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Ancient Faith Blogs presents a select group of writers and thinkers who regularly post on matters of theology, culture, art, parish, and family life.
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Glory to God for All Things
"Make It So!" vs. "Let It Be!"
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Abba Poemen said, “Teach your mouth to say that which is in your heart. +++ Some years back, while driving through the mountains here in Tennessee, with an out-of-date GPS system in my car, I was instructed to take a particular turn and cross a bridge. Something inside me (guardian angel?) whispered a word of caution (it was night as well), and so I took the turn carefully and slowed. It was…
Praying in the Rain
What Does Success in Bodily Warfare Look Like?
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Some of the most accessible and practical wisdom from the ancient Christian desert tradition can be found in the letters of Sts. Barsanuphius and John. They lived in Gaza (Palestine) in the early sixth century. Over 800 letters are preserved for us, and in these letters we get an inside look at what spiritual guidance looked like in the desert monasticism of those early years. And although much is different in the…
The Morning Offering
YouTube video (click here to watch)
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Faith Encouraged
God Doesn't Condemn You
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Christ is risen! The famous author J.K. Rowling once said: “I’m interested in that drive, that rush to judgment, that is so prevalent in our society. We all know that pleasurable rush that comes from condemning, and in the short term it’s quite a satisfying thing to do, isn’t it?” And she’s right! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve ranted and raved at the TV news reports, or some post…
Word of the Day
What Kind of Power? (Tues, May 11)
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The word of the day is “power.”  Power is the dynamic ability to do something.  It is a force that produces an effect or the capacity to act upon something. In today’s reading of Acts 4:1-10, the religious authorities arrest Peter and John for preaching the Risen Christ. And the rulers interrogate the Apostles asking, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” (Acts 4;7).  Our close reading of this question will open new insight into Peter’s response to the religious authorities and the superior nature of the power of the Name of Jesus. An Important Point Missed With one exception, all the major translations of Acts miss an important point about the question of the power…
The Morning Offering
One Person at a Time
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Changing the World Must Begin with Me The Elder Sophroni of Essex said he believed in changing the world, one person at a time. These words are in agreement with those of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, who said acquiring inner peace causes a thousand around us to be saved. As long as we concentrate on the failings of others, inner…
Behind the Scenes
Rejecting the Messiah, Live Q and A on Lord of Spirits, and More This week on AFR
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LIVE SHOWS: There are 6 live shows this week! Remember, you can hear our live shows on the Ancient Faith Radio app or on our website. During the show, call 1-855-AFRADIO (1-855-237-2346) with questions or comments. All programs are recorded. Listen to previous episodes at the links provided. Paul struggled to understand why his own people rejected the Messiah. His conclusion was surprising: it was part of the plan of God that the Jewish people did not…
A Healing Driven Life
How We Relate with Ourselves: An Often Overlooked Area of Our Spiritual Life
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We are often encouraged to reflect on and be mindful of how we relate to and treat others. We also, quite naturally, are very mindful of how others treat us. However, we very often pay little attention to how we relate with ourselves or how we treat ourselves. This aspect of our spiritual lives is almost entirely overlooked. Some of us might have an aversion to being mindful of how we relate with ourselves. Perhaps it conjures up fears of being ego-centric or self-focused. However, as we shall see, making sure we are relating with ourselves as Christ would want us to, has huge ramifications for all areas of our spiritual life. First, let us start with the question, “what…
Faith Encouraged
Sort Out Your Priorities!
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Christ is risen! My mother had a famous saying to me and my brother when we were little. It usually came out when we didn’t want to do something like clean our rooms or do other chores. Usually, it was because I either wanted to keep playing or watch TV. But then, the depth charge comment would appear! “You can do what you want to do WHEN you do what you have…
Word of the Day
How Contemplating the Works of Salvation Can Turn Your Life Around (Mon. May 10)
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The word of the day is “turn.”  We are now in the third week of the Paschal season. How has our life changed? Yes, the joy of Pascha has given us new hope, new inspiration, and new faith. Yet has that joy transformed our life? If not, then Pascha is just another turning of the wheel of the church seasons. Unless we make purposeful and permanent changes to the way we live, next Lent, we will find ourselves in the same spiritual condition as we were last year. In today’s reading of Acts 3:19-26, Peter concludes his sermon in Solomon’s Porch with the “words of life” that God has sent “His Servant Jesus” to “bless you in turning away everyone…
The Morning Offering
Humility
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Humility Requires Struggle Only through struggle can we acquire humility. Our natural inclination is to flee struggle, and cling to our comfortable pride. When difficulties and humiliations come our way, we must embrace them, as from God. For the Lord knows what we need, and if we are to acquire true humility, and live in repentance, we must trust that…
Word of the Day
Nothing More Important Than the Word of Eternal Life (Sun. May 9)
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The word of the day is “word.” What is the main thing? Often what is most important gets lost in the swirl of things that are less significant. Today in our reading of Acts 5:12-20, we find that “many signs and wonders” are taking place as the believers meet in the temple (Acts 5:12). Yet, what was the point? Luke, the writer of Acts, records that the angel instructed the apostles about the main thing when he released them from prison. The angel said, “Go, stand in the temple, and speak to the people all the words of this life” (OSB 5:20). The important thing was not the spectacular miracles taking place and not even the healings of sick and…
The Morning Offering
Human Reason
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The Limits of Human Reason and the Knowledge of God There is the seen, and there is the unseen, the material and the immaterial. That which is material can be scientifically examined and experienced, the immaterial can only be seen and experienced spiritually. These are two worlds that are only seemingly at odds with one another. If you attempt to…
Eastern Christian Insights
Seeing our Neighbors and Ourselves in Light of Christ's Bodily Resurrection: Homily for Thomas Sunday in the Orthodox Church
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Acts 5:12-20; John 20:19-31 Christ is Risen! Today we continue to celebrate the most fundamental and joyful proclamation of our faith: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! He is our Pascha, our Passover, from death to life, for Hades and the grave could not contain the God-Man Who shares with us His victory over death. He has illumined even…
Word of the Day
The Power of “Faith in His Name” (Sat. May 8)
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Christ is Risen! The word of the day is “name.” Whenever someone does something outside the expectations of normal behavior, people are bound to ask, “Where did he or she get this?” Today in our reading of Acts 3:11-16, Peter and John explain the healing of the lame man in the Temple to the astonished onlookers. Peter claims the source of the miracle is the Prince of Life, whom God raised from the dead (OSB vs. 16). He says, “And His name, by faith in His name, has made the man strong whom you see and know” (OSB vs. 16). What the Name Represents What is in the “name”?  The name represents all that the Lord is.  To do something…
The Morning Offering
The Eternal Banquet
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The Importance of Frequent Communion Eternity is an everlasting banquet (the Divine Liturgy) that takes place in the heavenly realm. Every time we participate in the Divine Liturgy we are transported into a place where there is neither time nor space, and participate in that very banquet. As we receive the Holy Mysteries (Christ’s very Body and Blood), we receive…
Every Thought Captive
Orthodox Social Thought and the Prophets
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[T]he law and the prophets were until John: the law, that its transgressors might desire salvation; the prophets, that they might foretell the Saviour. – St. Augustine of Hippo One might think that after the Lord himself freed the Israelites from Egyptian slavery and gave them the Law, conquering Canaan would be a cakewalk. Despite some clear warning signs in Numbers, by the end of Deuteronomy things feel a bit like that song from the Lego Movie: “Everything is Awesome.” What could go wrong? Well … everything. Sure, the story of Israel from Joshua to the…
Word of the Day
Enthusiasm That Is Not Dampened (Fri. May 7)
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Christ is Risen! The word of the day is “leaping.”  The one thing about power that we can count on is that it will fade. The law of inertia says that a body will stay moving in a straight line unless some force acts on it. But such forces as gravity, friction, and opposing forces will slow an object down. Time Erodes Enthusiasm–Usually So we might expect that the power of the resurrection to move people to faith and hope would eventually weaken. The wear and tear of time, opposition, competing claims and interests, and the resistance of the devil would dampen the enthusiasm of the new movement of believers. But consider our reading of Acts 3:1-11.  In this passage,…
Word of the Day
Accepting the Word of the Resurrection Gladly (Thurs. May 6)
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The word of the day is “gladly. ”  We call miraculous something that is done by an extraordinary and mysterious power. But is the acceptance of such a phenomenon also a miracle? In our reading of Acts 2:38-43, we learn of the astounding reception of the initial preaching of the Gospel.  In response to the first sermon preached after the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, three thousand souls were added to the number of believers. Luke, the writer of Acts record, “ “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” (OSB vs. 43). Note that those who accepted Peter’s message had never heard such things before. …
Word of the Day
Posts For Days Missed
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Faith Encouraged
Bright Friday - No Wonder the Water Is Hot!
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Christ is risen! “What would Jesus do?” That phrase was popular a few years ago, and I confess to being amused by this fad of “easy religion.” One of the main reasons was that the life of Jesus is not easily categorized as the comfortable “Jesus” we moderns would prefer. You know the “Jesus” I’m talking about: The “meek” Jesus that pats everyone on the head and tells them they are “OK,…
Word of the Day
The Doubter Becomes a Witness (Wed. May 5)
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Christ is Risen! The word of the day is witness.”  Today in our reading of Acts 2:22-36, the Apostle Peter preaches the first sermon after the Ascension of the Lord. In it He offers convincing evidence for the glorious resurrection of the Lord. He says, “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses” (NKJV vs. 32). This proof of all that has happened for our salvation comes at the right time. By now, some of us might have second thoughts. We might join Thomas in questioning the truth of the Gospel of the Cross and Resurrection told by the apostles. Thomas the Doubter Turned Witness The most famous doubter of the truth of Christ work of…
The Morning Offering
Fruitless Discussions
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The power and influence of good deeds “For it is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men (1 Peter 2:15). Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic tells us in The Prologue from Ochrid that we are better off if we do not engage others in lengthy debates and fruitless discussions, but that we…
Beyond the Bars
Breaking Free From Prison
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Christ is Risen! Every Pascha, Orthodox Christians around the world venerate the Paschal icon of the Lord storming hades and breaking the chains of death. That icon provides a visual reminder of a spiritual reality – something that has happened and continues to happen for everyone who sincerely repents and cries out to Christ for release. Here in this life now, even for those living their lives in prison, there is freedom…
No Other Foundation
Why Do Deacons Speak at Liturgy?
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Every once in a while I am asked why I say the prayers aloud when serving Divine Liturgy, and do not serve in the more “classic” manner of silently reciting the prayers (such as the Anaphora, or prayer of the consecration of Bread and Wine). Before answering the question, perhaps I might explain what I mean by “silent prayer” in the Liturgy, since when I use the phrase to non-Orthodox people unfamiliar…
Faith Encouraged
Bright Thursday - The Wind of the Holy Spirit
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Christ is risen! Ah, the beauties of Springtime! And the hay fever! For those of us susceptible to the reign of terror that is pollen season; the watery eyes, the stuffy nose, basically all the bad stuff on all the commercials we see for medicine to combat this scourge of this wonderful season; we love and hate this time of year! Especially when the wind is blowing around all that yellowish-green pollen…
The Morning Offering
Loving Ourselves
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The measure of love is to fulfill Christ’s commandment Sometimes we’ve done things that cause us to wonder how we can ever forgive ourselves. Perhaps we’ve hurt someone we love or disappointed people we respect by behaving in a way we deeply regret. Maybe we’ve said some unkind thing to someone and caused them terrible hurt and embarrassment. We are…