The Fatherhood Chronicles CXIV

Sofie’s First Christmas Pageant
Sofie, as my blogreaders know, began this school term to attend the Preschool at the Guardian Angel Center for Child Development (a ministry of St John the Baptist Orthodox Church). It is a great gift and blessing to us that she has been able so to do (and with the added benefit, [...]

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On Sorrow and Joy

In a comment to a previous post, one Jonathon commented, in part:
I think the message his [St. Gregory of Nyssa's] poetry conveys is that while the joy and hope of Christ should and can be very much a part of our life “here below,” it is not the only experience we should expect (being, as [...]

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The Pontificator: Disbelieving the Predestinarian God

A new post from Fr Al, the Pontificator.
[H/T: Fr Stephen]

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Epistle to the Muslims by Bruce S. Thornton

This – – A Common Word between Us and You (pdf file)
Gave rise to this – – Loving God and Neighbor Together (pdf file)
Which caused this – -Epistle to the Muslims by Bruce S. Thornton:
The response opens on a familiar self-loathing note, in the therapeutic style that has convinced jihadists that Christianity in the West [...]

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The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

Gabe has two posts up that are being linked in the Ortho-blogosphere: Problems in Contemporary Orthodox Theology? and Problems with Contemporary Orthodox Experientialism. They are well worth your read. Also worth your read are Perry’s comments. Though I’m afraid that this is two sets of Orthodox folk talking past one another, [...]

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The Fatherhood Chronicles CXIII

Sofie and the Joseph Dream
Sofie goes to a Greek Orthodox preschool, and quite properly they are doing a lot of discussion about the coming Feast of the Lord’s Nativity. Well, as I was getting ready this morning, Sofie wanted to tell me about her dream.
It seems that an alligator was going to get her, and [...]

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On Fear and Joy

And Father Seraphim continued: “When the Spirit of God comes down to man and overshadows him with the fullness of His inspiration, then the human soul overflows with unspeakable joy, for the Spirit of God fills with joy whatever He touches. This is that joy of which the Lord speaks in His Gospel: A woman [...]

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Myrrh-Streaming St Nicholas

Yesterday, our parish celebrated St Nicholas’ feast day with an “in-person” visit from the saint and a distribution of stockings for the children. Sofie, our older daughter, was all about it. She was very eager to go up and speak to “St Nicholas,” and, having asked my permission, went and spoke to him. This was [...]

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Michael W Smith: Agnus Dei

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