I’m Offended!
It seems being offended is a national pastime these days. Folks have become so thin skinned that any suggestion that someone might disagree with their ideas is treated as akin to destroying civilization. Britt Hume, a TV news anchor, commented on this: "We have a society in which one...
More than Meets the Eye!
When I was young, I enjoyed a cartoon called "Transformers." The theme song was "Transformers; more than meets the eye! Transformers; robots in disguise!" The whole premise of the show was that these Transformers looked like regular cars or machinery, but they were really more than that. Nowadays one of...
Could Not vs. Did Not
Today we prepare our hearts to celebrate the Transfiguration of the Lord! Tomorrow is the Feast! Tonight we celebrate the Great Vespers of the Feast to properly get ready to enter fully into the Eucharistic celebration tomorrow! The Feast is here in the midst of our fasting preparations for the...
Marvelous!
Welcome to the second day of the Dormition Fast! The wisdom of the fasting disciplines of the Church are meant to reinforce the reality that unless the faith is holistically practiced, that is it affects every aspect of your person, the real danger of compartmentalization exists! In my opinion, this...
Buy a Dishwasher!
"If you want a guarantee, buy a dishwasher!" These are the plain spoken words of a wise man to me early on in my spiritual journey that eventually led me to the Orthodox Church. He was responding to my questions about assurance of salvation and my mindset that still saw...
The Greatest Story Ever Told
My grandfather was an amazing storyteller. He was always a larger than life figure in my eyes as a boy and still is even as a grown man. He had this ability to mesmerize us grandkids with his stories of being a police officer in Atlanta, and his stories...
Troublemakers and Peacemakers
In today's Epistle Lesson from Romans, the Apostle Paul says: " I appeal to you to take note of those who create dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taught; avoid them." Romans 16:17-24 Have you ever noticed that the people who cause the most...
As Many as have been Baptized…
"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's...
Entitled or Blessed – It Makes All the Difference
It's practically a parable in all cultures and nations. The story of the spoiled and privileged son, full of potential and promise, squanders his gifts because he sees himself entitled rather than blessed. And we know the story always ends the same. By the way, this principle of the dangers...
Equal to the Apostles
Do you know what the Church calls Mary Magdalene? Her title is "Equal to the Apostles. This title is given to a few saints who, like the Apostles themselves, excelled in the witness and proclamation of the Good News of the Resurrection of Christ. After all, as St. Paul...