Grace
“It is common for us to conceive of God as giving us grace (help) so that we can do this thing or that and become this thing or that. And the emphasis becomes our own doing, with God reduced to an auxiliary position. It is a path of anxiety, failure, and despair. The Pharisees were champions of this approach and excelled in exercising themselves in everything they thought of as good. At the same time, they became angry that tax-collectors and harlots were freely given even mo
Bible/Scripture
“You can know life only through life itself. In other words, the practical application of the Scriptures builds up our relationship with God. We learn from the Bible about Christian life and find the basis for deep faith, because, So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Rom. 10:17).” (Priest Anthony Rusakevich) “St. John of Damascus’s remark: Let us draw from the fountain of this garden [the Scriptures] perennial and purest waters springing into life
God's Nature/Our Nature
“It is very interesting that…it is only when God “empties himself” for the life of the world, that He actually takes on being. Before...
Providence
“All good things come from God providentially, and those who bring them are the servants of what is good.” (St. Mark the Ascetic) “We do...
Nature
“In the created world only the human being combines material and spiritual elements. Human existence is thus differentiated from...
Character and Choices
“All of life’s choices have consequences, consequences for ourselves and consequences for the world around us. And when we fall into the...
Accomplishment
“Great things aren’t just the legacy of unusually gifted great men and women. Great things are what you will accomplish when you put God...
Wisdom
“People who have the sort of mind that sees only one side to every question tend towards vigorous action. They succeed in everything they...