To All Generations

Teach them the way to go and when they grow old they will not depart from it.



Thanks to Dan Rudder of St. Seraphim Orthodox Cathedral in Dallas, Texas, for this video.

Announcing A Motion Picture

I want my Journey To Orthodoxy readers to be the first to know that my Film and Television Production Company has optioned the book, The Woodland Hills Tragedy, by S. Rickly Christian. Over ten years ago I was perusing the used book section of a second hand store and discovered this out of print book. Several false starts, a move, a reincorporation of my company, a lot of prayer, a whole lot of patience, and the contracts have been signed.

Kingdom Films Inc. will produce the book into a feature film with a goal of theatrical release. The riveting true story of the discovery of 16,433 aborted fetuses in a rented trash container in Woodland Hills, CA in he 80's, is seen through the eyes of an investigative reporter (Rick Christian). Rick's real-life experience with this bizarre episode in the annals of the abortion debate unveils the abortion industry, Planned Parenthood and government involvement in an Erin Brokovitch manner. The story is void of religious dogma and is driven by fact-based social commentary. The working title of the film is Ausrotten-German for "exterminate."

"This is the journey of one man’s soul from detachment to involvement, from apathy to deep concern. On a larger scale, it is a reflection of what it means to live in a society that routinely destroys its own sons and daughters-not merely statistics, but flesh and blood people. In the end, Rick is faced with the unsettling discovery that the perpetrators of such evil and heinous acts do not always appear as monsters. More often than not, they look just like you and me."

I challenge all JTO readers to rise from detachment to involvement, from apathy to concern. Help Kingdom Films Inc. bring this project to the screen. Pray for me personally and for all KFI personnel who will be spending countless hours in pre-production, production and post- production, taking this film from development to distribution. As you might surmise, KFI won't be met with open arms in the film industry but neither was Icon Pictures and Mel Gibson. If I make no other film the rest of my life, this will be enough. It may be the sole reason God has graced me with being in this industry.

We will enter the script phase and the investment phase simultaneously. Pray that both are blessed. I intend to personally write the script, but am also considering a co-writer. Let all in the JTO family know of our needs.

Lord Jesus Christ Son of God Be Merciful To Me A Sinner.

Starting An Orthodox Church?

Well, actually the Church "started" about 2000 years ago. Being from a Protestant background, I recognize the phrase "starting a church" has certain connotations that don't really apply to the establishment of a local Orthodox parish. Usually when you hear "start a Church" you think of some well-meaning individuals or groups who have a heart for God and a heart for people and feel as if they have a better way of doing things. So, they infuse their personality and methods, decide which of their doctrines or practices they will emphasize, get a place to meet and start advertising. The thing that separates this method from the Orthodox Church is the fact that we have already been at the Church planting thing for over 2000 years and the local parishes we establish are not the work of an individual or independent group. We are not reinventing the wheel, we are providing the whole vehicle. There are over 250 million Orthodox around the world and we are made up of various cultures so be prepared to experience what the church is supposed to look like: Multi ethnically diverse.

If you are Native American you are welcome and may be interested to discover that some of the first converts to Orthodoxy on this continent were from your culture.

If you are Hispanic the door is wide opened to you, especially if the door to the Roman Church has been closed to you for some reason. Remember, the Pope recognizes the authenticity's of our Apostolic succession and the validity of our Eucharist. If there is a language barrier we will close that gap quickly. Maybe you or someone you know could help interpret. Remember the Orthodox faith is the faith and you are a very important part of it. The Orthodox faith is compassionate toward the issues involving illegal immigration and the families who are affected. In North America, there are more Orthodox immigrants than European converts.[Si usted es hispano la puerta es amplia abierto a usted, sobre todo si la puerta a la Iglesia romana le ha estado cerrada por la razón que sea. Recuerde, el Papa reconoce la autenticidad de nuestra sucesión Apostólica y la validez de nuestra Eucaristía. Si hay una barrera de los idiomas cerraremos aquel hueco rápidamente. Tal vez usted o alguien que usted conoce podrían ayudar a hacer de intérprete. Recuerde que la fe Ortodoxa es la fe y usted es una parte muy importante de ello. La fe Ortodoxa es compasiva hacia las cuestiones que implican immig ilegal.]

If you are African American you are invited to come home to the church of your ancestors. History show us that the continent of Africa was extremely important to the establishment of Christianity. In fact, many of the slaves who were brought to America were Orthodox Christians. Many Orthodox churches display icons of those Africans who have been made saints by the church such as St. Moses The Black. The Ancient Christianity and African American Conference is held annually as an effort to introduce African Americans to the Orthodox Faith. You are a vital part of the life of the church.

If you are European it was you who preserved the faith when the East was in such political turmoil and who originally brought the church to this continent. It is also out of the European culture that the Western Liturgy was birthed.

If you are Asian you will be interested to know that Asia had over 500 Orthodox Bishops by the year 901 and was instrumental in propagating the gospel in many other countries. The Asian Orthodox Churches are continuing to flourish today.

If you are a former Roman Catholic and for some reason cannot return to the RCC, we say "come home" to the Orthodox Faith. The RCC and the Orthodox Church were one body before 1054. The Western Rite Liturgy will be very familiar to you. The Eucharist is available to you even if you have been divorced. You may be interested to know that our Orthodox priests may marry, much value is put on the role of women, and although we highly respect the role of the Pope, the Orthodox Church is governed by consensus of bishops not by one man rule.

If you are Church of Christ know that of all the non-catholic denominations you are probably closer to the original church than any. Campbell has the right idea to go back to the original, early church. He just didn't go back far enough. Like Martin Luther he opted to establish what he thought to be the purest form of Christianity. Neither realized it was found and is found in the Eastern Church-the Orthodox Church. Come all the way home. You will find liberty and not legalism.

If you are a pagan your heart has cried out for meaning, ritual and design. You have come up empty in the ever changing evangelical world. You will identify with the Orthodox Celts and all cultures who have found their way to the original church. You will find the church to be the real container of mysticism that is valid and spiritual. You will see that Christ is really The Eternal Tao.

عرفت إن أنت تكون عربيّة ويكون يفكّر حول مسيحيّة, أنّ أسقفنا عربيّة [لبنس] والأبّنا في دمشق, سوريا. هم, مثل أنت, مرّة اضطرّ رأيت مسيح ك ال [مسّيه].

If you are a Charismatic or Pentecostal you will find the real meaning of the charisms are found within the Orthodox faith. Many of our saints are recognized through the miracles that resulted from their lives. The demonstrations of God's power over flesh is quiet and holy, not boisterous and showy.

If you are a human being come home to the One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. It is the shelter of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Creator of the universe and of all there is. He knows your name and every hair on your head is numbered.

"The Down Slope Home" Letters From A Soldier

Number five in a series of letters from SGT Daniel Nuoffer

Mr Lewis

I had some time to burn before I had to go back to work, and I was playing around on the Internet. I went to your web page and saw where you have another grandchild. Congratulations I am so happy for you and your family. You looked so happy in the pictures. I hope all is well and that you and your family are as happy as you seem.

I am on the down word slope home. I am about 3 weeks out from my fly date. We have been working nonstop to get this new unit ready to take over the duties and responsibility's of this mission. It has been a bumpy ride. I have had to put myself in harms was more then once to keep these guys from getting hurt. But they lack experience here. And that is enough to get you hurt. There is hope they are learning and it will come. I will keep praying for them and they will make it.

God bless you sir. I will keep you in my prayers and lift you up to the father.

Sgt Nuoffer

Note: Sgt Daniel Nuoffer is on his second tour in Iraq. His duty is to command the lead gunnery vehicle that guides our troops in convoy down treacherous roads from Kuwait into Bagdad. He will be gone for 15 months. His new wife awaits his safe return as do we all. Send him your love and support. You may e-mail him at chemicalninja@yahoo.com.