Posts Tagged ‘Galatians’
True Freedom
As Americans we live in the land of the free. As Americans we are free to express our opinions, believe in whatever we choose, and live as we please. Enshrined in our system is the idea that I can ‘do whatever I want’ so long as I don’t hurt anyone else. If only this were…
Read MoreNot What but Why
Many comedians like to joke about every child’s ‘first’ word. “Why?” Though rarely our first word, once we learn to speak, we are always wanting to know information. Why is the sky blue? Why did my goldfish die? Knowing why something happens gives us comfort. It is no different in our spiritual journey with God.…
Read MorePrestige is Nothing
We desire it. We honor it. We think we are better because of it, so we chase it our entire life. In the end we are placed in the same grave as those who never achieved it. In the end it is just our bones and theirs. Prestige is nothing compared to what comes next.…
Read MoreWe Cannot Remain Children Forever
When we are children, our parents protect us from danger. They guide us through decisions we don’t understand. They even make decisions for us we are unable to comprehend. In every way our parents shape us. Eventually we must grow up. We can’t remain children forever. When we are in first grade, we learn basic…
Read MoreBearing Fruit
I enjoy gardening as a hobby. I admit I am not the greatest gardener, but I love spending time in my garden. I love watching things grow. I love eating the fruit of my garden. The only problem is, I don’t get much fruit because I am not a good gardener. I have a few…
Read MoreGod’s Calming Presence
In more than thirty years of ministry I have had the distinct blessing to be present with families during grief and tragedy. I will never forget the first time I experienced this blessing. I was called to a hospital after a serious motorcycle accident. I was blessed more than the family that day. About an…
Read MoreThe New Covenant
Our attention has been on the Holy Cross this week. Just a few days ago we were blessed to gaze upon the Cross of Christ, hear the story of His crucifixion, and hope for a better future with Him in heaven. We cannot ignore that everything that happened on the Cross was new. The Cross…
Read MoreSubmit to the Church
It may sound strange, but the Church teaches us to ‘submit’ ourselves to the teachings of the Church. As Orthodox Christians we are not ‘free’ to choose what is true and not true about God. God gave us the Church not only as a gathering place, but to protect His truth. Paul, an apostle –…
Read MoreInheritance is More than Money
Visiting my ancestral home brings many opportunities for reunion and shared stories with old friends and family. One of my favorite interactions is to meet the children of those with whom I grew up. I am always amazed at the strength of the gene pool. We inherit all sorts of things from our parents besides…
Read MoreWhom do you serve?
In my Homage to Freedom yesterday I wrote about the freedom from sin and temptation. As much as we are thankful for the freedom we celebrated yesterday in the Unites States, we should thank God for the freedom He has granted us, but with freedom comes choices. The greatest choice we make is to join…
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