehemsociety.com/. Recorded at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, NH. ©️ 2024 Bethlehem Society

King Saul is tormented by an evil spirit from God, and his servants suggest finding someone who can play the lyre to calm him down. A young man recommends David, the son of Jesse, who is skilled in playing the lyre, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and who has a good presence, with the Lord being with him. David's personality is described as kind, as he plays the lyre to calm King Saul down, and he finds favor in Saul's sight despite Saul's wicked and prideful nature. David is also an artist, with his music being powerful enough to soothe Saul and make evil spirits flee, and he is known for his remarkable artistic skills. King David is not just an artist who writes music, but also a ferocious and unbeatable warrior. He is a man with a full package of skills and qualities, lacking nothing. David's combination of skills and personality made him a unique individual, with many desirable qualities. Subscribe on YouTube:    / @ambrosebean  . Visit our website: https://bethlehemsociety.com/. Recorded at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, NH. ©️ 2024 Bethlehem Society

God controls the waters and holds them at bay, as seen in the Book of Job, chapter 38, verse 8, and this theme is repeated in the story of Noah and the flood, where God saves Noah through his help. Jesus, being God, is also in complete control and not afraid of the storm, as shown in Matthew chapter 8, verse 23, where he calms the storm with a word. The story of Jesus calming the storm is connected to the theme of water in the early chapters of Genesis and shows that Jesus is the one true God and creator of the universe. Just as Noah's righteousness and dedication to God saved him from the flood, clinging to Christ and staying close to him can save individuals from the challenges of life and give them the opportunity to walk through life with God on their side. Having faith in God means trusting that he will save and protect, even in the midst of challenges and storms, and not letting anxiety and fear take over. Subscribe on YouTube:    / @ambrosebean  . Visit our website: https://bethlehemsociety.com/. Recorded at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, NH. ©️ 2024 Bethlehem Society

Dante places Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates in Limbo, suggesting that philosophy and reason alone are insufficient for salvation, and that knowing Christ is of supreme importance. The relationship between Beatrice, Virgil, and Dante implies that reason and philosophy can only take one so far, and that divine aid and revelation are necessary for true knowledge of God. Virgil, a symbol of human reason, is sent by Beatrice, a symbol of divine love, indicating that reason can only be effective with divine guidance. Dante's emphasis on the limitations of philosophy and reason suggests that evangelization should begin and end with an appeal to divine revelation, rather than relying solely on reason and apologetics. The story of Christ and divine revelation should be the primary focus of evangelization, rather than philosophical arguments and metaphysics. Subscribe on YouTube:    / @ambrosebean  . Visit our website: https://bethlehemsociety.com/. Recorded at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, NH. ©️ 2024 Bethlehem Society

The old man in Hemingway's story takes his suffering as it comes, showing his courage, perseverance, and fortitude, which are key to greatness. To be great at something, such as baseball, academics, or fitness, one must be willing to take pain and suffering, and put in long hours of practice and effort. This mindset is similar to a stoic mindset, where one learns to be comfortable in pain and take suffering as it comes, which is a universal strategy for success. Recognizing the importance of accepting suffering is the first step to achieving greatness, and it's a key difference between someone who is great at something and someone who is not. Examples of people who have achieved greatness through suffering include Mother Teresa, Christ, and the saints, who all suffered immensely while helping others. Subscribe on YouTube:    / @ambrosebean  . Visit our website: https://bethlehemsociety.com/. Recorded at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, NH. ©️ 2024 Bethlehem Society

God's response to complaints and worries is often "trust me," reminding us that if something were best for us, He would give it to us. St. Augustine compares God's interaction with humans to a parent's interaction with a child, illustrating that God may not give us what we want to protect us from harm. Complaining about what God hasn't given us, such as material possessions or physical attributes, is like blaming a parent for not giving a child something that could be misused. Trusting God and living according to His will can lead to a life of peace, which doesn't mean having a perfect life but being content with what we have. Praying the Lord's Prayer, specifically "thy will be done," can help us achieve peace, but it's a difficult prayer to mean sincerely. Subscribe on YouTube:    / @ambrosebean  . Visit our website: https://bethlehemsociety.com/. Recorded at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, NH. ©️ 2024 Bethlehem Society

A distinction is made between "good books" and "great books," with the latter being more challenging but also more engaging and meaningful. The difference between a good book and a great book lies in the amount of time, effort, and dedication put into writing it, with great books often being the result of years of planning and writing. The example of John Steinbeck's novel "East of Eden" is given, which took 11 years of planning and 1 year of uninterrupted writing, with the author burning through 300 pencils and cutting out 329 pages in the editing process. Great books are considered to be a high-resolution product, with every word carefully chosen and considered, and are often a reflection of the author's life and dedication to their craft. Reading great books can be challenging, but it is also a meaningful transition to being invited into the adult world, and readers are encouraged to take these books seriously and care about the stories and messages they convey. Subscribe on YouTube:    / @ambrosebean  . Visit our website: https://bethlehemsociety.com/. Recorded at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, NH. ©️ 2023 Bethlehem Society

Adam and Eve had a special relationship with God in the Garden of Eden, where God would walk with them in the cool of the day, indicating a personal and accessible connection. The desire to be like God is not inherently wrong, as humans are created in God's image and likeness, and are called to imitate God and become more like Him. The serpent's lie is that God is a liar, which makes Eve doubt God's intentions and ultimately leads her to sin. The devil's strategy is to destroy Eve's relationship with God by telling her a lie, making her doubt that God is good and has her best interest in mind. At the heart of every single sin is a mistrust of God, and if one knew God, they would be overwhelmed by His love, mercy, and compassion, and would never doubt Him again. Subscribe on YouTube:    / @ambrosebean  . Visit our website: https://bethlehemsociety.com/. Recorded at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, NH. ©️ 2023 Bethlehem Society

The problem of slavery to sin and lack of control is a profound one that demands a profound answer, and it's a problem of love and life, where people don't love God the way they should, leading to incorrect actions. The key to love is knowledge, as the Greek philosophers had a keen insight that knowledge is the key to escaping the cave and getting out into what is real, and this holds well to personal experience in everyday life. People cannot love what they do not know, and love flourishes as people get to know each other, as seen in friendships and relationships, where more knowledge leads to more love. The fundamental question is how humans can know and love God, and how God can be revealed to them. The solution to this problem is that God, in His mercy, comes to humanity to establish a personal relationship, which is a shocking and amazing concept. Subscribe on YouTube:    / @ambrosebean  . Visit our website: https://bethlehemsociety.com/. Recorded at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, NH. ©️ 2023 Bethlehem Society

Courage & Success - The Old Man and the Sea. Classroom Lectures | Lecture 15. Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ambrosebean  Visit our website: https://bethlehemsociety.com/. ©️ 2025 Bethlehem Society