Posts Tagged ‘Bible’
A Common Starting Point
If you have ever had a conversation about religion with someone who wasn’t Orthodox Christian, then you have likely struggled like the rest of us. “Where should I begin?” Is it necessary to start with Genesis, or can we start someplace else? In those days, an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and…
Read MoreThe Bible Leads to Communion
We are taught by the Church to read the Scriptures daily. The Church has helped us by creating a lectionary of ‘daily readings’ to guide us. This blog is even dedicated to posting as often as we can on the Scriptures. All the reading of the Bible is of no value if we are not…
Read MoreFamiliar but Different
Have you ever wanted to read the Bible in its entirety? A very popular Christian desire is to read the entire Bible. It is almost as if Christians as a rule don’t read the entire Book on a regular basis. The Church thought about that a long time ago when it established the Lectionary. Today’s…
Read MoreOur Work Must Go On
Shortly after the Resurrection ‘experience’ of the Apostles, it was clear there was more work to be done. Instead of ‘just’ sitting around celebrating the Lord’s Resurrection, they realized their purpose. Judas had killed himself, so the Apostles replaced him with Matthias. There was more work to accomplish. I feel the same way today. We…
Read MoreOrthros Prayer Nine
Reading the Holy Scriptures is a part of every Orthodox Christian’s day. Either in the morning or sometime during the day, we are encouraged by the Church daily to read the Bible. Today’s Daily Lenten Journey on Prayer looks at the prayer that reinforces our need for the Bible. Shine within our hearts, O Master…
Read MoreA Confusing Lectionary
If you are in the habit of reading the Holy Scriptures everyday using ‘The Readings of the Day’ you may have been a bit confused today. You may be wondering ‘which’ reading for today is the correct reading. You may be wondering how the Church chooses the readings it chooses. As Orthodox Christians, reading the…
Read MoreSpiritual Maturity
There is an old joke that says, “Everything I needed to know, I learned in kindergarten.” It is a joke because even teenagers know they didn’t know enough after kindergarten to ‘get along’ in the world. How much is enough? High school? College? It isn’t about learning. It is about maturity. If all we needed…
Read MoreMercy is God’s Choice
Two people can hear the same words and understand something totally different. Each person will hear what they want to hear, regardless of accuracy. I find that true almost every day in the Church. We all hear God’s word through Holy Scriptures, but we don’t all understand the same. Brethren, it is not as though…
Read MoreEveryone’s Savior
Are you saved? Orthodox Christians have been struggling over this question for years. We struggle not because we fear judgment. We struggle because confuse judgment with salvation. We are all saved and yet we are all judged. Before you get upset that I am teaching ‘universal salvation’ take a moment and read what Saint Paul…
Read MoreJudgment is Inevitable
We hope to avoid it. We pray to escape it. The last thing we look forward to is Judgment Day. Alas, everything we know about God, from the Old Testament, New Testament and Church Fathers, tells us that Judgment is something we cannot avoid. Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To…
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