There ought to be a law! Isn't it fascinating that the first thing most people think about when there is some conflict or disagreement or some unwanted actions in our society is that there should be some governmental control issued to make people "behave" the way they "should?" Why is "passing a law" or getting…
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…
Tom Stoppard once said, "Maturity is a high price to pay for growing up!" While that really is funny, it is also a painful splash of reality. It really does take time to become mature.
Sadly, I've known men who were older but never mature. And one of those older men was the guy I look…
I don't like to admit my limitations. In fact, one of my besetting sins is seeing a Speed Limit sign and thinking of it as more of a "suggestion." Admitting that I really struggle with this is an absolutely essential part of maturing and growing in self-awareness. This maturing process is vital to my spiritual…
There was a stunning article in the January 2013 issue of Boston Magazine. It was entitled "Losing Our Religion" and the article begins by telling the story of a mother and her 9-year-old son watching a procession of the faithful from the Greek Orthodox church across the street from their home on our Great and…
The paradox of the Orthodox message concerning the Holy Cross uniquely reveals the deepest weakness of we humans, our self-centered pride. The cure for this deep, human, sickness is the paradox of "if you want to save your life, you have to lose your life." The Cross of Jesus undoes the slavery of arrogance and…
Dear Faith Encouraged Daily Family,
Since late 2012, we have partnered with Ancient Faith Ministries to distribute the Daily Devotionals from Faith Encouraged. We started this Daily Devotional ministry to encourage our Orthodox Faithful to read and apply the Holy Scriptures to their everyday lives.
Since then, thousands of folks have read and used these daily devotionals…
The great American Founding Father, Patrick Henry said "This is all the inheritance I give to my dear family. The religion of Christ will give them one which will make them rich indeed." Henry understood the relative uselessness of temporary material things and the true value of a spiritual inheritance that lasts forever.
But the only…
OK, so one of my favorite movies in the whole world is "Princess Bride" and one of my favorite scenes in the movie is when Vincent keeps using the word "inconceivable!" Finally, after so many times of hearing this word from Vincent, Inigo Montoya responds "You keep using that word. I do not think it…
I love this Armed Forces Motto: “The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in battle.” Isn’t that great? In other words, when you put the time into preparing for battle, you are more ready to face the fight. And what is true for physical fighting is also true for the spiritual battle…