I've been saying "Orthodox on Purpose" for so long that sometimes I wonder if I've grown deaf to the wisdom behind the words. After all, the danger for any minister is to keep all the words of his purpose and forgetting the meaning behind them. Terrifying! But I've discovered that...
The day after Thanksgiving in the US is often called "Black Friday." It use to be the day that merchants were "in the black" for the year and they saw the rest of the year up to Christmas as their time to make a profit for the year. But...
It's Thanksgiving Day in The US. The tradition of Thanksgiving started early in our nation's history as a way for us to set aside one day to be grateful to God for the blessings we receive through the year. Of course, this is a common theme throughout human history...
The notice I received had this heading: Attention as a Cultural Problem and the Possibilities of Education. It was a notice of a lecture being held at a major university and it certainly caught my attention. One of the most consisted messages in all the writings of the Fathers is...
One of the most fundamental marks of maturity is the clear and unmistakable realization that actions have consequences. Ideas have consequences because they become actions. And avoiding consequences is always a sign of immaturity. No wonder our modern world is struggling, as it has always struggled, with the consequences of...
Through all of human history, humanity has conceived of the “perfect” society and each time we humans have endeavored to build it, it turned out to either fail or become a nightmare. In 1787, the Founding Fathers of the United States met in Independence Hall in Philadelphia to hammer...
It was insulting. It was hurtful. And, to make matters worse, it wasn't fair. I was shocked when someone I truly cared about started saying some very hurtful things about me to someone else. I guess my ego was so big that I believed no one would ever do...
He loved scaring me. I had a buddy of mine who thought it was hilarious to sneak up behind me and yell as loud as he could. Of course, I'd jump two feet off the ground and he'd just laugh and laugh. After I stopped shaking, I'd laugh with...
The word Holy means "set apart for a specific and exclusive use." Something or someone who is holy is singularly dedicated to a single purpose and action. No wonder the Church gives us the gift of marriage as an icon of faithfulness and dedication to teach us about our...
George Elliot once said "Selfish, a judgement readily passed by those who have never tested their power of sacrifice." That's so true. Most of the times of selfishness in my own life flow from those moments when I was afraid that I'd disappear if I truly gave of myself....
