Did you know that 70% of “millenials” support XXXXX! I leave out the subject because it doesn’t matter. Our society continues to struggle with the unique problems of our affluence. It is only the societies so freed from the immediate struggle to survive that deal with issues ranging from rights of convenience to issues of morality and accepted norms of society. The very fact that our country is asking the questions and…

The season of Great Lent is almost here and this is a daily resource you should make a part of your spiritual toolbox to help you keep a focused and spiritually profitable season of preparation for the celebration of Pascha. Visit this site as often as you can! http://lent.goarch.org/  

“It’s in your tone.” My tone, what does that mean? We were discussing some heavy issue and the conversation had, indeed, turned toward the heart of the matter. I guess my voice and facial expression began to match the seriousness of my words, and she noticed it right away. That’s when the “tone” comment surfaced. My “tone” had changed to match the seriousness of the topic. It is absolutely amazing to me…

Dogged determination is said to be indispensable for true success. Author Simon Sinek says “One of the best paradoxes of leadership is that a leader needs to be both stubborn and open-minded. A leader must insist on sticking to the vision and stay on course to the destination. But he must be open-minded during the process.” This is so true. In leadership and in life the scripture is absolutely correct when it…

OK, it’s really not a secret, but hopefully the provocative headline grabbed your attention! But, our busy lives really do challenge us in keeping our priorities in the right order, don’t they? We moderns are a complicated mishmash of schedules, opportunities, affluence, and “freedom.” And that multiplication of events, desires, hopes, and advertisements don’t seem to be slowing down. It seems that each new day brings a new barrage of invitations, exhortations,…

Today’s update will be a homily offered at our parish on the Sunday of the Prodigal. May God grant us the courage to actually do more than talk about our faith, but actually practice it. God bless you all today! Revealing Character

“Free advice is worth every penny you pay for it!” With that, the old man proceeded to share with me some pearls of wisdom that I remember to this day. Isn’t it funny how much we already know? I mean the truth is I pretty much know how I should live and what decisions are best and what decisions are destructive to my life. In fact, it was a bit of a…

What’s the balance between brutal honesty and the weakness and ineffective timidity that allows us and those around us to stay gripped in the slavery of our own delusions? I ask this because as we approach Great Lent, we are going to be increasingly confronted with hymns, prayers, and homilies, dedicated to one goal – Authentic Repentance. And let’s face it, repentance isn’t very popular right now. There is an increasingly nagging thought…

“By the time we got to Woodstock…” Sorry, in advance for putting that song in your head for the rest of the day. But there is one quote more from that famous Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young song I want to share: “We are stardust, we are golden, we are caught in the devil’s bargain, And we got to get ourselves back to the garden.” One more apology for those of us…

I will never forget his face. You see, this man was asking me about giving to his church. He was absolutely amazed that his pastor had preached a sermon on tithing. Tithing is the belief that one should set aside 10% of one’s income to dedicate to God’s house and supporting the work of the faith. His question to me revealed his dilemma. “Hey, Barnabas, you’re a religious person. (I like to…