Could You Be Like Stephen?

Location of St Stephen's Martyrdom

We talk a lot about martyrs in the Church. We are encouraged to be martyrs to our friends and neighbors for Christ. Sometimes we are even called to die, like martyrs, for the faith. My question today isn’t if you are willing to be a martyr. Are you able to be a martyr? Today is…

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A Common Starting Point

Open road with "START" marked on pavement.

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…

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The Bible Leads to Communion

Open book with heart-shaped pages.

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…

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Familiar but Different

Signpost with past, now, future directions.

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…

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Our Work Must Go On

Work Zone sign under blue sky.

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…

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Orthros Prayer Nine

Open book with heart-shaped pages.

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…

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A Confusing Lectionary

Man frustrated while looking at laptop screen.

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…

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