A hymn I wrote during my time in seminary. The last stanza comes directly from the Paschal homily of St. John Chrysostom. youtu.be/_kTJE8va19o?si=OPUB…

I grew up watching Dragonball Z and it taught me to holdback all my "power" until the very end and then make a wild comeback (somehow).... unfortunately, I come to find out that none of that "last minute comeback" stuff works in jujitsu.. thanks DBZ, for nothing. 😂

I'm finally catching up on X/Orthodoxy and you're telling me I didn't make any list? Not one?

Amazing talk by His Eminence on the rise of converts to the Orthodox Christian Church. “The century of the Church of the immigrants has ended. The century of evangelization has begun.” “Acquiring the Orthodox way of thinking does not come from books, but from life in the Holy Spirit.” “The Orthodox faith is not an idea but a lived experience of repentance and communion with God.” Link: youtu.be/JgUNYwQ0lZs?si=l5h_…

A reminder for us all.

“You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me; yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” — John 5:39-40 Western Christianity is often so focused on the Scriptures. And while this is important, it should not come at the expense of the experience of Jesus Christ. The experience of Christ is not an emotional outpouring, like you see many protestant Churches. It is not a high or low. But it is rather peace. Not as the world gives, but as He alone can provide. In the Orthodox Church we can to truly experience Christ. And what’s more, we come to partake of Him in the Eucharist. In this way we fulfill the ancient passage, “Taste and see that the Lord is Good.” (Psalm 34:8). The Scriptures bear witness to Christ, to His words, to His teachings. And yet, His whole life is not contained within a book, but is rather passed down from the Disciples to their disciples. In the Orthodox Church you will find the fullness of the life of Christ.

I created this video to show the contrast. I always found it interesting that the doom-scrolling activity with our hand seemed like the antithesis to the recitation of the Jesus Prayer with a prayer rope. Both acts, small and seemingly inconsequential, could not be more opposite in experience and outcome. One focuses the mind, the other distracts it. One clams the passions, the other inflames them. One centers around a single thought (Jesus), the other on a myriad of thoughts disconnected from each other. One guides you away from images, the other arrests your vision. One bears fruit unto eternal life, the other bears fruit unto death.

I was interviewed recently. We covered topics like the Eucharist, Fasting, living a Liturgical life, the Holy Spirit and more. Link: youtu.be/1QeWd3V-UAU?si=lkZc…

Just read this. Given the talk I have seen on X about unity between Catholics and Orthodox I find it appropriate to share:

Find friends that you can run towards the Kingdom together with. youtube.com/watch?v=TKOO899z…

Here is a brief explanation regarding the term “Nous” in the Orthodox Church. It’s time to discover your nous.

The Church is the body of Christ. It is a theanthropic institution. It is rooted in the incarnation. And it is a visible body of which you too can become a member in. This body is the Orthodox Church. Founded by Christ on Pentecost. Preached by the Apostles. Kept unchanged by the saints. And remains today. In much of Christianity you will find peoples own individual interpretations. Disregard that as men are fallible. Instead come and discover the Orthodox Church where the fullness of the Holy Spirit resides and where it leads the faithful to all truth.

We should not seek to build the Kingdom of God here on earth. It will end in death. Here are my thoughts on this. Well worth the listen: 👇 youtu.be/vPlxSlHoDTs?si=R98b…