Be The Bee - Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Be the Bee #175 | Our New Life in Christ (Pascha)

Pascha is the start of a new liturgical year in the Church, with new readings from the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel according to John. It also shows us what it means to be made new in Christ: to find new (and true) life in connection with our Lord.

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Be the Bee # 174 | Be Joyful and Gentle (Palm Sunday)

The Saturday of Lazarus and Palm Sunday are a sort of bridge between Great Lent and Holy Week. These days also live in the tension between joy and betrayal. People are welcoming Jesus as the Messiah while others are preparing to put Him to death. So who actually welcomed Jesus when He entered Jerusalem?

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Be the Bee # 173 | Redemption & Repentance (Sunday of Saint Mary of Egypt)

Jesus tells us that He came to shed His blood and "give His life as a ransom for many.” But what exactly does that mean? What does the Orthodox Church teach about atonement?

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Be the Bee # 172 | What is Real Christian Faith? (Sunday of Saint John Climacus)

We often think of faith as meaning either "certainty" (confidence that some idea is true) or "religiosity" (participation in a group's activities). But the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent is dedicated to Saint John Climacus, and the top rung of his "Ladder of Divine Ascent" describes faith.

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Be the Bee # 171 | Where to Carry Your Cross (Sunday of the Holy Cross)

Jesus tells us to pick up our cross and follow Him. But what does that mean?

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Be the Bee # 170 | The Light of Orthodoxy (Sunday of Saint Gregory Palamas)

Is it possible to know God? How could a perfect God have anything to do with His imperfection creation?

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Be the Bee #169 | Why We Venerate Icons (Sunday of Orthodoxy)

After weeks of learning about forgiveness and pride and judgment, we begin Great Lent with a Sunday dedicated to icons. Why? On one level, this is the anniversary of the triumph over Iconoclasm in 843 AD. But there's more to this triumph than meets the eye.

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Be the Bee #168 | Sharing the Space of Salvation (Forgiveness/Cheesefare Sunday)

“Nothing makes us so like God, as our readiness to forgive the wicked and wrongdoer.” (Saint John Chrysostom)

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Be the Bee #167 | How Will You Be Judged? (Judgment/Meatfare Sunday)

“O God, when You come upon the earth in glory, the whole world will tremble. A river of fire will bring all before Your Judgment Seat and the books will be opened, and everything in secret will become public.” (Kontakion of Judgment Sunday)

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Be the Bee #166 | You are a Child of God (Parable of the Prodigal Son)

The Prodigal Son left the warmth and safety of his Father's house and joined himself to people that left him empty. And, when he returned, his Older Brother refused to welcome him.

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Be the Bee #165 | The Danger of False Teachers (Parable of the Publican and Pharisee)

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)

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Be the Bee #164 | The Ministry of Listening

“Christians have forgotten that the ministry of listening has been committed to them by Him who is Himself the great listener and whose work they should share. We should listen with the ears of God that we may speak the Word of God.” -Dietrich Bonhoeffer, "Life Together"

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Be the Bee #163 | Giving Ourselves to God

The People of Israel were commanded to offer everything from the firstfruits of their harvest to their firstborn sons to God. This is just a part of a great cycle of offering: where we give ourselves to God and God gives Himself to us.

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Be the Bee #162 | Theophany, Holy Water, and the Goodness of Creation

“Christ is the one who came in order to do what Adam did not do: to be the priest of creation...not just for the human being, although it was achieved through the human being. Christ came so that the whole world may live, and the human being may become that which he was meant to be when he was created by God, namely the priest of creation.” -Metropolitan John (Zizioulas) of Pergamon

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Be the Bee #161 | The Meaning of Christmas (and How to Share It)

“What shall I say! And how shall I describe this Birth to you? For this wonder fills me with astonishment. The Ancient of Days has become an infant. He Who sits upon the sublime and heavenly Throne, now lies in a manger. And He Who cannot be touched, Who is simple, without complexity, and incorporeal, now lies subject to the hands of men....” (St John Chrysostom)

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Be the Bee #160 | Why Does God Allow Suffering?

2020 has been a rough year. Why does God allow bad things to happen? Why do bad things happen even to good people? People have struggled with theodicy (the problem of evil and suffering) for centuries.

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Be the Bee #159 | What it Means to Be a Man (or Woman)

What does it really mean to be a man or a woman? Society usually gives us two extremes: to accept every gender stereotype (no matter how superficial), or to completely reject the differences between male and female (no matter how obvious).

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Be the Bee #158 | How to "Give Thanks in All Circumstances"

Thanksgiving is a time to feel grateful. But that attitude of gratitude can go away as soon as we're done with the turkey. How do we keep it going? Saint Paul tells us to "give thanks in all circumstances." Because real gratitude is more than a feeling. As we see in the Parable of the Rich Fool, it starts with remembering one crucial thing.

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Be the Bee #157 | 3 Reasons to Fast from Social Media

Why do we fast from good things like tasty food? A the start of the Nativity Fast, we'll share three basic reasons why fasting helps transform our spiritual lives. But then we'll go a little deeper and explore why these same reasons suggest you should fast, not just from food, but from social media as well.

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Be the Bee #156 | 3 Ways Christians Can Deal with Temptation

Does having bad thoughts make you a bad person? What should Christians do with the temptations we experience? The Church refers to these thoughts as logismoi: the thoughts that tempt us and can lead us into sin. And Christians have been dealing with these temptations from the beginning.

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Be the Bee #155 | How Should Orthodox Christians Preach the Gospel?

Orthodox Christianity is perhaps the best-kept secret in America. Why? And how can we help share the Good News?

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Be the Bee #154 | Why People Stop Being Christians (and What We Can Do About It)

Adults fear that young people will grow up and stop being Christians. But no one ever fears that a kid will stop rooting for their favorite sports team. Why?

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Be the Bee #153 | Is Self-Care Selfish?

#WorldMentalHealthDay can help raise awareness about the importance of self-care. But does this mean self-indulgence? Is taking care of your health a selfish thing that Christians should avoid? Aren't we called to sacrifice everything for God and neighbor?

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Be the Bee #152 | How Christians Can Save Politics

Politics are toxic and the world seems full of darkness. Is our job, as Christians, to fight that darkness? We'll review the advice of two greats saints (St Isaac the Syrian and St Poprhyrios of Kavsokalyvia) to see how we can bring the Light of Christ into a world darkened by toxic politics.

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Be the Bee #151 | The Amazing Strength of Jesus

Whether it's a mean comment or act of violence, why is it so easy to hurt people? And why should we care? We're all afraid of being weak, and will often hurt others to feel strong. Yet Jesus showed us that true strength often involves being weak: this is the way of love and the cross.

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Be the Bee #150 | Are You Struggling to Pray?

Sticking to our daily prayer rule can be tough! But why? We'll explore the simple reason prayer can feel crammed into our day rather than a natural part of it. And we'll offer a simple way to help you transform wasted moments into opportunities for connection with God.

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Be the Bee #149 | Why We Judge Others (and How to Stop)

It's easy to point our finger at someone else's mistakes, rather than focus on our own. Why? We'll explore the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant and the two big things that make it easy to judge others.

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Be the Bee #148 | Do We Act Like Christians?

If your parish suddenly disappeared, would anyone notice? Are we living out the Gospel in our neighborhoods and communities? Because we believe the same things that the first Christians taught. But do we act like them?

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Be the Bee #147 | How to Start (and Keep) a Prayer Rule

Struggling to say your prayers? We want to help you connect with God!

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Be the Bee #146 | Does God Have a Plan for You? (w/ Anna Karos)

Have you ever felt pressure about getting into the right school? Getting the right job? "Vocation" is about a lot more than a job. It's about how we respond to God's call. More »

Be the Bee #145 | Dear Class of 2020 (w/ Christina Andresen)

Graduation ceremonies across the country have been cancelled. The Church is here to honor you! But we're not simply honoring your grades or extracurriculars. Steve is joined by Christina Andresen (Director of Ministries for Orthodox Christian Fellowship) to explore how Pentecost can shape our graduation celebration. More »

Be the Bee #144 | Staying Healthy During Coronavirus

Feeling scared to go back to school or work? What about Church? This has been a crazy time for us all. So Steve and Christian are back to share four keys to staying healthy during the coronavirus pandemic (and as public place begin to reopen). They even made a companion journal to the episode. The journal offers guided questions to help you stay healthy: mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

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Be the Bee #143 | How to Build Healthy Habits

Struggling to start a good routine, like saying prayers every morning? Finding it impossible to break a bad habit, like watching too much TV? Don't worry, we're here for you. Steve and Christian share 5 tips to help you build healthy habits!

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Be the Bee #142 | Why I'm an Orthodox Christian (w/ Fr Andrew Stephen Damick)

As an Orthodox Christian, you're often the only one in the room. How do you share your faith in Christ with others? Why are you an Orthodox Christian (rather than part of some other tradition)? Father Andrew Stephen Damick joins Steve again as they share 4 basics reasons they're Orthodox Christians.

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Be the Bee #141 | What is Christian Unity? (with Fr Andrew Stephen Damick)

Christians seem more divided than ever. Is there really such a thing as "one" Church? Does Christian unity even matter? Father Andrew Stephen Damick joins Steve to tackle these important questions!

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Be the Bee #140 | Does God Promise Happiness? (with Hank Hanegraaff)

If we are faithful, does God reward us? Does He promise wealth and blessings? Or is true happiness so much more... Hank Hanegraaff, the Bible Answer Man, joins Steve at the start of Holy Week. More »

Be the Bee #139 | Christianity Under Quarantine

We're stuck at home We haven't been to Church services in weeks. What does it all mean? Steve shares a prayer and a parable that can help us see this with the eyes of a bee. More »

Be the Bee #138 | Can You Be Spiritual and Not Religious?

Can you be spiritual without organized religion? What does it even mean to be spiritual? Maybe we need to rethink what we mean by spirituality and religion... Maybe we need to live like Christians: full of the Holy Spirit.

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Be the Bee #137 | What Does it Mean to be Good? (with Dr Tim Patitsas)

Who decides what is "bad" vs what is "good?" Is being "good" simply about following the right rules? Dr Timothy Patitsas, author of "The Ethics of Beauty" and Professor at Hellenic College Holy Cross, joins Steve this week!

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Be the Bee #136 | The Emptiness of the Christian Life

Our lives can feel empty and alone. But the Church offers us a different kind of emptiness: one that will lead us to be full of the Holy Spirit.

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The Importance of Service(s) (with Archbishop Elpidophoros)

Archbishop Elpidophoros of America joins Steve to explore why service is at the heart of our lives as Christians. But he also reminds us that, if we truly want to emphasize service, then we must also emphasize the services of the Church. More »

Why Do Bishops Get Enthroned?

When Archbishop Elpidophoros comes to America, the first thing that’s going to happen is his enthronement on June 22. Yet that word, “enthronement,” can be confusing. After all, a bishop isn’t a king. Why does he need to be enthroned? The Church is a body. And just like different organs perform different functions in the body, the Church is made up of people with different talents and responsibilities. More »

It is Finished

Even though "Be the Bee" is coming to an end, this is just the beginning of Y2AM's life-changing work. Together, we can find Christ at work in our lives and move towards His Kingdom. More »

What Young People Need from the Church (with Andja & Maria)

What do young people need from the Church? Let's ask them! Andja and Maria, high school seniors and the hosts of the "Orthodox Life Hacks" podcast, join Steve to reflect on ministry for, with, and by young people. More »

Signs of the Kingdom (with Katrina Bitar)

Feeding a hungry person doesn't "fix" hunger: that person will feel hungry again. So what's the point of helping those in need? More »

4 Tips for Being an Orthodox Christian in the World (with Fr Andrew Damick)

You may be the only Orthodox Christian at school or work. Fr. Andrew joins Steve to offer 4 tips to help you live as an Orthodox Christian in the world. More »

Saved by Faith Alone? (with Fr. Barnabas Powell)

Is faith alone enough to save us? Father Barnabas Powell, an Orthodox priest and former Protestant, joins Steve to consider this important question. More »

How to Read the Bible

There are a lot of different, even contradictory, interpretations of Scripture. So how do we understand what the Bible actually means? More »

Beauty Will Save the World

The Orthodox author Dostoevsky once said that "beauty will save the world." What does beauty have to do with our salvation and relationship with God? More »

You Are What You Love (with Christian Gonzalez)

Last week, Steve and Christian talked about how receiving Holy Communion forms us into Christ's Body. This week, they reflect on the ways our good habits can build a "second nature" and form us into the people God made us to be. More »

You Are What You Eat

You've heard it before: you are what you eat. That's most true when we eat Holy Communion. Christian joins Steve to consider the amazing insights that Fr Alexander Schmemann offers in "For the Life of the World." More »

We're All Broken

We all struggle with something. We're all broken. Every Holy Thursday, we see Christ on the Cross. We come face-to-face with our own brokenness, and the way Christ joins us in our pain. He brings light out of darkness, and life out of death. More »

Why Do We Sing in Church?

We've already explored why Orthodox Churches have a distinctive look. They also have a distinctive sound. Why do we sing in our Church services? More »

Can We Know God?

We can learn things about almost any subject. Yet God doesn't want us to simply know things *about* Him, in an abstract way. He wants us to truly know Him and commune with Him. More »

Why Easy isn't Always Best

Lent is hard work, especially when so much of the modern world is designed to make things easy for us! Yet life isn't easy. Can we become the sort of people who learn how to do what's best, even when it's not easy? More »

Should I Fear God? (feat. Elissa Bjeletich)

Lots of prayers say we should "fear God." Does that mean we should be terrified of Him? How can we fear God and love Him? More »

What is a Sacrament?

Are there 7 sacraments? Are sacraments just symbols, or ways to receive grace? Get ready to unlearn everything you think you know about sacraments in this episode! More »

You are a Royal Priesthood (feat. Fr. Stephen Freeman)

As Christians, we're all priests of creation. We're all called to live liturgically: to offer ourselves, each other, and all our lives to Christ our God. More »

What Vestments Reveal About our Relationship with God

Vestments are more than decorations: they reveal something important about our relationship with God and the role of our clergy. More »

Our Sacred Order

Hierarchy isn't about status or being important. In the Church, hierarchy is our sacred order, the way we fit together as One Body. More »

New Year, New Focus

The ways we spend our time and money say a lot about what we actually love. And our actions may reveal we don't love God as much as we'd like to think. Let's take an honest look at our lives so we can make some much-needed changes in the year ahead. More »

The HOPE Project (Project for Awesome 2016)

Human trafficking is a big problem all over the world. In this year's Project for Awesome, we're supporting the HOPE Project, a new program that connects survivors of human trafficking housing, occupations, potential, and empowerment. More »

Six Minute Church Tour

Walking into an Orthodox Church can be pretty overwhelming. Join Steve as he offers a quick tour of what you'll typically see, and what that can teach us about our path to salvation. More »

A Church of Mysteries

We use the word "mystery" a lot in the Church. Because the Church herself is a mystery: not an idea to be grasped but a reality to be lived. More »

Why We Don't Hide Our Faith (featuring Sister Vassa Larin)

Faith is often treated as a secret, private thing. But if we really believe that we know the way to eternal life in Christ, would we really keep that hidden from others? More »

Don't Think About Your Thoughts

"Thoughts" are the imaginings and fantasies that can distract us from God. And they can turn into action after they enter our hearts. So how do we deal with the thoughts that bother us? Instead of fighting them, we can turn away from them. More »

What if God is Real?

God is more than an abstract idea. And if He's real, that has important consequences for our lives. More »

Why Christians Care for the Environment (w/ Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew)

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Fr. John Chryssavgis join Steve to explore why caring for the environment is part of our role as Christians and priests of creation. More »

Four Ways to Forgive

We all know forgiveness is a holy and important thing, yet it's easier said than done. When you're having trouble, here are four things to help soften your heart and open the door to forgiveness. More »

Do More Doing

Philanthropy isn't just about cutting checks, and charity isn't just for non-profits. We can all find ways to do more doing in our lives: to connect with people in personal ways and help give them a taste of God's Kingdom. More »

So, What's Your Story?

Our lives are chapters in a greater story. What part are you playing: the all-star athlete, the Greek American, the top of your class? What about the disciple of Christ? This week, let's refocus our lives in God's story, the greater story of salvation. More »

Is it Possible to Pray Always?

Saint Paul tells us to "pray without ceasing." But is constant prayer even possible? And how should we even start? We'll look at simple ways to build our prayer so that our whole life can become an uninterrupted prayer, a joyful offering of praise to God. More »

Five Ways to Jumpstart Your Spiritual Life

You probably know what you need to do to grow closer to Christ, but you're having trouble getting started. Here are 5 ways to jumpstart your spiritual life and start connecting with the Lord today! More »

Six Simple Ways to Make the Most of the Year Ahead

As we look ahead to the new Church year, we're not preparing simply to learn more about God: we're preparing to grow closer to God. And here are 6 things we can start doing right now to make the most of the year ahead as we take our first steps towards Christ and His Kingdom! More »

Be the Bee #101 | The Holy and Great Council (featuring Dn. John Chryssavgis)

Dn John Chryssavgis, theological advisor to His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, joins Steve to explain The Holy and Great Council. They discuss the mission of the Church in the world, and our mission as Christians. More »

10 Fun Facts About the Orthodox Church

Orthodoxy has been in the news a lot thanks to the upcoming Holy and Great Council. Here are 10 fun facts about the Orthodox Church to share with your family and friends! More »

What Comes Next

After 100 episodes, it's time to ask: what comes next? As great as it is to talk about God, and learn about Him, the next step is to put it all into practice. Repentance is a change in our lives, a movement back to God. Join the movement and live Orthodoxy! More »

Hold On to Hope

Life is full of ups and downs. Even though things are going well, it can suddenly feel like your spiritual life is crashing to the ground. Whatever the reason, here are three tips to help you hold onto hope. God bless you! More »

Why Do We Die?

Christ is Risen! Yet, if Christ really has conquered death, why do we still die? With a little help from St. Paul the Apostle and Fr. John Behr, we'll take a closer look at our relationship with God and explore how we perfect our union with Christ. More »

Love and Happiness

Many of us seek wealth, or stuff, or other temporary pleasures. Yet God wants us to seek something more. Christ chose the Cross. What do you choose? More »

The Key to Prayer

It's one thing to talk about why Church services and prayer are important, and another to do them. How do we start? The key is something simple, and something very easy to overlook: silence. More »

Why Prayer Matters

If we attend Church services, do we need to pray on our own? If we pray on our own, do we need to attend the services? Prayer matters, and goes hand in hand with the services. Without the Liturgy, prayer is just talking to ourselves. And without prayer, Liturgy is just empty ritual. More »

Why Church Matters

We all know we're invited to pray and fast more during Great Lent, but what about attending more Church services? We often ignore that because we see the services as boring obligations. So let's look at them with the eyes of a bee and see why the Church services are so amazing, uplifting, and transformative. More »

How to Prepare for Pascha

Great Lent is the time we prepare for Pascha, and the first weeks of the Triodion Period prepare us for Lent. These weeks help us understand how we should prepare for Pascha: that our main goal is not to individually "become better," but to to re-establish our relationships with God and neighbor. More »

Be Not Afraid

Hell isn't invading the Church; instead, the Church is invading Hell. Christ has broken down the gates of Hell, and our job as Christians is to join Him in bringing light to even the darkest corners of existence. More »

Who Do You Say That I Am? (ft. Christian Gonzalez)

Christ asked His disciples something personal: "Who do you say that I am?" It's an invitation to do more than answer a question: He's asking us to share our relationship with Him. So who do you say that Christ is? And how is He active in your life? Share your answer and this video! More »

How Christ Unites Us

Technology helps bring us together, sort of. The world is full of divisions that our sins reinforce. True unity only comes in Christ, who overcomes everything that divides us and brings all creation to God. More »

The Freedom of Forgiveness

St Dionysios of Zakynthos is a powerful example of forgiveness. He shows us how forgiveness can free us to be who God made us to be, rather than trapping us and defining us by our sins and shortcomings. More »

Project for Awesome 2015 - IOCC

Love isn't simply something to talk about, it's something to live. Help us support IOCC in this year's Project for Awesome, and live the Gospel. Together, we can make the world a more awesome place. Be the Bee is a series about finding God everywhere, all the time, just like a honey bee finds nectar hidden in flowers. More »

Give Thanks to the Lord

Giving thanks isn't just for Thanksgiving. As Christians, it's an important part of our daily lives. It's the way to see God even in the midst of difficult times, to receive the blessed happiness that only comes when we open ourselves to God's grace. Be the Bee is a series about finding God everywhere, all the time, just like a honey bee finds nectar hidden in flowers. More »

Love Your Enemies

It's not easy to love your enemies, especially when they do something terrible. But it's the Christian way, and it's possible because Christ has defeated hatred and fear with forgiveness and love. It's possible because He defeated death with His own death. More »

#BeTheSower

You've probably heard the Parable of the Sower, and that we're called to make our hearts good soil, ready to receive God's Word. But what about our call to be sowers, to be people who plant the seeds of the Gospel? Y2AM has a special challenge for you this Advent: are you ready to #BeTheSower? More »

A Good Thought

Have you ever wanted to do something good, and stopped because of doubt? God doesn't knock us over the head: He speaks to us in whispers, the good thoughts that remind us to love God and neighbor. Instead of letting those whispers get drowned out, remember: when you have a good thought, do it immediately. More »

Made for Goodness

Even though God made us in His image, sin and death can make that hard to see. The challenge of the spiritual life is to break free of the passions that pull us into sin, and instead choose God and good things. The challenge is to heal our hearts, and reveal the image of God in us, so we can become the saints God made us to be. More »

Does the Liturgy Need You?

Do Church services sometimes feel like performances, like you're just passively watching? We can't forget that the Liturgy is the work of the people. And one little word invites us to actively participate in that work: amen. More »

Pray Simply, Pray Always

Do you want to pray more, but aren't sure where to start? Draw some inspiration from the life of Symeon, a pious man profiled in the book "Ascetics in the World." His life shows how even a simple prayer rule can open our lives to God's grace. More »

Why Relics?

Why are relics so important in the Church? Saints are sanctified in both body and soul, and in Scripture we see how their bodies continue to be temples of the Holy Spirit even after death. The relics of the martyrs are especially important, from early liturgies in the catacombs to their place in altars today. More »

Habits

What can trees teach us about cutting our bad habits, and cultivating good ones? We're discussing an important lesson from Abba Dorotheos in this week's "Be the Bee!" More »

A Church of Councils

The Church isn't run by a single person. Instead, we come together in councils to keep the Faith and guide the Church through challenges. From the Apostolic Council of Jerusalem (in the Book of Acts) through the upcoming Great and Holy Council, this spirit of togetherness opens us to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And this spirit of cooperation and service can guide us wherever we are, no matter our role in the Church. More »

First Among Sinners

As we learn more about the Faith, we learn about right and wrong. And sin. If we're not careful, that knowledge can lead us to judge others rather than repent of our own faults. How do we stay focused on our sins? And what's the best way to approach people about their faults? Watch to find out! More »

Is Orthodoxy Anti Intellectual?

Does a love of theology and academic study somehow contradict the mysticism of the Faith? We approach God as complete human persons, and that includes our minds. Reading and studying theology can be a great thing, but it should also be a part of our larger life in Christ. God is more than an idea we think about: He's a person we encounter. More »

Memory Eternal

When people pass away, we pray that their memory will be eternal. We're not simply asking God to think about them: we're asking Him to save them (and us) and bring us all into His Kingdom. It's the Church's answer to the loneliness and emptiness of death. More »

Six Ways to Deepen Your Love for Christ

Living Orthodoxy is about love. Here are six ways you can deepen your love for Christ. Are you ready to start? More »

Mission for Christ

Since Pentecost, the Church has been on a mission joyful preaching the Gospel. This missionary work isn't only for far away places, it belongs in our neighborhoods and parishes. And our parish festivals are a great place to start. More »

Is Christianity Shrinking?

A new study from the Pew Research Group has some interesting numbers. Do they show that Christianity is shrinking? While it's true that people are leaving the Church, we can't panic. Instead, we should use these numbers as a challenge. Our challenge is to be the bee and live Orthodoxy: to help people find God and to live the Faith everyday. More »

Cradle or Convert?

We sometimes describe people as cradles or converts; but instead of describing people, that can divide us. And they're a bit misleading: we aren't born into the Church, and there isn't a specific moment in the past when we enter the Church. We're actually pilgrims, making our way to Christ, growing closer to Him everyday. More »

Children of God

Christ took on all that is ours so that we can have all that is His. One of those blessings is the ability to call God the Father our Father. That doesn't just affect the way we relate to God; it affects how we relate to all people, our brothers and sisters in Christ. More »

From "Me" to "We"

Liturgy is the work of the people: our work. It brings us from a bunch of "me's" to a single "we" in Christ. Every episode is a great reminder of this, since Be the Bee comes from the love and work of so many people, including you! More »

Salvation in Christ

We can summarize salvation in three words: Christ is Risen! Salvation, our participation in God's true and eternal life, only happens in the divine-human person of Christ. He took on all that is ours so we could have all that is His. More »

Heaven and Hell

Many people think that heaven and hell are the places God sends us to either reward or punish us. But Orthodox Christians don't believe in this "two story" model of the universe. We believe that God is "present in all places and filling all things," and that what we interpret as salvation or damnation is actually our response to, and experience of, God's unconditional love. More »

Creation and Fall

Jesus Christ is our savior, but what does He save us from? To answer that, we need to take a closer look at Creation and the Fall. God made us neither mortal nor immortal, but with freedom: we could choose to either move closer to God, the source of life, or away from Him, and find death. When Adam and Eve sinned they separated themselves from God and each other, creating the wounded, sick humanity that they passed down to us. More »

Who is Jesus Christ?

Who is Jesus Christ? He's the God-man, the eternal Son of God who, in the fullness of time, took on flesh and became fully human--while remaining fully God. This is so important because of what it means for our salvation. If we understand who Christ really is, we can understand who we really are. More »

When Right Isn't Easy (Selma Marches 50th Anniversary)

Being a Christian and living the Gospel isn't always easy; in fact, it's usually challenging. Dr Martin Luther King, Jr experienced that as he fought for justice. So did Archbishop Iakovos when, despite opposition, he chose to stand with Reverend King in Selma. Fifty years after the Selma marches, let's look ahead to how we can live with the same spirit of courage and love. More »

The Holy Trinity

How can God be both 3 and 1? Christians are monotheists, we believe in one God, but many people don't understand how the Holy Trinity fits in with that. The Holy Trinity is One God, three divine Persons who express one divine Nature. More »

Belief in God

How can we even begin to talk about belief in God? We need to start by making something clear: we're not talking about belief in something; we're talking about belief in someone. That changes the way we see the question. It means God isn't something we think about. It means He's someone we're invited to encounter. More »

What is Orthodox Christianity?

Some say Orthodox Christianity is one of the world's best kept secrets. So let's talk about what Orthodoxy is. At it's core, Orthodoxy is about the Gospel, the Good News of our new life in Christ. And there's a lot more to say, so we're going to spend a few weeks answering some of the basic questions people have about the Faith. More »

Pure as Snow

When we look at snow with the eyes of a bee, we can learn an important lesson for our spiritual lives. Snow is a beautiful metaphor for our ideal spiritual state, as we read in Psalm 50(51). If we're not careful, snow can slowly be transformed into disgusting muck. Thank God, the Church offers us a reset button! More »

Faith in Action

Faith needs to be something we put into action. A wonderful example of this is the life and person of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. The Christian Faith teaches the equality of all people...and Dr King acted on that belief. More »

Is Church Boring?

Sometimes, the Church can seem...boring. Is that because of the Church, or the way we see and present it? More »

United by Forgiveness

As Christians, we're called to union with each other and God. Yet we're constantly stuck in divisions, both external and internal. So how are we supposed to achieve true union? The answer is forgiveness: God's invitation to share the same space with Him. More »