March 23, 2025

How many of us have a friend who understands us? Maybe someone who can relate because they’ve gone through similar trials and challenges that we’ve faced in life. Or maybe it’s simply someone who doesn’t judge us because they love us so much and appreciate who we are even with all our weaknesses, shortcomings, and failures. Such a friend is priceless. Truly one of the most valued treasures and blessings in life. Read more »

March 16, 2025

In stillness, in serenity and in the quiet of our heart we can experience God. The world bombards us with never-ending noise, distraction, confusion. Society is full of words, many words that are often silly, senseless, and with little meaning or inspiration. Read more »

March 09, 2025

What do we come to see when we come to the Church every week? What are we looking for? Are we looking for anything special? Are we expecting to discover someone special? Read more »

March 02, 2025

“Make us worthy to dance with the armies of angels, O Christ our God!” Imagine that! Dancing with angels! Doesn’t that sound wonderful and exciting? Wouldn’t we all want to dance with angels if we had the opportunity? Read more »

February 23, 2025

Do you love God? How many of us would say we love God? It’s easy to say with words we love God. And many of us truly believe we love God. We come to church each week to express our love for God, and as Orthodox Christians, we say, “Yes, I love God.” And yet, do we truly love Him? How do we know whether we sincerely love God? What’s the criteria for loving God? Is it simply the words we say? Read more »

February 22, 2025

At no matter what age of life we die, we always see death as a distortion of our existence. Death portrays a horrible tragedy because it is the fruit of evil in the world. We were not created to die. Read more »

February 16, 2025

We just celebrated Valentine’s Day, a day when we remember our special loved ones. Of course, long before being a day for romantic lovers, this was a day to commemorate Saint Valentine the martyr, the Roman bishop who gave up his life because of his love for Jesus Christ. Read more »

February 09, 2025

Today we begin our three week preparation FOR GREAT LENT, which begins this year on Clean Monday, February 27th. The Gospel reading of the “Publican and Pharisee” is always read three weeks before Lent begins, and reminds us of what is essential for us in our spiritual lives to truly get ready for our journey through Lent and leading up to Pascha/Easter! Read more »

February 02, 2025

How many of us have ever waited a long time for something special? Some young person may wait many years to find the love of their life, a soulmate with whom they will travel through life! Parents may wait a long time to watch their children grow up and fulfill their God-given potential given to them. Read more »

January 19, 2025

Think of someone who is very special in your life. A spouse. A parent. A child. A friend. Now, quietly in your heart offer a little prayer of thanksgiving to God. Read more »

January 05, 2025

Yesterday we baptized little Elizabth “Ella” Fahling, the daughter of Olivia and Oliver and granddaughter of Charolotte and Neal Neslusan. As a part of the baptismal service, we walked around the font singing, “As many as have been baptized in Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia.” Read more »

December 29, 2024

Pro-Life. What does that mean? Before anyone tunes me out because they think I’m getting too political, this isn’t about politics or about hot button cultural issues. Read more »

December 25, 2024

One day the disciples of Jesus were arguing with one another about who is the greatest, who is the first among His followers. Can you imagine that? Read more »

November 17, 2024

To be “rich toward God.” What does this mean? Take a moment and reflect on what this means – to be rich toward God. Read more »

November 09, 2024

Nothing is greater than a clean heart, because such a heart becomes the throne of God. And what’s more glorious than the throne of God? Nothing, of course. Regarding those who have a clean heart, God says: ‘I will live with them and walk among them; and I will be God to them and they will be a people to me’ (2 Cor. 6, 16). So who can be happier than these people? What good thing can they possibly lack? Don’t they find all the good things and gifts of the Holy Spirit within their blessed souls. What more do they need? Nothing. In truth, nothing. Because they have the greatest good in their heart: God himself. Read more »

November 04, 2024

Today Archbishop Anastasios Yannoulatos of Albania turns 95 Years Old. We thank God for the amazing life of this faithful Apostle of Christ. Here are two pieces related to his life taken from two books I published: "Missionaries, Monks and Martyrs: Making Disciples of All Nations" and "Go Forth: Stories of Missions and Resurrection in Albania." Even though these books were written years ago (1994 and 2006), they still capture the spirit and life of this faithful servant of Christ. Read more »

October 27, 2024

PRAYER is Connecting and Communing with God, and today I offer Part 2 in my sermon series on Prayer. In my last sermon, I mentioned how I want to challenge each of us to reflect on 1) how we pray, 2) why we pray, 3) what we pray, and 4) what the ultimate purpose of prayer is. I hope that by the end of this series we will understand prayer better and begin praying in a more serious, disciplined manner. Read more »

October 13, 2024

How many of us pray every day? Seriously. Passionately. Consistently. A psalm I pray every morning is Psalm 63 – O God, my God, Early do I seek You. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh faints for you like in a parched and weary land where there is no water… Your love is better than life itself and my lips will glorify You… I will praise you and be satisfied as with the richest foods. Read more »

September 30, 2024

"Do to others as you would have them do to you. Don't love only those who love you, but love all people. Love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Be merciful as your Father is merciful." Luke 6:31-35 Here are some of the most radical teachings of Jesus Christ, teachings that separate His followers from the ways of the world. The true mark of a disciple of Christ is how we love all people, even our enemies. Read more »

September 22, 2024

“Come Follow Me.” When Jesus said this to the Apostle Peter, what did He mean? What does it mean for one to truly become a follower of Jesus? Our Lord invited Peter and Andrew, James and John to follow Him, to become His disciples. We could even say Christ called them to become His apprentices. Jesus surely called His followers to become Apostles. Yet, each of these terms reflect a different aspect of what it means to follow Jesus. Let’s look at each of these terms. Read more »