OrthoAnalytika

This week we have a special guest and friend of the podcast, Rev. Michael Landsman, the pastor at Zion Stone UCC in Northampton, PA.  He takes us through Numbers 21, focusing primarily on the fiery serpents and the bronze serpent God had Moses to heal their poisonous bites.  Enjoy the show!

The lesson is that we need to have the courage and compassion to love all people that are in need; even those who are different from us.  But if that was the main point, why not make the Samaritan the one on the roadside? Why did Jesus make him the one who saves the victim?  Enjoy the show!

After reviewing some of OT insights regarding the day's feast (St Michael), Fr. Anthony uses Numbers 15-18 as a chance to talk about unintentional sin, the cost of going against God, and the epic battles of censors and wooden rods (with the winners being proven worthy of the priesthood).  What does it all mean?  Enjoy the show!  As always, Fr. Anthony's lecture notes are available at orthoanalytika.org

Orthodoxy is a rational faith, we do not have to “leave our minds at the door.”, but as with our feelings, our minds need to be trained. In order to be trained, first they need need to stripped of all nonsense and lies so that all our thoughts can be true. We need to allow something that is beyond our understanding live in the temple of our hearts. To the extent we value control and understanding over the Truth, we will not be able to make this change. Then it will not be Christ that lives within and motivates us, it will be our own pride. And that pride, that control, that understanding cannot bring us joy, salvation, or eternal life.

Listen as Nicholas Kotar talks about the benefits of using fairly tales to teach and evangelize and how he does this in his book, The Song of the Sirin.  Enjoy the show!

In this episode on Numbers 13-14 (the recon of Canaan), Fr. Anthony demonstrates what happens when a man who has a fever and can't think straight tries to lead a Bible Study (and forgets to follow his notes).  If you want coherence, the notes are at orthoanalytika.org.  If you like stream of consciousness, then this episode is for you!  Enjoy the show!

Communism brought great evil to the world, but it did not create it out of scratch; it pulled it from our own hearts.  How should we respond to the evil in the world?  To the evil in our own hearts?  Note: It was the 85th anniversary of the Holodomor, not the 75th (Fr. Anthony is math challenged).

Special Bible Study given on Halloween (N.S.); what does the Bible say about ghosts?  You might be surprised!

What is the one thing needful?  What is sin?  How is being a good human like working at a corporation?  Today's homily helps answer those questions.  Enjoy the show!

These are the notes from the teaching Divine Liturgy we celebrated for our children and youth (of all ages!) on 10/22/17.  Enjoy the show!