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The Word of the Day
Saved from Death Twice (Sun. May 29)
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The word of the day is “saved.”  There may be times, God forbid, when we face desperate circumstances.  In these trials, we might be tempted to do irrational things that harm ourselves and others. In our reading of Acts 16:16-34, we find that the jailor at Philippi is terribly distraught when he thinks his prisoners have escaped. Luke, the historian of Acts, writes, “And the keeper of the prison awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself” (OSB vs. 27).  But his salvation from this horrible fate led to his deliverance from a destiny even worse. So he was saved twice: once from physical death and the…
Eastern Christian Insights
Overcoming the Darkness Evident in a Society Accustomed to School Shootings: Homily for the Sunday of the Blind Man in the Orthodox Church
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Acts 16:16-34; John 9:1-38 Christ is Risen!  Concerning the school shooting in Uvalde, His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH wrote: We pray for the repose of these innocents and that our good God will provide comfort to their survivors, who agonize and must now bury them. Now more than ever, we all must do our parts to stop the hatred and devaluation of human life that produce such horrific crimes. Everyone—governments, churches, communities, families,…
A Healing Driven Life
The Uvalde Tragedy: Learning to Grieve while Avoiding our own Traumatization
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No doubt most of us are well aware of the recent tragedies that have occurred over the past several weeks. Only days ago, those of us who peeked at the news had to come to grips with the tragedy that unfolded at an elementary school in Texas. The idea that such young innocents could suffer such a fate seems unfathomable. Furthermore, the idea that another human being could inflict such pain on young innocents is incomprehensible.  There are few places more pure and innocent than an elementary school. Many of us, when becoming aware of such painful events, may ask how far we should go in processing them. As the days have passed, more and more details emerge that make…
The Word of the Day
Do We Get a Second Chance After Failing? (Sat. May 28)
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The word of the day is “second.” They say that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. But what about those who are not so resilient? Is there a second chance for quitters?  In our reading of Acts 15:35-41, Paul and Barnabas debate whether to take John Mark with them on the “Second Missionary Journey.” In his history of the early church, Luke writes, “Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them one who had departed from them in Pamphylia” (OSB vs. 37-38). Today we consider this case of a failure to meet the challenge of service to the Lord. And we suggest how we might respond when…
Faith Encouraged
The Suspense Is Killing Me!
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Christ is risen! The great American author Lewis B. Smedes once said “Seeing reality for what it is is what we call discernment. The work of discernment is very hard.” And the Orthodox Fathers would agree. In fact, it is the gift of discernment that we are constantly called to develop and embrace in the writings of the Orthodox Fathers. Being able to tell reality from delusion isn’t nearly as easy as…
The Word of the Day
The Unity of the Church Depends on Sameness, Not Difference (Fri. May 27)
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The word of the day is “same.”   When it comes to what people believe, there are more allegations than truths, more falsehoods than realities, and more suppositions than conclusions based on evidence. Today, in our reading of Acts 15:5-34, we hear Peter’s appeal for the inclusion of Gentiles in the church and the final decision of the church leaders in Jerusalem on the matter. Peter says, “We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they [the Gentiles]” (OSB vs. 11). To prove an assertion, we must give warrants for it. The warrant is the connection between a truth claim and the evidence that supports it. A close reading of Peter’s…
Behind the Scenes
Fr. Jeremy Davis: Stumbling into Sacrifice
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As an Evangelical Protestant kid, I picked up a certain idea of sacrifice: a worshiper lays his hand upon an innocent lamb, draining his sins into the creature, then a priest comes forward to end the animal’s life, thus satisfying God’s need to punish the sinner. I can’t pinpoint whom I learned this from or when—it was just in the air, so to speak. In hindsight, this interpretation was clearly a projection…
Faith Encouraged
Humility And Repentance
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Christ is Risen! This thought haunts me. All I’ve preached, all I’ve taught, and all I’ve said, will one day be used as a comparison with the way I’ve lived, the choices I’ve made, and the priorities I’ve set. No wonder the Church teaches me to say over and over again “Lord, have mercy!” But I won’t seriously learn how to truly repent and change the way I think if I ignore…
The Word of the Day
Everyday Ministries That Nurture and Sustain Us (Thurs. May 26)
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The word of the day is “work .” We often concentrate on the spectacular events of the scriptures. We focus on the miracles, the visions, the outpourings of the Spirit.  And we highlight the disputes, the persecutions, and the trials of the faithful.  But the day-to-day work of ministry is the primary way that the Gospel reaches and nurtures most of us. Today in our reading of Acts 14:20-28; 14:1-4, we hear of the everyday work of Paul and Barnabas in the region of Lycaonia, Galatia, and of Phrygia that took place over many months.  Immediately before today’s reading, Luke reports that Paul was stoned and dragged out of the city (Acts 14:19-20).  But rather than flee the region, Luke…
Faith Encouraged
Don't Let Doubt Win!
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Christ is risen! Paul Tillich once said, “Doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is one element of faith.” Interesting! Too many times, moments of doubt are used by the enemy of your soul to cause you to give up or hide in shame. But doubt has never been fatal if it’s dealt with in wisdom and patience. On this day when we recall the ministry of St. John the Baptizer, doubt can…
The Word of the Day
How to Respond to Opposition to the Gospel (Wed. May 25)
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The word of the day is “brethren.” We might have the impression that Paul did not want anything to do with the Jews.  After all, he was the champion of accepting Gentiles into the fellowship of faith. But in today’s reading of Acts 13:13-24, we find an example of Paul’s practice of first going to the synagogue when he arrived at a new field of mission. When they noticed newcomers in their midst, the leaders of the synagogue invited Paul and his companions to address the people (vs. 13).  Paul returned the courteousness of his hosts with a gracious sermon. Our reading stops in the middle of the speech. The next Sabbath the “whole city came together to hear the…
Beyond the Bars
Johnny's Long Walk Home
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Johnny was in the prison library, looking for answers to his deepest spiritual questions, when he overheard a conversation two tables over. An Orthodox prisoner named Jesse was talking about the early Church. Johnny moved close enough to eavesdrop, an uncomfortable, even dangerous thing to do in prison. Johnny started asking him questions, which led to Johnny writing to OCPM, learning the Faith through his correspondence with Fr. Duane Pederson and Zossima…
Raising Saints
My Favorite Summer Camp for Orthodox Creatives
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After church this Sunday, I was sitting with one of my favorite college kids, when she realized that her friend had never heard of Be the Bee, or its host, Steven Christoforou. She was flabbergasted. How can an Orthodox teen miss this? As we chatted, she realized that I know Steve. Personally. Her flabbergast increased to crazy proportions. A lot of us Orthodox writers and podcasters know each other, and there’s a…
Rethinking Sacrifice
Sacrifice as Accusation: “You Oughta Know”
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In 1995 Alanis Morissette emerged on the pop-music scene with a distinctively gritty, raw, impassioned, and honest—even confessional—style. Her breakout album was Jagged Little Pill, and one of its songs, in particular, swept through the airwaves and into the hearts of listeners across the country: “You Oughta Know.” The premise of the song is simple: a woman has lost her lover, who has since entered another relationship and forgotten her. Despite this…
Faith Encouraged
Sunday's Homily - Curiosity And Then Some
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On this Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, we learn just what it takes to be rescued from a life stuck in the slavery of passions. And these three characteristics we learn today will not only set this woman free but a whole village. What is so amazing is the lack of curiosity that seems to exalt my own opinions above centuries of wisdom. And that is too shallow to make you a…
Faith Encouraged
Plain Talk Got Their Attention!
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Christ is risen! Ok, I admit it. As a public speaker, I have often used the outlandish statement as a rhetorical device to get or keep an audience’s attention. It reminds me of one dear person who looked at me once and said “Father, I can’t tell if you’re serious or not.” Bingo! If you are going to speak to move people to change or embrace what you are saying, you have…
The Word of the Day
How the Term “Liturgy” Enriches our Understanding of Worship (Tues. May 24)
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The word of the day is “liturgy.” In our age of individualism, most of us think of worship as a private matter. It is our choice whether to attend worship or not. And that decision is based on what we can “get out” of our participation. But in today’s reading of Acts 12:25-13:12, we hear how the church in Antioch “set apart” Barnabas and Paul for their missionary work. This endorsement and empowerment of their ministry was made in the context of worship, that is, “liturgy.” Luke reports, “As they [the church in Antioch] ministered to the Lord and fasted,” the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them”…
Glory to God for All Things
Is God a Fool?
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Few things are as awkward (and even painful) as “feeling like a fool,” whether it is the mild thing we call “embarrassment,” or the stronger things that make us want to disappear or run away. No one wants to be the fool. Nevertheless, I have come to see God as a “fool,” and those rare saints whom we name the “holy fools,” to be amazing exemplars of this way of being. I…
Every Thought Captive
NEW PODCAST!
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Part of the reason for some of the low activity level here at Every Thought Captive has been the gearing up for the launching of a podcast! The podcast will be dedicated to the same themes as the blog…but more dynamic and interactive! Yes, we will continue with the production of new content – in depth analysis that bringing Orthodox thought and tradition to bear on current social and cultural issues. I also plan to go back and revisit certain threads and expanding those forays. We also plan to have on guests for interviews and discussions.…
Every Thought Captive
Orthodox Social Thought in Pre-Petrine Russia
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One cannot overstress the social aspect of Russian religious ethics…. [O]ne must keep in mind that through all the centuries of medieval and Muscovite Russia her religion was predominantly social…. An enforced individualism enters the Russian Church life only since the reform or revolution of Peter I. ~ G. P. Fedotov On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. Low estimates count roughly 10,000 killed, nearly 4,000 of those civilians. The reality is likely much higher, and the fighting continues. Fleeing for their lives, 5.8 million have become refugees. I have views about this tragic bloodshed between…
Faith Encouraged
Suffering From Self-Deception
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Christ is risen! Soren Kierkegaard, that mournful Danish theologian, once said “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” For me, I find the most difficult deceptions to fight are the ones I tell to myself. It’s easy to spot errors in others, and it seems that we actually excel in correcting the mistakes and untruths…
The Word of the Day
The Lord Who Stands at the Door (Mon. May 23)
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The word of the day is “open.” At times in our excitement as well as our distress, we fail to focus on the most important thing of all, our relationship with Jesus Christ. We find Peter knocking on the door of Mary’s house in our reading of Acts 12:12-17. He has escaped from prison and made his way to the house where the believers are keeping a prayer vigil for him. Luke says, “He came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying” (OSB 12). A girl answers the door and recognizes Peter’s voice. She runs to tell the believers that Peter is standing at the gate. But she…
No Other Foundation
Overturning Everything
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The ancient world was built on three fundamental realities—foundations which persist to this day—and Christ overturned all of them. No wonder His Church was considered both radical and dangerous. The first reality was the foundation of family. Loyalty to one’s family—and by extension to one’s clan, tribe, or nation—was paramount, and trumped every other personal loyalty. That was because in a big and dangerous world, extended family was often the only place…
Growing the Church
Remnant Activities: Reestablishing the True Source of Christian Persuasiveness. Part II
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If the key to effective Christian persuasiveness is the presence of Christ in the life of the believer, then, the next question would have to be, “how can we appropriate and fully participate in that divine presence. Contrary to our natural inclination toward individual activism, this presence is not primarily a result of our own efforts, as if we could somehow acquire or earn it by simply following certain rules. It is…
The Word of the Day
God Is No Spectator (Sun. May 22)
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The word of the day is “hand.” A prevailing belief about God is that He is a kind and benevolent spectator who watches over people on earth.  He wants everyone to be good and happy. But he does not get involved in people’s lives except in dire emergencies. Today we hear to the contrary and how the hand of the Almighty worked in Old Testament history and the early church. In our reading of Acts 11:19-26, 29-30, we learn how Gentiles first became members of the fellowship of faith. When persecution scattered the believers in Jerusalem, some sought refuge in distant places, preaching the Word of Christ as they went.  Some of these Hellenists, that is, Greek-speaking Jews, shared their…
The Word of the Day
Seeing God’s Hand in All Things—Even in Evil Times (Sat. May 21)
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The word of the day is “delivered.” When we observe the deplorable events of our times, it is easy to be discouraged. We lament the state of immorality, injustice, insincerity, and impiety of our nation and our world. And we wonder what the Almighty could do to advance the Gospel, bring the lost to Christ, and preserve the church in peace and security. Unrestrained evil is what we see if we view the world through earthly eyes.  Yet, if we look at our times with eyes of faith, we see God’s hand at work in everything. Today in our reading of Acts 12:1-11, we learn of the miraculous escape of St. Peter from prison. Luke, the historian of Acts, reports…
A Lamp for Today
Lighting Up the Apocalypse 28: The Sign of the Seven Angels, the Song, the Sea, and the Smoke
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(Revelation 15; Ex. 40:35; 2 Chronicles/Kingdoms. 7:2-3; Is. 6:4; Ezek 1:22;10:4; 44:4) Chapter fifteen of the Apocalypse leads us into the final sequence of judgment, in which Babylon is ultimately overthrown. All the players in this short chapter are righteous—God, the Lamb, the angels, the four cherubim, and the redeemed worshippers. Any who think that judgment is incompatible with the righteous and true God must take this vision seriously, for as John…