The Order of Godly Rebuke

One of the most often forgotten or ignored words of Jesus is His clear instruction on how to deal with a brother whom we believe to be in sin. The key phrase here is "whom we believe", because it is not always certain that what we perceive to be the case is actually the case. The care and love for the one who may be in sin seems to be the focus of the 4-Step way of dealing with such matters. In this, Christ has shown us how to avert misunderstanding and how to gently guide one who may be in sin. Any other method or order, other than that which Christ gave us, can cause harm, and, ironically, will cause the one who notices his brother's sinful action to commit a sin himself.

The Words of Christ:

Matt. 18: 15-17

"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won a brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."

THE 4-STEPS

Step One: Go to the brother alone, just you and him.

Benefit:

1. It saves the brother from embarrassment and from feeling attacked. It is less threatening.

2. It allows communication on a private level, so if there was a misunderstanding and you have wrongly perceived the brother to be in sin, then the issue is cleared up and the matter is settled. In this privacy, only you and your brother are aware of the issue, so there are no others involved with which to communicate or clear your brother's name.

3. If your brother is in sin, either one of ignorance or intent, it is easier to repent when one concerned brother comes with the love of Christ.

4. Once the issue is dealt with on Step One, the issue is settled and there is no need to go to Step Two. Most of the time,  Step One resolves the issue.

If it is still believed that the brother is in sin and he either, does not see himself to be in sin, or refuses to repent from the sin of which he is aware, then, and only then, the concerned brother may go to Step Two.

Step Two: Go back to the brother and take two or three others with you.

Benefit:

1. Taking two or three others with you will act to show the brother that what you have presented was not just your opinion, but that of others. The impact of having several brothers telling the sinning brother the same thing may get his attention.

2. If the original concerned brother was erroneous in his assumption that his brother is in sin, then the accompanying brothers may see that more clearly. In this, the matter may be settled and cleared up.

If all the concerned brothers find that the brother is indeed in sin and either refuses to repent, or fails to see the sinfulness of his actions, then, and only then, does Christ say to go to Step Three.

Step Three: Tell it to the Church

Benefit:

1. On this Step, the elders of the church, meaning the priests and bishops are FIRST informed of the brother's condition and his unwillingness to repent. The Bishops are the church and have the ultimate determination in the matter.

2. If the sinning, unrepentant, brother is brought before the church, he may realize the seriousness of the matter in a way that a few of his brothers or even a single priest did not impact upon him. If he has stood in pride in his sin, the weight of being brought before the church may be enough to break that pride and to allow him to repent.

If the issue has arrived at Step Three, then there is a serious matter involved with the brother that may not be an easy fix. It is only for the salvation of his soul and for the purity of the church that Step Four should come into play.

Step Four: He is to be treated as a Gentile- He is no longer in the Church.

Benefit:

1. The unrepentant brother, left to his own sinful arrogance and disobedience, outside the safely of the church, will either fall deeper in sin or will feel the weight of a life without the church. and come back to her.

2. By not allowing the unrepentant brother to remain in the church, the church is kept pure and others who may want to remain in their sin, fear God at the seriousness repercussions of an unrepentant heart.

A Relevant Question:

Q : Is a priest bound to follow this order?

A: Yes. A priest is especially bound to follow the order that Christ has set up. He has the sacrament of confession and forgiveness and the responsibility for pastoral care of the brother. He should show great restraint in the sharing any information concerning one of his brother parishioners even with fellow priests.  This is especially true if the issue is still on Step One. The damage that can be done to a brother parishioner if his sin is immediately taken to Step Two, or worse, to Step Three, can be irreparable and the priest, in doing so, commits his own sin. Though it is wise and often necessary for a priest to seek council in some matter, he should use the abstract in discussing it with others, not using the name of the brother or any particular identifying circumstances.

Q: Is a Bishop bound to follow this order?

A: Yes. Even more so, a Bishop should follow the clear words of Christ.

Too often, people forgo the 4-Steps Christ set out to deal with a brother in sin. The most common reason is ignorance of Christ's command. Concerned brothers use the reason of "being concerned" as to why they talk to others about their fallen brother, before talking to the brother (Step One). The result of their misdirected concern is that they sin against their brother by means of gossip. There is no control to rumors and gossip and Saint James illustrates that such talk becomes a raging fire out of control. The brother in sin is ultimately hurt and not helped. He is especially hurt if he was innocent of a sin to begin with.

When I was a protestant pastor, I was surprised by being called before the entire church committee. I had no warning or knowledge of what the issue was. No one had ever come to me at all. The issue was that they didn't like how I was leading worship. Now, this was not a sin issue, but the same 4-Step principals of Christ should have applied. Since no one came to me privately, the issue had built into an insurmountable conflict in their minds. Since there were several people in the room, there must have been much prior conversation and gossip around the subject in which I was not included. By the time we met, they had decided to ask me to resign my pastorate. What a sad result which failure to follow the clear command of Christ brings. Not only did I resign, but the entire staff of the church resigned, leaving the committee to their own devises and the local church weakened. How much different would it have been if the originator of the complaint had asked to speak with me? The issue could have been settled without such division.

Since becoming Orthodox, I have discovered that the same propensity to ignore the 4-Steps of the Order of Godly Rebuke also exists. There is no doubt that I sin both knowingly and unknowingly. There is also no doubt that it is in my heart to be righteous even as He is righteousness. In some of my failings, along my Journey To Orthodoxy, I have discovered, however, that, rather than a concerned brother or priest coming to me privately, according to Step One, I have been immediately taken to Step Three, as other parishioners, priests and bishops are made aware of an issue that should easily have been resolved privately with Step One.

This has been extremely difficult at times for me and my family. Being the subject of such disorderly communication, leaves one feeling distrustful, and violated. How does one go to those who have been made privy of an issue that you yourself  have not first had the opportunity to reconcile? How do you know who already knows and what they must be thinking of you? In such a situation, the peace and fellowship that you once had is robbed and replaced with suspicion and insecurity, and if the original issue or accusation is not true to begin with, or is a simple misunderstanding, how can it be quietly resolved with so many involved? There will always be the possibility that someone did not "get the word." It is especially difficult to clean up such a mess once it has been made, and not uncommon to be accused of pride, self-preservation, or lack of humility when you attempt to do so. One who has been put in this position by someone's failure to follow Christ's Four Steps, can only trust God and pray for those who have wronged them in this way, be they layman, priest, or bishop.

Our Lord is perfect and His words are perfect. If we would follow His words in regard to dealing with issues such as this, there would be less strife in the body of Christ. Laymen, Deacons, Priests, Bishops: What part of HIS WORDS do we not understand?

Matt. 18: 15-17

"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won a brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."

Praise be to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who forgives all of our sins and bears all of our burdens!

Moses The Black-The Motion Picture Website Launched

Moses The Black-The Motion Picture website has been launched. The feature film is being produced by JTO author Nathan Lee Lewis. Please stop by the site and participate in this worthy project!

 www.mosestheblack.com

The Sacrament Of Marriage- Our 30 Years

Today is the 30th anniversary of our wedding ceremony-July 27, 1980. Last November 29, 2009, my wife, Cynthia, and I had our marriage sanctified in the One, holy, catholic and apostolic church. Just as the salvation of our souls has taken us on a journey so has our marriage done so.

We are real people with real human tendencies. There has never been a marriage free from human ups and downs, both good and bad, and ours is no exception, however, as two individuals bonded by the holy sacrament, and bound by our covenant before God, we have, by his grace, remained faithful to one another. Through the years, we have watched the dissolution of the marriages of some of our friends, and others forgo marriage altogether to live outside of God's sacrament. All of the sad examples we have observed have caused us work harder to remain free of the pit into which other relationships have fallen. Just in the last two months, two couples that we know have separated.

30 years ago, Cynthia and I agreed that we would adhere to three guidelines in the way we communicate:

ONE: We would never use cutting, negative humor, the kind which uses the other as the brunt of a joke or jokingly cuts the other person down. We determined that life was hard enough, and that we didn't need one another throwing jabs, even in jest. We would always attempt to be positive. This has come in handy when we went through seasons in which we didn't like each other very much or were in a state of selfishness.

TWO: We would never joke about, consider, or even talk about divorce. In fact, we would never even use the word relating to one another. Divorce would never be an option, no matter what. The world gives us too many reminders of that option, that "easy out". We agreed that we would fight such a temptation by not acknowledging it.

THREE: The worship of and service to our God would be the first and foremost determinate for every decision we made, great or small...period. Our lives were not our own but we were bought with a price. Our marriage is a tool for the Kingdom of God to be built in us and in the world.

Somehow, these three guidelines have helped us retain the fruit of long-suffering in seasons of intense stress. The idea of enduring happiness in marriage is overrated and not realistic. Marriage will not always be happy because life is not. The joy of the Lord is our strength, not happiness. Joy is unshakable. Happiness is fleeting.

"Through good and through bad, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."

When our daughters were young, they were part of a Protestant Sunday school. In one particular class, a young, newly-married young couple were the teachers. One of my daughters bonded with them and admired them greatly. They were an inspiration and example to her both humanly and spiritually. The news that, after only one year of marriage, they were divorcing, was devastating to her. I must admit that I had little compassion for the young couple. In fact, I was angry that their selfish actions not only effected them but had wounded the psyche of my daughter. Since that time, I have counseled many young couples to look beyond the current struggles that seem to be so insurmountable, and see the future. Imagine themselves as a couple, years in the future, who could say that they had worked through seemingly insurmountable odds and remained faithful to their marriage covenant. The tragedy comes 30 years from now when divorced couples look back at the event or events that led to their divide and realize that their unchecked, youthful immaturity, selfishness, and lack of forgiveness were the catylist to their divorce, and these could have, and should have, been prevented. The tragedy is especially intensified if there are children involved.

I once heard a fiery Protestant evangelist lower the boom on men by saying,

"Some of you men, here, get married and you are attracted to your wives. Then, a few years into the future, after your wife has had a few of your children and she doesn't look quite the same, you say, 'I'm just not attracted to you anymore. Our love has changed,' or some other lame excuse for your own selfishness. Then, you start looking in other places and find some other young woman to become attracted to and you decide to get a divorce. You men ought to get on your bellies and crawl out of here like a snake!"

Marriage is a life-long venture. The relationship will change over time. It is supposed to! A marriage relationship is to act as heavenly sandpaper, smoothing off the rough edges of our soul. We can always work through relational problems with time and effort. We can always find forgiveness in our hearts for our mate. It may take time, but it is worth the fight.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."

If there are seasons where you don't "feel" the way you once did about your mate, and there will be seasons, then fall back on the covenant and commitment you made to God..

"What God brings together let no man tear apart."

I love you, Cynthia...

Saint Moses The Black- The Motion Picture

Some may not know that I have spent most of my life in some aspect of the film industry, both in front and behind the camera, and as an instructor of film acting and film production. Since closing my film production company in 2008, I have devoted my time to writing. With this post comes the announcement of the launching of my project to write the screenplay and produce the life story of Saint Moses The Black into a motion picture.

The first phase of any good motion picture is the development of a good script. A good script is one that tells a good story, and for those of you familiar with the life of Saint Moses, you know that the story elements are strong.

I am gathering a limited number of individuals who will help make this project happen by investing in the development of the screenplay. This select group of individuals will have ownership in the screenplay and will be a vital part of the success of the project.

To learn more about this project visit: 

 www.mosestheblack.com

And express your interest on the CONTACT Page.

Okay, Try Not To Smile

Amazed

I stand amazed as I attempt to return to posting on JTO, following the death of my father. Being confronted by death causes one to assess much of life and practice. One of the most common assessments people endure is the fact that it is easy to take for granted the people and things around us. The temporal is temporary. This is a redundant statement, I know, but it helps to state the obvious sometimes; life is always in motion.

That being said, I want to take the time to thank all JTO readers for taking time to share in my journey. I do not want to take you for granted. Some 1000-3000 people a month visit the site from all around the world. That is a small amount in the cyberspace world, but profound since I do not promote, link, or in other ways promulgate this site. If you are a reader, you have found JTO through your own search or from the link recommendations of those who have already visited.

For some reason, unknown to me, 21 of you have subscribed to JTO so as not to miss a single word. Thank you. I do click on your name and read your profile, if available. I go to your sites and blogs and even go to the blogs you read as well. I welcome any of you to write me in person at  

journeytoorthodoxy@gmail.com. 

I would love to talk with you personally by email concerning any issue you like.

If you are a reader who has not subscribed, you may use the "Subscribe" button on the left column to do so.

Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

My First Father's Day Without My Father

Memory Eternal

Bill H. Lewis 

April 1927- January 2010

Waiting for Armageddon- A Movie Review

The following is a movie review by Orthodox Inquirer, Phillip Quinn. In keeping with the spirit of JTO, Phillip readily admits he is ever learning and is always journeying toward truth. Even so,  I find the truths he is discovering on his way to Orthodoxy encouraging and provocative.

Waiting for Armageddon (2009)

Directors: Kate Davis, David Heilbroner, Franco Sacchi. 

A Movie Review

By Phillip Quinn

Plot: America's 50-million strong Evangelical community is convinced that the world's future is foretold in Biblical prophecy.

I keep reminding myself to Judge the Documentary, not the documented. (Yes, the pun is intended)

This is the kind of film that makes Christians look silly. Christian extremists claim all sorts of stuff. (See: Jesus Camp (2006)) If you take one of their leaders, like those in this film back in time to meet their Christian “Brothers and Sisters” of the first millennia, they would not recognize each-other. Much has been added to modern Christian beliefs starting in the eleventh Century and even more so in the Sixteenth Century. Many Christians I have talked to do not know the history of their faith and unfortunately the majority does not care to know their history either.

Neither the word, nor the concept of “Rapture” is found anywhere in the Bible. It is a concept that is man-made dating back to the late 1700s. The Biblical text is clear that Christ will return although; there is no reference to a “Great Tribulation” or to any other events preceding His Return.

In 1825, a Scottish minister named Edward Irving is first attributed to using the word “Rapture”. Many scholars recognize it was actually a fifteen year old female follower of Irving’s who is documented as having a “prophecy” revealing the concept of Rapture. Her name was Margaret McDonald and the collection of her dreams is called “The Restoration of Apostles and Prophets”.

People mistakenly believe Rapture is found in the Bible, but truly it is not. Early Christians taught by Jesus directly or by his Apostles would have no idea what the term or concept “Rapture” means. We know this because they wrote things down and never mention neither the concept nor word “Rapture” anywhere in their writings.

 Advocates of the Rapture invention often site:  I Thessalonians 4:17 as the sole verse to support their ideas. If you take the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians Church in context, Saint Paul is ending a worry that started in their church because some people believed that Christians who died before Christ’s return would somehow miss out on that glorious event of his return. Start reading from 4:13 forward and you can understand why Saint Paul is correcting them.

Another problem with the modern invention of “Rapture” is that it imagines three times the Lord shall come: First, “His Birth”; Second, “The Rapture” and Third “Judgment”.  Furthermore, there are people who claim to know the end of the world. They place their words against Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus said “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” – Matt 24:36. Only God the Father knows the end of the world.

There is both a National Israel and a Spiritual Israel. A modern nation is named Israel, but is distinctly different from Spiritual Israel. Spiritual Israel is a part of the fulfillment of Christ’s incarnation on Earth. Christ fulfilled the old covenant between God and the Jewish people and began a new covenant with all peoples; Jew, Gentile and Pagan. This new covenant (agreement) is with those who carry God’s favor by Carrying God’s message to the World. This is Israel – Christ’s Church. Consider that when reading scripture mentioning Israel after the coming of Christ. What goes on in the middle-east is caused by the extension of the free will of men and nothing more.

Saint Paul wrote, “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham . . . if you are Christ’s then you are of Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:7-9). Indeed, Saint Paul called the body of believers “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16). Saint Peter illustrated this point by applying terms used to describe Israel in the Old Testament when he wrote, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people” (I Peter 2:9). I am still surprised to find modern Christians who did not know Christianity comes from Judaism or that the Old Testament is a collection of Jewish text. The most popular being the Masoretic text, revised in the ninth century by Jews hostile to Christ.

As the documentary continues - In Particular, American Evangelicals look to the Nation of Israel as Prophetic allies. Christians who live in and around the Nation of Israel are certainly not treated as friends by them. The makers of this film interview both Orthodox and reformist Jews, but not Orthodox Christians who lived in and around the Holy Land for the last two thousand years. Instead, they follow the imported American people around the city oblivious to anything but, what they are spoon fed – accepting all, without any investigation.

 The fundamentalist Christian bloodlust for violence and vengeance in End Times is disturbing to say the least. This is one area I think the movie covers well. Never mind that the idea of violence and demolition that is sold to them goes against the very core of what Christ teaches - they seem all too happy to welcome human suffering and destruction of anyone who does not believe as they do. The movie also covers how unscrupulous men like John Hagee and Tim LaHaye fleece Christians of their money. Any one of us would easily be able to refute what they say with simple Bible Studies.

All and all, the documentary presents a frightening look at how ignorant, depraved and ill-informed a group of people can be. It is a dangerous movement in that they have political power and are not shy to use it. 

JTO Editor's Note: for more on this false doctrine of the pre-tribulation doctrine see:
http://journeytoorthodoxy.blogspot.com/2006/10/correspondence-with-rapturist.html

The Invasion Of America-A Dereliction Of Duty

I have always tried to refrain from turning JTO into a political discussion forum. I do venture, upon occasion, into revealing the motives and actions of Islamic terrorists and their anti-Semitic enablers, as well as other various, relevant topics. There is one such relevant topic that has become so critical that it cannot be ignored on this Blog, that of border security. As our religious freedoms in America continue to erode, so do our safety and sovereignty.

The topic of securing the borders of the United States of America, has been much politicized. The Hispanic vote and the future potential pro-Democrat Party voting block of over 13-20 million Illegal Aliens (if they are granted amnesty) is the core reason the current Democrat administration has refused to fulfill its Constitutional obligation to protect its citizens at our nation's Southern border. The Democrat administration does not want to be perceived as anti-Hispanic. America is a nation of immigrants. We are a most welcoming people. But most Americans are anti-ILLEGAL Immigration. Over 500,000 illegal aliens enter our country every year from many nations, and most using the Southern border. For instance, did you know that there are over 600 Pakistanis in Federal custody awaiting deportation as we speak, not to mention scores from Colombia, Iran, Middle East, and Asia? All are crossing our porous Southern border.

The appeal to our Federal Government to fulfill their obligation of securing our borders, is not one of anti-immigrant prejudice, but, rather, one of protective patriotic resistance to illegal aliens of many nationalities, streaming across our borders by the thousands. In this day and age of anti-American terrorists, drug cartels, human trafficking and sex slave trade, America's Southern border, especially Arizona, has become so dangerous that the Federal Government has now closed a national park and posted signs warning United States Citizens to KEEP OUT. (See Video Below) They have posted signs telling us to keep out of our own sovereign land while refusing to send troops to the border to stop the invasion. To give some perspective, it is important to understand that the invasion at our breached borders stretches over 80 miles inland into the heart of our country. Arizonians have been forced to pass legislation that allows them to begin to do the job that the Federal Government has failed to do-protect its citizens. Don't be misled, the recently passed Arizona Illegal Immigration Law, mirrors our federal law and has more safeguards to protect the rights of those who are here legally than does the Federal law. Those who say otherwise either haven't read the law or are not being honest.

The refusal of our President to act in this matter and protect American citizens is a dereliction of duty. The argument can be made, and rightfully so, that previous administrations have also been derelict in their duties, but there is nothing to compare with the current state of the situation. America is being invaded by those who have and will do us harm. Pray that our government will SECURE THE BORDERS!

Once A Convict Always A Convict?

Just a word on some people's propensity to attribute the reason for another's views to the fact that they were once a Protestant. I liken this to someone once having spent time in jail. He was convicted, has paid his dues, and has been many years living as a law abiding citizen, but he is still referred to as a convict. Once a convict always a convict?

If  a person presents views or doctrines that are not in keeping with the mindset or doctrines of the Church, then speak to the issue at hand. To refer to their former Protestantism is to call them a convict. Once a Protestant, always a Protestant? This is almost always received as a slam or a denigration of the person and does nothing to promote right thinking. Such an approach is subjective. How long must one have been out of prison before he is deemed no longer tainted?

I have been out of Protestantism for over ten years. I am quick to embrace the doctrines and traditions of the church. If there are things I don't yet know, it is because I have not yet learned them, not because I once was a Protestant. There are some Orthodox clergy who have come from Catholicism and have been away from that world for less time than I have been away from Protestantism. Is it fair for me to hold them currently suspect because of their past? Once a Catholic always a Catholic?

Last time I looked, God is a God of redemption and restoration. "He casts our sins as far as the East is from the West and remembers them no more." It is totally appropriate and sometimes necessary to point out that a proposed belief is particularly a Protestant one or a Catholic one, but God forbid the kind accusatory language in our interpersonal communication which makes a person's past the issue.

UPDATE Addendum: Please see Tserkovnye Vekhi's thorough and blessed perspective on this matter in the COMMENT section.

A Little Story

Coming To America- Scripture- A Criminal Offense

Flotilla Choir Presents: "We Con The World"-UPDATE

For Deb, and all of the other anti-Semite supporters of Islamic-terrorists, who have been duped by Islamic propaganda...

Remember the Islamic mantra- "First comes Saturday then comes Sunday." For those who need interpretation: "First we kill the Jews then we kill the Christians"  Fools! Their goal is world domination and lies and violence are their tools.

UPDATE: JTO Editor's Note: I have left the below link to the You Tube Video embedded so that you can see that, after over 3 million hits, You Tube removed it due to "copyright  infringement." So you will have to use your imagination- We Con The World, sung to the tune of We Are The World, is a parody of the famous recording session. Several Israelis are in a studio singing lyrics showing how the Flotilla participants and their supporters, use the anti-Semite media to hide the truth of their violent intentions. Since you can't see the video on You Tube, I have posted a second video of the actual Flotilla participants on the ship. They have had prior warning through diplomatic channels that they would be stopped. See how they plan to resist.
UPDATE: 7/21/2014 JTO Editor's Note: It seems the video below is reactivated. Click to watch.

(The Censored (then uncensored) Video of We Con The World)


Watch and listen to the so-called  peaceful "humanitarian" Flotilla members as they plan, in the name of Allah, to resist the Israeli soldiers with force. Notice how they also say that Israel is not a state. Sounds rather like a militant Islamic rally doesn't it? It is evident that they try to "con the world". The truth is, that by allowing Israel to inspect their cargo for arms and prove their intent to delver humanitarian goods to Gaza, the aid would be allowed to be delivered. It is evident by their words that delivery of aid to Gaza was NOT their main objective. Their stated intent was to create an incident by becoming martyrs. Nine achieved their goal.

The Flotilla Islamic Rally

The Joy Of The Lord Is My Strength!

I was in Tupelo Mississippi last week on business. To get there from Nashville, I took the Natchez Trace, a 444 mile historic road stretching from Nashville, Tennessee to Natchez. Mississippi. My trip from Brentwood, Tennessee to Tupelo, Mississippi, was 182 miles of the most peaceful, scenic, perfectly paved and manicured roads I have ever experienced. My drive home was particularly meaningful. I think in all of the hustle and bustle, the interpersonal conflicts and questions, the arguments and endeavors involved in making my way to the Orthodox faith, I forgot, momentarily, that the world is a beautiful place full of God's grace and joy. I had a 3 1/2 hour euphorically peaceful time. I remembered that the peace of the Lord is as near as is our breath. I returned from my business trip refreshed, full of joy and strength unlike I  have experienced in a long, long, time. It is true that The joy of the Lord is my strength.

The Truth About Facebook Friends

I recently reevaluated my participation on the social networking internet forum called Facebook. For those who may not know, Facebook allows a participant to set up a home page, including photos, personal information and then allow "friends" to view your page and all of your information. Facebook is most often used to post opinions, family happenings and other trivial items of interest. Your "friends' can comment on your page and you can comment on theirs. Friends of friends may view all of your entries depending on the security selections you choose. Many also use Facebook to promote issues, organizations or to comment on current events. Some pride themselves in how many "friends" they have on Facebook. The current number of Facebook friends is displayed on each person's homepage. I just culled out my friends list so that only relatives and close friends are included. Some that I "de-friended" took it personally. I explained to those who inquired, that my friendship with them is not based on Facebook encounters, but real life.

I have always taught my daughters to know the difference between friends and acquaintances. This lesson was promoted by their propensity to refer to acquaintances as friends and afford them the same confidences. Often they knew very little about the acquaintances. Especially lacking was knowledge of a person's character and motives ."I am going to visit my friend," they would say. "Well what do you know about them?", I would ask. The reply was telling, "Uhhh..." When I allowed my daughter to have a Facebook page, my supervision in such matters became even more important. With whom were they allowing access to their photos, personal information and day-to-day activities?

Just yesterday I saw a post where a young, blond female publicly posted her private cell phone number and a place where she was going at a certain time. I had never heard of her, but she was a "friend" of one of my "friends". That information went out to 100's of people.Would she, under any other circumstances, share her private cell number, and where she was going to be at a certain time, with 100's of strangers? But on Facebook everyone is a friend, right? That conduct is a tragedy waiting to happen. I am amazed at how often I am asked a personal question on my open FB wall. I never answer and always delete the question immediately.

Parents, do you know what your children are sharing with the world? I once had to inform an Orthodox priest of the FB activities of his daughter, including the provocative photos and videos that were being posted of her and her boyfriend, many taken in her bedroom. Under what other circumstances could I have seen her lying on a bed with a  teenage boy or embraced in a passionate kiss in front of 100's of people in public? But on FB it is somehow acceptable? Those photos and videos now exist forever in cyberspace and out of the person's control.  Even those "innocent poses" such as two girls in an embrace, posing with pursed lips, doing the glamor thing, is viewed by 100's of people as erotic and provocative. They are easily captured and saved for anyone's personal or public use. Many of these posers list themselves as "Christians" or "Orthodox". One thing is for certain, they are acting foolishly and have not counted the cost of their actions.

Be as wise as serpents but as harmless as doves. Do not post or say anything on Facebook that you would not want your closest friends or family to see, or at least make your privacy settings more secure, because FB friends are not all...friends.

The Religious Views Of FaceBook

I did a quick survey of my family and close friends on FaceBook. I found their profiles particularity interesting, especially where each listed their religious views. My Orthodox relatives aside, here is a snapshot of those who listed their "Religious Views":

"Christian"

"Baptist"

"I'm not religious and neither is God."

"Jesus Saves"

"Jesus is legit"

"nontraditional Baptist"

"Christian-Protestant"

"Left handed path"

"I love Jesus"

"Christian- Church of Christ"

"Christ follower"

"I follow Jesus Christ"

"Follower of Jesus"

"Jesus loves me this I love"

"Evangelical Christian"

"Christ=life"

"Lover of Jesus" 

"I love Jesus"

"born again Christian"

"of course"

"Christian-Pentecostal"

"yes!"

"Christianity is not a religion it's a relationship"

"Knowing Jesus & going to heaven"

"Go Jesus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"It's about grace"

"Christian-Southern Baptist"

"Christian-Catholic"

"Believing in God"

"Jesus is the way"
"I follow Christ while remaining accepting of all. Unlike a lot of other people I know."

and my favorite...

"This does not seem like enough space to give a religious view"

The Evolutionary Degradation Of Protestant Devises

This video, intended as a humorous parody, is actually a tragic truth of the evolution of  the Protestant Church as it follows its own devises. Missing here are the centuries of Tradition as given us by the great martyrs and fathers of the faith. Fortunately the faith of our fathers has been preserved for 2000 years and blessed are those who find it. The Orthodox Christian Church-Since 33 A.D.

UPDATE 1/10/2010 After this video was  posted for public consumption, the creator has made it unavailable. It is not uncommon, once exposed with truth, for a video to be taken down...

So You Will Understand-The Epic Natural Disaster That The World Ignored

Pray for Tennessee- Historic Floods- CURRENT UPDATES- "The 1000 Year Flood"

BREAKING NEWS...

Please pray for the state of Tennessee, especially the Nashville area, where we live. Historic flooding. Two months of rain in two days. Freeways and streets closed. Flash floods in neighborhoods. Many water rescues. Five lives lost so far. Watching a water rescue right now- man trapped by rushing water. Saw 30 cars overcome by rushing waters on a stopped freeway. One drowned. Texting friends in areas of Franklin, TN- Rising water within 4 feet of their house- they are trapped.

more later...

UPDATE... 12:00 Noon

We just finished our  Readers Service. I had to go out on the deck during the service, to stop water that was headed toward our door. We are warm and safe. The Tornado Warning is over for the time being. 1000's still stranded on the freeways in and about Nashville. Rain still pouring down. Eight have died so far. Train tracks caved in and washed out throughout the region. Red cross has set up at a large local Protestant church near us. Others throughout the region. Bridges buckling in Franklin. Downtown is waterlocked- only two roads in.

more later...

UPDATE...3 p.m.

It is still raining...for hours ...it won' let up. There is concern about downtown Nashville. The Cumberland River has not crested and is over 46 ft. The last highest  record in 1984 at 44 feet. At 50 feet portions of downtown will flood.

more later...

Update 3:20 p.m.

Just heard from our church members. All are fine though some are stranded by high waters. Another is braving the weather to pick up a friend whose house is without utilities...Pray for their safety.

more later...

UPDATE 8:30 p.m

City of Franklin is under curfew. Thousands of water rescues throughout the area. Working throughout the night. 11 deaths so far. Thousands homeless. Most have no flood insurance due to flooding in non-floodplain areas. Historic downtown Nashville may be flooded overnight if water rises another 1 foot. Freeways at a standstill. Thousands of motorists stranded. Water continuing to rise. Not expected to recede anytime soon. Power outages. Deviation and a very real current threat. One house burned down. God bless the rescue efforts...

Please continue to pray...

more later...

Monday 4 p.m. UPDATE

Titans Stadium flooded. Grand Ole Opry, Opryland Hotel, Opryland Mall-  under water. Cumberland River expected to crest at 52 feet later tonight. Parts of downtown Nashville flooded. New Performance hall flooded. Water still rising. 11 feet over flood stage. Estimates 20 inches of rain in 48 hours-unprecedented.

more later...

Tuesday Morning- Final UPDATE 

Water is starting to slowly recede in some areas. Electricity out in downtown Nashville.

It is being called, in some respects, the 1000 year flood.  10-15 feet above flood level. 20 inches of rain in 48 hours.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR TENNESSEE. RECOVERY WILL TAKE YEARS.

I-24 These motorists were caught off guard. All escaped but one.

What Goes Straight Up Must Come Straight Down...Except Steel-Frame Buildings

UPDATE 1/10/2010 Although the video associated with this post has been removed, there are many like it available on You Tube.

A borrowed post from my friend, Sophocles Frangakis, at his BLOG, a..Sinner.

I ran across this clip on facebook today.  I have also seen Richard Gage discuss what he feels is the evidence against the official story on what happened on 9-11 on a much longer clip.  As well on the longer clip, there was someone who debated him and offered what I feel was good counter-evidence to refute Richard Gage's evidence.  However, I did and still do feel that what has been handed down as the official story of what happened on that day is seriously flawed.

That the buildings once stood where they were and no longer do is an indisputable fact.  But how they were taken down, by whom, and why are questions that continue to trouble me and many others.  In fact, the number of people who have begun to voice doubt is growing and I would say with good reason.

Let me just say up front that I love my country.  I pray for her and if need be, I would fight in her defense.

However, with that said, as I have progressed in the Life of the Church, the allure of this world and its kingdoms has been lessening to the proportion that I have begun to understand that Christianity is not a religion but a Kingdom.

And with this, I would have to say that the idea that outrageous things can and do happen in the world which go against all conventions of what we have in the West been raised to believe is fair and just is part of my own working knowledge of what constitutes the Fall and that evil demonic and spiritual powers are actively involved in the world.

To have a credible Orthodox Worldview, one must believe and know this otherwise the Gospel is something less than what it is meant to be.  Meaning, the Gospel does not merely offer "spiritual" solace, i.e. is not concerned with the material creation, but confronts evil incarnate, i.e. the fact that evil has real power in the creation and that there is an actual hierarchy of evil.

The Devil is not a myth.  Nor should we believe that there aren't those who wield great power and serve him actively and do his bidding.  Descending from this inner circle the true knowledge of the diabolical machinations become diffused and at some level it just merely means "the world system"i.e. what we all have brought up in and have come to consider as "normal".

Scripture and the Holy Fathers constantly bring our attention to the very real fact of this evil reality which in modern "enlightened" times has ceased to have people really take its existence seriously.

A Blessed Pastoral Visit To Tennessee

From the GOCTN.org Website

It was with great joy that we welcomed Father Anastasios Hudson for his first pastoral visit to Tennessee on April 10-11, 2010. It hardly seems possible that it was less than one year ago when a family from the Middle Tennessee area contacted Father Anastasios about entering the Genuine Orthodox Church of America through baptism. Since that time, the family has entered the church, been joined by another faithful Orthodox family from another Genuine Orthodox jurisdiction, another family who is seriously inquiring, and has continued to receive inquiries from both local and neighboring cities.

Father Anastasios was welcomed by 4 families to the Genuine Orthodox Church Middle Tennessee Mission Community, or what we more simply refer to as "GOC Tennessee." Saturday afternoon was a Meet and Greet fellowship with a Question and Answer time. No question was left unasked or unanswered. There was an atmosphere of openness, honesty, and hope for the future of the Church in Tennessee. The time of fellowship and questions was followed by the GOC Tennessee's first Vespers led by a priest.

The Mission Community saw more history being made on Sunday Morning when Father Anastasios led the same group in its first Matins and Liturgy. On this Saint Thomas Sunday, the group of faithful Orthodox and Inquirers had no doubt that Christ was in their midst and that they were experiencing his promised blessings. The Mission Community spent the rest of the afternoon in an extended Coffee Hour, enjoying what they knew would be the first of many to come.

The Genuine Orthodox Mission Community of Tennessee holds regular Matins and Typica Reader's Services in the Franklin/Bentwood area which are opened to all. Father Anastasios, who lives in North Carolina, will visit as often as possible to serve the faithful in person. In the mean time, he is available by phone, e-mail or video conferencing. Mission Coordinator, Nathan Lee Lewis is also available locally in person, by phone, e-mail or video conferencing to answer any questions about how one may become a part of this growing GOC Mission Community. Please see the GOCTN Contact Page.

Christ is Risen!

Paschal Greeting Around The World

English - Christ is risen! Truly, He is Risen!

Old English (Anglo-Saxon) - Crist aras! Crist sodhlice aras! (Lit: Christ arose! Christ surely arose!)
Middle English - Crist is arisen! Arisen he sothe!
Iyaric Patwa - Krestos a uprisin! Seen, him a uprisin fe tru!
Frisian - Kristus is opstien! Wis is er opstien!
German - Christus ist auferstanden! Er ist wahrhaftig auferstanden!
Yiddish - Der Meschiache undzer iz geshtanen! Avade er iz ufgeshtanen!
Dutch - Christus is opgestaan! Hij is waarlijk opgestaan!
Afrikaans - Kristus het opgestaan! Hom het waarlik opgestaan!
North Germanic languages
Danish - Kristus er opstanden! Sandelig Han er Opstanden!
Icelandic - Kristur er upprisinn! Hann er vissulega upprisinn!
Norwegian - Kristus er oppstanden! Han er sannelig oppstanden!
Swedish - Kristus är uppstånden! Ja, Han är verkligen uppstånden!
Latin - Christus Surrexit! Surrexit vere!
Italian - Cristo è risorto! È veramente risorto!
Catalan - Crist ha ressuscitat! Veritablement ha ressuscitat!
French - Le Christ est ressuscité! Vraiment Il est ressuscité!
Portuguese - Cristo ressuscitou! Verdadeiramente ressuscitou!
Romanian - Hristos a înviat! Adevărat a înviat!
Spanish - Cristo ha resucitado! Verdaderamente, ha resucitado!
Slavonic-- (Christos Voskrese! Voistinu Voskrese!
Russian - Христос Воскресе! Воистину Воскресе! (Khristos Voskrese! Voistinu Voskrese!)
Belarusian - Хрыстос уваскрос! Сапраўды ўваскрос! (Khrystos Uvaskros! Saprawdy Wvaskros!)
Ukrainian - Христос Воскрес! Воістину Воскрес! (Khrystos Voskres! Voistynu Voskres!)
Bulgarian - Христос Возкресе! Воистина Возкресе! (Christos Vozkrese! Voistina Vozkrese!)
Serbian - Христос Воскресе! Ваистину Воскресе! (Christos Voskrese! Vaistinu Voskrese!
Czech - Kristus vstal z mrtvých! Vpravdě vstal z mrtvých!
Slovak - Kristus vstal zmŕtvych! Skutočne vstal!
Polish - Chrystus Zmartwychwstał! Zaprawdę Zmartwychwstał!
Lithuanian - Kristus prisikėlė! Tikrai prisikėlė!
Old Irish - Asréracht Críst! Asréracht Hé-som co dearb!
Irish - Tá Críost éirithe! Go deimhin, tá sé éirithe!
Manx - Taw Creest Ereen! Taw Shay Ereen Guhdyne!
Scots Gaelic - Tha Crìosd air èiridh! Gu dearbh, tha e air èiridh!
Breton - Dasorc'het eo Krist ! E wirionez eo dasorc'het !
Welsh - Atgyfododd Crist! Yn wir atgyfododd!
Indo-Iranian languages
Sanskrit - (Krista uttitaha! Satvam uttitaha!)
Marathi - (Yeshu Khrist uthla ahe! Kharokhar uthla ahe!)
Albanian (Tosk) - Krishti u ngjall! Vërtet u ngjall!
Armenian - Քրիստոս յարեաւ ի մեռելոց՜ Օրհնեալ է յայտնութիւնն Քրիստոսի՜ (Christos harjav i merelotz! Orhniale harutjun Christosi! -- Christ is risen! Blessed is the resurrection of Christ!)
Greek - Χριστός Ανέστη! Αληθώς Ανέστη! (Christos Anesti! Aleithos Anesti!)
Turkish - Hristós diril-Dí! Hakíkatén diril-Dí!)
Chamorro - La'la'i i Kristo! Magahet na luma'la' i Kristo!
Filipino (Tagalog) - Si Cristo ay nabuhay! Siya nga ay nabuhay!
Indonesian - Kristus sudah bangkit! Dia benar sudah bangkit.
Carolinian - Lios a melau sefal! Meipung, a mahan sefal!
Hawaiian - Ua ala hou ´o kristo! Ua ala ´i ´o no ´oia!
Basque - Cristo Berbistua! Benatan Berbistua!
Malayalam - (Christu uyirthezhunnettu! Theerchayayum uyirthezhunnettu!)
Aleut - Kristus aq ungwektaq! Pichinuq ungwektaq!
Yupik - Xris-tusaq Ung-uixtuq! Iluumun Ung-uixtuq!
Japanese - ハリストス復活！実に復活！ (Harisutosu fukkatsu! Jitsu ni fukkatsu!)
Korean - 그리스도께서 부활하셨습니다! 참으로 부활하셨습니다! (Kristo Gesso Buhwal ha sho sumnida! Chamuro Buhwal ha sho sumnida!)
Navajo - Christ daaztsáádéé' náádiidzáá! T'áá aaníí, daaztsáádéé' náádiidzáá!
Tlingit - Xristos Kuxwoo-digoot! Xegaa-kux Kuxwoo-digoot!
Niger-Congo languages
Lugandan Kristo Azukkide! Kweli Azukkide!
Swahili - Kristo Amefufukka! Kweli Amefufukka!
Quechua - Cristo causarimpunña! Ciertopuni causarimpunña!
Syriac - (Meshiha qam! Bashrira qam!)
Arabic (Fus'hah, i.e., "standard") - (Al-Masih-Qam! Hakkan Qam!)
Maltese - Kristu qam! Huwa qam tassew!
Hebrew (modern) - (Ha Masheeha houh kam! A ken kam!)
Tigrigna - (Christos tensiou! Bahake tensiou!)
Amharic - (Kristos Tenestwal! Bergit Tenestwal!)
Mandarin - 基督復活了 他確實復活了 (Jīdū fùhuó le; tā quèshí fùhuó le!)
Georgian - ქრისტე აღსდგა! ჭეშმარიტად აღსდგა! (Kriste aghsdga! Cheshmaritad aghsdga!)
Estonian - Kristus on ülestõusnud! Tõesti on ülestõusnud!
Finnish - Kristus nousi kuolleista! Totisesti nousi!
Hungarian - Krisztus feltámadt! Valóban feltámadt!
Meadow Mari - Христос ылыж кынелын! Чынак ылыж кынелын!
A Nigerian language (of many spoken there) - Jésu Krísti Ébilíwõ! Ézia õ´ Bilíwõ!
Esperanto - Kristo leviĝis! Vere Li leviĝis!
Quenya - (Ortanne Laivino! Anwa ortanne Laivino!)

Where Are All The Clerics?

I was on one of my many trips to Walmart this week and I had an epiphany. Although I have lived in the Nashville, TN. area, specifically Franklin/Brentwood, just south of Nashville, for over four years, I have rarely seen anyone in clerics. In the four years that I have lived here, I have seen only one person, an Anglican Bishop, wearing clerics in public, and that was at an invitational event. My wife says she spotted the local Catholic priest wearing clerics, but he was on the sidewalk in front of his church. I did see two of my former Antiochian priests wearing clerics at a church luncheon at a hotel, but even they, when out and about as citizens, do not always wear their clerics. The one time I met with my former priest in a coffee shop, he wore black jeans and a black tea-shirt, although he was headed directly for a hospital visit from there.

This area of Tennessee is very "spiritual", with many churches of many types. We even have one of the most prolific anti-trinitarian pseudo-Christan cults firmly rooted here. It is a very politically conservative community, both fiscally and socially. The prevailing attitude is the Protestant idea that everybody is right and nobody is wrong, we are all Christians with some measure of the truth, so we can all just get along. I am wondering, however, with the entrenched protestantism, especially evangelical protestantism, (Musician Michael W. Smith has a church here) and the strength of the Church of Christ, if somehow the Catholics and the Orthodox  have decided to remain in the shadows. If this is the case, I can have no part of it.

I have seen what seems to be a compromise toward the shadows even in the Genuine Orthodox Churches. Some priests, who must be bi-vocational, use the excuse of their job to trim their beard or not wear one at all, when the Church and Canons are specific as to their appearance and Federal Law protects their rights of grooming for religious purposes. In these matters they say the Bishop has given economy for their job, when, in reality, it is their own fear of lack or fear of persecution that dictates their decision.

I have heard criticism directed toward laymen who dress in black and grow their bears according to the tradition of the Church. "What are they trying to be?" "They are trying to appears as monks when they are not." To the contrary: Perhaps they are correctly following the piety laid out in the Canons and the critics' own failure to do so is highlighted when this is observed.

I am not a priest, deacon or a tonsured reader, yet I have an uncut beard for the sake of my pursuit of piety. I do not wear clerics but I do go out in public. I am the delight of every child at Christmas time. I get a lot of free smiles and little fingers pointing my way. Many people strike up conversations, open doors for me, and the few in this area who are aware of Orthodoxy are drawn like a b-line to me. I met a very kind Coptic man the other day, a researcher at a medical facility. He could not pass me without showing his respect and talking with me. The only negative reaction I have experienced was having my way literally blocked by a black Muslim man as I tried to enter his open air shop at the local farmers market (God bless him).

I am wondering what the cleric-wearing men in this area are afraid of. Why do we not see clerics being worn here? Why do we not see cassocks worn in public? Why are they just relegated to services? Is this not a compromise in an effort to fit in? Isn't the desire to fit in to the culture, at the expense of age-old traditions, the bane of the Church? You can be sure the Muslims don't give a damn what others think. You can bet they don't give a damn about fitting in to this culture in the manner of their religious dress. I see them everywhere here. The Sikhs are here in full dress as well. Where are the Orthodox? Where is the concern over this matter? For instance, which of you readers are more disturbed with the fact that I have just used the word "damn" twice in this post,  than you are concerned with the fact that our conduct may be evidence that we are becoming ashamed of the gospel of Christ and of his Church?

Genuine Orthodox Priest to Visit Tennessee

Father Anastasios Hudson, a priest in the Genuine Orthodox Church of America, will visit the Nashville, Tennessee area the weekend of April 10-11, 2010. Father Anastasios, who serves as priest of two GOC Missions in Raleigh and Greenville, North Carolina, also serves as sponsoring priest of the GOC mission effort in Tennessee. He is a graduate of St. Vladamir's Orthodox Seminary and was ordained a priest in 2008. (Pictured from left to right: GOC Metropolitan Pavlos and Father Anastasios Hudson at his ordination in 2008)

Father Anastasios is the mission coordinator for the Genuine Orthodox Church in America, whose Metropolis is located in Astoria, New York.  A native of Ohio, and trained and educated in New York, Father Anastasios has devoted his life and ministry to mission efforts in the Southern states. "It has been my dream for some time to share Orthodox Christianity with Americans in the South", says Father Anastasios, "Orthodoxy, which is the original Church founded by Jesus Christ, is not well known here due to the complications of history. But slowly this is beginning to change, and we have started to find people in the community looking for a more traditional form of Christianity which is at the same time not stagnant but spiritually powerful", he said.

In 2009, a small community of believers in Tennessee surfaced and contacted Father Anastasious about becoming a mission of the Genuine Orthodox Church of America. Since that time, local Tennessee residents have been holding a weekly Reader's Service Without A Priest and the Typica. Over the months, numerous calls and inquiries from interested individuals and families, have come in, prompting Father Anastasios' first visit in April. GOCTN, the local Tennessee Mission community, will host Father Anastasios who will serve the community's first Liturgy on Sunday morning followed by a reception and a question and answer session. All who are interested in knowing more about this mission work are invited to attend the Liturgy and the reception/Q&A session.

For more information and the schedule of events or to talk with Father Anastasios or GOCTN Coordinator, Nathan Lewis, go to http://www.goctn.org/ and use the Contact Form. All calls and inquiries are welcomed.

UPDATE: 3/18/2011- The mission effort was put on hold when the sponsoring family went to another jurisdiction. JTO recommends the GOC jurisdiction, whose local Churches can be found throughout the United States and around the world, to all those seeking a true and genuine Orthodox church. 

The Earthly and the Heavenly

Thank you again for your emails and notes concerning the recent, unexpected death of my father. I have approached this Blog several times with an intent to write, but have found a kind of emotional writer's block facing me. Thank you for indulging me in allowing me to write some personal feelings. I am certain many of you understand the process of grief and the adjustment that follows the loss of a loved one.

It is especially monumental when you bury both of your parents. My mother died in 1980. We laid my father to rest next to her in our family cemetery in Arkansas. It is a passing of an era and the beginning of a new one. My three siblings and I gathered around my father's body and shared tears and memories of the heritage of faith that he left us; the knowledge and commitment to God.

I have often been reminded by others of the fact that my father loved me. The motivation for these reminders is that some were privy to the fact that there was contention between my father and me concerning my spiritual journey. What these well-meaning people do not consider is the fact that, while my father did love me, he did not agree with me nor did he accept me and, at times, was demonstrative in expressing such. To him, I was the black sheep, the wayward son, the religiously confused drifter, the one who had disdained my heritage and my father's honor by not following in his footsteps to become a Southern Baptist pastor. Not only did he let his feelings be made known, but his enablers and supporters, which included relatives, joined in the chorus. Yes, he loved me, but he was disappointed with me, so much so that he put his feelings in writing via his autobiography. In this book, which he distributed to relatives, friends and former churches he pastored, he singled me out from my other siblings (who remain Baptist) by suggesting that every family has one child that is a challenge. He expressed his puzzlement over the fact that he could "reach" other young men and influence them to enter the Baptist ministry but he couldn't seem to reach me.

I spent many years being confronted by this rejection and disappointment and did not always respond in a Christ-like manner; my passions and pride coming to a pseudo-defense of my wounded psyche. Everyone wants to be accepted by their earthy father. Unfortunately, those who have had a less than healthy relationship with their earthly father, often transfer their emotions and experience to their Heavenly Father. If one has experienced the rejection of this earthly father, he may have a difficult time accepting the love of his Heavenly Father. I have had such a challenge.

Time, and the grace of God, help heal human souls from these relational wounds that are a result of The Fall. With time and the grace of God, one can rightly divide the earthly and heavenly relationships. I did. The last few years allowed me to establish an amiable relationship with my father. Ironically, it was a scripture from the book of Sirach, a book not contained in my father's protestant bible, that influenced me toward a right relationship.

"Son support the old age of thy father, and grieve him not in this life, and if his understanding fail, have patience with him and despise him not when thou art in thy strength for the relieving of the father shall not be forgotten."

Obedience to this principle allowed me to put in right order the earthly and heavenly. I was able to set aside my feelings of rejection and practice the simple human courtesies that showed him honor. I called him on birthdays and holidays and visited with him as often as possible. I took his grandchildren to see him when possible. I wrote letters to him. To my loss, and his, we did not discuss any topics having to do with the faith. When he last broached the topic of our religious differences, he expressed confidence that I had had an "experience" of salvation. I received his olive branch in the spirit in which he intended and refrained from engaging him in a topical discussion of the doctrine of salvation.

The night before the funeral, my siblings and I gathered in my father's bedroom and watched a video interview recorded a year prior to his death. In this video, he spoke a word to each individual child, including me. I watched with trepidation as my turn came. Would this be a negative commentary from beyond the grave? I was relieved and healed to hear that, although "Nathan and I have had some theological differences", he was pleased that we had had a good relationship over the last few years. He also noted my strongest attribute to be my strong commitment and tenacity to what I believe.

The other day, a month past the death of my father, I was unexpectedly struck by an intense feeling of failure and an irrational feeling that I was a disappointment to God. Immediately, I was able to set in right order these profoundly erroneous thoughts. My God does love me. He is not disappointed with me. He does believe in me. Now, I am comforted to know that for all the weakness in my relationship with my earthly father, he now has the mind of our Heavenly Father toward me.

I stood alone in my father's room as he lay unconscious and dying, gasping for breath, his brain and body ravaged by bacterial meningitis. With my Orthodox Prayer Book opened, I quietly prayed this Prayer At The Death of a Parent.

O Lord, You heard Joseph grieving over the death of his father, Jacob, as he wept and kissed him.

Your own Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, also knew the love of a mother, for as He suffered upon the cross, He beheld his Mother and the disciple whom He loved standing near her, and He said: Woman, behold your son. And to the disciple, He said: Behold your mother.

Good Master, look down from heaven and see the pain and grief which have laid hold of my heart and soul today.

Be merciful to me, Your servant, and receive the prayer which is offered to You by a child who has lost his (her) beloved father (mother).

Forgive whatever sins he (she) has willingly or unwillingly committed, whether of word, deed or thought.

Merciful Master, hear the grieving voice of one who has been taught by his (her) father (mother) to turn to You with true faith in times of need, and to raise my eyes and voice to You.

Show Your mercy, O Lord, and grant rest to my father (mother), making him (her) a partaker of Your eternal blessings and granting him (her) a place at Your right hand, for blessed and glorified are You unto all ages. Amen.

I was present when my father's heart stopped beating, when the monitors would record no more brain activity, when his soul separated from his still, warm body. I will see my father again and I will greet him, but only briefly, as I turn my affection to my Heavenly Father, as my earthly father taught me to do.  Until then, I will pray the Prayers for the Departed for the theosis of the soul of Billy Homer Lewis.

O God of spirits and of all flesh,
Who hast trampled down death and overthrown the Devil,
and given life to Thy world,
do Thou, the same Lord,
give rest to the souls of Thy departed servants in a place of brightness,
a place of refreshment,
a place of repose,
where all sickness, sighing,
and sorrow have fled away.
Pardon every transgression which they have committed,
whether by word or deed or thought.
For Thou art a good God and loves mankind;
because there is no man who lives yet does not sin,
for Thou only art without sin,
Thy righteousness is to all eternity,
and Thy word is truth.

For Thou are the Resurrection, the Life,
and the Repose of Thy servants who have fallen asleep, O Christ our God,
and unto Thee we ascribe glory, together with Thy Father,
who is from everlasting,
and Thine all-holy, good,
and life-creating Spirit,
now and ever unto ages of ages.
Amen.

Memory Eternal

My Father, Reverend Bill H. Lewis died this morning at 1:20 a.m. Thank you for your prayers for him and our family as we mourn his passing and celebrate his life.

MEMORY ETERNAL

A Personal Request

Please pray for my elderly father, Bill Lewis, who was taken by ambulance to the ER this morning. I will be traveling the six hours to be with him. My father has spent his entire life believing in God and preaching faith in Jesus all around the world.  The picture was taken on Christmas Eve (Gregorian Calendar), 2009.

Lord have mercy.

Lord have mercy.

Lord have mercy.

Update: Dad has spinal meningitis. He is critical. Trying to save hm with antibiotics. He is unconscious. Continue to pray.

Update #2: Dad is not expected to live. We are spending our last precious hours with him.