Archive for January 2023
What Happens to One Happens to All
It is easy to look at the persecution of others from a distance and be thankful we are not the ones being beaten and tortured. It is easy to hear about abuse of Christians in a distant country and be thankful we can freely walk the streets of our nation proclaiming our faith in Christ.…
Read MoreHoliness Extends Beyond the Grave
Last week was the annual National March for Life in Washington, DC. Huge crowds gathered in our nation’s capital, including Orthodox Christian Clergy, to defend the rights of the unborn in our society. Abortion, though ‘a little less legal’ since the reversal of Roe v. Wade, is still on the minds of too many people.…
Read MoreSent by God but Commissioned by the Church
We are taught to read the Holy Scriptures as God speaking directly to our hearts, and we should. What makes this difficult, and at times spiritually dangerous, is when we read into what we hear. When we hear about God speaking directly to the Saints, we think He also speaks directly to us. If God…
Read MoreLove is Interactive
Human beings are created in the image of God, a community of love. That means, in order to be truly human, we must be a community of love. Love cannot exist in isolation. We need someone to love, and someone needs to love us. Love requires a reciprocal relationship. When love is turned within toward…
Read MoreThe Destination is More Important than the Starting Point
Every society is faced with people at all levels of progress. It might be wealth, education, status, or even faith, but across every society we are never all at the same place in our development. For some that news can be comforting. For others, the same truth can be the cause of great frustration. Can…
Read MoreThe Unforgiveable Sin
We’ve all heard about the unforgiveable sin against the Holy Spirit, but do you know what that sin is? Meriam-Webster defines ‘blasphemy’ as “the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God.” I wonder sometimes if it is even possible for a believer to show contempt for God. We get angry…
Read MoreDo this or Else
It reads like a modern-day version of the ancient martyr stories. I won’t champion one news agency over another, so do yourself a favor and google Ivan Provorov and his refusal to wear a pride jersey at a recent hockey game. You will find stories which read like the ancient synaxarion. “Wear this jersey or…
Read MoreChoosing Comfort over God
We live in the most advanced, wealthiest, and most would say the most comfortable nation in the world. It is often said the poorest of the poor in America and better off than in most other countries. Our nation has been blessed, there is no doubt. Living in such a comfortable society has its advantages…
Read MoreHoliness by Osmosis
I must have heard a thousand times when I was young. “You can’t learn algebra by osmosis.” “Don’t expect to put the book under your pillow at night an learn history by osmosis.” As much as I tried, it never worked. I was forced to ‘do the work’ and study. Some people think you can’t…
Read MoreArmor is for Battle
A dangerous trend exists among many Christians, too many. Many mistakenly think that if we believe in Jesus Christ as God, then we will forever be comforted. The so-called ‘prosperity gospel’ goes so far as to suggest that God wants all believers to be rich. Rich or poor, the idea that Christians don’t have to…
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