We must be joyful and loving ambassadors for the Faith Some forty years ago I’d found myself wandering in a spiritual wasteland, knowing I was drying up, spiritually, and hoping there was something out there that would fill the void. Orthodoxy had not been in my scope, seeming, as it
Category: The Morning Offering
Passing on the gift of love My father was a golf pro in Spokane, Washington, during my grade and early middle school years, and the country club was the center of our family’s social life. My brother, Dwayne, and I use to play an average of 18 to 36 holes
Clinging to past regrets can be a rejection of the very meaning of repentance Transformation is not something that happens in an instant, but is a journey towards holiness, and as long as we look to the future with hope, transformation of the heart continues, and our past becomes but
Christ calls us to ultimate happiness As Orthodox Christians, we must conduct ourselves as children of the Most High. We must align our own will, our own desires, and our own hearts, to reflect our relationship with God. Our lives must reflect our love for Christ, and our desire to
We can never be sure what is or is not a misfortune until it all plays out Our power went out during a major wind storm at 1:20 am Sunday morning, and was off until the Little Entrance of the Nativity Liturgy. After exactly 33 hours (like the 33 years
The Church must proclaim the Good News in all humility and love If she be true to herself, the Church acts with an authority that is grounded in love. She holds within her realm the authority to make her people the children of God. She has the authority to forgive,
The condescension of God and the deification of man Those of us who observe the Julian Calendar have now completed the Nativity Fast, where we have abstained from meat, eggs, dairy products, anger, envy and other habits, for the sake of promoting the discipline the soul. We are now joining
An all-consuming fire and an illuminating light Upon Christ’s Second Coming, everyone who has ever lived will see Him in His uncreated light, forever. For “those who worked good deeds in their lifetime will go towards the resurrection of life, while those who worked evil in their lifetime will go
Arrogance produces disobedience It does not matter how many books we read, or acts of charity we perform, if our pride leaves no room for the grace that comes from the Holy Spirit. Our arrogance can produce only destructive disobedience, while humility produces obedience, and leads to the salvation of
Proper etiquette upon entering an Orthodox temple From ancient times, the traditional posture for prayer and worship in the Orthodox Church has been to stand. Traditionally Orthodox churches have no pews, but do provide chairs or benches on the side walls reserved for the elderly and infirm. When worshiping in