Holla

Just thought I'd give a public nod and a few words about our Men's Group's new website. In an effort to "restore broken communion," before you click the link at the bottom of this post, please read the few words about the group below.

Men's Group originally started back in the early days of the Bachelor Pad Of Glory (BPOG) before I moved to the southwest side of Indianapolis. It died out for a couple of years until a core group of us decided that it was time again to start it back up.

I'm not even really sure how it happened or why, but for me, the group has become one of the most solid foundations for allowing me to grow into who I am today. As used to be a common topic for posting on my old (and very confusing) blog, Analysis Analyzed, how to be a Godly man in today's culture isn't the easiest thing to figure out. Personally, I struggled for quite awhile for meaning and assurance that I was on the right path. Being a part of this group gave me the the necessary tools that were needed to complete that struggle, as well as a continuing accountability and feeling of inclusiveness.

Men's Group is a group of men who (now all across the nation) gather casually on a weekly basis to read Scripture, drink responsible amounts of beer "to strengthen man's heart," give each other a hard time in "manly" ways, discuss issues of the day, share burdens and struggles, to pray for one another, and to be a physical manifestation of the friendship and love that Christ offers us.

When you click the link below - and I say this especially for you womenfolk - be reminded that God made men and women very different from each other, and for a reason. What is said on the site you are about to see may confuse you. However, know that it remains that way for a reason, and thus far, has proven to be truly lifegiving and salvific for all who are directly involved. It is an online representation of the material that comes out of our Men's Group. With that in mind, proceed at your own discernment.

www.beerandbiblestudy.org

For anyone who is not a woman who is interested in being part of a group like this, check out the site and leave a comment. All men are welcome. Only men.. not women.

Life As Usual

Great day. I got to sleep in 'til 9:30 or so this morning, which was nice for a change. However I must admit I'm still in the enjoyment phase of having to wake up early enough every weekday morning to be at work by 8am. Got to talk a bit with Matushka about a computer that was donated for a family of 8 children (15 and younger) whose father just up and left recently. All the kids are being home schooled, and not only did the father leave, he took the computer with him. So now they are without a computer for running their schooling materials. I began to examine the beige box that could have once been called a computer, and noticed the Windows98 sticker on the front of it.. and the specs. "266Mhz processor, 8Mb of RAM - expandable to 256Mb, 4Gb Hard Drive, etc." Yeah, uh the only thing that's good for is a doorstop. I turned it on just for the heck of it, and 10 minutes later when it finally recognized my mouse movements, I shut it right back down. Anyway, all of that to say that I was thinking it might be nice to give this family a much nicer/newer computer. Whether it was purchased new or a year-old computer that someone I knew wanted to donate. I figured this blog might be a good outlet for that! So, if you would like to participate in helping an obviously in-need family by donating some cash or just giving a computer, please leave a comment at the end of this post letting me know, and I'll get back with you on how to proceed.

I called my family for our newly scheduled Saturday chat and got to talk to Gabe and Micah for a bit. I miss being around back home. When I finally talked to Dad, Vladyka called to see how I was doing. He was driving, of course, but it was so nice to hear his voice and of his continuing diligence in the pursuit of Truth. We talked about the seminary's, and he updated me on the usual diocesan happenings. I wish I knew how to support him better, maybe more tangibly.

I spent the afternoon helping T's sister and brother-in-law pack up a 24 foot Ryder for moving to Sweetwater. I've helped move people before, but the heat was just ridiculous! It was nice that everyone kept such a positive attitude in spite of the discomfort. I had to leave an hour or so early to go to Vespers. Hearing the synaxarion of the North American saints Peter and Juvenali was inspiring. Confession afterward was relieving, as it usually is. I seem to get kind of scared to make confession after not having done it for a few months. A lot of spiritual warfare involved there, I'm sure. However God is always loving, patient and encouraging. And never responds the way I hear it in my head beforehand: "When are you going to get this right? I've given you seventy times seven chances!" I really do want to get it right.

T called me as I was getting into my car from Vespers to let me know that since her sister and brother-in-law would be leaving the next morning, we were all going out to Wallbangers, a Valley-favorite burger joint. (I still prefer a 1/2lb Philly Steak and Cheese Thickburger from Hardees to any burger I've tasted yet, but that's for another post.) I met T over at her house beforehand as everyone was still getting ready. T sat down to sing and play some classic praise songs on the piano, and her brother sang along. Before I knew it, her mom and dad and myself were all standing around the piano singing our hearts out to God. I have a feeling that this won't be an uncommon occurrence.

As T and I said our goodbye's to her sister and brother-in-law from Wallbangers, we watched them get into their car with their two little boys in the back seat. They recently bought a used Dodge Neon because they needed a reliable car to drive back and forth from Sweetwater. But as they started their car and T and I stood expecting them to begin pulling out, they both open the two front doors and put a foot outside and push off like you would see in the Flintstones. We had a good laugh at the expense of their non-working Reverse gear, and watched as they drove away. T cried, and I teared up too because I know what it's like to watch those you love fade into the distance.

Tomorrow, I get to go and offer all of this along with the entire world back to my Creator. I have so much to be thankful for.

I Don't Know If I'd Call It An Update, Per Se

Not a whole lot happening lately really, which is the reason I've not posted in a while. Life is going well in the Valley. Very humid lately. It feels like you're just walking through a resistance of hot wetness.

The Liturgical new year has brought some new inspiration as new beginnings tend to do. Liturgy this morning was beautiful. Every once in awhile I'm awakened by an instance in my circumstances, and God uses the opportunity to open my eyes to His presence. So peaceful. It doesn't happen enough for me.

Our Men's Group is going well. I keep bouncing back and forth between what it means to be a Christian. Sometimes I feel very estranged being Orthodox - especially with not many people my own age around who are. I want and occasionally try to talk about it with my more Protestant guy friends down here.. and they take it as best they can. They are good, solid, genuine Christian men. I just want to communicate Fullness, Fulfillment and the "further up and deeper in," without sounding like I'm discounting the True foundation that God has given them. They came up with an analogy of the three main sects of Christianity this last group we had. Orthodoxy being the older, wiser and more patient brother; Catholocism being somewhat of the rebellious middle brother, and Protestantism being the youngest, most rebellious of all. The point being that we are all Christian, and that we are all drawing nearer to God in our own ways. Sometimes it just sounds a bit too postmodern for me to swallow completely. Regardless of what I say I believe, I realize that how we love God and our neighbor is ultimately what matters. So, I'll stop talking about it.

Onto a bit lighter topic of conversation.. I thought this was too funny to keep to myself. T and I decided to try and find out what our offspring might look like someday. We call it, Jessi. Can anyone say "Lothlorien?"

I miss you all back home. Please keep me in your prayers. I'm doing my best to consistently keep you in mine!

TTFN

A Contemplation

I was asked recently by one of the guys in our Men's Group down here what the Orthodox understanding of death and the afterlife is. I wasn't able to offer him a definite answer, so I figured I'd start looking. I found a transcript of a talk given by Fr. Thomas Hopko in 1999. A bit of it struck me this morning before Divine Liturgy, and I thought I would share it with you. Though it doesn't really have much to do with what actually happens when we die, it does illustrate very well how and why we, as Christians are able to die.

And how do you show that you love God? By loving your neighbor and your worst enemy, and by taking their sin and evil upon yourself, and even by dying their death for them so that you can liberate them from death, because they have no power over it. That is exactly what Jesus does and that is what our faith is.