Hearts and Minds

As Orthodox Christians in a non-Orthodox culture, we have questions: Who are we? What is "the Church"? What is our relationship to friends and family of other faiths? What is ecumenism? Who will be saved? In this special edition of Hearts and Minds, Fr John Oliver offers a few reflections.

Fr. John Oliver invites us to consider the unhealthy family patterns that we have been handed through birth and have a choice whether we carry them into our future.

Fr. John Oliver reflects on what it means for God to speak a Word, and how our own words can drip with the honey of truth and love.

Fr. John Oliver explains the stages of grace in the spiritual life, in the context of the journey of Great Lent.

Fr. John Oliver reflects on the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ (January 1st) and how God is to be found in the details of life.

Kurt Harris interviews his oldest daughter, Anna Harris, about her story of how God brought her into the Orthodox Church, in this series titled "Stories Toward the Sacred" on the Hearts and Minds podcast.

Kurt Harris interviews Dan Naes about his story of how God brought him into the Orthodox Church, in this series titled "Stories Toward the Sacred" on the Hearts and Minds podcast.

Fr. John Oliver describes the purpose of our ascetic disciplines as believers - to be set free and partake in the glory of God!

Kurt Harris interviews Charles Chusuei about his story of how God brought him into the Orthodox Church, in this new series titled "Stories Toward the Sacred" on the Hearts and Minds podcast.

Fr. John Oliver reminds us that the Christian heart wants to taste of the incomparable heavenly banquet of the Kingdom of God.

Fr. John Oliver offers a view of the pain of the "wilderness" stage of the Christian life while journeying with God to the Promised Land.

Fr. John Oliver explains the Three Powers of Thinking, Desiring and Acting. He describes the impact on our lives when one or more of theses powers are sick in our lives, and shares how we can experience healing of these powers.

Fr. John Oliver interviews Kurt and Nancy Harris who share their story of how God brought them into the Orthodox Church. The Harris' will in turn interview others in this new series titled "Stories Toward the Sacred" on the Hearts and Minds podcast.

"A 'thank you' toward Heaven is nice, but how much more does it mean when it flows from sincerity—from a changing life? The human being says 'thank you' to God by becoming more like him."

Fr. John shows how the Bible's answer to "What must I do to be saved?" differs from the world's.

Fr. John exhorts his listeners (despite being a published author himself) to read the saints first.

Fr. John uses the great feasts we are celebrating as evidence against excusing our deviant behavior.

Fr. John explains how all the Church's words are full of grace and truth—an example for us all as we celebrate the birth of the Word.

Fr. John uses the parable of Jesus to show us what Christian life is supposed to be.

Fr. John examines how the advent season prepares us for the Nativity of Christ.

Fr. John notes the differences between problems and crosses to bear.

During the afterfeast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, Fr. John reflects on the mystery that is Mary.

Fr. John offers a reflection on the recent tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico.

Fr. John makes the obvious (?) connection between summer and the Northern Kingdom of Israel in the 8th Century, BC.

Fr. John looks at tombs we all fall into—the sins, beliefs and habits that drain the life out of us.