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

I hope the regulars -- even those in the "drive by blogosphere" -- will assist me with a talk that I am scheduled to give this coming Friday, February 3rd, at St Jonah of Manchuria Church in Spring, Texas.

The topic: Orthodox Evangelism.

You are welcome, in the Comments below, to share your thoughts -- the Good, the Bad, the Ugly -- on the topic. Comments are moderated and may not be posted if they are, oh ... too ugly.

If you wish, you may email suggestions to me (orthodixie at aol dot com).

Emails may be subject to anonymization and reposting here on the blog. However, anonymous responses will be (forgive me) deleted. Also, with the current load of house blessings, it may be a while before Comments are approved and show up on the blog. Thank you for your patience.

I'd appreciate your thoughts.
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It's like a cyclical thing ... from Venus (I guess you could say).

No, those aren't Orthodox women in the photo. They claim to be Catholic. They also claim to be ...

Oh, never mind. Just pretend they're soccer moms in an advanced Pottery Class on a rainy day and all will be well.

Click Dixie's link above for some interesting reading. Here's an excerpt:

I can’t tell you how it happened or identify the discussion that led up to it but all of a sudden I found myself in the middle of a group of women pushing for female ordination. I honestly was having a hard time breathing. I would have gotten up and left the lecture if I hadn’t been trapped in a central area that would have called attention to my leaving and disrupted others in the process. This took me by such surprise I didn’t even default to the “Jesus Prayer”. I just sat there while anxiety filled my emptiness.

I walked back to my room alone, wondering “What in the world have I signed up for?” I don’t know why I was so naïve to think that Holy Chrism takes away the lures of this world. Just because one is Orthodox does not mean ...

In the meantime, and competely unrelated ...

I got all choked up and I threw down my gun
And I called him my pa, and he called me his son,
And I came away with a different point of view.
And I think about him, now and then,
Every time I try and every time I win,
And if I ever have a son, I think I'm gonna name him
Bill or George! Anything but Sue! I still hate that name!

Lyrics by Shel Silverstein, song by Johnny Cash (caveat lector).

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Mitsos lived above his restaurant with only his beloved pet dog for company. One day the dog died and Mitsos went to the parish priest and asked, "Father, my dog died. Could you do a Trisagion for the poor animal? He was like a son to me."

Father Nikos shook his head, "I'm afraid not; we cannot have services for an animal in the church. But, there's a Unitarian church on the next block, and God knows what they believe. Maybe they'll do something for your dog."

Mitsos said, "I'll go right away Father. Do you think $5,000 is enough to donate to them for the service?"

Father Niko exclaimed, "Kyrie Eleison, Mitso! Why didn't you tell me the dog was Greek Orthodox?"

A new spin on an old joke ... sent to me by Margo (a Greek Orthodox woman).
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Tch! Having seen it "bubble" from her lips in a strip long ago, I used to think these words were original to Mr Capp's wife, Flo:

"Any idiot can face a crisis; it is this day-to-day living that wears you out."

-- Anton Chekhov (born on this date in 1860)


St Maximos the Confessor: “Many of the things that befall us, befall us for our training, either to do away with past sins or to correct present neglect or to check future sinful deeds. He then, who reckons that temptation has come upon him for one of these reasons, is not vexed at its attack, especially as he is conscious of his sin.”

John Lennon: “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.”

In light of the above quotes -– all true -– by a writer, a saint, and a musician: Would that we were better prepared for those things that just “happen.” Wouldn’t it be nice if we got out of bed knowing full well that the Lord would send us trials to help us toward patience? Would that we got into our cars fully expecting the other drivers on the road to break all the rules, to help us toward patience? What if we determined, before our day even began, to look the other way when tempted by lust -– and then followed through with our promise as soon, and often, as able? What if we decided, just for one day, to go without participating in gossip, anger, swearing, or gluttony? (What if you are already doing this and I am the only one missing the boat?)

Prayer of the Optina Elders:
Grant unto me, O Lord, that with peace of mind I may face all that this new day is to bring. Grant unto me to dedicate myself completely to Thy Holy Will. For every hour of this day, instruct and support me in all things. Whatsoever tidings I may receive during the day, do Thou teach me to accept tranquilly, in the firm conviction that all eventualities fulfill Thy Holy Will. Govern Thou my thoughts and feelings in all I do and say. When things unforeseen occur , let me not forget that all cometh down from Thee. Teach me to behave sincerely and rationally toward every member of my family, that I may bring confusion and sorrow to none. Bestow upon me, my Lord, strength to endure the fatigue of the day, and to bear my part in all its passing events. Guide Thou my will and teach me to pray, to believe, to hope, to suffer, to forgive, and to love.
Amen

Finally, realizing that we often miss the mark with our fellow man, the late Darwin Kirby once wrote:

Sometimes at night, when I am saying my prayers, I end by saying -- "God bless all the people that I don't like and all the people who don't like me." And that covers a mighty multitude.

Now that sounds like a prayer even Andy Capp could pray!
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As we begin the Lenten Triodion with the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee, here's a re-post from a few years back:

As I walked in to the elementary school, I noticed a man up ahead of me wearing a hat similar to one I own. He was tall, lanky, seemed to know the teachers. He was black. I figured him to be the janitor.

I had to stop and ask directions to the library, where my son and others would be reading some of their award winning writings. I'd thought of asking the janitor, but he was too far ahead of me. Was I ever surprised to see the "janitor" sitting in the section reserved for the parents and grandparents. He seemed a nice chap. But as the room filled up with young authors' kin, all white, I wondered how he felt amid a sea of Caucasians.

Eventually a white woman -- really white, red hair, flushed cheeks -- arrived and sat beside him. Very close beside him, with other chairs vacant. Ahhh, I get it. At least I did when their blended-race daughter arrived.

My gaze shifted back toward the students. I spotted a young Hispanic gal staring at the mixed-race family. I wondered what she thought. That sort of thing's no big deal these days, I guess, especially among Hispanics. Right?

I remembered back when I was in middle school one of the white teachers started dating a black man. This would have been around 1973. That gossip grew long legs and provided fodder for kids, parents, staff, church, etc, for quite a while. But the teacher was a class act and she took it all in stride. Last I heard, they were still married.

One of my first weddings as an officiating priest was between a white woman and a black man. I didn't try to talk them out of it. But I did encourage them toward the reality of such an arrangement in the South. I felt it might be rough for the children. They were determined; I said "I do" and they did.

The students' talks were now under way. By the way, my son was chosen from among all of his classmates to present his writing, "My Construction Set". Each classroom of each grade [he was in the first grade] was represented.

It came time for the pretty Mexican gal's reading. Our area being known for apples, where many legal and illegal aliens from south of the border find employment, I quickly wondered about her home life. She opened her mouth and I was stunned. She was articulate.

I thought: "How silly! Of course she's articulate! That's what this is all about, no? What, did you think maybe she was chosen as the token Hispanic?"

Her subject? Martin Luther King, Jr. Here was a girl, perhaps in the 2nd grade, speaking about the 60's and how blacks and whites weren't allowed to be together back in those days. As she talked of 1968 and the slain civil rights leader, I cut my eyes over to the "mixed couple" and they were staring and beaming. As she finished, I felt foolish. What a jerk.

First of all, the sole black man in the room was not the janitor. The white woman with the red hair was his wife. And the Mexican gal could write and speak clearly. Well, duh.

Which brings me to my son. He did great! I mean really great! His reading had never been clearer; diction near perfect, volume optimal. I was so proud. As his certificate was presented to him, the lady said, "Maybe someday when you grow up, Basil, you can be an engineer and build houses right here in Henderson County."

Growing up. Now that's hard to imagine. But I thought about it, mine that is, sitting in that elementary school library, dressed like a priest. And how I have a long, long way to go ...

Image taken from Anglican TK.

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Image and link taken from the excellent news and info site: Anglican TK.
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Imagine my surprise when, upon the opening of the door, I realized I was at the home of the notorious Simon Cowell. (You know, the brutally-honest-bad-boy of American Idol fame?) Anyway, he said: "Come on in ..."

I'm pretty sure it was a dream, but --

... and as soon as I started crossing the threshold, he critiqued the way I walked, the look of my shoes, and even asked if, being from North Carolina, I was inbred.

"No sir," I replied, "but I am a little flat footed and, thanks to a bit of scoliosis ..."

"Stop it. Stop it. Stop it!" he interjected. "You are not auditioning! You're here, I presume, to bless my abode: Show me what you got."

"Okay, where should we start?" I asked. "On the kitchen table?"

Simon: "That would be fine."

Lo and behold, Randy Jackson was in there eating a big ol' turkey with both hands.

"Goodness, Randy!" Simon said. "Would you like a shovel?"

Randy saw me and said something like: "Wab bub dug?" (Which translates, of course -- minus the bird -- to "How are YOU doing?")

I nodded, sat my priest's "doc kit" down on the table, and began setting things up for the house blessing. Simon, in a fit of rage, with one swift motion of his $480 t-shirt clad arm, swept all the food off the table and sat beside Randy. I couldn't help but think that all they needed was Paula Abdul and ... as all dreams invariably do ... there she was! (Oops! I mean, HERE she is.) She was already crying. She said house blessings always got to her. Anyway ...

Mr Potato Head George Bush -- whoops! (dream, remember?) -- George Bush walked in and sat down at the table with them. I surmised he was the guest judge. That's when it really got weird ... I guess I thought of Hillary Clinton when in walked none other than Mr Potato Head Barack Obama ...

" ... I guarantee ... you try my vacuum cleaner for 14 days ..."

"Hhaaaaaaaaaaaaa, gha!"

"Scuze me," said Randy, "had sump'm stuck in my th'oat."

"What are you going to do for us today?" asked Simon.

"Well," I said, "the House Blessing begins with the Trisagion, ending with the Our Father."

"Mister, can you spare a pence?"

Whhaaa?

Simon: "Debtors."

FrJ: "Oh ... well ... I was going to use 'trespasses' ...

Simon: "Very well then: Trespassers!"

(By the way, Charlotte, Kannapolis & surrounding areas in North Carolina ... I've solved the UFO mystery.)

"Was the Earth really created in only six days?"

Sue-Sue-Sue de ooo! SUE SUE SUE DEE OHH, OHOOOO!

FrJ: "What the ...?"

Simon: "Phil Collins .... You know, Genesis."

Any way, dear and patient reader, we finally got around to blessing the house. It was a pretty big spread and I could have done without Paula's imitation of Barbara Eden. (Whoops! Here ya go.) Randy had to take a few breaks, stopping at the Starbucks and McDonald's -- which were, bizarre enough, all found in Simon's bathroom.

Yet, it was during the singing of "God grant you many years" that things got really weird.

Simon interrupted me, saying: "You hit me with water. I think that rather rude and totally uncalled for."

Paula started crying cuz her make-up was now running ...

And Randy (you know how dreams are) had morphed into a familiar version of another Jackson.

Okay, so maybe 5 pieces of cheesecake, 7 cups of coffee, in addition to three full meals and bits of baklava, chocolates, etc, throughout the day plays havoc on the noggin? Maybe it's just Pop Culture in general -- or the fact that I'm reading James Joyce at the moment ...

House Blessings. 30 or so down; 50 more to go. Goodnight.
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I would choose any monster before man, because even the most terrifying monster is less terrifying than man...Oh, I am speaking the truth, I am speaking from my heart. For man invented and made sin, death, and hell. And this is worse than the worst thing, more monstrous than the most monstrous thing, more terrifying than the most terrifying thing in all my worlds.

-- St. Justin Popovich

Stolen from DYNAMIS (A Prayer for Wisdom, January 27).

BTW, I actually have this stuffed monster (pictured here, though he's much more colourful in person) above a book case in my office.
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Recently, a black congressman -- a Muslim -- was sworn in using Thomas Jefferson's copy of the Koran (Quran). The following excerpts from an article by Ted Sampley show how ironic that was.

Ellison, who was born in Detroit and converted to Islam while in college, said he chose to use Jefferson's Quran because it showed that "a visionary like Jefferson" believed that wisdom could be gleaned from many sources.

There is no doubt Ellison was right about Jefferson believing wisdom could be "gleaned" from the Muslim Quran. At the time Jefferson owned the book, he needed to know everything possible about Muslims because he was about to advocate war against the Islamic "Barbary" states of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Tripoli.

Ellison's use of Jefferson's Quran as a prop illuminates a subject once well-known in the history of the United States, but, which today, is mostly forgotten - the Muslim pirate slavers who over many centuries enslaved millions of Africans and tens of thousands of Christian Europeans and Americans in the Islamic "Barbary" states.

Read the whole article H E R E.

A couple other excerpts ...

Jefferson's victory over the Muslims lives on today in the Marine Hymn, with the line, "From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli, we will fight our country's battles on the land as on the sea."

It wasn't until 1815 that the problem was fully settled by the total defeat of all the Muslim slave trading pirates.

Jefferson had been right. The "medium of war" was the only way to put an end to the Muslim problem. Mr. Ellison was right about Jefferson. He was a "visionary" wise enough to read and learn about the enemy from their own Muslim book of jihad.

The article was sent to me via RC pal, Tim, in NC. In poking around on Google, it seems the article has been passed around mainly among websites that I cannot fully endorse. That said, it is food for thought. Comments on the article, and its merit, welcomed.
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Houston ... we have a program: Orthodox Radio's a Comin'.
The deal hasn't been inked yet; details forthcoming.

Have you heard of the Trojan Horse of Islam?

A Bishop Speaks on Abortion & Amos.

This sounds way cool: Orthodox Writers' Week.

Mollie writes of an Alanis Morissette-level misappropriation of the word ironic ...

Turkey's Not Done Yet. Thanks God?

Isn't it ironic (as Alanis Morissette might say) -- Lutherans become Orthodox.
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I couldn't help but notice a striking difference between the following two quotes; the first comes from today's issue of DYNAMIS, the second from a retired bishopess of the Episcopal Church.

Wisdom's Discernment: "...she goes about seeking those worthy of her, and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought" (Wisdom 6:16).

In Proverbs 3:13-16, Wisdom is revealed as a treasure unequaled to anything one might desire. Still, as St. Maximos the Confessor observes, this greatest of all possible attainments lies far beyond the reach of the majority who still are wandering in "the mists of ignorance," corrupting themselves with "the dust of sin" ...

For our part, active response is required. Listen to the Teacher of Wisdom: "He who rises early" and fixes his "thoughts on her...and he who is vigilant on her account" (Wis. 6:14,15) is promised the rewards of finding Wisdom, gaining understanding, and overcoming the cares of this present life through the power of Wisdom. "Rising early" signals the necessity for discipline in the life in Christ. A plan for prayer and a jealously guarded time to pray and read must be developed and maintained. When the Teacher of Wisdom says to "fix one's thoughts" on Wisdom, he prepares our hearts and minds to take up the Jesus Prayer as a means for developing, extending, and deepening the bond with Christ Jesus our Savior. "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 3:11).

Next we have Jane Holmes Dixon, retired bishopess of DC, on "Conversation not Conversion" ...

I learned some years ago that for some folk, knowing they have The Truth is essential for their salvation. And furthermore, they need to bring that Truth to others in order to secure their own justification.

I have found that taking a person seriously and respecting his or her dignity and faith perspective, sometimes allows conversation, sometimes it doesn’t. For any common ground to be established candor is vital; the common ground is personal integrity.

The difficulties of talking to those whose faith is absolute is, of course, there is little possibility for exploration of other belief systems, and if a decision about a course of action is necessary, then one position will prevail. The benefits are, of course, the opportunity to enrich one’s own knowledge and maybe, just maybe, form a relationship that brings advantages to both parties.

Thanks to Anglican TK.
Image of "Divine Wisdom" taken from here.

Oh! Speaking of Episcopalians, I still need your help. (Purpose, of course, is to "explore" -- ahem! -- "other belief systems.")
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There's an old story about the Duke University basketball team that involves the school's mascot, the Blue Devil. It seems that it was one of those rare occasions when the team had lost on the road. They were headed back home on the bus through rural North Carolina when the bus encountered mechanical problems. Eventually, the bus died.

The team was tired, defeated and grumpy. Besides, most of them were asleep when the bus had to pull onto the shoulder of the country road. This was in the old days before On Star, cell phones and such, and the mascot -- a man who'd forgotten he was still dressed in a blue devil suit -- was still awake and willing. Peering out of the bus window, he spotted a light off in the distance and told the driver he'd go for help.

Trudging up the hill on the cold winter's night, the mascot was glad he was all covered in tights and cape, not to mention the mask. Yet, again, due to the circumstance of the evening, and his familiarity with the costume, he'd totally forgotten what he looked like.

As he got closer, he was relieved to see that the light was not just a country home, but a small Baptist church; with hymns pouring out the door and cars in the lot, he knew there'd be someone there that could help get them back on the road to Durham.

As he opened the door the hymn had just ended and the preacher had gone back to preaching of the horrors of hell. In walked the Duke Blue Devil and suddenly the whole atmosphere changed. There were screams of panic, glass breaking, people running and an outright trampling of terror ensued. In a moment, the entire church was cleared. Not a soul remained ... save one little old lady sitting up near the front.

The mascot was dumbfounded. What could have caused such a commotion? He raised his hands to speak and noted the gloves and rest of his devil suit. No matter, the little old lady came up to him, smiling and with and a twinkle in her eye said: "You know ... I've been on your side all along."

Funny how an old story with an obvious punch line can still bring a chuckle. Because it's true. Things aren't always as they seem! Sometimes, you scratch hard enough -- ain't no tellin' what you'll find.

We have an example in today's Gospel reading about the unpopular tax collector, Zacchaeus. He'd heard that Jesus was going to be in his vicinity and he desired to see Him. Problem was, Zacchaeus was short and, given his societal position, not well liked. No problem; he decided to run ahead of the crowd and climb up into a Sycamore tree.

The Lord comes by, sees him, and says: "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today."

Of course, you know, people talk. "Pssst! He's gone to be the guest of a sinner! Psssst!"

Zacchaeus stands and says to the Lord: "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold."

To which our Lord replies: "Today salvation has come to this house ..."

Now, the question is: When was the beginning of Zacchaeus's salvation?

Was it when he confessed to giving goods to the poor?

No.

Was it when the Lord came to His house?

No.

How 'bout when the Lord saw him and said He was going to call?

No.

Was it when Zacchaeus was up in the tree, our Lord to see?

No.

When he ran ahead? No.

The Church Fathers teach that our first parents fell when the desired to eat of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The Fall did not occur solely upon eating the forbidden fruit. Rather, the very desire to eat of the fruit began their downfall.

In the same way, Zacchaeus's salvation began when he longed to see the Lord Jesus. That longing, that desire, was the beginning of salvation for the short tax collector. The desire may have been just a scratching of the surface -- but look at the fruit it bore!

Apostle Zacchaeus followed the Lord and, after Pentecost, followed Apostle Peter. St. Peter appointed him Bishop of Ceasarea in Palestine. He served the Lord faithfully and died in peace. Zacchaeus' life serves as an example of what is possible through repentance and as a caution against judging others. The crowd saw a short, devious tax collector. But Jesus looked up and saw a faithful Apostle and Bishop for his Church.
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As the people of God, the Church, we now have four Sundays before the beginning of the Great Fast, Lent. How often have we gone to Confession saying, "I'm just not where I used to be ... I'm going through a dry spell ... I used to be in a better place ... I want to do better" ... (etc)?

Today, Zacchaeus Sunday, is, at least, a yellow flag for Orthodox Christians. The time of preparation -- repentance -- draws nigh. Let's not wait till a few days into the Great Fast to say, "Aww! I wanted to do so much better this year!"

Rather, like Zacchaeus, let us long to see the Lord ... let us run ahead ... climbing above the cares of this world ... so as, through repentance, to make our home a fitting place for the Lord.

After all, no tree was ever grown ... no fruit ever borne ... without first scratching the surface.

Let's begin ...

Thou didst treasure the wealth of salvation and hate unjust gains, O blessed Zacchaeus. When the Saviour came to thy house thou didst bring forth the fruits of repentance: the righting of wrongs, protection of the poor, and a new, God-pleasing life.

-- Troparion, Tone 8
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A while back, through the Antiochian webpage, I received an email from an Episcopal priest interested in Orthodoxy. I wrote a response and tried, using everything but snail-mail and alchemy, to send reply through the addy listed and variations thereof ... to no avail.

I realize there are those who might see this as a sign that God wills the man to stay put. (Stranger things have happened.) But, if by chance the good Rev'd happens by this blog, please email me directly at

orthodixie at aol dot com

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Martin Luther King Day has come and gone, and so has the young black man, about whom the right dare not say a thing, and the left will not say a thing, lest they each admit that they have failed him. Not always by racism; more often now by our adherence to a sexual antinomianism and an androgyny (weirdly compatible with the cartoonish machismo of the cities, a phony manhood that is either chaotic and destructive or childish and useless) that crush the black man every bit as effectively as outright racism ever did. Those things will keep the black family, and therefore the black man, in bondage.

-- Dr Anthony Esolen (Read it ALL HERE)
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I WISH TO EXPRESS MY OPINION in more detail, especially now that my death is approaching, so as to be consistent with myself from beginning to end, and lest anyone should think that I have said one thing and concealed another in my thoughts, foe which it would be just to shame me in this hour of my death.

Concerning the Patriarch I shall say this, lest it should perhaps occur to him to show me a certain respect at the burial of this my humble body, or to send to my grave any of his hierarchs or clergy or in general any of those in communion with him in order to take part in prayer or to join the priests invited to it from amongst us, thinking that at some time, or perhaps secretly, I had allowed communion with him. And lest my silence give occasion to those who do not know my views well and fully to suspect some kind of conciliation, I hereby state and testify before the many worthy men here present that I do not desire, in any manner and absolutely, and do not accept communion with him or with those who are with him, not in this life nor after my death, just as (I accept) neither the Union nor Latin dogmas, which he and his adherents have accepted, and for the enforcement of which he has occupies this presiding place, with the aim of overturning the true dogmas of the Church. I am absolutely convinced that the farther I stand from him and those like him, the nearer I am to God and all the saints; and to the degree that I separate myself from them am I in union with the Truth and with the Holy Fathers, the Theologians of the Church; and I am likewise convinced that those who count themselves with them stand far away from the Truth and from the blessed Teachers of the Church. And for this reason I say: just as in the course of my whole life I was separated from them, so at the time of my departure, yea and after my death, I turn away from intercourse and communion with them and vow and command that none (of them) shall approach either my burial or my grave, and likewise anyone else from our side, with the aim of attempting to join and concelebrate in our Divine services; for this would be to mix what cannot be mixed. But it befits them to be absolutely separated from us until such time as God shall grant correction and peace to His Church.

More here.
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Yesterday, I was a "guest" on The Danny Fontana Show which originates in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Plugging One Flew Over the Onion Dome has granted me several interviews with radios and newspapers; though, granted, I'd never heard of The Danny Fontana Show and, most likely, won't again. Though when he quickly ended the interview, just before a break, he thanked me and said we'd do it again sometime.

Danny, playing to his audience, wanted to know ...

How "Orthodox" differs from "Conservative"

If "Orthodox" believe in the inerrancy of Scripture

and ...

Do I (as an "Orthodox") believe that we are saved by works

In the process of answering him, I explained what the term Orthodox meant within a Church context ... the Great Schism ... Synergy & Theosis ... Etc.

By now you, wise and patient reader, have figured out that I was wasting my time. No doubt. But it is one of the flaws of Orthodoxy, if you will, that our Faith cannot be explained in little sound bites.

The whole purpose, apparently, of the interview was to get me to admit that "works saves." As Danny Fontana, the Big Banana, kept steering me in that direction, I stated:

You can't have Fatih without Works. True Faith is always expressed in good works. You can't have one without the other.

Danny: So, you would agree that you can be saved by works?

FrJ: No, works alone won't save you.

Danny: But you believe that works are necessary for salvation?

FrJ: I believe that you can't have one without the other. God is Love and love creates. Love always creates -- love gushes forth in works and, as with True Faith, you can't have one without the other.

Danny: Thank you! I've been trying to find the difference in what you believe and what I believe -- And I think I just did!

* * Stinger! * *

And that was the end.

Oh! As I mentioned, he also asked if I believed in the inerrancy of Scripture. I stated that we believe in the inerrancy of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit guides the Church, the Church gave us the Scriptures ... etc.

Danny: So you don't believe in the inerrancy of Scripture?

Somewhere in there I told him that you would not find a church that uses more Scripture in its worship ... and that the Orthodox use the whole Canon of Scripture, unedited by the Reformation.

None of this mattered as we raced toward the break.

Perhaps the strangest part of the interview was Danny Fontana's question about the Enlightenment. He said something like, "Doesn't it bother you that your church missed out on the Enlightenment?"

FrJ: What do you mean?

Danny: Well ... you said that your church started in 1054 ...

FrJ: No. I said the Roman Patriarchate and the other patriarchates split in 1054 ...

Danny: Whatever ... either way, there's 800 years or so where you guys missed the whole Renaissance. Don't you think that's a problem?

FrJ: "Some would say it was a Godsend!"

Honestly, other than the time constraints of commercial radio, I believe this was a biggie for the Big Banana, Danny Fontana. The Orthodox missed out on the Enlightenment.

Enlightenment (or Age of Reason) - The Enlightenment was a philosophical movement which took place in the eighteenth century, representing a culmination of the humanistic spirit of the Renaissance (ca. 1350-1600) and the results of the scientific revolution which had begun with the work of Copernicus, Galileo, Bacon, and Newton. Essentially, for many thinkers, the Enlightenment represented a radical break from the medieval period (i.e. the Dark Ages) and ushered in a new age of reason. From the perspective of religion (especially Christianity), the Enlightenment accelerated the secularization of Western culture, liberating society from the firm authority of the Church and biblical concepts. Thus, reason became ascendant over the authority of revelation, and mankind was now moving away from Christian theism toward a new era of humanism.
Source

Did I miss something?
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Any circumstance in which a man finds himself unwillingly is a prison for him. So be content with whatever circumstances you may now be in, lest by being ungrateful you punish yourself unwittingly.

-- St Anthony the Great

Stolen from The Daily Lives, Miracles and Wisdom of the Saints and Fasting Calendar - 2007 (January 17th).

If you google temptation st anthony, you'll find lots of things (viewer beware).

Like this.

And the famous one from Dali.

There's this one (which resembles the proto-type from many sci-fi films, think Men in Black).

And its variation which I like to think of as "I don't think so, Bro" (referring to the artist).

But, given the struggles of St Anthony, I believe his holy prayers -- and our imitation of his virtues --are needed now more than ever.

The Enemy of the race of man troubled the young ascetic with thoughts of his former life, doubts about his chosen path, concern for his sister, and he tempted Anthony with lewd thoughts and carnal feelings. But the saint extinguished that fire by meditating on Christ and by thinking of eternal punishment, thereby overcoming the devil.
Source

According to Athanasius, the devil fought St Anthony by afflicting him with boredom, laziness, and the phantoms of women, which he overcame by the power of prayer, providing a theme for Christian art.
Source

O Father Anthony, you imitated the zealous Elijah. You followed the straight paths of the Baptist and became a desert dweller. By prayer you confirmed the universe. Wherefore, intercede with Christ our God to save our souls. (Apolytikion)

There's often talk of a Patron Saint of the Internet. Who better than St Anthony?

Some quotes from Wikiquote ...

A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him, saying, "You are mad; you are not like us."

Our life and our death are with our neighbour. If we gain our brother we have gained God; but if we scandalise our brother, we have sinned against Christ.

I no longer fear God, I love him.

Do not be afraid to hear about virtue and do not be a stranger to the term. For it is not distant from us nor is it external to us; its realisation lies within us and the work is easy if only we want it. The Greeks leave home and cross the seas in order to gain an education, but there is no need for us to go away on account of the Kingdom of God nor need we cross the sea in search of virtue. For the Lord has told us, "The Kingdom of God is within you." All that is needed for goodness is that which is within, the human heart.

I saw all the snares that the enemy spreads over the whole world and I said, groaning, "What can get through such snares?" Then I heard a voice saying to me, "Humility."

The above image is taken from here ... which notes: "St Anthony ... was greatly tormented by hallucinations, in the form of demons and erotic visions, which he resisted with prayer."
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Fr Michael Dahulich, Dean of St Tikhon's Seminary, preached at St George on Sunday. Though the sermon was a good exhortation -- encouraging us toward repentance -- I believe many in attendance may only have heard the first few sentences.

Why's that?

Because somewhere in there he mentioned the "L" Word.

After which their mind went into OMG-M (Oh-my-gosh mode).

LENT is coming.

That's right ...

Next is Zacchaeus Sunday
(I believe the garbled word is, ironically, "focus.")

Followed by the Four Preparatory Weeks leading up to LENT ...

Publican & Pharisee

Followed by Prodigal Son

and Meatfare (aka Sunday of the Last Judgment).

February 18th is Cheesefare / Forgiveness Sunday ...

Followed by Clean Monday and the beginning of the Great Fast.

Fr Michael touched on those days in his exhortation. But, as I said, many may have been cross-eyed and dizzy, struggling with that ecclesiastical Ear Worm: "Lent is coming. OMG. Lent is coming. Fasting ... OMG ..."

So, for those in attendance (last Sunday, and here on the blog), let us, like Zacchaeus, climb above the clutter and cares of this world to see the Lord moving among us. With clarity, we'll probably notice that, like Lent, He's closer than we thought.

Image taken from here.
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"I'm under no illusion that America is going to embrace Orthodoxy within a generation," Huneycutt says. "Kissing relics, kissing bones of dead people. Baptists don't normally do that."

Source

That's one of my favorite (forgive me) personal quotes in this story.

Until the non-Orthodox father of a blog reader sent notification to his son -- who FWD'ed me -- I didn't know the article had run in Thursday's USA Today.

For whatever reason, USA Today cut out that quote. Okay you GR readers: Why?

If this is your first visit here: Thanks!

If interested, go H E R E for a truncated version of Church History.

While you're at it, read the blurbs, buy the book.

God bless you!

Oh, and ...

pray for me.

:)

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That which is required of every Orthodox [Christian] is to pass on the good uneasiness to the heterodox, in order that they may understand that they are in delusion, so as not to falsely be at peace with their thoughts and be deprived in this life of the rich blessings of Orthodoxy and in the next life the much greater and eternal blessings of God.

-- Elder Paisios the Athonite


[The World Council of Churches] has never ceased to be driven by the Evangelical Protestant dream of a united and worldwide mission irrespective of dogmatic peculiarities and sensitivities – something which perhaps is understandable for the Protestants, with the minor dogmatic differences which usually exist between them, but not for the Orthodox. For the Orthodox the very basis for involvement – recognizing a unity in Christ and the Church with the heterodox – nullifies the very reason for involvement, namely, to instill in the heterodox “a good uneasiness” and sense of separation from the Church. That which makes their dream even more dangerous, however, is that today the World Council of Churches advertises its failing as an advantage and begins to honor and “celebrate” the “distinctiveness” and “differences” of its members instead of being aggrieved over them and attempt to overcome them ...
Emphasis mine, FrJ+

If we add to all of this the pre‐existing estrangement of many members of the WCC from the authentic faith and ethos of the Gospel, as well as its increasingly visible approach to and reconciliation with the religions of the world, glimmers of the nightmare of the Apocalypse are cast upon the globalized mission dream of Ecumenism, a worldwide mission without Christ, ready to accept and preach the Antichrist.

The one and only way out of the dead end of this ecumenistic ecclesiology and mission – which has done more to split the Orthodox Church than unite Her – is the path of Orthodox mission.

If Protestant mission led us into ecumenism, Orthodox mission will lead us out: tried and tested apostolic and patristic mission, true, uncompromising, ascetic, otherworldly, and sacrificial, which aims at heavenly, not temporal, ends. Mission in the spirit and tradition of Apostles Peter and Paul, Ss. Cyril and Methodios, St. Stephen of Perm, St. Kosmas Aitolos, St. Innocent of Alaska, and, in our own times, Blessed Father Cosmas of Grigoriou and Zaire and the ever‐memorable Bishop Nectarios of Madagascar.

To such Orthodox witness there can be no objection on the part of anyone. Such an Orthodox witness can unite all Orthodox in the realization of an authentic catholic vision of mission, where we all, according to the words of the Apostle Peter, will be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh a reason of the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:15). With such a spiritual and authentically ecclesiastical Mission we will be able to call all – heterodox and all religious believers – into the unique Ark of salvation, the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, which is in truth the very Body of the Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.

-- Taken from an unpublished talk, The Missionary Origins of Modern Ecumenism Milestones leading up to 1920, by Fr. Peter Alban Heers; An address prepared for the Academic Conference The Mission of the Orthodox Church and The World Council of Churches - Athens, May 15, 2005.

Image taken from here.
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T he following excerpts are from a talk given by Archpriest Josiah Trenham at last year's Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America Parish Life Conference in El Paso, Texas, entitled Orthodox Reunion: Overcoming the Curse of Jurisdictionalism in America.

If you've time, you can link to the whole talk: HERE.

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!"

The Church is a miracle of unity for it is the New Man, and as such is the only miracle of unity in the cosmos. In confronting the Church all men are to witness a living organism that defies and transcends human divisions. Sadly today, when most outsiders encounter the Church and hear we are Orthodox Christians, a question immediately follows, "Are you Greek? Are you Russian?" and so by our divisions we have fostered an earthly identification of ethnicity and nationalism that leads the observer to conclude our Church is designed only for particular groups of people, and not for them.

We might well recite the antithesis of the Psalm 132:

Behold how evil and miserable it is for brothers to dwell in division! It is like a sulphuric stench in the nostrils, coming down upon the eyes. It is like the odor of Babylon, coming down upon the parched plains of Sodom; for there the Lord commanded the curse- everlasting death.

The thought is ludicrous and grotesque, but has many parallels to contemporary Orthodox Christian life in America. Allow me, dear brothers and sisters, to apply Psalm 132 to our present ecclesiastical miseries in America. We do not presently know the blessings of the unity described by Psalm 132. We do not enjoy the unity for which our Savior shed His precious blood. We do not experience the unity inspired by His Holy Spirit, established by His Holy Apostles, required by the Sacred Canons, and defended by the Holy Fathers. We have a measure of unity- for sure, but incomplete, mangled, and intolerable. We call the unity we possess by various names - a unity of faith sometimes we say, or a eucharistic unity. Some clergy even suggest that the only unity that matters is that various Orthodox in America can commune together. But this compromised and deficient unity does not satisfy our Savior, and is positively dangerous, threatening by its very inconstancy and instability to shatter the unity of faith and chalice that we do have. Orthodox Christians have never imagined historically that a unity of faith or communion could co-exist with a disunity of synod, praxis, and interchange. Two Sundays past we celebrated the Sunday of the Holy and God-bearing Fathers of the First Ecumenical Synod in Nicea. We celebrated a common Orthodox faith defended and confessed by a common Orthodox synod. In our present experience we have only half of the equation. We share a common Orthodox faith with our fellow Orthodox Christians throughout America, but we have no common synod. As a result nothing is defended or confessed as it should be, and we are weaklings in the face of encroaching secularism and heresy. Without a common synod we are sitting ducks to lose even our unity of faith.

The Trivialization of Disunity

We trivialize our disunity but calling it simply a disunity of jurisdictions or an administrative division -- as though the division we sustain is not a matter of the heart or essence or faith of the Orthodox Church. Jurisdiction and administration ring in our ears as merely external and relatively unimportant divisions, and so the tragedy of our division is belittled. As though our present divisions are merely the unfortunate turns of history, which we must benignly endure until they naturally go away. I beg to differ from such an appraisal. Such tamed and pacified descriptions of Orthodox disunity in America are untrue, inconsistent with Orthodox theology, mask the very serious nature and consequences of our present division, and steal the sense of urgency that the Spirit of God births in the hearts of the faithful in the face of disunity.

And make no mistake. The Spirit of the Living God does not tolerate disunity, which is the un-doer of His divine work and the spoiler of His mighty wonders ...

The Mormons may have a theology worthy of disdain, but their unity has made them a powerful force in the world and they increase mightily. American Muslims, Shia and Sunni, have forged a unity in this country that has brought them great strength. American Muslims, by their desire for unity, have overcome far greater obstacles than any two Orthodox jurisdictions have with each other, and have established significant cooperative ventures such as ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services), ISNA (Islamic Society of North America), AMC (American Muslim Council), the Muslim Public Affairs Council, the American Muslim Alliance, the Islamic Circle of North America, IMANA Islamic Medical Association of North America), the Muslim Student Association, some 1000 Islamic academies to insure their Muslim children remain Muslim, and a host of Islamic journals and magazines. By their unity these non-Christians without the Holy Spirit have accomplished much. We Orthodox Christians ought to compare our respective numbers closely with American Muslims. There are approximately 1,600 mosques in America, just as there are approximately 1,600 Orthodox church temples in America. They are fairly united. We are significantly divided. Let us see who does the growing in the next decade. And why is it that the Roman Catholics in the United States have been able to care for the pastoral needs of its multiple ethnicities in this country, while on the whole maintaining episcopal and synodal unity? In the face of these examples we are without excuse ...

The division of American Orthodox Christians in what we call jurisdictionalism is not just unfortunate, or an unenviable quirk of modern church history. It is a heinous sin, and a lamentable grieving of the Holy Spirit, Who is the divine cement of our unity ...

A sin and a tragedy ... and the divisions are worse today in 2006 than they were thirty years ago in 1976. Far worse. We are not moving forwards. For at least 12 years, since the failure following Ligonier, we have been moving backwards ...

[Perhaps you have heard] of Orthodox unity by saying things like, "It will happen, but not in my lifetime" or "When God wills" or "We are not mature enough for it yet." Fooey and ix-nay on all those statements.

Fooey and ix-nay?

That does it -- go H E R E -- read it all.

Fr. Josiah Trenham is pastor of St. Andrew Church in Riverside, California.
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In the Dave Barry vein of humour, this guy's a stitch!

Welcome to Houston!
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You got the notion!

So I'd like to know where, you got the notion
said I'd like to know where, you got the notion

to rock the boat, don't rock the boat baby
rock the boat, don't tip the boat over
rock the boat, don't rock the boat baby
rock the boat-t-t-t-t

Ever since our voyage of love began
your touch has thrilled me like the rush of the wind
and your arms have held me safe from a rolling sea
there's always been a quiet place to harbor you and me ...

What the heck?

Apologies to the Hues Corporation.
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The following two petitions, along with the long prayer, may be added to a Prayer Rule for those who have fallen away from the Church (long ago, or yesterday).

Thou that desirest not the death of sinners, but awaitest their conversion and repentance, convert all those who have apostatized to Thy holy Church especially N. _____________; we pray Thee, O merciful Lord, hearken and have mercy.

Thou that hast given us Thy commandment, to love Thee our God, and our neighbor, work that hatreds, enmities, offenses, revenge, oath-breaking, and all other iniquities cease, and that true love should reign in our hearts, we pray Thee, our Saviour, hearken and mercifully have mercy.

O Most High God, Master and Maker of every creature, that fillest all things with Thy majesty, and upholdest them by Thy might! To Thee our all-gifted Lord do we, who are unworthy, bring thanks, for Thou turnest not away from us on account of our iniquities, but all the more Thou goest before us with Thy compassions. Thou didst send Thine Only-Begotten Son for our deliverance, and didst preach the good tidings of Thine immeasurable condescension to the race of man: for with desire dost Thou desire and await, that we should turn to Thee and be saved: condescending to the weakness of our nature Thou dost strengthen us by the all-powerful grace of Thy Holy Spirit, and comfortest us with the saving faith and perfect of eternal blessings, and guiding Thine elect unto the Sion above, Thou doest keep us as the apple of Thine eye. We confess, O Lord, Thy great and invincible love for mankind and loving kindness.

But seeing the feeble impulses of many, fervently we pray Thee, O all-good Lord: look upon Thy Church and see, that although we have received Thy saving Gospel with gladness, nevertheless the tares of vanity and passions have made it bear little fruit in some, and in others no fruit, and through the multiplication of iniquities some by heresies, others by schism, in opposing the truth of Thy Gospel, apostatize from Thine inheritance, reject Thy grace, and subject themselves to the judgement of Thy most-holy Word. O Most compassionate and all-powerful, be not angry to the end, O Lord! Be merciful, Thy Church prayeth Thee, setting before Thee the author and finisher of our salvation, Jesus Christ, be merciful to us, strengthen us in Thy right faith by Thy might, and unto those that are deceived do Thou enlighten the eyes of their reason by Thy divine light, that they may understand Thy truth: soften their bitterness and open their hearing, that they may know Thy voice and turn to Thee our Saviour.

Correct, O Lord, the corruptions of others and the life not in accordance with Christian piety: make us all to live holy and undefiled, and so let the saving faith take root in our hearts and remain ever fruitful. Turn not Thy face away from us, O Lord, give us the joy of Thy salvation: and grant, O Lord, to the pastors of Thy Church holy zeal, and dissolve their cares for the salvation and conversion of them that are deceived, with the spirit of Thy Gospel: That all being thus guided may, we attain to where there is the perfection of faith, the fulfilment of hope, and true love: and there with the choirs of the most pure heavenly hosts may we glorify Thee our Lord, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, unto the ages of ages.

Amen.

Excerpts from a Molieben (Supplicatory Service) composed by Reader Isaac Lambertson.
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A while back, commenting on the sad state of The Artist Formerly Known as Fantastic, I wrote:

I believe it's possible to take one's struggles and temptations and turn them into a craft: poetry, prose, lyrics and art. The muse might possess a bit of madness but, as long as the madness is wrestled with, art is born.

Yet, in a fallen world, the madness itself may become the quest. Instead of the hound that drives a man toward greatness, it becomes the sole possession of a man blinded by self.

A commenter wrote:

Ooo...madness becomes the quest. Can you expand on the next sentence a bit? The part about the hound...

I responded:

It seems to me that many "creatives" exorcise their demons, so to speak, by creating. Once you embrace the demon, (again) so to speak, then the creativity is lost and you and your art are the worse for it.

In other words, would that Sir Elton continued to struggle metaphorically and poetically rather than polemically and politically.

Or, as another blogger wrote: "Shut up and sing!"

More on The Hound.

For what it's worth, a further thought ...

Creatives are always tempted by escape: drink, drugs, food, sex, crime, sloth, etc. That's because the muse can lie. But, when we dance and do not consummate, metaphorically speaking, we can create. Art mirrors Creation. It is a reflection born from the continual dance; whereas "consummation" brings death. There has to be a healthy medium -- a certain tension, an expression of continual inner struggle -- for art to be made manifest.

Or, in much the same vein, in "spiritual terms" ...

In accordance with divine providence, the devil was not sent at once to the Gehenna assigned to him, but his sentence was postponed in order to let him test and try man's free will. In this way, he unintentionally fosters greater maturity and righteousness in the saints by promoting their patient endurance, and so is the cause of their greater glory; and, at the same time, through his malevolence and his scheming against the saints he justifies more fully his own punishment.

-- St Makarios of Egypt

All this is to repeat: The struggle is good.

Struggle on.
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... article.



Goes well with ...
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Long ago, the Feast used to be a combination, celebrating both the Nativity of Christ & His baptism by John in the Jordan.

These days, thanks to the unfortunate development of One Church - Two Calendars, we have a bit of irony in that the two are chronologically reunited (in a way).

Either way, it's a wonderful time of year for Orthodox Christians!

Happy Feast(s)!


Related: House Blessings.
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ATHENS, Greece - The monks of the Holy Mountain of Athos have criticized a visit to the Vatican by Greece's church leader Archbishop Christodoulos last month.

"We bear a heavy responsibility before the faithful people of Greece who regard (us) as being the inviolable guardian of holy tradition," the monks wrote. Their letter was published Wednesday in the Athens daily Ethnos. "It is with anguish that we declare that Mount Athos does not agree with common prayers, participation in liturgies or other devotional meetings that give the impression that the Orthodox Church accepts the Roman Catholics as a full church," the monks wrote in the letter signed by the official representatives of all 20 of the self-governing monasteries on the peninsula.

Archbishop Christodoulos met Benedict XVI at the Vatican on Dec. 14 and signed a joint declaration calling for inter-religious dialogue and reaffirming common opposition to abortion and euthanasia.

Since becoming pope in 2005, Benedict has taken steps to improve relations between Roman Catholics and the Orthodox Church, which have been divided for nearly 1,000 years and are still split by long-standing questions of doctrine. He visited Turkey Nov. 28-Dec. 1 and met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, who is First-Among-Equals for the world's 250 million Orthodox Christians. The Athonite monks wrote that Benedict's efforts "may have had some benefits of secular significance, but included events which are contrary to the foundations of Orthodox practice."

Source

Benedict meets Athens Archbishop

Athens News Agency reports that Pope Benedict yesterday also met with Orthodox Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece, who was making his first visit by a primate of the Orthodox Church of Greece to the Vatican, except for his attendance of the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

In a statement, the two Church leaders proclaimed their "common mission in walking the difficult path of the dialogue of truth towards restoration of society's communion in the bond of love"

They also urged the developed nations to manifest greater assistance to the developing and poorer countries.

In the joint communique, issued after a meeting between the two Church leaders, the Archbishop and the Pope stressed their belief that religions held a particular role in the preservation and prevalence of world peace.

"As Christian leaders, we jointly urge the entirety of religions leaders to continue and strengthen the inter-religious dialogue and work for the creation of a society of peace and fraternity among individuals and peoples," the communique said.

They further urged the developed countries to "manifest greater contribution to the developing states but also to the poorer countries, with the aim of helping the weak and poor who are by far the children of God".

A Reuters report adds that Archbishop Christodolous also asked Pope Benedict on Thursday to return a piece of the Parthenon in the Vatican Museums.

Source

Oh, and the above news story also includes this ...

Church owes millions in taxes, Israel says ...

In another report backgrounding the dispute between Israel and the Vatican, the Jerusalem Post says that the Vatican and an array of Christian churches in Jerusalem owe the city hundreds of millions of shekels in overdue property tax.

According to Israeli law, properties that are used as houses of prayer are exempted from paying property tax (arnona).

But the churches, which owe vast amounts of properties in Jerusalem, are required to pay the city property tax for buildings they own that are not used for worship, including hostels, guest houses, and schools, the city said.

The total amount of unpaid property tax amounts to roughly NIS 300 million ($A90 million), with the Latin Patriarchate the biggest offender, a city spokesman said.

The debt collection has been frozen pending ongoing negotiations between the State of Israel and the Vatican over the delicate issue.
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There is a Monster that lies within. He is given rule of the earth of which Man is not only part, but ruler as well. This Monster, likening himself unto God, wished to reign over all and was banished to this place. Man, though intended for Paradise, like the Monster before him, was sent here. They are "made for each other" in a twisted and diabolical way. But the fashioner is not God. Rather, these are images of our own devising. Caused by fantasy and fueled by the Passions (unholy energies, if you will), Man has likened himself to the Monster. It is an unholy union that must be broken before the God-pleasing are reunited in the Marriage which is the image of the Holy.

Monster be damned; may Paradise consume us.

Image source.
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Professor Terry Mattingly, aka tmatt of GR, recently delivered a presentation ...

So What Do Converts Want, Anyway?

I found it insightful -- Listen for yourself!
It's well worth 30 minutes -- perhaps even a repeat!

Source
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Family ... I have an announcement to make. Beginning January 1st I am no longer going to be so critical," I half-seriously boasted. "That's right, from now on I will think before I speak and refrain from criticism."

My wife basically paid me no mind. Honestly, I'd given the resolution no thought and was merely blathering just to hear myself talk. As I soon learned, and you shall see, my oldest daughter, a pre-teen, drank up every lost drop of this pronouncement.

I made that declaration around Christmas. On December 29th, my wife and I were merging with all the Houston speed racers on Highway 59 going into town. That night, not unlike any other night, there were a goodly number of idiots on the road. I was grumbling, muttering under my breath, etc, when my wife came to my rescue. She said, "You've still got two more days." We laughed. Heh heh. Old age.

Now, back to the pre-teen. Y'all, I swear I cannot say a word -- a WORD, I say -- without her smiling face yelling "New Year's!" Like most things obnoxious, it was funny the first 50 times ... and regained its humour after about the 1000th.

Next year, maybe I'll give up exaggeration.

Speaking of obnoxious, I now yell "New Year's" at my oldest and my wife. My wife is always quick, and correct, to point out that she never said that was her resolution.

Anyway. The four year old daughter doesn't have a clue why we keep yelling "New Year's!" So she joins in with, "Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!" or "Happy Birthday! Happy Anniversary!" Which only causes us to laugh more.

(Incidentally, my middle's a boy; he's in another world entirely.)

But, to be honest, if being critical means you have to go through all that -- no matter how cute -- it does give one pause.

On that note --

Wait. What are you thinking?

Happy New Year's!

Dick Duerrstein's Grinch image (above) taken from HERE.

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First, the Lord Jesus is Bread without price offered freely, the Bread that truly does satisfy, for He is "the Bread of life [and] he who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." (Jn. 6:35). Source

The Son of God Himself entered the flow of history "when the fullness of the time had come" (vs. 4), where He remains to this day - God's amazing and singular gift to mankind. We have reasons for being abundantly thankful: for our creation, our preservation in life, and for the multitude of blessings which He daily bestows upon us. Yet, nothing can compare with the Gift Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ - the Gift of Great Wonder, the ineffable, Personal, Self-giving God come from Above, "the Orient on High." Given and received, Christ, the Gift Who changes each person who embraces Him as God and King. The change He makes is glorious, illuminating, perfecting, elevating, and life-giving in every respect. What more can be said? Let us be joyful and praise Him in His glory! Source


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Glorious name, gracious name, name of love and of power! Through you sins are forgiven, through you enemies are vanquished, through you the sick are freed from their illness, through you those suffering in trials are made strong and cheerful. You bring honor to those who believe, you teach those who preach, you give strength to the toiler, you sustain the weary.

-- St Bernardine of Siena, d. 1444

That last, thanks to FWD from RC pal, Tim.
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This is not an endorsement; I just bumped into this while poking around. Curious.
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JANUARY

What would Beezlebub blog?

Who would Jesus bomb?

Oh, it's probably just the End Of Time.


FEBRUARY

Though I no longer eat mayonnaise, and can't remember the last time I had steak, here's: My One, My Only ... MEME.

Oh well, true to form, some of the links are now missing in the post about My Uncle Monkey.

Ain't no such thing as a Bishop Gene.

More Uncle Monkey.


MARCH

In memory of Darwin Kirby.

Before the Pope made his comments about Islam, there were these from Pat Robertson and Winston Churchill.


APRIL

The Gospel of Judas and Britney Spears?

St Judas the Wonderwinker survives ... though some links only wink.


MAY

Reading Umberto Eco is like reading a dictionary with more words.

Just for fun, once again: ALASKA.

Eastern Orthodox Oat Bran anyone?

We're on the road to nowhere.

On that whole Crunchy Convert Thingy.

On Myrrhbearers & Martians.

Let's do The Time Warp again ... Rocky Horror Da Vinci Code.

Though Symeon eventually saw it; I passed on free passes.

I had a little book published in May.

My interview with Dick Petranek and the Western Rite is currently in the January issue of The WORD.

Mary, Merry, and Married. Ha!

Sugar, Spice, and everything Nicea.


JUNE

Now THIS was funny!

Seriously ... What ever happened to Church unity?

Another one that wound up in The WORD ... It's Simple.

Are they still making Episcopalians these days?

Y'all come! Orthodox Tent Revival. Oh, and here's the proper way of Snake Handling.

Good heavens! Must have been a Trick Play.


JULY

FWIW, books I liked. And, books I'd forgotten I'd read.

Come to think of it: What is Grace?

Lots of comments on the cute priest.

Nothing cute about Pat Buchanan. In fact, some folks still aren't speaking to me after this post.


AUGUST

Dumbest idea ever.

Remembering Mary Stolzenbach.

Eco Again! (Or is that redundant?)

Then there was Superchristological and Homoousiosis!

A funny thing happened on the Way to Phronema.

Anglicans may soon look like THIS?

Eat, Drink & See Mary.


SEPTEMBER

Oh, and, by the way: HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Heh heh. Forgive me. Hair-ology.

Some might call this hair-brained: Choir Eye for Retired Guys.

The ups and downs of Elevator-ology.

Though the pic is now gone, the Pope's words are still shocking!

Mike Royko would be shocked to know I included him in a sermon.

Fr Thomas Hopko really stirred the pot with this one.


OCTOBER

ROCOR priest refuses the collar (etc).

Me and Max Lucado ... almost.

The Nativity Story ... SCRIPT.

The Beverly Hillbillies speaking in tongues!

Conrad follows Stolzi.

Ladies and Gentlemen ... Name That Tune!

Rounding out October ... Old Calendar Halloweeners?


NOVEMBER

Elmer P. Floodbottom needs your vote.

How 'bout a little Fun, Frolic & Fahrvergnügen?

Goodbye [sanity of] Elton John.

In memory of Sheila-Mary.

Some old meds, good for what ails ya: God is Young and Suffering Primary School.

Get real! Confession.

The rest of the mission priest: POEM.


DECEMBER

Christmas in LA ... a long, long time ago.

Santa ... Real or Memorex?

Getting a handel on it ... as in GF's.

Forgive me. More on the book.

Honour yours.

As Bishop Brother John Charles taught me: "My age is the right age ... and it increases annually."

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

To the readers of ORTHODIXIE ...

May God grant you all a properous life -- peace, health, mercy, salvation, and the furtherance of all good things -- and MANY YEARS!

Thanks for reading.

-- Fr Joseph
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