tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58506572011-09-05T02:02:43.032-04:00One blogger's love of Truth!Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.comBlogger1611100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1101421529414280072004-11-25T17:23:00.000-05:002004-11-25T17:25:29.416-05:00

George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation: Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor -- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1099519309509879252004-11-03T16:53:00.000-05:002004-11-03T17:01:49.510-05:00

That is what we Orthodox chant during litanies in response to the prayer of the priest or deacon. That is my response now to the election results. Lord have mercy! No matter which way the election ended, I believe it would have been indicative of the will of God. I just don't think the leadership of a nation as powerful and pivotal in the world as the United States is left by God to the fickle

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1099438337728700842004-11-02T18:30:00.000-05:002004-11-02T18:32:17.726-05:00

On this momentous day, no matter who wins the election, let us remember that it is our God Who delivers!The Lord hear thee in the day of affliction; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee. Let Him send forth unto thee help from His sanctuary, and out of Sion let Him help thee. Let Him remember every sacrifice of thine, and thy whole-burnt offering let Him fatten. The Lord grant thee according

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1098982362445631782004-10-28T13:37:00.000-04:002004-10-28T12:52:42.446-04:00

This is the argument recently put forth by some who claim, first, that a politician's stand on abortion should not be the defining issue for those pro-life and, second, that abortions go down under presidents who are pro-abortion. These claims are based on some rather injudicious massaging of available data and demonstrate the veracity of Samuel Clemmons' assertion that there are "liars, damn

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1098963048667105362004-10-28T07:24:00.000-04:002004-10-28T07:33:36.276-04:00

I don't think I've done this before, but here is a column in its entirety, from the pen of Chuck Colson, because I think he makes a point we all need to consider.During my days working in the White House, I often came home feeling nauseated after meetings about national security. You’d feel that way, too, if you’d spent the afternoon hearing about possible nuclear attacks, first-strike

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1098901885886452402004-10-27T14:22:00.000-04:002004-10-27T14:31:47.190-04:00

While much attention has been given over the past year to the Episcopal Church's ordination of a practicing homosexual, not much focus has been on that denomination's continuing slide into paganism. Christianity Today's Weblog has a story that one would think would settle once for all any notion that the ECUSA is still "Christian" in any but the most Switzerian connotation. This is not just

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1098186364426388282004-10-19T07:39:00.000-04:002004-10-19T07:46:04.426-04:00

I don't think he has meant these as a "series", so to speak, but the last three or four weeks of sermons by my priest at St. John the Wonderworker parish (OCA) in Atlanta have been, at least to me, both profound and heart piercing. They have been on how to let the love of God show in your life. You can find them here. We've had some "technical difficulties", at times, but persevere, it will be

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1097928018677319182004-10-16T07:38:00.000-04:002004-10-16T08:07:44.500-04:00

I confess I don't get John Kerry. I don't like being political much anymore, especially here - raises the passions too much. But when the political intersects faith, then it causes me to really ponder. John Kerry claims he is a Catholic. Claims to adhere to the Catholic faith, particularly in regard to abortion. However, John Kerry has never voted against an abortion bill. He has never voted for

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1097842355645175682004-10-15T07:51:00.000-04:002004-10-15T08:12:35.646-04:00

I've come across many people, Roman and Orthodox, who seem to believe that other issues weigh as heavily on the making of a political decision as the LIFE issue. Some hold up (in my view disinguenously, but perhaps that's a reflection of my passions) the "seamless garment" argument to support their position. Roman Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver effectively demonstrates why these arguments

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1096134068872508832004-09-25T13:27:00.000-04:002004-09-25T13:41:08.873-04:00

I've been wondering lately what it is about the human condition that makes us so consistently prone to compare ourselves one to another. I've noticed in myself this propensity to a greater degree (my noticing, not the propensity itself) then I ever had before. When I do something wrong, I tend to justify myself, "I'm not quite so bad as other people" or, even worse, "I've never done such and

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1095887768210289052004-09-22T17:06:00.000-04:002004-09-22T17:16:08.210-04:00

...make up terms that sound good and the media elite will wink at. Such is the case with the latest craze among anti-life forces in touting embryonic stem-cell research. The new phrase, actually an old one making a comeback, is "pre-embryonic". According to a story reprinted in the Orthodoxy Today website, this term was......coined in 1979 by embryologist Clifford Grobstein, a specialist in the

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1095684973303961212004-09-20T08:50:00.000-04:002004-09-20T09:11:49.756-04:00

By now everyone has probably heard about the little girl and her cross. But here's another story of a hero springing out of the attrocity of Beslan. I don't know if this man was Orthodox or not (though being of Greek descednt it makes sense), but it is a tremendously inspiring account. http://allisonkaplansommer.blogmosis.com/history/026072.html The Teacher Chose Death In an act of unlimited

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1095336502057585042004-09-16T08:03:00.000-04:002004-09-16T08:08:22.056-04:00

After reading some comments below expressing concerns I thought I'd better do a quick update. I'm still alive and well and working furiously. As you may know I started a new job, though still with the State of Georiga DHR/DFCS, in July. This job keeps me a good bit buisier than my old one with less time sitting in front of the computer. Also, it just seemed that I had less and less to say that

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1088886046149836422004-07-03T16:14:00.000-04:002004-07-03T16:27:19.850-04:00

Abayea has a new post on her blog concerning how quickly she has incorporated Orthodox practice into her life, in particular prayer to Saints. I thought I would share an email I sent my Priest just this morning that would seem somewhat relevant.Father, bless! While I don't suppose this counts as a miracle, I wanted to write this to give thanks to St. John for answers to my prayers. I had every

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1088813634610513132004-07-02T19:59:00.000-04:002004-07-02T20:13:54.610-04:00

A recommendation on the Convert List and a perusal in my parish's bookstore turned up a wonderful little book, Guidance Toward Spiritual Life, by Saints Barsanuphius and John, translated by Fr. Seraphim Rose (of blessed memory). It is not the entire work by the Saints, but those Questions and Answers that Fr. Seraphim believed to be most helpful and needful for the modern believer. I would

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1088607630388746572004-06-30T10:56:00.000-04:002004-06-30T11:00:30.386-04:00

From Touchstone Mag's Mere Comments website, they printed a reader's response. I relay it here without comment, for your consideration:Touchstone is thought-provoking as always. A small sketch of thoughts provoked: To state the obvious, weighing the relative harm to the institution of marriage of (a) divorce or (b) homosexual “marriage” depends, of course, not only on the definition of marriage,

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1088599427348676922004-06-30T08:35:00.000-04:002004-06-30T09:00:47.710-04:00

I'm in the midst of changing jobs. In the course of cleaning out my computer hard drive, I came across a "letter" I wrote when I was first exploring Orthodoxy but had already come to a number of conclusions. I post it here not because it's anything earth shattering or revelatory, but pretty much just to maintain a record of it and show the developing thought process of a convert. At the time I

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1088179709727655822004-06-25T12:04:00.000-04:002004-06-25T12:21:37.876-04:00

I have highlighted his website before, but Fr. Rob Johansen (Roman Catholic) deserves to be highlighted again for his consistent and devastating deconstruction of pro-abortion politicians' arguments. He confronts a number of them in his latest missive, but the one argument that is my personal pet peeve, "personally opposed", get's this treatment:Apart from the utter mendacity of politicians who

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1088164683508040182004-06-25T07:55:00.000-04:002004-06-25T07:58:03.506-04:00

I read this today:St. Mark the ascetic said: "Whoever desires to eliminate future tribulations must bear the present tribulations with joy." Men consider slander as a great tribulation and there are few men who bear this tribulation without grumbling. O beautiful is the fruit of kindly endured tribulation! Tribulation is given to us for good spiritual commerce and we are missing the opportunity

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1088087632411348692004-06-24T10:26:00.000-04:002004-06-24T10:33:52.413-04:00

Fr. John Breck's most recent article on the OCA website simply underscores how horrific abortion is and how callous and hypocritical those who support it are. There is simply *no* justification for inflicting this kind of pain on innocent human beings. In a society where inflicting pain upon animals has become a felony in most states, where is the outrage concerning a judge who writes an opinon

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1087501954644693182004-06-17T15:50:00.000-04:002004-06-17T15:57:43.586-04:00

Okay, I finally found something I agree on with a Baptist! As a lifelong (well, my children's lives) homeschooler, I would never consider sending my children to a government school. Quite honestly, I wouldn't consider sending them to most "Christian" schools either.

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1087501474179213622004-06-17T15:40:00.000-04:002004-06-17T15:46:08.913-04:00

Any thoughts regarding the situation as outlined in the article at Christianity Today's Weblog? I confess I have mixed feelings here. Being a free market kind of guy, I think the Truth prospers best in an open marketplace of ideas. However, recognizing there may not be a level playing field at work and being Orthodox (as well as thinking JW is a bunch of hooey), I sympathize with the intentions

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1087405805087764312004-06-16T13:04:00.000-04:002004-06-17T13:25:47.403-04:00

I think it should be axiomatic that whenever one is unwilling to speak in plain, descriptive language on a subject that one supports, it is evidence of the moral and ethical weakness of one's position. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the doublespeak used by pro-abortionists concerning abortion in general and partial-birth abortion in particular. Rich Lowry has points this out in an

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1087405279642774742004-06-16T12:48:00.000-04:002004-06-16T13:01:19.643-04:00

I was watching a little of the Dennis Miller show last night when Michael Newdow was on. Newdow is the atheist who brought suit against the Pledge of Allegiance containing the words "under God". He made the assertion along the lines that atheists shouldn't have to feel "apart" in this country, or something to that effect. Well, quite honestly, I have never read in the Constitution where the

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1087317397226725562004-06-15T12:29:00.000-04:002004-06-15T12:36:37.226-04:00

Did you read about this? Probably not, what makes the major media outlets is what tickles the fancies of editors and producers and fits into their preconceptions and preferences. However, do a google news and you'll find plenty of references to it. Richard Reid was sentenced in January of 2003. He was the guy who got on a plane with a bomb in his shoe and tried to light it. You should click on

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1087232048581171722004-06-14T12:43:00.000-04:002004-06-15T11:19:02.753-04:00

The Supreme Court today ruled on a narrow issue regarding the Pledge of Allegiance case before it that, for all intents and purposes, keeps the phrase "under God" in the pledge. Basically, the court ruled that Michael Newdow, who brought suit on behalf of his daughter, had no legal standing to file suit in the first place. Newdow is in a protracted custody fight with the girl's mother and does

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1086894377904081702004-06-10T15:05:00.000-04:002004-06-10T15:06:17.903-04:00

...I also played around a little bit with blogger's new (well, to me) templates and features.

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1086890295458693252004-06-10T13:49:00.000-04:002004-06-10T13:58:15.460-04:00

Finally, something I thought worth posting about (though you might not, if anyone is even still dropping by to see if something new is here). I recently starting serving at the altar in my parish. This is not what I want to blog about, but rather the experience of being in the sanctuary, behind the iconostasis. I can't speak to very many Orthodox parishes, as I have really only been in three or

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1083691710594868012004-05-04T13:28:00.000-04:002004-05-04T13:36:11.623-04:00

Terry Mattingly blogs on the worship wars over at GetReglion. He quotes from pollster George Barna, who had conducted a poll concerning worship trends. In part, Barna writes:"What we know about Americans is that we view ourselves first and foremost as consumers," said Barna. "Even when we walk in the doors of our churches what we tend to do is to wonder how can I get a good transaction out of

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1083333906691767762004-04-30T10:05:00.000-04:002004-04-30T12:26:37.170-04:00

For all who prayed, and even those who did not, my many thanks and also to the most Holy Theotokos, to whom I prayed fervently. Regarding the reorginization of my work place, I was offered two jobs this morning, one of which I accepted. Again, thank you for your prayers! Unto you, O Theotokos, invincible Champion, We your people, in thanksgiving, Ascribe the victory for the deliverance from

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1083333646782926082004-04-30T10:00:00.000-04:002004-04-30T10:05:43.043-04:00

Touchstone's Mere Comments blog sheds light on an interesting discussion regarding the demographics of the future. It seems that secular modernists are basically breeding themselves out of existence, or at least out of prominence. Apparently 47% of people who attend Church regularly believe the ideal family includes 3 or more children compared to only 27% of those who don't attend Church

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1083251294254021012004-04-29T11:08:00.000-04:002004-04-29T11:12:31.450-04:00

Sorry I haven't written much the past few days, been pretty busy. I have been through most of the interviews I have to do (still have a couple more jobs I've applied for, but no interview dates yet - should be next week). Now the powers that be are going through the selection process. A lot of people for not quite as many positions, to be filled in just a couple days. Please, if you think about

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1083088925875122402004-04-27T14:02:00.000-04:002004-04-27T14:06:47.360-04:00

Father Rob Johansen, a blogging Roman Catholic priest, has responded to defenders of voting for John Kerry or other pro-abortion politicians with a powerfully cogent demolition of their arguments. While he writes, obviously, from a specifically Roman Catholic viewpoint, and many of his arguments are constrained within that framework, much is, nevertheless, applicable within any moral and/or

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1082663489084204732004-04-27T08:00:00.000-04:002004-04-27T07:59:55.466-04:00

I have moved this back to the top for obvious reasons. I have not blogged about this in the past, but the organization for which I work is going through an extensive reorganization push. Many jobs are being eliminated and we are all having to reapply for various jobs. I have two interviews for jobs Tuesday and Wednesday of next week and I covet your prayers if you happen to remember. Christ is

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1082806447526345732004-04-24T07:34:00.000-04:002004-04-24T07:38:17.280-04:00

I posted the following message on the Yahoo!Groups Orthodox Convert list.About two or almost three years ago, there was a discussion on this list concerning noise, music and silence. This was mostly in connection to studying and other mental exercises and whether you could do it with noise in the background or needed silence to concentrate. I posted a message that I thought it was a matter of

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1082749439928010392004-04-23T15:43:00.000-04:002004-04-23T15:50:53.310-04:00

I don't know if he was a Christian, undoubtedly wasn't Orthodox, but rarely in our day does one read of such self-sacrifice. Pat Tillman was a pro-football player who turned down $3.6 million contract offer from the Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the military after 9/11. The young man was killed today in action in Afghanistan. No matter what you think about the war on terror or US actions in

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1082748772285760372004-04-23T15:32:00.000-04:002004-04-23T15:39:45.843-04:00

Did anyone else see this? Thanks to David's Daily Diversion for bringing this to my attention (BTW, David, when is that comment thing going to get fixed?). After all the brouhaha among various Orthos, including in the blogosphere, over The Passion, it's interesting to see the reaction from an Orthodox culture. Daivd includes one of the more intriguing quotes, which I now share with you:"The

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1082748137422691992004-04-23T15:22:00.000-04:002004-04-23T15:27:12.733-04:00

Just read a review of a new Orthodox end time novel in response to the Left Behind series. Here's a blurb:The novel, titled Enduring to the End, begins in Rome in AD 63. After a dizzying number of anti-Christs, the book reaches its climax with Darby LaHaye Scofield, a 21st-century televangelist who sells his soul to Satan and tries to take over the world. Unfortunately for Scofield, but

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1082588647722748272004-04-21T19:04:00.000-04:002004-04-21T19:31:17.076-04:00

Went to Vespers this afternoon at my parish. If I get to work early enough I can get away early enough to get to Church just when it starts on weekdays. I plan to go every Wednesday whenever possible, provides a nice "pick me up" in the middle of the week. Today I had been emailing my priest about my next confession. Just wanted to get the particulars and clarify some things that weren't clear

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1082575481838682262004-04-21T15:24:00.000-04:002004-04-21T15:28:48.140-04:00

...to both homosexual marriage, partnerships and parenting. The American College of Pediatricians has issued a statement this is sure to rase the hackles of the media elite and social relativists. Well, that is, if they even hear about it. I can't say that I think it will get much play in the major media outlets, but it needs to be seen. The whole statement is quite brief, but here is the

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1082486457243376902004-04-20T14:40:00.000-04:002004-04-20T14:45:01.840-04:00

Over at Catholic(?)Kerry Watch they have a post that exposes the hypocrisy of Kerry's assertion to being "personally opposed" to abortion. I commented on this earlier, but it is worth saying again since so many seem to buy into this argumentation. Since I can't put it any better, here's the whole thing (for those who don't like to click thru):As my brother noted, it's interesting to see Kerry's

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1082484726882058382004-04-20T14:12:00.000-04:002004-04-20T14:21:35.263-04:00

Dennis Prager over at Worldnet Daily well expresses my own thoughts on some issues in his column today. Don't miss reading the whole thing, but here's a taste:In sum, I feel that I am living in a world that is morally sick. Good is called bad, and bad is called "militant," "victimized," "misunderstood" and "the product of hopelessness," but rarely bad. Only those who fight the bad are called

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1082475967928556132004-04-20T11:46:00.000-04:002004-04-21T10:21:08.233-04:00

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about prayer offered to the Saints. One of the reasons is that this is a big sticking point with my wife. She just doesn’t get it (or refuses to get it, I don’t know which). But the whole idea of that, and icons, really – in her words – “creeps her out”. Funny, but once I got over my initial Protestant phobia of the whole idea and began to read what the Church

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1082220681723537082004-04-17T12:51:00.000-04:002004-04-17T12:55:52.046-04:00

To paraphrase the words of the inestimable Ronald Reagan. No matter what your political leanings or how you feel about the so-called "Christian right", traditional Christians (i.e those who hold to the tenets of the faith as espoused in the historic creeds such as the Nicene and Apostolic) are all being targeted by the Hollywood elitist left in upcoming movies according to a recent story at

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1082138086797188432004-04-16T13:54:00.000-04:002004-04-16T14:10:54.780-04:00

I posted this earlier in the week in response to a query on the Orthodox Convert Yahoo!Group and thought I would post it here as well. It provides a "down and dirty" overview of my transition to Orthodoxy.I grew up Methodist. Was "saved" at 17. Became involved in various Charismatic type groups: prayer group at my church, Catholic Charismatic prayer group, Agape (Assemblies of God) Bible Study in

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1082131832368149042004-04-16T12:10:00.000-04:002004-04-16T12:21:06.420-04:00

I can't say I haven't wished something like this were possible in the USA. I don't know how many times I've watched Benny Hinn, Oral Roberts, Creflo Dollar or some other tele-evangelists clown show supposed miracles and then ask for money, all the while wearing thousand dollar suits and living in multi-million dollar mansions. I've been present when those of lesser "stature" have done the same

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1082116164317012912004-04-16T07:49:00.000-04:002004-04-16T07:56:18.670-04:00

Jumping into the kerfuffle* over John F. (call me JFK)* Kerry's taking of communion, a group of Catholic Priests has issued a statement. A whole blog has developed in Catholic(?)KerryWatch to monitor the ongoing controversy. No matter how you feel about Bush vs. Kerry, it is disingenuous for any politician to declare himself "personally opposed" to a practice but support it as public policy. It

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1082042801023289782004-04-15T11:26:00.000-04:002004-04-15T11:32:15.123-04:00

Thanks to Abayea for directing me (well, not personally, but on her blog) to this letter from St. Cyprian of Carthage to a new convert in 246 AD. It is truly timeless:We have received the seal of the Holy Spirit. Our task now is to preserve the integrity of what we have received by living a truly Christian life. We must give time to prayer, and to the study of scripture. Now speaking to God; now

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1082034742720336732004-04-15T09:12:00.000-04:002004-04-15T09:20:24.530-04:00

There is an old saying that a man is known by his enemies. In light of this, it seems that the USA might not be so bad after all. America is not perfect, and there is a lot I would change if I could, but it has stood against the greatest evils of the last 120 years and been the difference. We are not as clearsighted concerning Islam as I would like, nor does there seem to be the concern for

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1081961517763385362004-04-14T12:51:00.000-04:002004-04-14T12:55:53.843-04:00

...today is my birthday. 48 years ago Mama D had a big, loud-mouthed, bawling brat. Not much has changed since! :-)

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1081945957458183642004-04-14T08:32:00.000-04:002004-04-14T08:36:33.560-04:00

I have been pondering the dilemna that is Syria in light of a column at OrthodoxyToday.com. While I not only understand but empathize with the desire for stability and protection from Islamic radicalism, I question whether appeasment to the Syrian government is the answer. Rather than make this a question of US actions toward Syria, why is it not a problem for the Baathist government? While

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1081943220935261212004-04-14T07:47:00.000-04:002004-04-14T07:50:56.793-04:00

Thanks to Havdala for providing a link to the marvelous story of the new St. Dimitry. Read this, it will touch your heart as well as dispell the notion that Christians didn't do anything to help the jews during WWII.

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1081941689291205882004-04-14T07:21:00.000-04:002004-04-14T07:30:30.826-04:00

Christ is risen! Something I didn't include in my recounting of Holy Week and my chrismation below, was that Father Jacob gave what was basically a homily upon chrismating all of us (there were six of us chrismated on Holy Saturday in my parish). He took the time to explain what was going on to the non-Orthodox family who had come to celebrate with those being chrismated. He pointed out that

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1081799040670912782004-04-12T15:44:00.000-04:002004-04-12T15:47:54.263-04:00

In a somewhat stunning, though very joyous development, fellow blogger abayea was also chrismated on Holy Saturday (along with Jim N, of whom I assume most of you are aware). Drop by and welcome abayea to the fold! I have moved her link to the list of Orthodox Blogs.

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1081771086173314472004-04-12T10:14:00.000-04:002004-04-12T15:44:14.780-04:00

How amazing, and intense, the past week was. Beginning with Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts on Tuesday evening, I was in services every day through Sunday morning, multiple times. Wednesday it was Presanctified again and then the Holy Unction service later in the evening. Thursday it was Vespers and the Liturgy of St. Basil at 2:00 PM and The Office of the Holy Passion at 7:00 PM. Friday it

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1081184818470737692004-04-05T13:06:00.000-04:002004-04-05T13:10:42.810-04:00

...hard to believe.

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1080948541139162172004-04-02T18:29:00.000-05:002004-04-02T18:46:01.860-05:00

Why is it that the left is always perceived as the "compassionate" side of the political divide in this country. From my experience, nothing could be further from the truth. Most of the idealogues on the left that I have read and come in contact with have great "compassion" for the abstract concept of "humanity" but actually despise people. Markos Moulitsas Zuniga of the Leftist Daily Kos

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1080907601771281932004-04-02T07:06:00.000-05:002004-04-02T07:10:21.686-05:00

Well, maybe you can, but it would be hard. Check out the ad that was part of an email I received today.The Prayer Box Charm Pendant Is A Heavenly Delight Just write a prayer from your heart, put it inside and let God do his part. It's sure to make an ordinary day special. This unique Silver-toned pendant floats on a 19" chain with lobster claw clasp. Makes a very thoughtful keepsake

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1080849407428876122004-04-01T14:56:00.000-05:002004-04-01T15:00:25.733-05:00

Despite comments to the contrary, you gotta love Ann Coulter. Her latest column provides a succinct timeline outlining the root causes of the 9/11 attack. Just a taste:The only time Clinton decided to go to war with anyone in the vicinity of Muslim fanatics was in 1999 – when Clinton attacked Serbians who were fighting Islamic fanaticsRead the whole thing, please.

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1080839652712487122004-04-01T12:14:00.000-05:002004-04-01T12:17:51.436-05:00

I really like this from Eidos. I wish there were a way to link directly to the post. However, here it is in full:The Church calls marriage a bloodless martyrdom. I used to think this a rather gloomy way to talk, but that is only because I did not understand martyrdom. Think of all the martyr stories. They are full of joy. The early Christians had to be discouraged from seeking martyrdom, it was

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1080825893620345752004-04-01T08:24:00.000-05:002004-04-01T08:28:32.076-05:00

I don't blog much about my personal life, but the organization I work for is going through a restructure where all of us must reapply for jobs. I have a job interview for a couple jobs this afternoon (1 PM EST). If you think about it, please pray for me.

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1080824783030586542004-04-01T08:06:00.000-05:002004-04-01T08:22:48.530-05:00

That is, as you probably know, the title of a book of writings by Deitrich Bonnhoeffer. But it is also something we all must weigh, the cost of following after Christ. Christ Himself told a parable concerning counting the cost and making certain that one will finish what one sets out to do. Today is the feast day of one of the most remarkable, to me, of all the saints who not only counted, but

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1080746708829571422004-03-31T10:25:00.000-05:002004-03-31T10:30:51.233-05:00

Awhile before I became a catechumen, while not attending any church, my wife (who is not interested in being Orthodox) asked me why I just didn't go ahead and "become" Orthodox. I took a while to answer, but the gist of my response to her was "because it's hard and I'm not sure I'm ready". Of course, I did make that committment and stand on the brink of chrismation. But Great Lent has only

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1080580940985328022004-03-29T12:22:00.000-05:002004-03-29T12:25:55.950-05:00

...need I say more?

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1080580908748486972004-03-29T12:21:00.000-05:002004-03-29T12:25:23.343-05:00

I don't know what you may think of Ann Coulter. Sure she's acerbic (I confess I kind of like that in a woman), but that really is irrelevant in regard to the facts she presents. One of the prominent tactics in public debate is focusing on personalities when you can't dispute the facts. So, take a gander at Ms. Coulter's most recent column and you'll understand exactly why so many believe the "

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1080165059022679512004-03-24T16:50:00.000-05:002004-03-24T16:54:58.996-05:00

Lately I've truly tried to stay away from politics (well, really, I have), but it's not easy. Politics and Lent do not make great bedfellows. I will not comment myself, but if you are curious about Richard Clarke and what he has said and whether he is credible, check out this at Power Line. Now, where did my copy of The Ladder of Divine Ascent get off to?

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1080156876529546142004-03-24T14:34:00.000-05:002004-03-24T14:38:04.263-05:00

Chrysostom over at Skopos has lots to say about Kosovo, and much of it encouraging of late. I am glad that much of my gut cynical thoughts about what will happen has turned out false (not that I shared much of it, but it was there).

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1080152554954600022004-03-24T13:22:00.000-05:002004-03-24T13:26:02.750-05:00

As in "where are the bodies"? As documented here, the number of those "ethnically cleansed" in former Yogoslavia in the mid to late 90s fell precipitously after NATO action became a done deal. If Iraq was all about WMD (which it was not, but even if it was) wasn't Yugoslavia all about genocide? We toppled a mass murderer in Iraq, there's no doubt, got the graves, the bodies and the testimony to

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1080148290525537542004-03-24T12:11:00.000-05:002004-03-24T12:14:58.356-05:00

Seems that Muslims are wanting to try to convince American Christians that we are all one big happy family (despite one and a half millenia of Islam doing whatever it can to wipe out Christians and Christianity). Read the story. Unfortunately, so many Christians are ignorant of history, and so many "leaders" seem intent on appeasing Muslims (for whatever reasons), this may actually make some

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1080064886178315042004-03-23T13:01:00.000-05:002004-03-23T13:04:52.780-05:00

While many of you out there have been blogging on what is happening in Kosovo, I confess I simply don't have the heart to do it. Or maybe I have too much heart (as in passion) to do it. All that the Left complains about regarding Iraq, most of which is simply not true, is at issue with Kosovo and the NATO war against Serbia in general. Now, for the world to all but ignore the genocide going on

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1079988613892585812004-03-22T15:50:00.000-05:002004-03-22T15:54:59.763-05:00

Quizzila's fun, but I'm not any kind of Audrey Hepburn. I do like Peanuts, though! You are Schroeder! Which Peanuts Character are You? brought to you by Quizilla

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1079977475158689242004-03-22T12:44:00.000-05:002004-03-22T12:47:59.873-05:00

That is how long it is to my chrismation. I'm not sure it has really sunk in yet, though I know the longing I feel during the Eucharist grows more every liturgy! I have the ability to put things off in one corner of my mind until I really need to focus on it, so I can't say that I am nervous. And, fortunately, Holy Week promises to be so busy, both at Church and at work, that I will have little

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1079789773705754212004-03-20T08:36:00.000-05:002004-03-20T18:51:15.046-05:00

This has been such a busy week for me, especially at work, that I have had little time to write much. With a chance to catch my breath this morning, I thought I would share some thoughts on the fourth week of study at my parish of St. John Climacus' The Ladder of Divine Ascent. At this point in my readings and our study I certainly understand why this book is not recommended to newly Orthodox (so

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1079530399819812582004-03-17T08:47:00.000-05:002004-03-17T08:47:36.030-05:00

Karl points out in a comment to my earlier post that the Orthodox are doing a lot, if not being as visible as the Protestants about it. Thanks for reminding me about the OCMC, Karl, as they are certainly making the effort to reach into the current "third world". Anyone know of other efforts out there? Stories to share?

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1079377403994421832004-03-15T14:03:00.000-05:002004-03-15T14:06:39.653-05:00

...two women die from having abortions. These are the untold stories that make the Media elites in this country complicit with the abortionists in the murder of millions of unborn. If such things were routinely publicized what a difference it would make.

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1079376774747627412004-03-15T13:52:00.000-05:002004-03-15T14:18:25.013-05:00

According to this report, Christianity is growing at an astounding rate in Africa, Latin America and Asia while, it many respects, it is rapidly decling (at least many so-called traditional or main-line denominations) in the northern and western hemispheres. My question is where is the Orthodox Church in this expansion? While I rejoice that it is "...not modernist, liberal Christianity that is

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1079357459501364422004-03-15T08:51:00.000-05:002004-03-15T08:51:38.623-05:00

As most of you are undboutedly aware, yesterday, the third Sunday in Lent, was the Veneration of the Cross. Obviously another "first" for me as I work my way completely through the liturgical year as (almost) Orthodox for the first time. At the beginning of Divine Liturgy a cross was brought out in procession and laid on a table and then, beginning with the clergy, we all venerated the cross by

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1079019070494898622004-03-11T10:31:00.000-05:002004-03-11T10:34:20.123-05:00

Peter Bouteneff, Assistant Professor of Dogmatic Theology at St. Vladimir's Seminary, offers up, in my view, a quite reasonable view of Mel Gibson's The Passion. Let's all acknowledge that this is not an Orthodox film, as Father Thomas Hopko reminds us, it is not an Evangelical or even strictly Roman Catholic one, nor is it a precise retelling of the Gospels' story. However, it is a movie with

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1079015836821958042004-03-11T09:37:00.000-05:002004-03-11T09:40:26.310-05:00

Is there such a thing? Or is this simply redundant? I'm not so sure, but I sure am sick of hearing elected officials speaking about being "personally opposed" to something yet supporting it in the public arena. It is nothing more than a way to either mollify religious constituents while placating moral relativists or assuaging one's own conscience while following after the world. If you believe

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1078946758365727912004-03-10T14:25:00.000-05:002004-03-10T14:29:06.903-05:00

....that today is the National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers. Yep, that's right. We truly do live in an Orwellian world!

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1078846477555843152004-03-09T10:34:00.000-05:002004-03-09T10:37:44.373-05:00

There are few things regarding the education of teenagers in America that get's more ridiculed than abstinence based sex-education. Either its reactionary, repressive, Victorian or a host of other terms intended to be pejorative. However, it turns out that it just might also be...gasp...effective! According to an article in the New York Times (you gotta believe it if it's in the Times!), the

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1078778150324240112004-03-08T15:35:00.000-05:002004-03-08T15:38:56.043-05:00

Brent Bozell at the Media Research Center has a column that demonstrates emphatically the disconnect between the "cultural elites" of our media in this country and the Christian (of what ever stripe) majority. In the column he compares the fawning accolades accorded Martin Scorcese's The Last Temptation of Christ with the vitriolic bashing given Gibson's The Passion. Just one example Bozell

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1078771798329924322004-03-08T13:49:00.000-05:002004-03-08T13:53:18.420-05:00

Lots of people are writing about homosexual marriage, but no one is writing about the flip side, homosexual divorce. If, as proponents contend, homosexuals are due all the same legal protections as "couples", that heterosexuals are, are they not due the same legal grounds for divorce? Now, my understanding (limited as it may be), is that there is really no such thing as strict monogamy among

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1078761273202585532004-03-08T11:04:00.000-05:002004-03-08T11:05:17.903-05:00

You should check out this blog by Donald Sensing over at One Hand Clapping. It is one of the best things I've read on The Passion. One of his concluding comments reads:Christ's suffering was great. The fact compels us to ask whether our Lord so painfully lay down his life just so we can live the way we are living. God's grace is free, but God forbid we ever think it cheap. We were, wrote Saint

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1078578573122084292004-03-06T08:09:00.000-05:002004-03-06T16:09:39.873-05:00

Many thanks to Chrysostomos who provided me with the Unicode for the title of this blog. It now looks correct in both MS IE and the various incarnations of Mozilla (Netscape, Mozilla, Firefox, etc.). Very cool. Kudos to Chrysostomos. I also fixed some alignment problems that showed up in Mozilla based browsers. I hated using MS IE, so now I'm glad it looks right in both!

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1078492070109981412004-03-05T08:07:00.000-05:002004-03-05T08:31:34.576-05:00

On Doves and Pommegranites is posted a quote that has captivated me:The desert is not remote in southern tropics. The desert is only around the corner. The desert is squeezed in the tube train next to you. The desert is in the heart of your brother or sister. T S Eliot, quoted by Kenneth Leech in Experiencing God: Theology as SpiritualityFor those bemoaning that they are not monastic and so

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1078404708960713932004-03-04T07:51:00.000-05:002004-03-04T10:02:39.390-05:00

I can't help but ponder with not a little bit of frustration the cultural disconnect that seems so to often occur when The Media reflects on things religious. It seems that those with a liberal [I like the term relativist better, since most who are characterized as liberal do not seem so liberal (i.e. marked by generosity; promoters of individual liberty) to me] bent ascribe the most simplistic

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1078318005593322542004-03-03T07:46:00.000-05:002004-03-03T09:23:07.436-05:00

The Greek Archdiocese came out with what I consider a very sensible, and profound, take on the whole matter of Mel Gibson's The Passion. Here is what I consider the most pithy of the comments:Whatever the strengths and weaknesses of Mr. Gibson’s film (which in the final analysis is a personal expression of a particular tradition of piety), it has raised to national and international attention

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1078316772464031272004-03-03T07:26:00.000-05:002004-03-03T15:18:39.826-05:00

Last night was the second weekly session of my parish's study of The Ladder of Divine Ascent. I write "study", but I probably should characterize it as a "survey". We are certainly not going through it step by step nor doing an in-depth, point by point study of Saint John's work. Father is hitting the "high points" in regards to what is most applicable for those not monks, especially for the

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1078245509412107662004-03-02T11:38:00.000-05:002004-03-02T11:42:33.466-05:00

Fr. Alexander's (Schmemann) Great Lent: Journey to Pascha came last Friday or Saturday. I started reading it Sunday afternoon. I realize I'm ignorant in things truly Orthodox, but for the life of me I cannot see why he provokes such a strong response from those whom we might term (to borrow a phrase from another Orthodox blogger) rigorists. In the two books I have read, at least parts of, so far

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1078175228476827412004-03-01T16:07:00.000-05:002004-03-01T16:10:05.000-05:00

Clifton has made an observation that I think I've been trying to, only he does it better. Mel Gibson's The Passion is not un-Orthodox. It doesn't say enough to be un-Orthodox. It is a a pericope, a small passage, a limited message. It is less the whole Gospel than Jackson's LOTR is the whole of Tolkien's work. It is deliberately so. I may not see it, at least in the theater, but not because it is

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1078162284177324122004-03-01T12:31:00.000-05:002004-03-01T12:34:20.170-05:00

I've been playing around today and came up with this new look. Let me know what you think, if you care! ;-D I've still got to re-do the title graphic, but I think it's getting there.

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1077802675823832942004-02-26T08:37:00.000-05:002004-02-26T08:41:31.356-05:00

I ran across the following quote on GetReligion. It is from the Dallas Morning News, which I don't link to because it requires registration. Very interesting observation:With Jesus in his death throes, you wonder: Was it necessary for Mel Gibson to have shown all this gore? "To the hard of hearing you shout," said Flannery O'Connor. Mr. Gibson shouts. In this barbaric world, he's right to.

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1077732997614253312004-02-25T13:16:00.000-05:002004-02-25T14:38:06.640-05:00

So how could I not become part of what is the seeming endless parade of media outlets and internet bloggers commenting on this movie? Not having seen the movie is something of a handicap to forming an opinion of it (well, at least for me it is). People's whose opinions I have learned to respect have come down on both sides of the film. However, a paragraph from a comment on National Review

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1077712460586557242004-02-25T07:34:00.000-05:002004-02-25T07:43:58.326-05:00

Both of these were firsts for me last night. Father is holding a class every Tuesday evening through Lent on the Ladder of Divine Ascent. Now, before some of you wonder about a Catechumen reading this book, I specifically asked Father if I should and his response - "by all means." Maybe Father thinks I have my head screwed on a little tighter than I'm sometimes inclined to believe. At anyrate,

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1077546181581595082004-02-23T09:23:00.000-05:002004-02-23T09:42:01.233-05:00

Master, Teacher of wisdom, Bestower of virtue, you teach the thoughtless and protect the poor: Strengthen and enlighten my heart. Word of the Father, let me not restrain my mouth from crying to you: Have mercy on me, a transgressor, O merciful Lord! Well, yesterday was my very first Forgiveness Sunday (since this is my first time through the Liturgical year in an Orthodox Church, everything is a

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1077049775664530012004-02-17T15:29:00.000-05:002004-02-17T15:32:14.013-05:00

That's Clinton's (and Wesley Clark's!) little wag-the-dog war in Kosovo, as Jan Bear reminds us on her blog (which I've now started linking to on the left). Jan links to a story on Telepolis, but the pertinent quote is:Four years after it was 'liberated' by a NATO bombing campaign, Kosovo has deteriorated into a hotbed of organized crime, anti-ethnic violence, and even al-Qaeda sympathizers.

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1077049021090592122004-02-17T15:17:00.000-05:002004-02-17T15:21:22.043-05:00

No, not mine, but from Erica on her Catechumen's Walk blog. She shares her priest's insights on last Sundays Gospel reading. Here's what Erica wrote:Here’s the scene: People are on the left and right sides of Jesus, already divided as to where they will spend eternity. Jesus tells the people on the right briefly why they are there. As he explains this, they are astonished that Jesus was the

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1076612891990935482004-02-12T14:08:00.000-05:002004-02-12T14:11:09.310-05:00

In case you missed it, the South Koreans are now being credited as the first to clone a human embryo (with all due respect to the Raelians (that is, no respect, since none is due)). They immediately destroyed the embryo in order to "harvest" the stem cells. Absent from most reports on this incident is any indication that the creation of life for such purposes has any ethical or moral

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850657.post-1076428796545275442004-02-10T10:59:00.000-05:002004-02-10T11:03:36.700-05:00

The photo shows "Hanoi Jane" listening raptly as speakers denounced American soldiers for committing "genocide" in Vietnam and accusing the U.S. of "international racism." Three rows behind 'Hanoi Jane" sits a man who bears a striking resemblance to the Democratic presidential front-runner. "The public cannot be too curious concerning the characters of public men." --Samuel Adams

Jonathan Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12560182817809824993noreply@blogger.com0