Archive for June 2022
Raising Children for Heaven
I’ve worked ‘in the Church’ for nearly thirty years, spending many hours working with young people in the Church. If it is one way most people miss the boat when it comes to raising children is ‘for what’ we are raising them. Drive by any high school field during the summer months and you will…
Read MoreHoly Apostles Fast
Today we begin another fast on the Church calendar, this time in honor of the Holy Apostles. In preparation for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29 and the Synaxis of the Holy Apostles on June 30, we are asked to pray and fast. It isn’t a strict fast like the Great…
Read MoreNew Testament in a Year
I am constantly meeting those who want ‘a plan’ to read the Bible in a year. There are a variety of gimmicks out there to help you with checklists and guide that tell you which chapter to read each day, etc. Some forget that the Church already has a guide to read the Holy Scriptures,…
Read MoreEpisode 368 – It Begins with Imitating the Saints
On the Sunday of All Saints, the Church directs out attention to those holy men and women, many of whom we will never know, to honor their holy lives. The Saints were those who put God ahead of all things in their lives. Christ gave us two very important ways to become Saints. We must…
Read MoreMutual Encouragement
It is easy looking at the lives of others and being encouraged to follow their path. It is one of the main reasons the Church includes the lives of the Saints in the daily calendar. Their lives inspire us to be better today than we were yesterday. Have you ever considered what it would mean…
Read MoreThe Expectations of God
In the passing of human history, God’s commandments have also evolved. What at first was a single law to not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, became The Law outlined by Moses in the Old Testament which eventually included thousands of requirements. Around ever turn, humanity broke God’s commandments and around…
Read MoreStewardship of Creation
Our ancestors were placed in The Garden as lords of God’s Creation. God wanted to share His Creation with us, while at the same time, His Creation was meant to lead us to Him. The beauty of the natural world, even the beauty of natural disasters from a geological perspective, should inspire us to grow…
Read MoreReconciliation Must be a Priority
It is too easy in our modern society to get caught up in grudges and accusations against others. So-and-so said ‘this’ or did ‘that’ have become common expressions in our lexicon. Worse, though, is the temptation to say, “I did nothing wrong. HE has to apologize to ME!” This position of antagonism is made worse…
Read MoreA Fresh Start
If you have been paying attention to the daily readings since Pascha, you recognized that we were reading the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of John. Today we begin a new season in the Church. Today we opened Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans and the Gospel of Matthew, both of which we…
Read MoreMonday of the Holy Spirit
We know that life as an Orthodox Christian can be difficult, especially in a society that considers Christianity nothing more than a code of ethics. For most in America, being a Christian is about being a ‘good person’ and being nice to strangers. Being Orthodox Christian is more than just a code of ethics, though…
Read More