Rejoice in Your Own Salvation

Group of people joyfully jumping on beach.

It might be normal to look at others and judge them as worthy or not of salvation. It isn’t good, but it might be normal. We spend too much of our time focusing on the lives of others we forget to look in the mirror. If we did, we might not be so quick to…

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Inheritance is More than Money

Wooden letters spelling 'Inheritance' on brown background.

Visiting my ancestral home brings many opportunities for reunion and shared stories with old friends and family. One of my favorite interactions is to meet the children of those with whom I grew up. I am always amazed at the strength of the gene pool. We inherit all sorts of things from our parents besides…

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Whom do you serve?

Service signs pointing in different directions.

In my Homage to Freedom yesterday I wrote about the freedom from sin and temptation. As much as we are thankful for the freedom we celebrated yesterday in the Unites States, we should thank God for the freedom He has granted us, but with freedom comes choices. The greatest choice we make is to join…

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Homage to Freedom

Hands breaking free from handcuffs against sky.

Today is the celebration of freedom in the United States. It is a day on which all Americans celebrate a ‘system’ dedicated to freedom. The ‘system’ may not be perfect, but commitment to freedom is what keeps us going, day by day, year by year, generation after generation. The Declaration of Independence wasn’t the first…

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Please Don’t Stay Away

Handwriting 'come back' with pen.

After more than thirty years in ministry I have painfully watched many walk away from the Church. One Sunday becomes one month becomes years without attending Sunday Liturgy. Then one day you can’t remember that last time you were in Church. This blog is for you. If it has been a long time since you…

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Blessed Month

Religious altar items displayed on a table.

One of the sweet traditions of the Greek culture is the custom of wishing people a “Blessed Month” or Καλό Μίνα in Greek. This custom isn’t just empty words, but a prayer that is influenced by the traditions of the Church. During the Byzantine Empire it was customary for the clergy and people to process…

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Episode 453 – From Sinner to Saint

People along with the priest worshiping in the church

The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, the Chief-Apostles, we are reminded there is a place for everyone in the Kingdom of Heaven. Saint Peter denied even knowing Christ, and Saint Paul went around killing Christians. Both were called by God and repented to become great saints of the Church. It won’t matter what we…

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Not Your Call

People standing in line at a door.

It’s hard for everyone. We see behavior we don’t agree with, and we are tempted to judge someone. We think because we don’t ‘do what they do’ that somehow makes us the judge. Well, I have news for you. It’s not your call. It’s God’s. Brethren, it is not as though the word of God…

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Fear and War

Newspaper headline: "It's War!" on table.

The past few weeks have been anxious times for sure. As war rages in various parts of the earth we wonder if war will affect us, here at home. We are emotionally manipulated by politicians and the media to be in a constant state of fear of war. I am not afraid of war. The…

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It’s Not You; It’s Me

Woman looking upset, man talking behind her.

Made popular by a famous TV character, this saying has deep truth. It isn’t about breaking up or cancelling a date. What makes this saying true is the relationship between me and the Church. We like to blame the Church for being too strict and chasing me away, but that isn’t true. Brethren, I am…

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