Comments for Random Thoughts

Comment on have you seen him? by Brian Smith

Brian Smith — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:58:39 +0000

People have offered Steve money for that Cheeto.

Comment on Another good band by Susan Johansen

Susan Johansen — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:18:02 +0000

Ah, yes, I like the sound of this band. Thanks for putting that up. The words cause me to remember that my days are numbered and I want to make them count. It’s truly hard to believe that the “50″ mark is rapidly descending upon me.

Comment on books by Theresa Meyer

Theresa Meyer — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:31:55 +0000

Have read “The Book Thief” and found it very thought provoking. It will be interesting to see what you think….have read all of Donald Miller’s books but this one-anxious to read it. Happy reading!

Comment on popular Jesus by Tiana Belanger

Tiana Belanger — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:01:38 +0000

Ray,
We have been coming to Parkview for the past several weeks. My children love it, they look forward to it every week. I feel welcome at your church. We have been raised Catholics and things were just not quite right there for us. See you Sunday.
Tiana Belanger

Comment on just some marriage stuff by Wendy Grant

Wendy Grant — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:39:03 +0000

Love these! I love the “friendship” one. Andy and I have been friends for 18 years and “only” married for 4.5. And also the quarreling one… Growing up in a family that “said all the right things” to “not rock the boat,” I’m finding that I actually appreciate fighting with Andrew. We do indeed get to know each other deeper. Praise God!

Comment on Another good band by Karen

Karen — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:58:14 +0000

Sweet. Yes, very nice sound. Now that I’m approaching 50 (too), I think I understand why this song might have “struck a chord” with you.

Comment on Keep it simple by nate

nate — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:03:25 +0000

These are good and challenging words. We are bombarded by messages saying that we need to live a more complex life, that we need to be and do more. Often we need to do less and do it more intentionally instead.

Comment on Keep it simple by Karen

Karen — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 17:31:30 +0000

Hi Ray! Wow, yes, your thoughts reflect a very familiar experience. One thing I have found helpful is the Orthodox emphasis on anchoring the mind in the heart, without which the mind just revolves on itself in endless battle with the many ideas one encounters and all life’s many conundrums. It’s interesting that in Orthodox thought, the mind in this sense is not viewed as properly the “self,” but only the battleground for “thoughts” (usually of the sinful and tempting variety because of Satan’s neverending assaults. Only in anchoring the mind in the heart does it become receptive to the Word that is the antidote to the poisonous suggestions and distractions of the enemy. The heart is understood as the seat of the deepest spiritual awareness, the seat of the real self, which is in the image of God, and where Christ can be encountered, and ultimately I think it is our deepest intuitive understanding of the real meaning of Love. To live with the mind anchored in the heart is simple, but definitely NOT easy. The Fathers saw it as the “violent struggle” to take the Kingdom by force.

Comment on One ugly creature by anonymous

anonymous — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:10:14 +0000

it actually looks llike god just went screw it and put that on earth lol

Comment on spiritual lethargy and us by Karen

Karen — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:08:36 +0000

I’m just dropping by to thank you again for this review! I am in the middle of reading Norris’ book and finding much there to nurture my soul and prime me to get back into the battle against those vices that wage war against the soul. She articulates a profoundly Orthodox mindset of the nature of our spiritual task in this life–but this is not surprising, drawing as she does upon the wealth of wisdom from the early Christian monastics, which has remained now for more than 1,500 years at the heart of Orthodox Christian spirituality. Orthodox monks still practice monasticism in this fairly primitive fashion to this day (though they also make some use of modern technology (such as email and web sites). For the past few decades, there has been a revivial of traditional Orthodox monasticism going on, on Mt. Athos (which has been an Orthodox monastic republic for some 1,000 years in Greece) and even here in the U.S.. Contemporary “Abbas” and “Ammas” continue to be formed in this way, and there are some very challenging and edifying materials becoming more available in English with the accounts of the lives and sayings of these contemporary Elders, whose sayings and lives reflect the same deep and disciplined immersion in the Scriptures and the same Spirit and practical wisdom as those of their predecessors, and which ultimately echo that Beloved Voice many of us have come to know and love from the Gospels. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Glory be to God for all things!