Who Do We Follow? Jesus or Jefferson?

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Long time readers of these pages will know that I follow more than 100 blogs on a daily basis. I find the opinions of people of different opinions of mine refreshing and it helps me to clarify in my own mind what I think and believe and why I believe it. It is not enough to only read or listen to people who think the same way we do. We need to engage in dialogue with people of various opinions. Just because we do not agree with them does not make them wrong just different.

I read the blog posted at EthicsDaily.com and find it very refreshing. Sometimes I get so mad I could spit nails but most of the time it makes me go hmmmmm. This was one of those times.

Nathan Napier has written a very thought provoking piece on Jefferson and Jesus. I often have this discussion of weather Jesus was a liberal or a Conservative. It is hard to take 21st Century titles and apply them to someone who lived in the 1st Century but we need to do that to try and make sense of things.

My political philosophy has changed over the years and continues to evolve. I started as a Regan Republican. The first election I ever voted in was for Ronald Regan. I was the Chairman of the Republican Party in Quincy for a few years and voted for George Bush the first time. However I have seen all the parties devolve into something resembling craziness of the last few years and I guess I would not consider myself a Classical Liberal.

I believe in less government and less government regulation. Let the chips fall where they may I say. No big bailouts. If GM is going under let it go. Same with Wall Street let is roll I say. The best thing about an economy is it will self correct of left alone. We want to do something to help it along but leave it alone and it will correct. Will it be hard, yes, but we should be saving money, putting it away for that rainy day.

I am a big fan of Dave Ramsey and his goal to get America out of debt. In his program you start with $1,000 in the bank and then start to pay down your debt. The $1,000 is the emergency fund that is used just for that. We should budget and track where our money goes. He say sometimes you need to eat rice and beans for a few years and “Live like no one else so you can live like no one else.” After your out of debt you need 3 to 5 months of expenses in the bank. That way if you loose your job you have a cushion of 3 to 5 months to find another one and not look for a hand out from the government.

I also believe that the church needs to play a much larger role in the social service sector. To quote Dave Ramsey again, “we need to give the government out of business.” When did we give over the care of our neighbor to the government. When did it become the role of the government to provide money to people who, for what ever reason, cannot work. When did it become the role of the government to fund homeless shelters and soup kitchens, that is and always has been the role of the church and society not the government.

Read the article and see of your mind is changed. I know I have more reading to do and thinking about how I think about what I think about.

South Park

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I am not what one would call a fan of the show but I do watch it from time to time. They always seem to offend everyone, not just one group but all groups. They have done shows on Homosexuality, Mormons, Scientologists (the funniest episode to date I think) and of course Christians. Recently the producers and creators planned to air a show critical of Islam and especially the Prophet Mohamed.

As would one imagine the Muslim world went crazy and they threatened the producers with death if the show aired. When the show aired it was censored. So my question is this. If the Muslims go crazy, and rightfully so by the way, why don’t we Christians rise up and complain when they poke fun at Christians?

For far too long we Christians have sat by and watched our faith get made fun of. Some often say they would never do this to Jews or Muslims and that is correct because when it happens they go crazy! We have many crazy Christians in this world and we need to unleash them when things like this happens. We need to stop laying down and taking it and rise up and fight.

Some have said the world does not respect the message of the Christian Church, well let’s get that respect back! Part of the problem is we are wishy washy on what we believe and what we teach. I am Orthodox and the Orthodox Church believes certain things about certain things and I preach the truth, as unpopular as that has become.

Hell and Satan to exists and sin is real in this world.

Christians rise up and reclaim your faith! Stop laying down and being a doormat.

Back on the Train

Posted on by Fr. Peter
So my journey continues. I boarded the train about a half hour ago in Chicago for the trip home. This time it will take me via Washington, DC so I will be going most of the way along the same route coming out but will end up going through Pennsylvania and on into Washington.

The meetings in DC were very productive. The staff of OCF does a great job preparing all of us for the meetings so we know what is coming up. We heard a series of reports from different departments and it is nice to see and hear what is going on on the college campuses all over the US.

Back to the train. This leg is called the Capitol Limited and the cars are double deckers.They have to use single deckers from NYC to Chicago because of the low tunnels and what not along the route. I am on the bottom of the sleeper car in a room, if you can believe it, is smaller than the one I had coming out. Virtually it is the same room but this one does not have a toilet in the room it is located down the hall.

So I have some reading to do and I have to work on my sermon for Sunday. I was going to do that one the way down but did not get to it.

Stay tuned for more updates.

UPDATE: 1:25pm ~ I have arrived in Washington, DC and I am now ensconced in the lounge. As part of the ticket I get access to the VIP Lounge, very nice, free drinks and snacks in here. I am going to try and get some food before my next train leaves at 3:25.

This leg of the trip was much more enjoyable. I think the train ride was smoother is that makes any sense. I slept like a rock which is better then I did on the way out. So most of this trip was in the dark and I was asleep so it went by very fast.

I had breakfast with a couple who were coming from the West Coast and they were raving about the trip. I think I would like to make that trip maybe next year. At this board meeting we set the dates for our next one. That meeting will be in October and will be in Jacksonville, Florida so it looks like I will be making that trip by train as well. I will also be returning to Chicago in July by train so look for more of these entries as I travel around.

Train Journey ~ Day 2

Posted on by Fr. Peter
As the sun was rising over western Ohio I made my way to the Dining car for breakfast. Not as great as the dinner I had last night but it was still a good take none the less.

I am on what is called the Lakeshore Limited train with service from NYC/Boston to Chicago. This train follows the route of some very early trains in the history of rail travel. If you are interested here is a Wikipedia Article on the LSL.

I have to say that this trip hearkens back to the lay back days of long ago when we were not in a supersonic hurry to get somewhere. This is a leisurely trip through some of the best country I have ever seen. Time to read and reflect, have a nice meal, meet some new people, rest, relax, and all of that. We seem to want to hurry up and get somewhere so we can hurry up and go somewhere else.

I had dinner with a couple from Vermont last night and last year they went from Boston to Seattle and back again on the train. They had a wonderful time. Maybe I should put that on the schedule for next year. Take about four days and they said the trip through the Rockies was spectacular.

Slow down and enjoy life.

More latter…

The Adventure Begins

Posted on by Fr. Peter

I have to go to Chicago for a board meeting of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship. The OCF is the campus ministry organization of the Orthodox Church and I serve as my Diocese Representative on the board. I also do not like to fly in fact I am petrified of the entire experience so I have chosen to take the train. You lucky readers get to enjoy the journey with me.

Wireless is only available in the station although I have my blackberry hooked up to act as a wireless device so we will have to check that out along the way.

It is now 9:25am and I am in the station on Route 128 in Boston. Business class seat to NYC and then the sleeper to Chicago. I was going to do the entire thing coach but I decided to upgrade to the sleeper. I am sure my colleagues in Chicago will be glad I did as I am not to pleasant to be around if I do not get much sleep. So the train leaves at 9:50am and will arrive in NYC around 1:50pm. Watch for updates.

UPDATE: 3:40pm ~ I am in my compartment, although I will have to leave it to change my mind… LOL Not bad. Nice trip to NYC from Boston and a quick lunch at TGI Fridays. Saw some nice landscapes along the way but I did some reading and I did nap a little, just a little.

UPDATE 6:50pm ~ Train has been stopped in Albany for about half an hour. This is where it meets up with the train from Boston. Because I did not get the sleeper from Boston I am now at the back of this train. That’s okay I am right next to the dining car and my meal reservation is at 7:30. Not sure what is on the menu.

Had an interesting conversation with the conductor. It seems that ridership is up and they have had to add more cars to the trains. He said February and March are usually low times in the train service but it has been great so far this year. Maybe we are seeing a resurgence in train travel. If you have the time this is the way to go for sure. I do not feel like I am cattle stuck into a seat and having to pay for everything.

So far the BlackBerry is working fine as a wireless device so updates will continue.

UPDATE 7:00pm ~ I forgot to mention that when I got on board, that what we say on the train, on board, the attendant asked me what time I would like to be awakened in the morning and if I wanted coffee! I could get used to this…

UPDATE 9:05pm ~ So I had my meal. Nice half chicken and some delightful conversation with my table mates. Each table seats 4 so if you are alone will have company. I then walked the 40 miles or so to the bar car for a little drink. I had to walk through coach to get there and I am so glad I took the upgrade, does not look like fun in there!

So I am somewhere between Utica and Syracuse, NY and I am thinking about trying to get some sleep. It has been along day and in about 12 hours I will be in Chicago. I have left a wake up call for 6:00am, breakfast and 7:00am then more train riding. I get in at 9:40am Chicago time tomorrow.

I might get one more update in before bed but if I don’t have good night and happy trails!

Come and See

Posted on by Fr. Peter
As many of you know, I am a little bit of a Twitter fanatic. I like to post things that I am doing, like watching TV or baking bread. Things like that. I also forward Tweets from people that I follow. I follow all sorts of people from politicians to TV people to clergy of all walks of life. I think we can learn from anyone regardless of what Church they belong too.

Now I know that some of the Orthodox folks who read this do not think we Orthodox need to do any other Evangelization then open the doors of the Church. Well, how’s that workin for ya? Jesus told us to go forth, not sit in the church. Ok with that in mind I posted this Tweet yesterday:

“25 percent of unchurched people said they would attend a church service tomorrow if someone would simply invite them…let’s go for it! “

Nothing replaces the personal invitation. We need to ask people to come to church. Yes some might come because they see the church or they are looking. But if you ask someone that is personal and that’s what folks need.

When Jesus began His ministry, He did not sit under a tree and wait for people to show up. He asked his Apostles to come and follow Him and the ones He did not ask Himself one of the others did. So by asking people to come to church we are following the example of Christ by asking people simply to come and see. Yes there is no greater Evangelical tool then the Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Church. You want to get to know us, come and see us, but they have to come in order to see. They have to be there to be able to hear the word. If no one asks, they will not come.

We have no problem telling someone about a great place to eat or asking people to come to a fund raiser at the church, but ask them to come to Liturgy…

Come and see!

The Old is Made New

Posted on by Fr. Peter
The Reading is from Mark 15:43-47; 16:1-8

At that time, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Today on the Orthodox calendar this is called the Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women and the Gospel posted above is the one read at Divine Liturgy on this Sunday. This is a rich Gospel passage and we have much to learn from it.

1. Joseph of Arimathea was chosen to bury the body of Jesus so it would not look like the Apostles took the body down and hid it so they could say he had been risen.

2. The women, whose faith was strong, much stronger than the men who were all hiding, was imperfect because they went to the Tomb to prepare his body for corruption.

3. There is a spiritual significance to the tomb where no one had been laid before. Christ death was like that of no other person. A death without corruption, a death leading to victory over the grave itself.

4. The tomb fulfills the image of His birth in the cave (see Luke 2:7)

But the two most striking things to learn from this Gospel passage today has to do with the women and with Peter.

The women were going to the tomb to prepare his body. The men were in hiding so the task fell to the women. The women were the first ones to witness the resurrection! Sin came into the world through the actions of a woman (Eve). Christ came into the world through a woman (Mary) now the resurrection will be announced to the world from the lips of women! This shows that order has been restored to the world. That which had been broken through sin has been restored.

No Peter is another story all together. Peter denied Christ 3 times. Peter was filled with shame and guilt. As St. Theophylact put it, “Peter would have said of himself, ‘I denied the Lord, and therefore I am no longer His disciple.'” The angels command to go and tell his disciples and Peter shows that Peter has been forgiven. We are all forgiven!

The stone has been rolled away from tomb not so Jesus could rise from the dead but so the women, and us, could look into the tomb and see that He has risen from the dead. There are no obstacles between us and seeing the risen Lord. All we have to do is look and we will see Him.

Where Are You From?

Posted on by Fr. Peter

Sharon, Massachusetts
Pine Lake, Georgia
Grosse Pointe, Michigan
Fishkill, New York
Westport, Massachusetts
Parker, Colorado
Ada, Ohio
Binghamton, New York
New Bern, North Carolina
Solgohachia, Arkansas
Panama, Santiago, Veraguas
Worcester, Massachusetts
Nashville, Tennessee
Accord, Massachusetts
Saint Petersburg, Florida
Southbridge, Massachusetts
Exeter, New Hampshire
Winchester, Massachusetts
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Bowling Green, Ohio
Mountain View, California
Leasburg, Missouri
El Dorado Hills, California
Manchester, New Hampshire
Saint James, New York
Weston, Massachusetts
Auburn, Massachusetts
Syracuse, New York
Stamford, Connecticut
San Antonio, Texas
West Barnstable, Massachusetts
Woodstock, Connecticut
Anchorage, Alaska
Portugal, Rio De Mouro, Lisboa
Detroit, Michigan
Brooksville, Florida
Southborough, Massachusetts
Thousand Oaks, California
Tampa, Florida
Greece, Methni, Pieria
Troy, New York
Hagerstown, Maryland
Maynard, Massachusetts
Canada, Toronto, Ontario
Waltham, Massachusetts
Pittston, Pennsylvania
Romania, Bucharest, Vaslui
Libertyville, Illinois
Mountain View, California
Philippines, Las Pias, Rizal
Tomball, Texas
Columbia, South Carolina
Memphis, Tennessee
Saint James, New York
Garden Grove, California
Little Rock, Arkansas
Jessup, Maryland
Baltimore, Maryland
Marrero, Louisiana
Long Beach, California
Canada, Dorval, Quebec

Clergy Shame in Florida

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Several months ago I posted about a Greek Priest being assaulted in Florida by a member of the US Marine Corps. The initial report made it sound as if the priest was lost and simply stopped and asked directions of a person on the side of the road. It was said at the time that the man thought he was a Muslim and beat him with a tire iron. I was enraged by this attack, not simply because it was a priest but because of the justification the man used for beating the priest.

Thanks to the AOI blog it seems the truth is coming out. Click here for the whole story and a video of a press conference but the long and short of it is this priest pursued this man into a garage and grabbed him. It appears that the garage is very close to a known gay hang out and you would not get lost by driving into a garage that you can see clearly in the video he follows closely to anther car to get into this gated area.

Files this under snap judgements and I will apologize to this Marine who was simply defending himself from an attack. If you watch the video you will see at the end when he speak he is not crazy but well spoken. He finally got his day in court but where has this priest gone. If I remember this story he has been sent back to Greece. Well this is not right and I believe this priest should be brought back to the US to face charges of assault on this man. At the very least this disgrace to the priesthood should never be allowed to serve at an altar again. If bishops are hiding him then they need to go as well!

National Day of Prayer

Posted on by Fr. Peter
This past week, a Federal Judge in Wisconsin ruled that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional based on the Establishment Clause. I could care less to tell you the truth.

I have never been a big fan of organized days like this because everyday should be a National Day of Prayer and we do not need a law or a ruling from a judge to tell us that. All this day was, was a time for the politicians to meet with selected religious leaders, have a meal, and say a prayer. It was more of a time for the religious leaders to lobby the politicians than anything.

Some people see this as another nail in the religious coffin in this country and I say we have freedom of religion in this country, and that means we also have freedom from religion in this country. I have a real problem with government sponsored prayer. I have a problem with the fact that the House of Representatives and the US Senate have chaplains. (Who are paid quit well the by the way). This should not be the case.

Until 1952 we did not feel we needed a law to tell us we needed to pray for the Country. The National Day of Prayer was founded to pray for our victory over the godless Communists. Well, they are gone and I don’t think we need this particular law anymore.

St. Paul tells us that we are to pray always and everywhere. St. Escriva the founder of the Opus Dei said we are to sanctify the ordinary. Part of the monastic ethos is prayer and work. And these things have been going on since the foundation of the Christian Church. Muslims and Jews pray three times a day. Why do we need a law to tell us to pray.

We have far bigger things to worry about in this world of ours than weather or not we have a national day of prayer.

To steal the line from Nike, “Just Do It!” So that should be our mantra, “Prayer, Just Do It!”

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