Is it okay to ask God to help us love Him more? Why did Adam and Eve disobey God and why do people die? Can we get sick from receiving the Eucharist from the common spoon? How should feelings and emotions play in our decisions in our faith? What age is appropriate to introduce fasting to young children

Can we say memorial service prayers for our departed for both Orthodox and non-orthodox, non-christian at home. How do we understand earthly justice compared to heavenly justice. How does the Orthodox Church view exorcisms. Is there a rule for Orthodox Christians to not pray with the Heterodox?

Fr. Evan Interviews Fr. Nicholas and Dr. Roxanne Louh and his friend Calliope Couchell-Wilson

As an Orthodox Christian, is it permitted to participate on non-orthodox weddings? There seems to be a disconnect between commitment and marriage. Why? What is the Orthodox Church view on salvation. What is free will both here on this earth and the age to come.

What is the proper greeting between parishioners during the Divine Liturgy when we recite the creed and what does it mean? What should we do when we break the fast ? What is our christian witness to those outside the Orthodox faith. is it true that the Ukrainian Church in Ukraine is being made to pray for the Russian army and its victory? What is the Orthodox view of the sacraments.

Is venerating the icons within the Orthodox Church a requirement? Is there a divine understanding of the concept of human rights? Is self care ever unhealthy from a spiritual perspective. First time listener, first time caller asks Fr. Evan advice on entering as a catechumen of the Orthodox Church

Fr. Evan answers questions regarding life confessions, the number of sacraments, and more.

Are dating apps a good and healthy way to find a spouse? What is a healthy response to pride month. Is it ok to take a pro-Israel stance on the war ? Is salvation only found within the Orthodox Church. Do animals go to heaven ?

Fr. Evan explains John 9 ,Sunday of the Blind Man. Is the Orthodox wiki website a reliable source of reference for Orthodox Christianity? What will happen to those who do not know the fullness of God's love. What do the different colored vestments mean within the Orthodox Church.

How does one navigate ethnic traditions within Orthodoxy. The importance and how to pray through the psalms. What is a mission church? How does the Orthodox Church respond to someone ending their life. What are toll-houses.

Has the Orthodox Church's theology on salvation changed at all from what is was in the beginning ? What is the purpose of the holy kiss in the divine liturgy. A 7yr old listener asks Fr. Evan if God was unkind when he sent the flood upon the earth. How do we understand AHDH with in the life of the church. What should those who feel they are possessed by a demon do exactly ? Fr. Evan's parishioners who are missionaries in Ecuador call in to say hello and give and update on the missionary work.

What key factors promote parish growth. Is the rapture an Orthodox teaching ? The difference between the old vs the new calendar. A story from an AFR listener, how she found the Orthodox Church and her chrismation experience

Discussion on Orthodoxy on the internet. How do we deal with anger. Fr. Evan is asked his response to the tv series, The Chosen. Why did Jacob wrestle with God as we are told in the book of Genesis

Fr. Evan shares listener words of appreciation and the importance of creating a space of love and acceptance within church community. Why are humans created higher than the angels by God. Why does the Orthodox church not practice Eucharistic adoration. How to counteract the passions of the flesh, particularly lust.

How to accept God's will in relation to other people's pre-choices. What is the meaning of the parable of the talents. Fr. Evan explains the meaning of the ecumenical patriarch. Why do priests only privately denounce Met. Epiphodoros. What does it mean when the church prays for unity of faith.The importance of presenting correct imagery to children in storytelling.

A few things to know regarding second marriage within the Orthodox Church. The concept of "new time" and how the sacraments take place within this new time. As a Catholic, why should I convert to Orthodoxy? What happens to the soul of the departed once the soul leaves the body.

Fr. Evan is asked advice on dating and gives advice on what to be mindful of when looking to find the one to marry. The Orthodox understanding of John 3:16 scripture reading. Fr. Evan shares an email regarding lust, pornography, gambling and comments on the very destructive impact these habits have on individuals and families. How to continue the struggle of Christian living in our modern world. Fr. Evan is asked to recommend resources to share with those visiting our churches.

How is Judaism practiced in 2024 different from rabbinic Judaism. Protestant belief in sola scriptura related to the belief in the rapture. What is the process of relics, how they are placed and where. What are the Orthodox views on organ donation and embalming.

Fr. Evan is asked his opinion as an Orthodox priest on consuming mind altering substances to initiate themselves into spirituality. Frustration with not able to partake of the Eucharist as a catechuman. Why did God wait almost 5 thousand years before He sent Christ for the salvation of the world.

A former military member who killed in war and has a question regarding the sixth commandment. why was Cornelius not encouraged to step from his role as centurion. A 12 year old asks why our faith is the true faith. How do we ride ourselves of anger, hate, malice. How does the Orthodox church understand the 1000 year reign on earth as many Protestant churches believe. When one cannot sleep, what are some best practices to get back to sleep

How to best make fasting changes when necessary.How do we as Orthodox Christians respond to country patriotism. Fr. Evan gives advice to a listener who's wife threatens divorce if he becomes a catechumen. Does God place suffering on us and if so, does He say we are to be thankful for it? Is there any harm in Orthodox Christians engaging in the practice of acupuncture or yoga?

Tonight Fr. Evan is joined by his friend Alexis Pappas. The discussion is centered around effective youth ministry. Are there particular saints we should pray to for our children? How do we help our young adults re-engage their faith and the church. To learn more about the work Alexis Pappas is involved in or to reach her please see; www.effectivechristianministry.org Department of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Youth and Young Adult Ministries Alexis Pappas, ECM Cohort Director pappas@goarch.org

Who did Adam and Eve's children end up marrying? How should we observe the sabbath. Why do we read that baptism must be performed in moving water in the Didache. What is the Orthodox faith's relationship to civil law. Why do we venerate the gospel book during matins and what should we say to the priest after we kiss his hand.

Most servants are faithful with the talents entrusted to them. Even though broken and poor, they keep nothing for themselves. This is the reality of the gospel that we see within the community: there is an abundance of good done by the people.

Members of the community interact with the story of the Canaanite woman's faith, sharing their crumbs of wisdom.

In the heart of every prodigal son, at the time of prayer, God prepares a real place ready to offer hospitality to the one that is wounded.

A question recently posed at the mission caused Fr. Nicolaie to recall an experience he had when he was a teacher in Romania; and to reflect on how we each have our very own occasional "Emmaus" roads.

Frank (or Isaac, in the Church), a regular member of the community, passed away suddenly near the end of March. A mixup with his phone provided the community with the chance to learn of his passing, and opened the door for his daughter to share her grief with others who also loved her father.

St. Gregory Palamas believed in beholding through prayer the uncreated energies of God. A young volunteer reveals to the community that this is not one quick event that pierces the soul. It is rather an encounter for the whole day.

It is always better to give than to receive. When we try to help other people, we tend to forget their need to also be able to give.

A community member and Father Nicolaie each reflect on their experience with an aspect of the Gospel story of the young man who was possessed.

Healing happens within the community in different ways, and at times it is given to us to witness little miracles. In the end it heals us all, in our heart. And this is the real miracle.

Father Nicolae writes about how both the blind man in the Gospel reading, and Angela (a member of the community) have been changed by Christ to such an extent that they are nearly unrecognizable. This gives all of us hope of restoration through Christ.

Fr. Nicolaie tells how the faith of people who saw (and see) evil in the face of war is a faith that can guide those of us who live in a society tempted by the illusion of death.

Through Matthew's arrival at the community this week, we learn that communion makes us look for the one that is lost: Through the wounds of the poor, Christ pours out His grace.

Notes from the community that offer a peek at how the community members are seeing God at work in and through each other.

Father Nicolai reflects on recent hopeful learnings in the community.

Brother Luke shares a collection of recent interactions and experiences from within the community.

The church is called today to care for life, to offer an open space where the soul of man can pray and sing, and have an encounter with Christ, who listens to us from the cross.

In this Sunday's gospel, Jesus provides an abundance of life out of the abyss. The plentiful fish are a testimony of the authority that He has over the living and the dead, revealing that His mercy is deeper than the heart of the sea.

How can poverty, hunger, and mourning be considered "blessed?" Father Nicolai looks at the Beatitudes through the lens of the community, revealing the "Good Word," "Bene Dicere," or "Blessing" that is poured out in and through someone with a sincere heart.

A discussion of Saturday's gospel leads community members to search for Resurrection.

It is the cry of the poor who are in solidarity with those who suffer the most, today. The poor are not indifferent to the suffering, but lift it in prayer, with faith that God hears them.

Fr. Nicolaie invites us to join the community in looking into the eyes of the Theotokos from a humble position at the feet of her icon; and to live ascetically in a way that opens our own eyes to charity and mercy.

the course of medication that cures Hepatitis C costs $84,000 at $1,000/pill, but can be produced for only $700 or $0.83/pill #

Linus Åkesson just casually being amazing again #

all of this year's XOXO talks were stellar, but this is the only one that comes with a newly-launched archive of nearly-lost artwork #

We published all the talks from the final XOXO, possibly the best day of talks we've ever had. I wrote a bit about how we booked speakers and the themes that emerged this year.

a series of articles looking back 20 years, worth exploring just for the playful article design inspired by early Gmail, Digg, Kazaa, and more #