I forget, in the course of my long life as a Christian, how many times I have heard people assure me that “God will never give you more than you can handle”. By this they seemed to mean that God knows my emotional limits and capabilities, and will make sure that no disaster befalls me that will tax me emotionally beyond my present strength. Sometimes they affix a Bible verse from 1 Corinthians 10:13 to it to make their case: “No temptation has overtaken you but such is common to man, and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it”. I must report however, on the basis of my long life as a Christian, that the assuring notion that God will never give anyone more than they can handle is nonsense.

It is a wonderful thing to know the Scriptures well, but there is a drawback: since we know how all the stories end, we can miss the drama inherent in the narrative. For example, In Luke 7:11f we can read about the grief of the widow of Nain, but since we know that her son’s death will end in his resurrection before he can be buried, we can skip too quickly from her sorrow to the happy ending and miss how terrible that grief must have been for her.

Fr. Apostolos shares three reasons to be grateful and three suggestions to consecrate the Thanksgiving holiday.

Fr. Apostolos talks about feeding ourselves spiritually, not only physically."Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled."

Here is this morning's homily on the risks to ourselves, both personally and collectively, if we choose to remain in the darkness of life outside the Kingdom of God.

Fr. Apostolos addresses how to walk in the grace of thanksgiving and gratitude in our day-to-day lives.

Fr. Apostolos Hill gives a brief historical review of the excavation of Golgotha and the history of the Precious Cross of Christ, then an examination of the challenge of understanding the Cross in our own time.

The Parable of the Ten Lepers provided an opportunity to examine Levitical laws pertaining to leprosy and to the offering of sacrifices of thanksgiving in the Temple. Fr. Apostolos Hill underscore thes essentiality of the Holy Eucharist as the means whereby we as Orthodox Christians can offer our own sacrifices of Thanksgiving to God.

Sermon on the Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Ephesians 2:14-22; Luke 13:10-17)

The accusation is sometimes leveled against Orthodox Christians that they are "concerned with symbols over substance." Fr Thomas reminds us that both symbols and the meaning behind them are important for deep faith in God. (Sunday before the Elevation of the Cross)

The most endearing secular holiday in the American calendar is Thanksgiving Day. It was set aside by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father." Later, the modern culture invented Black Friday, driving consumers to the stores in a buying frenzy. Fr Thomas reminds us that "covetousness is idolatry" (Col 3:5), that everything we have belongs to God, and should be used for His glory.

Like the Good Samaritan, the scriptures give us yet another story about an exemplary Samaritan, among other so-called believers who failed to live up to their calling. Jesus heals ten lepers, but only the Samaritan returns to give thanks. Fr Thomas reminds us that we are continually being healed, and when we fail to give glory and thanks to the One who heals us, He says, "Where are you?"

Fr. John Parker, Dean of St Tikhon's Orthodox Seminary in South Canaan, PA, delivered the sermon on the Seventh Sunday of Pascha. Fr. John shares the story of his new leadership position at the seminary and how he grew to know the life of the seminary through daily experience. He reminds us that our knowledge of God must exceed simply knowing about Him to become instead the daily experience of God as members of the Church. (The recording begins in mid-story as he relates a call he received from Archbishop Michael to organize a talk at the All-American Council on church growth.)

Leading into the Great Fast, Fr. Tom urgently calls us to remember that all of the fasting in the world is useless if we neglect the weightier matters.

Fr. Gregory Hallam brings the homily on the Feast of the Transfiguration.

The nature of Christ’s return will be within me and within you. We are now ready to put on Christ within ourselves in how we live as baptised Orthodox Christians.

Fr. Christopher asks, "Why do we thank people? A cynic may answer to encourage more present giving in the future, and there is some truth to that. We do it to acknowledge the love and kindnesses of people and because there is a relationship. If there is not a two way exchange it is not a real relationship."

Fr. Gregory Hallam gives the sermon on Sunday, January 20, 2019.

Fr. Emmanuel gives the sermon entitled The Thanksgiving Principle with an introduction by Fr Gregory on St Gregory Palamas.

Dr. Reynolds talks about the strength and endurance of Christian beauty.

Once a culture accepts the fundamental premise of euthanasia consciousness, there is no way to limit doctor-administered death to those who are already at the end of their lives.

What do euthanasia enthusiasts really want? To eliminate suffering of any kind by eliminating the sufferer.

Should a human life be ended just so we can harvest their organs for another person's use? It might be closer than you think!

What is the best way to defend the exceptional nature of human beings?

Dr. Albert Rossi reflects on the pursuit of the meaning of life.

Recorded during a forest walk, this week's broadcast considers a traditional saying regarding St. Athanasius' encounter with three monks on an island, and the relationship between doctrine and transfiguration.

Why did God become man? This week's reflection explores St Athanasius's consideration of the Son's incarnation as a response to his probing refrain, in the face of man's sin: "What was God to do?"

Shortly after the death of his dear wife, Lynette, we get a very touching first-hand account of the ordeal they endured and a glimpse at the ongoing work in Albania. For more information, see Orthodox Christian Mission Center and prayforlynette.org.

Miho Ealy, a Japanese Orthodox Christian, talks to us from Japan about life after the earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

Today on the program we feature a lecture by Fr. Stanley Harakas, the Archbishop Iakovos Professor of Orthodox Theology, Emeritus, at Holy Cross, given at the first annual Anne and Theodore Phillips Paschal Lecture Series in Chicago, Illinois.

After 14 years of faithfully reading books to children each week, Dr. Chrissi Hart is retiring from Readings From Under The Grapevine. Don't miss this touching interview and join us in thanking her for these years of service to Christ.

Bobby Maddex is joined by award-winning actor, Jonathan Jackson to discuss the new Theoria College of Filmmaking. Listeners can learn more about the college and apply here. Also, listeners can find Jonathan's book, The Mystery of Art, at the Ancient Faith Store.

Jesus and the Ten Lepers.