One of the greatest consequences of our modern world is that we moderns have been convinced that egalitarianism and individualism have been elevated to the highest good. We insist on a definition of “freedom” that means “I want to do what I want to do!” But the problem is if I do what I want to do, my desires have to be disciplined and mature or what I want to do quickly…
In the beginning, God said… And with that action, God has been using speaking and hearing to start the process of metanoia (repentance) in the hearts of those who have “ears to hear.” There are so many examples of this pattern of God’s actions that there are too many to mention them all. God “called” Abraham from the land of his father. God “called” the prophet Samuel and the prophet Isaiah in…
In the beginning, God said… And with that action, God has been using speaking and hearing to start the process of metanoia (repentance) in the hearts of those who have “ears to hear.” There are so many examples of this pattern of God’s actions that there are too many to mention them all. God “called” Abraham from the land of his father. God “called” the prophet Samuel and the prophet Isaiah in…
In the beginning, God said…. And with that action, God has been using speaking and hearing to start the process of metania (repentance) in the hearts of those who have “ears to hear.” There are so many examples of this pattern of God’s actions that there are too many to mention them all. God “called” Abraham from the land of his father. God “called” the prophet Samuel and the prophet Isaiah in…
In the beginning God said…. And with that action God has been using speaking and hearing to start the process of metania (repentance) in the hearts of those who have “ears to hear.” There are so many examples of this pattern of God’s actions that there are too many to mention them all. God “called” abraham from the land of his father. God “called” the prophet Samuel and the prophet Isaiah…
There is a common temptation to reduce all religion to merely behavioral modification systems. In other words, too many people think Faith is about making you a “good” person. For some religious systems, this may be true. But it is decidedly NOT the normal Orthodox Christian mindset. Orthodox Christianity isn’t about making you a “good” person but making you a “REAL” person. The changes in your behavior, your choices, your priorities in…
As a “son of the South” I’ve heard people say “Bless your heart” all my life. And the irony is that this phrase that almost sounds like a prayer, is really a versatile phrase American Southerners use to both bless AND curse. And it all depends on how it’s used. It can be a genuine expression of concern or it can be used to cover with a thin layer of religiosity actual…
It really is amazing what price we humans are willing to pay to get what we desire. We have some interesting priorities. Did you know that we spend about 17 BILLION dollars a year on pet food in Europe and the US? We spend 8 BILLION dollars a year on cosmetics in the US, and the Fastest growing segment of the cosmetics industry is for MALES? We are a human race that…
It seems everyone has a friend like my friend. He was always either on the top of the mountain emotionally or in the pit of despair. His mood swings were huge and usually unhealthy. Finally, he came to me and confessed he was exhausted with the constant up and down of his life and asked for help. What I told him made him excited and scared. I offered to him an insight…
“How are you today?” It’s a common question we ask all the time. And I confess it was a polite greeting I was asking just to be polite. But then she gave me the answer that communicated volumes to me about her. She replied “I’m blessed!’ A beautiful smile, a lilt in her voice, and a sweet demeanor all said she really meant it. Of course I’ve heard that reply a lot,…
