Don’t Let Your Faith Rot on the Shelf

When Saint Paul inspires us to reap bountifully what we sow, he expects us to actually sow the seeds that God has given to us. When God gives us gifts and His Gospel, He expects us to actually do something with them. When we sow the seeds God has given to us, then we will harvest a great righteousness in the eyes of God. BUT….if we allow the seeds to rot on the shelf, we will have no harvest. When we allow the Gospel of Christ to go unused in our hearts, it will bear no fruit for God. When we sow the seeds of love in our hearts and the hearts of others, then not only will reap bountifully, we will be righteous in the eyes of God. The time has come for you to make a decision….will your faith rot or will you reap?

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Have You Ever Played with Demons?

You may not realize it, but if you have read a horoscope, had your palm read, read coffee grounds, or played any number of “dark magic” games on the market, you have played with demons. The demons are constantly waiting around for an opportunity to pounce upon the innocent walking by a “spiritual advisor” or fortune teller. As the temple of the Living God, a Christian would step away from evil demons and remain pure and united to Jesus Christ. Sometimes we need a reminder from God about the dangers of leaving our soul unprotected. The story of the Gadarene Demoniac (as described in Luke 8. 26-39) reminds us of the great danger of a soul left to the wiles of the demons. Don’t let your soul go unprotected. 

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An Unused Seed is Already Useless

St Paul said, “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (2 Corinthians 9.6) And here is what I would ADD to St Paul’s advice. He who doesn’t sow anything will reap NOTHING. If we don’t at least place the seed in the ground, nothing will ever grow. St Paul was attempting us to utilize the great gifts God has given to us when he also said, “Now, may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown in increase the fruits of your righteousness.” (2 Corinthians 9.10)

There is another story using the gifts God has given, in this case the gift of faith. In the Gospel of Luke we read of the healing of the woman with the flow of blood. (Luke 9.43-48) She believed, as she had been taught, that if she touched the hem of Jesus’ garments, she would be healed. Jesus eventually said, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 9.48) If she had not used her faith, she would never have been healed by God.

In both St Paul’s advice and the healing story from the Gospel, we witness God power. This is only possible when the gift of God, either the seed of the woman’s faith, is first put to its proper use. God gives each of us gifts to be used for righteousness, but He doesn’t force us to put them to use. Just as no seed grows fruit sitting on a shelf, faith not put into action doesn’t bring righteousness. Something to think about.

Denying Christ

Lately, I have been considering the difference between denying Christ and simply keeping your faith to yourself. Jesus said, "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. “But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 10:32 - 10:33 NKJV)

If confessing Christ requires action, is Jesus suggesting that denying Him also requires action, or is not confessing sufficient for Him to deny us? 

Considering this question from Christ's viewpoint, if He were simply to refuse to confess to knowing us, that would be as tormenting as actively denying us. 

Placed in the context of Matthew 25, where non action was indeed the cause of condemnation, I believe we will find equal torment if we do not actively confess Christ. 

Myriad martyrs throughout Church believed the same. Something to consider. 

You Can’t Have it Both Ways

Lately, I have been seeing a string of comments chastising Christians for not being in favor of certain government programs which, according to those posting criticism, promote and endorse Christian morals. One such comment recently was attributed to Former President Jimmy Carter. I’m not sure he actually said, as with so many “attributed” quotes on the internet. He supposedly said, “If you don’t want your tax dollars to help the poor, then stop saying that you want a country based on Christian values, because you don’t.” I saw another recent post accusing a “senior fellow” with the Family Research Council of saying that there “is nothing more Christian” than kicking 4 million people off food stamps. I wish to say a couple things about these quotes AND the implied purpose of posting them.

First, I have often said I don’t believe that any Christian should depend upon the government to fulfill his/her Christian obligations to humanity. As a society, our government tends to support policies that reflect the general morals of a society, whether Christian or not. I have often said that the pursuit of wealth and greed that has been woven into the fabric of America is not Christian, but a fallen state of our passions. I have also often said that the greatest Christian value is freedom and forcing another human being to help the poor is not Christian.

Second, it may be coincidence, but those who cited both of these quotes also have posted many quotes about the need for the government to support same-sex marriage, a bold departure from Christian values. Whether these quotes are accurate or not is not my purpose for this post. Rather, I am intrigued by how when it comes to same-sex marriage Christianity is supposed to be absent from the law, but when it comes to feeding the poor, Christianity should be invoked to guilt the Christian into supporting government programs feeding the poor.

The intrigue works in both directions by the way, as I know many Christians who attempt Christian policies in one sector while eliminating them in others. One such example is the so-called “pro-life” movement which opposes abortion but supports capital punishment. Neither killing is Christian.

A civil society can only remain civil with a system of laws and accepted common values that “keep the peace” among citizens. This depends upon each citizen to AGREE to abide by these laws. Where I fear we are rapidly departing from this premise, is that our system of laws no longer is focused on maintaining peace, but rather a place where individual agendas can be promoted and imposed upon others by forcing compliance in otherwise unrelated ways. When you force a member of society to actively engage in a behavior that he/she opposes, you can hardly expect a society of peace.

As an Orthodox Priest, I am fully aware that we live in a post-Christian society, but I am willing to peacefully live among those without similar Orthodox Christian values of my Church. My willingness to live peacefully however does NOT include betraying my Orthodox Christian way of life. I do not plan to tell anyone who they can/cannot/must love. I WILL continue to share with anyone willing to listen/read what our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ and His Church has to say about who we should marry. I will continue to encourage those who love the Lord to feed the poor in a personal way. I will NOT force others to do the same.

I already know government isn’t based upon Christian values, but my life is. I will live my life, and you will live your life. Occasionally our paths will cross. I won’t force you, please don’t force me. You can't have it both ways.

Is Your Heart Prepared to Receive Christ?

In the Parable of the Sower found in Luke 8.5-15, Jesus tells us of four different types of people. One hears the Gospel and loses it to the Devil because he is too distracted to pay attention. One hears the Gospel and it fades in times of temptation because it had no depth. One hears the Gospel and it dies without bearing fruit because of the riches and cares of the world choke it out. Only ONE hears the Gospel and brings fruit with patience. Only ONE has a heart pure and fertile enough for the Gospel of Jesus to germinate and grow. God sows His Seed, the Only Begotten Son and Word of God, in all hearts, but only the hearts of those who are prepared to receive Him can bear fruit. Is your heart prepared to receive Christ?

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It’s Never as Bad as it Seems

One thing that is common to EVERY person is struggle. Everyone struggles in some way during life. Some struggles are harder than others, and some people experience more struggle than others, but we all struggle. For some the struggles are woven into the rhythm of life so we don’t notice them as much as those struggles that seem to preoccupy our day. It’s those “out of the ordinary” struggles that seem to be so bad, maybe because we notice them more, maybe because they are actually harder on us. The more life experience we have however, the more we realize that our struggle could always be worse. What is it that protects us from being overtaken by struggle?

When we place our complete trust and faith in God, His grace comes upon us and we are able to endure the struggle with His help. He doesn’t always take away the struggle right away, as in the story of the Gadarene Demoniac found in Luke 8.26-39. Sometimes He protects us from serious harm, like death, until such time as His Glory can be revealed for the greatest benefit. The demoniac was possessed by legion demons for a long time. These demons were so fierce, they forced the man to live in the wilderness among the tombs with the wild beasts. In fact he was treated as a wild beast by the town folk. Then Jesus came and rescued him. Jesus commanded the demons to depart.

That is when the man realized it could have been much worse all those years than it had been. Once the demons left the young man and entered a nearby herd of swine, the demons were so fierce, the swine ran off a cliff and were drowned in the sea. God had protected the young man from the demons’ power for many years and the man was so thankful, he wanted to stay with Jesus. But Jesus commanded him, “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” (Luke 8.39) The greatest thing the man realized was that it’s never as bad as it seems when God is part of your life.

The Golden Rule Isn’t About You

We can all quote it, but we never really follow it. “Just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.” (Luke 6.31) The preciousness of the Golden Rule isn’t in how we can negotiate better treatment toward us, but rather, how we can treat others better without care of how they will treat us. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?” (Luke 6.32) The call of Christ is to love others, whether or not they will love us in return and to be like God. If God only loved us based on how we could love Him in return, He would have stayed in Heaven. We are called to do the same for others. “Just as God has done to you, you also do to others likewise.”

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Choosing Quality Seeds for Your Garden

As you know, I enjoy my garden. Not only can a garden produce delicious food for our bodies to be nourished, but it can also provide many valuable lessons for life. One thing ever gardener must understand is the quality of seeds for our particular soil. Certain seeds are not capable of bringing fruit is certain climates. Similarly, every gardener must learn to understand his particular soil and take the necessary actions to work the soil (to soften it), to amend the soil (to make it more fertile) and to weed the soil (to allow for a good crop), all in order to receive high quality seed.

Jesus knew our salvation required much the same care as our garden. But in the case of our salvation, there is no chance for a bad seed, since the seed is Christ Himself! We could say the seed of Christ’s Gospel is an heirloom seed. Heirloom seeds, when placed in fertile and well worked soil, bring delicious and plentiful fruit. The means, our focus must be on the soil of our soul.

According the Gospel, the soil of our soul is either;

…hardened not allowing the Word of God to penetrate,

…filled with temptation not allowing the Word of God to deeply root,

…filled with the cares of riches and the pleasures of life not allowing the Word of God to bring fruit,

…rich and fertile allowing the Word of God to root deeply and produce a crop a hundredfold.

We already know the seed is perfect. The only thing left is our soul. Will it be rich and fertile and receive the Word of God? Something to think about, before we go blaming the seed for our lack of fruit.

The Protection of the Theotokos

October traditionally is a month when being an Orthodox Christian seems to be very challenging. Now that the children (and college students) are back in class full swing, school-sponsored and other youth league sports call so many families to the sports field on Friday evening and all day Saturday for youth and college sports. Sunday television is dominated by NFL Football. Homecoming dances and other school-sponsored social activities fight for their place on our family calendars, not to mention HOMEWORK! And THEN comes Church…

Sunday Divine Liturgy, Wednesday Paraklesis, Saturday Vespers, Fasting Wednesday and Friday, Sunday School, Greek School, GOYA, HOPE/JOY, Bible Study…Where are we supposed to find the time for the Church activities with everything going on around us? Does the Church expect us to stop participating in sports and school dances? Can’t the Church be more flexible?

As these questions find their way into our vocabulary, we should remember that in October, the Church reminds us of the Feast of the Protection of the Theotokos. This feast, scheduled originally for October 1^st but transferred in Greek Orthodox parishes to October 28^th following World War II to coincide with “OXI Day” when the Greeks stood up against tyranny, is meant to remind us that the Mother of God, the All-Holy and Ever-Virgin Mary, is constantly watching over us as her own children. We are in fact, her children since at our Baptism we were joined to Christ and made members of His Body, the Church.

When life seems to be so complicated that we need the advice of a mother, we should consider turning to the Theotokos, and she will warmly and lovingly remind us of what matters in life. She will draw us closer to Christ and His Church for protection – and we need protection more than ever these days. This is why the Church offers the Paraklesis to the Theotokos. It is our chance to gather as a family and seek the comfort and protection of our mother, the Mother of God.

And when you arrive for Paraklesis, you can even include names of your friends and family who may not be able to come to Church but needs God’s help and His Mother’s advice. Then together we can sing the hymn:

A protection of Christians unshamable,
Intercessor to our Holy Maker, unwavering,
Please reject not
The prayerful cries of those who are in sin.
Instead, come to us, for you are good;
Your loving help bring unto us,
Who are crying in faith to you: Hasten to intercede
And speed now to supplicate,
As a protection for all time,
Theotokos, for those who honor you.

The Purpose of Miracles

I have been asked many times if I have ever witnessed a miracle. I have been asked if I believe in miracles. I have been asked often about miracles and why God chooses to “do a miracle” for one person and not another. Miracles, miracles, miracles. We seem to be obsessed with miracles. So it comes as “good timing” that this week’s Gospel is about miracles.

If we wish to understand God’s miracles, we must first understand AND accept that miracles are not every day events. If they were, they wouldn’t be miracles. Once we accept this point, the next step is to understand, based upon the history of the Church (which includes the Old Testament) what is ultimately accomplished in the miracles of God. In all cases the witnesses are amazed at the power of God and ultimately accept, even if not welcomed, the fact that God IS in fact God.

In this week’s miracle of the raising of the widow’s son, we hear, “Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, ‘A great prophet has risen up among us’; and, ‘God has visited His people.’” (Luke 7.16) The next time you consider requesting a miracle from God, consider why you want a miracle. If it doesn’t include helping witnesses accept and embrace the power of God, then you might want to think twice about requesting it in the first place.

By the way.....YES I have witnessed miracles, and YES I believe in miracles.

Human Logic vs Divine Command – The Ultimate Conflict

Ever since Adam and Eve, human beings have been conflicted. Do we please our own ego, or listen to the command of God? It may seem like a pretty straight forward choice. I don’t know anyone who claims to be a Christian (and some who don’t) who would actually choose to disobey God when faced with the question straight on. But every day, we choose our ego over God’s command.

Seen from another point of view, human logic seems quite sufficient. Who is willing to offer assistance to another person without some sort of return favor? We are trained to withhold our assistance until “some deal” is accomplished that benefits our needs. The common expression “two-way-relationship” is rooted in the idea that we “willingly” offer assistance to those who “willingly” offer their assistance (or payment) in return. But is this concept consistent with the command of God?

Jesus says, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? Love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return.” (Luke 6.32-35) There is the ultimate conflict. Do we follow human logic or divine command?

The choice is simple and has its eternal rewards, but most Christians will choose human logic every time. What choice will YOU make?

A Year of the Lord – Liturgical Bible Study – Session 4

First Sunday of Luke - Calling of the Disciples

This series combines the witness of the Bible and Orthodox worship. The biblical readings prescribed for the Orthodox liturgical year are meaningfully related to the holy days and seasons of the Church calendar. Our weekly Bible Study this year will take on a new direction as we look to the Church calendar of Feasts and Fasts to our the Biblical readings for those events help to shape our spiritual life and relationship with Jesus Christ. Each week will include a practical component to be applied in our daily lives.

Only one more week to support Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

Every now and then I like to remind my "loyal fans" about a great opportunity to support Orthodox Christian charities AND a local "at-home business" for my devoted wife, Presvytera Vassi. V's Cardbox donates 10% of all sales to specific Orthodox Christian charities. This month's charity is Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. Visit the online store NOW and support Orthodox businesses.

www.shop.vscardbox.com

Don’t YOU Want a Pure Soul?

At one time, immediately after our Baptism, our soul was pure as the brand new white baptismal garment we were clothed in, but over time sin has soiled and smudged our soul. Over time, our choices in life leave behind residue, like dirt, that must be cleansed by God. Once we have been cleansed by God, however, what choices do we make to keep our soul clean? Jesus asks us, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8.36) Many times, we make choices that bring smudges that soil our soul. Too often, we place more care for our white clothes than for our immortal soul. The message of the Holy Cross to deny ourselves and follow Christ, is an invitation to turn away from the choices that leave dirt on our soul in favor of a way of life Christ has established in His Church, to remain pure. Even with the best intentions there are times when sin again leaves its residue on our soul. But rather than giving up and “living in sin,” it is our chance the come for Holy Confession to have our soul purified once again, giving us another chance to remain pure. Each and every time we sin, we are able to return to God and His Church and seek forgiveness and have our soul purified.

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Liturgical Bible Study - Session 3 - Feast of the Holy Cross

This series combines the witness of the Bible and Orthodox worship. The biblical readings prescribed for the Orthodox liturgical year are meaningfully related to the holy days and seasons of the Church calendar. Our weekly Bible Study this year will take on a new direction as we look to the Church calendar of Feasts and Fasts to our the Biblical readings for those events help to shape our spiritual life and relationship with Jesus Christ. Each week will include a practical component to be applied in our daily lives.

If only we could do it like we used to do it….

Every person, every family, every business, every Church, faces the same dilemma. We look at the past and wonder why things have to change. The past is something we know and are proud of, especially when we recognize past accomplishments. There comes a time, though, when “the way we did it before” just won’t result in the same accomplishments of the past. There comes a time when we have to venture into the unknown, and try something new, in order to experience success.

Four men experienced just such a day while they were fishing. They had worked all night, using the same techniques that had resulted in “a good catch” so many times before. The only problem was, this time there was no catch, not one fish. Then a respected teacher named Jesus came and said, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” (Luke 5.4) The leader of the fishing crew said, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” (Luke 5.5) We know the rest of the story…..they caught so many fish, that their nets were almost breaking and they had to call their partners to bring another boat to help haul in the catch.

Sometimes we have to trust in God enough and admit that we might not always know the best way to accomplish something, or as was the case with the fishermen, what used to work in the past, might not work anymore to accomplish the same results. Sometimes (most times really) we have to accept that OUR way is RARELY the best way to achieve results. We will only experience “a great catch” when we try it God’s way. Something to think about….

Maybe we Should Wear White More Often

After our baptism, we were completely clothed in white. This tradition has been maintained since the earliest days of Christianity. In case you didn’t know “why” we are clothed in white, it is to represent the purity of God’s new creation PRESENT WITHIN US at the time of Baptism and Chrismation. Unfortunately, most of us never consider the white gown after the reception is over.

When we wear white, whether at our baptism reception or in the public square, we are constantly aware, sometimes to the point of craziness, of ever little speck and ever little smudge we see. Many refuse to wear white for this very reason. In fact, we would NEVER participate in anything that we know would make our white garments dirty. An accident is one thing…..but nobody allows their white garments to get dirty on purpose.

So why aren’t we as cautious about our souls? Isn’t our soul worth more to us than our seersucker suit? Jesus said, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8.36) Maybe if we remembered our souls were clothed in white, we would be more careful with the choices we make and the activities we do. Maybe we should wear white more often…

We Condemn Ourselves

The message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is simple. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3.16) Jesus went further to say, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3.17) Then where is condemnation? We bring it on ourselves by loving darkness and the ways of the world rather than the ways of God. Again Jesus said, “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3.19) The way of the Cross is the way of life. The life of the Church is the way of the Cross. We must remain focused upon and believe in the Cross of Christ in order that our eternity will be salvation rather than condemnation.

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A Year of the Lord – Liturgical Bible Study - Session 2

This series combines the witness of the Bible and Orthodox worship. The biblical readings prescribed for the Orthodox liturgical year are meaningfully related to the holy days and seasons of the Church calendar. Our weekly Bible Study this year will take on a new direction as we look to the Church calendar of Feasts and Fasts to our the Biblical readings for those events help to shape our spiritual life and relationship with Jesus Christ. Each week will include a practical component to be applied in our daily lives.

A Year of the Lord – Liturgical Bible Study - Session 1

This series combines the witness of the Bible and Orthodox worship. The biblical readings prescribed for the Orthodox liturgical year are meaningfully related to the holy days and seasons of the Church calendar. Our weekly Bible Study this year will take on a new direction as we look to the Church calendar of Feasts and Fasts to our the Biblical readings for those events help to shape our spiritual life and relationship with Jesus Christ. Each week will include a practical component to be applied in our daily lives.

Blessed are Those who hear the word of God and keep it!

Sometimes, it isn’t the words we hear which become the lesson from the Lord, but what we do with those words. September 8^th EVERY year is the commemoration of the Nativity of the Theotokos, one of the Great Feasts of the Church. In fact, it is the first great feast of the New Year which should set the tone for our annual spiritual journey. During this Feast, we normally hear the Gospel lesson of “Martha and Mary” found in the Gospel According to Luke, (Luke 10.38-41, 11.27-28) in which Jesus direct our attention TWICE to the hearing of the Word of God.

Today, tough, is different in the Church calendar, because it is also the Sunday before the Feast of the Cross, the second Great Feast of the Church celebrated on September 14^th. On this day the Church prescribes the Gospel According to John, in which we hear the most quoted passage of Scripture, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3.16)

It isn’t by chance the readings are established in this way. On the Feast of the Theotokos, Jesus reminds us that while honoring His Mother is good, it is more blessed to hear His word and keep it. The truth of the Cross of Christ, and it’s life-giving reality in the salvation of the entire world, must never be passed over. “For God did not come into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3.17)

What is the Word we hear? “He who believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3.15) Now you have heard the Word; it’s time to begin keeping it!

Weathering the Storms of Life

Trusting in God doesn’t mean we don’t encounter struggle. In the darkest moments of life, the Lord is present to weather the storm with us, but He will not always calm the storm. There will be times when the storms of life will crash down upon us even when we are focused intently upon Christ. It requires endurance to keep our focus on Christ in the midst of the storm. God doesn’t guarantee us a struggle-free life; He guarantees us the necessities of life. When times are really tough, we are tempted to dwell upon how difficult the storm is, rather than how God is guiding us through the storm. That’s when we tend to sink, and when we need endurance to weather out the storm with God holding our hand.

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Protecting Our Children

The coming of September signifies two realities; summer is over and school is beginning. Every family with children knows the importance of supplying children with the proper tools for learning. We drive from store to store searching out and purchasing the best school supplies we can afford so that our children will have the best advantages to learn. We then send our children off to school proud, and rightly so, that we have provided an education for our children.

September looks a bit different from a child’s point of view. Summer is over and school is beginning is like saying fun is dead and torture has begun. From an early age we tend to dread going to school, and look ahead to the next summer when school is over. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised when, as adults, we don’t like even the idea of sitting down and learning something, let alone going to school.

Unfortunately, our dislike for school has affected the way we learn and practice our Faith. We know intuitively, as the old Greek saying goes, “Γηράσκω αιεί παν δισασκόμενος” which means, “I grow old always being taught.” So why is it, when it comes to our Faith in Jesus Christ, we act as if we know all there is to know? Why is it, we DON’T grow old always being taught in our Faith?

We have accepted a poor understanding that, when it comes to Church, learning is for children. This was never the understanding in the ancient Church. Adults were always expected to take time to learn and read about the beauty of God’s promise and the Orthodox way of life, so they could raise their children to follow in their footsteps. In 21^st Century America, this has never been more important than it is NOW. Here are some Faith issues our children are facing at school right now…

·         It doesn’t matter where you go to Church, God is everywhere

·         You shouldn’t have to fast, Jesus ended all those rules

·         You’re not supposed to pray to idols (and they’re talking about Holy Icons)

·         Jesus died on the Cross to pay the penalty of our sins

·         You shouldn’t be baptized unless you are old enough to accept Jesus for yourself

·         If you were baptized as a baby, you weren’t saved

·         You shouldn’t pray to Saints

In EVERY ONE of these issues, our children’s friends (and other adults) are telling them the Orthodox Church is wrong! What are you going to say when your children tell you the Orthodox Church is wrong? How can we protect our children if we don’t continue to learn? Here’s a starting point:

X  Attending Bible Study weekly

X  Read from the Bible daily (let your children see you reading, it helps)

X  Arrive to Church ON TIME so you can hear the Holy Scriptures and sermon

X  Buy a book from the Mount Tabor Bookstore and read more about the Orthodox Faith

X  Read the lives of the Saints

X  Fast every Wednesday and Friday

X  Take time to understand what the Church actually teaches about issues

X  Call me and we can always find time to sit and chat

By all means…..it’s ok to tell your children their friends are wrong and the Church is correct!

For Whom the Bell Tolls?... Wait....Did I just hear bells?

As I do many mornings, I entered the Church and prepared for our morning prayers (Orthros). According to tradition, I ring the Church bells 15 minutes before services and again just as I am beginning. I do this EVERY service, but this morning someone took notice.

About half-way through the Orthros (30 minutes in total) I turned around and there was a young man in the Church prayer and doing his cross PROPERLY. I must admit I was taken aback since most mornings I am by myself unless Orthros will be followed by Divine Liturgy that particular day. So today it was a pleasant surprise because not only was there a young man praying in Church, it was a young man whom I had not yet met. Was he new to Florence? I have been the priest in this small southern town for just over five years, so I have met just about everyone who is Orthodox, and many of our non-Orthodox neighbors.

At the end of Orthros, I had the blessing to speak with this young man. “Have we met?”

“No,” he said. “I was in my home and heard the bells.”

He and his wife had just moved to Florence two weeks ago. They live across the street in an apartment complex and knew the Church was here, but hadn’t been to Church yet. In fact they did come to the Church on August 15^th, but since we had an evening Liturgy the night before, they didn’t find anyone at the Church.  This morning, while enjoying a cup of coffee, he heard the Church bells and took notice. He took advantage of the hearing the bells and came to Church. I suppose the bells tolled for him today.

It isn’t an accident that Churches ring bells before, during and after services. Our Church temples exist as physical reminders of God’s presence in a neighborhood, and the ringing of bells often strikes to the core of our heart calling us back to Christ. Of course, it is up to us to act on the call.

The next time you hear Church bells ringing, go find them and offer a prayer of thanks that God has allowed you to be reminded of His presence.

Don’t Let Your Weakness Get in God’s Way

We all have them and we know it. We rarely admit it, but we all know there are days when we are just too weak to trust in God’s promise. And what is His promise? So long as we trust in Him and bring to Him our resources for His ministry, we will always have enough for our needs. And what are our needs? God promises we will have enough BASIC food, BASIC clothing, and BASIC shelter. When it comes to the rest of our resources, we have to trust God ENOUGH and allow Him to use our resources for His ministry. If we allow our weakness to get in the way, people go hungry and Churches are unable to continue to mission Christ began just two thousand years ago.

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When God is Involved, Miracles Can Happen

The day was late and the people were hungry. The group leader only had enough food for the smallest group out of the bunch. There was NEVER going to be enough food to feed everyone. Some suggested sending everybody to find their own food so the few leaders could eat. What did the leader do?

He said, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” (Matthew 14.16)

In the face of this wild and crazy idea that more than five thousand people would have enough to eat, rather than feeling depressed about what would NEVER happen, the team chose to believe in what COULD happen. “Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass.” (Matthew 14.19) Ultimately a few fish and a couple loaves of bread fed more than five thousand people.

If the team had decided it was impossible, then nobody would have eaten that day. If the team had chosen to dwell on the negative, God’s grace would never have been revealed that day. It was only when the team CHOSE to allow God’s grace to work in their lives that miracles were able to happen.

Something to think about…

What Happens When We Don’t Like Our Neighbors?

It happens to all of us. Someone moves in next door and we don’t approve of their behavior. A business opens next door and we believe their behavior doesn’t belong in our neighborhood. In our free pluralistic society, it happens more often than in past homogenous societies, but our response must always be the same. We must never allow our blindness to keep us from expressing love for our neighbors. We must never forget that our lives are no less sinful than our neighbors’. God calls us to open our eyes to our sinfulness and repent from our sinful way of life, rather than to waste time focusing on the sins of others.

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What Happens When the Truth Torments Us?

Fast every Wednesday and Friday. Tithe to the Church. Come for Holy Confession. Attend Church regularly. Receive Holy Communion. You can’t marry that person. You can’t live like this, and you can’t do that. What happens when the truth of the Church torments us? We either ignore the Church to ease the pain or we beg the Church to stop tormenting us. “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” (Matthew 8.23) These were the words of demons but they can easily become our own words when our life doesn’t match with how God wants us to live. Rather than begging God to leave you alone, why not run to Him and tell the demons to leave you alone? Let the demons bother the pigs; you have a restored life in Christ waiting for you.

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The Best Words are VERBS!

The Bible is filled with words; small ones and big ones, but the best words are verbs. A sentence is not complete without a verb, and neither is the Christian life. God is a God of ACTION and He calls us to put our gifts to use and become Christians of ACTION. Saint Paul said, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.” (Romans 12.6) Jesus didn’t just sit in heaven and watch us, and we cannot just sit in Church watching Him.

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The Bible is Filled with Words

We often think of the Bible as a book about Jesus Christ and His divine plan for our salvation. A book is made up of chapters. Chapters are made up of pages. Pages are filled with words, small words and long words. Every student of the Bible spends a lifetime discovering what those words mean and if they have meaning in life today. There are many types of words: nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. The Bible has them all! In my office, I even have a book called a “concordance” which lists EVERY word in the entire Bible and where each particular words exists, listed by Book.Chapter,Verse. It’s no wonder that the Bible is called “The Word of God.”

Jesus is the Word of God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1.1) So, it should be of no surprise that we equate the Bible with Jesus Himself. In fact the Bible is considered an Icon of Jesus Christ and treated with respect and reverence and it is even venerated as Holy. There is something special about the words of the Bible and how they relate to the Word of God. God CAME and LIVED among His people and we SAW Him. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory.” (John 1.14) Jesus didn’t remain in Heaven simply looking at His people; He ACTED upon His love by BECOMING.

If we are going to do any honor to God in our understanding of the Bible, His Word, then we should not simply remain in our pews watching God in the Altar. We should ACT and BECOME Christians. Acting and becoming requires ACTION VERBS. Just as a sentence requires a verb to be a complete sentence, a Christian life requires ACTION verbs to be complete.

What Happens When the Truth Torments Us?

Fast every Wednesday and Friday. Tithe to the Church. Come for Holy Confession. Attend Church regularly. Receive Holy Communion. You can’t marry that person. You can’t live like this, and you can’t do that. What happens when the truth of the Church torments us? We either ignore the Church to ease the pain or we beg the Church to stop tormenting us. “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” (Matthew 8.23) These were the words of demons but they can easily become our own words when our life doesn’t match with how God wants us to live. Rather than begging God to leave you alone, why not run to Him and tell the demons to leave you alone? Let the demons bother the pigs; you have a restored life in Christ waiting for you.

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Are Ghosts Real?

I am asked occasionally about what the Church thinks of ghosts and other wandering spirits.  Here are some thoughts from St John Chrysostom on the point.

But what can be the reason that they love also to dwell in the tombs? They would fain suggest to the multitude a pernicious opinion, as though the souls of the dead become demons, which God forbid we should ever admit into our conception. But what then will you say, one may ask, when many of the sorcerers take children and slaythem, in order to have the soul afterwards to assist them? Why, whence is this evident? For of their slaying them, indeed, many tell us, but as to the souls of the slain being with them, whence do you know it, I pray you? The possessed themselves, it is replied, cry out, I am the soul of such a one. But this too is a kind of stage-play, anddevilish deceit. For it is not the spirit of the dead that cries out, but the evil spirit that feigns these things in order to deceive the hearers. For if it were possible for a soul to enter into the substance of an evil spirit, much more into its own body.And besides, it stands not to reason that the injured soul should co-operate with the wrong-doer, or that a man should be able to change an incorporeal power into another substance. For if in bodies this were impossible, and one could not make a man's body become that of an ass; much more were this impossible in the invisible soul; neither could one transform it into the substance of an evil spirit. So that these are the sayings of besotted old wives, and spectres to frighten children.Nor indeed is it possible for a soul, torn away from the body, to wander here any more. For the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God; Wisdom 3:1 and if of the righteous, then those children's souls also; for neither are they wicked: and the souls too of sinners are straightway led away hence. And it is evident from Lazarus and therich man; and elsewhere too Christ says, This day they require your soul of you. Luke 12:20 And it may not be that a soul, when it is gone forth from the body, should wander here; nor is the reason hard to see. For if we, going about on the earth which is familiar and well known to us, being encompassed with a body, when we are journeying in a strange road, know not which way to go unless we have some one to lead us; how should the soul, being rent away from the body, and having gone out from all her accustomed region, know where to walk without one to show her the way?And from many other things too one might perceive, that it is not possible for a disembodied soul to remain here. For both Stephen says, Receive my spirit; Acts 7:59 and Paul, To depart and to be with Christ is far better;Philippians 1:23 and of the patriarch too the Scripture says, that he was gathered unto his fathers, being cherished in a good old age. And as to the proof, that neither can the souls of sinners continue here; hear the rich man making much entreaty for this, and not obtaining it; since had it been at all possible, he would have come, and have told what had come to pass there. Luke 16:27-28 Whence it is evident that after their departure hence our souls are led away into some place, having no more power of themselves to come back again, but awaiting that dreadful day. (Homily 28 on The Gospel of Matthew)

I think he says it pretty clearly. Although there are examples of thr Saints appearing and assisting us, they never are scary nor mischievous.  If the sight frightens us, that should  be a good indication that it is a demon. Of course, there are also stories of demons appearing as IF they are "good angels" just to deceive us. In these cases it is imperative that we fight the temptation to listen to these demons in disguise. They should be tested with prayer and the power of the Holy Cross.

To say the least, when faced with ANY appearance of angels, we should test them by calling on the name of the Holy Trinity and "crossing ourselves" asking for God's protection. These demons can ONLY harm us if we or God allow them, and unless you are Job, it is doubtful God will allow them. Chrysostom was preaching on a larger story of demons as found in Matthew 8.22-34 where they couldn't even enter pigs without God's permission.

When in doubt.....PRAY PRAY PRAY!

The Truth will set you free. Christ is the TRUTH. Be free in Christ rather than your own truth.

It never ceases to amaze me how people use the expression "The truth will set you free," while ignoring how their particular truth differs from history. If you have noticed how many "versions" of the truth exist about Christ, you MUST read this book. It is impossible for 25,000+ denominations, each expressing a different truth about Christ, to all be correct. This book does an excellent job of discovering the journey of seeking the truth by first admitting YOUR truth might be the one that's wrong. 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1888212284

What Does God Have to Do with Anything Anyway?

There are many types of demons in our life, not always revealing themselves as from Satan. Some demons grow from within our hearts, nurtured by our ego and selfish drive for power and glorification. These particular demons are often the hardest to remove from our lives simply because we don’t recognize them as demons nor the struggle they create.

Think of a time in your life when you worked really diligently toward the completion of a difficult task. You spent many hours of pondering the perfect solution calling upon your vast experience. You tested different theories against your ideas and developed just the right combination of “mind over matter” and discovered that “you knew the answer all along,” but just had to allow your brain to do the thinking. Then, once the task was completed successfully, you sat back and admired your amazing troubleshooting skills. You pat yourself on the back and toast to your awesomeness. You never even stop to consider that God “may” have had something to do with your results. It was YOUR idea, it was YOUR effort, and it was YOUR glory. What does God have to do with your success anyway?

Just then is when you SHOULD run to the Church and beg God’s forgiveness for thinking you were so awesome to begin with. Even if you DID come up with the idea, wasn’t your intelligence a gift from God in the first place? Even if you DID dedicate many hours of YOUR time, wasn’t it God that first provided you with the time to offer to solve the world’s problems in the first place. Even when others praise you for YOUR effort, wasn’t is really God that inspired you to tackle the task? And doesn’t it annoy you when someone shows up and tries to burst YOUR bubble by pretending that God had “anything” to do with your success?

Sometimes the mere presence of God in our lives, especially when we want to claim credit for our awesomeness, torments us. That’s because deep in our hearts is we know that we are God’s children. “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Hebrews 8.10) The torment is our heart trying to inspire us to repent from our ego trip and honor God with our blessings and thank Him for the gifts He has given us.

But these demons are very strong in our hearts because, as fallen human beings, we are in a constant struggle to please our ego rather than please the Lord. Saint Paul characterized it perfectly when he wrote,

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God -- through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” (Romans 7.14-25)

It is not impossible to defeat these demons when we embrace the Lord as the Master.

We should be comforted by the story in this Sunday’s Gospel lesson. (Matthew 8.28-34,9.1) The legion demons could not even enter the swine without God’s permission. Neither can they control our life if we do not grant them permission. Our task, the REAL task, it to come to the Lord and He will drive the demons out of our hearts making room for His love and grace, IF we desire it. Too often we respond to God with the same words as the demons, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” (Matthew 8.29)

The next time you find yourself wondering why giving God credit for YOUR awesomeness feels like torment, consider the demons are working hard to keep you away from His grace and love. Bring yourself to the Church and invite God to remove these demon thoughts from your heart. THEN replace them with God’s love and grace. Otherwise, remember what the demons did to the swine, “And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.” (Matthew 8.32) If you don’t get them out of your heart you will find yourself running wild off a spiritual cliff.

Of course there will always be someone who would rather you run off a cliff, not because of you, but because they can’t stand giving God credit in their lives either. “And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.” (Matthew 8.34)

It's Time for Being Content

With the daily news of our continuing economic struggle in the USA and throughout the world, I can’t help but reflect upon Saint Paul’s wisdom. “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content,” (1 Timothy 6.7-8) “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13.5) “Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave. (1 Corinthians 7.21-22) Could Saint Paul’s wisdom help us with our current economic crisis?

By listening to the nightly news you might suspect human beings NEVER lived without electricity, running water, private toilets, and twinkies. In fact people STILL live without these so-called necessities all over the world EVERYDAY…and they survive! Our daily comforts are not without toil, nor are they without spiritual risk. If these daily comforts continue to become the focus of our emotional energy, we run the risk of forgetting that we “can carry nothing out” of this life.

It’s about time we refocus our nation’s energies on our relationship with God. And I’m not just talking about same-sex marriage and abortion. These sins are mere symptoms of a society that has forgotten that God is God and human beings are created. We are created in the image of God, another fact most of us have forgotten. If we could only get past ourselves enough to see God waiting with His arms open, maybe we could return to a life dedicated to putting God first in our lives.

Putting God first doesn’t just mean calling ourselves Christians. It means having enough faith in Him to be content with the resources we have and not be concerned with our status as slaves. The only slavery we must fight is the slavery to sin that we each voluntarily embrace because it makes us feel good….that is until the economy comes crumbling down around us. THEN we wonder why God is punishing us. THEN we question whether we could believe in “a god” that doesn’t allow us to enjoy all the creature comforts our flesh desires.

It’s no wonder Jesus Christ called us to a life of asceticism when He said, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Mark 8.34) We cannot follow Christ worrying about our own desires. The centurion had it right when said, “"Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof.” (Matthew 8.8) Now THAT’S being content!

Demand Less and Praise More

At one time or another we all find ourselves in time of need, and we call upon the Lord in prayer to help us. In fact, many times our prayers consist more of shopping lists than praise. “I need this.” “Please help me with this.” “Convince this person to do what I think is right.” “Heal my friend.” Although we may not use these exact words, the meaning of our prayers is often the same. We want something, and we ask God for it.

There was a certain man who needed something from God, but his approach was very different. He said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.” (Matthew 8.8) How often do we think ourselves unworthy of God’s presence? How often do we simply place our total faith in God’s wisdom? In the face of such humility, Jesus “marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (Matthew 8.10) The servant was healed.

In his great need, the centurion praised God’s power and authority rather than demanding a miracle. We could take notes and learn from the centurion’s deep humility. The next time you find yourself in need, rather than demanding (or even begging) God for help, try just praising God. You may end up realizing you don’t need what you think you need after all. With great faith come great blessings.

The Many Emotions of Summer Camp

I’ve just returned from two weeks of directing Saint Stephen’s Summer Camp for the Holy Metropolis of Atlanta at the Diakonia Retreat Center in Salem, SC. This very special summer camp ministry has given me the blessing of participating in the core of the Metropolis Youth Ministries. I currently serve as Co-Director with three dedicated and loving priests. We each share a portion of the summer schedule after months of planning and conference calls. As I write this blog, there are still two more sessions of camp to bring to completion. I must say, exhaustion aside, I miss being there with such loving staff and campers.

Summer camp brings out every emotion from sadness to joy, from frustration to comfort, and from doubt to trust. In the past two weeks I have witnessed all these and more, but what really touches my heart isn’t the emotion but the transition from negative emotions to positive. The first night of camp brings hesitation and homesickness as campers meet new people and experience, many for the first time EVER, their first night away from family. Shyness often turns to tears as these first year campers come to us begging, “Can I call home?” I’ve been down that road before and I “haven’t lost one yet.” It normally goes like this…

Camper: “Can I call home?”
Me: “Why?”
Camper: “I’m not feeling so good.”
Me: “What would you say to your mom right now?” (Keep in mind it is normally almost MIDNIGHT at this point)
Camper: “I want to go home.”
Me: “Since you can’t go home tonight anyway, why not go back to your room and sleep with your cabin. Then, come and talk to me in the morning.”
Camper: “Ok.”

Off to bed they go…almost never to return the next morning. Tears have turned to smiles in the morning.

By day two and three, camp has become a comfortable routine and deep friendships have already been established. Then comes day four….the day we offer the Mystery (Sacrament) of Holy Confession. Each camper is invited and encouraged, but never forced, to confess to a priest. I always make it a point to remind the campers of the grace of God that is present in every sacrament of the Church, but especially the healing power of God’s grace in Holy Confession. This is the day each priest cherishes when it’s over but dreads before it begins. After just a few days of summer camp, the love and trust between campers and clergy has reached a pinnacle and together in the grace of God, our souls meet for a brief moment and real healing begins. I’ve witnessed many tears turned to joy in Holy Confession. But Holy Confession is only a beginning….

The last full day of camp is the reason we all gather each summer. The Divine Liturgy is the center of our Orthodox Christian life, and brings the healing ministry of summer camp to a climax. Campers and staff join clergy in the Mystery of Holy Eucharist in the presence of the Holy Spirit. One by one, we each receive Holy Communion, the manifestation that God has become man so that we might, by God’s grace, participate in His divinity. Following Divine Liturgy we each experience the freedom of Christ’s love and our hearts are again restored to their purity in His love.

But every camp must end and Saturday is a return to tears, but they’re different. Sunday’s tears were filled with fear and longing to be at home. Now on Saturday, our tears are altogether different. We feel the warmth and trust and love and joy of camp. We know the world is filled with more pain, so our hearts are drawn to remain in Christ’s love, so strong at camp, rather than depart for the “real world” of bullies, judgment, and self-image issues.

This is where MY emotions are the strongest. I know the pain of the world awaits the campers. Will they remember the tools we taught them to remain pure? Will they take full advantage of the Church’s healing ministry and guidance to fight temptation? This is when I REALLY feel like the “father” they call me. I know I must send them out into the world, but wish I could protect them forever! Only one thing comforts my soul as I bid the campers farewell….the Holy Spirit is greater than all the protection I can offer. Go in peace my dear campers….we will meet again.