Lamplighting Prayer Four

How much is enough when it comes to blessings from God? Our 2025 Daily Lenten Journey on prayer has focused on how each prayer inspires our faith. The prayers teach us to pray. Today’s prayer helps us answer the question, “How much is enough?” O You Who are praised by the holy powers with never-silenced…

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Episode 444 – Loving Others As Christ

People along with the priest worshiping in the church

The Parable of the Last Judgment in Matthew 25 can confuse us into believing that our actions will save us. Our judgment isn’t about the works that we do, but our ability to love others as if we are loving Christ. Even our giving to the Church should be out of love for God and…

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No Such Thing as Self Authority

Throughout the ancient world, and still in some places today, some leaders declare themselves the authority. They go by all sorts of names. Kings and emperors are the ‘nice’ names. They are also knows as dictators. There is no such thing as ‘self-authority’ in the Church. At that time, as Jesus was teaching the people…

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The Blessings from Obedience

We talk a great deal about obedience in the Orthodox Church. For many this is misinterpreted to be about control instead of blessings. In a secular world committed to self-made empires, the idea of being obedient is the furthest thing in our minds, but the most blessed option. BRETHREN, one does not take the honor…

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Killing God

bones of the innocents killed by Herod

We are still celebrating Christmas and already the world has begun to turn against God. Drive through town and you will see homes and businesses that just yesterday were glowing with Christmas lights, only today to be void of any celebration. People act like they hate God. When the wise men departed, behold, an angel…

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Episode 440 – Not Sinless but Holy

People along with the priest worshiping in the church

When we hear the human lineage of Christ in Matthew 1.1-25, we hear about our human ancestors. The ‘list of names’ reminds us that God has never walked away from us, no matter how far we have strayed away from Him. The Feast of Christmas is a celebration of God’s saving act of becoming human…

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The Yoke of Christ

We all know how difficult it can be to follow Christ. Throughout Christian history many have tried and failed, only to return to their sinful past. Many more have succeeded despite the struggle of choosing Christ over the worldly agenda. How can Christ even claim His ‘yoke’ is easy? The Lord said to his disciples,…

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Why Do Christians Suffer?

Have you ever asked yourself why Christians must suffer? Why does God expect us to lose everything ‘just’ for Him? If God loved us as He claims, why not allow us to be honored and comforted now? What if I told you Christians don’t suffer? Would you want to be Christian? Brethren, rejoice in the…

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All Things Under His Feet

For many years I have struggled with the idea that God is ‘in control’ as if He was playing some sort of game with humanity. “God did…God placed…God chose…” These are expressions of power, not love. God is in control, but He doesn’t play chess. God’s control is based on love. Brethren, God has put…

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