2023 Daily Lenten Journey – Day 20

A golden abstract artwork of the Jesus

Every Friday during Great Lent I make myself available for the sacrament of Holy Confession. It gives me a chance to pray while I wait, and to pray with those who offer their confession to God. One thing is consistent with everyone who comes for Holy Confession. Everyone is a sinner. With all the attention…

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2023 Daily Lenten Journey – Day 9

A golden abstract artwork of the Jesus

When an alcoholic awakes, the first thing he thinks about is his next drink. At the same time, for those alcoholics I know, he understands he doesn’t want to be an alcoholic. He doesn’t want to drink, but most days, the temptation is greater than he can bear. Every day is the same battle, and…

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2023 Daily Lenten Journey – Day 8

A golden abstract artwork of the Jesus

The first week of Great Lent is behind us. We had our celebrations yesterday for the Sunday of Orthodoxy. In many places our Pan-Orthodox families gathered to proclaim our unity of faith. As the new week dawns, our attention returns to the beginning. Today our focus changes from the story of creation to the story…

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Minimizing Sin

It can ‘be cute’ when a little child looks straight at his mother who is holding a broken lamp, “Nope! It wasn’t me.” Forgetting there is nobody else in the house, and that his mother watched the whole episode on the baby-cam, the little child insists he did nothing wrong. It may be cute to…

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The Unforgiveable Sin

Forgiveness engraved on wet sand

We’ve all heard about the unforgiveable sin against the Holy Spirit, but do you know what that sin is? Meriam-Webster defines ‘blasphemy’ as “the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God.” I wonder sometimes if it is even possible for a believer to show contempt for God. We get angry…

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One Day at a Time

It is true for any struggle. The only way to secure victory over struggle is by committing to fight every day. Those suffering from addiction do it. Soldiers do it. Even fire fighters do it. No struggle can be defeated without constant effort. Some days you make progress, and others you fall back. All this…

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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…

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Are You a Sinner?

A beautiful view of the mountains

Let’s be honest for a moment. Nobody likes to admit they are a sinner, at least in public. Many of us hide our sins in private. When are sins are made public, we do everything we can to pretend they are not sins in the first place. We falsely believe that if we are not…

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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…

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Hypocrites or Sinners?

children putting hands on each other shoulder

It comes up all the time in conversations. The Church is full of hypocrites. I know how those people are when they leave the Church. They pretend to be so holy on Sunday. I don’t want to have anything to do with them. The normally opens the following conversation. Me: Do you know any alcoholics?…

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