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Support the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011

I am porting this over verbatim from the website of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops. The date on the release is January 20th, but the bill has been submitted only in the last week. Please read the news release carefully, then support Senate Bill 1467, the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011. The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America, which is comprised... [Read more]

suggest

Modern American logic (or lack thereof)

Look at the two comics below:  The two comics above let me make a quick comment. Back when I took philosophy, post-modernism had not yet come into its strength. At that time, the traditional response of the modernist was that reason could figure out all the answers if it simply had enough data. I can remember American Episcopalians making a big deal of the fact that they relied on Scripture, Tradition,... [Read more]

What a day or rejoicing that will be

There is an old southern gospel song that has the lyrics: Sing the wondrous love of Jesus, Sing His mercy and His grace; In the mansions bright and blessed He’ll prepare for us a place. Refrain: When we all get to heaven, What a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, We’ll sing and shout the victory! While we walk the pilgrim pathway, Clouds will overspread the sky; But when trav’ling... [Read more]

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My confession on children’s confession

Okay, I must confess something. I often feel completely inept when hearing the confessions of children. Once they reach the age of early adolescence, I know how to talk with them and how to counsel them. From then on I am comfortable in fulfilling my priestly duties. But, when I hear the confessions of children in elementary school, I am often at a loss. Perhaps it is because the confessions are... [Read more]

feedback

Never get Seal Team Six angry at you!

The following story has been published every news service. Let me give you just a few excerpts below: U.S. Special Forces parachuted overnight into Somalia from fixed-wing planes, then advanced on foot to a compound holding two kidnapped international aid workers and freed them, U.S. officials said Wednesday. … The Navy SEAL unit that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden last year in Pakistan... [Read more]

Tornadoes in Alabama yet again

This is the second year in which this area of Alabama has been hit by strongly destructive tornadoes. Yesterday tornadoes swept through the Birmingham area and destroyed hundreds of home. For the second year, a tornado passed near where we live. Yesterday, as I was driving in to the VA Medical Center I again saw the damage. A large manufacturing complex now looks like a WWII bombing photograph. The... [Read more]

A disturbing story about laissez faire capitalism

There is a sad story from the New York Times that speaks to business ethics and what is considered acceptable and ethical business practices. It will also speak to you about what the expected future is for USA workers. Here are a few quotes with commentaries. Not long ago, Apple boasted that its products were made in America. Today, few are. Almost all of the 70 million iPhones, 30 million iPads... [Read more]

trademarks

Did the Church Fathers address the issue of slavery?

I remember in seminary discussing the issue of slavery. No, no one was in favor of slavery. Rather, the discussion was a Biblical and historical one. First was Saint Paul really against slavery, or was it something that he tolerated as part of the existing social order and part of Israel’s history? For those of you who are not aware, among the laws found in the Old Testament are a whole set of... [Read more]

Cats, suitcases, and leather gloves

I found out today just how angry a cat can become. My wife and I are currently visiting our daughter, who has just delivered her second child, our fourth grandchild. I am staying at a hotel. Tonight my wife washed our clothes at our daughter and son-in-law’s house. After they were done, they were ironed and carefully folded into the suitcase. Eventually, the suitcase was zipped shut. It was... [Read more]

God and extraordinary evidence

Yesterday Father Orthoduck quoted Carl Sagan who himself was quoting another scientist. Carl Sagan said: “Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary levels of evidence if they are to be believed.” – Carl Sagan Father Orthoduck agreed with Carl Sagan, and at the end of yesterday’s post suggested that God appears to hold the same opinion! When Father Orthoduck was but a duckling seminarian... [Read more]