Be The Bee

We've spent the last two episodes exploring how the internet shifts our attention from Christ and makes it harder than ever to be holy. In this episode, we're going to say goodbye by pointing to three things that need to shape the future of our homes and communities. We need to encounter Christ, embody the Church, and engage the world in His name.

We're called to be holy as God is holy. And we do this by participating in God’s efforts to redeem the world and bring it into the eternal life of the Holy Trinity. St Maximos the Confessor identifies 5 Divisions we need to overcome along the way. But what if the internet has created a 6th Division we need to overcome? What if the internet is alienating us from ourselves and reality?

“Let us return, brethren, to ourselves...For we cannot be reconciled with God and assimilated to Him unless we first return, or rather, enter into ourselves... For the miracle consists in tearing ourselves away from the distraction and vain concerns of the world and in this way relentlessly seizing hold of the kingdom of heaven within us.” St Nikiphoros the Monk, On Watchfulness and the Guarding of the Heart, Philokalia vol. 4) What this Episode is About: A main goal of the Christian life is to keep our attention focused on Christ. We’re called to drink deeply of the Church’s wisdom so we can master our attention and see Christ at work in all things. But the internet is designed to capture that attention and focus it on things that are superficial at best or toxic at worst. Three Questions as You Watch: 1. What are the limits you’re placing on your social media use? 2. Is your life centered in real communities or artificial internet communities? 3. How does the stuff you’re watching or reading or listeni

"You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8) 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. The Gospel and Epistle readings present St John the Forerunner and the first Christians as beautiful examples of what this new life looks like. As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn: https://mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee175

“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (John 12: 13) 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. Do who actually welcomed Jesus when He entered Jerusalem? It was those who were joyous and gentle: whose hearts were ready to be filled with the Holy Spirit so they could welcome the true Messiah. It was the children. As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn: https://mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee174

“If you cross the Jordan, you will find glorious rest.” (Life 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? We're going to learn about the redemption and atonement that Jesus offers us. And this redemption isn't simply *from* something, but also *for* something. And Saint Mary of Egypt (who we celebrate on the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent) is a perfect example of what that looks like. Christ saves us *from* sin and death so we can be *free* to live as Christians, loving and serving both God and neighbor. As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn. https://mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee173

“I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9: 24) 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. The Church presents faith in much deeper terms than we often admit. We'll learn by looking at how Abraham was faithful to God, while the disciples weren't. Because real faith is about placing ourselves in God's hands. As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook (https://mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee172) to help you act on what you'll learn. You'll find a coupon code for "Effective Christian Ministry" in this week's workbook.

“The glory of God is a living human; and the life of humanity consists in beholding God.” (Saint Irenaus of Lyons) Jesus tells us to pick up our cross and follow Him. But what does that mean? On the Third Sunday of Great Lent, we may think that "bearing your cross" means patiently enduring burdens. Especially now, as we make our way through the struggle of Great Lent. But Christ isn't simply calling us to endure: to rely on our own strength or wisdom or will. He's calling us to die to our broken selves so that we can be made new in Christ. He's calling us to draw near to the Throne of Grace. As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn: https://mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee171

"O Gregory the Miracle Worker, light of Orthodoxy, support and teacher of the Church, comeliness of Monastics, invincible defender of theologians, the pride of Thessalonica, and preacher of grace, intercede forever that our souls may be saved." (Apolytikion for the Sunday of Saint Gregory Palamas) Is it possible to know God? How could a perfect God have anything to do with His imperfection creation? These are some of the questions Saint Gregory Palamas faced in the 14th century. And they're questions the Church faces today. We dedicate the Second Sunday of Great Lent to this important saint because he taught an important theological truth that's at the core of the Christian life: That God is both knowable in His Energies and unknowable in His Essence. And this mystery is shown to us when Jesus heals the paralytic in Mark 2. As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn: https://mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee170

"On this day, the first Sunday of Lent, we commemorate the restoration of the holy and venerable icons…” (Synaxarion for the 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. So we'll take a deep dive into the theology of icons to learn that God made a promise to His saints. That He would unite heaven and earth. That we could look upon the face of the Lord and live. And this promise is fulfilled in us. We hold up icons as proof of this promise, the treasures we display in the Triumph of Orthodoxy. As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn: https://mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee169

“Nothing makes us so like God, as our readiness to forgive the wicked and wrongdoer.” (Saint John Chrysostom) The Greek word for forgiveness means "sharing the same space." At the doorstep to Great Lent, we're given the opportunity to both seek and offer forgiveness. Forgiveness Sunday (especially Forgiveness Vespers) is our chance to overcome resentments and share the same space with both God and neighbor. So that, together, we can journey to salvation and an experience of God's Kingdom. Because right and wrong is about more than what’s right or wrong for you. As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn. https://mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee168 .

“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) In this Episode: 00:00​ What is Judgment Sunday? 01:14​ How Will We Be Judged? 03:50​ Causing Others to Stumble 05:40​ Love and Judgment 06:54​ My Brother is My Life 09:29​ When Right is Wrong What this Episode is About: In Matthew 25, Jesus offers a prophetic word on the Day of Judgment, when He will come again to judge the living and the dead. Yet this isn't a private judgment, focused on our own private religiosity. It's based on the way we treat other people. In fact, Jesus tells us that, when we love others, we are actually loving Him. And, when we despise others, we're actually despising Him. Because right and wrong is about more than what’s right or wrong for you. As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn: h

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived.” (1 Corinthians 6:9) 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. We often focus on the incredible mercy that the Father shows (which is important). But it may be more helpful to focus on how both the Prodigal Son and Older Brother forgot who they are. Because we, too, can easily forget that we are children of the Father. As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn: https://mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee166

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1) What this Episode is About: The Pharisee fasted, prayed, and gave to the poor. He did all the right things we're supposed to do. So what exactly did he do wrong? The Triodion Period begins with the Parable of the Publican and Pharisee to ground us in the righteousness of God rather than our own pride and delusion. Because, like the Pharisee, we don't always see ourselves clearly. We can easily lead ourselves astray. Self-deception happens when we turn inward, trusting in ourselves and our own abilities to evaluate our own righteousness, especially against the perceived lack of righteousness (or even just rightness) in others. And the antidote to this self-deception is to turn to someone outside of us who can redirect our hearts and minds toward the One who Is. Not a false teacher, but a true teacher. Just like Saint Paul guided Saint Timothy. As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn: https:

“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" Jesus describes the Kingdom as a feast: a place where we're all seen and known. But life is full of disconnection and loneliness. Those moments aren't a taste of the Kingdom. While we'll never be able to solve every problem, we can all be better listeners. And we can learn to do that with the simple techniques of active listening. The ministry of listening is something we often overlook. But it's a simple way to make the Kingdom present for people and give them a taste of God's love. As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn. https://mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee164

“He who loves humanity fulfills the Law that was writ of old and is brought to the Temple now.” - Stichera of Orthros 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. Let's take a closer look at how Jesus fulfills the Law in the Presentation of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And what we can learn from the example of Saints Symeon and Anna. This week, Steve is joined by his cohosts on "3 Men and a Bible," Father Panagioti Boznos and Nick Lionas. ​ As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn. https://mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee163

“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) In the Church, we call Christmas "the Nativity According to the Flesh of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ." Because it's the day we celebrate the very Son of God taking on flesh and becoming human for our sake: the Lord's Incarnation. This is when we celebrate the coming of the Philanthropos, the "Lover of Mankind." A season when we are called to be philanthropists ourselves and be a loving, healing presence in a troubled and mixed-up world. Christmas spirit is more than a theme we see in movies like "The Christmas Chronicles." It's something we can share in our everyday lives: in concrete ways for the life of the world. Christ is Born! Glo

“For Christians, [the Twofold Annointing] means that when a person is genuinely anointed by God’s Holy Spirit, he or she becomes both a king and a sacrificial offering: the two states are inseparable.” (Fr Timothy Patitsas, "The Ethics of Beauty") 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. To answer that, we'll build on last week's episode and explore what it means to live sacrificially. As Christians, we're anointed by God for eternal life with Him. But that anointing comes with a call to sacrifice for the life of the world. Just like Christ voluntarily laid down His life for us, we can take up this call with joy and thanksgiving. To help you apply what you learn, we'll share a simple formula which we learned from Andy Root that can help you live sacrificially in your everyday life. As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help y

“You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9) 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). But what if the Church could offer a better way? What if the differences between men and women taught us something about how we can all grow in holiness? Building on the work of Dr. Timothy Patitsas (Hellenic College Holy Cross), we'll look at how Adam and Eve failed to be the man and woman God called them to be. And how Jesus Christ and His saints (especially the Theotokos and Saint John the Forerunner) show us a better way. As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn: mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee159

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) 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. As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn: mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee158