Today, on the Feast of Pentecost, I, though unworthy, celebrated my 10th anniversary as an Orthodox priest. It’s been a rough road. Moments of glory mixed with suffering — all of which were complicated by my own sinfulness and shortcomings — have been my helpers. I thank God. I regret the missed opportunities brought about by my own shortsightedness. I regret the mistakes that I’ve made due to people-pleasing, impatience, lack of discretion, selfishness and carelessness. As any parent must... Read more

Sanctioned homosexual unions elsewhere have led to a new movement of secession in the South as mentioned in this article from World Net Daily. Read more

[The following article appeared in The Word magazine, May 2004 (Vol.48;No.5).] Students of the art of comedy know that for humour to work it must bear some semblance to the truth. One truth about humour: it’s usually at someone’s expense. Something you find funny, someone else finds offensive, and vice versa. The subject of sex is like that. Though not entirely humourous, it’s possible for any discussion of sex to be offensive. Ours is an overly-sexed, overly sensitive, age. And... Read more

I once heard a priest, speaking on some of the nuttiness within Orthodox Convert circles, claim: “Shine a light bright enough and even the bugs will come.” For me, this was true of what I now know as Gnosticism. Some of us, through no special intent or talent, seem to have a built in Decoder Ring for the esoteric and metaphysical sciences. This is not to say, at least in my case, that there is always understanding nor just mere... Read more

I’ve a confession to make: I am on my final pages of Foucault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco (1988), which — so I hear — is the fictional forerunner of the plethora of recently published books which include Gnosticism, Knight’s Templar lore, Rosicrucianism, etc. A further confession: I’ve skipped about every 10th word due to ignorance 🙂 The above link’s article goes a long way in splashing some nice cold water on some old, old fires. (Speaking of old fires, some... Read more

“If conservative religious people wish to exert maximum influence on culture, they will redirect their attention to repairing their own cracked foundation. An improved heterosexual family structure will do more for those families and the greater good than attempts to halt the inevitable. A topical solution does not cure a skin disease whose source is far deeper. Paul the Apostle long ago saw what happens when people remove boundaries: “For the time will come when men will not put up... Read more

The sign said “Now Hiring.” She walked into the college town restaurant and, in my opinion, was too pretty for the job. I sent an assistant out to interview her — and get rid of her — on two different occasions. The third time (she claims it was because of the hiring sign) I decided to interview her myself. Yes, she was beautiful, but we needed hard workers. In going over her work experience I noticed that she’d worked at... Read more

I’m a Southerner. I was born and reared a Southern Baptist; educated as an Episcopalian, and converted to Orthodox Christianity a decade ago. Since then, I’ve been struggling to be Orthodox. As a missionary priest, I’ve also struggled to bring others to Orthodoxy in the South. More than anything, I’ve learned that I have a lot to learn. I’ve also concluded that Orthodoxy, in its plethora of jurisdictions, will have to learn some things, appreciate some things, about Southern Culture... Read more

I’m a Southerner. I was born and reared a Southern Baptist; educated as an Episcopalian, and converted to Orthodox Christianity a decade ago. Since then, I’ve been struggling to be Orthodox. As a missionary priest, I’ve also struggled to bring others to Orthodoxy in the South. More than anything, I’ve learned that I have a lot to learn. I’ve also concluded that Orthodoxy, in its plethora of jurisdictions, will have to learn some things, appreciate some things, about Southern Culture... Read more

Hi Mom. Sorry. That just seemed like the most appropriate thing to say … first. Read more