Posts Tagged ‘2nd Corinthians’
Condescension VS Enabling
I hear it all the time. We’ve got to get down to their level! We say this with all good intentions. We want nothing more than everyone to embrace the Orthodox Faith. It can be frustrating when we are surrounded by people who do not desire what we desire. So, we think it helps to…
Read MoreDating and Marriage
When it comes to matters of the heart, many of us ignore the Church. We think, wrongly, that who we date is of no consequence. Then one morning we awake in love with someone the Church says we cannot marry. Instead of accepting that we may have fallen in love with the wrong person, we…
Read MoreReconciliation to God
It is dangerously easy to think of God as angry and judgmental. He is our Father and we constantly disobey Him and disappoint Him. He is the Creator and we are not known for taking very good care of His creation. He is the lover of truth. We are not. Brethren, Christ died for all,…
Read MoreNo Harm in Forgiveness
It is no secret that every relationship has struggle. We hurt each other, normally unintentionally. We say hurtful words. We sometimes get into patterns of anger that hinder us from reconciliation. We think, wrongly, that if we forgive each other, we will be the loser in the argument. Brethren, my joy is the joy of…
Read MoreSent by God but Commissioned by the Church
We are taught to read the Holy Scriptures as God speaking directly to our hearts, and we should. What makes this difficult, and at times spiritually dangerous, is when we read into what we hear. When we hear about God speaking directly to the Saints, we think He also speaks directly to us. If God…
Read MoreDon’t Wait to Give
November traditionally is stewardship season in many Churches. It is that special time of year when we are asked to consider our stewardship commitment to our church for the next year. In some cases, still, churches expect certain dollar amounts. In other cases, churches have accepted a completely open expectation for faithful to commit what…
Read MoreReap what you sow
Many people in America lately speak about ‘keeping their faith to themselves’ for fear of retribution or social exclusion. We live in constant fear that our faith will be used against us. This fear is well founded considering the nightly news. It might be well founded but it leads to isolation. Brethren, he who sows…
Read MoreLight
It is no secret that our world is filled with, and often overtaken by, darkness. With the recent time change, the topic of light and darkness is easy to imagine. As the sun sets, now ‘suddenly’ an hour earlier, it is easy to lose our awareness of time. No, it isn’t midnight (as a famous…
Read MoreMany Patiences
I recall many times during my seminary days when my professor would say to us (in Greek but I will translate) “You must have patience, not just patience but many patiences.” Of course in English it sounds silly. You ‘can’t’ have many patiences. You are either patient or not. Truth be told, I have depended…
Read MoreWill it Ever Stop?
If you have ever felt shame for your behavior, then you understand today’s blog. It seems like no matter how often you try; you just keep falling to the same temptations. Will the temptations ever stop? Will I ever be strong enough to fight? Will God keep forgiving me? Brethren, we do not want you…
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