Episode 394 – Turn Your Attention to Christ

People along with the priest worshiping in the church

Going through life we learn that where we look will guide our attention. If we want our life to follow Christ, then we must turn our attention to Christ. It requires courage and faith to not be distracted by the temptations of the world. Transcript: My brothers and sisters, in this morning’s gospel, we hear…

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Don’t Stop Sharing the Good News

A statue of an angel blowing a trumpet

Christ is Risen! There is an old saying. Don’t talk about politics or religion in polite conversation. You may want to keep the peace among friends, but there is a negative impact on taking this advice. First, you’ll never know what your friends believe. Second, you’ll never preach Christ raised from the dead. Neither is…

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2023 Daily Lenten Journey – Day 14

A golden abstract artwork of the Jesus

When one paralyzed man was brought by his four friends to Jesus Christ for healing, it was THEIR faith that Jesus noticed. We hear in the Gospel of Mark, “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” (Mark 2.5) In this encounter, Jesus is reminding us that…

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Good News Spreads

Digital artwork for Breaking News

The nature of community is that news spreads through word of mouth. When gas prices go up, friends tell friends where the cheapest gas can be found. When baby formula could not be found on the grocery shelves, friends told friends where formula could be found. In a community we are always trying to help…

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Who Did You Bring?

A cross sign in the middle of a sunset

The other day I wrote about the difficultly we experience in sharing our faith. We prefer keeping our faith to ourselves to taking the risk in preaching about Christ in today’s society. I get it, but is it paying off like we would like? Rather than gaining favor with God, we are merely buying our…

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Reap 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…

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Share What You Know

Candles lighting

It is an unfortunate saying about the Church. People call the Church, “The Best Kept Secret in America!” I say unfortunate, because keeping the Church a secret is sin, plain a simple. Christ wants us to allow our light to shine. He even sends us out to all nations to baptize them. Still, people keep…

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Evangelism is a Mixed Bag

Candles lighting

In the context of a funeral, we Orthodox find ourselves as strangers among friends. We preach resurrection and judgment. Our friends teach that we become angels in heaven filled with platitudes and niceties. This isn’t done out of malice. Our friends want to sooth the pain of loss at funerals. The problem for us is…

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Do Not Search out Trouble

Shroud of Turin, Holy shroud

I write often about embracing our suffering for the sake of Christ and our spiritual journey. I write often about our willingness to suffer for the truth. Being willing to suffer is one thing. Searching for suffering is quite another. As Christians we should not search for suffering. In fact, it is within our tradition…

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