For the past several years our society has been struggling with the chaos of "identity politics." Our whole society has been gripped by the challenges of "microaggressions," gender dysphoria, and the "cancel culture" of being a heretic of the current faddish madness trying to pass itself off as "progress"...
Patti Smith once said: "It was an unexpected encounter that slowly altered the course of my life." Buy, hey, that's what happens to us when we have encounters with significant persons. Now let's consider an encounter with Jesus Christ. Jesus is God in the flesh. He is risen from the...
In A.D. 70 the Roman general Titus surrounded the city of Jerusalem. The Empire had had enough of rebellions of the Jews and sought to bring to an end to the rebels' take over of the city in A.D. 66. The total destruction of the Jewish Temple during the...
St. Paisios said, “Sometimes the devil deceives us and makes us unable to be pleased with anything; however, one can celebrate all things in a spiritual manner, with doxology, and secure God’s constant blessing.” The older I get, the more I see the gratitude and the cultivation of gratitude that...
What do we mean when we use the word "tradition?" To many, especially the millions of American Christians formed and shaped by popular Christianity, it is usually seen as a negative. You know, the "traditions of men" that Jesus warned us to avoid (see Mark 7:8-9). For others, formed...
It seems we humans never tire of talking about Freedom. But what is freedom? During a dark time in human history, slavery of one form or another was the norm in human societies. Our nation, The United States, fought a war with ourselves over this blight on human history. Sadly,...
I remember reading Aesop's Fables and Mother Goose stories to my kids when they were little and actually would sit still while I read to them! These stories contained cultural lessons that have been passed down for generations. Humpty Dumpty, Old Mother Hubbard, The Hare and the Tortoise, The...
It has been said that God at His angriest is kinder to us than men at their kindest. What a lovely thought. Be careful; if you don't think this through, I guarantee the consequences of this great kindness won't be what you expected! So, what are we to do with...
Our modern world seems to run on violence. And it seems that every day the news is of more violence there and more violence here. From college campuses arguing over speech and “safe zones” and “trigger warnings” to the very real violence of terrorism all meant to disrupt and...
Let's face it; we all have to deal with the consequences of adulthood. Growing up means learning necessary life lessons. But avoiding these lessons means a perpetual childishness that ruins relationships! My daughter has now gotten her first job. And just the other day, I was talking to her and...
