Know Your Place

There is a place for everyone in the Church. That place is not just in the pews, but in the ministry of the Church. Nobody can do everything, but everybody must do something. If the ministry of Christ depended upon only the clergy, the Gospel would never spread. BRETHREN, grace was given to each of…

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Always Point to Christ

It is not easy in our society to escape attention. Either we ‘stand out’ because we are successful or because we do not act like the rest of those around us. In fact, most of us enjoy the attention, if even just for ‘our five minutes’ of fame. Like so many worldly realities, we should…

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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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Aim High

We all have goals. We may not always meet our goals, but we all make them. In the next week or so, we will all make our annual New Year Resolutions. My advice for this year, is to aim high. Shoot for the moon. Don’t settle for just a little progress or you won’t succeed.…

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Test God

If you chose to make a New Year Resolution, you may already be asking yourself if it was worth the change. Temptation is greatest when we try to change our lives to follow God, and this year will be no different. If you are wondering if God will fulfill His promise to help you and…

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Resolution of Peace

If you chose this year not to make a New Year Resolution, it isn’t too late. In fact, I may have found some inspiration for you this year. We cannot deny the world is filled with chaos and frantic souls searching for meaning in life. Money doesn’t comfort. Material comfort doesn’t soothe. We are all…

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Episode 413 – Think like God Thinks

People along with the priest worshiping in the church

As we consider our annual New Year Resolutions this year remember the message of the Gospel. “John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” The first message of the Gospel according to Saint Mark is the message of repentance. This year, change the way you think…

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The Best Resolution

A text that says New Years Resolutions on a notebook

Today and tomorrow are traditionally the days during which we make our annual New Year Resolutions. We want to be better than we are, despite how good we may think we are already. This tradition gives us the opportunity to, privately at least, admit that we could, and need to be, better. Timothy, my son,…

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Double Leave-Taking

A beautiful sunset from the coast

Today is the last day of the year and the last day of Christmas. Yes, there are still five days left of the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ but today is the Leave-Taking of Christmas. Liturgically that means today is the last day to sing Christmas hymns. Today is also the Leave-Taking of 2022. This is…

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Preparing for the New Year

A text that says New Years Resolutions on a notebook

Today is Friday. In Greek that means the Day of Preparation. You never hear Friday referred to as the day of preparation unless it is Holy Week. That doesn’t mean the day still doesn’t have a purpose. In the ‘office’ workers are preparing for to make sure the company won’t ‘go under’ over the weekend.…

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