Archives for 2013

I listen to old Southern gospel every so often. The reason I do so is to remind me that God’s Holy Spirit is at work among the poor in spirit, especially among those who are financially poor. The old Southern Gospel hymns remind us of God’s desire that all should be saved and that life […]

The news media has been full of stories today about the interview with Pope Francis. Because of the way in which the interview was reported in the media, I went to both the Italian Jesuit magazine that has the Italian version of the interview, and to America Magazine, another Jesuit magazine, that has the translation […]

The humor below comes from more than one person: ******************** – How many Orthodox does it take to change a light bulb? – Change?! ******************** – What do you call a Protestant interested in Church history? – An Orthodox catechumen. ******************** – You know you’re in an Orthodox church when the priest says, ‘Let us complete our […]

Tomorrow is the fiftieth (50th) anniversary of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church here in Birmingham, Alabama. I was nearly 12 years old when that happened. My whole future was ahead of me. I am now an old man with seven grandchildren. Three of the girls were a little older than I was. […]

Apolytikion of the Holy Cross Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting our rulers to prevail over adversaries, and protecting Your commonwealth by Your Cross. Kontakion of the Holy Cross Lifted up on the Cross by Your free will, Christ God, grant mercies to the new commonwealth that bears Your name. Gladden our […]

September 6, 2013 President Barack Obama, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC Dear Mr. President: We write to you with a heavy heart having heard the recent news of the attack on the ancient Christian city of Maaloula, Syria by the rebel forces. This city houses one of the oldest and most important […]

The commercial above had me in tears. It also reminded me of a verse from Philippians: Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of […]

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy As you look at the video above, you will see that a whooping-cough epidemic has broken out in this country. The State of Texas has the worst of it; they are under a health alert. Already two babies have died. Medical authorities are […]

I wrote a comment on my being an Antiochian priest and how that affected my viewpoint on the Syria situation. Since then, my local Metropolitan, as well as various Patriarchates and the Pope have weighed in on the situation. Since my original blog post was written, the Eastern Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, […]

Back in 2010 a story broke loose about an Anglican vicar in Canada. The story made it all the way to the BBC. Reverend Marguerite Rea of St Peter’s Anglican Church, in Toronto, received complaints from Christians all over Canada after she fed communion bread to a German Shepherd cross named Trapper. Area Bishop Patrick […]