Who Was Ole Saint Nick?

Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas was a real person who lived in a real time. He was a Bishop of the Church. Have a Merry Christmas as you read about him HERE.

Southern Baptists Endorse The Use Of Icons!

The Southern Baptist Convention finally gets it. Orthodox don't worship images! The Southern Baptist's icon of Billy Graham stands outside the Lifeway Headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee. Lifeway is the main educational materials publisher for the SBC and the former Baptist Bookstore. The icon of Billy Graham is appropriate. Should we accuse Southern Baptists of idol worship? Of course not. The image of Billy Graham is to remind us of a life spent in servitude to the things of God and in the SBC's own words is a "tribute" to him. Perhaps now the SBC can make the historic connection and not think it so strange to see our Orthodox icons used in a very similar manner. Orthodox are just a bit more cognizant of the fact that the people whom the images represent are not dead but worship around the throne of God in the Great Liturgy as we do here on earth. Therefore, we can ask the real life subject of the icons to pray for us. Orthodox also have been around about 1800 years longer than the SBC so we have a larger collection.

Trendy Faith- The "New" Evangelical

ABC had to fulfill its obligation to its viewers today by doing a religion segment. They chose a young evangelical and his hip approach to church. The fact that he was a former staffer with Falwell was mentioned in contrast to his non-negative approach to the gospel. The core of the expose' was the fact that such a personal, store front, non-political church is the new trend away from the Mega Church which takes a societal stand. "We preach for something and not against something..." That sounds good on its face but is Politically Correct pablum and, in essence' anti-Christ. Christ preached against a lot of things. So did the forerunner, John the Baptist, for which he lost his head. The Apostles died martyr's deaths as have millions of Christians since then because they said a few things to which others took great exception. "If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything", comes to mind. Doesn't the very discovery of truth require discarding falsehoods? The Ten Commandments were not suggestions and Christ said He didn't come to abolish the Law and the Prophets.

God bless the young man and his endeavor to "win the lost", but to what is he winning them? It is a Trendy Faith, not the faith of our Fathers. The "new" Evangelical is not new at all, but in a long line of those who have discarded the Apostolic Traditions as passe'. Holiness, altars, reverence, clear doctrine, and the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, have been replaced by relativism, t-shirts, big screens and poor grammar. (The young pastor actually said "People could have went to church...") The Great Liturgies such as Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Gregory have been replaced with psychobabble, feel-good lectures, laced with ""whassup", "how's everybody doing today", "we're gonna have an exciting time today", while accompanied by a live band, big screen TV, and audio headsets.


This is the extreme evolution of Sola Fide' and Sola Scriptura. Much of Westernized Christianity has evolved to the extent that it has become foreign matter. As Orthodox Christians we do not judge the ultimate salvation of an individual or a Christian community, but we still look for a family resemblance to find our relatives. To the New Evangelical, if it's old- it's bad. To the Orthodox if it's new- it's is a good sign we aren't related.

The Root Of Bitterness

I won't attempt a theological treatment of the Root of Bitterness, our inability to forgive, our tendency to hold grudges toward those who have done us ill. I am, however an experiential expert on the subject. I have held bitterness toward another. The most difficult kind of bitterness to uproot is that which involves someone for whom you have or had deep love and trust- an emotional bond. The difficulty lies in the fact that they usually are to blame. They did it- whatever it is they did. They were indeed at fault.

My first cousin, a doctor of counseling, once pointed out to me that there is no such thing as an inferiority complex. Instead, people who deal with these issues suffer from self-centeredness and pride. Their feelings are based in the desire to feel better about themselves and propelled by the habit of comparing themselves to others. "Pride comes before the fall" and they live in a perpetual state of fallen image. The same is true of those who are bitter at another. The Root of Bitterness is based in the belief that you deserved better treatment. The person who hurt you took from you the rights you feel you deserve. Again, the feelings are based in self-centeredness and pride.

I learned log ago that the person with bitterness suffers more than the perpetrator. The one who hurt you has long since gone on. Many times they don't even know you are bitter or at least can't remember what they did to hurt you. For you it is as if it was yesterday, when in reality you wake up to find years have passed. You have spent so much emotion and effort trying to pay them back for what they did but find that you continue to work for your own emotional destruction. You denounce them. You talk about them. You replay the scenes of the infraction. You gather those around you who will agree with you. You ironically become the hurter rather than the hurtee. The reason it is called a "root" is because it goes deep, having taken over your life, controlling your responses and relationships. Neither the death of the person nor their sincere remorse will uproot the bitterness. Because- pride nourishes the root. Stop the pride and the root will die.

In any case you have a decision to make. You must decide how you want to feel. You must decide not to let what that person did control you any longer. Forgiveness is not just for the sake of the perpetrator but for your sake. You must forgive in order to live, to be happy. Forgive, even though they don't deserve it. Forgiveness. There is no other way.

Sometimes It Helps To Seek Help

This post appears on "Stranger In Love" BLOG. It is from a fellow Journeyer and friend. His honesty is refreshing and his endeavor real. It is inspiring.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

I had a good day today. I got to see a friend today that I consider to be a spiritual guide of sorts. Some background info. He was a former Baptist preacher that has now come to the side of good and is involved with the Eastern Orthodoxy. We have had some fantastic discussions when it comes to spirituality and religion and God.

My faith in God, or more so the belief in God was never suspect, but my belief and faith in religion has wained. Wained so that I have left the church, and although I do tell other that I am catholic I am not affiliated with any church.

After talking and reading his blog over the last few months, the Orthodoxy religion has taken a hold of me. The doctrine, the belief and the whole idea draws me back to religion.

So I talked to him today, about my issues and finally, I broke down and cry. Not a single tear, but a deluge of tears. I sometimes forget that I am human and there is no shame to cry.

He said I need to become one with God, to submit to his power, to allow myself to have him, 100 percent in my life. I needed to build a framework and start really having a relationship with God.

As we were talking, this song from U2...one started playing. It was like it was scripted in a film.

I went to my moms home and talked with her. Not even looking, I saw my old prayer book from high school.

I know that now, now that I am submitting my life and taking this journey together with the woman I love, all will be good.

U2-One

Is it getting better
Or do you feel the same
Will it make it easier on you now
You got someone to blame
You say...

One love
One life
When it's one need
In the night
One love
We get to share it
Leaves you baby if you
Don't care for it

Did I disappoint you
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without
Well it's...

Too late
Tonight
To drag the past out into the light
We're one, but we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other
One...

Have you come here for forgiveness
Have you come to raise the dead
Have you come here to play Jesus
To the lepers in your head

Did I ask too much
More than a lot
You gave me nothing
Now it's all I got
We're one
But we're not the same
Well we
Hurt each other
Then we do it again
You say
Love is a temple
Love a higher law
Love is a temple
Love the higher law
You ask me to enter
But then you make me crawl
And I can't be holding on
To what you got
When all you got is hurt

One love
One blood
One life
You got to do what you should
One life
With each other
Sisters
Brothers
One life
But we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other

One...life

One

JF

A Sunday Like No Other

On this Sunday morning I am headed to Liturgy at St. Ignatius. I have participated in the Liturgy many times but today is special. Nathan and Lily are here-my grandchildren. Nathan is 4 and Lily is 2. Of course their mommy and daddy are here as well, but they don't get much attention anymore. There are priorities, you know. My daughter and son-in-law gave us the privilege of keeping their children for a few days while they went on a much needed vacation as a couple. One of the days was just a grandpa-Nathan-Lily day. We went for a walk and went to the candy store as is obligatory, but the most special time was saying morning prayers with them. They took so quickly to the candles, incense, and veneration of the icons. The incorporation of the senses in worship is so easily grasped by children. It is we adults who must shake our cultural religious norms on the Journey to Orthodoxy. It was inspiring to watch them cross themselves, touch the ground at the altar and kiss the icons. We had morning prayers just once, but when Mom and Dad came home, Nathan and Lily remembered how to do it and took exception with the fact that they had not yet venerated the icons. Oh, for a childlike approach. Isn't that what Jesus the Christ advocated, "Except you come as little children..."? We all get to go to "big church" together in the Orthodox faith. There is no little church. The children are part of the whole from birth. "Permit the little children to come to me and forbid them not.." Life is good.

Abortion - Infanticide The Orthodox Canon

Here is the Orthodox View of Infanticide

2270 Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person -- among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.(71)

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you. (72)

My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth .(73)

2271 Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law:

You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish .(74)

God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes.(75)

2272 Formal co-operation in an abortion constitutes a grave offence. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. 'A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae' (76) 'by the very commission of the offence', (77) and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law . (78) The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.

2273 The inalienable right to life of every innocent human individual is a constitutive element of a civil society and its legislation:

'The inalienable rights of the person must be recognized and respected by civil society and the political authority. These human rights depend neither on single individuals nor on parents; nor do they represent a concession made by society and the state; they belong to human nature and are inherent in the person by virtue of the creative act from which the person took his origin. Among such fundamental rights one should mention in this regard every human being's right to life and physical integrity from the moment of conception until death.'(79)

'The moment a positive law deprives a category of human beings of the protection which civil legislation ought to accord them, the state is denying the equality of all before the law. When the state does not place its power at the service of the rights of each citizen, and in particular of the more vulnerable, the very foundations of a state based on law are undermined. . . As a consequence of the respect and protection which must be ensured for the unborn child from the moment of conception, the law must provide appropriate penal sanctions for every deliberate violation of the child's rights.' (80)

2274 Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human being.

Prenatal diagnosis is morally licit, 'if it respects the life and integrity of the embryo and the human foetus and is directed toward its safeguarding or healing as an individual... It is gravely opposed to the moral law when this is done with the thought of possibly inducing an abortion, depending upon the results: a diagnosis must not be the equivalent of a death sentence.' (81)

2275 'One must hold as licit procedures carried out on the human embryo which respect the life and integrity of the embryo and do not involve disproportionate risks for it, but are directed toward its healing, the improvement of its condition of health, or its individual survival.' (82)

'It is immoral to produce human embryos intended for exploitation as disposable biological material.' (83)

'Certain attempts to influence chromosomic or genetic inheritance are not therapeutic but are aimed at producing human beings selected according to sex or other predetermined qualities. Such manipulations are contrary to the personal dignity of the human being and his integrity and identity' (84) which are unique and unrepeatable.

"Solid Locked To Fight"- A Letter From A Soldier

Number four in a series of letters from SGT Daniel Nuoffer

Dear Mr. Lewis

Well another mission comes to an end; our team has really come together and we all know our place with out a second thought, smooth and fast. On the road we know where each truck goes and what to do if there is a problem, I am proud of my soldiers it has been hard to deal with some of the tasked that we have to do, but, they have pulled through and made it happen. I have had some issues back home as always they weigh heavy on your heart especially when you are 10,000 miles away and can't fix the problem first hand; but I am holding it together trying to keep a level head. All I can do is listen when I hear about the problems back home, however right now I have to close off my mind to what is going on in the rear and focuses on the mission and the well being of my soldiers. It seems however that everyday that I don't deal with the problem they get that much bigger. I ask for your prayers.

I'm sitting on my truck reflecting on the mission that we have just completed, I think of all that we do to prepare for an enemy's attack. At my disposal I have three small arms, a heavy machine gun, and a 40 mm grenade launcher all to combat anything the enemy throws at me. Countless hours of training and practice to make sure I am ready for anything. My personal gear consists of a heavy frag vest, a combat helmet, my nomex gloves and my personal 9mm side arm. In my truck I have a radio to call for help and a computer that tells me where all my friends are; as well as two combat life saver bags and a casualty extraction and litter kit. I am solid locked to fight against the enemy.

As we roll out the gate I make a final check of each one of my guys to make sure they have their gear and that it is put on the right way; everyone needs to be on the same sheet of music, and what the mission will require them to have, in that way we can do our job as a team. It is important to have this equipment ready and serviceable, because when we roll out of a FOB it is game time, the time for pre-preparation is over.

As Christians we need to do kinda the same thing. I have watched people come into a church chewed up by the enemy; shocked and shaken thinking how could this happen to them. But on the same hand I watch them walk right back out the door of the FOB or Church, half cocked and untrained. They have their weapon all jacked up, no ammo, no vest or if they do it¢s slung over one shoulder, the enemy beats the crap out of them before they make it to the first stop light. My words can be confusing at times because I have a military frame of mind, I read in Ephesians 6:11 and it says put on the full armor of God. I agree and I say not only put on the armor, but know how to use it as well. Don't roll out the gate ready to fight with your helmet on backwards and your gun jacked up. Make sure when you set foot on the battle field you are ready for a fight. Help others, band together, and make a united front against the enemy. Walking out that gate with no weapon and no armor is a quick way to get sent home in a box.

I love all of you. Thank you for you prayers and your love. God bless you all and I hope to see you when I come home. Please keep my soldiers in your prayers it keeps us safe and in his hand.

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.

(minor edits by JTO)

Spirit of Anti-Christ- Coming To America?

"...More especially have mercy upon your servants who are under persecution for Your sake and for the sake of the Orthodox Faith at the hands of heathen nations, of apostates and of heretics: remember them, visit and strengthen, keep and comfort them, and make haste to grant them, by Your power, relief, freedom, and deliverance."

Below are Muslim terrorists in Bosnia desecrating an Orthodox Church.

The Orthodox Christian Church-Since 33 A.D. "In the world but not of it."