On the Battlefield

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On life’s battlefield almost nothing goes as planned. Fr. Joseph Collins and Fr. Michael Marcantoni confront the inevitable difficulties of life by drawing from the well of practical Orthodox spirituality and the tools developed by addiction recovery.

Fr. Joseph Collins, Fr. Michael Marcantoni, and Ancient Faith Radio


    • Feb 7, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 2m AVG DURATION
    • 89 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from On the Battlefield

    Freedom?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2024


    There may be no slavery deeper than doing it my way.

    Freedom?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2024


    There may be no slavery deeper than doing it my way.

    Expectations

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2023 54:27


    Expectations

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2023


    Having appropriate expectations for sober prayer.

    Expectations

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2023


    Having appropriate expectations for sober prayer.

    Grief

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2023


    How to deal with the sorrowful-joy of grief in a sober spiritual life.

    Grief

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2023


    How to deal with the sorrowful-joy of grief in a sober spiritual life.

    Grief

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2023 50:43


    How to deal with the sorrowful-joy of grief in a sober spiritual life.

    Pro and Cons

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2023


    Un-compartmentalized recovery.

    Pro and Cons

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2023


    Un-compartmentalized recovery.

    Post Retreat Rundown

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2023 56:39


    Discussion and highlights from the recovery retreat held at St. John Chrysostom Church in Nashville on June 10, 2023. Watch the sessions at https://www.youtube.com/@chrysostom_nashville/streams.

    Post Retreat Rundown

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2023


    Discussion and highlights from the recovery retreat held at St. John Chrysostom Church in Nashville on June 10, 2023. Watch the sessions at https://www.youtube.com/@chrysostom_nashville/streams.

    Post Retreat Rundown

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2023


    Discussion and highlights from the recovery retreat held at St. John Chrysostom Church in Nashville on June 10, 2023. Watch the sessions at https://www.youtube.com/@chrysostom_nashville/streams.

    Thanks, Mom!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2023


    The mother of all episodes...

    Thanks, Mom!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2023


    The mother of all episodes...

    Resentment

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2023


    Resentment and anger can often overtake us without our knowing. How can it and overcome it?

    Resentment

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2023


    Resentment and anger can often overtake us without our knowing. How can it and overcome it?

    Resentment

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2023 79:25


    Resentment and anger can often overtake us without our knowing. How can it and overcome it?

    Energy Crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2023


    St. Gregory Palamas, what do we know about the unknowable? What do we do with repentance and sobriety?

    Energy Crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2023


    St. Gregory Palamas, what do we know about the unknowable? What do we do with repentance and sobriety?

    Energy Crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2023 47:29


    St. Gregory Palamas, what do we know about the unknowable? What do we do with repentance and sobriety?

    It's All About Me

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2023


    How do we square Christ's command to do good works in secret with his other command to let our lights so shine before men? Where does grandiosity get in the way?

    It's All About Me

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2023


    How do we square Christ's command to do good works in secret with his other command to let our lights so shine before men? Where does grandiosity get in the way?

    It's All About Me

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2023 50:12


    How do we square Christ's command to do good works in secret with his other command to let our lights so shine before men? Where does grandiosity get in the way?

    Finding Wisdom

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 68:49


    The path to God and wisdom begins with doing the things that correspond to our aim. A rigorously honest look at ourselves often yields the uncomfortable truth that there is a gulf between what we say we desire and what we are actually pursuing.

    Finding Wisdom

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023


    The path to God and wisdom begins with doing the things that correspond to our aim. A rigorously honest look at ourselves often yields the uncomfortable truth that there is a gulf between what we say we desire and what we are actually pursuing.

    Finding Wisdom

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023


    The path to God and wisdom begins with doing the things that correspond to our aim. A rigorously honest look at ourselves often yields the uncomfortable truth that there is a gulf between what we say we desire and what we are actually pursuing.

    Love and Consequences

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2023


    There is often a call for people to reap the results of their actions. The line between unchristian retribution and vengeance, on the one hand, and consequences aimed toward someone else's highest good and repentance on the other, can be stark and is guided by the principle of love. How do we understand the idea of either consequences or love in a world that defines both so differently than does the mind of the Gospel?

    Love and Consequences

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2023


    There is often a call for people to reap the results of their actions. The line between unchristian retribution and vengeance, on the one hand, and consequences aimed toward someone else's highest good and repentance on the other, can be stark and is guided by the principle of love. How do we understand the idea of either consequences or love in a world that defines both so differently than does the mind of the Gospel?

    Love and Consequences

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2023 62:49


    There is often a call for people to reap the results of their actions. The line between unchristian retribution and vengeance, on the one hand, and consequences aimed toward someone else's highest good and repentance on the other, can be stark and is guided by the principle of love. How do we understand the idea of either consequences or love in a world that defines both so differently than does the mind of the Gospel?

    Call Me Nobody

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2022 51:14


    In this episode, Fr. Joseph and Fr. Michael discuss the pitfalls of grandiosity and the quiet heroism found in Anonymity.

    Call Me Nobody

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2022


    In this episode, Fr. Joseph and Fr. Michael discuss the pitfalls of grandiosity and the quiet heroism found in Anonymity.

    Call Me Nobody

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2022


    In this episode, Fr. Joseph and Fr. Michael discuss the pitfalls of grandiosity and the quiet heroism found in Anonymity.

    Unbridled Consumption

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2022 57:32


    Heading into the holidays, our hosts discuss the issues of consumerism in our culture. This is not a new phenomenon by any means - in fact, the desert fathers address it. The issue, at its core, is glutton and compulsion. It can even be a misuse of the idea of giving. The question we must all ask is, "where do I get agitated if I'm impeded?"

    Unbridled Consumption

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2022


    Heading into the holidays, our hosts discuss the issues of consumerism in our culture. This is not a new phenomenon by any means - in fact, the desert fathers address it. The issue, at its core, is glutton and compulsion. It can even be a misuse of the idea of giving. The question we must all ask is, "where do I get agitated if I'm impeded?"

    Unbridled Consumption

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2022


    Heading into the holidays, our hosts discuss the issues of consumerism in our culture. This is not a new phenomenon by any means - in fact, the desert fathers address it. The issue, at its core, is glutton and compulsion. It can even be a misuse of the idea of giving. The question we must all ask is, "where do I get agitated if I'm impeded?"

    Is Jesus Our Example?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2022 77:56


    In this episode, our hosts discuss the topic of expectations. The truth is that expectations are almost always rooted in extremes, with the end result being a recalibration to the middle no matter the outcome of any situation. What does this mean for how we view others, especially the addict? When we make decisions on how to treat others (in and outside of the Church) we often hear the trite saying "what would Jesus do?" (WWJD). But, what is our view of Jesus? Is He merely a moral character, soft in disposition, who justifies us in our sins? Or does He require a much more radical transformation?

    Is Jesus Our Example?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2022


    In this episode, our hosts discuss the topic of expectations. The truth is that expectations are almost always rooted in extremes, with the end result being a recalibration to the middle no matter the outcome of any situation. What does this mean for how we view others, especially the addict? When we make decisions on how to treat others (in and outside of the Church) we often hear the trite saying "what would Jesus do?" (WWJD). But, what is our view of Jesus? Is He merely a moral character, soft in disposition, who justifies us in our sins? Or does He require a much more radical transformation?

    Is Jesus Our Example?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2022


    In this episode, our hosts discuss the topic of expectations. The truth is that expectations are almost always rooted in extremes, with the end result being a recalibration to the middle no matter the outcome of any situation. What does this mean for how we view others, especially the addict? When we make decisions on how to treat others (in and outside of the Church) we often hear the trite saying "what would Jesus do?" (WWJD). But, what is our view of Jesus? Is He merely a moral character, soft in disposition, who justifies us in our sins? Or does He require a much more radical transformation?

    Rest

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2022 68:32


    In this episode, our hosts tackle the issue of "rest" and workaholism. What does it mean to enter into the Sabbath Rest? Piggybacking off of the last episode's theme of peace, we can see that once order is established and justice is restored, God rests by becoming enthroned. When we enter into rest, we begin to participate in the words from St. John's Apocolypse that "to the one who overcomes, I will grant to sit with me on my throne". We find that reciprocal sabbath is the means by which God has established relationship with His creation. Work is addictive like any other substance, only - in our society - this vice of overworking is held as a virtue. We always end up RESTless, irritable, and discontent . . . which always leads to more problems.

    Rest

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2022


    In this episode, our hosts tackle the issue of "rest" and workaholism. What does it mean to enter into the Sabbath Rest? Piggybacking off of the last episode's theme of peace, we can see that once order is established and justice is restored, God rests by becoming enthroned. When we enter into rest, we begin to participate in the words from St. John's Apocolypse that "to the one who overcomes, I will grant to sit with me on my throne". We find that reciprocal sabbath is the means by which God has established relationship with His creation. Work is addictive like any other substance, only - in our society - this vice of overworking is held as a virtue. We always end up RESTless, irritable, and discontent . . . which always leads to more problems.

    Rest

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2022


    In this episode, our hosts tackle the issue of "rest" and workaholism. What does it mean to enter into the Sabbath Rest? Piggybacking off of the last episode's theme of peace, we can see that once order is established and justice is restored, God rests by becoming enthroned. When we enter into rest, we begin to participate in the words from St. John's Apocolypse that "to the one who overcomes, I will grant to sit with me on my throne". We find that reciprocal sabbath is the means by which God has established relationship with His creation. Work is addictive like any other substance, only - in our society - this vice of overworking is held as a virtue. We always end up RESTless, irritable, and discontent . . . which always leads to more problems.

    Peace

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2022


    What is peace? Is it some kind of esoteric feeling of tranquility - or is it something more? In this episode, our hosts dive into the issue of peace and its relationship to recovery. Tracking the concept of "shalom" in the scriptures, we can see that from Genesis 1 peace has less to do with a lack of confrontation and more to do with bringing order out of chaos. God's peace makes us whole and complete, and God's peace has to do with the well-being of an entire community. When we give ourselves over to this kind of peace, we learn how to reconcile opposites and bring in tension and endure it. The goal is to be able to ask for God's will and the strength to carry it out.

    Peace

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2022


    What is peace? Is it some kind of esoteric feeling of tranquility - or is it something more? In this episode, our hosts dive into the issue of peace and its relationship to recovery. Tracking the concept of "shalom" in the scriptures, we can see that from Genesis 1 peace has less to do with a lack of confrontation and more to do with bringing order out of chaos. God's peace makes us whole and complete, and God's peace has to do with the well-being of an entire community. When we give ourselves over to this kind of peace, we learn how to reconcile opposites and bring in tension and endure it. The goal is to be able to ask for God's will and the strength to carry it out.

    Peace

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2022 66:17


    What is peace? Is it some kind of esoteric feeling of tranquility - or is it something more? In this episode, our hosts dive into the issue of peace and its relationship to recovery. Tracking the concept of "shalom" in the scriptures, we can see that from Genesis 1 peace has less to do with a lack of confrontation and more to do with bringing order out of chaos. God's peace makes us whole and complete, and God's peace has to do with the well-being of an entire community. When we give ourselves over to this kind of peace, we learn how to reconcile opposites and bring in tension and endure it. The goal is to be able to ask for God's will and the strength to carry it out.

    The Scapegoat

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2022 62:20


    In this fascinating episode, our hosts address a common sentiment in many Evangelical circles that the Cross is the exclusive point of our adoration. Were any of the Lord's 33 years wasted? What about His baptism, His ascension? The discussion continues with a look at Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement - and Christ as the scapegoat. The connection is drawn between the addict and the scapegoat and how we can image Christ in this way. We mustn't truncate the Gospel as it is, in its entirety, Good News.

    The Scapegoat

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2022


    In this fascinating episode, our hosts address a common sentiment in many Evangelical circles that the Cross is the exclusive point of our adoration. Were any of the Lord's 33 years wasted? What about His baptism, His ascension? The discussion continues with a look at Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement - and Christ as the scapegoat. The connection is drawn between the addict and the scapegoat and how we can image Christ in this way. We mustn't truncate the Gospel as it is, in its entirety, Good News.

    The Scapegoat

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2022


    In this fascinating episode, our hosts address a common sentiment in many Evangelical circles that the Cross is the exclusive point of our adoration. Were any of the Lord's 33 years wasted? What about His baptism, His ascension? The discussion continues with a look at Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement - and Christ as the scapegoat. The connection is drawn between the addict and the scapegoat and how we can image Christ in this way. We mustn't truncate the Gospel as it is, in its entirety, Good News.

    Stress

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2022 69:41


    Addiction is fueled by stress - in particular, those with stressful childhoods are much more susceptible to addiction. In this episode, our hosts discuss the four trigger points of stress in our lives: uncertainty, isolation, loss of control, and conflict. When we look at the medical data on addiction, the situation seems hopeless; however, the recognition of the image of God in each and every human being gives unfathomable hope as we battle for sobriety. Solving the problem our way leads to sin & death, solving it God's way (repentance and recovery) leads to life. For these reasons, what we really need is a total distrust of self and complete & daring trust in God alone.

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