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The Word of the Day
Lift Up Your Hearts: Attaining a Cheerful Spirit (Fri. March 31)
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The word for today is “cheerful.” At this challenging time, many people are frustrated and depressed. Yet even amidst this pervasive dreariness of the heart, there are some who raise our spirits. These persons are bright lights in the darkness. Of them, the wise sage of Proverbs writes in today’s readings of Proverbs 17:17-18:5, “A merry heart does good, like medicine” (NKJV vs. 17:22).  Today we learn that we, the faithful, are called to “lift up our hearts” so that our cheerfulness can be medicine for others in a gloomy world. Nowadays, the word “merry” is associated with Christmas and its festivities. However, in Hebrew, the term means to be glad, to be joyful, and to rejoice (Strong’s Hebrew #8056, 284).  On…
Glory to God for All Things
The Limits of Holiness
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I saw a commercical recently that proclaimed, “Freedom has no limits!” It sought to capture the modern imagination with what is a patently absurd statement. Everything in creation has limits – that is the nature of created things. It is nonetheless the case that we can imagine our life without limits – a shameless existence where nothing impedes our pleasure. This was the inner world of a young woman in Alexandria who…
Faith Encouraged
Sing For Joy!
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Fr. Alexander Schmemann once said, “The greatest charge against a Christian is that he has no joy.” Frankly, the normal Christian faith is incompatible with life without joy. It is specifically joy, regardless of the outward circumstances that should be the “normal” Christian life. Now I know what you’re going to say: “But father, we will be accused of being unrealistic if we are joyful all the time.” Well, sure we will.…
The Word of the Day
How to Defeat the Mighty Power of Anger (Thurs. March 30)
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The word of the day is “anger.” One of the traits of maturity is self-mastery. And one of the greatest tests of self-mastery is the ability to control one’s temper.  In our reading of Proverbs 16:17-17:17, the wise sage of Proverbs writes, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city” (NKJV vs. 16:32).  Anger is like a powerful army that storms a city and conquers it.  Accordingly, it takes almost superhuman strength to resist its attacks. Today we explore what it takes to defeat the might of anger in our souls. The Loss of Control More than any of the vices, anger exposes the loss of control for all to see.…
Growing the Church
Next Steps
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During the last year I have focused your attention on the need for reviving the biblical concept of Remnant as a means of rediscovering and propagating the light of Christ in the midst of a new Dark Age–a time in which much of what the Church stands for has been compromised and even lost to the darkness of a deliberate forgetting and neglecting of Christ’s teaching. Many of images I have used…
A Lamp for Today
Light from the Canticles 7: Jonah's Cry from the Depths
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Jonah 2:2-9; Matt 12:39-41; Job 41; Psalm 104/LXX 103:26; Psalm 139/LXX 138: 8-12; Psalm 148:7 The song of Jonah, Old Testament Canticle 6, is notable for its poignancy and substance. Jonah gives voice to the desolation of those who know themselves to be at the brink of death, crying out to the Lord from the depths, and also from the depths of their being. It is a heart-cry of longing, coupled with…
No Other Foundation
“I Just Had to Pray”
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Quiet confession just between us: nostalgic freak that I am, I still like listening to old songs from the Christian folk group “Children of the Day”. The group was one of the earliest Jesus People music groups, and consisted of four young people, headed by Marsha Carter. They were most famous for the song “For Those Tears I Died” (also known as “Come to the Waters”) written by Marsha shortly after her…
Faith Encouraged
Fear Not, For I Will Help You!
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Nelson Mandela once said, “The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” This is so true. I’ve found too many people think that because they feel fear, they are not courageous. This isn’t true. Feelings come and go, but it’s what you do in reaction to feelings that betray you or support you. In fact, let me add this to your perspective on…
The Word of the Day
No Worries: The Confidence of Committing Our Work to the Lord (Wed. March 29)
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The word of the day is “commit.” It is natural to worry about the success or failure of our work, our family life, our relationships, and our every endeavor. Yet, that anxiety is unnecessary. Today in our reading of Proverbs 15:20-16:9,  the sage teaches that we can develop calm confidence in everything we do. He writes, “Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established” (OAB vs. 16:3).   Today we consider the peace of heart and mind that comes from committing whatever we undertake to the Lord and His Glory. The Lord Made All for Himself The foundation for our comments today is found in the sage’s teaching: “The Lord has made all for Himself, yes, even the wicked…
Faith Encouraged
Have You Not Known? Have You Not Heard? Has It Not Been Told You?
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When I get discouraged, I can always trace it back to a loss of perspective. I mean, it’s inevitable. My challenges give me tunnel vision and I lose the ability to see beyond my own immediate pain. And staying aware of how pain or trauma or even conflict gives us “tunnel vision” helps me avoid the traps of forgetting to keep perspective. My life and your life are rarely all bad or…
The Word of the Day
Reason Freed from the Passions (Tues. March 28)
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The word of the day is “better.” Are the choices that people make in their lives based on reason? The “Rational Choice Theory” claims that people choose the options they believe are in their best interest. That is, they select the most reasonable choices among alternatives. Our reading of Proverb 15:7-19 rejects this presupposition. The wise sage of Proverbs writes, “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fatted calf with hatred” (NKJV vs. 17). This saying suggests that the theory that people make reasonable choices fails to consider the role of the passions in human decisions. Today we look at the basic choice between the freedom of wisdom and the folly of slavery to the passions. The…
Faith Encouraged
I Have Heard Your Prayer
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They say there is a point of absolute clarity when a person is facing their own mortality. We’ve heard it all before; “Your life flashes before your eyes.” Of course, this is a moment in human life we humans regularly avoid thinking about. Our mortality isn’t something we like to dwell on. And yet, it is a part of life. St. Ambrose of Optina teaches “You must not be greatly troubled about…
The Word of the Day
On Impulsiveness and Thoughtfulness (Mon, March 27)
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The word for today is impulsive. Today in our reading of Proverbs 14:27-15:4, the sage of Proverbs observes, “He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly (vs. 14:29). We know this insight is true from our own experience. All of us lash out hastily at times especially when we are angry. But our reaction usually causes even more distress. We might ask what is the reason for that impulsiveness? What Is Impulsiveness? The word for impulsive in Hebrew means simply “short.” In English we use the word in that sense when we say, Someone was short with us. It means hasty and curt to the point of rudeness. We act on impulse,…
The Word of the Day
How To Anchor Your Soul in Hope (Sun. March 26)
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The word of the day is “anchor.” So many people these days are drifting. The currents of society are carrying them one way and then another.  Subtle and almost irresistible influences are assailing believers and unbelievers. Our reading of Hebrews 6:13-20 offers us the only defense from these social forces. The apostle writes, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast…” (NKJV vs. 18).  Today our reading helps us to realize that nothing in this churning world is unchanging. But this passage teaches us to look to our hope in the Eternal God to keep worldliness from overwhelming us. The thing about drifting is that we don’t notice it. We aren’t aware that we are being…
Eastern Christian Insights
Growing in Prayer, Fasting, and Brutally Honest Faith This Lent: Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent in the Orthodox Church
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Hebrews 6:13-20; Mark 9:16-30      It may be tempting at times to fantasize about having achieved great heights in any endeavor, including the Christian life. Our calling is nothing less than to become like God in holiness as partakers of the divine nature by grace, but the more that we assume we are quickly and easily fulfilling that vocation, the further we will be from acquiring the mature…
The Word of the Day
How to Renew Our Diligence in Our Spiritual Struggle (Sat. March 25)
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The word of the day is “diligence.”  Time erodes zeal. As the days pass, our original dedication to a cause tends to diminish.  This observation is true of our spiritual intensity.  We have passed the mid-point of Great Lent.  Have your steps slowed on your Lenten journey to the house of our Heavenly Father?  That is likely unless you have found a way to overcome natural spiritual inertia. If we have become sluggish in our observance of Lent, we need the word of our reading of Hebrews 6:9-12.  The apostle speaks to all of us, saying, “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end” (vs. 11).  Today our study…
Glory to God for All Things
To See Him Face to Face
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“The self resides in the face.” – Psychological Theorist, Sylvan Tompkins +++ There is a thread running throughout the Scriptures that can be described as a “theology of the face.” In the Old Testament we hear a frequent refrain of “before Thy face,” and similar expressions. There are prayers beseeching God not to “hide His face.” Very clearly in Exodus, God tells Moses that “no one may see my face and…
Faith Encouraged
Leave Your Comfort Zone
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Daring to follow God’s plan for your life is an act of faith that rarely happens by accident. You have to be listening to hear His plans! So how do you develop a lifestyle that makes you attentive to God’s direction for your life? It all starts with being willing to be taught. It begins with your willingness to live a life of repentance. The Scriptures are full of stories about people…
The Word of the Day
Prudence as a Surprising Virtue (Fri. March 24)
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The word for today is “prudent.” Today in our reading of Proverbs 14:15-26, we have a lesson on prudence. The sage says, “The simple believes every word, but the prudent considers well his step (OSB vs. 15). Today we will probe what “prudence” means. The term “prudence” has gone out of favor, but it is a key to Proverbs. We know the term primarily for its derivative “prudish.”  Those who are prudish are concerned about what is formally proper. They are “stuck up,” snobbish, and judgmental about keeping the rules.  In Hebrew, the term means crafty, shrewd, and sensible (Strong’s #6175). In short, the prudent are the clever, even cunning. “Prudent,” The Opposite of “Gullible” We might object that this…
Faith Encouraged
Let Us Make a Name for Ourselves!
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It is said that the greatest chess players “see” at least 4 moves ahead at all times. This is why they can anticipate their opponent’s moves and be ready for them. But most of us simply don’t think that far ahead in our lives. We clutter our moments with as much noise as possible in an attempt to drown out the silence that makes us uncomfortable. This need for constant stimulation, constant…
No Other Foundation
“The Genesis of Liberal Theology”
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I have been reading liberal theology since my college days—i.e. theologies which deny many, most, or all of the major tenets of the traditional Christian Faith. The theologies are as many and as varied as their authors, but they all share a conviction that Jesus of Nazareth didn’t say and do all the things which the New Testament recorded that He said and did, that the Gospels are not to be trusted…
Walking an Ancient Path
What’s with All the Standing for the Akathist Hymn?
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When you think of great military leaders throughout the world, do certain names spring to mind? If you know World War II history, you might think of Earl Mountbatten of Burma or American generals like Douglas MacArthur and Dwight D. Eisenhower. If you go further back in time, you might recall Alexander the Great or Attila the Hun. But did the Mother of God, the Virgin Mary, make your list of…
Faith Encouraged
An Intoxicated Noah & A Foolish Son
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Years ago, in my police officer days, I got assigned to the local DUI Task Force. This was a multi-jurisdictional team of officers specifically trained to combat driving under the influence and a direct result of the work of Mothers Against Drunk Driving that had formed in our community. I really loved this assignment because of our extra training and the fulfilling opportunity to really make a difference. One of the most…
The Word of the Day
Anxiety Puts Us Down, But A Good Word Lifts Us Up (March 22, 2023)
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The word of the day is “anxious.” W. H. Auden published his Pulitzer-prize-winning poem, “The Age of Anxiety,” in 1947.  That title is still an apt description of our time, especially during these days of one crisis after another.  Psychology Today reports that anxiety levels in America are three times higher now than they were before the Covid-19 pandemic. But anxiety is a product of the human condition and has been a factor of our human experience since the Fall.  We are fragile and vulnerable creatures who have built-in survival mechanisms.  These systems respond in body, mind, and soul to alarms of threats to our well-being, and we become anxious. In our reading of Proverbs 12:23-13:9, the wise sage of Proverbs makes a seemingly simple observation about…
Faith Encouraged
There's Only One Purpose For A Cross - Sunday's Homily
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The fact that humans are so very aware of our own mortality means that the fear of death drives much of our intoxication with our passions. But at the center of Great Lent, the Church gives us the image of the Cross to drive us to embrace another way of living that is prepared for death. If you are going to follow Christ in any serious way, you must be willing to…
Faith Encouraged
God Makes A Covenant with a Rainbow
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It’s an old word, but I like it. The word “covenant” is such a significant word for moderns precisely because we have seemed to have forgotten the power of “covenant.” Our society is gripped by hyper-individualism that seems to be intoxicated with the notion of “rights” “privilege” and “power.” This intoxication has created such chaos that even our very way of knowing our own identity has become confused. We think our identity…
The Word of the Day
Doing What Is Right in Your Own Eyes or Accepting Counsel (Tues. March 21)
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The word of the day is “eyes.” How do you respond when someone points out your fault? Do you bristle with indignation, or do you respond to correction with appreciation? In our reading of Proverbs 12:8-22, the wise sage writes, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise” (NKJV vs. 15). Today we learn that thinking that we are wise in our own wisdom is a sign of pride. And we suggest that this kind of deep self-conceit requires salvation and healing more than instruction. A Law unto Themselves The Old Testament Book of Judges ends with the social disintegration of the People of God. The writer explains the cause of…