The 20/40 Young Adult Ministry of St Joseph Church, Houston, hosted Dr. John Mark Reynolds, Provost of Houston Baptist University (and Orthodox Christian) on four Fridays in March.

The 20/40 Young Adult Ministry of St Joseph Church, Houston, hosted Dr. John Mark Reynolds, Provost of Houston Baptist University (and Orthodox Christian) on four Fridays in March.

The 20/40 Young Adult Ministry of St Joseph Church, Houston, hosted Dr. John Mark Reynolds, Provost of Houston Baptist University (and Orthodox Christian) on four Fridays in March.

Dr. John Mark answers the question, "How do I teach Socratically and still have an Orthodox faith with lots of really set beliefs that I don't spend a lot of time reexamining?"

John Mark reflects on the "preachy commercials" during the Super Bowl and has a message for those of us who tend to be overly serious.

Dr. John Mark Reynolds introduces The Saint Constantine School, a new K-College Orthodox school.

Dr. John Mark Reynolds talks about the importance of celebrating Black History Month. He also addresses what happens, what goes wrong, when the church is co-opted by *anything,* even good things.

Dr. John Mark Reynolds explains an Orthodox perspective on closed Communion.

Dr. John Mark Reynolds talks about poet Mary Weston Fordham and reads one of her poems.

Dr. John Mark Reynolds describes the nature of Christian education, including ideas for Sunday Church Schools.

Dr. John Mark Reynolds talks about how Christian education and the secular world can work together.

Dr. John Mark Reynolds talks about determining what books are most helpful for Christian education.

Wesley introduces his podcast, as well as the concept of human exceptionalism.

The killing of Cecil the Lion is a bad thing. On a new "Human Exceptionalism," Wesley J. Smith explains why while differentiating between animal rights and animal welfare.

Two items in the news lately have captured Wesley's attention.

The once ludicrous notion that ecological protection and fighting climate change require according legally enforceable human-style rights to nature is becoming more mainstream within the environmental movement. Wesley J. Smith examines the consequences.

Wesley demonstrates how the West is increasingly incapable of engaging in true debate, achieving broadly agreeable consensuses or finding middle-ground compromises about the most important controversies that vex us.

Should animals have the same rights of "personhood" as humans?

Why is our culture obsessed with death, and how can remembrance of death help us to overcome it?

Is human life exceptional when compared to the animal kingdom? Some scientists do not think so!

Is the desire for meaning and purpose exclusive to those who are religious, or do all human beings long for something more?

Will healthcare providers who hold to the sanctity of human life be allowed work in the emerging secular society?

Is euthanasia really the best way to alleviate the suffering of those dealing with serious mental illness?

Should aspects of nature be given the same kind of rights as human beings?

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA's research center responsible for robotic space missions, will lay off more workers before the year ends due to budget constraints. JPL Director Laurie Leshin has announced in a memo addressed to employees that the reduction will affect 325 people, or about five percent of its whole workforce. Leshin explained that the lab took various measures to meet its budget allocation for the 2025 fiscal year and to minimize the adverse effects of a limited budget on its workers. In the end, though, JPL "reached the difficult decision" to make "one further workforce reduction."

The lab already cut 530 employees and cut over 100 contractors from its roster earlier this year because of uncertainty over the final budget that the Congress will give NASA for 2024. It also froze hiring in response to the dilemma. The main reason why the lab had to implement those measures was because the Mars Sample Return Program was allocated a much smaller budget than it needed. NASA had requested $950 million for the mission, but only $300 million was allocated for it. 

NASA's original plan was to bring home the samples collected by the mission in 2040. But its budget ballooned from $7 billion to $11 billion, and as The Washington Post notes, the government found the return date "unacceptable." For the 2025 fiscal year, NASA only requested $200 million for the project that could go through significant changes. The agency is now looking for ways to alter the mission and is even considering proposals from private companies. 

Leshin said that the layoffs will affect all areas of the lab, including its technical, business and support divisions. "[W]e had to tighten our belts across the board, and you will see that reflected in the layoff impacts," she said. JPL's director also said that the US presidential election results have nothing to do with the reduction that the "action would be happening regardless" of its outcome. 

Metropolitan Kallistos Ware addresses the theme of Passion within the 2010 IOCS Summer School, which approached the wider theme of "Passion: Human and Divine." In this lecture, Metropolitan Kallistos explores the question, "Does God suffer?"

Metropolitan Kallistos Ware continues to address the theme of Passion during the 2010 IOCS Summer School.

As a Christmas gift to our listeners, the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies (IOCS) presents a reading of "A Homily on the Nativity" from the book Harp of the Spirit: Poems of St. Ephrem the Syrian, translated by Sebastian Brock and published by IOCS.

Metropolitan Kallistos Ware addressed the topic of "The Church in the Traditional Orthodox Countries" as the first session (out of two) on the larger theme of "Orthodoxy in the 21st Century." The lecture was delivered in Cambridge in the Institute's seminar room during the Community Lecture Day of 22 February 2014.

Dr. Rossi talks about the jungle of wicked thoughts in our minds and the need to not judge others.

Today, Dr. Rossi distinguishes between despondency and depression and helps us recognize and deal with it so we can be a healing presence to others.

In this episode Dr. Rossi talks about pursuing a personal policy of honesty in all things.

What are we free and not free to do as believers in Christ? Dr. Rossi gives some practical examples of freedom used where freedom was not appropriate.

What is the difference between a career and a vocation? Dr. Rossi tells a personal story from his days as a Monk.

Today, Dr. Rossi reflects on icons and the very different perspective of the Orthodox Christian when viewing them.

What comes to mind when you hear the term "cognitive dissonance"? Today Dr. Rossi shows how this reality is active in our lives as Orthodox Christians.

In this episode, Dr. Rossi interviews St. Vladimir's student Tracy Gustilo about St. Irenaeus.

Dr. Rossi recorded an adaptation of his talk that he gives to youth on sex, lust, and marriage. His talk usually lasts a couple of hours but he has condensed it here to 45 minutes. Its well worth listening to!

Dr. Rossi takes some pages out of Brothers Karamazov and Dostoyevsky's character Fr. Zosima to help us learn how to live and love.

Today Dr. Rossi interviews Bishop John (Abdalah) of the Antiochian Archdiocese on the subject of purity.

Dr. Rossi interviews the parish priest at St. Justin Martyr Orthodox Church in Jacksonville about parish life, outreach, and evangelism.

Dr. Rossi talks about a recent book by Dr. Eugen Pentiuc entitled The Old Testament in Eastern Orthodox Tradition.

Dr. Rossi welcomes Fr. John Jillions, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America, to talk about the healing nature of the Psalms.

On the last episode, Dr. Rossi welcomed Fr. John Jillions who gave some reflections on the Psalms. Today Dr. Rossi shares some thoughts about some of his own favorite Psalms.

Dr. Rossi interviews His Grace Bishop Gregory of Nyssa of the American Carpatho-Russian Archdiocese and the liaison between OCF and the Assembly of Bishops. They discuss discerning God's calling on your life.

Today Dr. Rossi talks with Fr. Nick Solak, parish priest and faculty member at St. Vladimir's Seminary about prison ministry and training seminarians for work in prisons.

Dr. Rossi reflects on his visit to the gravesite of his wife on New Years Eve and the significance of life, death, and the incarnation.

Dr. Rossi takes us to Taylor, PA, and share his experience with the myrrh-gushing icon at St. George Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church. He interviews a college student and plays a clip of the singing of the faithful gathered there.

After coming home from a visit with Matushka Juliana Schmemann, Dr. Rossi reflects on aging and the preparation for the next life.

Dr. Rossi continues to talk about the Jesus Prayer.