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

Ladies and Gentlemen ... the itty bitty history of big ol' Texas.

Illegal immigration? It's just the ... devil?

“In order for Satan to establish his ‘New World Order’ and destroy the freedom of all people as predicted in the scriptures, he must first destroy the U.S.,” Larsen’s resolution states. “[It is] insidious for its stealth and innocuousness.”
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And to think -- I knew him when he was just an Episcopalian! Yet, now it seems, and I hate to repeat this, but: Fr Stephen is an ignoramous.

Oops. My mistake!

I thought that this article was about abortion.

The pro-death crowd are the only ones who get to lie and are praised for doing so.

Like, it's not a baby, it's only a clump of cells.

Like, it's my right to do what I want with my body.

If she had stolen the money for an abortion, she would be a hero.

The above is a Comment on an article about a woman faking cancer in order to get money.

Iran shows huge support for the Unibrow!

First it was one square of one-ply per Number Two at the loo ... Now This!
Unconventional schemes for tackling global warming by installing a giant sunshade in orbit, sowing the seas with iron and scattering sulphur into the upper atmosphere are set to be bluntly rejected by UN experts this week.

The Laughing Jesus ... ????

Bible Study helps doofuses humanists humans ...
"I've learned that as much as government tries to separate church and state, there are always going to be people who use biblical references."

[Separation of Church & State has to be one of the most misquoted, misunderstood, misapplied ... Oh, heck: Some folks just MISS it!]

In Tom Harpur's book Pagan Christ: Recovering the Lost Light (Walker, 2004), he asserts that Jesus never existed and that the Gospel writers transformed Egyptian religion and its gods and put them in the Gospels.

Got the time? -- Worth a read.

What can I say?
Bless their hearts.

Speaking of which ... the latest Orthodixie Podcast --
Bless Your Heart -- Smallah, Smallah, Smallah --
is available HERE.

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Humbly all of us should make great efforts to attend Church every Sunday and to offer God loving prayer. When we attend Church we are able to witness Christ Our Lord and to be aware of the Mother of God ... and her loving prayers.

Everyone of us knows that the Church is a place for healing, as we encounter the Physician of our souls, Christ our true God, who is reaching out to help us, save us, and keeps us by His grace, as this in itself is a great blessing for us all! How compassionate indeed is Christ our true God ... who loves us all!

Within the Church we find the love, and the compassion of Christ Our Lord!

Within the Church we find hope!

Within the Church we, who are all sinners, find forgiveness!

Within the Church we find the Light of Christ, and darkness is wiped out!

Within the Church we find true prayer, and the answer to all prayers!

Within the Church we find truth, and are no longer misguided!

Within the Church we are all spiritually filled, and go hungry no more!

Within the Church we truly find spiritual joy, and sadness in our lives is no more!

Within the Church we find the living Christ, who continues to perform miracles for us all!

Within the Church we find salvation, and know the correct path to take during our lives!

Within the Church we partake of the Holy Mysteries, that cleanse us and nourishes us all!

Within the Church we behold the Mother of God, His Holy Prophets, His Saints, Holy Martyrs, and the Holy Fathers, who indeed all nourish us with spiritual guidance towards the Kingdom of Our God!

Thanks to FWD from Fr Mark Mancuso; taken from a work of Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes ...HERE.

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Here's a portion of the script from this week's Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio. (Orthodixie podcasts air Sunday through Saturday.) You don't need an iPod to listen to Podcasts and you don't have to catch the Podcasts "live." Go to Ancient Faith Radio and click Tune in Here to listen "live" on your computer; or, go to the Orthodixie page (or any of the others) in the side margin to listen to individual Podcasts at your leisure.

My great grandmother had a prized Magnolia tree in front of her farm house. As a kid, I didn’t know much about tree species, seeds, blooms, blossoms and such. Like most kids, the world was made for, well … me.

Therefore it was a total shock when I discovered that Magnolia trees are NOT for climbing -- at least according to Miss Emma, my great grandmother.

You Southerners know about the wonderful hand grenades that grow on Magnolia trees. In Adult World, these seed-cones are known to flower into a beautiful Southern treasure -- the state flower of Mississippi and Louisiana. But, when you’re 5, 6, maybe 8 or so -- they serve as fabulous projectiles sure to spice up any boring ol’ family reunion (but only if you’re a male -- aged 10 or under).

Which brings me back to that one that grew on my great-grand’s farm …

Instead of plucking through the old cones on the ground, a few of us boys decided to climb up into the Magnolia tree and break off the fresh green ones to hurl at those beneath us. This is when my memory hits “freeze frame.” We heard a noise -- a sort of yelling sound -- coming from the farm house. Unless our eyes deceived us, here came this saintly ol’ matronly country lady … RUNNING & YELLING … her cane hoisted in the air above her head … I don’t even remember climbing down out of the tree. I do remember going back into her house, later, to find her once again in the usual position: Sitting in her rocker in the kitchen, with a pleasant smile on her face that beamed the love that she had for her gathered family …

She never mentioned us climbing up into that Magnolia … and, though I can’t speak for every boy but, I think it’s safe to say that we all got a good talking-to on the way home to our respective houses.

(To this day I’ve never climbed another Magnolia tree.)

There was another tree -- this one an Oak -- that grew on a piece of property between my parents house and our neighbor’s. The patch of woods -- no bigger than a “lot” but a virtual enchanted forest when you’re a young boy -- was our daily getaway.

My neighbor, Doug, and I would climb up into that oak tree every day (or so it seemed). And each year we managed to climb higher and higher … every now and then we’d nail a 2X4 or 1X6 plank in place to mark the latest altitude conquest. It was OUR TREE. No one else was invited. We both had brothers but, being younger, they were ground dwellers. Only Doug and I ascended the towering heights of the Great Oak in the enchanted wood.

That is, until my Dad called. Now, you see, my Mom may have already stepped outside to call me to dinner several times … but, like the snooze on the alarm clock, I knew it wasn’t REALLY time to get home till the sound of the booming, threatening voice of my Dad.

That’s when I sometimes had to turn into a superhero. It’s a long story -- embarrassing, and you wouldn’t believe it anyway -- but, suffice it to say ...

Listen to the whole thing HERE.

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Today is the birthday of Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 121). Marcus was emperor of Rome from 161 - 180 A.D. Though certainly not a Christian, we can learn from his words. From MEDITATIONS, here's a sampling ...

When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: The people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous, and surly. They are like this because they can't tell good from evil. But I have seen the beauty of good, and the ugliness of evil, and have recognized that the wrongdoer has a nature related to my own -- not of the same blood or birth, but the same mind, and possessing a share of the divine. And so none of them can hurt me. No one can implicate me in ugliness. Nor can I feel angry at my relative, or hate him. We were born to work together like feet, hands, and eyes, like the two rows of teeth, upper and lower. To obstruct each other is unnatural. To feel anger at someone, to turn your back on him: these are obstructions.

Don't waste the rest of your time here worrying about other people -- unless it affects the common good. It will keep you from doing anything useful. You'll be too preoccupied with what so-and-so is doing, and why, and what they're saying, and what they're thinking, and what they're up to, and all the other things that throw you off and keep you from focusing on your own mind.

You're better off not giving the small things more time than they deserve.

Constant awareness that everything is born from change. The knowledge that there is nothing nature loves more than to alter what exists and make new things like it. All that exists is the seed of will emerge from it. You think the only seeds are the ones that make plants or children? Go deeper.

Nothing that goes on in anyone else's mind can harm you. Nor can the shifts and changes in the world around you. Then where is the harm to be found?

Suppose that [God] announced that you were going to die tomorrow, or the day after. Unless you were a complete coward you wouldn't kick up a fuss about which day it was: what difference could it make? Now recognize that the difference between years from now and tomorrow is just as small.

The best revenge is not to be like that.

Not to assume it's impossible because you find it hard. But to recognize that if it's humanly possible, you can do it too.

Care for other human beings. Follow God.

It's quite possible to be a good man without anyone realizing it. Remember that.

It's silly to try to escape other people's faults. The are inescapable. Just try to escape your own.

Give yourself a gift: the present moment.

It doesn't matter how good a life you've led. There'll still be people standing around the bed who will welcome the sad event.

Image from the North Carolina Art Museum.
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All this week, Ancient Faith Radio is airing reports from Fr. Kevin Scherer, Executive Director of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship, as he is on the campus of Virginia Tech University. OCF and IOCC are joined together to provide pastoral counsel and encouragement on the campus following the recent shootings.

Click on Ancient Faith Radio to find the story & link.
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Thanks to FWD from Fr Miguel Grave de Peralta via Diogenes.

(A 2X sleeveless shell? O my. In that case, best -- by far -- to stick with the more traditional black.)

Place order here.
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2007 is the 1600th anniversary of the repose of St. John Chrysostom, the “Golden-mouth.” For the Orthodox Church, St. John is one of the most brilliant lights among the fathers and saints who adorn her history. He is best known for his sermons and commentaries on the Scriptures, fearless leadership as a chief hierarch and shepherd of the Church, selfless care for the poor and sick, and for the Liturgy that bears his name. The service for the feast of the Three Hierarchs extols him as an equal to St. Gregory the Theologian and St. Basil the Great. Yet St. John is not noted as an exponent of the dogmas of the faith.

What then is St. John Chrysostom’s place among the fathers of the Church? This is the theme of the Symposium to be held in St. Louis, September 28-30, 2007.

For more information go H E R E.

Presenters: Mitred Archpriest George Larin - Rector, Holy Protection Church, Nyack, NY

Archpriest Valentin Asmus - Professor of Byzantine History at Moscow Theological Academy; Member of the Patriarchal Theological Commission

Rev. Dr. John Behr - Professor of Patristics and Dean-elect of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, Crestwood, NY

Dr. David Bradshaw - Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of Kentucky

Dr. Matthew Steenberg - Head of Theology, Greyfriars, Oxford University, England

Guest Choir: St. John of San Francisco Men's Chorale, Nicholas Kotar, Conductor San Francisco, CA

Thanks to FWD from Jean-Michel.
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The Internet. From seemingly out of nowhere it has swooped in to dominate -- Dominate -- much of our lives. Thank God for the ease of search engines like Google, and the ability (if desired) of keeping abreast of recent – up to the millisecond -- news.

[There’s also the ease of gossip, endless pics of naughty bits, and all that ridiculous spam in our e-mailboxes. What is a Barrister anyway? How many rich people are there in Nigeria – and why do they all want to give me their money? It can, at its worst, resemble the graffiti on a men’s room wall in a run down gas station. It’s only legit if the “author” was illiterate – misspelled words carry great weight on PRW (public restroom walls).]

When something like the massacre at Virginia Tech occurs, the discussion around the GWC (Global Water Cooler) changes. The GWC, in many respects, is no different than the old-timey proverbial one: People chat about the news of the day; if you want to be heard, you have to stay on topic. When something extreme happens the chatter stops entirely. For a moment ... Then the emotions; the analyzing, the pontificating and awfulizing. Somewhere along the way, as with all things HOP (human-outside-paradise), the topic becomes politicized. Some leave the discussion. Others become experts on the subject. Few learn anything new. But the chatter goes on. It's possible to lose all sense of “otherness” beyond the tragedy.

During “normal time,” The Weather is always a safe bet for small talk. Now, thanks to the uncertainties of the GWD (Global Warming Debate), we can’t even civilly discuss that!

Back in my days in radio it was considered a bit of a stoop for a station to “sell the weather.” That is, some stations would have the DJ to say that the forecast was coming up … brought to you by … and the listeners would have to endure the sponsor’s ad just to find out the current temp and predictions. Now that sounds old-timey. Not selling the weather? Pshaw! These days, every broadcast station does it. There’s even a whole Cable Channel devoted to selling the weather.

But, bear with me here: What if we could politicize the weather? What if the new TTH (threat to humankind) is none other than the constant threat of … the weather!

We should just shut up.

Take a breath.

Unfortunately, now that we have entered “election cycle,” we can’t, they won’t, some body else will … it’s a mess.

Great. The Internet = The new Tower of Babel. Who’d a thunk?

Speaking of thunk? Since when did the common denominator of a mass murderer become: “He was a loner?” Good heavens. Loner and crazy tend to go together. I mean, one doesn’t require the other but; they’re seldom without each other. The same could be said for Loner and Genius -- but we just don't seem to have a lot of genius running 'round these days. Crazy, however? Prevalent.

Speaking of crazy – Some things don’t even strike me as queer anymore. For example, while scanning the news my eyes often deceive me. A while back, this is what I read:

Pat Robertson responsible for killing cats

Of course, that’s NOT what the blurb said.
I later discovered that Pat Robertson was really Rat Poison!

Weeks later, the same eyes:

Giuliani's Head Shrinks

Which was, rather … Giuliani’s Lead Shrinks

But, you see, the problem is not so much my old eyes – but the fact that the world has gotten so nutty that it was only later, much later, that it registered that I'd been deceived. At first glance, I paid no mind to such wild headlines!

Crazy.

Anyway, all this is to say, I could almost swear that I've heard voices saying the killings at Virginia Tech might be attrubitable to rich kids, firearms, loner-hood, system failure, the dean, kookiness, the police -- in fact, anything ...

but evil.
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Here's word from Deacon Raphael Barberg about the efforts of Orthodox organizations, including International Orthodox Christian Charities, on the Virgina Tech campus. Your help (and prayers) appreciated!

International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) and the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) are coordinating a joint response for Orthodox Christian students and others at Virginia Tech early next week. The campus, of course, is closed this week. Orthodox Christian priests will be on the VA Tech campus early next week to meet individually and in groups with OCF students and others. The priests will provide critical stress response/trauma incident counseling to any students seeking their support, with their focus being those connected to OCF.

Pascalis (Lee) Papouras, IOCC's US program coordinator, has arranged for Fr. Angelo Pappas of Portsmouth, NH and Fr. Peter Preble of Southbridge, MA to be in Blacksburg by Monday. Fr. Angelo and Fr. Peter were two of IOCC's first responders when Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast. They expect to be joined by OCF director, Fr. Kevin Scherer and Fr. Dcn Raphael Barberg of Niagara, NY. They will coordinate their activities with Fr Dean Nastos, the OCF clergy advisor at Virginia Tech. If it is necessary to have counseling resources available the following week, IOCC has arranged for Fr. Jon-Stephen Hedges of Goleta, CA to deploy to the Tech campus.

The priests who serve as IOCC front-liners, of course, have on-going responsibilities in their respective communities. They have to arrange with their parishes to be available for this important service. They are trained and experienced counselors in addition to being priests. We are blessed by their service, and through them, we all will be "on the ground" at Virginia Tech.

To make an online donation CLICK HERE -- or, call it in to the toll-free donation hotline at (877) 803-4622 or mail it to IOCC at Post Office Box 630225; Baltimore, MD 21263-0225.
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The following is the script from this week's Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio. (Orthodixie podcasts air Sunday through Saturday.) You don't need an iPod to listen to Podcasts and you don't have to catch the Podcasts "live." Go to Ancient Faith Radio and click Tune in Here to listen "live" on your computer; or, go to the Orthodixie page (or any of the others) in the side margin to listen to individual Podcasts at your leisure.

Men and Women are Different.

By “different,” I don’t mean just physically … nor am I here referring only to Ketchup.

Ketchup you may ask -- ?

You married men know about the Ketchup, right?

“Honey, where’s the ketchup?”

“Top shelf in the fridge,” she says.

“I looked there – in fact, I’ve looked everywhere. It’s not in the fridge! Are we out?”

At this point the wife walks right up to the stunningly apparent Ketchup bottle, sitting on the top shelf in the fridge and hands it to the man. It’s like magic. This also works for socks, ties, and – though he’ll never learn – directions and road maps.

As I told someone recently – a man whose wife had just found the missing baptismal cross in his jacket pocket – “You know … Adam would never have been able to find that Tree all by himself if his life had depended on it!”

Anyway …

In the Gospel for the second Sunday after Pascha, we read about the women who went to the Tomb early in the morning to anoint the body of our Lord. Remember, Jesus had been hastily buried in a tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea with the help of the other secret disciple, Nicodemus. These two men, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, are included in the full list of Myrrhbearers, but generally this day is understood as the Sunday of the Myrrh Bearing Women.

Of the remaining 11 disciples -- all MEN -- not one of them is listed as a Myrrhbearer. The men who had followed him when He'd said, "Come follow me;" the men who appear throughout the Gospel narratives ... those men? They abandoned him after the Crucifixion.

Now here we see a band of women disciples making their way toward the Tomb with only God knew what awaiting them.

This is important because, and the more astute among you are already aware of this: There is a big difference between Men and Women.

Take, for instance, men. Men are all about doing.

Do this, did this, accomplished that … what next?

Women (you all know this) are about relationships.

This person, that child, my sister, mother-in-law, friend, etc.


etc.


etc.


etc.

Any priest could admit it’s true: Women and men even confess differently.

A man comes to Confession: “Did this, failed at this, accomplished this, working on this … oh, and uh, did that.”

The woman comes and, through a circular dialogue, intimates her shortcomings and struggles within the web of relationships in her life.

There was even a popular book some years ago entitled Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. Many of you, no doubt, are familiar with some of this -- for instance …

And I paraphrase:

“When a Man gets upset he doesn’t talk about what’s bothering him. He never burdens another Man with his problem unless his friend’s assistance is necessary to solve the problem. Instead he becomes very quiet and goes to his private cave to think about his problem, mulling it over to find a solution.

If he can’t find a solution then he does something to forget his problems, like reading the news or playing a game.” (p.30)

Or – as was the case with Peter & the disciples, going fishing …

“When a Woman becomes upset or is stressed … to find relief, she seeks out someone she trusts and then talks in great detail about the problems of her day. When Women share feelings of being overwhelmed, they suddenly feel better.

Women are not ashamed of having problems. Their egos are dependent not on looking ‘competent’ but rather on being in loving relationships. They openly share feelings of being overwhelmed, confused, hopeless, and exhausted. (p.31)

To feel better, women talk about past problems, future problems, potential problems, even problems that have no solutions.

We see this represented in the Gospel story. The women are on their way to the Tomb and talking. "And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?"

Men are different ...

“A man under stress tends to focus on one problem and forget others …” (p.36)

Compare the beautiful story of the women at the Tomb to that of Peter and John approaching the Tomb. They raced each other! They were men. It is not recorded that John and Peter, true to their nature, discussed anything on the way ... they just tried to get there first!

(But, you see, they'd already heard the Tomb was empty.)

In choosing to announce the Resurrection through the daughters of Eve, the Holy Myrrhbearers, we see the Annunciation in another light. Whereas earlier, a young Maiden had heard the words of the Archangel Gabriel in private; here, an Angel announces to the Mother of God and the faithful women disciples the Resurrection. The way to Paradise has been re-opened, for our Lord has destroyed death by Death. Go! Announce to the sons of Adam the New Day, the Resurrection.

And, they did ...

They Still Do!

Today the New Eve hears that her son, the New Adam, has conquered death and, by His glorious Resurrection, has paved the way for the sons and daughters of the Church -- you, me, yours and mine -- to Paradise!

Oh we’re still plenty different – no doubt; and there’s plenty of women still having to nudge the men they love toward that Empty Tomb.

Grandmothers & sisters, Moms & cousins, Widows & daughters – and, yes, even MEN! –
Let us all -- with that same zeal; that same conviction and joy; through our word and example -- announce to others that Paradise is again available to us all!

“Male and female – He created them …”

By the Empty Tomb and His glorious Resurrection, He RE-CREATED them!
(Adam, Eve – you & me.)

Encouraged by the courage of the Holy Myrrhbearers let us say:

Christ is Risen!

Indeed, He is Risen!

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Christ is Risen, Brethren, and I wish you abundant blessings.

I offer thanks and glory to God the Father who desired that we celebrate this year also the Resurrection of His Son the Saviour of mankind and, as it is customary in our Holy Church since the beginning, I will greet and offer each one of you a Red Egg on this glorious feast.

If you ask me when this custom in the Christian Church began, I would say that it is a very old custom and that it dates back to the time of the disciples. There is an old tradition that Mary Magdalene -- who is considered to be the first who deserved to receive the joyful news from the angel about the resurrection of the Saviour from His tomb, and the first who saw the Saviour after His Resurrection -- presented a Red Egg to the emperor Tiberius while she was preaching about Christ in the city of Rome. The Red Egg was a symbol of the faith of the Christians in the resurrection of the dead and the life to come in the kingdom of heaven.

It is clear that the egg symbolized the resurrection of the dead, the resurrection of the bodies of the departed, thus the truth of life after death. For just as the dead substance inside the egg shell moves and becomes a living substance by the warmth of the chicken who sits on it, and after a period of time breaks the egg shell and comes forth as a living young chick, so also our dead bodies, even after being kept in a grave or a casket, will be revived by the power and the warmth of the Holy Spirit. We will break the gates of Hades and rise as living bodies on the day of the great judgment, after the image of the resurrected body of our Lord and God, Jesus Christ.

Therefore the egg is a splendid symbol of the truth of life after death and the resurrection of the body. As for dying it red, this is because the red colour indicates joy and happiness and it represents the blood of Christ that was shed on the precious cross of the life of the world and its salvation from sin, death, and damnation.

He who offers the Red Egg proclaims Christ is Risen! and he who receives is replies Indeed, He is Risen! This affirms our Orthodox belief in the resurrection of all the faithful in the resurrected Jesus Christ. Through His Glorious Resurrection, He opened to us the way from death to life.

-- Archimandrite Raphael Hawaweeny, Pascha 1900.

Stolen from the parish newsletter (The Light) of St Anthony the Great Church, Spring, Texas. Translated by Fr André Issa, edited by Diana Angelo & Missy Galagaza; tweaked (here) by Fr Joseph Huneycutt.

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O Most Holy Mother of God, we turn to you in prayer, because you know a mother's pain for her Son who suffered and was crucified. Comfort the anguished mothers and fathers suffering for their children who are experiencing attacks, violence, persecution, and sudden death. Preserve us from the hands of evil-doers and save us and them from every evil and sin.


[Edited] Prayer Source
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Hundreds of Orthodox Christians are expected to gather late this spring in Topeka, Kansas.

That's right, Topeka!

Hundreds!

"Why?" you may ask.

First of all, it has nothing to do with, so I'm told, the zip code.

Here at blog central, we know that the real reason folks want to visit Topeka is for the food.

Here, I kid you not, is a man taking a picture of a hamburger near Topeka.

See! THIS is so not true.

It's more like THIS (but, think incense).

Here's proof that you CAN have fun in Topeka, Kansas.

But, before you come, some pointers:

You'll need to fly into Kansas City (shown here, circa yesterday).

For the trip from the airport to Topeka, it's best to have one of these.

Wait. Here's a native Kansan now.

Perhaps you're wondering about the night life?

Or maybe you can't wait to see the skyline?

And who could forget that wild and crazy shape of the state itself?

By now, you're problem asking, "Well how do I get there?"
Click HERE.

okay. Okay. OKAY!

The real reason Orthodox Christians are converging on Topeka this June ...

The 3rd Annual Parish Life Conference of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America.

June 14 - 17, 2007

If you've never been to a Parish Life Conference, you're missing out. And, chances are, if you have been -- you're coming again. It's like an Orthodox family reunion ... that grows every year. Oh, and ... kids & teens? They love it!

This year's keynote speaker -- Reader Herman, aka Dr H. Tristram Engelhardt, M.d., Ph.D. -- is a hoot! Oh sure, he's real smart and all, but a hoot to boot. Also, there's workshops scheduled throughout the conference to fit a variety of interests and needs.

The schedule is chock-full of events for all ages and the hotel is as fine as they come.

EVERYTHING you need to know is to be found H E R E.

Join us in Topeka this June for DOWAMA's annual family gathering! Click the above link and register today!


Perhaps it's the really cool places? Or because of this? Or this!
Other reasons to visit Topeka, Kansas?
Wanna plug the DOWAMA PLC?
Click the Comments.
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This blog is a recipient of the Thinking Blog Award.
My e-pal Dixie is the culprit just too kind.

Here are the instructions:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.
3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote.



All right ... even though I promised I would never do another MEME after the one I did do, I'll do it. [Incidentally, speaking of which, there's a query in the comments of that old post about whether Duke's Mayonnaise is available in Texas. Welp, sha'azam! (that's the way they spell it in the Old Country) Even though I no longer eat it -- we recently found Duke's in a Middle Eastern specialty store!]

I don't get out much; I stick pretty close to the blogroll in my side margin. All of those blogs are thought provoking regular stops. Fr Stephen Freeman offers daily more than daily deep and serious thoughts. (He ain't got time for no MEME! But, do make time to visit Glory to God for All Things.) Also, my e-pal Dawn is bogged down fabu bizzy with her new book tour. But The Dawn Patrol (and its multitudinous comments) is a thought producer.

But there are others that nudge the ol' noggin' ...

First off, John travels. In Notes From a Common Place Book, he views the world, the church, politics, through the lens of his journeys among others (voices that often need a hearing in our troubled times).

E-buddy Jan Bear ... she's working on getting a novel (or 2?) published. The girl can write -- I just wish she did it more for free on her blog.

Then there's James, I mean Reader Seraphim, I mean Deacon James ... Doh! This guy. His Ancient Church blog lifts my spirits in a God-pleasing way.

This next recipient -- not holding my breath that they will reciprocate the MEME (What an idea!) -- is the most thought provoking "blog" around:
Get Religion. Do it. Daily. Dey works hard for no money.

Finally -- I know, I know ... I'm stretching the nature of the MEME here -- this guy is the funniest thing since Dave Barry! I cannot put him in my side margin because Baptists also read this blog some of his funnies ain't fittin'. But, just between you and me, here's a recent post from Wilder by Far. (You can navigate to the main page for more, but be warned ... do not read this blog while eating, drinking or driving. On the other hand, it has been known to help cure melancholy and bronchitis.) Okay, so I lied. John's never made me think at all. Kudos to him for that.

Oh, about that promise never to do another MEME, I also promise to quit using the strike feature.
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My son decided, without any knowledge (to my knowledge) of recent events, to create a new character last night. He loves to pretend to be a pirate -- Yet last night he played one who'd lost his right hand and had it replaced by a plastic hoe. I dubbed him, innocently enough, "Cap'n Hoe!"

"Ho, ho! Cap'n Hoe!"

My soon-to-be-teen came in from homework saying, "Dad! Stop saying that!"

I said, "What?"

She said, "Cap'n Hoe!"

"I was thinking of blogging it."

"Dad, don't! You'll probably get kicked off of Blogger -- and even lose your radio program."

Later, my youngest, who had been quietly persistently working with scissors, pencil and bag, announced her new creation: An American Eagle! (Imagine a white paper lunch bag with pencil drawn eyes and tiny V-shaped beak with styrofoam packing inserts for wings.)

Then, to the shock of myself and Cap'n Hoe, she took the pirate's pistol and shot him! She killed the eagle!

We both at the same time said: "That's illegal!"

"What?" she asked.

Cap'n Hoe said ... "You can't shoot an American Eagle, it's illegal. Illegal means it will get you elected ... ellected ... allected ... arrgh! ... It means you go to jail!"

Cap'n Hoe said, "I kept saying elected instead of ARRESTED!"


The End.


This blog post has absolutely no point whatsoever. Except, perhaps, to say that: I've never been a fan of shock-jocks nor Gansta Rap. If the whole radio media industry begins to clean up their act ... that would be a good thing.
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The following note is from a mom regarding a picture caption within this post ...

So, I go into my favorite youngest daughter's room to find her changing the sheets on her bed. It's Tuesday, no one asked (or told) her to change her sheets, no plans for house guests, and I am curious, but I don't say anything. I asked her if she listens to The All- American Rejects and she scoots past me saying "move along." I stepped back as she made her way around the bed and when she saw me looking at the pile of sheets she is rolling onto the floor, she says "dirty little secret." Then she says "it ends tonight, 11:11pm" She takes a few more steps and looks at me like I am in her way then she says "I'm waiting." I am staring at her with a dumb expression on my face (not too difficult to achieve) because she's never used such short snippy phrases when talking to me before, and she says ...

"What, Mom? I forgot that if you shake a Pepsi before you open it, it spews, and it got all over my bed, so I have to change the sheets. You came in here asking me if I listen to The All-American Rejects, and I was telling you the names of their songs!!!!"
______________

Heh heh.

Christ is Risen!
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At risk of becoming a photo-blog, here's some pictures from yesterday's
Saint Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Monastery & Bluebonnet Tour.

Hover your cursor over the pics for captions; click to enlarge.

Enjoy!


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Here's some pics, parish & personal, from Pascha 2007.
Click to enlarge.


Fr John Salem leads the procession with the Gospel
Book. Thanks to the cold, rainy weather --
sleet in Houston! -- we did not process outside.


Fr Joseph Shahda ... "Christ is Risen!"


Blogger: "Christ is Risen!"


His face says it: "Christ is Risen!"


Amou Sami & the Arabic choir ... ألمسيح قام


English choir ... Vivian said: "Si Cristo ay nabuhay! Siya nga ay nabuhay!"


The Paschal Blessing ... "Trampling down death by death ..."


The annual egg contest. (I'm looking at my cracked
egg -- the victor, eight years running: Fr Joseph Shahda.)


Three princesses gather in the hall for the feast.
(The tallest is a Huneycutt.)


My favorite oldest daughter and her pal, Alexa, are listening to,
so I learned, "The All-American Rejects." (I'd never heard of the group.
Somehow I doubt that will become a Pascha tradition.)


"Let God arise ... let his enemies be scattered!"
(Agape Vespers)


Front to back: German, Romanian, Spanish, and Latin.
(Agape Vespers)


Fore to iconostasis: French, Low Country Scottish, Ukranian, and Greek.
(Agape Vespers)


The guy with the candles: English.
(Agape Vespers)


"What did you say?"


I said: "Christ is Risen!"


Oh, and the Easter Bunny!


My son holds our black cat named Lily. She was born
on Pascha, May 1st, two years ago. Hence the name.
(Though surrounded by Orthodox, to our knowledge, she never fasts.)


My favorite youngest daughter and family friend,
Mary Deane, dye eggs on Holy Saturday.


That's us ... wishing you and yours:


A happy Pascha!

Christ is Risen!
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