Picture this: The leaves are starting to change, the days are getting shorter and school is back in full swing. These telltale signs can only mean one thing. Fall has arrived.  

If you took away one thing from this year’s UpFronts it was likely about the growing popularity of connected TV. 

Fr. Stephen offers thoughts on how it is we are saved in our weakness rather than our strength.

To know God is the essence of the Christian life according to Scripture - though how we know God is sometimes difficult to describe. Fr. Stephen looks at the moment of hesitation with the words "nevertheless" and "and yet" and the room they provide for such knowledge to be acquired.

Fr. Stephen looks at the implications for the "end of the world" found in Christ's preaching and incarnation, and what they mean for us.

Many efforts are made to convince modern Christians that they live "in between" Christ's first coming and His second - and that this "in between" period is somehow different and requires new understandings of the gospel. Fr. Stephen refutes this false understanding and describes where it is we now live.

Fr. Stephen speaks about the concept of anadoche - the spiritual communion and responsibility we have in one another's lives.

Fr. Stephen looks at the very heart of fasting—not the foods, not the 'how to's'—but why we fast.

Fr. Stephen notes that in an Orthodox wedding, there are no wedding vows. This stands in stark contrast to the central place vows hold in Western tradition. He suggests that the West has come to think of marriage as a "contract" between two people while the Orthodox Church thinks of it as a "union." The difference is important.

Fr. Stephen looks at one of the most treasured notions of the modern world.

Fr. Stephen Freeman looks at the unique Gift that God gives us in Christ's Pascha: the revelation of our true self.

Elder Zacharias of Essex says that the "way of shame is the way of the Lord." Fr. Stephen Freeman looks at how our weakness is, in fact, the path of our salvation.

J.R.R. Tolkien had a number of critiques aimed at the abuses of our modern age. That same understanding can be seen in his fiction. Fr. Stephen Freeman looks at the Ring of Power and the mythology of our modern world and draws lessons that every good hobbit should know.

Fr. Stephen looks at the aspect of seeing the world in wonder—an experience shared by both Christian and non-Christian—and suggests, following St. Gregory of Nyssa, that it is the place where our faith should begin.

Fr. Stephen looks at the words "relationship" and "fellowship" and notes that they are very "weak" translations of the Greek word koinonia in Scripture. He suggests how we should understand this word in its true, Orthodox sense.

Community is rooted in a mutual need, and so depends on our weakness. Fr. Stephen Freeman tells us that this is God's intention for the Church.

I've always liked the iPad Mini form factor more than other tablets, but that preference goes beyond hand-feel and comfort.

Code faster and work smarter with a Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 license, now on sale for 94% off.

The post How to Approach Influencers in Your Niche: Twelve Crucial Tips appeared first on ProBlogger.

Do you want to connect with influencers in your niche? Most bloggers do. But many of them go about it the wrong way. Forming relationships with influencers is something you really want to get right. Done well, it’s one of the best ways to grow your audience and brand. And hopefully ...more

The post How to Approach Influencers in Your Niche: Twelve Crucial Tips appeared first on ProBlogger.

This Lent, I'm walking through my book, Time and Despondency, in tandem with the free Lenten study guide available through Ancient Faith Publishing. In weeks one and two, we're talking about finding God at the grocery store, conquering the protagonist syndrome, and learning to inhabit life without the defense mechanisms of pride and impatience . You can follow along with the book and the free study guide here: http://store.ancientfaith.com/time-and-despondency/ This episode contains the Prayer of St. Ephrem as well as the following music: Kai Engel: "Idea," "Irsen's Tale," and "Remedy for Melancholy" Podington Bear: "Across the River" Chris Zabriskie: "Prelude 10"

In this episode, recorded live on Facebook, Nicole discusses her experience of Holy Week prior to becoming Orthodox by reading from the Conclusion of Time and Despondency. Readers from Facebook join in with thoughts about how their impressions and experiences of Holy Week have changed over the course of their lives. The intro and outro of Time Eternal are "Idea" and "Remedy for Melancholy," by Kai Engel.

Bill and his co-host Fr. Barnabas Powell set the stage for this new 5th Sunday feature on Ancient Faith Radio. This first program is pre-recorded but future programs will be live and available for your calls.

Are you living the personal calling given to you by your Father and Creator? Is your Parish thriving with successful ministries and stewardship and serving as a beacon of making disciples? If you are looking for a "good account at the awesome judgment seat of Christ" listen to this 2nd episode of Stewardship Calling with Bill Marianes.

What kind of church and facilities would you have built if money were no object and you were committed to addressing all of your community’s needs? Now what did you actually build? The difference between your dreams and your reality could, among other things, be a measure of the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of your capital campaign and overall leadership program. Anthony Scott joins Bill Marianes to talk about Capital Campaigns and how to run them.

Why am I here? What am I called to do with all of the gifts, talents, experiences, and abilities God has uniquely given to me? Where am I going in my life? Do I feel fully fulfilled, or do I sense that there may be something more for me than my current life’s work? In this episode, we focus on lay people who have answered the call and become Deacons in the Orthodox church. Enjoy the conversation as Bill speaks with Protodeacon Peter Danilchick and Deacon Noah Barry Hendricks.

Our “Men in Black” are shepherds who lead us to a better life here and now and in the hereafter. So, who is helping them and tending to their needs? Bill Marianes welcomes his special guests including Reverend Dr. Nicholas Louh and Presvytera Dr. Roxanne Louh as well as Dr. George Koulianos. Dr. Koulianos is an internationally recognized medical doctor helping to address specific Clergy needs as a part of the $1 million grant from the Lilly Foundation to the Center for Family Care of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Professional communicator, Ken Futch, is a National Speakers Association Hall of Fame member and speaker and homily coach with over 35 years of experience. He offers practical ideas to help both clergy and laity improve all of their communications skills. Ken is one of the most engaging and inspiring presenters who has been in high demand throughout the country for decades. He is the author of the enjoyable and helpful book Take Your Best Shot.

Over Labor Day weekend, Phoenix, Arizona, will host Orthodox young adults from all over who'll gather for fellowship, a service project, and the chance to stretch themselves to better live and EXCLAIM their Orthodox faith. To discuss this great event, and share their own inspiring stories, Bill will interview Judge Steven Counelis and George Anagnostopoulos. These enthusiastic visionaries represent the amazing Young Adult League committee that organized this unique and extraordinary event.

Frederica interviews her son Stephen, a seminarian at Holy Cross and a part-time piano tuner, about the musical concept of temperament.

Frederica interviews her daughter-in-law Jocelyn about her work as a wedding photographer. Click HERE to view Jocelyn's work.

Frederica discusses a lecture she attended by bioethicist Wes Smith.

Frederica reads an essay she wrote for Beliefnet.com in 2006.

Frederica recounts her recent dream about waiting to learn the basis on which God will judge human beings.

Frederica discusses her new book in which she uses a visit to a fictional parish, St. Felicity, to provide a basic introduction to the Orthodox Church.

Frederica reads the introduction to her new book Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, published by Paraclete Press.

Audio recording of Frederica reading the Discussion Questions for her new book titled "Welcome to the Orthodox Church."

Frederica reflects upon the book titled Why the Rest Hates the West by Meic Pearse.

Frederica Mathewes-Green interviews Nicholas Kosar about Colonel Philip Ludwell III, the first known American convert to Orthodoxy.

In honor of St. Valentine's Day, Frederica offers a fragrant bouquet to the men in the audience.

An informal chat with the wives of two priests from Western Rite parishes in the Antiochian Archdiocese.

Frederica Mathewes-Green defends pro-lifers’ right to wear that name, and choose for themselves what causes to support.

In the final episode of The Trench, Christian explores how what we love orients our way of being in the world and how what we love is shaped by what we do. Join Christian as he says goodbye to the series by asking, "What do we truly love?"

Fr. Thomas gives an overview of the services for the 5th week of Great Lent and their final emphasis on penitence and repentance.

In this last week of Great Lent, Father Thomas connects the parable of the rich man and Lazarus with Christ's raising from the dead of the actual Lazarus.

The week before Pascha begins with the Bridegroom Matins. Christ is the Bridegroom and we are the Bride, joined in perfect unity through His crucifixion.

Fr. Thomas begins a four-part series on naming God and the language and words we use in the process.

Fr. Tom continues his discussion, this time focusing on the Divine Attributes of God.

This time, Fr. Thomas speaks of the Activities and Actions of God.