The smell of incense is so much a part of our experience of worship that the smell – smell is one of the strongest triggers of memory for the brain – automatically calms us and moves us towards prayer. Low-church Christians are often uncomfortable with incense in part because it is used in pagan […]
Day Eighteen – Feet
December 2, 2013 By
Psalm 120 I lift up mine eyes unto the hills, whence comes my help.My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.He will not suffer thy foot to stumble: He that guards you will not slumber.Behold, He that protects Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.The Lord is your protector: the Lord is your […]
Day Seventeen – Holiday Depression
December 2, 2013 By
[Please note that I am writing about malaise, not actual depression. If you are suffering from depression, seek professional help.] Studies show that cases of depression and general malaise increase during the Christmas season. It’s a real problem, and – unless you are some sort of saint (or Vulcan) – it’s probably one you struggle […]
Day Fourteen: Giving Thanks to Our God as a Nation
November 28, 2013 By
Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA Archpastoral Message for 2013 Thanksgiving Day:We Offer Praise and Thanksgiving Once again, our nation pauses to celebrate Thanksgiving. Our tables will be spilling over with food and our homes will resonate with laughter and conversation as we gather to celebrate this special day. Thanksgiving […]
Day Eleven – Turkey
November 25, 2013 By
There’s a funny thing that happens every year among the Orthodox in America around this time of year. Many Old Calendarists hop on their high horse and lord it over New Calendarists for breaking the Nativity Fast on Thanksgiving. The built-in assumption is that there is no way any Tradition-loving, Real Orthodox Christian (TM) would […]
Day Nine – The Sabbath
November 23, 2013 By
We were made to work One of the great virtues of this nation is its commitment to work hard and to work well. This virtue does not allow us to see work in purely economic terms; it isn’t just about paying the bills, providing for the family, or having enough to give freely to those […]
20131123 Vocations are for everyone!
November 23, 2013 By
What is God calling you to do? This show opens with a talk on vocations geared for everyone – vocations are not just for men in black! I follow this with a short story by Rdr. Nicholas Perkins, and finish by asnwering some mail on paleo, fasting, and the Bread of Life. Enjoy the show! […]
Day Eight – Canned Food
November 22, 2013 By
I have been married for 20+ years and have four children. One of the roles that I take seriously is as the provider and protector of my family. In simple times, this can be done by exercising the virtue of hard work. The sweat of the brow puts meat on the table, pays the rent, and […]
Day Four – Paleo, Orthodoxy, and Grains
November 18, 2013 By
One of the reasons I love the paleo movement is that it challenges a status quo that is so obviously broken and dangerous. Like anarchism when it comes to modern government and economics, paleo steps outside the dominant paradigm and blasts away at its problems. We need to hear that. I also love that they […]
Day Two – Lenten Fasting for the Orthodox Paleophile
November 16, 2013 By
Fasting is good for you! You’ve seen the science on intermittent fasting, building willpower muscles, and the like. You also recognize that it is an important part of The Orthodox Way to all things good. Maybe you are like me and you have decided to augment the standard Orthodox fasting regimen with one that avoids […]
