Comments for Ramblings of a Redneck Priest http://allsaintsofamerica.org/blog The Journal of an Orthodox Priest in Rural Virginia Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:04:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 Comment on Where Do I Begin? by Melissa http://allsaintsofamerica.org/blog/?p=120#comment-12241 Melissa Wed, 23 Jun 2010 03:54:27 +0000 http://allsaintsofamerica.org/blog/?p=120#comment-12241 I enjoyed this article, thank you. My husband and I have been friends for 16 years, married for 11, and Orthodox for about seven. We have experience in both marriage and Orthodoxy with the "domestic bubble" and - by God's grace - knew ahead of time to expect it and that it would be a bit of work to move ahead but that it would pass. What a blessing to know that and to anticipate it and to work together to move forward into the next phase of life. I hope many others see your article and are given comfort, inspiration and a reminder of faith by it. Melissa I enjoyed this article, thank you. My husband and I have been friends for 16 years, married for 11, and Orthodox for about seven. We have experience in both marriage and Orthodoxy with the “domestic bubble” and - by God’s grace - knew ahead of time to expect it and that it would be a bit of work to move ahead but that it would pass. What a blessing to know that and to anticipate it and to work together to move forward into the next phase of life. I hope many others see your article and are given comfort, inspiration and a reminder of faith by it.

Melissa

]]> Comment on Where Do I Begin? by Ellen http://allsaintsofamerica.org/blog/?p=120#comment-11946 Ellen Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:13:42 +0000 http://allsaintsofamerica.org/blog/?p=120#comment-11946 Bless me Father, thank you for the posting - it's bright not just because You made clear so hard questions, but also is was quite in time. I got the answer for my pain - why it's so hard to say a daily prayer(sometimes),why service is so long ( this time), why I'm so busy to go to the Church this weekend (and next also) .. why, why, why? Your sharp definition, this “domestic moment” has caught me even here, in Ukraine.. Isn't this a small miracle? So, thank you a lot again. I pray for you here, Ellen Bless me Father,

thank you for the posting - it’s bright not just because You made clear so hard questions, but also is was quite in time.
I got the answer for my pain - why it’s so hard to say a daily prayer(sometimes),why service is so long ( this time), why I’m so busy to go to the Church this weekend (and next also) .. why, why, why?
Your sharp definition, this “domestic moment” has caught me even here, in Ukraine.. Isn’t this a small miracle?

So, thank you a lot again.
I pray for you here,
Ellen

]]> Comment on Where Do I Begin? by Peter http://allsaintsofamerica.org/blog/?p=120#comment-10994 Peter Thu, 03 Jun 2010 20:14:13 +0000 http://allsaintsofamerica.org/blog/?p=120#comment-10994 Father Bless, Thank you for posting again, I enjoy your blog very much. I entered the Orthodox Church on Holy Saturday of this year and have not reached a "domestic moment" yet, but have been anticipating it with apprehension. Your article will inspire me to persevere when the moment comes, as I am sure that it will. Please keep the posts coming Father, they are a real blessing. Peter Father Bless,

Thank you for posting again, I enjoy your blog very much. I entered the Orthodox Church on Holy Saturday of this year and have not reached a “domestic moment” yet, but have been anticipating it with apprehension.

Your article will inspire me to persevere when the moment comes, as I am sure that it will. Please keep the posts coming Father, they are a real blessing.

Peter

]]> Comment on Abandon Despair! by Mark http://allsaintsofamerica.org/blog/?p=107#comment-10501 Mark Sat, 22 May 2010 18:59:49 +0000 http://allsaintsofamerica.org/blog/?p=107#comment-10501 I want to thank you for this article. As a man that has suffered from depression since his 'teens', I often find myself feeling discouraged. In fact, I ran across one of your other articles by "Googling" the words: Orthodoxy and Joy with a question mark. I know that my sins should create in me a Godly sorrow that leads to repentance, but focusing on the words of the Jesus Prayer I find myself ever conscious of my sin but not any sense of joy. Your words encouraged and indeed helped me to hope. Thank you, Mark I want to thank you for this article. As a man that has suffered from depression since his ‘teens’, I often find myself feeling discouraged.

In fact, I ran across one of your other articles by “Googling” the words: Orthodoxy and Joy with a question mark. I know that my sins should create in me a Godly sorrow that leads to repentance, but focusing on the words of the Jesus Prayer I find myself ever conscious of my sin but not any sense of joy.

Your words encouraged and indeed helped me to hope.

Thank you,

Mark

]]> Comment on 99 and 44/100% Pure! by Steve http://allsaintsofamerica.org/blog/?p=118#comment-10251 Steve Sat, 15 May 2010 22:12:25 +0000 http://allsaintsofamerica.org/blog/?p=118#comment-10251 Oh, I don't know... I was raised in the Western tradition (Protestant variety), and my grandmother, a Pentecostal minister, told us that sex was not itself a sin and had nothing to do with the Fall. That said, we do inherit death from the first Adam, and death, unlike guilt, cannot be cleansed or forgiven; it must be healed. That's why Life Himself became mortal: he entered Death and destroyed it from within. If we are "in Christ," the Second Adam, the problem's taken care of. The blood--the life--that heals us also cleanses us, and as we walk with him we are cleansed (1 John 1:7). The various rites of the various churches can be part of that, but ultimately our purity also is in Christ. Oh, I don’t know… I was raised in the Western tradition (Protestant variety), and my grandmother, a Pentecostal minister, told us that sex was not itself a sin and had nothing to do with the Fall.

That said, we do inherit death from the first Adam, and death, unlike guilt, cannot be cleansed or forgiven; it must be healed. That’s why Life Himself became mortal: he entered Death and destroyed it from within. If we are “in Christ,” the Second Adam, the problem’s taken care of.

The blood–the life–that heals us also cleanses us, and as we walk with him we are cleansed (1 John 1:7). The various rites of the various churches can be part of that, but ultimately our purity also is in Christ.

]]> Comment on Laying with dogs by BethAnna http://allsaintsofamerica.org/blog/?p=114#comment-8956 BethAnna Fri, 09 Apr 2010 01:45:18 +0000 http://allsaintsofamerica.org/blog/?p=114#comment-8956 I learn so much from my dog, Jess. She never complains even though she eats the same kibble day in and day out every single day. I often wonder if I would be able to do the same and then suddenly I'm acutely aware of how attached to my taste buds ie my flesh, I am. She is completely dependent on me and my care - and her trust is absolute, she never questions it when I take her to the vet or stick something in her ears or open her mouth to look down her throat. I want to be like that with my Father. She's gentle with babies and immediately is drawn to someone in emotional need - for the thought that dogs don't have emotional compassion. .. I beg to differ - I want to be like that. She teaches me. . . she's such a gift. Thank you for posting this - great post! I learn so much from my dog, Jess. She never complains even though she eats the same kibble day in and day out every single day. I often wonder if I would be able to do the same and then suddenly I’m acutely aware of how attached to my taste buds ie my flesh, I am. She is completely dependent on me and my care - and her trust is absolute, she never questions it when I take her to the vet or stick something in her ears or open her mouth to look down her throat. I want to be like that with my Father. She’s gentle with babies and immediately is drawn to someone in emotional need - for the thought that dogs don’t have emotional compassion. .. I beg to differ - I want to be like that. She teaches me. . . she’s such a gift. Thank you for posting this - great post!

]]> Comment on Almond Joy Orthodoxy by Father Francis+ http://allsaintsofamerica.org/blog/?p=108#comment-8810 Father Francis+ Sun, 04 Apr 2010 18:36:31 +0000 http://allsaintsofamerica.org/blog/?p=108#comment-8810 I'm an Anglo-Catholic priest, now in Portugal but previously in South Carolina-- which like rural Virginia is Baptist country. When a colleague and I stopped for dinner at a rather nice restaurant in Mount Pleasant, SC in our cassocks and birettas (Western Rite for prodnrasnik and skufia), we had to wait to be seated, and were delighted to hear a five year old "whisper" to his mother in a voice that could be heard in the next county: "Look, Mom! Ninjas!!!". I’m an Anglo-Catholic priest, now in Portugal but previously in South Carolina– which like rural Virginia is Baptist country. When a colleague and I stopped for dinner at a rather nice restaurant in Mount Pleasant, SC in our cassocks and birettas (Western Rite for prodnrasnik and skufia), we had to wait to be seated, and were delighted to hear a five year old “whisper” to his mother in a voice that could be heard in the next county: “Look, Mom! Ninjas!!!”.

]]> Comment on Terrorist cells in Orthodox Churches by SrbMama http://allsaintsofamerica.org/blog/?p=119#comment-7404 SrbMama Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:57:15 +0000 http://allsaintsofamerica.org/blog/?p=119#comment-7404 That was great, Father! Keep up the good work! I am still laughing about "cross-dressing" too! In Christ, T That was great, Father! Keep up the good work! I am still laughing about “cross-dressing” too!

In Christ,
T

]]> Comment on Extreme makeover by Pastor Sheepherder http://allsaintsofamerica.org/blog/?p=56#comment-6761 Pastor Sheepherder Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:59:40 +0000 http://allsaintsofamerica.org/blog/?p=56#comment-6761 In prepping this Sunday's sermon, I was being led, somewhat timidly, to the image of extreme makover. A Google search on those two words brought me to your site. Wonderful reflections here, Father Redneck! This pastor and sheep rancher in Nebraska appreciates this posting. In prepping this Sunday’s sermon, I was being led, somewhat timidly, to the image of extreme makover. A Google search on those two words brought me to your site. Wonderful reflections here, Father Redneck! This pastor and sheep rancher in Nebraska appreciates this posting.

]]> Comment on IN THE TUMBLER: or how I attain salvation (Thanks alot, St. John of the Ladder) by smary http://allsaintsofamerica.org/blog/?p=68#comment-6153 smary Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:57:22 +0000 http://allsaintsofamerica.org/blog/?p=68#comment-6153 Thank you God!!!!! Thank you God!!!!!

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