Give As You’ve Been Given
It's an election season here in the US, and the campaign ads in the mail, on the radio, and on TV are coming hot and heavy, especially as our society continues to be so polarized by the "spirit of the age." And that spirit is the delusional notion that...
Why A Pentecostal Pastor Became An Orthodox Priest
Dear Friends and partners, Below is a recent presentation I did at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago, IL. Fr. Andreas and the faithful were such great hosts and this is a community that is mostly lifelong Orthodox with generations of Orthodoxy in their families. I enjoyed my trip...
To Be Truly Free
"Well, you should have known better!" Oh, how I hated hearing that from my mom. It was the tone in her voice as well as the words. You know the one. The tone communicated disappointment, disapproval, AND frustration all at the same time! Oh, I HATED it! But what...
Mother Mary Comes To Me
"In my darkest hour, she is standing right in front of me, speaking words of wisdom "Let it be.'" The song was on the radio as my best friend was driving away from the hospital where his twin brother had just died. His pain and grief washed over him...
Willing To Die
This story always chokes me up: The girl needed a transfusion and the only suitable donor was her brother, he was just 11 years old! So, the family talked it over and said it had to be up to the brother to do this. The doctor approached the boy and...
St. Demetrios, Being Faithful
As I've traveled around the country speaking, one of the situations I've encountered is that very sincere and pious Orthodox Christians seem to be insecure about how to talk about their faith. They ask me "How do I share my faith and defend my Orthodox faith to the people...
Happiness Is A Choice
“Here’s a little song I wrote. You might want to sing it note for note. Don’t worry! Be happy!” Yep, I loved that song, for about a day, and then it was being played so often I got sick of it rather quickly! But still, Bobby McFerrin captured in his...
What Is The Purpose of the Faith? Sunday’s Homily
On this Sunday we read of a man so enslaved to his passions, so gripped by his addictions, that he is inhabited by many demons. Christ heals him and he is found at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. The lifestyle of the Orthodox Faith...
With Fear And Trembling
My little brother and I were typical brothers growing up. We would engage in “sibling rivalry” now and again! But we were being raised by a single mother who worked full-time and cared for us full-time as well. One such event when we were a bit older elicited a...
You Need Jesus
Several years ago there was a song that was popular on Christian radio stations that still strikes me as a powerful reminder of a central truth: People Need the Lord. "Every day they pass me by, I can see it in their eyes. Empty people filled with care. Headed who...