Posts Tagged ‘Faith’
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…
Read MoreBe a child of faith, not a check box
We all know that living the Orthodox Christian lifestyle is difficult. I won’t say it can be difficult. I will say it is difficult, if done properly. Between prayer schedules, fasting schedules, bible reading schedules, and services schedules, and not to mention the intricate system of sacraments and blessings, we have inherited a very complex…
Read MoreA Single Book is Never Enough
As I wrote in “Our Own Church” yesterday, there are many other things that are not included in the Scriptures. We simply cannot limit our experience of God to one book, even if that book is the Bible. It doesn’t make everything true. In the same token it doesn’t make everything false. There must some…
Read MoreLooking for Faith
Today is the Feast of Saint Phanourios, the Great Martyr. It has become tradition to pray to him when we have lost something, so that he may help us find it again. This doesn’t make him magic. It does make him special. Sometimes all it takes is a little faith. I want to share a…
Read MoreEpisode 374 – Prayer and Fasting Nurtures Our Faith
When we turn to God in prayer and fasting, our hearts are changed to better understand God’s desire for us. Faith the size of mustard seed is enough to move mountains, but every seed needs to be nurtured to produce. When we pray and fast, our faith is nurtured. When we bring ourselves and others…
Read MoreQuestions of Faith
What does it mean to have faith in Jesus Christ? Most people would answer by saying they believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came into the world to save sinners. And they would be correct, but is it enough to offer these few words about belief? The difficult answer unfortunately is, “NO!”…
Read MoreCast Your Eyes On God
They say, ‘seeing is believing.’ When it comes to Our Lord, it has been more than two thousand years since our eyes have gazed upon His holy face. That puts us in the same position as many in the ancient world that desired to see God but could not. Yet, we still desire to see…
Read MoreAre We Killing the Church?
Sometimes I wonder what the effect of our indifference to the Church may be. It seems every time I turn around another ‘good one’ has turned away from fervent faith. Maybe he doesn’t leave the Church completely, but the comes when he frequents the movie theater more than the Church. The effects of this behavior…
Read MoreFaith of the Ancients
Today begins the ‘Fifteen Days of August’ which is a period of fasting and preparation for the Feast of the Dormition (earthly death) of the Virgin Mary. Today also commemorates an ancient tradition of the Church with the Holy Cross for the healing of the people. We can learn a great deal from the faith…
Read MoreEpisode 371 – The Gifts from God Should be Used
We have all received gifts from God. Saint Paul taught us the gifts should be used, and we should use them with faith. Whether we have received the gift of teaching, or organization or even giving, our gifts should be used for the glory of God. They should be used with faith, with love, and…
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