The Upcoming Pilgrimage to Jerusalem
More information about the upcoming meeting of the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Pope in Jerusalem [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt9pZl9pghQ]
You Mean Them Too?
Christ is risen! There's a great Country song from 1994 performed by Tim McGraw called "Don't Take the Girl" and it tells the story of how a young man's attitude toward the "fairer" sex changes as you get older. But the first part of the song as a young boy...
We are Here to Hear!
Christ is risen! Jesus uses a phrase in the Gospels that I have always found to be both challenging and intriguing: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" The Lord uses the phrase in all three synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) and in John 8:47 the Lord declares...
Who’s Your Daddy
The Southern United States is known for "Southern hospitality" and those of us from this region of the US pride ourselves on our gentility, kindness, and family traditions. That being said, we Southerners also have a strong strain of tribalism in our culture. In fact, whether you know it or...
That Post-Pascha Slump!
Have you ever looked at the Sundays following Pascha? Each Sunday has a particular focus that both protects us from a Post-Pascha let down AND insights into keeping the flame if Pascha burning in our hearts and homes. This Sunday we hear about the healing of the Paralytic. What paralyzes your spiritual...
What’s in a Name? Maybe Everything!
Christ is risen! It is no coincidence that the first "job" God gave Adam was to "name" the animals. Remember, the Lord created we humans in His image to become in His likeness, and that means Adam was created with the ability and the goal to grow, mature, develop, and become...
“Run to the Light, Carol Ann!”
Christ is risen! OK, a cheesy movie quote may not be the best way to start a devotional, but it's the first thing that popped in my mind when I started working on this subject this morning. Besides, we've heard so much about "light" and "darkness" and stories of people having...
Exciting Changes are Coming!
Dear Orthodox on Purpose Readers, Very soon you will see big changes coming to our web home. We are in the process of creating a new home for this daily devotional blog that will, by God's grace, be a real help to your Spiritual maturity and growth. Please keep us in...
A Citizen
Christ is risen!Identity is a powerful reality, and filled with all kinds of information. But your own understanding of who you are and where you belong is central to how you order your life. I never will forget my first post-liturgical coffee hour after being received into the Eastern Orthodox...
Threatened and Our Response
"She hit me first!" Ah, the easy justification of childhood for revenge. And isn't it amazing how so little changes as we get older? But what is the old saying "Before you embark on a journey to revenge, dig two graves." The dangers of thinking any real peace or real contentment...