Bridegroom Matins
Bridegroom Matins is an Orthodox prayer service that occurs the first three days of Orthodox Holy Week. Though each day has a particular focus, all three days relate to the parable of the ten virgins. As the virgins wait for the bridegroom who comes in the middle of the night, Orthodox Christians ready themselves for [...]
Being Orthodox in a Protestant Society, Part 1
After two weeks of my kids attending Vacation Bible School at two different churches, one Protestant and one Orthodox, I have been thinking a lot about both the challenges of living Orthodoxy in a primarily-Protestant country and the challenges that come with a church that is traditionally counter-cultural. Let me start, simply, by looking at [...]
WHAT Church Do You Go To?
After being born and raised in the Church of the Nazarene (a Protestant denomination), being a Nazarene PK (preacher’s kid), a Nazarene MK (missionary kid), and attending a Nazarene University, I did the unthinkable and converted to Eastern Orthodoxy. (Oh, and I forgot: I am – or was – 4th generation Nazarene, too!) I am [...]
Protestantified
A few days ago my son came home singing and doing the motions for this verse of Jesus Loves Me: Jesus loves me, He who died Heaven’s gates to open wide He will wash away my sin Let the children come in. (? I think) Then my daughter came home singing “From the Rising of [...]
Seriously, Parenting is Harder Than Teaching
You wouldn’t think so. I mean, a teacher has to deal with at least 20 kids at a time, keep them in line, and edutain – I mean educate – them. But most kids maintain a little fear of their teacher. Kids will push their parents to the limit, but the majority of them want [...]
Dangers of Non-Denominational
Okay, prepare yourself for my opinion. Typically, I can’t stand it when people constantly share their opinions on everything. And now I’m gonna be that person for a few minutes. Here’s the thing: I’m not a fan of non-denominational churches. In fact, they can be outright dangerous. The premise of non-denominational church is that believers [...]
