ORTHODIXIE ... Southern, Orthodox, Convert, Etc.

Orthodox Youth Outreach (OYO) has hired Jordan Henderson to serve as its new Program Director. OYO is a ministry of NAC Teen SOYO which has been designed to provide local parishes and youth workers with the resources necessary to involve junior and senior high students in local community service and short-term missions projects.

The purpose of the program is to encourage our youth to live out their faith through service to others. OYO provides opportunities for youth to get involved with outreach at different levels and help them grow into positions of student leadership.

Henderson comes to OYO after serving over three and a half years as the Associate Mission Teams Director and Health Care Coordinator at the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC).

“It has truly been a blessing to serve at the Mission Center,” says new director Henderson. “I hope to take the experience and knowledge I’ve gained over the last few years to build up a program that will instill a heart for proclaiming the Gospel and reaching out to the poor in today’s Orthodox youth.”

“Mr. Henderson brings a wealth of experience to OYO,” adds Father Kevin Scherer, Executive Director of Orthodox Youth Outreach. “We hope through his involvement to create amongst Orthodox youth a passion for reaching out to others, so that in the future, groups like the Orthodox Christian Mission Center, International Orthodox Christian Charities, and the Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry will have a pool of workers to draw from, whose hearts and minds have been shaped, from their youth, to live out their faith through service to others.”

Henderson’s work at the Mission Center has involved coordinating short-term mission teams and developing the health care ministries of the Mission Center. Since 2002, he has helped train and coordinate over 25 mission teams, sending over 200 people to work on short-term projects in various countries throughout the world. He has also participated on numerous mission teams to Guatemala and rural Alaska, as well as OYO trips to South Central Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Houston.

A graduate of the University of Memphis holding an undergraduate degree in History, Henderson is currently enrolled in the St. Stephen’s Course in Orthodox Theology, hoping to attain a Master’s of Arts degree in Applied Orthodox Theology from Balamand University in Lebanon in the spring of 2008.

Congrats to Jordan last seen round H E R E (and occasional funk commentator on this blog).
| Link

HELP WANTED: missionaries for 2-year commitments to serve growing educational projects in Albania. Currently the Orthodox Church, under the direction of His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios, runs a number of kindergartens and two primary schools, with plans to expand the existing program through high school.

NEEDED:

· trained teachers with elementary and/or high school experience

· school administrators

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Teachers: teach special subjects (math, science, computer skills, English)

· Administrators:

organize and oversee the daily operations of a school run by the Orthodox Church of Albania.

collaborate with Albanian staff who know the state requirements

supervise and train Albanian teachers, especially introducing them to American teaching methods

EXPERIENCE NEEDED: good professional and organizational skills, sound judgment, and problem-solving abilities are most important. ESL is helpful. Actual teaching experience a bonus. Potential administrators must be comfortable working with and supervising teachers who have 15-20 years experience.

Albanian teachers appreciate American teaching experience and educational methods, which brings a fresh approach to formal school for the students. In the fall of 2006, Protagonists Albanian-American School (grades 1-4) in Tirana will graduate its first class of 4th graders, and plans to open an upper elementary school. As the name implies in Albanian, these children become positive forces “for a society of hope and love" - the school's motto.

Orthodox Christians interested in applying should call Maria Gallos, OCMC Director of Missionaries, toll-free at 877-463-6784. E-mail: missionaries@ocmc.org. To download an application, go HERE. For more about the Orthodox Christian Mission Center, visit their website.
| Link

Funny. Sometimes you only find that what you've been looking for when you're looking for something else entirely. The following quotes are from my seminary days -- Ascetic Theology 2 -- with Bishop Brother John Charles. Worth a read (if you can find the time) ...

"Make time for people."

"Human sexuality is never holy and not always expressed genitally."

"Without honesty, we bring an unreal person to a god of our own devising."

"We are supposed to be part of the answer."

"Faith, Hope, and Love ... the most important things to pray for increase."

"Scars are places of healing. They only become running sores when we pick at them."

"If the flesh is evil, the Incarnation is an impossibility."

"Set free FOR, not set free from."

"Prayer is not giving God info that He'd not possess lest we told Him. Prayer is not persuading God to do some (moral) action He'd not do unless we ask Him. Prayer is not magic."

"Do not waste pain. It buys you power."

"Prayer is not an easy way of getting what I want -- but, the only way of becoming what God wants me to be."

"With practice the [music] prayer [plays] prays itself."

"Prayer must be the most important thing in my life."

"We can only learn to pray all the time -- when we learn to pray some time.
We can only find God everywhere -- when we find Him here (in us)."

"We see ourselves when we see God."

To be continued ...
| Link

Okay, I’ll take a stab. Not that this is the case personally nor, certainly, with any readers of GetReligion . . . but many good folks are addicted to porn. Plain and simple. I’ve heard clergy discussing the latest episode of “Desperate Housewives” and laity laughing about “Sex and the City.” Porn is mainstream these days. Violence is almost old school. Just the other day, following a link off a familiar blog, I wound up at Christian sex toy site. Hello! Last week when the news hit that the Gov’t was trying to get Google’s records, one blogger even joked that Internet traffic ground to a halt that day. I would bet that it did give many regular church-goers pause ...

Go H E R E for the article and discussion.

| Link

[The poll revealed that] 67% and 77% respectively said that they believed in the immortal human soul. At the same time 62% and 63% respectively believe in the Resurrection of Christ, so their faith in immortality is based on their Christian beliefs. Though only half of them: 30% and 35% admitted that they believed in the part of the Creed which says about the resurrection of the dead before the Day of Judgement.

The reality is that many of those Christians only remember about their Orthodoxy during Lent, which they try to stick to, then take Communion on Easter day, and then …take a break till the next Lent. Possibly, the people who can be defined as practicing Christians are only those who have Confession regularly (say, four times a year). The poll result showed those made 6% of the respondents. So this very figure, and not 30%, would be a more realistic number of practicing Christians. It is a characteristic fact that smokers among those who consider themselves Christians are nearly as common as among the rest of the students, though they are practically non-existent among those who confess regularly. Besides, among those who consider themselves Christians faith often goes along with superstition, sometimes they are more superstitious than average. However practicing Christians are not superstitious at all.

Thanks to FWD from Fr Victor Potapov.
| Link

"In the seventh century of the Christian era, a wandering Arab of the lineage of Hagar the Egyptian, combining the powers of transcendent genius with the preternatural energy of a fanatic, and the fraudulent spirit of an impostor, proclaimed himself as a messenger from Heaven, and spread desolation and delusion over an extensive portion of the earth. Adopting from the sublime conception of the Mosaic law the doctrine of one omnipotent God, he connected indissolubly with it the audacious falsehood that he was himself His prophet and apostle. Adopting from the new Revelation of Jesus the faith and hope of immortal life and of future retribution, he humbled it to the dust by adapting all the rewards and sanctions of his religion to the gratification of the sexual passion. He poisoned the sources of human felicity at the fountain, by degrading the condition of the female sex, and the allowance of polygamy; and he declared undistinguishing and exterminating war as a part of his religion, against all the rest of mankind. THE ESSENCE OF HIS DOCTRINE WAS VIOLENCE AND LUST: TO EXALT THE BRUTAL OVER THE SPIRITUAL PART OF HUMAN NATURE ... Between these two religions, thus contrasted in their characters, a war of twelve hundred years has already raged. The war is yet flagrant ... While the merciless and dissolute dogmas of the false prophet shall furnish motives to human action, there can never be peace on earth, and good will towards men."

-- John Quincy Adams (emphasis his)

Stolen from a longer piece H E R E.
| Link

In honour of the 250th birthday of Mozart -- named for the Saint, the Golden-Mouthed, whose memory is kept today ...

I must inform [you] that on 27 January, at 8 p.m., my dear wife was happily delivered of a boy; but the placenta had to be removed. She was therefore astonishingly weak. Now, however (God be praised) both child and mother are well. She sends her regards to you both.

The boy is called Joannes Chrisostomos, Wolfgang, Gotlieb. [Leopold Mozart,1756]

On the Roman Catholic calendar, January 27 belonged to St. John Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople and patron saint of orators. Gotlieb is "beloved of God"; in Latin, Amadeus. Wolfgang was in honor of his maternal grandfather, Wolfgang Nikolaus Pertl. As a grown man he would sign himself "Wolfgang Amadé Mozart," or just "Mozart." But for now he was Wolfgang, or more affectionately, "Wolfgangerl."

In his honour (Mozart's, that is) the Huneycutts listened to his "greatest hits" this morning and watched "Amadeus" in the afternoon.

This, from his namesake ...

27 January
Transfer of the Relics of St John Chrysostom

“The Magi adored Thy Body lying in the manger. It is not now lying in a crib that I see Thee, but upon the altar. There is no difference between this (the Eucharist) and that (in the manger). This is the same Body that was covered in blood, pierced by the spear, pouring forth the saving streams of blood and water, for the whole world. Thou, O Christ, didst soar up from the depths of the abyss in dazzling light and, leaving Thy rays there, ascended to Thy throne in the heavens. It is that same Body that Thou now givest us to hold and to eat!”
― St John Chrysostom
| Link

The order of ordained women deacons “never totally disappeared in the life of the Orthodox churches” and there are strong signs of a desire to renew it, an Orthodox theologian told a largely Catholic gathering on Jan. 20.

Kyriaki Karidoyanes FitzGerald, a theologian, outlined the history and Orthodox theology and practice regarding deaconesses in the 2006 Isaac Hecker Lecture at St. Paul’s College in Washington. The lecture series is named after the founder of the Paulist religious order. FitzGerald, author of the book Women Deacons in the Orthodox Church: Called to Holiness and Ministry (1998), said Orthodox perspectives on deaconesses “are important to Catholics, as Catholicism not only recognizes the validity of Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox sacraments [but] the Orthodox Church is also considered as a ‘sister church’ by Rome.”

Here's the rest of that article, a review in St Nina's Quarterly, and an interview with the author in the same.

No comment.
| Link

NBC'S lame-duck series Book of Daniel ... starring Aidan Quinn ... centers on an Episcopal priest in a posh Connecticut suburb. His wife is infatuated with martinis, one of his sons is homosexual, the other is sleeping around, his daughter is selling dope, the Jamaican housekeeper is smoking it, his brother-in-law has stolen $3.5 million from the church (after having a threesome with his wife and Daniel's secretary), and the lady bishop is having an affair with Daniel's father, who is the presiding bishop of the Episcopal church. Meanwhile, Jesus periodically appears to Daniel to dispense non-judgmental advice, except when it comes to Daniel's addiction to pain killers.

But the funniest aspect of the Book of Daniel is the portrayal of Daniel as a rebel confronting a conservative church hierarchy. Daniel nervously postpones telling his stuffy father, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal church, about his homosexual son. In fact, real-life Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, an enthusiastic supporter of his denomination's first openly homosexual bishop, would probably warmly embrace a gay grandson.

THERE IS ANOTHER DETAIL in Book of Daniel which rings untrue: Daniel's church is packed with people every Sunday. The Episcopal Church is actually dwindling in size, a decline accelerated by recent controversies over sex and theology.

Thanks to FWD from a friend. The whole story at the link above.
| Link

The following piece, a bit dated and slightly edited, was originally published in The WORD magazine (1994). In light of recent comments, I thought others might find it helpful. Mind you, it predates the Internet and Reality TV [sic]. With that in mind, think of how far we've "progressed" (how numb we've become) ...

Years ago, my wife and I decided we could no longer afford our cable TV subscription. Given the usual slate of programming, we thought cable was something we could live without. The lady at the cable office seemed stunned that I was disconnecting my service and NOT moving! She sincerely tried to talk me out of it. It was as if going without cable was equal to having one's water, electricity, or heart disconnected. That was in March of 1993. I'm sure she thought I'd be back -- once I regained my senses. If TV-less is senseless, I am still.

We had just bought a new TV prior to graduating seminary. It was flawed and we had to have it replaced. Finally, after the cable was disconnected, our new model arrived. Yet, in the interval, we'd decided to go without. It was tough at first, especially for my wife -- giving up "Star Trek." She is a much better person than I. Therefore, I'll not mention the stuff I've been saved from viewing.

Knowing that my mom was in the market for a new television, I asked if she would like to buy this brand new one on an installment plan. (Mom's are great aren't they?) Her payments would cover my seminary loan for the next 3 months -- allowing is to get back on our feet a bit. [Other than Elvis movies, I've never known my mom to watch an entire 30 minute program in all her life. Thus, the TV would be in good hands.]

Now, before you agree that I've lost my marbles, let me say this: Life is great without TV. We have no regrets. Instead, we are ever grateful that we are no longer addicted to the daily temptations of the television. It is true: You don't need TV. You can live without it. As yet, there is no law requiring it.

No, we've not eradicated sin from our life by throwing out the TV. But, it has definitely helped! And we're much better for it.

[We still have an old set for the occasional movie rental and rabbit ears for football games. Although there's limited wholesome and worthwhile offerings on the rental shelves. And, Lord knows, most commercials during the football games are no better than soft-porn.]

You don't even need the TV news. Whenever I see the news on someone else's box, I am aware of how the presentations are often filled with commentary that is very liberal and/or anti-Christian. Besides, the commercials are constantly telling you that if you pop some pills you'll feel better fast! They may even attempt to sell you some contraceptives, beer, and a car -- in the same 3 minute break. (What a package deal, huh?)

You can live without soap operas and Oprah -- which deal almost exclusively with liberal anti-Christian ideas, vanity, and promiscuous sex. You can even do without PBS. Case in point:

"The TV event of the fortnight was the mini-series 'Tales of the City'. Based on Armistead Maupin's soap-operatic novel about life in San Francisco during the 1970's, 'Tales' was notable on three accounts: for the amount of nudity it featured, which was unprecedented for non-cable TV; for the, um, diversity of sexual relationships among its protagonists, including homosexuals, several adulterers, a transsexual, a pederast, and a child porn star, but not even one pair of monogamous heterosexuals; and for the fact that the whole shebang comes to us courtesy of the U. S. Government and its Public Broadcasting System."

-- "The Week," National Review, February 7, 1994


If you still watch TV, notice the commercials. Usually, the folks portrayed as "happy" are single and sexy. They're throwing beer parties, swirling zesty hairdos, driving new cars and trucks, wearing new underwear, brushing beautiful teeth, going places and doing wild and fun things.

Notice the "families" portrayed in TV commercials. They're having problems: wrong toilet tissue, wrong diapers, doofy parents, muddy children, big headaches, bad indigestion ...

The TV has become the American ICON of choice. This unholy icon, the TV, tells us how to think, how to act, how to dress, what to reject, what to tolerate. If you are a viewer, you cannot be unphased by the constant barrage of images thrown at you day after day. We tend to forget that nothing on TV is real. We, thus, start becoming what we see in our ICON of choice. We become unreal. God is reality and if we are becoming unreal, we are becoming un-Godlike.

Worse yet, TV familiarizes sin to the point of fashion. It is a tube that spews PALE GAS: Pride, Anger, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Avarice, Sloth. These are the 7 deadly sins that we should beware! Yet, without these 7 prime movers there would be no prime time, no daytime, no nighttime, do late night ... Television. This may not have always been the case. Yet one can hardly make the case it isn't so now. TV, the devil's icon, is an ever changing, ever glowing image of the ungodly. Motivated by greed, the sponsors who bring you the programs know that you are motivated by the same. Sitting in from of this unholy icon one is vulnerable to all that it has to offer: PALE GAS.

For sure, some shows are worthwhile. However, given our propensity to sin, gossip, and the like, we often stumble from the path of righteousness with itching eyes and ears. There's easy access with the remote control. Turn it off. Put it away. Live the life that God has given you -- sans the devil's icon.

Opposing views are welcome ... save the TV.
| Link

Two from James ... One.

Two.

Enjoy!
| Link

Dear Father Huneycutt,

I would like to add my little story among the so many other life stories that you have received.

I am a Greek Orthodox living in Holland. In my present age, being a grand-mother, I look back and see the so many years I lived without God. I wish I could go back and make again my life, but with God in my life.

As it is known, all Greeks are baptized and are Orthodox. I lived my young age going to church, but I did not know who God was not even what was the Holy Communion and confession. I got married and I started to drift completely from my little faith I had. I started thinking like the others that life is here on this earth and that I have to live the life offered by this world as there was no life after death. I stopped going to church. To cut the long story short I started thinking to become a belly dancer. It was then that God came into my life through the messages of True Life in God and has completely changed me. I returned to the church and accepted the holy sacrements and also learned what confession is.

My conversion is taking place every day. I learn with my falls, temptations, and in these messages Jesus teaches us to hung on Him; and I do this and in this way I go on until one day we meet.

This is what Vassula is doing. Just giving us the messages that God, out of His great love for mankind gave to us. Where is the crime? Is it that the people return to the Church? All the priests and everybody else who believe in God must be very happy indeed for this. The world lives in a great apostacy, stepping on God's Commandments. The knowledge of Good and Bad is disappearing.

Would you allow me to kindly request you to please read carefully these messages with the help of the Holy Spirit and you will feel in your heart that God is indeed talking to you as well.

Many thanks for allowing me to write to you.

May God bless you!

XXXX

(Hyperlinks and withholding of name are my own. Otherwise, I'm not responsible -- FrJ+.)
| Link

Back in 2003, at the annual March for Life in DC which marked the 30th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I saw a woman carrying a sign that read:

"24 Years Later ... My Choice Hurts Me Still."

Though there were thousands of other slogans, banners, and images, I couldn't get this woman and her "Scarlet Letter" out of my mind. I was shocked, saddened, and unsure of what to do. Was I supposed to do anything? Thank goodness there were a few hundred people between her and me. That way, I could suffer at a distance.

When you contrast this woman's honest message with the more strident and sickening visions of separated body parts and grim reaper costumes, you have an image of the two ends of the spectrum in this 30 year campaign. I would guess that it's easy to dress up like death personified and shock people with your message -- an act eagerly anticipated. It takes a whole lot more of something else to wear a big "A" on you chest that says: "I'm sorry. Don't."

It's one thing to oppose, protest, and editorialize. It's quite another to actually do something. As Orthodox Christians, what should we do? Practicing what we preach is hard. With the horrible practice of abortion, we must educate our children. We have a teaching responsibility about accountability, fidelity, chastity ... It's about sanctity. It's about life.

Then there's that woman with her sign. The sad reality is that all around us, even within us, are people scarred by abortion. Shrill rhetoric and staunch opposition without loving action is not the God-pleasing route toward healing.

It's estimated that there were 200,000 people at that year's March. Would that we had all parted to opposite sidewalks and, bowing our heads, let this one woman pass through our midst. Or, we could have sat at her feet and listened to her lament.

Then again, I could have simply made my way through the crowd and hugged her and thanked her for being there. In the end, as often happens, we suffer at a distance.

Three years later, that woman's sign hurts me still.
| Link

Fr John Salem wears a St Eelers lapel pin. I grew up a Steeler fan. Fr John is THE Steeler fan. God is always good. But, I'm thankful the Steelers made it to the Super Bowl for many reasons -- not least of which is it goes a long way in making a great work environment that much better. I predict, if they win, Fr John will give all of St George parishioners at least $1,000 each.

I realize the Carolina Panthers weren't 100% yesterday. There's one thing that has aggravated me for years about them ... arm tackling. Whoever coaches them on "tackling" needs to be fired. They are the worst of the better teams. By arm tackling, I'm talking about when a player sort of does a whirl around the ball runner (sort of like an amusement ride) without knocking the heck out of him ... or at least "wrapping him up" and falling to the ground. Yesterday, the Panthers played about as good as the Packers.

Go Steelers.
| Link

January 22, 2006 marks the 33rd anniversary of the tragic Supreme Court Decision Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion in the U.S. This Supreme Court decision overturned all moral and logical reasoning that most citizens of our society held and practiced. Since 1973, over 43 million lives have been aborted. Approximately 93% of the women who have had abortions cited they did so for social reasons (i.e. unready for responsibility, can’t afford the baby, concern over how baby would change her life, etc) as opposed to issues regarding the mother’s health, the baby’s health, rape or incest. These few facts are very alarming for us as Orthodox Christians who hold all life as sacred and holy.

The teens of our archdiocese are very concerned about this issue and desire to do whatever is in their ability to help bring about change that leads to godliness and holiness. The members of the North American Council (NAC) of Teen SOYO, with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Philip, will lead our Archdiocese in observing Sunday, January 22, 2006, as the “Sacred Gift of Life Sunday: Protecting the Life of the Unborn”. Our teens, as part of the celebration of January as Orthodox Education Month, will be furthering their education, understanding and commitment regarding the Orthodox Church’s teaching on the sacred gift of life and abortion. In turn, they will help to bring a greater awareness to the faithful of our parishes and throughout their local communities.

The teens are putting together a list of readings for further study some are listed in this publication. A fuller list is being placed on the Teen SOYO website. In addition, the teens are researching the various Orthodox agencies that support alternatives to abortions. A list of these agencies and links to their websites may also be found on the Teen SOYO website. Various resources will be posted to the Teen SOYO website that will further our education and understanding.

Local Teen SOYO chapters and High School Christian Education classes are encouraged to check out our resources page for materials. Some of the materials include a case study on abortion and the sacred gift of life that was developed by Dr. H. Tristram Engelhardt, an Orthodox Christian and leading Bio-Ethicist. The teens, under the leadership of the pastors and advisors, will have the material necessary to have discussions and further their belief and commitment to the sacred gift of life.

Please join our teens as we recognized the sacred gift of life on Sunday, January 22, 2006 throughout the parishes of the Antiochian Archdiocese.

Taken from the Archdiocese webpage -- where you can go for further resources.

| Link

“He that COVERETH his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Prov.28:13).

“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is COVERED” (Ps.32:1).

The whole thing lies in a nutshell. The man who covers his sin will have them uncovered by God in the day of judgment, and condemnation must follow.

On the other hand, the man who uncovers them before God will have the happiness of knowing that God has covered them in grace.

Now the choice is very plain.

Cover up your sins and God will uncover them IN JUDGMENT.

Uncover your sins and God will cover them IN GRACE.

You ask, What does it mean by covering sin? It means the refusal of a sinner to really acknowledge his sins in the presence of God. One man covers his sins by indifference, another by a false religion, using it like a cloak. Let all such rest assured that they will not prosper, but that their sins will assuredly by uncovered by God to their everlasting shame.

You ask, What does it mean by uncovering sin? It means a true confession of it in God’s holy presence.

You ask, If I uncover my sin, what do you mean by God covering it? Surely that in virtue of the precious blood of Jesus shed on Calvary He can righteously forgive you all your sins, cover them by the shelter of that precious atoning blood. When God buried Moses it was impossible for any to discover his body, and when God covers your sins it will be impossible for them to be discovered or uncovered.

Now, like a sensible man, weigh this all over in the light of eternity, and never rest till you know for yourself the happiness of the man whose sin is covered, for you may know it.

Taken from an old book, “The Most Useful KNOWLEDGE for the Orthodox Russian-American Young People,” compiled by the Very Rev’d Peter G. Kohanik, 1932-1934.
| Link

The recent comments on WWAJD (about Alan Jackson's upcoming Gospel album) led a friend to send me to an old article. Here's an excerpt:

HANK WILLIAMS’ MESSAGE can be encapsulated in propositions expressed in three of Hank’s song titles.

First, "Wealth Won’t Save Your Soul." Money is no measure of a person’s value. The underlying affirmation of the equal dignity of all persons regardless of social class forms the basis of a tradition of social criticism from the perspective of the white working class. Randy Travis rejects the pretensions of upward mobility in favor of "A Better Class of Losers." Alan Jackson bemoans the effects of the global economy on small-town community in "The Little Man." Even Garth Brooks recognizes that one needs "Friends in Low Places."

Second, "I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive." Life is disconcertingly difficult and unfair. The affirmation of basic human dignity stands in tension with the lived experience of marginalization. The fate that dooms romantic relationships in Hank Williams’ songs reflects a general sense that the powers determining life’s direction are capricious and beyond control. Travis Tritt, in "Lord Have Mercy on the Working Man," asks "why the rich man does the dancing while the poor man pays the band." Mark Chesnutt complains, "Every time I make my mark, somebody paints the wall."

Third, "Your Cheatin’ Heart Will Tell On You." Actions have consequences. Despite the fact that humans are "born to trouble as the sparks fly upward" (Job 5:7), we are responsible for our choices. Responding to life’s troubles by seeking escape in booze and sex only brings more trouble. One ends up, like George Jones, "still doing time in a honky-tonk prison."


Tap the link up top for the whole article.

DAVID FILLINGIM teaches ethics and biblical studies at Chowan College in Murfreesboro, North Carolina, and is the author of Redneck Liberation: Country Music As Theology.
| Link

The following excerpt is from a letter to the editor of TOUCHSTONE magazine (Jan/Feb 06). It is written by an American Catholic who has lived in Europe for the past 28 years.

I note that there are a few brave missionaries sill in various Islamic lands, but I see practically no effort to evangelize the Muslims in our own lands. I recognize that the record of success in converting Muslims seems to be rather poor; I suspect that it is largely due to the rapid exchange of the role of convert to that of martyr in Islamic countries. That handicap should be minimal in Western lands (at least the murderer should face punishment, not receive praise). Thus, we could have converts in the society to help the process of further conversion.

Therefore, why are there not swarms of Arabic- or Turkish-speaking missionaries sent to convert Muslims living in Christian lands (and not just in Europe)? Is it that our cultural relativism has paralyzed us? I suspect that this effort might have the side effect of the renewal of Christianity among the non-Muslim population as well.

Food for thought.
| Link

Have you noted the trend of these modern-day times,
As you are urged to examine each man-made plan,
How some modern churches with their modern-day chimes,
Seem to humanize God, and to deify man!

The ancient Land-marks “which our Fathers did set,”
They essay to remove just as fast as they can,
By fallacious reasoning unequaled as yet,
They thereby humanize God and deify man!

They claim that modern thought is the latest and best,
But some have thus been modern since the world began.
The Church of Christ on earth will surely stand the test,
Though modernism does humanize God and deify man!

How terrible to change the meaning of God’s Word --
The Word of God written for every race and clan;
A misinterpretation wherever it’s heard --
When we thus humanize God and deify man.

God’s people are troubled, don’t know what to believe,
As they search the Word and its sacred pages scan;
All cunning craftiness lies in wait to deceive,
So do not humanize God, and deify man.

[Originally titled "Preach the Gospel Truth"] Taken from an old book, “The Most Useful KNOWLEDGE for the Orthodox Russian-American Young People,” compiled by the Very Rev’d Peter G. Kohanik, 1932-1934.


| Link

OSLO: The Church of Norway has forced a priest to resign from a panel set to judge bikini-clad women competing to be the country's Miss Universe contestant.

Einar Gelius, an Oslo Lutheran vicar, has said it was his right to do as he wished during his spare time, but church members said ...

HERE


Over at Open Book a discussion is going on about modern Catholic hymns. Most are musically poor, which is not my concern at the moment.

Another issue has arisen. Some very popular and ever-present hymns were written by highly dubious characters. “Here I Am” by someone who seems to have a homosexual partner, and “Lord, You Have Come” by Robert Trupia, a priest who was defrocked for pedophilia. Trupia liked to work double entendres into his hymns.

Someone brought up Eric Gill, the Catholic artist who was into incest and bestiality ...

Stolen (& more) from HERE


"Lured off the beaten path by promises of carnal pleasures, they find their way to a hedonistic hostel in Slovakia, where they fall easy prey to a pair of temptresses and wind up in a chamber of horrors where wealthy sadists pay top dollar for the most depraved thrills ..."

Okay, sorry for veering into GetMovies territory there, but I had to get it out.
What she's talkin 'bout.


Finally, this from a Houston Pastor ...

"The reason the outside of the iPod is so simple to use and so beautiful to look at is because of the way they designed the inside of the iPod," Metropolitan Baptist Church Pastor Sal Sberna told his congregation Sunday during his second of four sermons on "iPod Theology."

HT THUNDERSTRUCK
| Link

Comments have been steadily flowing in from Vassula devotees since I put a moratorium on their comments on this blog. According to Sitemeter, her followers spend time googling blogs on the World Wide Web tracking down comments to comment upon. So, in an effort toward full disclosure, here's her site: True Life in God. Use your own discernment.
| Link

First pic from this story.
Second pic here.
| Link

For those of you too wise to be tweaked by my teaser of Parliament's "Chocolate City" lyrics (with regard to Mayor Nagin's comments), here's a sample:

There's a lot of chocolate cities, around
We've got Newark, we've got Gary
Somebody told me we got L.A.
And we're working on Atlanta
But you're the capital, CC

Gainin' on ya!
Get down
Gainin' on ya!
Movin' in and on ya
Gainin' on ya!
Can't you feel my breath, heh
Gainin' on ya!
All up around your neck, heh heh

Hey, CC!
They say your jivin' game, it can't be changed
But on the positive side,
You're my piece of the rock
And I love you, CC.
Can you dig it?

Hey, uh, we didn't get our forty acres and a mule
But we did get you, CC, heh, yeah
Gainin' on ya
Movin' in and around ya
God bless CC and its vanilla suburbs

Gettin' down

Ah, blood to blood
Ah, players to ladies
The last percentage count was eighty
You don't need the bullet when you got the ballot
Are you up for the downstroke, CC?
Chocolate city
Are you with me out there?

And when they come to march on ya
Tell 'em to make sure they got their James Brown pass
And don't be surprised if Ali is in the White House
Reverend Ike, Secretary of the Treasure
Richard Pryor, Minister of Education
Stevie Wonder, Secretary of FINE arts
And Miss Aretha Franklin, the First Lady
Are you out there, CC?
A chocolate city is no dream
It's my piece of the rock and I dig you, CC
God bless Chocolate City and its (gainin' on ya!) vanilla suburbs


Mayor Nagin, bless his heart, is now trying to explain himself.


... Sometimes You Don't!"

| Link

Yesterday, taking two white boys to the airport, during a lively conversation about Clinton and Parliament, I drove past my exit. I believe it was during the Associate Director of OCMC's comments about the P-Funk jam "Chocolate City" that we actually missed the turn. I realize that Orthodox white boys discussing the merits of true funk is, well, out of the ordinary. I also realize that there are definitely some P-Funk songs that are inappropriate for this blog audience. Therefore, I will not print said lyrics here. Nor, due to language used, will I direct you to this site.
| Link

Dawn's book is done. IOW, she's back.

What is the Catholic teaching on noitroba?

H E R E


Hey, Bob? Why the long face?

National Concerns Committee
NAC 017: Approve the Episcopal Church membership in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.

HT Classical Anglican

Abortion - Full Disclosure
| Link

As mentioned earlier, it was a busy weekend at St George, Houston -- not to mention the NFL!

I really did not think that my wishes and predictions -- victorious Steelers & Panthers -- would prevail. O me of little faith! (Then again, victors in spite of the officiating.)

Picture One: Sunrise above our house on Sunday, the day of the Houston Marathon.

Picture Two: (L to R) Jordan Henderson, Associate Director at the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC); old priest; John Mahfouz, Program Coordinator for Orthodox Youth Outreach (OYO); Constantine Shepherd, Youth / Christian Ed Director, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Winston-Salem, NC.

Picture Three: OYO participants who ministered to Houston's homeless over the holiday weekend.

Oops, forgot to take our camera to the Annual IOCC Dinner.

Oh my ... Picture This:



VERSUS
| Link

Back in 1980, I saw Stevie Wonder in concert in Greensboro, North Carolina. It was a magical show. Stevland Morris performed for 2.5 hours -- seemingly covering nothing but Number Ones. Then, for his final encore, he did "Happy Birthday" -- his song honouring Martin Luther King, Jr.

He tore the roof off.

I can still see the magical mayhem. It's one of those moments beyond time and understanding. Stevie's campaign was omnipresent in those days.

Today, we (as a nation) spend much of our time tearing apart the reps of honourable, though sinful, men. We've even dissed most of our founding fathers. We are an ungrateful lot. It seems we've lost the ability -- even the will -- to pay respect. In our current society, high-teched and sex-soaked, we've lost sight of ourselves, our struggle, others.

Perhaps a time to love will come again.

Back in 1980, I knew -- half way through Stevie's 20-minute King tribute -- that the time had come. It came, literally, right then, right there. It wasn't a local thing, confined to the Greensboro Coliseum. It just happened to all come together at that very moment, during that show, that song. The people cried out, with happy voices, singing the praises of a fallen leader and hero, a man with a dream.

At the end of the show, black folks and white folks were ecstatic. Together. All smiles. Energized.

We'd come a long way.

We've a long -- long -- way to go.

You know it doesn't make much sense
There ought to be a law against
Anyone who takes offense
At a day in your celebration
'Cause we all know in our minds
That there ought to be a time
That we can set aside
To show just how much we love you
And I'm sure you will agree
It couldn't fit more perfectly
Than to have a world party on the day you came to be

Chorus
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
(Repeat)

I just never understood
How a man who died for good
Could not have a day that would
Be set aside for his recognition
Because it should never be
Just because some cannot see
The dream as clear as he
That they should make it become an illusion
And we all know everything
That he stood for time will bring
For in peace our hearts will sing
Thanks to Martin Luther King

Chorus
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
(Repeat)

Bridge
Why has there never been a holiday
Where peace is celebrated
all throughout the world

The time is overdue
For people like me and you
You know the way to truth
Is love and unity to all God's children
It should be a great event
And the whole day should be spent
In full remembrance
Of those who lived and died for the oneness of
all people
So let us all begin
We know that love can win
Let it out don't hold it in
Sing it loud as you can

Chorus
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
(4x)

(Background Stevie)
Happy birthday Ooh yeah
Happy birthday,
To you

We know the key to unity of all
People
Is in the dream that you had so
Long ago
That lives in all of the hearts
Of people
That believe in unity
We'll make the dream become
A reality
I know we will
Because our hearts tell us so
| Link

"I got a phone call from Alan's manager, saying he was going to do a recording of gospel songs for his mom," says RCA Label Group/Nashville chairman Joe Galante. "He was just going to make a CD copy for her. I said I'd love to hear it."

Jackson says: "It was something I wanted to do. My mom just wore me out, asking me to do some of the songs I heard in the Baptist church growing up, and my wife, Denise, asked me (to do some for her mother). I had all this pressure from the women in my life. But actually I loved these songs and was looking for an opportunity to do it. We just did a simple record, piano, acoustic guitar, harmony vocals."

HT THUNDERSTRUCK
| Link

Some residents were wary Saturday as they celebrated the Russian Orthodox New Year, fearful that ash that ash would disrupt air service, the main source of transportation to and from the village. Many wore dust masks to New Year's Eve church services Friday as ash began dimming the skies.
| Link

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Sama'ria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then said Jesus, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well." -- Luke 17:11-19

Thanks to all those who e-mailed me about the "Book of Knowledge." God willing, I shall post more from this gem till someone tells me not to. As a friend once said, "You can do anything you want till the man with the badge & gun shows up and says ... 'Stop'."

Blogging is a very unpredictable endeavor. One can work on a post for days only to receive a limp reception. Then you post something you either spout off on the spur of the moment -- or, worse yet, you just cut and paste something from another (like a public FWD) -- and WHAMO! You're a Web Celeb (for a few minutes). That happened to me once with Amy Welborn and just the other day with the Houston Chronicle Online. Neither piece was authored by me. He he.

I thank God for people who lovingly keep me humble, chief of which is my wife. Before heading off to seminary, puffed up with myself, I said: "Honey, now you know, I'm going to be going to Chapel twice a day and studying theology and such and ... well, I hope you don't mind if one of us is [hand gestures] sort of up here and the other ...down here." She said, "Well, I hope it doesn't bother you either!"

We currently have our first North Carolina visitor since we moved here in September. Houston's a fun place to be and to show. St George Church is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful Orthodox churches in the land. It's nice to see that opinion confirmed in the eyes of another.

I've got some wonderful helpers keeping me humble at St George. The other day one of them complimented me on the Christmas article found in December's newsletter. As I was nodding, thanking her, and beaming, she said: "But, January's newsletter, that poem ... ugh! I do not like poetry!"

Faking it, I said: "I don't either, really."

She said, "I can tell!"

HA!

Glory to God for all things. Some people can say things with a smile and everything's alright. Like the Southern comedian says, "Long as you say 'Bless your heart' -- you can say anything you want to."

"Oh, look at her ... she's put on so much weight ... Bless her heart."

"He is so lazy, bless his heart."

"And, Ugly!" ... "Bless his heart."

You get the picture.

This weekend St George is host to an OYO Event and the Annual IOCC Dinner. Thank God, both of these endeavors are such a blessing.

Also this weekend ...

For some, Happy New Year!

For others, Happy St Sava's Day!

And, of great importance ...

Go Steelers. Go Panthers.

And Lord, about those other nine in the Gospel (and the Colts & Bears), oh my!, bless their hearts.

Pic stolen from H E R E.
| Link

The following is taken from an old book, “The Most Useful KNOWLEDGE for the Orthodox Russian-American Young People,” compiled by the Very Rev’d Peter G. Kohanik, 1932-1934.

If we wish to make life beautiful and successful we must give attention to what the world calls little things. Jesus taught that: “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.” It seems a small matter to give a cup of cold water in the name of Christ, but whosoever is faithful in things so small, will be ready to meet the demands of duty when the trial is great. We cannot all be philanthropists, but he who would give thousands to the cause of Christ must be willing to give such as he has, be it ever so little.

On one occasion Jesus said, “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” If you can give but one day of the week to the Lord’s service -- give it. If you can only give one dime -- give it. If you can only say one prayer -- say it.

“A word spoken in due season, how good is it!” (Prov. 15:23). One word, if the right word, and spoken at the right time, may make a life brighter, a burden lighter -- may change the entire destiny of a soul. The little words of kindness, little acts of self-denial, little moments of diligence, a careful watch against little sins, a grateful use of little blessings, a diligent cultivation of little talents -- these might make a person great in the sight of God.

The close observation of little things is the secret of all true success in every pursuit in life.

What is smaller than a drop of water? Think of the many drops of water that go to make the oceans from which the islands rise.

We cannot all of us do big things. We cannot all of us be big people. Only one out of every thousand, perhaps, rise very far above the average; and yet that one, when you stop to think it out, is lifted to his place by the number of little fine things that have become welded together, as drops of water are joined together to make an ocean.

Take care of the little things that come into your daily life. Do not neglect to do the little, kind things that may, at the moment, seem so unimportant. Keep from the little unkind things that may seem almost equally unimportant. It is by paying attention to the little things, those that you do and those that you leave undone, that you become a truly big person, with a big soul.

In the Christian life there are many duties which sometimes appear insignificant, but whose faithful performance brings great reward; and their neglect -- untold loss.

The human body is made up of many members, great and small. Each one has its work to do, and each is needed. The foot cannot say: “I can do without the eye,” merely because the eye is a small member. The Church of Christ is likened to the human body in that it is made up of many members, of every nation, tongue and people. The same cleansing stream makes us one, but some have seemed to do more than others. For instance, Solomon built a house for the Lord, the prophets and apostles gave us the Bible, the martyrs sealed their faith with their blood. But may we, the lesser members, not underestimate the value of the faithful performance of the little duties God requires of us.
| Link

Remember the proposed Theme Park for the Holy Land?

Well, Pat Robertson may actually, in a way, have done the work of the Lord.

It seems his recent pronouncement on Sharon may have squashed the deal.

And all the people say: Amen!

(Okay, so that last link was especially for the photo.)

HT Serge
| Link

You know you're in Houston when...

You can leave your house, head out of town, and an hour later you still haven't left the city limits. (During rush hour, you haven't left your neighborhood.)

Spring is not the season, Katy is not the lady, and 1960 is not the year.

The "farm-to-market" roads have seven lanes.

If you want to be a snob about your grocery shopping, you can go to Randall's, Rice Market, Central Market or a Kroger's Signature.

You have to turn on the air conditioning in January, two days after a low of 29 degrees.

When you see your neighbor dancing around the front yard, you know he just stepped in a fire ant bed.

You know that the Astrodome will always be the Eighth Wonder of the World.

You come to work in short-sleeves and walk out at noon to find that a Blue Norther cold front has blown through, and the temperature has dropped 40 degrees in a matter of minutes.

You wander into a section of town where you can't read the street signs but you don't care because you can get great prices on fake designer merchandise there.

You hear everything but English spoken when you go to the Galleria to window-shop.

You know that "Dad gummit" has nothing to do with your father's failure to practice good dental hygiene.

You've never seen I-45 in any condition other than under-construction -- and you've lived here for 20-30 years. (Try 40 years)

If the humidity is below 90 percent, it's a good hair day.

The only real Mexican food is Tex-Mex.

You see nothing unusual about an 80-something former sheriff's deputy who wears a white toupee and blue sunglasses, mispronounces names, allows televising of his frequent plastic surgeries, seems unnaturally obsessed with slime in the ice machine, and screams, "MAR-VIN ZIND-ler, EYE-witness news" into a television camera every night.

Thanks to FWD from a life-long Houstonian.
| Link

"Brokeback Mountain," the controversial "gay cowboy" film that has garnered seven Golden Globe nominations and breathless media reviews – and has now emerged as a front-runner for the Oscars – is a brilliant propaganda film, reportedly causing viewers to change the way they feel about homosexual relationships and same-sex marriage.

And how do the movie-makers pull off such a dazzling feat? Simple. They do it by raping the "Marlboro Man," that revered American symbol of rugged individualism and masculinity ...

More H E R E.

Thanks to FWD from Fr Josiah Trenham.


| Link

Mollie at GetReligion offers food for thought on abortion coverage.
| Link

A Roman Catholic official has withdrawn an invitation for the cathedral to host a Christian unity conference after church officials learned a featured speaker would be a Greek Orthodox laywoman who claims to speak with God and Jesus.

The pastor of the downtown Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels expressed concerns that the event would spotlight Vassula Ryden, who has attracted attention over her reports of sacred conversations, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

The decision against hosting the event was "final and not subject to change," Msgr. Kevin Kostelnik wrote in a letter faxed to event sponsors ...

The whole thing -- including the subject line.
| Link

| Link

God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use of what was against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing that what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which is due.

Sure sounds old-school ...

Who said it?

Pat Robertson?

I'm sure y'all know it was Saint Paul (Romans 1:26b-27). Before we get too puffed up, let's listen to Jesus, the God-Man, Himself:

Preach, saying the Kingdom of God is at hand ... And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city (Matthew 10:7b; 14-15).

Wow. Those who reject the saving message of Christ -- and his messengers -- shall be judged more harshly than Sodom and Gomorrah.

Remember Sodom and Gomorrah?

That's all we talk about these days (in a way).

I believe, I don't have the reference handy, CS Lewis said something about us, perhaps, finding out at the Last Day that those sexual sins weren't nearly as high on God's list as, say, the Virtues -- and our failure to struggle toward them.

When Abraham found out that God was going to destroy those great cities, he did a little bargaining (Gen.18 ff) ...

Wilt thou indeed destroy the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; wilt thou then destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from thee to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from thee! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

God answered Abraham, If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.

The story continues, the number of necessary righteous dwindling, till Abraham says: Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.

God said: For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.

Then, of course, something happened in the night which led angels to urge Lot to leave, saying: Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.

What happened (you may read the story for yourself) is currently a matter of debate. For instance, I once heard an Episcopal priest preach that Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed for "inhospitality" -- more than anything else. Yet, if I am treated badly at the local Burger King and I complain to the manager that one of the employees was inhospitable ... will he automatically think sodomy?

Of course not.

But if I make a complaint about someone using that old-fashioned word, sodomy, are they likely to think: "What! Inhospitality? How dare they!"

Not at all.

And yet, here's the rub, given our culture's current obsession with sex-talk, we may indeed be in danger of damnation, kablewie, due to our inhospitality.

In 1981 Fr James Meena wrote:

"I remember standing in the choir loft as a young man looking down on 30 or 40 souls coming to worship in the house of God. But as the war clouds began to gather over Europe we saw a few more people in Church ... those who were aware of the coming catastrophes of World War II. But we weren't involved in the War, yet!

Then our young men were inducted into the Armed Forces, even though we were not yet at war. They began to say farewell to kith and kin, to don the uniform of their nation and go off to prepare for battle. Sill the Church was not filled. Then, Pearl Harbor and the general mobilization and all the young men were called up to the service of the nation. The Church suddenly became filled with people coming to pray, not for the salvation of their souls, not for the forgiveness of their sins, but to make bargains with God. But as soon as the crisis passed, those bargains remained unkept.

Today our bellies are full again. We enjoy a greater degree of affluence than any other nation in the world and we are still putting off the dedication that God requires of us. We passively worship God and think that that's enough, and it's not ...

We should strive .... to show our love without pretense, and sincerely prefer good to evil. Love each other as brothers should and have a profound respect for each other. If you have hope, this will make you cheerful. Don't give up, and keep on praying. If any of the Saints are in need, you must share with them and you should make hospitality your special concern (Romans 12:6-14).

More from St Paul ...

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a base mind and to improper conduct. They were filled with all manner of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity, they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them but approve those who practice them (Rom.1:28-32) .

That last sentence, Romans 1:32, is scary. It's one thing when the sin being discussed is something base and "elsewhere;" it's another thing when the list of No-Nos is so long and bears such a close resemblance.

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, whoever you are, when you judge another; for in passing judgment upon him you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things (Rom.2:1).

Who would Jesus bomb?

Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomor'rah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven (Gen.19:24) ...

"In the day of judgment we are not judged directly by God the Father, whom we cannot see, but by the incarnate Son whom we do see, Christ Jesus. Christ will judge of the basis of the light He Himself has given to each of us and our response to His light" (Note from Orthodox Study Bible, p.341) .

Those consumed by the lusts of the flesh ... just as Sodom and Gomor'rah and the surrounding cities, which likewise acted immorally and indulged in unnatural lust, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire (Jude 1:7) .

And then, again, look at the words of the Judge, Himself: Preach, saying the Kingdom of God is at hand ... And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city (Matthew 10:7b; 14-15).

Who would Jesus bomb?

But Lot's wife behind him looked back, and she became a pillar of salt (Gen.19:26).
| Link

Remember when Michael Jackson's hair caught on fire shooting the Pepsi commercial?

How 'bout this: Remember Jackson's tender ballad to a rat?

Ben, you’re always running here and there
(here and there)
You feel you’re not wanted anywhere
(anywhere)
If you ever look behind
And don’t like what you find
There’s something you should know
You’ve got a place to go

Now suspend all rational thought and picture ... THIS.

I'd say there's a new case brewing for Tom Sneddon.
| Link

| Link

SHORT GUSH: Awesome. Go see it. Way cool. Obviously Christian.

LONGER GUSH: Just in case you've not seen this CS Lewis classic now updated for the big screen, by all means don't take my word for it. I never go to the movies! Well, almost never; yesterday, I did. My oldest daughter came in after breakfast and said: "Take me to see Narnia!" I was immediately put under her spell and googled the participating theatres. We ended up at the Alamo which serves food and beverages at your seat during the flick. As an aside, we arrived after the lights had been dimmed and the previews were running. In other words, I couldn't see. When the waiter came by I asked if he had a flashlight. He said, "No, but I have my cell phone." "Fine," I said, "give it to me so I can see the menu." After using the light of his cell for a sec I said, "Oh here, I've got my own." Funny, I saw others doing this and, slow that I am, I realized this must be a regular occurrence among those who get out more.

I love CS Lewis. But, though I read some fiction (Screwtape Letters), I never read his fantasy stories. Don't misunderstand, I tried! I just never got into it. (No, I didn't read Tolkien either.) I was satisfied enough with Mere Christianity, The Four Loves, The Great Divorce, and various anthologies to appreciate the man and his witness. A year or so ago I bought Till We Have Faces only to put it away after a few days' frustration of forcing interest. I know that some readers will think me a poor specimen. But, I have discovered there are others like me. You are not alone! And to those few I say: "Go to the movies! Hooray! You can do it!"

PETTY THOUGHTS: Lips. You know how Liv Tyler, Angelina Jolie, and especially Scarlett Johansson have those perpetually puckered lips -- always slightly open with a hint of teefers showing? Perhaps it's just me, but the camera's constant focus on the two young girls' puffy lips -- even Peter's -- became an early distraction. At first I thought, "That's just the way they look." But I know that all scenes are shot for the desired effect and, in that light I thought, "Enough with the lip-thing already!" Once the action scenes took over I got past the puckers.

I'd read one blogger, I forget whom, that had not read the book. His advice was to not struggle to find constant meaning, deciphering allegory and such, but just sit back and watch the movie. Not wanting to be disappointed, I followed this caveat. At least, I tried. Impossible! This movie contains the most overtly Christian message I can recall. Then again, as I've already mentioned, I don't get out much.

The costumes, characters, and effects serve as glorious eye candy. (Notice, no mention of lips there. In fact, I had a hamburger.) And I actually wiped away tears a couple times.

Okay, let me explain. I cry at movies. Think what you will. You put Mr Holland's Opus on and I can actually lose weight! With Narnia, most tears were coughed up during touching scenes in unexpected places -- let's just say I was "surprised by joy." I became a kid again. It may have helped that I was with an eleven-year old girl. It might have been different if I'd gone with a bunch of brutes. But I've never done that, even when I did get out more. Yes, I saw the first Lord of the Rings, twice, on the big screen. But the closest thing to the Narnia experience for me was E.T. When Spielberg's blockbuster appeared, I was living near Los Angeles. I went, alone, to the Cinerama which is a huge round theatre in Hollywood. It had a gigantic wrap-around screen and sense-around sound that literally made your body shiver. It was the movie in front of me, though, that moved me. Wanting to share the experience with my friends, I think I saw the flick five times on the big screen. Heck, I would have made a friend just to take 'em. (Okay, so I even took a brute or two.)

Were I a younger man, who wanted to get out more, I'd be back at Narnia today. Instead, I'm sending my wife and my boy. At the moment, time will tell, I'm more excited than they are.

I take back what I said in the beginning: Do take my word for it, Go.

I have no idea if it is faithful to Jack's book. It's faith-filled, this I know.

I may just go again.

Whaddya say?
| Link

As much as I like to rib Episcopalians, this kind of stuff is just plain nutty. (Oh, and beware of that last link which was taken from here. But it does serve to show just how far we've fallen).

Speaking of wikki wacki woo-woo:

"Anyone think God gave Robertson prostate cancer a few years back as a way of telling him not to say these kinds of things?"
-- A comment on this over here ... note, in the comments, a good question about Arius (compared to Pat Robertson). If God is as Robertson believes, Robertson is, himself, the exception that proves the rule.

Now for something completely different ...

Dr Anthony Esolen's writing in Touchstone magazine is always thought provoking. His recent comment on their Blog precipitated a bit of discussion wherein his own comment (#16, beginning "Dear M.") is well worth noting:

The "real thing," ultimately, is not even a good marriage or a lot of good friendships. Those are blessings, no question, but even they will not satisfy our deepest longings. I think that talk about one's spouse as one's source of emotional fulfillment (and I hear this from both Catholic and Evangelical promoters of marriage) is ultimately dangerous, and results in many a divorce once one wakes up and finds that one has married a sinner, and sometimes a boring sinner at that. (That oneself is also a sinner, and sometimes a boring sinner, never occurs to us, but it should.) So the first thing you need to understand -- and same with the rest of us ...
[Check out the whole thing, linked above.]

Much is being said, in prose and verse, these days about WATER. A blessed Feast to all! And to those on the Julian Calendar, by anticipation:

Christ is Born!
| Link

I THIRST
How is it that my Creator comes to me?
I'm not worthy.
To quench is my fate.
THIRST
All can relate.
Before Eden thou wast; even before the flood.
I parted for Thy people at the behest of Moses, Thy chosen one.
I’ve whetted e’ery path man’s trod; every field he’s plo’d.
At Thy command I came to be; my rest shall be in Thee.
Tell me Lord, what brings Thee to me? I’m not worthy,
I must confess.
Me? I cleanse from sweat, dirt, sand, and disease.
Washed away are cares and burdens -- the soot of the day --
in my waves.
John calls forth the people.
In their salvation I participate.
Yet, to Thee, how can I relate?
For without, I’d not be.
Jest it seems!
(Agent of cleansing feels dirty in the presence of the King.)
Cleanse me, O Lord, that I may be worthy of Thee.
THIRST
I am water.
I lack nothing but Thee.
At Thy baptism, O Lord, Thou hast found me worthy.
Quenching, cleansing:
paths, fields, people,
salvation;
I
shall ne’er be the same.

Come Lord Jesus,
cleanse Thou me!

Published in 2005 on the Antiochian Webpage & in the January 2006 Messenger, St George, Houston.
| Link

Due to our parish's annual New Year's Party, I thought I would miss out on Dick Clark's much anticipated appearance before the Ball dropped in New York. Given the press reports, I thought the 76-year old teenager would make a token appearance at the beginning of the broadcast, and that would be it.

Coming home early, I walked in and flipped on the TV around 11:30 (EST) ...

I was shocked.

Oh my! He looked a little older. He had energy! You could only understand every other word! Yikes!

Within moments I raced through a whole range of emotions and opinions: He shouldn't be on TV ... How sad ... Boy this took guts ... What did he say? Etc.

In the end, I thought it was a courageous decision and, having grown up with the annual show (at least the final countdown), I was glad I tuned in.

"I think it's awesome," said Leanne Hendrix, who was 26 when she had a stroke three years ago.

Read more remarks from Stroke Survivors ... H E R E.
| Link

Calvinists believe the game is fixed.

Lutherans believe they can't win, but trust the Scorekeeper.

Quakers won't swing.

Unitarians can catch anything.

Amish walk a lot.

Pagans sacrifice.

Jehovah's Witnesses are thrown out often.

Televangelists get caught stealing.

Episcopalians pass the plate.

Evangelicals make effective pitches.

Fundamentalists balk.

Adventists have a seventh-inning stretch.

Atheists refuse to have an Umpire.

Baptists want to play hardball.

Premillenialists expect the game to be called soon on account of darkness.

The Pope claims never to have committed an error.

The above from a FWD from a Roman Catholic friend.

Here's one ...

The Orthodox claim their rules are older, but no one can agree on the date of the game ...

(the size of the bases, whether to have bleachers, beer on fasting days, the number of strikes, the length of the games, color of uniforms, how many teams are in the league, etc. ).
| Link

THE TRADITION OF THE
Theophany House Blessing

During the days following the Feast of the Theophany (January 6th), it is customary for the Priest to visit the homes of his parishioners, bringing with him the “Jordan Water” for the traditional Theophany House Blessing. The First Great Sanctification of Water is performed at the end of the Divine Liturgy on the Paramon of Theophany (January 5th). While that water may be given to the faithful to drink on that day and throughout the coming year, traditionally it is only the water from the Second Great Sanctification, which is performed on the day of the Feast of Theophany (January 6th), that is called "Jordan Water" and used for the Theophany House Blessing.

All who reside in the household should make every effort to be present for the Blessing. In anticipation of the arrival of the Priest to the house, the lampada, hand-censer and incense in the family’s icon corner should be prepared. If there is no icon corner, a small table should be placed on the eastern wall of the main room of the dwelling; the table, covered with a white cloth, should be set with one or more icons standing upright, a candle in a candle stand, a hand-censer and incense. A small bowl along with several sprigs of evergreen bound together with a ribbon should also be placed in the icon corner (or on the table), along with a clearly printed list of the Baptismal names of the members of the household. Upon the arrival of the Priest, he is to be greeted by all of the family members, each of whom asks the Priest’s blessing and reverences his right hand. Then a family member lights the lampada (or candle) and hand-censer and turns off all televisions, radios, etc. in the home. Lights should be turned on in all the rooms of the house that are to be blessed. Then the entire family gathers with the Priest before the icon corner (or table) to begin the Theophany House Blessing.

The Priest, vested in cassock and exorasson and facing the icons, blesses and dons his epitrachelion saying the usual vesting prayer. He then places incense upon the lighted charcoal in the hand-censer and blesses it saying the usual prayer. He then places his hand-cross at the icon corner (or on the table) and, after pouring “Jordan Water” into the bowl provided by the family, he blesses himself while intoning:

PRIEST: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

ALL: Amen.

PRIEST: Glory to Thee, our God. Glory to Thee.

O heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things, the Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come, and abide in us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O good One.

ALL: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. (thrice)

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy Name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. (thrice)

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, who art in the heavens, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

PRIEST: For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

ALL: Amen.

Then the Priest leads all in the chanting of the Apolytikion of Theophany in Tone 1:

When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan, worship of the Trinity was made manifest. For the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee, calling Thee His beloved Son. And the Spirit, in the likeness of a dove,
confirmed the truth of His word. O Christ our God, who hast appeared and enlightened the world, glory to Thee.

PRIEST: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.

ALL: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)

PRIEST: Again we pray for all pious and Orthodox Christians.

ALL: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)

PRIEST: Again we pray for our Metropolitan N., our father and Bishop N., and all our brotherhood in Christ.

ALL: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)

PRIEST: Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation and pardon and forgiveness of sins for the servants of God, (we mention by name all those who dwell in the house that is to be blessed) NN., and for all pious and Orthodox Christians who live and dwell in this community.

ALL: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)

PRIEST: For Thou art a merciful God and lovest mankind, and unto Thee we ascribe glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

ALL: Amen.

Turning to face the people, the Priest blesses them, saying:

PRIEST: + Peace be to all.

ALL: And to thy spirit.

PRIEST: Let us bow our heads unto the Lord.

ALL: To Thee, O Lord.

All bow their heads as the Priest faces the icons and prays:

PRIEST: Let us pray to the Lord.

ALL: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST: Our God our Saviour, the True Light, who wast baptized by John in the Jordan to renew all men by the water of regeneration, and who didst condescend to enter under the roof of Zacchaeus, and didst thereby bring salvation to him and all his household: Do Thou now also, the same Lord, keep safe from harm all those who dwell herein. Vouchsafe them sanctification, purification and health of body, and grant their petitions which are unto salvation and life everlasting: For blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, and unto Thee we ascribe glory together with Thine unoriginate Father and Thine all-holy and good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

ALL: Amen.

Then the head of the household takes up a lighted candle and leads through the house the Priest, who carries the bowl of “Jordan Water” and, using his hand-cross together with the bound sprigs of evergreen, sprinkles each room with the “Jordan Water.” It is customary that he sprinkle each doorway upon the lintel and at each side. During the Theophany season (January 6th through the Leavetaking on January 14th) the festal Apolytikion “When Thou, O Lord wast baptized …” is chanted repeatedly throughout the House Blessing; but should the House Blessing take place after the Leavetaking, the Apolytikion of the Cross (also in Tone 1) “O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance…” is chanted rather than that of Theophany. It is common practice that once the Great Fast begins House Blessings are suspended. The other members of the household may walk behind the Priest if they wish or they may remain at the icon corner (or table). The procession through the house ends at the icon corner (or table).

The Priest replaces the bowl and sprigs of evergreen in the icon corn