The Morning Offering
THE BLIND MAN (click here to watch)
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Word of the Day
Saved from Death Twice (Sunday, June 6)
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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…
The Morning Offering
HUMAN SATELLITES
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Egoism of Worldly Educated People One of the great saints of our age, Elder Paisios of Mt. Athos, said people who are filled with egoism and pride because of their education, “resemble satellites that orbit in the sky, giving one the impression that they are stars. If, however, you observe them carefully you will see their crooked steps and see…
Eastern Christian Insights
Turn Away from the Darkness and Toward the Light: 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!             On this last Sunday of Pascha, we celebrate how the Risen Lord has brought us from the spiritual darkness of sin and death into the brilliant light of His heavenly Kingdom. Even as Christ restored sight to the man born blind in today’s gospel reading, He has illumined our darkened souls. That is how He has enabled us to know and experience Him as…
Word of the Day
Do We Get a Second Chance After Failing? (Sat. June 5)
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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…
The Morning Offering
ENDURING TRIALS
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Without Suffering the Cross Cannot be Embraced In comparison to eternity, the trials we suffer in this life are but a blip on the meter. Many are suffering job loss, illnesses, mortgage foreclosures, and all kinds of strife and hardships. Yet if we look at all these difficulties in light of eternity, this time of trial is nothing. “For I…
A Healing Driven Life
Exiting the Pandemic: Why don’t I recognize this life?
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What a fascinating time we find ourselves in presently. It seems the pandemic is rapidly drawing to a close, as states lift restrictions and even the mask mandates. For the first time, many of us are feeling and seeing the first signs of “normal” re-emerging into our lives. Perhaps it was the feeling of air hitting our faces as we walked into a store for the first time without a mask, the first indoor school event in over a year, the first coffee hour at church, or even the resumption of hugs and handshakes. In the past week, my family and I attended an event at the local high school. After the event, parents gathered on the athletic field to…
Faith Encouraged
Enter By Jesus Christ
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Christ is risen! It’s never been “popular” to confront our very prideful and “autonomous” societies with the exclusive teaching that the only way to God the Father is through Jesus Christ. In fact, most societies and cultures have reacted rather badly to this message from the Christian Faith. And yet the scriptures and the teaching of the Church are unavoidable; Jesus Christ is the only “door” to eternal life and relationship with…
Word of the Day
The Unity of the Church Depends on Sameness, Not Difference (Fri. June 4)
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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…
The Morning Offering
THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY
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The Christian Family is a Christ Centered Family Any good parent knows that he must love all his children equally. No favoritism should be displayed when raising children if we want them to know they are loved. Troubled children often get more attention from loving parents because mom and dad know this child is in greater need of parental support.…
Behind the Scenes
Call for Proposals: 2022 Ancient Faith Content Creator Conference
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The Ancient Faith Content Creator Conference (AFCon) is back! And it’s bigger and better than ever! On September 19-22, 2022, we will once again be able to gather content creators together to network, learn, and be inspired. This conference is expanding in several ways over previous AFCons: The conference will be two full days/three nights instead of one day/two nights. We are inviting artists, designers, and illustrators to join us as…
Faith Encouraged
The Soul Forming Power of Communion
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Christ is risen! It seems we are a society of fads. To say that our modern culture is captured by the immediate and temporary seems to be a bit of an understatement! But what about a genuine swell of reaction? I have seen in my own life the power of the tipping point when a message becomes so attractive that even those who you would never suspect of buying into a message,…
Word of the Day
Everyday Ministries That Nurture and Sustain Us (Thurs. June 3)
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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. They must have carried out their missionary efforts 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…
The Morning Offering
CORRECTING OTHERS
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Correcting Others is like Assaulting Them When focusing on the sins of others, we set for ourselves the mission of correcting them. We see ourselves as just the right person to help this poor, unfortunate person by pointing out their sins, and telling them how they can be a better person. We are not of course being critical, but helpful.…
No Other Foundation
Be Thou My Battle Shield
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One of my favourite hymns from my old Anglican days is Be Thou My Vision.  Based on a sixth century Irish poem attributed to St. Dallan Forgaill, it was translated by Mary Byrne in 1905, and versified by Eleanor Hull in 1912. I was trying to find a version of the hymn to download, but had trouble finding the entire version which I used to sing from the Anglican Hymnal. There were…
Glory to God for All Things
What Happens When We Sing to God?
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“God inhabits the praises of Israel.” (Psalm 22:3) The true nature of existence is best expressed as communion. Though we experience much of our life as unique individuals, the experience of all that is around us remains one of communion. In no way do we actually exist as an independent entity, somehow separate from our environment. We breathe the world; we eat the world; we drink the world; every cell of our…
Faith Encouraged
Truth Doesn't Depend On Popularity
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Christ is risen! We live in a day and age where most people much prefer to see “gray” everywhere instead of “black and white.” In fact, the very notion that there could be anything that was that clear, that uncomplicated, that cut and dry is a terrifying thought to most. After all, if there are truths that are “black and white” or actually settled wisdom, then that may mean I have to…
Word of the Day
How to Respond to Opposition to the Gospel (Wed. June 2)
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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…
The Morning Offering
THE HOSPITAL
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Seeking out Healing in the Life of the Church Orthodoxy offers a very precise way in which to enter into communion with God. It is a way that must be learned, for simply “becoming Orthodox” will not lead the seeker into an inner life that will transform, and enlighten. Membership in the Church is simply not enough, for the Church…
The Morning Offering
CHAPLAIN'S VEHICLE
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Can you donate an SUV? My old Chevy Tahoe is nearing her end, and I’m in need of a newer SUV. When a chaplain is called out in the dead of night, he doesn’t want to drive down a dark gravel road to a house in the middle of a forest, and not have people know who he is. Thus, I…
Faith Encouraged
"Crooked" or "Straight?"
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Christ is risen! Let’s face it, ideas matter. And the reason they matter is that ideas have consequences. Ideas flow from a mindset, a way of looking at the world and organizing the multitude of stimuli we receive through our senses every day. So, when you have an idea or an attitude or an opinion, it both comes from “someplace” and it is going to have consequences. This matters! It’s why, sometimes,…
Word of the Day
How the Term “Liturgy” Enriches our Understanding of Worship (Tues. June 1)
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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 17:1-15, 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”…
The Morning Offering
OUR PERSONAL SOVEREIGNTY
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The Ruling Power Inherent in our Nature According to Saint Gregory Palamas, God has given us lordship over all the earth because of our capacity for sovereignty. With this sovereignty comes the responsibility to be good stewards of that which God has given us. “There is within our soul’s nature a governing and ruling faculty, and there is also that…
Faith Encouraged
Its Normal For God to Act
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Christ is risen! It was exasperating! I tried to get my buddy’s attention but he was too busy enjoying building a fire in the woods near our neighborhood where we were going to camp out for the night. Never mind that it was the dry part of summer. Never mind that there was a “burning ban” on. Of course, everybody paid attention when the two Sheriff’s officers walked up to our little…
The Morning Offering
Memorial Day
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Let us Honor our Fallen Heroes Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. Memorial Day is a time for all of us to reflect on those who have sacrificed their lives for the security, peace, and freedom, of the people of this great nation. It is important…
Word of the Day
The One Who Stands at the Door of Our Hearts (Mon. May 31)
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The word of the day is “open.” At times of excitement as well as distress, we often fail to focus on the most important thing of all, our relationship with Jesus Christ. Today in our reading of Acts 12:12-17, we find Peter knocking on the door of the  house where the believers are keeping a prayer vigil for him. He has been miraculously released from prison and has made his way to where the faithful have gathered.   Luke reports, “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 is so excited that she runs to tell…
The Morning Offering
The Jesus Prayer (click here to watch)
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