Be Transfigured Ministries

What Good is Prayer and Fasting?

I hear it all the time. “I prayed really hard, and STILL God didn’t answer my prayer.” This sense of frustration is common especially during times of serious illness and death of our loved ones. The Gospel tells of just this sense of frustration in the father who had a son so ill that even the Apostles couldn’t heal him, and Jesus said, “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

The Power of Love

When God asks us to do something, we often respond with doubt because we’re not sure we have what it takes to get the job done. Just as the Disciples believed they didn’t have enough food to feed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and a couple fish, we question whether we have enough to share with others. Our doubt isn’t limited to feeding the hungry; we doubt whether we can afford to donate to the Church, or help the poor. We doubt whether we have enough patience to show those fighting against us that we love them. We even sometimes doubt whether we have enough love, to love. But when the Disciples included God in the plan there was not only enough, but an overabundance of leftovers. The power of love, when we love as God loves, and when we allow the love of God into our hearts, will always provide enough for us to share with others.

Transform Your Fear into Wonder

All people, when they encounter God, respond to his acts of love in different ways. Some are afraid to be seen by God, since they know their sins deserve punishment. Others see God’s willingness to forgive with wonder, and take the opportunity for repentance. Sometimes fear can paralyze us into inaction, hiding ourselves from God in the hopes that He will not see us. Adam and Eve tried that! Other times fear can keep us safe from the dangers of the world like train tracks and hot stoves. But fear should never keep us from opening our hearts to God, so that we can learn from His love, and repent. It is only when we transform our fear into wonder that we can confess our sins in the Mystery of Confession with open hearts, be forgiven by God, and grow closer to Him.

American or Greek Orthodox; What’s in a Name?

Many people have questions about our Orthodox Christian Faith. Many simply do not remember what they learned in Sunday School. Many are not comfortable asking their questions in public. But ALL of us can benefit from the questions of others. This week’s question is about our name. Why can’t we just say American Orthodox Church instead of Greek Orthodox? Many are confused when the sign on the curb describes us as Greeks or Russians or Romanians, but there is more to the term Greek than just a place for Greeks!

American or Greek Orthodox; What’s in a Name?

Many people have questions about our Orthodox Christian Faith. Many simply do not remember what they learned in Sunday School. Many are not comfortable asking their questions in public. But ALL of us can benefit from the questions of others. This week’s question is about our name. Why can’t we just say American Orthodox Church instead of Greek Orthodox? Many are confused when the sign on the curb describes us as Greeks or Russians or Romanians, but there is more to the term Greek than just a place for Greeks!

Living Orthodoxy in a Sinful World

Many people have questions about our Orthodox Christian Faith. Many simply do not remember what they learned in Sunday School. Many are not comfortable asking their questions in public. But ALL of us can benefit from the questions of others. This week’s question is inspired by Saint Paul’s words, “It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God.” (Romans 14.21-22) In the context of recent contemporary issues facing the Church in America, what does Saint Paul mean when he says these words, and how do we live Orthodoxy in a sinful world?

The Light of Christ in the Narthex

Many people have questions about our Orthodox Christian Faith. Many simply do not remember what they learned in Sunday School. Many are not comfortable asking their questions in public. But ALL of us can benefit from the questions of others. This week’s question addresses the “how” and “why” of lighting candles in the Narthex. Some people think lighting candles is just “another thing we do” as Orthodox Christians that has no meaning. But when you place that candle in the sand, you are doing MUCH more than just lighting a candle.

I’m Distracted by Others in Church

Many people have questions about our Orthodox Christian Faith. Many simply do not remember what they learned in Sunday School. Many are not comfortable asking their questions in public. But ALL of us can benefit from the questions of others. This week’s question is a follow-up to last week’s “Which Way Should I Look?” where we discuss the truth, sometimes difficult truth, that when we are distracted in Church, it might be because we don’t understand Liturgy like we should. We answered a second question this week, also along the theme of what are eyes see in Church, in which we discuss the different colors the Church uses for the clergy vestments and to cover the Holy Altar.

Bible Study on Acts - Session 5

This Bible study was originally live streamed via YouTube on October 8, 2014, in Florence, South Carolina.

Bible Study on Acts - Session 4

This Bible study was originally live streamed via YouTube on October 1, 2014, in Florence, SC