Benevolent Providence

Prior to receiving communion with the Orthodox Church, a parishioner must confess. The process is different than with the Catholic Church; with the Orthodox Church, confession is done every time one is preparing to receive communion, and is done in small groups with the priest. One reads a standard yet comprehensive list of sins to confess; if anyone has something out of the ordinary to confess, there is an opportunity to do that, and, of course, if there is something serious to discuss with the priest privately, that can be done, as well.

One phrase from confession that has been on my mind in recent weeks is the part showing appreciation for God's "benevolent providence over me, a sinner."

I think even believers often fail to understand the significance of this; or, if they do understand, they fail to realize the ramifications.

We all make mistakes and do things we shouldn't do. God has given us instructions as to what we should and should not do, God has told us what is right and wise, and what is wrong and foolish. Like a child that perhaps doesn't understand the significance of a hot stove until he gets burned, we don't always pay attention to the Lord's instructions, and we do things we shouldn't, things we have been warned about. We then get hurt, we then hurt others, we then make a mess of things – this is "sin."

God understands this, and is still watching over us for our own good. When we are believers, when we are Christians, we recognize that we need His help in our lives, and we ask Him to guide us. He "rules" our lives, although, since this is with our consent (the consent of us, the "governed"), this is proper even to our limited understanding of ruling over people.

God's rule over our lives is for our own good. Perhaps the closest we can come to understanding this is when we look at good, loving parents trying to raise their children, although, as humans, such parents are still imperfect (and, of course, there are bad parents who abuse their children…); God is beyond being a "good parent," as He is the Best, a Perfect Parent. Since His dominion in our lives is for our own good, His is a Benevolent Providence in the lives of us sinners.

What does all this mean?

Despite our efforts (which sometimes are greater than at other times), we are sinners and continue to do things we shouldn't do; and, as believers, we freely seek God's help and give Him dominion over our lives. What we need to do is acknowledge our mistakes, errors, and the wrongs we do. There can be no growth if we do not acknowledge our shortcomings and try to do better, and there can be no justice if we do not acknowledge the wrongs we do. Once we acknowledge this, we invite Him, again and again (perhaps more as a reminder to ourselves than as a reminder to Him) to intervene in our lives, not only for our own good, for the good of those around us.

There is no mistake too great for Him to fix; there is no one who is so lost that He does not know where that lost person is and how to lead that lost person back to where he should be. But, we do need to actively seek His input and guidance. It is a tiny thing indeed, to admit a mistake and ask for help, then He will do the rest; however, this tiny thing is a very great thing, as we must set aside our pride, which gets us into trouble and separates us not only from Him but from those around us. For too many people, setting aside pride is an act that seems out of reach.

If you can, however, acknowledge your mistakes before Him (and before others) and ask for help, you will find that God is ready, willing and able to intervene in your life for the benefit not only of you but of society around you – this is what it means that God has "Benevolent Providence over me, a sinner."

(Cross-posted at Gangstyle.com.)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Don't get so freaked out about presents and shopping and business that you forget the reason for the season.

Yes, I think it is important to be with family during Christmas, but neither should you let family freak you out. Some people, especially those I encounter on-line, have families that do just that.

God is peace and love. If you are sensing something other than peace and love, then that means someone else is there stirring the pot.

Who Can Be Saved?

We heard a homily in mass on the following passages of the Gospel:

19:23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
19:24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
19:25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
(from the Gospel according to Matthew)
(Compare to Mark 10:24-26 and Luke 18:24-26)

The explanation we heard was centered on the gates in the wall around Jerusalem. One gate was supposedly called the Eye of the Needle, and was a low gate through which sheep could pass easily, but which a camel would have to be on its knees to pass through. Similarly, a loaded camel (or any kind of an animal, really) would need to be unloaded first, as it would not be able to pass through the gate fully loaded with whatever it was carrying.

It makes for a nice story.

The image we have of a needle, used for sewing, is that it has an eye that is obviously too small for hardly anything to pass through it, much less a camel. Thus, it is impossible for a camel to go through it, so it is similarly impossible for a rich man to be saved. This goes over big with poor people in church: while they don't have a great deal in this life, at least things will be evened out some in the afterlife.

Of course, God has given some people riches. This in no way means that God does not intend these people to be saved. Here, of course, I disagree with many Christian groups who believe that some people were not intended to be saved. It's funny how people who say that always seem to have a smile on their faces, since they consider themselves part of the group that was intended to be saved.

Anyway, as the homily went, it is not impossible for a rich man to be saved, just difficult, as it would be for a camel to go through this gate. And, just as the camel has to lose its burden, so does the rich man have to unburden himself some, and worry about heavenly things, and not earthly riches. It is important for the rich man to realize where his wealth (and his very existence) comes from, and be generous not just toward the Lord, but doing the Lord's work. Finally, it is nice to realize the need to humble oneself before God, and this is of course symbolized by the camel on its knees going through this gate for sheep.

Intrigued, I looked up this gate on the internet, and found no website that explained where the gate was or anything like that. There are sites that map out the ancient gates of Jerusalem, but no such "Eye of the Needle" gate was to be found. I did find several sites where this story is repeated, for homilies, and some sites that claimed that it is only in Sunday School that such a gate exists. Apparently, this story crept into Christian teachings in recent centuries, but is not based in fact.

Okay, so what?

Well, let's think about this: imagine a camel, a big animal, going through the eye of the kind of a needle we sew with. Impossible! But, all things are possible with God.

God did not intend that anyone be lost, but rather that all be saved.

Impossible?

So, was there really such a gate in the wall around Jerusalem? It is an interesting question, and important to historians and archeologists, but does it really matter?

Our concern is the gate to Heaven. We need to understand that Jesus is about screening us in, not screening us out, but we need to do what He wants for that to happen, and that certainly may mean unloading some of our burdens, and relying more on our Creator than on earthly riches.

Russian Orthodox Church Reunification

The Russian Orthodox Church is reunified, as of May 17.

I've been planning post on this, but I just haven't had time. More background on what this means will follow. Meanwhile, here is the belated news.

Russian Orthodox Church reunification in Moscow

Metropolitan Laurus, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, arrived in Moscow Tuesday on a mission that will reunify the Church that split in 1921,following the Bolshevik revolution.

Hundreds of thousands of Orthodox priests, monks, nuns and laity were jailed, banished and murdered by the Communist regime in Russia. The exiled branch of the Church left in 1921 after accusing the clergy in Soviet Russia of collaborating with the Communist regime.

The two prelates are scheduled to sign a document establishing canonical ties on Thursday, May 17, 2007. The signing of the reunification document will be held at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow. A meeting in advance of the formal act of reunification between Metropolitan Laurus and Russian Patriach Alexy II is underway at the Danilov Monastery in Moscow.

Metropolitan Kirill, Chairman of the Department for External Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, and & Archbishop Mark of Germany are, also, taking part in the discussions.

The Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate will meet May 16th at the patriarch's residence. The Synod will focus on matters related to the solemn service at Christ the Savior's Cathedral.

Hundreds of pilgrims from the United States and Western Europe traveled to Moscow to witness the reunification of the Church.

News sources: Interfax, United Press International and Radio Free Europe

A glimpse from last winter looking forward at this event is here:

"On the Joint Divine Services Scheduled for May 2007 for the Signing of the Act of Canonical Communion"

Seeking the Lord vs. Hiding from the Lord

An email came in from a young lady who has had many problems in her life, and who has made many mistakes.... Now she is seeking the Lord's help in her life.

The key part of my response:


The Lord created you unique, He loves you, and He wants to help you.

Turn to the Lord, just as you are, and let Him take it from there.

For details, read on...

3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?"
3:2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden;
3:3 "but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.' "
3:4 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die.
3:5 "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
3:7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
3:8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
3:9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?"
3:10 So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."
(from the Book of Genesis)

This is an interesting passage. Adam does something he knows he's not supposed to do, and then God walks through the garden, so Adam hides. Then God asks "Where are you?"

Wait a minute! Don't You know? Aren't You God?

Of course He knows where Adam is. He knows where Adam is and what Adam has done. The question was not for God's sake, but for Adam's sake, so Adam would admit what he had done. Once Adam acknowledges his mistake, God begins the healing process. But, the first step is that we need to admit that we have a problem. And, if we don't know that we have a problem, or don't want to admit it, God can help us there, too.

To not admit that there is a problem is to "stick your head in the sand", or to hide behind a tree from God, like Adam did. Adam's real problem wasn't that he had sinned; his real problem was that, by hiding himself from God, by distancing himself from his Creator, he was in real danger of getting into far more serious trouble. (Keep in mind, that serpent was still out there!)

Contrast that to Zacchaeus:

19:1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
19:2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.
19:3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.
19:4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.
19:5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house."
19:6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.
19:7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner."
19:8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold."
19:9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;
19:10 "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
(from the Gospel according to Luke)

Zacchaeus was a tax collector. Tax collectors in those days in that part of the world were corrupt; they were extortioners. Yet, rather than hide his sinful self behind a tree as Adam had done (and as I always want to do), Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus. Of course, Jesus already knew all about Zacchaeus, including Zacchaeus' sinful life; but, because Zacchaeus did not hide from Him, but rather made himself very visible so Jesus could enter his life, salvation came to Zacchaeus' house that day.

And in the same way, by seeking God's help, salvation has come to your house today.

God is God --

Rev 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty."

There is nothing that He can't do!

Don't think for a moment that you have done something so bad, or that you are so far gone, or whatever, that your Creator can't save you -- after all, it was He Who created the Earth and everything on it, Who created the Heavens and everything in them, Who created the Sea and everything in it. There is nothing He can't do. The only danger is that you might try to hide yourself from Him, in which case you would be in danger, because that serpent is still out there. In admitting your problems and inviting Him into your life, you've already done the part that is hardest for you. Now He will take it from here -- just make sure that you keep inviting Him in, again and again, and thanking Him for everything.

Don't wait until you do this or achieve that -- don't put it off. Turn to Him now, just as you are. He does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called.

John 15:16 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you..."

There is nothing He can't fix, and Jesus, Who hung on that cross for you, will not abandon you now. He didn't abandon you then when He was being tortured and hung out to die, He will not abandon you now.

Just keep inviting Him in and thanking Him, and before you know it, your life will be a miracle.

Lady Mocha: Following Up

Posted over at Gangstyle.com, Lady Mocha has a follow-up to her story:

Hey ladies =D

For those of you who dont know me, HI! my names Shanna : )

I thought id share a little bit about my Gang Rape experience, feelings, thoughts and self worth in hope that it will speak of ECOURAGEMENT and HOPE to you all =D

2 months and 3 weeks before turning 13 i was gang raped. It was the last thing i ever expected to happen that evening on my way home...

The attack involved 12 strong, aggressive males violently throwing and pinning me to the ground... I was in so much shock and disbelief i started finding it hard to breathe... Everything was mute... A thousand thoughts running through my head... Numbed by what was taking place i layed there totally helpless and powerless and endured 4 hours of being violently raped.

After the attack I was no longer that confident happy go lucky chick... No longer cracking jokes and laughing with my friends and family... I secluded myself from everyone and everything... Fear, doubt and negativity flooded my mind, heart, soul and spirit...

Ladies, for 3 years, i suffered in silence and slowly, i found myself sinking further into that dark and lonely hole where nothing else exists except hurt, anger, fear, pain, loneliness and depression.

When i finally built up the courage to tell someone, and work with them in helping me move on and moving forward, you wont believe the amount of weight that was lifted off my shoulders... Ladies, i could breathe again... and it felt so good...

You have got so much to live for... so much to look forward too... Dont let Fear and Doubt stop you from living a good healthy happy and prosperous life =D

So here are my little words of enouragement and hope to you =D

My Dear Friend

Find the courage within yourself to reach out to someone for help... There are so many loving and patient caring people with open arms that are willing to help heal and mend your broken heart and your emotionally wounded soul... And as you take their hand, watch as your life starts to transform... Take shape...You have so much to live for =D Dont let fear and doubt rule your life... Step out in faith and believe with all your heart that your healing and miracle is just around the Corner... and Ladies?

"LET NO ONES THOUGHTS,WORDS OR JUDGEMENT DEFINE WHO YOU ARE!!!"

You are unique and special in your own way... there is only one of you... So show the world what you can do =D

i'd like to end my piece with the last four lines i want to quote from a poem i wrote about my gang rape experience... It Reads:

"the G members think
they stripped me of eveything
HUH,they only stripped me of my clothes
I STILL HAVE MY DIGNITY!!!"


I believe in you Ladies! God IS always with you...

Come on Ladies =D


~ YOU CAN DO IT ~ =D

God bless you, Shanna! I'm proud of you!


By the way -- it seems to me the original post that she left at Gangstyle.com on the message boards about two years ago had the title "My Gang Rape", and that's kind of how she's addressing it here, not as otherwise entitled, "My Date Rape".

Adult Child Going Astray

Over at Gangstyle.com:

he is 23 doing everything I dont want him to be doing, he has disowned me, because I said it is not good, how do I handle it, how do parents handle it thank you Cathie

My thoughts:

Prayer.

Under those circumstances, you can sure understand what the Lord goes through. Starting in the Garden of Eden, and especially today, so many people have disowned Him and do everything the He knows is not good, everything that He knows leads only trouble, everything that He has warned us not to do.

He understands that there comes a time when the kids need to go make their own mistakes, so that the mess that they get themselves into humbles them a little, so that they are then open to hearing a little wisdom. Short of that, many kids think they know something about everything, and don't have time for learning from experiences of people who have made the mistakes already, or who know where some roads take a person. Often times, even making those mistakes themselves doesn't seem to do it for our kids.

In the following passage from Isaiah, we can easily envision an angry God striking at the inhabitants of the earth:

65:2 I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people,
Who walk in a way that is not good,
According to their own thoughts;
65:3 A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face;...

65:11 "But you are those who forsake the Lord,
Who forget My holy mountain,
Who prepare a table for Gad,
And who furnish a drink offering for Meni.
65:12 Therefore I will number you for the sword,
And you shall all bow down to the slaughter;
Because, when I called, you did not answer;
When I spoke, you did not hear,
But did evil before My eyes,
And chose that in which I do not delight."

Yet, the Lord is not about "getting" us for what we do. Quite the opposite, He does a great deal to show us the right way, and to convince us to be on it. But, ultimately, He will respect our choice. And our choices to walk in ways that are not good lead to consequences that are not good.

Put another way, the Lord doesn't have to take vengeance on us; we take vengeance on ourselves. He tries to convince us not to. But, it may only be when we goof things up enough that we finally make ourselves ready to listen to His wisdom.

Similarly, it may only be after your son has goofed some things up that he appreciates that his mom, while not perfect (no one is), does love him and does try her best to keep him from making mistakes which are obvious to her.

"he is 23" "he has disowned me"

He's an adult, and you need to face the possibility that there is nothing you can do, other than prayer. And, like the Lord, Who is there for us waiting for us to return, no matter how far astray we go, you can do your son a service by being there for him to take him back when he returns, no matter how far astray he goes.

"how do parents handle it"

That's my take on how our Father handles it, and a suggestion for you.

It's not easy.

Imagine how He felt, watching His Son on the cross.... And that was not His Son's doing, that was our doing!