Hearts and Minds

Start date: May 2007 714 minutes, 53 seconds in 90 episodes

How does who we are influence how we see the world? What is the connection between personal renewal and cultural change? What does it mean to see Christ in all things and all things in Christ? The “Hearts and Minds” podcast explores the Christian worldview – a vision of life and for life.

Author Bio ↓

Fr John Oliver is the priest of St Elizabeth Orthodox Christian Church, in Murfreesboro, TN. He is the author of numerous articles and essays, and of Touching Heaven: Discovering Orthodox Christianity on the Island of Valaam, published by Conciliar Press. His newest book is “Giver of Life: The Holy Spirit in the Orthodox Christian Tradition” which will be published soon by Paraclete Press. A graduate of St Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, he joined the faculty as instructor in Old and New Testament and American Religious History. He and his wife Lara have three daughters and two sons.

If you’d like to have Fr John come and speak to your group, please contact OrthodoxSpeakers.com.

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Date	Title & Description	Duration
Dec 13, 2012	Our Words and The Word The words that come out of our mouths have a direct connection to the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us. Click to play	09:27
Nov 29, 2012	Black Friday and the Desires of the Heart Each year on the Friday after Thanksgiving, shoppers and stores gear up for the busiest day of the shopping year. Fr. John reflects on what drives the passion for that day and how it relates to our quest for peace. Click to play	11:37
Nov 16, 2012	Advent - Bridging the Chasm to the Divine As we begin the Advent Fast, Fr. John Oliver reflects on the chasm that divides us from the Divine and the uniqueness of Christianity in bridging that gap. Click to play
May 09, 2012	Let His Enemies Be Scattered Fr. John relays a story about a Monk in Greece struggling with alcohol and relates it to the Psalmist's words and the words of the Paschal hymn, "Let God Arise and Let His Enemies Be Scattered." Click to play	10:26
Apr 02, 2012	Intercessory Prayer: The Last Hope for the World - Part 10 In this final reflection on the petitions in the Divine Liturgy, Fr. John gives some alarming statistics of those "in tribulation, wrath, danger, and necessity." Click to play	10:28
Mar 28, 2012	Intercessory Prayer: The Last Hope for the World - Part 9 As Fr. John continues through the litanies of the Divine Liturgy he reminds us of the quote, "we are saved together but we are damned alone." Click to play	12:12
Mar 19, 2012	Intercessory Prayer: The Last Hope for the World - Part 8 All around the world there are droughts, famine, and disease. How do our intercessory prayers at the Divine Liturgy on Sunday mornings touch the people impacted by them? Click to play	07:20
Mar 12, 2012	Intercessory Prayer: The Last Hope for the World - Part 7 Fr. John now reflects on the litany for those in civil authority and our armed forces. Click to play	09:11
Mar 05, 2012	Intercessory Prayer: The Last Hope for the World - Part 6 In the next litany of the Divine Liturgy, we pray for our Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. Fr. John tells us why this is so important. Click to play	09:38
Feb 27, 2012	Intercessory Prayer: The Last Hope for the World - Part 5 In the 4th litany of the Divine Liturgy, we pray for this Holy House, and those with faith, fear, and reverence enter therein.	10:34
Feb 20, 2012	Intercessory Prayer: The Last Hope for the World - Part 4 In the 3rd litany of the Divine Liturgy, we pray for the "good estate of the holy churches of God." This is a global as well as a local prayer for our parishes. As we take in new members to our parishes, what are our responsibilities to them?	15:35
Feb 13, 2012	Intercessory Prayer: The Last Hope for the World - Part 3 In our Divine Liturgy we pray "In peace let us pray to the Lord." We all want peace but what does it mean to be a peace maker?	10:53
Feb 06, 2012	Intercessory Prayer: The Last Hope for the World - Part 2 In part 2, Fr. John connects the opening prayers of the Divine Liturgy to the real life issues facing our world. He begins with a typical family preparing for church on a typical Sunday morning.	14:50
Jan 30, 2012	Intercessory Prayer: The Last Hope for the World - Part 1 In this new 10 part series, Fr. John introduces his topic which relates the necessity of intercessory prayer to the world circumstances we face.	13:31
Oct 10, 2011	Be Merciful Fr. John reminds us that "we are not God," and that it is better to use discernment in situations where we do not know the whole story than to leap to judgment.	10:50
Aug 24, 2011	What True Faith is Fr. John tells us that faith is an active expression where we offer, fill, untie, explain, rise, walk, and follow.	09:20
May 26, 2011	What Only God Can Give Fr. John reminds us that while we all seek from another person to be fully known and fully loved, this is something that only God can give.	09:24
May 03, 2011	Difficult Questions Fr. John Oliver asks difficult questions in the wake of the death of Osama Bin Laden.	07:59
Feb 28, 2011	The Least Of These Fr. John shows how the Bible's answer to "What must I do to be saved?" differs from the world's.	11:45
Jan 17, 2011	Start With The Eagles Fr. John exhorts his listeners (despite being a published author himself) to read the Saints first.	07:38
Jan 04, 2011	Human Nature Fr. John uses the great feasts we are celebrating as evidence against excusing our deviant behavior.	09:05
Dec 22, 2010	The Word Became Flesh 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.	08:43
Dec 21, 2010	A Great Banquet Fr. John uses the parable of Jesus to show us what Christian life is supposed to be.	07:42
Dec 07, 2010	The People Who Sat In Darkness Have Seen A Great Light Fr. John examines how the advent season prepares us for the Nativity of Christ.	08:22
Nov 03, 2010	A Special Occasion Fr. John summarizes the parable of Lazarus and the rich man in just two words.	08:28
Sep 13, 2010	Power Made Perfect In Weakness Fr. John notes the differences between problems and crosses to bear.	08:34
Aug 17, 2010	The Bridge Between Heaven And Earth During the afterfeast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, Fr. John reflects on the mystery that is Mary.	11:08
Jun 23, 2010	We Are Responsible For The World Fr. John offers a reflection on the recent tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico.	09:50
Jun 16, 2010	The Summer House Fr. John makes the obvious (?) connection between Summer and the Northern Kingdom of Israel in the 8th Century, BC.	07:40
May 03, 2010	Upon Those In The Tombs Fr. John looks at tombs we all fall into-- the sins, beliefs and habits that drain the life out of us.	10:00
Apr 12, 2010	What Must I Do? With the glorious Paschal season upon us, Fr. John examines the questions being asked of Christians by today's world.	08:38
Mar 22, 2010	Slowing Down For Holy Week Fr. John shows how Holy Week answers the question of "What happened?" between Christ's entry into Jerusalem and His glorious Resurrection.	08:33
Feb 15, 2010	Below The Water Line Fr. John shows how, like the ecosystem of Guam was damaged by an unseen predator, so also what we keep hidden within us can destroy our relationships without repentance.	10:10
Jan 14, 2010	What Now Fr. John uses the thoughts of St. Nikolai Velimirovich to reflect on the tragedy in Haiti.	06:40
Nov 30, 2009	Disappointments Not Healed In This Life Fr. John examines the life and faith of the Holy New Martyr and Grand Duchess Elizabeth.	10:31
Nov 24, 2009	Gratitude In Action Fr. John notes the deeper meanings of remembrance and of giving thanks.	09:08
Nov 17, 2009	Bowing To The Great Suffering Fr. John illustrates how Christians are those who reach out to people in pain	10:39
Oct 14, 2009	The Sower And The Seed Fr. John examines the well-known parable in answer to the question, "Are you saved?".	11:39
Sep 28, 2009	Imitation And Participation Fr. John shows how participation in God's sacraments are a necessary part of our salvation.	10:44
Sep 16, 2009	Our Lord Come Having previously looked at new beginnings, Fr. John now discusses the end times and those who foolishly try to predict them.	09:37
Aug 31, 2009	New Years And New Beginnings Fr. John explains why the new church year begins on September 1, then tells of a birthday party like no other.	15:35
Aug 21, 2009	Commending Ourselves And Each Other To Christ Our God What do those words in the liturgy mean? And how do we accomplish this? Fr. John enlightens us with the answers.	10:30
Aug 04, 2009	Glorifying God In Our Bodies Are our physical bodies evil? Are they good? Fr. John explores these questions in light of Christ's Transfiguration.	10:36
Jul 07, 2009	Descending In Humility Fr. John illustrates how lowliness and self-condemnation should be our goal, rather than pride and self-esteem.	09:16
Jun 09, 2009	Adam’s Lament In this Pentecost season, Fr. John looks to "Adam's Lament" by St. Silouan to show that the loss of the Holy Spirit is the source of our sorrows.	10:28
May 29, 2009	Qualities Of Worship - Part 4 Fr. John shows that it is not modified behavior that makes us people of God, but changed hearts.	09:08
May 11, 2009	Qualities Of Worship - Part 3 Fr. John turns to answering what happens to us over time when we gather as the Body of Christ.	11:50
Apr 24, 2009	Qualities Of Worship - Part 2 Fr. John mourns the loss of the Christian male and how it runs counter to the necessity of collective worship.	09:57
Apr 01, 2009	Qualities Of Worship - Part 1 In the first part of his series, Father John speaks of liturgy as sacred assembly.	13:31
Mar 13, 2009	A Circle Of Quiet Fr. John examines St. Gregory Palamas, who taught that interior stillness was the path to knowing God.	07:26
Feb 25, 2009	Jenny This real-life story of an Ohio runaway is reminiscent of another youth in a parable of Jesus and serves to strengthen its message.	09:11
Feb 11, 2009	God, Be Merciful To Me, A Sinner What was the difference between the prayer of the Pharisee and that of the Publican? Humility.	07:44
Jan 21, 2009	Does God Love The Devil And The Demons Like He Loves Us? Fr. John answers a question at once innocent and terrifying.	10:37
Dec 27, 2008	The Mystical Garden With the synaxion of the Theotokos freshly celebrated, Fr. John reflects on Mary, the mother of our Lord.	07:39
Dec 15, 2008	You Are Wanted How wonderful to know that we are loved and wanted by God, who calls to us by name!	08:31
Dec 01, 2008	A Sacred Hunger God places within us a hunger for fellowship with Himself and creation. But too often man distorts that hunger into an appetite for temporary pleasure.	08:38
Oct 28, 2008	Election Special Fr. John shows how our cultural deterioration brings us closer to the conditions that the early Church thrived in.	17:42
Oct 16, 2008	Do You Want To Be Healed? Fr. John examines the difference between true healing and mere relief.	08:17
Sep 23, 2008	Thou Shalt Not Covet Fr. John examines the last of the ten great commandments.	09:23
Sep 03, 2008	Society And The Soul - Part 10 Fr. John notes the shift in society from text to image and warns of the power of images on the soul.	09:05
Aug 16, 2008	The Mercy Of God Fr. John notes that as we accept the Mercy of God, that Mercy is proof that God accepts us.	06:50
Jul 31, 2008	Society And The Soul - Part 9 Do "clothes make the man?" Fr. John, with help from Saint Nicodemus, might beg to differ.	09:57
Jul 03, 2008	Society And The Soul - Part 8 Fr. John, with help from St. Nicodemus, shows how to guard the sense of taste and the tongue.	09:42
Jun 16, 2008	Society And The Soul - Part 7 Again using the teachings of St. Nicodemus, Fr. John warns us of the dangers present in front of our very noses!	09:02
May 29, 2008	A Reflection On Natural Disasters For those of us who cannot go, work or provide, Fr. John notes that we can still contribute in the most important way.	09:01
May 14, 2008	Society And The Soul - Part 6 Fr. John discusses the teachings of St. Nicodemus on listening to music.	11:26
May 01, 2008	Seeing The World In An Iconographic Way Fr. John notes how Orthodox Christians see things in an iconographic way-- the images are connected to the larger reality they represent.	07:36
Mar 26, 2008	Society and the Soul - Part 5 Using the writings of St. Nicodemus, Fr. John discusses how the eye can lead to sin or spiritual peace.	10:23
Mar 08, 2008	Society and the Soul - Part 4 Fr. John discusses why we are enslaved to pleasure, as explained originally by St. Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain.	09:44
Feb 20, 2008	Society and the Soul - Part 3 In Part Three of the ongoing series based upon "A Handbook of Spiritual Council" by St. Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain, Fr. John discusses the five senses and their relationship to the will.	10:10
Feb 02, 2008	Society and the Soul - Part 2 Fr. John continues his series on Society and The Soul, presenting us with St. Nicodemus' vision of man as "a kind of royal palace, built by the superb architectural skill of an omniscient Creator."	10:21
Jan 16, 2008	Society and the Soul - Part 1 With this podcast, Fr. John begins a new series based upon "A Handbook of Spiritual Council" by Saint Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain, a work which examines the five human senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch, and the role that each one plays in acquiring or losing salvation.	08:08
Dec 26, 2007	The Synaxis of the Holy Theotokos Fr. John discusses the importance of the Synaxis of the Theotokos, celebrated each year on December 26.	09:00
Dec 10, 2007	And The Soul Felt Its Worth "There is nothing in this world more glorious, more precious, or more precarious than the human soul." Within the first few hundred years of Christian history, the Roman Empire experienced at least two devastating health epidemics. Fr. John shares with us a powerful example of how the early Christians demonstrated the worth of the soul, as well as a love stronger than fear, as they ministered to those in deep need during these times of great crisis.	09:28
Nov 21, 2007	Passing the Time "Are we almost there yet?" How many times will that question be asked this holiday weekend? Fr. John explores the passing of time from a Christian perspective as we travel our journey of salvation.	10:15
Nov 07, 2007	Babies In The Biosphere - 3 The integrated Christian possesses a pro-life view that sees the environment as life giving and worthy of protection and a pro-environment view that sees the womb as an environment and worthy of protection.	10:10
Oct 29, 2007	Babies In The Biosphere - 2 In part 2 of his 3 part series, Fr. John explores further the Orthodox worldview that connects all of creation to our relationship with the Creator.	09:36
Oct 18, 2007	Babies In The Biosphere - 1 This is part one in a series exploring the connection between abortion and the environment.	10:53
Sep 26, 2007	An Airport, A Hospital and the Book of Psalms What do these three have in common? Listen as Fr. John reflects on the power and beauty of the Psalter.	11:09
Sep 12, 2007	The Grandeur Of God Love for God is love for the earth and love for the earth is love for our neighbor.	10:21
Aug 28, 2007	Four Miles and Three Days What would be worth standing in line for if that line was 4 miles long? Fr. John gives us a lesson in perspective and treasure in this week's episode.	10:07
Aug 16, 2007	Rising Above Violence And Revenge When reviled, we bless. When insulted, we forgive - St. Paul	10:11
Aug 03, 2007	The Mystery of God We might think we know exactly what God is and should be but is that not a certainty loaded with risk?	09:53
Jul 19, 2007	What Is Your Governing Dynamic? We all have one. But what should it be? Fr. John explores the tapestry of our lives and those intrusions that can interupt the pattern.	10:42
Jul 06, 2007	The Vulnerability of Love Jesus said "the kingdom of God is taken by force" and sometime it feels like a battle to allow ourselves to love one another as God intended.	10:37
Jun 27, 2007	Tradition Traveling down I-75 on his way to a Parish Life Conference, Fr. John reflects on the tradition he is passing on to his children as well as the Great Tradition of the Faith.	10:32
Jun 16, 2007	Joni and Superman - Two Worldviews Fr. John compares the worldviews of Joni Erickson Tada and Christopher Reeve.	11:19
Jun 06, 2007	A Tale of Two Worldviews Fr. John gives an instructive comparison of two divergent worldviews.	10:01
May 23, 2007	The Christian Worldview In his second podcast, Fr. John helps us define a Christian worldview and how it should change the way we process life around us.	08:50
May 15, 2007	The Value Of One Life In his first podcast, Fr. John reflects on his midnight vigil outside a prison in Tennessee.	11:24

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