[ Archive for November, 2007 ]
Posted by JohnG (November 21, 2007 at 10:39 am)
Now I know the end of the world is at hand… Repent because the kingdom of God is at hand.
Here’s a sobering thought: Hundreds of bottles of Jack Daniel’s whiskey, some of it almost 100 years old, may be unceremoniously poured down a drain because authorities suspect it was being sold by someone without a license.
Officials seized 2,400 bottles late last month during warehouse raids in Nashville and Lynchburg, the southern Tennessee town where the whiskey is distilled.
“Punish the person, not the whiskey,” said an outraged Kyle MacDonald, 28, a Jack Daniel’s drinker from British Columbia who promotes the whiskey on his blog. “Jack never did anything wrong, and the whiskey itself is innocent.”
Investigators are also looking into whether some of the bottles had been stolen from the distillery. No one has been arrested.
Authorities are still determining how much of the liquor will be disposed of, and how much can be sold at auction.
Tennessee law requires officials to destroy whiskey that cannot be sold legally in the state, such as bottles designed for sale overseas and those with broken seals.
“We’d pour it out,” said Danielle Elks, executive director of the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
The estimated value of the liquor is $1 million, possibly driven up by the value of the antique bottles, which range from 3-liter bottles to half-pints.
One seized bottle dates to 1914, with its seal unbroken. Elks said it is worth $10,000 on the collectors market. Investigators are looking into whether the liquor was being sold for the value of the bottles rather than the whiskey.
“Someone was making a great deal of profit,” she said.
Tennessee whiskeys age in charred white oak barrels, but the maturing process that gives them character mostly stops when it is bottled. A bottled whiskey can deteriorate over a long period of time, especially if it is opened or exposed to sunlight and heat.
Christopher Carlsson, a spirits connoisseur and collector in Rochester, N.Y., said old vintages of whiskey in their original containers are highly prized.
“A lot of these bottles are priceless,” he said. “It’s like having a rare painting. It’s heavily collected.”
The raids, prompted by a tip, were conducted at two warehouses and a home in Lynchburg, about 65 miles southeast of Nashville. Another raid was at a Nashville hotel room where drinks were being served and bottles were being sold.
For now, the whiskey is being stored in a Nashville vault.
Elks acknowledged that pouring out the whiskey would not be a happy hour for her.
“It’d kill me,” she said.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/11/15/national/a125256S24.DTL
Posted by JohnS (November 18, 2007 at 6:44 am)
Over a year ago I was in a Borders Bookstore perusing books in the theology section. I encountered a Dutch Reformed minister and his seminarian son. We had a wonderful conversation about contemporary culture, the Church Fathers and the domestic church. The minister had just published a new book on home discipleship Christianity, which I might add is a very interesting read. He gave me several copies of his self-published book. In fact, he had several cases of the book in the trunk of his car. My only regret is that I had nothing in print to offer him in return.
This experience has turned over in my mind multiple times in the past year. The power of personal Christian witness and encounter is intense. When personal encounter is married to the printed word it is perhaps doubly effective.
The Antiochian Orthodox Church (AOC) has a wonderful ministry called Conciliar Press. It’s roots run back to the Evangelicals like Father Peter Gillchrist who heeded the call to return to their “roots in historic Christianity once … again.” Conciliar Press began with the publication of their newspaper, which is now a magazine by the same title … AGAIN.
Sayidna Philip gave the the newly Chrismated Evangelical Orthodox the task of bringing the story of ancient Christianity to the modern world. Sounds like the New Evangelization to me. Thus, Conciliar Press was born.
As the Conciliar Press website notes they “now produce two quarterly magazines, dozens of books by the best writers in American Orthodoxy, icons, cards, and more. Conciliar Press is the primary distributor of the New Testament Orthodox Study Bible, and will begin distributing in early 2008 the Old Testament Orthodox Study Bible, published by Thomas Nelson.”
I might also add that Conciliar Press recently combined its evangelical efforts with the equally excellent Ancient Faith Radio internet-base station.
About a dozen years ago I started purchasing high-quality icons from Conciliar Press. I now have many of their fine books in my personal library. Moreover, I recenlty subscribed to AGAIN magazine.
The AOC is effectively using both print and web – New Evangelization media – to bring Christ to the modern world. There is something here to learn for Byzantine Catholics. Some thoughts on that next.
Posted by JohnS (November 17, 2007 at 3:08 pm)
Recently the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma hosted “All Things New.” It was promoted as an effort to renew the church. It made me recall another effort to renew the Byzantine Catholic Church that was held in Whiting, Ind., in August of 2005. Laity, clergy and monastics gathered to seek ways to renew the Church and inspire some vital evangelical fervor to the mix. The brainstorming of the day yielded some wonderful ideas to recover our patrimony and bring it to the world.
In business we often benchmark ourselves against other companies. This enables a company to check its course against that of another “similar” ship. Interesting ideas often emerge that can propel a company forward and bring a new sense of excitement and purpose to the journey.
I find the Antiochian Orthodox Church (AOC) fascinating on multiple fronts. Almost a dozen years ago, I picked up Becoming Orthodox by Father Peter Gilchrist. (I must confess that Father Peter is now my scripture professor). The book relates the tale of how thousands of evangelicals turned to Holy Orthodoxy. The AOC has been especially welcoming to the evangelicals; in fact more than 80% of their clergy are now converts.
As John G’s witty post above notes, the AOC has established 54 full parishes, 37 new missions, and 13 mission projects since 1988. Glory to God for all good things! Now why is the AOC growing, evangelizing and executing their mission to bring Orthodoxy to America? Clearly His Grace, Sayidna PHILIP (Saliba) has been an excellent shepherd of his flock. His charisma reminds me of St. John Paul II of blessed memory. John Paul II often spoke of the New Evangelization. I believe that Sayidna PHILIP has been engaged in the New Evangelization since his consecration as Metroplitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America in 1966. For more than fourty years the Holy Spirit has been steering his episcopate. And the results … well, let’s just say they are mosting inspiring. More on that in my next post.
Posted by JohnG (November 16, 2007 at 3:23 pm)
A Math Problem
A Byzantine Church is heading WEST at 0 mph, In the opposite direction an Orthodox Church is Evangelizing East at top speed. If the demographics of the Byzantine Church are such that a majority of its parishioners will die off in the next 10 to 15 years, what are the chances that it will reform its liturgy back in line with the Orthodox before death occurs?
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.
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The Antiochian Orthodox Church is on a mission. They are on a mission to convert America to Orthodoxy. Here is a map, note that they have several missions, and several mission projects.
Now… Lets compare and contrast to my Church, the Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Church.. Uhhh…. welll… Ok… there is no comparison.. the Orthodox are taking the Great Commandment to heart… and My Church is holding Seminars on what a great thing it is to be a Byzantine Catholic.
Now… Who is going to get the “Well done, good and faithful servant.” My bet is on the Orthodox, while they may not have Union, they have zeal and it counts for something.
Mark 9: 38-41
“Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
“Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
Posted by JohnG (November 13, 2007 at 3:40 pm)
The Holy Father’s Letter on the occasion of the 16th Centenary of the death of St. John Chrysostom
The Holy Father Benedict XVI addressed bishops and all the faithful with a letter on the occasion of the 16th Centenary of the death of St. John Chrysostom, bishop and doctor of the Church. The Letter was released for the opening of the International Conference on St. John Chrysostom 1600th anniversary of his death, which took place at the Patristic Institute “Augustinianum” in Rome, from 8-10 November 2007.
Venerable brothers in the episcopate and priesthood, dear brothers and sisters in Christ!
I. Introduction
The sixteenth centenary of the death of St John Chrysostom, the great Father of the Church whom Christians of all times venerate, is being observed this year. John Chrysostom is distinguished in the ancient Church for having promoted that “fruitful encounter between the Christian message and Hellenic culture” which “made a lasting impact on both Eastern and Western Churches”. The life and magisterial teachings of this Holy Bishop and Teacher resound in every century and even today elicit universal admiration. The Roman Pontiffs have always recognized in him a living source of wisdom for the Church, and their attention to his teaching has become even more acute in the last century. One hundred years ago, St Pius X commemorated the fifteenth centenary of the death of St John by inviting the Church to imitate his virtues. Pope Pius XII brought attention to the great value of St John’s contribution to the history of the interpretation of the Sacred Scriptures with his theory of “condescension” or synkatábasis. Through it Chrysostom recognized that “the words of God, expressed in human language, become similar to human speech.” The Second Vatican Council incorporated this observation into the Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum on Divine Revelation. Blessed John XXIII underscored Chrysostom’s deep understanding of the intimate connection between the eucharistic liturgy and solicitude for the universal Church.
(more…)
Posted by JohnG (November 11, 2007 at 7:11 pm)
When You Fast: Nativity Fast Traditions for Byzantine Catholics
The Byzantine Catholic Church invites all to participate more fully in the central mysteries of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through her calendar of feasts and fasts.
The feast of the Nativity of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ (Christmas, December 25) is one of the great feasts of the Church year, celebrating the coming or advent of the Messiah (which in Hebrew means “He who is anointed by the Spirit” or in Greek, Christos), Jesus Christ. Christ was born into the world through the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary to offer us the wondrous gifts of salvation and theosis, our transformation into the likeness of God by sharing in His holiness through the energies of His grace.
Through the mystery we celebrate in the Nativity, we too are invited to become the children of God, sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. But this transformation does not occur overnight. Rather, it requires a rediscovery of the essential disciplines of a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Training for Body, Mind and Spirit
For Saint Paul, Christian discipleship is like an athletic contest in an arena, which requires bot training and effort. This is the root of the Christian understanding of asceticism and praxis.
By training our body, mind and spirit with the help God’s grace to seek and follow His commands and cultivate the virtues of the saints, in turn we help to extract the poison of corruption, sin and death within our own lives and to realize the saving and transforming power of Christ’s life given to us in Holy Baptism.
The Church has traditionally taught four main ways to engage in Christian asceticism, no matter what our state in life. These are prayer, fasting, almgiving, and love. By actively engaging in these disciplines of discipleship during the time of the fast, we unite ourselves more perfectly to Christ as we celebrate the joy of the feast of His Nativity.
Christian Praxis Activities
In anticipation of the advent or “coming” of the Messiah that we celebrate during the feast of the Nativity on December 25, Byzantine Christians enter into a time of preparation known as the “Nativity Fast” (or “St. Philip’s Fast” since it begins each year on the Feast of St. Philip the Apostle, November 15).
As with most periods of fast before the great feasts, the season of advent is a time for a deeper interior conversion to Christ by embracing the four forms of Christian praxis. Below we offer some suggestions for ways to put into practice the four forms of Christian praxis or asceticism during the Nativity fast.
Prayer
- Spend at least 15 minutes in the morning and evening in prayer each day.
- Pray the Jesus Prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” 100 times a day.
- Display an icon of the Nativity in the prayer corner of your house or room and spend 10 minutes each day meditating on the saving mysteries surrounding the story of Christ’s Birth.
- Receive the Mystery of Repentance (Confession) at least once during the fast.
- Use the prayer guide (see the posting below) with family or friends.
Fasting
- Abstain from meat and dairy products on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays. Dairy is allowed on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but still no meat. (See the next post for Recipies.)
- Fast from certain foods, such as soda, alcoholic beverages or candy.
- With each meal, eat only an amount that is sufficient for nutritional needs, without feeling full.
- Fast from select forms of entertainment (television, movies, radio, internet, novels, etc.).
Almsgiving
- Give your time, talent and/or treasure to a parish outreach or a special charity.
- Increase your parish tithe for the season.
- Clean out your house of any excessive items or possessions and share them with the poor and needy.
- Purchase gifts for homeless or needy children or families.
Love
- Meditate on the Ten Commandments or the Beatitudes and identify one or two of these to put into practice each week.
- Examine your conscience each night, asking for forgiveness from God or others as needed.
- Find opportunities to share your faith with others.
Posted by JohnG (November 11, 2007 at 5:52 pm)
Philip’s Fast Dinner Ideas
To assist you in fasting during this period of preparation for the Feast of the Nativity, we have prepared this list of dinner ideas. Each meal is linked to a recipe page at an outside website. (In some cases, it may be necessary to scroll down the recipe page to find the recipe listed for the day.)
November 15- December 24
Monday, Wednesday, Friday - No Meat or Dairy
African sweet potato stew
Spicy Black Bean Chili
Bean Curd with Broccoli
Ultimate Shepherd’s Pie
Stuffed Bell Peppers
Steamed Fresh Vegetables and Noodles
Black Bean Burritos
Cajun Red Beans and Rice
Tofu, Brocolli and Cashew Stir Fry
Bean Curd with Broccoli
Tuesday - Thursday - Dairy OK, but no Meat
Shrimp Creole
Spinach Stuffed Shell
Crabmeat Break
Four Seasons Pizza
Shrimp Creole
Cheese and Prune Pyrohy
Ziti with Sicilian-Style Tomato Sauce
Sauteed Shrimp in Wine Sauce
Days During Phillips Fast with NO Fasting:
November 21 - Entrance of the Theotokos
December 6th - Nicholas of Myra
December 9 - Conception of St. Anne
Dec. 24, 2005 - Strict Fast until Holy Supper
Holy Supper Traditions
Holy Supper Recipes
Posted by JohnG (November 11, 2007 at 5:51 pm)
Nativity Fast Prayers
Begin by standing quietly before an icon of the Nativity with a small lit candle in front of it. Asterisks and underlines are provided in the text to assist those who wish to chant the verses. The following psalm tone may be used:
![[Psalm Tone]](http://byzantineevangelization.com/resources/psalmtone.gif)
Introductory Prayers
- Through the prayers of our holy fathers,
- Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Amen.
- Glory to You, our God*, glory to You!
- Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth,
- everywhere present and filling all things,
- Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life,
- come and dwell within us,
- cleanse us of all stain,*
- and save our souls, O gracious One.
- Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal,*
- have mercy on us. (3 times)
- Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,*
- now and ever and forever. Amen.
- Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us;
- Lord, cleanse us of our sins;
- Master, forgive our transgressions;*
- Holy One, come to us and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake.
- Lord, have mercy. (3 times)
- Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
- now and ever and forever. Amen.
- Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
- Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
- Give us this day our daily bread,
- and forgive us our trespasses
- as we forgive those who trespass against us,
- and lead us not into temptation,*
- but deliver us from evil.
- For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.
- Lord, have mercy. (12 times)
- Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,*
- now and ever and forever. Amen.
Call to Worship
- Come, let us worship our King and God.
- Come, let us worship Christ, our King and God.*
- Come, let us worship and bow before the only Lord Jesus Christ, the King and our God.
Psalm 103
- Bless the Lord, O my soul!*
- Lord my God, how great you are,
- clothed in majesty and glory,*
- wrapped in light as in a robe!
- You stretch out the heavens like a tent.*
- Above the rains you build your dwelling.
- You make the clouds your chariot,*
- you walk on the wings of the wind,
- You make your angels spirits*
- and your ministers a flaming fire.
- You founded the earth on its base,*
- to stand firm from age to age.
- You wrapped it with the ocean like a cloak:*
- the waters stood higher than the mountains.
- At your threat they took to flight;*
- at the voice of your thunder they fled.
- They rose over the mountains and flowed down*
- to the place which you had appointed.
- You set limits they might not pass*
- lest they return to cover the earth.
- You make springs gush forth in the valleys;*
- they flow in between the hills.
- They give drink to all the beasts of the field;*
- the wild asses quench their thirst.
- On their banks dwell the birds of heaven;*
- from the branches they sing their song.
- From your dwelling you water the hills;*
- earth drinks its fill of your gift.
- You make the grass grow for the cattle*
- and the plants to serve man’s needs,
- that he may bring forth bread from the earth*
- and wine to cheer man’s heart;
- oil, to make his face shine*
- and bread to strengthen man’s heart.
- The trees of the Lord drink their fill,*
- the cedars he planted on Lebanon;
- there the birds build their nests;*
- on the treetop the stork has her home.
- The goats find a home on the mountains*
- and rabbits hide in the rocks.
- You made the moon to mark the months;*
- the sun knows the time for its setting.
- When you spread the darkness it is night*
- and all the beasts of the forest creep forth.
- The young lions roar for their prey*
- and ask their food from God.
- At the rising of the sun they steal away*
- and go to rest in their dens.
- Man goes out to his work,*
- to labor till evening falls.
- How many are your works, O Lord!
- In wisdom you have made them all.*
- The earth is full of your riches.
- There is the sea, vast and wide,
- with its moving swarms past counting,*
- living things great and small.
- The ships are moving there,*
- and the monsters you made to play with.
- All of these look to you*
- to give them their food in due season.
- You give it, they gather it up:*
- you open your hand, they have their fill.
- You hide your face, they are dismayed;
- you take back your spirit, they die,*
- returning to the dust from which they came.
- You send forth your spirit, they are created;*
- and you renew the face of the earth.
- May the glory of the Lord last for ever!*
- May the Lord rejoice in his works!
- He looks on the earth and it trembles;*
- the mountains send forth smoke at his touch.
- I will sing to the Lord all my life,*
- make music to my God while I live.
- May my thoughts be pleasing to him.*
- I find my joy in the Lord.
- Let sinners vanish from the earth and the wicked exist no more.*
- Bless the Lord, O my soul.
- You made the moon to mark the months;*
- the sun knows the time for its setting.
- How many are your works, O Lord!*
- In wisdom you have made them all.
- Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,*
- now and ever and forever. Amen.
- Three times, each with a bow:
- Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!*
- Glory to you, O God!
The following prayers commemorate various elements of the icon of the Nativity. All texts are taken from Byzantine Daily Worship.
Monday: The Magi
When the Lord Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Juda, the Magi came from the East. They adored Him as the incarnate God, opened their treasures with eagerness and offered Him precious gifts: pure Gold, to the King of the Universe; frankincence, to the God of all; myrh to the Immortal, as if He were mortal, He who was to remain three days in the tomb. All you nations, come: let us adore Him wo was born to save our souls! Apostichon of Vespers for the Feast of the Nativity
Tuesday: The Shepherds
When the Lord Jesus was born of the Virgin, the whole creation lit up. Behold: shepherds keep watch, the Magi adore, angels sing hymns of praise and Herod trembles, for the Savior of our souls has appeared in the flesh. Sticheron of Vespers for the Feast of the Nativity
Wednesday: The Angels
Come, you nations: let us sing hymns of praise to the Savior’s Mother who remained a virgin after giving birth. Joy to you, Holy City of our King and God! The savior has chosen to live in you, and there has worked out our salvation. With Gabriel we praise you, and with the shepherds we glorify you and say: “O Mother of God, together with Christ incarnate of you, save our souls!” Lauds of the Feast of the Nativity
Thursday: Joseph
O Joseph, proclaim to David, the ancestor of Christ our God, the great miracles you have witnessed: you have seen the Virgin with child, given praise with the shepherds, adored with the wise men, and an angel of the Lord appeared to you. Intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls. Troparion of Joseph from the Commeration of the Holy and Just Man, Joseph, spouse of the Mother of God
Friday: The Women
The Ointment-bearing women stood by the tomb of the Life-giving One, seeking the Immortal Master among the dead. They heard from the angels the tidings of joy and announced to the disciples that the Lord had risen and had bestowed his great mercy upon the world. Hypacoi from the Octoechos, Tone Eight
Saturday: The Theotokos
Mary, why are you rapt in wonder? Why are you astounded in your inner self? And she answers: “Behold: because I have given birth in time to a Son who is not bound by time. I do not even understand how I conceived: how is this possible when I knew not a man? Who ever saw a birth without human seed?” But where God wills, the laws of nature are upset. It was written: “Christ shall be born of a virgin in Bethlehem of Juda.” From Matins of the Feast of the Nativity
Sunday: Christ
The One whom the universe cannot contain, how was he contained within a womb? He who is in the Father’s bosom, how can He be carried in a mother’s arms? All this happened as He Himself had ordered and willed, and as He pleased. He who was not limited by a human body chose to become incarnate: for our sake, He became what He was not before. He shared our nature without losing his own. Christ is born with two natures to perfect the heavenly world. Kathisma of the Feast of the Nativity
We conclude with the Canticle of Simeon and concluding prayers:
The Canticle of Simeon
- Now you may dismiss your servant, O Lord,
- in peace, according to your word;
- for my eyes have seen your salvation
- which you have prepared before the face of all peoples,
- a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
- and the glory of your people, Israel.
Concluding Prayers
- More honorable than the Cherubim,
- and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim,*
- who, a virgin, gave birth to God the Word,
- you, truly the Theotokos, we magnify.
- Through the prayers of our holy fathers,
- Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Amen.
