Posts Tagged ‘heaven’
What Makes You Happy?
We all need a little encouragement to ‘keep us going’ each day! For some it is a paycheck. For others it is knowing we are making a difference in the world. Still others keep going by watching their children grow into adulthood. These are all great accomplishments, but all fall short. The Lord said to…
Read MoreMercy is God’s Choice
Two people can hear the same words and understand something totally different. Each person will hear what they want to hear, regardless of accuracy. I find that true almost every day in the Church. We all hear God’s word through Holy Scriptures, but we don’t all understand the same. Brethren, it is not as though…
Read MoreEveryone’s Savior
Are you saved? Orthodox Christians have been struggling over this question for years. We struggle not because we fear judgment. We struggle because confuse judgment with salvation. We are all saved and yet we are all judged. Before you get upset that I am teaching ‘universal salvation’ take a moment and read what Saint Paul…
Read MoreNo Guarantees
Our consumer society has a way of convincing us to purchase products we don’t even desire. Retailers and manufacturers proudly assert a money back guarantee if we are not satisfied. All we need to do is change our mind. Salvation does not come with a money back guarantee. The Lord said, “Not every one who…
Read MoreSaved by Grace
Do you believe? Do you have to ‘do works’ to be saved? Why do we have to go to Church? Why do we have to fast? Why are there so many rules in the Orthodox Church? Aren’t we supposed to be saved by grace? What’s the deal? IN THOSE DAYS, some believers who belonged to…
Read MoreThe Awesome God
As human beings we are constantly surrounded by examples of power and authority. Just turn on the TV for any brief moment and you will find countless examples of earthly power. Politicians and celebrities are all vying for your attention. The one thing missing in every example of earthly authority is lasting power. Every example…
Read MoreJudgment is Inevitable
We hope to avoid it. We pray to escape it. The last thing we look forward to is Judgment Day. Alas, everything we know about God, from the Old Testament, New Testament and Church Fathers, tells us that Judgment is something we cannot avoid. Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To…
Read MoreEnvy Condemns
As human beings it appears that we just cannot avoid comparing ourselves to other people. In every capacity we try measuring ourselves against our neighbors. This is the essence of the American expression, keeping up with the Jones’. Sometimes it urges us to work harder. More often than not, it creates envy in us. We…
Read MoreEpisode 411 – Desire to be with God
When God invites you, He wants you to attend by choice. He won’t force us to attend Church. His desire is that we want to be with Him in Church and in Heaven. Attending Church is not about checking off a box of obligation. We can ‘find time’ for anything we desire. God invites us…
Read MoreMarble and Gold
Many people complain that the Orthodox Church adorns our church buildings with majestic marble and gold. “Jesus was a simple carpenter,” they say. What these same people forget is that it was God who commanded the absolute best materials be used to build the temple. God didn’t stop at gold and marble. He demanded the…
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