Total Repentance

A cross sign in the middle of a sunset

Repent! We hear the carillon call all the time. We accept the idea of repentance on the surface. Beyond giving it lip service, we rarely give repentance much consideration. Let’s face it. We all would rather just keep going like we are going. Unfortunately, without repentance we will be destroyed. At that time, there were…

Read More

We are all Accused

One of the frustrating parts of human interaction, especially within the Church, is the constant state of accusation. We accuse others of not living the faith properly. In return, others accuse us of the same failures. The result is mutual indignation. Instead of insisting in our excellence, maybe we should accept our failures. In today’s…

Read More

Will it Ever Stop?

A beautiful view of the mountains

If you have ever felt shame for your behavior, then you understand today’s blog. It seems like no matter how often you try; you just keep falling to the same temptations. Will the temptations ever stop? Will I ever be strong enough to fight? Will God keep forgiving me? Brethren, we do not want you…

Read More

Enough Already!

Candles lighting

Every parent has experienced the story. We keep giving instructions to our children, and they keep ignoring them. Then in an instant parents escalate their instructions to threats. The threats come with guilt because parents really don’t like to threaten their children. Inside every parent is saying, “Enough already! Just do what I told you!”…

Read More

Voice of Prophecy

A cross sign in the middle of a sunset

If I were to begin today’s blog by telling you horrible things would happen if you do not repent, you would think I had gone off my rocker. This is because, first and foremost, I am not a prophet. Second, we don’t often hear from prophets in modern times. The voice of prophets seems to…

Read More

Don’t Lose Your Head

The Head of John the Baptist

We have all done things we were not proud of when we were younger. That is the grace that is holy confession. We turn to the God and confess our sins to the Church, through the priest, and we are forgiven our sins. Sounds easy right? It is, but what happens when we try to…

Read More

If you Only Knew

The Bible and other books with praying beads on a table

We go about our daily lives in total denial of what is happening inside our bodies. We eat foods that are eating us. We drink fluids that have very little if any benefit. The entire time our bodies are slowly decaying without our knowledge. Unfortunately, our bodies are not the only thing decaying within us.…

Read More

Spiritual Obedience

A cross sign in the middle of a sunset

If we’re being honest, the idea of obedience to another human being is contingent upon our agreement with said human being. Every day we willingly place ourselves under obedience to those around us. It is what makes society civil. In the Church, it is what makes us worthy of the kingdom. BRETHREN, when you come…

Read More

Look Inward

A close shot of lady eye

There has been a lot of talk lately in the Orthodox blogosphere about repentance and those who are presumed to live unrepentant lives. I cannot wrap my mind around how anyone in this world can know the state of repentance of anyone else. There is a reason Christ told us to look at the log…

Read More