Homilies, commentary, and the shownotes for OrthoAnalytika, a podcast on spirituality, science, culture, prepping, the paranormal, and current events
An Introduction to Vocations, Part One; Every soldier is a rifleman; every clergyman is a Christian I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live … [Continue reading]
God is glorified in His saints! Along with a prayer book, one of the immediate blessings becoming an Orthodox catechumen brought me was bringing the saints into my life, mainly in the form of a used copy of The Prologue from Ochrid. I love that … [Continue reading]
Monastics are the institutional and spiritual heart of Orthodoxy. I had a wonderful interview with Priest-monk Peter Preble yesterday. One of the things we agreed on was that we need to do a better job making monasticism real to our parishioners. … [Continue reading]
Deborah was a hero. A bit of historical context: Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. As preparation for leading them into the Promised Land of Canaan, he sent twelve spies into Canaan to find out the enemy's disposition. Of the twelve, ten came … [Continue reading]
Tending the Flame of Anor I'm pretty granola when it comes to certain things. This is especially the case when it comes to church. Being crunchy and being Orthodox go together like cream in coffee. Because the Glory of God resonates throughout … [Continue reading]
We woke up to first covering of snow this morning. It's funny how different the reactions in our house were: Our middle children: yippee there's snow! (this would have been followed by the words; "do we have school today?!", except that we … [Continue reading]
On the New Calendar, today (12/8) celebrates the conception of the Birthgiver of God, when Joachim and Anna conceived Mary, the girl who would grow up to become the Mother of God. How hard it must be for modern men and women to understand the beauty … [Continue reading]
Despite my "Bah Humbug" post about gift giving, I actually love the rituals of Christmas. The home ones are especially nice: hanging stockings (made by my Mom for my Pani, each of my kids, and me), putting up the Nativity banners, setting up the … [Continue reading]
There is amusing meme bouncing around Facebook that plays on St. Nicholas' defense of Orthodoxy against Arianism during the first Ecumincal Council (325): he punch-uated this defense by striking Arius in the face. Both Christ and His Mother … [Continue reading]
Dave Ramsey likes to joke that Americans need to stop spending money they don't have buying people gifts that they don't need. He's right. The Christmas "gift-giving" season is one of those things that outsiders must look at and just scratch their … [Continue reading]
