Posts Tagged ‘Church’
We Need More Soft Hearts
Comfortably in my 50’s I realize it has become too easy for my heart to grow cold and hard. The more I am cheated and taken advantage of, the more difficult it is to remain open. I’m not alone. I hear many confessions of people who suffer the same reality. Just how much can one…
Read MoreFor the Sake of the Elect
It is a common line of thought on this blog that the world is against the Christ and His Church. We often talk about how we are called to endure to the end. We often talk about persecution being a real thing not only in the lives of the martyrs, but in the lives of…
Read MoreLosing the Church
What does it mean to lose the Church? What does it mean to have the Church taken away from you? We live in a society which believes the church belongs to us. Our parents started the church. Our ancestors built the church. Parish councils over the years hire and fire clergy. With such a strong…
Read MoreGuilt by Association
When I was young, I was spending time with a friend when we found ourselves in a bit of trouble. We were walking past a swimming pool where a group of people had jumped the fence for a night swim. We knew the group of people, so we were chatting with them when we were…
Read MoreShare the Secret
There is a saying that really disturbs me. People say, “The Orthodox Church is the best kept secret.” If this is true, it is quite unfortunate. A secret is something that should be kept private. The Church is the Body of Christ and has come for all. It is time to share the secret. The…
Read MoreThe Church is Our Family
When I visit the parish where I grew up, we greet each other with kisses and stories about the past. We introduce each other to new faces. We begin new relationships that last over time. What binds us together is the past we spend together, knowing there will also be a future together. Each trip…
Read MoreWhy we Need the Church
It is no secret we live in a self-oriented and self-justified society. We are the masters of our own destiny, or so we think. I hear it all the time. “I don’t need anyone to tell me what the Bible means.” This very phrase is totally without meaning. If you are reading the letters of…
Read More2023 Daily Lenten Journey – Day 17
Some days are easier than others when the storm approaches. Here in Florida we call the days leading up to the storm the “Cone of Uncertainty” and the closer the storm gets, the more accurate the plan must be. If the storm shifts, plans change. Those in the path of a storm are foolish to…
Read More2023 Daily Lenten Journey – Day 16
The other day in the news I heard there was another nor’easter headed for New England. It was expected to dump lots of snow in the coming days. Springs storms can be very destructive because the snow is heavier than in the middle of winter. When the weather forecast tells you to stay inside to…
Read More2023 Daily Lenten Journey – Day 15
As we embark upon the third week of Great Lent, let’s glance back at what we have learned about God. He created everything that exists. We human beings have a special relationship with Him. Our ancestors fell from grace when they ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Since leaving the Garden,…
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