Hearts and Minds
193 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 27 ratingsFr. John Oliver's thoughtful perspective on culture, society and the Orthodox faith.
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Episodes
Stories Toward the Sacred: Anna Harris
June 26, 2018 00:58 - 40 minutes - 28.7 MBKurt 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.
Stories Toward the Sacred: Dan Naes
May 14, 2018 05:01 - 46 minutes - 32.3 MBKurt 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.
The Healing Power of Forgiveness
April 30, 2018 05:01 - 9 minutes - 6.31 MBFr. John Oliver paints a hope-filled picture of the healing power of forgiveness.
Freedom Through Ascetic Discipline
April 16, 2018 05:01 - 12 minutes - 8.48 MBFr. John Oliver describes the purpose of our ascetic disciplines as believers - to be set free and partake in the glory of God!
Transfiguration
April 02, 2018 05:01 - 11 minutes - 7.97 MBFr. John Oliver reminds us that the Christian heart wants to taste of the incomparable heavenly banquet of the Kingdom of God.
Stories Toward the Sacred: Charles Chusuei
March 19, 2018 05:01 - 1 hour - 46 MBKurt 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.
The Wilderness
March 05, 2018 06:01 - 13 minutes - 9.41 MBFr. John Oliver offers a view of the pain of the "wilderness" stage of the Christian life while journeying with God to the Promised Land.
The Four Rhythms of Life in the Church
February 19, 2018 06:01 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MBFr. John Oliver explores the four cycles or rhythms that are embedded in nature and in the Church.
The Three Powers
February 05, 2018 06:01 - 11 minutes - 7.69 MBFr. 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.
Ecumenism: The Autoimmune Disease in the Body of Christ
January 22, 2018 06:01 - 29 minutes - 20.5 MBAs 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.
Stories Toward the Sacred: Kurt and Nancy Harris
January 08, 2018 06:01 - 56 minutes - 38.8 MBFr. 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.
The Virtue of Failure - Part 4
December 25, 2017 06:01 - 14 minutes - 9.74 MBFr. John completes his series (Part 4) by describing how failure can become a servant of God for the renewal of our lives.
The Virtue of Failure - Part 3
December 11, 2017 06:01 - 9 minutes - 6.51 MBFr. John continues his series (Part 3) by reflecting on the goal of interior renewal.
The Virtue of Failure - Part 2
November 27, 2017 06:01 - 10 minutes - 6.84 MBFr. John continues his series (Part 2) by redefining failure and describing the ways that we react to our own failures.
The Virtue of Failure - Part 1
November 13, 2017 06:01 - 12 minutes - 8.35 MBFr. John begins a four part series on the virtue of failure by describing the inevitability and purpose of failure.
The Benefits of Prayer
October 30, 2017 05:01 - 13 minutes - 9.3 MBThe story of Baker Sullivan reveals the importance and significance of the life of prayer.
St. Elizabeth the Grand Duchess and New Martyr
October 16, 2017 05:01 - 12 minutes - 8.78 MBThe death of St. Elizabeth the Grand Duchess and New Martyr tells us about how she lived her life lived long before her martyrdom.
The Transfiguration of Jesus
October 02, 2017 20:35 - 11 minutes - 7.96 MBThe Transfiguration of Jesus shows us the purpose of human life and how to taste of the incomparable heavenly banquet.
Praying on the Way of the Cross
November 16, 2016 06:01 - 10 minutes - 14.7 MBEvery Sunday morning, the six Psalms of Matins carries us on a descent into our brokenness and ascent with a cry of faith. Gently taking us on the way of the cross.
Take Up Your Cross
November 02, 2016 05:01 - 9 minutes - 13.1 MB"Life is full of small opportunities to baptize these inevitable daily pains in the mystery of the cross."
Politics
October 19, 2016 05:01 - 9 minutes - 13.4 MB"This is how the Church address politics every Sunday. Not by endorsing or opposing candidates, but by dealing with the spiritual roots of all the issues that affect all citizens. We locate the heart, then work our way out from there."
The Fear of Change
October 05, 2016 19:31 - 12 minutes - 16.5 MB"Like a scared child on the first day of school, fear turns us into isolated, self-protective individuals. Like an ever-tightening cocoon."
When Words are not Enough
September 20, 2016 05:01 - 13 minutes - 17.5 MB"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."
The Good Shepherd
September 13, 2016 05:01 - 11 minutes - 15.3 MB"He keeps looking. It is what love does."
Fire
September 06, 2016 05:01 - 11 minutes - 15.5 MB"Heaven is the experience of the illuminating energy of God. Hell is the experience of the burning energy of God. The one sun has two properties. It can illumine, and it can blind. It can warm, and it can burn."
The Vine and the Branches
August 30, 2016 05:01 - 12 minutes - 17.1 MB"The branches are unique but all attached to the one Vine who gives them life."
The National March for Marriage
August 17, 2016 02:02 - 12 minutes - 11.6 MBFr. John shares his speech from the The National March for Marriage in Washington D.C., and reflects upon his experience with the counter demonstration.
The Journey
August 01, 2016 05:01 - 9 minutes - 9.42 MBThe journey of Christ-likeness ends in the cross where Christ dies in love for all of His enemies.
Lazarus
July 25, 2016 05:01 - 5 minutes - 5.46 MBNothing in life matters more than the purification of our souls and bodies, so that when we meet Christ in death he recognizes Himself in us.
Our Shared Brokenness
July 18, 2016 05:01 - 11 minutes - 10.6 MBTogether, we are connected by the forgiveness we all need.
Disappointment
July 11, 2016 05:01 - 11 minutes - 10.5 MBLet us remember to lean on each other. "A burden shared is half the burden. A joy shared is twice the joy."
Suffering
July 04, 2016 05:01 - 10 minutes - 9.93 MBThe struggle is what we bring to God, only what we bring, because deliverance his His job.
Sharing Our Stories
June 27, 2016 05:01 - 10 minutes - 10.1 MBOur Lord's desire is for each of us to have experiences with Him, to be able to say, "My Lord and my God," and to share that experience openly and freely with others.
Purpose in Life
June 20, 2016 05:01 - 11 minutes - 11 MBThe purpose of your life is to become by grace what God is by nature.
The Priesthood: Biblical, Crucible, Miracle
June 13, 2016 05:01 - 43 minutes - 40 MBFr. John shares his reflections on the priesthood in anticipation of the 2016 Antiochian Archdiocese Clergy Symposium to be held at the Antiochian Village in Bolivar, PA.
God Is Love, but Love Is Not God
June 06, 2016 05:01 - 10 minutes - 9.82 MBLove is too precious, too powerful, and too popular to mean anything we want it to. Instead, love needs definition and contour so that we may know what love is not, just as we may know what love is.
Martyrdom
May 30, 2016 05:01 - 10 minutes - 9.6 MBA martyr for Christ is someone who has good reasons to live, but a better reason to die.
The Waves
May 23, 2016 05:01 - 10 minutes - 9.66 MBGod does not always remove the wave, but he does always give us himself.
Excuses
May 16, 2016 05:01 - 11 minutes - 10.9 MBWhy work on ridding ourselves of excuses in this life? So we won't face the consequences of our excuses in the next.
Miracles
May 09, 2016 05:01 - 10 minutes - 9.93 MB"It's not the size of the crumb that turns it into a miracle; it's whether we can see it as a miracle at all."
Truth and Love
May 02, 2016 05:01 - 8 minutes - 8.59 MBWe need both truth and love to row through the fog of this world.
Works
April 25, 2016 05:01 - 8 minutes - 7.97 MBAn old proverbs says, "When you light a torch for another, you illumine your own path too."
Forgiveness
April 18, 2016 05:01 - 7 minutes - 6.93 MB"The soul can not know peace unless she prays for her enemies. If you will pray for your enemies peace will come to you." St. Silouan the Athonite
Communion
April 11, 2016 05:01 - 10 minutes - 10.2 MBIn Communion we meet the God of love and judgment. Are you ready?
The Art of Arguing
April 04, 2016 05:01 - 10 minutes - 9.94 MBSt Gregory Palamas said, "Every argument has a counter-argument, but who can argue against life."
Unity, Liberty, Charity
January 19, 2015 20:44 - 12 minutes - 11.7 MBWorking together as Christians can be a challenge which is why Fr. John encourages us to examine a maxim that has stood the test of time. In Essentials, Unity. In Non-Essentials, Liberty. In all things, Charity.
Morally Wrong? Politically Right?
November 03, 2014 21:01 - 8 minutes - 8.03 MBHow does the Faith proclaim when life begins? It might surprise you and help inform you as some of you go to the polls tomorrow.
Responding To Same Sex Marriage - Part 3
June 03, 2014 15:22 - 9 minutes - 9.1 MBIn part 3 of his series on same sex marriage, Fr. John reflects on what a civil right is and how that applies to the question of same same unions.
Responding To Same Sex Marriage - Part 2
May 26, 2014 12:24 - 8 minutes - 7.59 MBFr. John sees our sexuality as a gift from the Divine Logos.
Responding To Same Sex Marriage
May 13, 2014 14:59 - 11 minutes - 10.5 MBAs our culture grows more and more accepting of things that trouble us as Orthodox Christians, Fr. John Oliver shares the example of St. Paul to guide our response.