False Accusation

There is a venerable tradition in our country of innocent until proven guilty. That doesn’t stop people from accusing, nor jumping to conclusions. As Americans, we have a system that is designed to protect us against false accusations. As Christians, there is no protection. IN THOSE DAYS, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea…

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Violence Does Not Serve God

The world is a violent place and violent people are constantly searching for ways to defend themselves. Throughout the centuries violent leaders have twisted the Church’s teachings to support violence, carrying out so-called holy wars. No war is holy. IN THOSE DAYS, Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself with them…

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Separation is Death

It’s just one Sunday. I’ll go to Church next week. Weeks become months. Months become years. The next thing you know, you can’t remember the last time you were in Church. Sound familiar? May as well be true if you just replace attendance with Holy Communion. The Lord said to his disciples, “Let not your…

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Fatherhood and Faith – A Divine Partnership

“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence.” (1 Timothy 3.2-5) Summer…

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Unity in Love

Different people making a heart figure

Since before Christ’s Holy Passion, He has been urging us to unity in love. In the twenty centuries since, the Church has been fighting to maintain unity. We have not always been successful, so we have also been fighting to restore unity where it has been lost. The Lord said to his disciples, “The words…

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The Praise of Men

We all enjoy it. Most of us crave it. We want to hear other people cheering us on and congratulating us. “Well done! Bravo!” These are words that warm our heart. The only problem is, they are words that come from the wrong source. The Lord said to the Jews who came to him, “While…

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Turn the World Upside Down

Living in the 21st Century has its privileges. It also has its challenges. We have ‘all the best’ technology in the history of mankind. Some would argue we also have the worst moral compass in centuries. Both may be true, or at least arguably true. I think it is time for a change. Brethren, God…

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Consequences

The past decade or so has seen a drastic shift in social behavior toward Christians. Lawsuits continue to be filed against those who refuse to offer services, claiming the service is against their faith. There is a growing public outcry from Christians that this treatment is unfair. The Lord said to his disciples, “Behold, I…

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Saved by Grace

Do you believe? Do you have to ‘do works’ to be saved? Why do we have to go to Church? Why do we have to fast? Why are there so many rules in the Orthodox Church? Aren’t we supposed to be saved by grace? What’s the deal? IN THOSE DAYS, some believers who belonged to…

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