Some things are newer than others

History written On A Paper With Teared Brown Sheet Upon It

It is common to refer to the Orthodox Church as the “Church that never changes.” While it is true our dogmas about God never change, there are some things in our way of life that change. Some traditions are from the Apostles. Some traditions are newer but no less valid. Today is the commemoration of…

Read More

No Shame in Good News

Man sitting with head in hands.

Shame can be a powerful force. It can be good, and lead to repentance. It can be bad and lead to death. In a society that praises greed, power, self-reliance, and all sorts of immorality, shame can also be used by the devil to keep us away from God. Saint Paul thought otherwise. Paul, a…

Read More

Christ is in Our Midst

Checkbox with "Found" selected, "Lost" unchecked.

The traditional greeting among Orthodox Christians is much more than a greeting. To be able to say, “Christ is in our midst,” is only possible because the Holy Spirit has revealed the truth of God to us. We cannot see Christ among us, but through the Holy Spirit we know He is here. The Lord…

Read More

A Supreme and Humble God

Ornate church ceiling with religious mural.

We are reminded every day of the reality of power and influence in our society. Whether it is elected officials or wealthy investors, someone always appears to be in charge. It doesn’t matter if you call it democracy or monarchy, someone is always in charge. That someone is God. It doesn’t require more than a…

Read More

Sometimes You Must Walk Away

Person walking on a rural dirt road.

Standing up for your beliefs can be exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. Will those around me respect my defense or rally against me? In a split second we are forced to face death, even if metaphorical, or praise. Sometimes, we just walk away. IN THOSE DAYS, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at…

Read More

Ask God

Red mug, pen, napkin with motivational quote.

It is said that some of the first words children learn are ‘why’ and ‘what’, because as infants and toddlers we are in a constant state of discovery. Every parent understands the situation. Loving parents answer every question like it is the most important question. God is a loving parent. The disciples were full of…

Read More

Willing to Die Vs Wanting to Die

Wooden cross with flowers on grass.

Living in a world that is antagonistic to our faith can be confusing. The world powers fight against Christ and His Church daily. We don’t see the fight as the ancients did, but the fight is there, nonetheless. The ancients were willing to die for Christ but never wanted to die. IN THOSE DAYS, the…

Read More