the family and curing homosexuals from their immorality

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Maddow More then Gay it's simply Genocide

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the state of a deanery toxic buffoonery

I have not abandon my ideals or my religious conviction,in my middle years, but rather abandon the idealism of youth that misled me to believe in priests and bishops to act accordingly. There is laid the disillusionment of many and the betrayal of what is holy. I will not be sperated from my belief or my faith in what is holy, only in whom it may dwell.

hopeless, unproductive, clueless, reprehensibly neglectful, belligerent, abusive, vile, puffed up, self-serving, hypocritical, clannish, Pharisaic, scattering the flock, shielding the cloaked brotherhood, prideful, scandalous piety, intolerable cruelty, morally bankrupt, misappropriated loyalty, charade, unorthodox

Scandalous as priest show themselves as the custodial hired hands scattering the flock. not true shepards who lay their life down for the sheep. They don't even part with their convience.

just bloggin'

(Theophani her first 15k!)

Today I officially began the layout of a book I plan to have published. Several  have been in the works for years but this is one I will get into the can by this year's end. It will not be published until next year and will publish it myself if need be but it will be completed. The idea is simple and exemplifies the appeal of this humble blog and intrinsic value of a good teacher and willing pupil. The reciprocity of all relationships. More on it in future entries. Planning on running later today. In fact I had been hoping to run for a couple of days now but have given myself permission to be busy with others. Today is warmer and sunny. There is cool breeze comming through the open window where I am seated. From the dormer window I consider marathon. I would have to spend the next three weeks training faithfully with at least a few 18-20 milers. I also would need a pair of sneakers or it will be over before it begins.

lucid unfettered thinking

I managed to run today around 2.30pm for 5.75 miles. The weather outside was cold enough for this Floridian to wear a long sleeve shirt! The sun hasn't shined in days and it has been damp, windy and raining, as it only does in the Sunshine State. Oddly enough my mood has improved despite the inclement weather.

While running many thoughts move through my brain probably what most would consider free associating. Interesting I usually talk quickly because I have these flight of ideas which creates a kind of pressured speech. It comes from not feeling heard and from wanting to be. Running creates a lucid unfettered thinking and no audience save God and me, myself and I. My ability to go to that place or space I think is why runners high or the flow is a state I find often even during shorter less taxing runs. Not to dismiss prayer or the contect of such thoughts.

During the run I wanted to walk several times and thought how I snuff out the joy every time. I stopped anyway took two-three steps and then was off again. I got over my sense of failure and self consciousness and kept moving. My toes got numb from wearing old sneakers which I tied too tightly. My hip behaved. I don't mind pain or discomfort but I don't want injury. As runners we push through the laziness, the boredom with our only guest ourself and learn to endure or tolerate discomfort. With this kind of suck it up attitude we also wrongfully try to push through an injury.

I have been at that 10-12 week training bust where skeletal-muscular systems are breaking down. A taper now is emotionally and mentally challenging but the body can heal and will then get stronger markedly so. Anyway...I remember to enjoy the time running when I could and how long I had asked for just his kind of weather. Watch what you ask for because when you get it you are out of excuses.

Lastly, i did think often enough about people in my personal life who opt out of sanity, or what is reasonable, or resist feeling different feelings or changing mindsets because "it isn't easy" or because this or that 'is hard'. Of course growth is difficult stretching beyond our comfort zone us uncomfortable. So what suck it up and get on with living. Stop squandering your good health and youth on fear. Some people could drown in a foot of water and resent you telling them "stand up". Off to church now. Vespers last night was meaningful.

The Heavenly Elect Unified Not Moralistic

As citizens of heaven and ambassadors on earth, coming together with the ethnos of heaven, we pray and worship. Through the mystery of the church, the language of our supplication is heavenly.

This is applicable to peoples of different sexes,  races, nationalities, cultures, orientations, social class, education, intellectual capacities, spiritual maturity and the many faces of diversity wherever found. Let us not limit the inclusive spirit of Christianity with the taliban mentality of Islam; lest we wake to find ourselve removed from the elect.

ARCHIMANDRITE GEORGE
ABBOT OF THE HOLY MONASTERY
OF ST. GREGORIOS ON MOUNT ATHOS
"2) Moralism
Unfortunately, the spirit of moralism which we mentioned earlier, i.e., basing the Christian life on moral improvement, has adversely influenced the piety and spirituality of Christians to a significant degree even here in our land. We often cease to pursue Theosis because of  Western influences on our theology. Guidance that only aims for moral improvement is anthropocentric – it is centred on man, and in it, human effort dominates, and not the Grace of God. It then seems as if it is our own morality that saves us, and not the Grace of God. Life under these conditions does not give us genuine experiences of God, therefore the psyche is not truly satisfied because its thirst remains unquenched. This method of guidance has been tried, and it failed because it does not represent the genuine spirit of Christ’s Church. It is often responsible for atheism and for many people’s indifference towards the spiritual life, especially among the young. In our catechisms, sermons and everything said by parents, teachers, clergy and other workers of the Church, instead of talking about sterile improvements of mankind, let us educate Christians towards Theosis. This is the genuine spirit and experience of the Church. Otherwise, the virtues, regardless of how great they may be, do not, in fact, fulfill the purpose of the Christian life. They are simply ways and means which prepare us to accept Theosis, the Grace of the Holy Spirit, as St. Seraphim of Sarov taught so clearly".

OrthoPraxis Got a Lesson in Orthopraxis101

Check out the website which got a fresh new look to reflect more clearly the correct spirit of the work!!

Go Rachael Maddow (did i say that?)

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Gay Marriage the Great Threat

Running Under Tornado Threat to Find Mystical Rain

I gave serious thought to quitting do I dare say ending my relationship with running. I have thought about the payoff in practical terms and aside from a lowered heart rate and slimmer body frame I had lost the inclination to press on. I was trantruming about one matter or another. After a small bout with melancholy I did what I have come to know: I read, went to church and wrote a pastor. I read and attended church when it didn't seem at all related to my delema or experience; as if church can be delegated to Sunday mornings and resigned to stay there. Then I asked some pointed questions about running and practice and vocation. I was expressly told to keep running and pray.

I was told to stay the course to remain steadfast. I ran today for the first time in a long, long, long time. There were moments during the first few miles I wanted to walk a runner's defeat (even a slow runners defeat). Then I stepped out of myself and ran thinking about the Phanar His All-Holiness, love, acceptance and honesty. There were tornadoes warnings and the weather though windy, was warm. At the mile three marker the rain came and I was almost elated, the waste of torments washing away, draining from my pores. I took noticed and kept moving reflecting on the words of an email. Hearing the voices of my history.

When I got home the lightening lit up the ominous sky. I prepared myself for vespers (which I missed) but made bible study which got hijacked talking about the Manhattan Declaration. I took the opposition's position to the Declaration while I was blasted by some devoted people who believe that a hard line must be taken against homosexuals and "deviants". They equate abortion with gay relations. They quickly threw the Ecumenical Patriarch under the bus an attitude or opinion I do not and will not take.

As for the Man. Dec., I honestly don't know what the correct opinion as I lack the true understanding but I have been making efforts to see my faith from a difference viewpoint. If my Patriarch condones the opinions and the Declaration then I will also affirm it. This much I know: I was not the angry party in the discussion and I appreciate the spirit of inclusion. I don't much care for the smell of condemnation. I used to hold those opinions and maintain those postures. I may be farther from the truth more now then ever but I must continue to evaluate and reassess as I continue as a journeyman in my life.
P.S How is is that Met. Jonah declared anything with heretics as if he represents the orthodox church? They didn't affirm commonly held beliefs they declared 'these truths as self evident'