Posts Tagged ‘2nd Timothy’
2026 Daily Lenten Journey Day 6
Our First Rest Stop Today is the first Saturday of Great Lent, and the first day of ‘rest’ from the fast. That’s right. The fast is ‘eased’ today and tomorrow. Depending upon the strictness of your fasting, Saturday and Sunday are ‘days off’ or at least easier days of fasting. I love road trips and…
Read MoreYou Can’t Keep the Gospel Down
Try as anyone might, the Gospel of Jesus Christ will never be limited, nor will it be subdued. Throughout the centuries many have tried and failed to keep the Gospel of Christ down. Every time the Gospel shines for all to see the glory of God. Timothy, my son, be strong in the grace that…
Read MoreIn my Prayers
I blog about prayer often. It is, after all, a central part of our Orthodox life. It is also one of the most underutilized spiritual tools in our Orthodox tool kit. Even when we pray, we rarely give our prayers the attention they deserve. Worse, we rarely give others the attention of our prayers. One…
Read MoreNo Shame about Christmas
When everyone around you seems to have forgotten why Christmas is important, it can be awkward keeping focus. We are fasting. ‘They’ are feasting. We are praying. They are shopping. We are serving others. They are demanding special treatment at the checkout lane. Being a Christian is hard enough in modern America. Being an Orthodox…
Read MoreTemporary Holders of Tradition
We all have traditions we hold important. Some traditions are from our families, some from our society, and some from our faith. Not all traditions are equal, but all traditions come from before us and are handed down after us. We are just temporary holders of tradition. Timothy, my son, be strong in the grace…
Read MoreAvoid the Fight
It can be so tempting to look across the room at two people arguing and think, “I can solve that.” Just then, the inevitable comes with each calling you to “Take my side. Tell him that he is wrong.” Now you’ve done it. You’ve inserted yourself into something you have to business. Timothy, my son,…
Read MoreHere today, Gone Tomorrow
I recall many years ago, shortly before graduating from high school, sitting in a park with my best friend. After striking up a conversation with us, a stranger broke the bad news to us. “You probably will never see each other after graduation.” We were angry and sad, and determined to prove the stranger wrong.…
Read MoreStand in front of God
You may not know that I have two ruptured discs in my back and a ‘bit’ of arthritis in my knee. I know how difficult it can be to stand for services in the Church. I know how difficult it can be to concentrate on the words of Liturgy when you’re in pain. Nonetheless, the…
Read MoreCaught in the Middle
Over the centuries the Church has experienced a variety of political conditions. In certain eras the Church was welcomed, endorsed, and even subsidized by governments. At other times, the Church was exiled from public life. Through the rise and fall of secular rulers, the Church has stood for the truth of Christ, but has not…
Read MoreTurn to the Experts
We do it all the time. We turn to experts to learn from their experience. Whether it be doctors, athletes, or just simple local tradespeople, the experts help us to navigate through obstacles in our lives. ‘Do-it-yourself’ books and videos are filled with learning opportunities for us to overcome our challenges. If it works in…
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