Archive for June 2023
Restoration with the Church
Just look around and you will find those who stepped away from the Church. They are family members, friends and even some koumbari (godparents) who decided to leave the Church. Ask them why, and you will hear all sorts of reasons. We may not agree with why someone walks away from the Church, but we…
Read MoreRejecting God
Ever since Eve listened to the advice of the serpent, humanity has been stuck between a rock and hard place. On the one hand, we hear God’s voice in our hearts calling us to a better life. On the other hand, we hear the devil’s voice urging us on to please our ego. More often…
Read MorePharisee Christians
Some people think Christians cannot be Pharisees. I think we can. It is very easy to convert obedience into a rule law rather than faith. The Scriptures are filled with examples of Pharisee Jews who looked to the Law as the reason they were saved as the People of God. Church history is also filled…
Read MoreStanding Up as Christians
The idea of ‘standing up’ for what we believe has become synonymous with the idea of protest. If we don’t like what someone is saying or doing, we protest. As Americans we have been protesting since the first days of our nation. In that, nothing has changed. What has changed is what we are willing…
Read MoreFlesh and Spirit
Many people struggle to understand the spiritual benefits of fasting. Food is blessed by God, so why does the Church ‘punish’ us by not letting us eat? There is so much suffering in the world. It would be nice if food wasn’t the source of our suffering. Fasting is not about suffering. Fasting is about…
Read MoreThe War is Victory
Statements like, “I just can’t help it,” or “No matter how much I try, I just can’t seem to change,” are common to all of us. Believe it or not, these statements are half the solution. It is true, we can’t change. We can’t help it sometimes. We are filled with sin. If you deny…
Read MoreNever Give Up
It is easier said than done. It doesn’t matter whether we are talking about secular or spiritual matters. One reason for this is that we witness so many ‘doing it wrong’ that we forget there is a right way to do something. What makes things worse is when the wrong way ‘seems’ to be rewarded…
Read MoreEpisode 400 – We Have a Job to Do
When Christ invited the first disciples to follow Him, He called them to a job. He called them to become fishers of men, to bring people into the Church. Today we are called by Christ to bring people to Christ. We are not just supposed to bring them into our community, but into Christ. The…
Read MoreJudge Yourself
I hear it all the time. Don’t judge! Under most circumstances I hear this as a defense of someone’s behavior. We cling to God’s warning against judgment not for salvation sake, but for our self-interest. We think if we are not judged by those around us, then our behavior is given the ‘green light’ to…
Read MoreThe Past is more than History
Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. This very popular quote came to my mind today. You may wonder why the Church spends so much time remembering the past. Some may think it is because we honor those who came before us. That is only history. The past is something more. The…
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