We heard the Parable of the Sower this week in the Divine Liturgy, which is customary on the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the Second Ecumenical Council. Despite having heard this parable many times before, this time I got …
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Politics: A Distraction From The Real Enemy
When I was younger I worked in party politics, and chaired a Young Republicans club. I listened to talk radio and read political journals. I fantasized of one day seeking political office. Soon I became the editor of a newsletter for …
From Catechumen To Convert Part 5: Confession
My first confession was the night before I was received into the Orthodox Church. It was a final step in my movement from my old life as a Protestant into my new life as an Orthodox Christian. What is more, …
Sin, Mercy, And Missing The Mark
I struggle with sin, and with the effects of sin. Guilt and shame follow close on the heels of my transgressions, sometimes instantly. Regret is a lingering scar from past sins. Though I may repent, I soon fall back into …
From Catechumen To Convert Part 4: Body And Blood
“Do you believe that Communion is the actual body and blood of Christ?” It was one of the first questions I asked during my initial meeting with an Orthodox priest. In fact, it’s probably one of the first questions asked …
Video: What Is The Orthodox Church?
What is the Orthodox Church? It’s a question many in America ask. Many of my friends and family have asked me the same question after seeing my posts on social media. The Orthodox Church is little known inside the United …
Having A Child, With Fear And Trembling
My wife and I are having a child. This may come as a shock to those of you that know me personally. I’m a little old to be a new father, and I had all but given up on my …
A Consuming Fire: When God’s Love Becomes Hell
Our God is a consuming fire. This phrase from the epistle to the Hebrews is used in a song by contemporary Christian band Third Day. It’s a vivid image of an all-powerful God burning away the chaff of sin. Growing …
Love Thy Neighbor Is Still A Revolutionary Act
“Love thy neighbor” is a simplistic idea. It’s outdated. It’s trite. What do we do when our country seems more fractured than ever before? Racial strife is at an all-time high. Our political leanings are our tribal standards, and fighting seems …
A Funeral Without Tradition
This week I attended a funeral for the first time since my conversion to Orthodoxy. This was not an Orthodox funeral, and I wondered whether I would have a new perspective on old traditions. Dealing with death in the South …
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To The Catechumens Everywhere
Pray unto the Lord, ye catechumens… The Prayer of the Catechumens is a special part of the Divine Liturgy. When I was a catechumen preparing to be received into the Orthodox Church, I felt a sense of purpose. At that …
From Catechumen To Convert Part 3: The Virgin Mary
The Virgin Mary is a stumbling block to Protestants, or at least it was for this former Baptist. My upbringing taught me to regard the mother of Christ with indifference. I looked on those who apparently worshiped her with derision …
Wearing A Prayer Rope
My new prayer rope came in the mail last week. It’s a simple black bracelet made of a wool strand. Along its circumference are 33 knots, representing the age of Christ at his crucifixion. A small silver cross joining the …
From Catechumen To Convert Part 2: My Patron Saint
A patron saint isn’t something Protestants have anything to do with. All I knew of a patron saint was seeing TV and movie Catholics kissing their St. Christopher medallion before a shootout or a feat of derring-do. Now I had …
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Orlando Nightclub Shooting: How Should Christians React?
A shooting at an Orlando nightclub has shocked the world. The total dead and injured make this the worst mass shooting in the nation’s history. This outrageous attack has caused many to take to social media to express their anger …
Free Mobile Wallpaper: Lord Cause Me To Dwell In Hope
Hope is an illusory thing. Sometimes it disappears when we need it most. In the depths of despair and worry it is hard to imagine that things will get better. In times when I cannot find a reason to hope, …
Dealing With Fear And Trusting In God
Dealing with fear is a universal experience. But shouldn’t Christians be immune to fear? Isn’t that what we tell ourselves all the time? We say we trust that God is in charge, but then act as if we alone determine …
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From Catechumen To Convert Part 1: A Beautiful House
Becoming a catechumen in the Orthodox Church begins the process of preparation to become a convert. Prior to being made a catechumen, there’s a feeling out process that takes place. For me, this process took over a year. I didn’t …
What Does It Do? Take A Reader Survey
When I began this website, my priest gave me his blessing to discuss my path to Orthodoxy despite how early I was in the journey. He reads every post (I assume), and comments on the good and the bad. He …
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Orthodox Christianity: The Essential Reading List
Eastern Orthodox Christianity is one of the largest Christian fellowships in the world, second only to the Roman Catholic Church. Yet inside the United States it is almost unknown. As a former evangelical Christian, I understand the strange and mysterious …