Archive for July 2024
Spiritual Maturity
There is an old joke that says, “Everything I needed to know, I learned in kindergarten.” It is a joke because even teenagers know they didn’t know enough after kindergarten to ‘get along’ in the world. How much is enough? High school? College? It isn’t about learning. It is about maturity. If all we needed…
Read MoreWhat Makes You Happy?
We all need a little encouragement to ‘keep us going’ each day! For some it is a paycheck. For others it is knowing we are making a difference in the world. Still others keep going by watching their children grow into adulthood. These are all great accomplishments, but all fall short. The Lord said to…
Read MoreMercy is God’s Choice
Two people can hear the same words and understand something totally different. Each person will hear what they want to hear, regardless of accuracy. I find that true almost every day in the Church. We all hear God’s word through Holy Scriptures, but we don’t all understand the same. Brethren, it is not as though…
Read MoreYou Have Value
Our society assesses value to everything and everyone. Tangible and intangible items alike all have a value we assign. What is valuable to one person may not be valuable to another. Certain rare items have such a high value that we compete to attain them. We may even battle for them. The Lord said to…
Read MoreWise Innocence
I am embarrassed to admit that I have, on more than one occasion, chased birds. I have never caught a single bird, no matter how I tried. They always saw me coming. Big ones and little ones, they always outsmart me. On the other hand, I have caught snakes in the wild. The Lord said…
Read MoreThe Forces of Evil
I can’t tell you how often I hear people admit they do not believe in demons. Many do not believe there are ‘forces out there’ constantly trying to trip us up. The forces of evil are real. They exist, and they have been fighting against the Church since Adam and Eve. Brethren, we know that…
Read MoreEveryone’s Savior
Are you saved? Orthodox Christians have been struggling over this question for years. We struggle not because we fear judgment. We struggle because confuse judgment with salvation. We are all saved and yet we are all judged. Before you get upset that I am teaching ‘universal salvation’ take a moment and read what Saint Paul…
Read MoreLook in the Mirror
Just take a glance around the room when you are in a public place. Ask yourself what struggles each person you see might be experiencing right now. Fight the temptation to see their smiles and laughter as joy. For all you know, they are suffering on the inside. The truth is. You don’t know. The…
Read MoreYoked to Christ
I’m a city boy through and through. Although I grew up regularly camping and enjoying the outdoors of Colorado, I am fully city. The only thing I knew about farm animals was what I saw on TV or watched at the zoo. I never even knew what a yoke was, let alone wanted to wear…
Read MoreSacrifice as Response
When we hear the word sacrifice, most think of involuntary death. Thanks to Hollywood we have no understanding of what it means to make a sacrifice to God. Let me just remind you. Sacrifice has nothing to do with convincing God to ‘do’ something. Brethren, if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God…
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