My heart is full of depravity! I realize this more and more every day! I am arrogant, harsh, lustful, mean, rude, disrespectful, and unChristian in the demeanor… Read more “Sincerely, The Recovering Know-It-All (Shamefessional #13)”
Category: Story
Speaking Shame, Being Vulnerable, Sharing Stories (Shamefessional #8)
A friend of mine and fellow Orthodox Christian sent me this text today: Question: How do you sort out the difference between being vulnerable and over-sharing? got… Read more “Speaking Shame, Being Vulnerable, Sharing Stories (Shamefessional #8)”
………….to be continued………….
I feel like a Breaking Bad, Mad Men, or Sons of Anarchy character and even like a character from comic books like the recent Batman and Superman… Read more “………….to be continued………….”
A Millennial’s Ecclesial Hiatus: More on Why I’m Dropping Out of Church, Looking for Perspective, and Distancing Myself from Ecclesiological Searching
Matters of the heart are rarely coherent. ‘What the heart desires, the will chooses, and the mind justifies!’” -My Friend Andy quoting Philipp Melanchthon A few people have… Read more “A Millennial’s Ecclesial Hiatus: More on Why I’m Dropping Out of Church, Looking for Perspective, and Distancing Myself from Ecclesiological Searching”
Dropping Out: Joining the Existential, Millennial Exiles
Like many of my peers, the Millennials, I now fully consider myself a church dropout. I use to be one of those fairly average church goers who… Read more “Dropping Out: Joining the Existential, Millennial Exiles”
Shame and Academics (Shamefessional #4)
As many readers may already know, I’ve been doing a journalistic approach (previous Shamefessionals here) to my discovery of shame, fear, and vulnerability. For those who may… Read more “Shame and Academics (Shamefessional #4)”
Eucharistic Reflections on 2013
I spent the end of 2013 doing what my Johnson pals and I call living in the past with my Johnson yearbooks. All 5 years (freshman and sophomore on top; junior, senior, super senior on bottom)! Bringing in the new year by recalling past years called to mind some things in 2013 that are good things. 
2013 did contain some really big life events for which I’m grateful and for which I want to offer my thanksgiving to God:
- Courtney and I were chrismated into the Orthodox Catholic Church on Feb. 3rd on The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple at St. Anne Orthodox Church.
- Graduated with a B.S. in Bible and Preaching/Church Leadership from Johnson University on May 3rd.
- Courtney and I got our first pet and puppy together, Charlie, our Chihuahua. We also got our first cat, Heisenberg.
- We moved to Oak Ridge to be closer to our parish, St. Anne Orthodox Church, to get to know our wonderful priest and parish family better.
- We got full time jobs with USAA at a call center that allow us to keep the bills paid and have insurance/benefits. It gives us a warm bed, food, and a car.
- We bought our first new car, a ’13 Honda Civic LX coupe, together, well, we got it on lease.
- We both learned more and grew more together in our second year of marriage.
- My little sister joined me as a fellow college graduate!
This is just a short list. Our failure as human beings is to offer unto God thanksgiving for our many blessings bestowed to us by Him. I’m sure I’m forgetting something. I do everyday. I ask for forgiveness from God on this and from you. Let us always keep a grateful heart for whatever we encounter. Glory to God for all things big or small. May His mercy be with us in this new year!
“When man stands before the throne of God, when he has fulfilled all that God has given him to fulfill, when all sins are forgiven, all joy restored, then there is nothing else for him to do but to give thanks. Eucharist (thanksgiving) is the life of paradise. Eucharist is the only full and real response of man to God’s creation, redemption and gift of heaven. But this perfect man who stands before God isChrist. In Him alone all that God has given man was fulfilled and brought back to heaven. He alone is the perfect Eucharistic Being. He is the Eucharist of the world. In and through this Eucharist the whole creation becomes what it always was to be and yet failed to be.” -Father Alexander Schmemann “For the Life of the World” (p. 38)
Cruciform Hermeneutics: True Theology Begins with the Cross
To begin, I want to say that in many ways, this blog is a continuation of my thoughts from my blog “Cosmic Sky Dad“. I’m nearing the… Read more “Cruciform Hermeneutics: True Theology Begins with the Cross”
The Faithfulness of Christ is the Gospel: Ruminations on the Gospel and Soteriology
“If someone were to ask me how to become a Christian, I’m not sure what I would tell them, except to follow Christ.” A friend of mine… Read more “The Faithfulness of Christ is the Gospel: Ruminations on the Gospel and Soteriology”
Ruining The Gospel: Lessons On Preaching And Movie-Making
Some great advice about preaching and teaching! Orthodoxy has brought me to experiencing the Gospel and not just hearing it! Read and share 🙂 Ruining The Gospel:… Read more “Ruining The Gospel: Lessons On Preaching And Movie-Making”
The Daring Adventure Life 