Faith Encouraged
What Is The Foundation of Your Life?
·
We were talking in Bible study recently about “First Principles.” It seems this is something we so rarely consider, but if we miss fundamental truths, we always end up in places we never intended to go. For instance, if you don’t build your life on the fundamental truth that when you say “God” you mean the Holy Trinity, you mean the Father, and you mean the UNCREATED, you will wind up with a basic…
Word of the Day
To Be “Grace-full” as God is Gracious (Mon. Sept. 13)
·
The word of the day is “grace.” We usually think of grace as the unmerited favor of God that saves us despite our sinfulness. But today, we learn another sense of the essential term “grace.” We will study how Paul uses the word to appeal to the generosity of his flock in Corinth. And we will discover the logic behind the apostle’s teaching that we should be “grace-full” as God is gracious. The Grace of Generosity In today’s reading of 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Paul asks the congregation in Corinth to support his pet project, the relief of the poor in Jerusalem who are suffering from a famine. The apostle states, “As you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge,…
Word of the Day
Tradition Must Be Received, Kept, and Passed Along (Sun. Sept. 12)
·
The word of the day is “delivered.” Where did Paul get the teachings that he so ardently preached? Paul demonstrated what could distinguish between the Word of God and his own opinion. For example, in Corinthians he commands, “Not I, but the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:10). And soon after he offers his opinion saying, “But to the rest I, not the Lord, say” (1 Corinthians 7: 11). However, in our reading of 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Paul refers to doctrines that have the highest divine authority, He declares “…I delivered to you…that which I also received…” (vs. 3). Twice in his letters to the congregation, he emphasizes that what he shared with the church came from Holy Tradition. The first time…
Eastern Christian Insights
Becoming "A New Creation" Through the Cross of Christ: Homily for the Sunday Before the Elevation of the Holy Cross and the Leave-taking of the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos in the Orthodox Church
·
Galatians 6:11-18; John 3:13-17 Even as we look ahead to the Elevation of the Holy Cross this coming week, we continue to celebrate today the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. These commemorations remind us that the God-Man Who vanquished Hades through His Cross for our salvation had a human ancestry, which was necessary for Him to be both a human person and the particular human person…
Word of the Day
The Cross Puts the Honor of This World to Shame (Sat. Sept. 11)
·
The word of the day is “shame.” If we hope to sit at the table of the Kingdom to come, can we also seek to sit in the seats of wisdom, power, honor in the kingdoms of this world? Today in our reading of 1 Cor 1:26-29, Paul writes, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty” (OSB vs. 27). Today, we consider the contrast between two kinds of honor and shame, and we find that we must decide which we will reject and which we will seek. In our reading, Paul defends…
Behind the Scenes
Humans of Ancient Faith: Fr. Barnabas Powell
·
Humans of Ancient Faith is a series of mini-interviews designed to introduce you to the many wonderful human beings who make this ministry possible. We asked the same 5 questions in each interview, and let the interviewee choose a sixth question. Today’s guest is author, blogger, and podcaster Fr. Barnabas Powell. ++++++++++++++ If you were named for your defining characteristic, what word or phrase would be your name? Preacher! My deepest passion…
Faith Encouraged
Godly Grief Works Repentance
·
But I was really sorry. I said so over and over again. And I really meant it. I was sorry for what I did. And it wasn’t the first time. It wasn’t even the second time. It was multiple times I’d stumbled over the same mistake. And I was really sorry. But nothing changed. Why? Why was I so gripped by this short-sighted behavior? Why was I so vulnerable to this “besetting…
Word of the Day
Trust Builds and Restores Relationships (Fri. Sept. 10)
·
The word of the day is “confidence.” Love creates relationship. But the loving bond between us grows in the fertile soil of trust. Paul affirms this insight in today’s reading of 2 Corinthians 7:10-16. Paul has changed his feelings toward his congregation in Corinth. He writes, “Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything” (vs. 16). The Greek word for “confidence” is a form of the word meaning “to show boldness” (Strong’s #2292). That is, the apostle is now encouraged, heartened, and emboldened in his relationship with the Corinthians. These feelings of secure affection toward another depend on mutual trust. In a relationship of fidelity, no one needs to be hesitant, uncertain, and guarded–that is, distrustful. But those who…
Behind the Scenes
Humans of Ancient Faith: Michael Haldas
·
Humans of Ancient Faith is a series of mini-interviews designed to introduce you to the many wonderful human beings who make this ministry possible. We asked the same 5 questions in each interview, and let the interviewee choose a sixth question. Today’s guest is podcaster Michael Haldas. ++++++++++++++ If you were named for your defining characteristic, what word or phrase would be your name? Based on what my wife, friends, and clients…
Praying in the Rain
Hiding In The Midst Of Strife
·
I write a weekly letter for our community and this week I thought I would share this letter with a broader audience. Dear Holy Nativity Faithful, Christ is in our midst! We celebrated the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos this week. Mary the Mother of God was born into a world full of oppression and confusion, yet she was able to become the Holy dwelling place of God. We…
Faith Encouraged
Soldiers of the Light
·
It was a favorite Sunday School song in my 1st-grade class on Sundays! “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine!” We would hold up our right index fingers as we sang the song. What a nice memory. But then something…
Word of the Day
The Regret Goes Nowhere and the Sorrow that Leads to Repentance (Thurs. Sept. 9)
·
The word of the day is “sorrow.” There are two kinds of regret for the wrong we have done. In our reading of 2 Corinthians 7:1-10, Paul teaches the distinction between these two kinds of remorse: “worldly sorrow “and “godly sorrow.” The first is feeling sorry for ourselves. We regret that we have been found to be imperfect and liable to the consequences of our fault. The second is the the grief of knowing that we have offended our God. We will learn from our reading that “worldly sorrow” has no remedy, but “godly sorrow” leads to repentance and divine forgiveness. The background of our reading is that Paul had sent his co-worker Titus to check on the situation at…
Faith Encouraged
The Curtain Is Pulled Back
·
When I was a boy the movie The Wizard of Oz was always showing around Easter time. I’m not sure why the TV executives chose that time of year to show this movie, but I do remember looking forward to it every year. I especially like the spot toward the end where Toto pulls back the curtain hiding the professor who is running all the gadgets that he created to trick others.…
Word of the Day
On Associating with Those Who Are Outside the Circle of Faith (Wed. Sept. 8)
·
The word of the day is “yoked.” Despite our intentions, others influence us. Relationships involve “give and take.” Thus, if we engage with others who have different beliefs, values, attitudes, and habits than we have, we must be on guard that their outlook will affect us, even unwittingly. On the other hand, it may be that by our association with them, we might find that we can influence them. Today in our reading of 2 Corinthians 6:11-16, St. Paul admonishes his congregation, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (vs. 11). Paul’s directive may be unpopular in our “pluralistic society.” Yet, he had a point for us to consider as we seek to live faithfully amid the diversity of…
Faith Encouraged
Not What But WHY
·
“We must speak out! We CANNOT be silent! Silence makes evil possible!” We hear this a lot nowadays, and I confess, I have great sympathy for this message. I’m a preacher, after all. And the public and fearless declaration of the Gospel is normal for we Christians through history. But, as usual, a one-sided perspective on this will lead to a lack of sobriety and balance. There is an equal witness to…
Word of the Day
Living in the New Order of the Resurrection (Tues. Sept. 7)
·
The word of the day is “new.” We live in an old world whose days and months, and years keep spinning around like a top. But like the child’s toy, the earth’s rotations will eventually come to an end. Today in 2 Corinthians 5:15-21, St. Paul speaks of the results of Christ’s death and resurrection. He writes, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (vs. 17). The Greek word for creation is derived from the word “kosmos” (Strong’s #2889, 144). This familiar word refers to the harmonious order of the universe that God has fashioned. In this sense, the apostle writes that those who are “in…
Glory to God for All Things
The Perpetual Catechumen
·
It should not surprise us to learn that we are often creatures of the culture in which we live. We understand this, particularly when we travel and encounter people whose culture differs profoundly from our own. What seems obvious to us, might seem obscure to them. What we eat, how we shop, what counts as polite, what is rude, all of these are shaped by culture. In truth, this is just the…
No Other Foundation
Tabor and Hermon Shout Your Name
·
When the psalmist wanted to declare the power of Yahweh in Psalm 89 to emphasize the security of David’s throne, he literally searched high and low for images. The high heavens praised the wonders He had done for Israel, and God’s divine council of holy ones applauded His might (v. 5-6). Yahweh quelled the swelling and tumultuous sea below, crushing Rahab, the personified power of Egypt, at the Red Sea (v. 9-10).…
Faith Encouraged
Perfect, Complete, Mature, Healthy!
·
A recent article on the Christian view of marriage is titled “Marriage is a Lifetime of Suffering.” You won’t see that on any Hallmark card for wedding anniversaries anytime soon. And yet, the idea of salvific suffering is so foreign to us as to be actually offensive to many. But the Christian understanding of life and salvation can be summed up in this quote from Elder Sophrony of Sussex “…in this world,…
Word of the Day
We Can Have the Same Conviction as Paul (Mon. Sept. 6)
·
The word of the day is “all.” Many say that Christ died “for me.” But that thought does not compel those who are assured that they are saved to seek salvation for anyone else. It is content with the conviction that the promise of eternal life is “for me.” But in our reading of 2 Corinthians 5:10-15, Paul writes, “We judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all (OSB vs. 14-15). Today we examine Paul’s motives for his zealous preaching of the Gospel. And we find that its root is his absolute certainty of the divine judgment to come and of the love of God who desires the salvation of all. We then…
Remembering Sion
A Shortcut to Heaven and a Shortcut to Hell
·
My brothers and sisters, we have just heard one of the most important Gospel parables which the Lord ever spoke. At the heart of the Christian religion is forgiveness — and how our hearts yearn for such forgiveness! For who among us does not know — at least somewhere in the depths of our heart — that we too owe just such an immeasurable debt as did the servant in today’s Gospel?…
Word of the Day
What Does not Hinder the Gospel but Advances It (Sun. Sept 5)
·
The word of the day is “hinder.” We are social creatures. What we do influences others and what they do influence us. Today in our reading of 1 Corinthians 9:2-12, Paul reveals is his single-minded motive for his labor among the Corinthians. He insists “I endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. Today, we consider what it means to “hinder the Gospel.” We learn from Paul the wisdom of modesty that does not pose a stumbling block to faith of others. In today’s passage, Paul defends his right to be called an apostle. Some at Corinth are saying that he is not an apostle because he does not act like the others. Further, they claim that Paul…
From Faithful Hands
Doing Business
·
Happy Liturgical New Year! After an unplanned hiatus, I am back to blogging! I would like to start off this season with a call for a different type of feature called, “Business Support.” I am looking for any type of B2B [business to business, in regular speak] Orthodox professional who helps small businesses grow and succeed. I want small business owners know they are not alone when faced with the challenges of…
Word of the Day
How Faith Is Confirmed (Sat. Sept. 4)
·
The word of the day is “confirm.” When the apostle Thomas surrendered his doubt and confessed the Risen Christ to be his Lord and God, Jesus responded, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). This blessing from the Risen Christ comes to us who believe through the Word of His disciples (John 17:12) who were eyewitnesses to the events of our salvation (Luke 1:2 and 2 Peter 1:16). Today in 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, St. Paul assures the Corinthians that Christ “will confirm you to the end, so that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (OSB vs. 6). Today we will consider what this…
A Lamp for Today
Lighting Up the Apocalypse 15: God's Sealing and Going Beyond
·
Chapter 7 of the Apocalypse presents us with a divinely orchestrated interruption of the sequence of the seven seals that slows down the inevitable action of judgement. In this moment of calm, we are reminded that, in the center of tribulation, God is with His people. John sees a double vision, in which the people of God are actually sealed, or protected from harm. Then, sheltered by the very presence of God,…
Faith Encouraged
To Be Attentive Is To Anticipate!
·
You remember when you were a kid and Christmas seemed to take forever. My mom used to use that old tried and true way to get me and my brother to behave through the year: “Boys, Santa is watching and Christmas is just (fill in the blank) away!” Well, the older I got the shorter that line would get me to behave! And Christmas seemed to come quicker and quicker as my birthdays increased!…
Word of the Day
The Inner Man and How It Is Renewed Day after Day (Fri. Sept. 3)
·
The word of the day is “inner.” In the rough stretches of our spiritual journey, we need a reason for our hope. Otherwise, we will give up in despair. In today’s reading of 2 Corinthians 4:13-18, Paul explains why he does not lose heart. Just before this passage, the apostle recounts how he is persevering through countless ordeals. Now the apostle writes that he is “hard-pressed on either side, yet not crushed; …perplexed but not in despair; …persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed” (2 Cor. 4:8-9). But then he discloses the secret of his endurance. He writes, “Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day (OSB vs. 16). Today, we will describe our…
