Some thoughts on the priestly vocation (impediments and advice)

The following represents my own personal reflections and are not necessarily representative of anyone else’s opinions.  I focus on the UOC-USA because it is the Church I serve and the example I know best.  With some minor modifications, these probably work for other Churches and dioceses, as well.  I look forward to your comments. Requirements […]

Homily: On (not) Giving Clergy their Due

Homily on 1 Corinthians 9:2-12 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? (Excerpt) Pani and I went on vacation this past weekend. I spent part of that […]

My notes for the talk on Moral Psychology

I had hoped to find time to write these up properly – but two moths later I haven’t!  So here it is, mis-spellings, poor grammar, and all! Notes for a talk on Orthodoxy, Ritual and Moral Psychology Warning: I use the words “conservative” and “liberal” throughout this talk. I am not talking about Republicans and […]

Podcast: 20130807 Being a Hero and Moral Psychology

This podcasts begins with advice for young people to become heroes.  The rest is devoted to introducing listeners to some findings in moral psychology and their relevance to Orthodoxy (hint- it’s about ritual/Orthopraxis).  Lord willing, I’ll be devoting more podcasts to devloping these themes.  Here are the notes for the moral psychology talk (alas it […]

“Children are not our future – they are our present!”

Homily in Celebration of our Children and Youth (All Saints Day, 2013) “Children are not our future – they are our present!” These words of our beloved Metropolitan Constantine of blessed memory are not a call to put our children and youth on some kind of throne, but to expect and allow them to join […]

Moral Psychology, Orthodoxy, and Ritual (video)

Here is a link to the YouTube Video of the talk. YouTube Blurb:  Sometimes it seems like religious conservatives and liberals are speaking a different language when it comes to morality. Framing plays an issue as both groups try to establish which moral category best fits the given issue, but this doesn’t really explain the […]

Moral Psychology, Orthodoxy, and Ritual (handout)

Notes for a talk on Orthodoxy, Ritual and Moral Psychology (YouTube video here) Warning: I use the words “conservative” and “liberal” throughout this talk. I am not talking about Republicans and Democrats. If you think I am talking about politics your will miss the point of the talk. I am talking about psychology, morality, and […]

Homily: How to be a Man

Homily: advice to my oldest son, graduating from high school Introduction Be a hero – the right man in the right place at the right time, prepared to get things done. But how do you do that? It doesn’t just happen on it’s own. Too many men are too lazy or vice-ridden to step up […]

Homily – The Blind Man, Mythology, and Tradition

The Man Born Blind – on mythology and truth (St. John 9:1-38) I love mythology. I love the stories, the heros, their virtues, their flaws, and the different messes they try to work themselves out of. From the strength of Hercules and the passion of Achilles; to the asceticism of Qui-Gon Ginn, the optimism of […]

Homily – The Enlightened Moral Psychology of the Samaritan Woman

Homily Notes: Samaritan Woman St. John 4:5-42 “He told me all I ever did.” (St. John 4:29) This is not new for God. His omniscience has long been recognized. The prophet David proclaimed it in song in Psalm 138, which includes these words (7-12); Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I […]