Hmm, gosh this sounds just like Father Orthoduck at times. We have this tendency to misuse Scripture to our benefit whenever we can. “Proof-texting” is not simply a favorite tactic of those who are trying to convince you of their viewpoint. Sadly, it is a tactic that all of us use whenever we sin, in order to deflect at least some of the punishment from us. Sometimes this is nowhere more... [Read more]

trademarks

On the Gospel in preaching and practice

On a blog called Internetmonk, I am part of a group called the Liturgical Gangstas. The idea is that periodically the moderator of the blog asks a question of people from different Christian backgrounds who have an interest in liturgy to see how they would respond. Most of us are pastors, but not all. Today is one of the days when our “feature” is posted. Below is the question that we were... [Read more]

marketing

On fathers and teenage daughters

Those of you who now have grown daughters may very well remember facing a moment similar to this sometime in their early teenage years. I say early teenage years because by the time they are in their late teenage years, they are normally horrified at the thought of asking their father anything that has to do with their bodily development. Now, you may not remember such a moment in your little girl’s... [Read more]

Follow up thoughts on it isn’t true just because someone told you so

One person who commented on my post, Something is not true simply because someone said so, wondered about the place of the Holy Spirit in my description of the Early Church Fathers: Would you not say that they relied on the Holy Spirit then, as He did His work in that era, but they did so in humility and through their everyday dealings and practices (“Scripture, prayer, reflection, fasting, consultation... [Read more]

mail

Something is not true simply because someone said so

Sometimes one reads two totally unrelated posts and it sparks some thinking in one’s mind. This happened to me today. Above is the latest Pithless Thought cartoon. And from another totally unrelated blog and blog post comes the following commentary: The longer I have been a believer in and follower of Jesus, the less I have been attracted to “movements” (“fads?”) in the church. I realize... [Read more]

help

Pithless Thoughts on true priesthood

Father Orthoduck is on the road, so he is printing below parts of a post from Pithless Thoughts. Please do follow the link and read the full post. Father Ernesto hopes to be able to blog again tomorrow. It is no secret to those who know me that I aspired to the priesthood for about 50 years of my life. For 30 of those years since I got fired from my one “full time ministry job” I’ve... [Read more]

A small excerpt from a history of child-raising

After the Talmud posting on child-rearing, I was doing some research into child-raising. I found the following quote. I should warn those who are easily shocked that it is a tough quote. Infant abandonment was also a fairly common phenomenon in early modern Europe. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries the typical foundling (enfant trouvé, French; expósito, Spanish; gettello, Italian; Findelkind,... [Read more]

about

Is there a place for tough love?

I must admit that the Geico advert above has been my favorite one so far. I thought of it today when I was talking with a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. This person has been part of AA for over two decades, and has not “slipped” for years. As we were talking, s/he commented that s/he misses the “old” Alcoholics Anonymous. As s/he put it, back then the members would be tough... [Read more]

Let’s get some perspective!

So often we lack any sense of historical perspective in America. We love to use the saying about he who does not know history is doomed to repeat it. Then we promptly go out and make a mistake that could have been avoided with just a little knowledge of history. You see, the typical American attitude is to see something that we think needs to be changed, and then want it to be changed immediately.... [Read more]

Orthodox blessing outline

OK, it has been a long day and a good celebration of July 4. I am tired, so let me put up a short lesson from Pithless Thoughts. Above you can see how an Orthodox priest’s hand is positioned when he makes the sign of the cross and why he holds his hand in that position when he blesses others. The next panel is how a layperson blesses him/herself. Finally, the lower panel shows how either your... [Read more]

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