Posts Tagged ‘relationships’
Family Betrayal
In more than thirty years of ministry I have rarely witnessed pain greater than the pain of betrayal. We are often betrayed at work or friends. We can even feel betrayed by total strangers after we had reached out to help them. Nothing is worse than family betrayal. Brethren, you become imitators of the churches…
Read MorePleasing God or Pleasing Men?
Let’s be honest about priorities for a moment. From the moment we awake we are faced with choices of whom to please. From our family and friends to employers and coworkers, we constantly walk a tight rope of tension, hoping at all costs to please those around us. I recall a mentor’s advice when I…
Read MoreFaithful or Zealous?
The modern Orthodox experience in America is complex with both longstanding members born into the Church coexisting with pious converts who have chosen Orthodoxy as their religion. Neither is more important than the other since both are members of the Body of Christ. Yet there appears to be a battle for the ‘soul’ of the…
Read MoreLoyalty and Betrayal
We all have that one person that we would go to the end of the earth for, until they betray us. Every relationship hangs on the verge of loyalty and betrayal, and the smallest issue can tilt the balance out of our favor. Today’s loyal companion is tomorrow’s enemy. I say this today not in…
Read MoreHow Much Love?
Nobody likes to think they are cold without love for others. Everyone likes to think their love is exemplary. Others should take notes of the way they love. If you don’t think so, you are the problem. You are just jealous because they don’t love you. Sound familiar? At that time, one of the Pharisees…
Read MoreCounterculture of Love
You hear it all the time. We’re supposed to be counterculture as Christians. We’re not supposed to be like the world. Yet, we spend most of our time being ‘just like’ the world when it comes to our personal relationships. Brethren, putting away falsehood, let every one speak the truth with his neighbor, for we…
Read MoreEpisode 461 – Become Children of God
It is only natural that we become our parents. When God calls us to become children of God, it isn’t so natural. In the Gospel of Luke we hear, “Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.” The human way is to love those who love us back. To become children…
Read MoreThe Face of Opposition
Imagine walking into work every morning and being face-to-face with your opponent, someone who was just waiting for the chance to betray you. He plans this in secret, all the while smiling and telling you how great you are. What would you do if you already knew who it was? Most of us would plan…
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 MoreEating or Fasting
As Orthodox Christians living in a secular world, fasting takes on an additional burden. It is easy to fast when we cook for ourselves, but when others are doing the cooking, things get a bit sticky. When the ‘others’ are not Orthodox, fasting sometimes becomes optional. Now, you must understand that I would never characterize…
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