| This week I have the priestly course for occasional religious rite inside our cathedral (there're several of us . So yesterday I took part at a funeral much more than usually tragic. And today suddenly I was called to a central regional hospital (so it happened nobody else that moment was vacant but me) to the maternity department. A baby - a little girl - has been given premature birth a day before yesterday after 6.5 months of her mom's having been pregnant. The baby's been being near to death since she was born two days ago, but her parents together with their relatives have been praying all this time and this moment the little thing is a bit better. She is in reanimation. So today her parents asked me to baptize her as quick as possible.
I came to a hospital and baptized a child. The parents called her Pelagia. She was so little little one and enmeshed in special medical equipment stuff. Once or twice she opened her eyes and glanced at me, it was so pathetic. From her right side arm, part of hand, foot and part of leg are dark-purple, but they said she's better today then before. I've never seen such a little child.
She might survive if God helps she, He knows her fate and what's the best for her.
God bless little Pelagia and her parents.
Thus unexpectedly I've got such being a witness and a participant for both incidents this weak. | comments: Leave a comment   |
| Today's Lenten reading comes from The Divine Names by St. Dionysius the Areopagite:
We go where we are commanded by those divine ordinances which rule all the sacred ranks of the heavenly orders. With our minds made prudent and holy, we offer worship to that which lies hidden beyond thought and beyond being. With a wise silence we do honor to the inexpressible. We are raised up to the enlightening beams of the sacred scriptures, and with these to illuminate us, with our beings shaped to songs of praise, we behold the divine light, in a manner befitting us, and our praise resounds for that generous Source of all holy enlightenment, a Source which has told us about itself in the holy words of scripture. We learn, for instance, that it is the cause of everything, that it is origin, being, and life. To those who fall away it is the voice calling, "Come back!" and it is the power which raises them up again. It refurbishes and restores the image of God corrupted within them. It is the sacred stability which is there for them when the tide of unholiness is tossing them about. It is safety for those who made a stand. It is the guide bringing upwards those uplifted to it and is the enlightenment of the illuminated. Source of perfection for those being made perfect, source of divinity for those being deified, principle of simplicity for those turning toward simplicity, point of unity for those made one; transcendently, beyond what is, it is the Source of every source. Generously and as far as may be, it gives out a share of what is hidden.
To sum up. It is the Life of the living, the being of beings, it is the Source and the Cause of all life and of all being, for out of its goodness it commands all things to be and it keeps them going. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| I had an interesting conversation with my Emergent-Lutheran pastor friend over Brian McLaren's latest book, A New Kind of Christianity.
You can check out the videos of the entire book here, or read excerpts of each chapter from the HarperCollins site.
I'd like to know how this community feels about it. Personally, I think that McLaren misinterpreted the Orthodox position, and while he seeks to be inclusive by mentioning Catholics and Orthodox, his issues are ultimately Protestant. As such, I don't think very highly of this work.
I do know, however, that McLaren is incredibly gifted at being able to empathize with people who have been disillusioned or hurt by Christianity. Many also consider him a kind of Reformer of our times.
Since we have a wide variety of Christians here, what do you think of this work? For those of you who have left Christianity, would you return to Christianity if you encountered McLaren's 'new kind of Christianity'? Why or why not? | | comments: 9 comments or Leave a comment |
| This week I have the priestly course for occasional religious rite inside our cathedral (there're several of us . So yesterday I took part at a funeral much more than usually tragic. And today suddenly I was called to a central regional hospital (so it happened nobody else that moment was vacant but me) to the maternity department. A baby - a little girl - has been given premature birth a day before yesterday after 6.5 months of her mom's having been pregnant. The baby's been being near to death since she was born two days ago, but her parents together with their relatives have been praying all this time and this moment the little thing is a bit better. She is in reanimation. So today her parents asked me to baptize her as quick as possible.
I came to a hospital and baptized a child. The parents called her Pelagia. She was so little little one and enmeshed in special medical equipment stuff. Once or twice she opened her eyes and glanced at me, it was so pathetic. From her right side arm, part of hand, foot and part of leg are dark-purple, but they said she's better today then before. I've never seen such a little child.
She might survive if God helps she, He knows her fate and what's the best for her.
God bless little Pelagia and her parents.
Thus unexpectedly I've got such being a witness and a participant for both incidents this weak. | | comments: 1 comment or Leave a comment |
| On the fifth Friday night of Lent, we sing the Akathist hymn to the Mother of God. The hymn, however, is not so much about Mary herself as about the Incarnation of God: Christ, our salvation, came to us through her. In fact, large sections of the hymn are directly addressed to Christ.
The first part of the hymn (note that "Theotokos" means "birthgiver to God"):
An archangel was sent from heaven to say to the Theotokos: Rejoice! And beholding Thee, O Lord, taking bodily form, he was amazed and with his bodiless voice he stood crying to her such things as these:
Rejoice, thou through whom joy will shine forth!
Rejoice, thou through whom the curse will cease!
Rejoice, recall of fallen Adam!
Rejoice, redemption of the tears of Eve!
Rejoice, height inaccessible to human thought!
Rejoice, depth indiscernible even for the eyes of angels!
Rejoice, for thou art the King's throne!
Rejoice, for thou bearest Him Who beareth all!
Rejoice, star that causest the Sun to appear!
Rejoice, womb of the Divine Incarnation!
Rejoice, thou through whom creation is renewed!
Rejoice, thou through whom we worship the creator!
Rejoice, thou bride unwedded!
Now, I realize that a lot of people would initially think honoring the Mother of God like this is wrong. But if you look at this excerpt carefully, aside from the direct address (which either you think is appropriate or you don't, and it all hinges on how you interpret certain things, so I don't think arguing that particular point is useful), everything in there is Biblically true:
Through her birthgiving, joy shone forth.
Through her birthgiving, the curse began to end, and Adam and Eve (symbolizing us all) could be saved.
...
She is the throne of God, since God enthroned Himself in her womb.
...
Through her birthgiving, the creator came forth to be worshipped.
...and so forth.
(The Greek melody and a translation of the text is here; my parish follows the Russian tradition, so we read it in a different manner than what's described in the link, and we use a very different melody, but theirs is nice too. Actually, theirs is a little nicer, really, but a bit harder to sing.) | | comments: Leave a comment |
| On the fifth Friday night of Lent, we sing the Akathist hymn to the Mother of God. The hymn, however, is not so much about Mary herself as about the Incarnation of God: Christ, our salvation, came to us through her. In fact, large sections of the hymn are directly addressed to Christ.
The first part of the hymn (note that "Theotokos" means "birthgiver to God"):
An archangel was sent from heaven to say to the Theotokos: Rejoice! And beholding Thee, O Lord, taking bodily form, he was amazed and with his bodiless voice he stood crying to her such things as these:
Rejoice, thou through whom joy will shine forth!
Rejoice, thou through whom the curse will cease!
Rejoice, recall of fallen Adam!
Rejoice, redemption of the tears of Eve!
Rejoice, height inaccessible to human thought!
Rejoice, depth indiscernible even for the eyes of angels!
Rejoice, for thou art the King's throne!
Rejoice, for thou bearest Him Who beareth all!
Rejoice, star that causest the Sun to appear!
Rejoice, womb of the Divine Incarnation!
Rejoice, thou through whom creation is renewed!
Rejoice, thou through whom we worship the creator!
Rejoice, thou bride unwedded!
Now, I realize that a lot of people would initially think honoring the Mother of God like this is wrong. But if you look at this excerpt carefully, aside from the direct address (which either you think is appropriate or you don't, and it all hinges on how you interpret certain things, so I don't think arguing that particular point is useful), everything in there is Biblically true:
Through her birthgiving, joy shone forth.
Through her birthgiving, the curse began to end, and Adam and Eve (symbolizing us all) could be saved.
...
She is the throne of God, since God enthroned Himself in her womb.
...
Through her birthgiving, the creator came forth to be worshipped.
...and so forth.
(The Greek melody and a translation of the text is here; my parish follows the Russian tradition, so we read it in a different manner than what's described in the link, and we use a very different melody, but theirs is nice too. Actually, theirs is a little nicer, really, but a bit harder to sing.) | | comments: 1 comment or Leave a comment |
| Today I ministered funeral solemnity for a woman, she past away two days ago just in the begining of a surgery manipulation.
Her daughter Oksana called me to tell this terrible peace of news and was weeping. It was just Oksana's birthday and she had got such a sad present.
The most terrible is that Oksana is disabled. On June 19, 2002, her 4 year old daughter and she were brought down by a car. Remaining alive for 8 hours her daughter died of consequences of the accident. Oksana's legs were amputated above my knees and has started to live as an invalid having lost the most dearest – her daughter. Here's her brief story. Yes, can witness it's a real story.
Her mom looked after her and had been helping her all these years. And she was buried this day.
It's so awful, life is sophisticated stuff.
All this made me sad because there is something beyond my imagination of what is our life and the depth of human suffering here on the earth.
And would anybody mind if I call him or her to pray the Almighty Lord that He helps her and gives her encouragement? | | comments: 6 comments or Leave a comment |
| Today I ministered funeral solemnity for a woman, she past away two days ago just in the begining of a surgery manipulation.
Her daughter Oksana called me to tell this terrible peace of news and was weeping. It was just Oksana's birthday and she had got such a sad present.
The most terrible is that Oksana is disabled. On June 19, 2002, her 4 year old daughter and she were brought down by a car. Remaining alive for 8 hours her daughter died of consequences of the accident. Oksana's legs were amputated above my knees and has started to live as an invalid having lost the most dearest – her daughter. Here's her brief story. Yes, can witness it's a real story.
Her mom looked after her and had been helping her all these years. And she was buried this day.
It's so awful, life is sophisticated stuff.
All this made me sad because there is something beyond my imagination of what is our life and the depth of human suffering here on the earth.
And would anybody mind if I call him or her to pray the Almighty Lord that He helps her and gives her encouragement? | | comments: 4 comments or Leave a comment |
| Rev. Charles Lehmann + Judica + John 8:46-59 In the Name of + Jesus. Amen. These were not the first Jews to debate with our Lord. Nicodemus was polite about it, but his lack of understanding was just as complete. Nicodemus had come in the dead of night because he was afraid that someone might see him talk to Jesus. In our Lord’s response to Nicodemus we see the best way to respond when someone doesn’t understand who Jesus is. Point them to the cross. That’s what Jesus did. He said, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” The Son of Man must be lifted up. He must be exalted. He must be crucified. In the Scriptures there is no greater glory than what Jesus chose for Himself. There is no throne more beautifully adorned than the wood of the cross. There is no majesty greater than when the King gives His life to save His people. But the Jews weren’t interested in a king like Jesus. In their eyes Jesus was a simple magician doing parlor tricks. They thought our Lord’s miracles of healing were all show, and they thought that when Jesus called God His Father that it meant He was demon possessed. To the unbelieving Jews it was obvious. No man could claim to be God. It was blasphemy. To them a demon would account for both what Jesus was saying and doing. Blasphemy was a serious charge. If the Sanhedrin got permission from the Roman government, it was punishable by death. Because of the severity of the punishment, the Jews thought that their accusations would silence Jesus. But there were many things these Jews didn’t know. They didn’t know that Jesus had no fear of death. They didn’t know that He had already decided to hand over His life in order to forgive their sins. They didn’t even know the thing that should have been most obvious to them. They didn’t know that Jesus actually was God. They didn’t know that the only way He could have committed blasphemy would be to deny Himself as they were. ( Read more... ) | | comments: Leave a comment |
| | Thank you to anyone and everyone who saw my post yesterday and prayed for Kara. Today, it was confirmed that she passed away yesterday afternoon. Kara was an amazing person and left behind a great family, a loving boyfriend and many friends. Her parents have requested that the musical still go on this weekend. Please pray for everyone she left behind and please pray for strength for the cast, pit members, and crew who will be performing and working this weekend. Thank you again. <3 | | comments: 2 comments or Leave a comment |
| Christians are all at varying parts in their walk and some may not be at certain places, the way I see it, so I try to be gentle and I certainly appreciate the gentleness that was given to me in coming to the Church.
However, I wonder how you deal with fellow Christians in your community who tend to be somewhat judgmental? Often times I hear an "us vs. them" dichotomy expresses by Christians about nonChristians. I have heard people talk about secular folk as people who choose to be an enemy (which just isn't true) and think they unfairly try to keep Christianity down. A lot of secular people are just trying to be honest about their beliefs, so I completely understand an unwillingness to be prayed for and evangelized to...I disagree with their worldview, ultimately, but I respect their honesty and concern with truth (insofar that those things are present). Other times Christians make lines as to what constitutes a "worldly" Christian - which sometimes includes drinking, smoking, watching secular TV shows/music, voting a certain way, whatev. I don't think this allows for much of a process or gives others much space to explore spirituality without being perfect. Certain sins seem overemphasized (people are quick to rag on the sex and drinking in Las Vegas, New Orleans or San Fransisco, for example, but I hardly hear anything about sin in less infamous places. I'm sure smalltown America can be just as bad).
From these people's viewpoints, they are not trying to be offensive or judgmental, they are just speaking the truth and maybe they feel like they don't want to tolerate sin or something. Their intentions are not malicious but sometimes it is hurtful. Normally, I'd get offended or be really turned off, but I don't feel like that's helpful to anyone. I just wonder what the helpful and Christian thing to do in this situation is. I'd wager every church has people that'd make me uncomfortable anyway, but I want to know how to better deal with it? I mean, I think part of being in a Christian community means having to deal with and love everyone, not just people you like or agree with, right? | | comments: 22 comments or Leave a comment |
|
LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES - Peter
Read 2 Peter 2-3
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you... 2 Peter 2:1a NKJV
* * * Peter writes, “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle...that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets,...knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, (2 Peter 3:1a,2a,3)
These false teachers will question everything from the Genesis account of creation to the promised Second Coming of Christ. They will refute the gospel “even denying the Lord who bought them...And many will follow their destructive ways... “(2:1b-2a) Furthermore, they will ridicule believers saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." (3:4)
* * * Lord, I thank you for the wonderful promise that “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise ... but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (3:9) May we be found faithful until the day You take us home..
* * * “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:17-18 NKJV
| | comments: 3 comments or Leave a comment |
| THE DEATH OF MOSES
Read Numbers 20:1–12; Deuteronomy 32:48–52; 34:1–8; Matthew 17:1–8
Then the LORD said to him, "This is the land I promised… I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” Deuteronomy 34:4 NIV * * * Moses was a leader and prophet like no other, but in his anger at the people he made a fatal mistake: God had instructed Moses, " Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water." But instead of speaking to the rock, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff and said to them, " Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" (Numbers 20:8, 10) God was the miracle worker and Moses failed to give Him the glory – an offence which shortened his life. * * * The good news is that this is not the end of Moses' story. We see him again in the New Testament on the Mount of Transfiguration speaking with Elijah and Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, If you wish, I will put up three shelters–one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them and a Voice said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. (Matthew 17:4–5, 8) * * * Thank You Lord that Your plan for us goes far beyond this life–and that Jesus paid the price for all the times we have failed to honor You. One day we will stand with Moses and Elijah and all of those who have trusted in You. In that day, with sins forgiven, we will give all the glory to You. * * * They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power…” Revelation 4:10b–11a NIV
| | comments: Leave a comment |
| Hey everyone!
I'm a relatively new Christian and am looking for advice on 2 questions.
1) I would like to hand out cards to waitresses, clients, basically people I meet that says a little about Jesus. I really like the prayer at the end of Joel Osteen's service and was thinking of writing something like that on it. I am going to get them printed at vistaprint and was wondering if someone could please recommend what I should say on it to help spread the word.
2) Does anyone know where I can get bibles in bulk that aren't too expensive to give them as gifts?
Thank you and God Bless!
EDIT:
Wow I just want to say in a so-called Christian community I am SHOCKED at the responses. Being a Christian isn't about being afraid to offend people with the truth!
1) I am a GREAT tipper and was a waitress myself so I understand that around here, you always must tip 20% or more no matter what. So obviously, I wouldn't put a card in place of that.
2) We shouldn't be worried about offending people with the truth. The worst that can happen is they throw the card away. So what! Maybe they read it! Maybe a couple of years later they will look back and think about it in a time of need.
3) It wouldn't be a doomsday card, it would be a card filled with the message of love.
4) Not one person answered my question out of 30-something responses on a good loving message to write on the card, and a place to get bibles in bulk. You all just criticized for fear that someone may not like having a card given to them. That makes me re-think this whole community. | | comments: 57 comments or Leave a comment |
| Today's Lenten reading comes once again from St. Therese de Lisieux's Story of a Soul. Just to provide a very brief bit of context here, this is from Chapter X of the book (a book she was ordered to write under obedience), where she describes the very dark night of faith she has entered. Therese had her entire life enjoyed the most intimate experience of the presence of Christ and of the Blessed Virgin. But now at a very young age (she died at 24) she has been stricken with tuberculosis, and as the physical suffering increased, the interior anguish and darkness of faith increased exponentially more. This was written perhaps two months prior to her death. As an aside, the Mother Superior to whom she is writing, and who has ordered her to write, also happens to be her oldest sister. This stage of her book marks a decided change from a somewhat timid, impish child to a very mature woman of faith:
Dear Mother, the image I wanted to give you of the darkness that obscures my soul is as imperfect as a sketch is to the model; however, I don't want to write any longer about it; I fear I might blaspheme; I fear even that I have already said too much.
Ah! may Jesus pardon me if I have caused Him any pain, but He knows very well that while I do not have the joy of faith, I am trying to carry out its works at least. I believe I have made more acts of faith in this past year than all through my whole life. At each new occasion of combat, when my enemies provoke me, I conduct myself bravely. Knowing it is cowardly to enter a duel, I turn my back on my adversaries without deigning to look them in the face; but I run toward my Jesus. I tell Him I am ready to shed my blood to the last drop to profess my faith in the existence of heaven. I tell Him, too, I am happy not to enjoy this beautiful heaven on this earth so that He will open it for all eternity to poor unbelievers. Also, in spite of this trial which has taken away all my joy, I can nevertheless cry out: "You have given me DELIGHT, O Lord, in ALL your doings." For is there a joy greater than that of suffering out of love for You? The more interior the suffering is and the less apparent to the eyes of creatures, the more it rejoices You, O my God! But if my suffering really was unknown to You, which is impossible, I would still be happy to have it, if through it I could prevent or make reparation for one single sin against faith.
My dear Mother, I may perhaps appear to you to be exaggerating my trial. In fact, if you are judging according to the sentiments I express in my little poems composed this year, I must appear to you as a soul filled with consolations and one for whom the veil of faith is almost torn aside; and yet it is no longer a veil for me, it is a wall which reaches right up to the heavens and covers the starry firmament. When I sing of the happiness of heaven and of the eternal possession of God, I feel no joy in this, for I sing simply what I WANT TO BELIEVE. It is true that at times a very small ray of the sun comes to illumine my darkness, and then the trial ceases for an instant, but afterward the memory of this ray, instead of causing me joy, makes my darkness even more dense.
Never have I felt before this, dear Mother, how sweet and merciful the Lord really is, for He did not send me this trial until the moment I was capable of bearing it. A little earlier I believe it would have plunged me into a state of discouragement. Now it is taking away everything that could be a natural satisfaction in my desire for heaven. Dear Mother, it seems to me now that nothing could prevent me from flying away, for I no longer have any great desires except that of loving to the point of dying of love. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| Hey all,
I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say here. I'm new and will be graduating college before too long. I'm Episcopalian.
I have a community that is like this if anyone is interested. ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif) lib_christians | | comments: Leave a comment |
| | Hi everyone. I'm mostly a lurker here, but now I come with a prayer request. A girl in my class (I'm a Senior in high school) has recently suffered from a seizure and is now in a coma. There are rumors spreading like wildfire, but what seems to be the most consistent story is that she is brain dead and on life support. Please pray for a miracle for Kara and pray for her family. She's an amazing girl, one of the sweetest people you'd ever meet, and full of talent and life. She was going to be in the school musical this weekend and has her entire life ahead of her. Thank you. <3 | | comments: 4 comments or Leave a comment |
| This is from our service at RBCC last Sunday. Our core scripture was from Matthew 21:
Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” ( Read more... )
| | comments: 8 comments or Leave a comment |
| Today's Lenten reading comes from a 14th century anonymous letter written in Germany, popularly referred to as The Silent Outcry:
Learn how to let go of God through God, the hidden God through the naked God. Be willing to lose a penny in order to find a guilder. Get rid of the water, so that you can make wine. The creature is not strong enough to take God away from you, not even the least grace, as long as you yourself want him.
If you want to avoid things, learn to suffer; if you want to eat of the honey, you should not be put off by the bee's sting. If you want to catch fish, learn to get wet; if you want to see Jesus on the shore (Jn 21:4), learn to sink down into the sea first (Mt 14:30).
Were it the case that you should see the heavens torn open and the stars falling, you should not let it make you lose your composure; God will not take himself from you unless you will it; how much less can a creature remove him.
Listen. Look. Suffer and be still. Release yourself into the light. See with intellect. Learn with discretion. Suffer with joy. Rejoice with longing. Have desire with forbearance. Complain to no one. My child, be patient and release yourself, because no one can dig God out from the ground of your heart.
O deep treasure, how will you be dug up? O high perfection, who may attain you? O flowing fountain, who can exhaust you? O burning Brilliance; outbursting Power; simple Return; naked Hiddenness; hidden Security; secure Confidence; simple silent One in all things; manifold Good in a single silence; You silent Outcry, no one can find you who does not know how to let you go.
Release yourself, my child, and thank God that he has given you such a way of life. | | comments: 3 comments or Leave a comment |
| Hi all,
If you are interested in joining yet another Christian community, please do at lib_christians.
However please do not join until you have read the user info and if you think you can agree to it.
Thanks.
If not then don't worry about it. Thanks. | | comments: 50 comments or Leave a comment |
| |
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