My visit to St. George's

I visited the small Russian parish in Cincinnati yesterday for Liturgy. I had been wanting to go for awhile but just hadn't made it yet. It's set in an older neighborhood near Blue Ash.

It took a little while to find it but then I saw the little cupola at the end of the road and parked my car. It definitely reminds me of the small parishes dotted all over Russia. Before I left my house I wondered if I should bring a headscarf, since that is the traditional wear in Europe. Well, my instincts were right as I saw a couple of women hurriedly draping their heads before making the sign of the cross and entering the building.

I tried to slip in unnoticed but it was impossible. Two women turned around and saw me. Trying to avoid a faux pas, I circled my head with a finger and shook my head. No problem...they had a box of scarves right there. A lady handed it to me and said, "Ah, you are American peoples?"
Gee, no give away there right?

When I entered the tiny room I crossed myself and tried to find a place to stand. In most Orthodox churches, people stand for the majority of the Liturgy which can last over 2 hours. It's a bonus if you can find chairs or benches. So I stood there amidst mostly Russian women on the left side while the men stayed on the right. I kept fiddling with my scarf; it wouldn't stay on my head and I was getting very hot standing next to all these women wearing wool clothing.

The choir mostly sang in Russian then some English. It was beautiful. But I couldn't really tell when communion began and ended. I stayed back while most of the others jockeyed for a position. There was no organization to the chaos whatsoever.

After the service I went forth and took the blessed bread. As I went back into the front room for coffee hour, a woman stopped me, pointing to my sweater. I had something on it. I almost flicked it off then realized it was a crumb of the bread. She grabbed it fast and put it in my mouth. Anything that is blessed or sacred is never to fall to the ground or tossed away...like our flag I suppose.


I met some nice people during coffee hour, many who didn't speak good English. But I don't know any Russian save for a few words so I commended them.

Most people assumed I wasn't Orthodox but when I told them they wanted to know all about why I had chosen to do so. Most cradle Orthodox cannot really grasp why Americans want to join their church. I tried to explain about the televangelists, the making a commodity out of God, and reducing the church to an entertainment venue as reasons. I think they understood but I also think many of them have not been exposed to it so could not make a comparison for themselves.

These people truly have faith and don't question it. They don't let the trappings of our society dictate their lives. Maybe that's the bliss of coming to America as an outsider.

Kathleen Sebelius

This woman is the worst choice for an HHS secretary I have ever seen. My main beef with her is the fact that she supports late term abortions and abortions without parental consent. Late term abortions are an abomination of human life.

George Tiller, the famous doctor in Wichita KS, known as "Tiller the baby killer" has performed many of these in his office. I've seen the interviews with the young women he has performed these horrible abortions on, and they are heartwrenching.

His website makes my stomach turn. http://www.drtiller.com/




Abortionist Tiller Admits to Performing Abortions the Day Before DeliveryHis Speech at National Education Association

By John-Henry Westen

ARLINGTON, VA, March 19, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Notorious partial-birth abortion specialist Dr. George Tiller of Wichita, KS, was caught on hidden video admitting to aborting babies a day before the mother's due date. Students for Life of America (SFLA) today released the video which was made at the Feminist Majority Foundation's annual Women's Leadership Conference held at the National Education Association (NEA) on March 9.

The video reveals Dr. Tiller showcasing massive and graphic pictures of children with fetal abnormalities that he had aborted, so as to make the case for late-term abortions as necessary medical procedure. SFLA's Executive Director Kristan Hawkins, who videotaped the conference and interviewed Tiller clandestinely, commented on the gruesome pictures of aborted children Tiller showed, saying, "One had an extra arm: could not that child had survived and received corrective surgery? Was violently killing the child the only way to go?"

"Pro-lifers are regularly condemned for displaying pictures of aborted babies, but here the pro-abortion crowd and the NEA are more than happy to showcase these graphic images, and even gave Dr. Tiller's presentation a standing ovation," added Hawkins.

Tiller, who currently faces 19 criminal charges for illegal late-term abortions in the state of Kansas, at first feigned ignorance of the Born Alive Infants Protection Act, a federal bill signed into law in 2002 that protects born children from murder and illegalizes infanticide. However when questioned further about the measure he spoke of his ideological objection to the legislation, saying, "Let's say you have 15 or 16, you had 1 slip out with a heartbeat; that is not a viable fetus, but that is born alive or has a heartbeat. Then you have to take that non-viable fetus and rush it directly to the hospital against the woman's wishes."

Given that the conference featuring Tiller was held at the National Education Association, it is probable that a good number of the more than three million members of the NEA would be voicing opposition if they were made aware of the situation.

"As a pro-life teacher, I can say this illustrates why I am no longer a member of the NEA," said Marla Mercer, a West Virginia teacher and former member of the National Education Association. "The NEA should not be involved in this issue; here they are hosting this controversial abortionist and his slideshow of babies he has aborted. There is no way any of my money will ever be used to advance the radical pro-abortion agenda of Planned Parenthood and the NEA."



Kathleen Sebelius, as governor of Kansas, received campaign donations from this man, and had no interest in prosecuting him.

Rush and bigotry

I watched the Rush Limbaugh speech during the CPAC conference. Wow, he really brought the house down! His speech was far more inspiring than any I have heard from Nobama. People tell me all the time that he is a bigot, a fat liar, etc etc. when they have not bothered to LISTEN to the man (because they make assumptions based on what they see on CNN or what their other liberal friends tell them) yet they hang onto Nobama's every word as if it was gold and don't bother to critically examine him.

If you're going to criticize something at least take the TIME to examine both sides before you rush to judgment.

I remember Joe Biden making a comment something along the lines of "when you go into a 7 eleven at 11pm all you see are Indian people."

Who's the bigot here???

There is hope

In watching the CPAC conference on CSPAN today, I was immediately impressed by a 13 year old kid named Jonathan Krohn give a speech about conservatism. Wow, was I impressed!

Here's an article from the Guinnett Daily Post about this outstanding young man:



10/16/2008 12:01:00 AM

Jonathan Krohn, a 13-year-old Duluth resident, has written book on conservatism titled “Define Conservatism.”



Politics passion
13-year-old pens book on conservatism

By Deanna Allen
Staff Writer

LAWRENCEVILLE - Jonathan Krohn has been told he is a 35-year-old living in a 13-year-old's body.

Ask him about conservatism, a topic about which he is particularly passionate, and he may seem even older than 35.

The Duluth resident's belief in the conservative political viewpoint has led him to pen a primer on conservatism. Based on research and interviews with politicians he conducted himself, Krohn has outlined four principles on which he believes conservatism is based: respect for the U.S. Constitution, respect for life, less government and personal responsibility.

"Shucking it down to the cob, I noticed that almost every conservative without an exception pretty much said that those four basic principles were important and key to being a conservative," Krohn said.

The home-schooled student interviewed state legislators Tom Rice, Barry Laudermilk, Tom Graves and Clint Day. He also interviewed conservative talk show host Michael Medved during his research.

Krohn said he wrote his book for current and potential conservatives.

"If you believe in something, it's best to understand it better and to learn more about it," Krohn said, "and I believe that conservatives need to continue to do that and new conservatives need to understand the viewpoints they're getting into."

Krohn developed an interest in political processes about age 8 after hearing about a Democratic filibuster on talk radio while riding in the car with his father, and Krohn became a fan of Bill Bennett's "Morning in America" radio show.

"Because of (Bennett) I really started getting involved in politics and started looking at things and analyzing it on my own," Krohn said.

The teen speaks eloquently about his passion for politics and the values that have directed him toward conservatism.

"The reason I'm passionate about politics is because I know by promoting conservative values I can promote conservative alternatives to the liberal ideas that are out there," Krohn said.

"Define Conservatism for Past, Present and Future Generations" was published this year. Krohn spent five months writing his book, giving up his summer, said his mother, Marla Krohn, who is helping her son to promote his book. The two have embarked on a mini book tour around northeast Georgia, which they hope to turn into a broader tour.

"It is humbling and exciting at the same time to see Jonathan have such confidence in himself, more than most adults do, and to watch him interact with adults on adult issues and hold his own," said Krohn's father, Doug Krohn. "(Jonathan) has a passion for something he goes for it without fear, which is a God-given gift."

"I really want the American people to better understand conservatism," Jonathan Krohn said. "That's the main point of this book."



And this is coming in the cynical, apathetic mood our country has seem to have fallen into. To see a young kid take this one on, way to go!!!

I'm going to buy this book.

HE IS HOMESCHOOLED BY THE WAY!

More cynicism from me

I feel like griping. (What day do I not feel like doing this?)

I'm numb from watching my country go down the tubes, what can I say. Maybe I'm crazy, or criminally insane, or both. Or maybe I'm just one of the few people left with any sense of intelligence to see through what this new administration is doing to our country.

To all those Obama fans out there: You wanted change, and you're definitely getting it! To that all I can say is, "Not my fault. I voted for the other guy."


Found this on a blog. I didn't write the following:

Man puts "Abort Obama, not the unborn" sign in his car window and gets pulled over by OKC policeman named Steve McCool.
It gets more interesting.

After talking to his attorney, Harrison went home where he met the Secret Service. ''When I was on my way there, the Secret Service called me and said they weren't going to ransack my house or anything ... they just wanted to (walk through the house) and make sure I wasn't a part of any hate groups."

I don't countenance any threats to the CinC. But this comment sums up my feelings exactly:

So let me get this straight, the police/government are now telling us that abort/abortion only means "killing or murder" when used in context with Obama in a casual statement or conversation and that is not okay but when actually performed on an unborn child it simply means a "woman's choice" and this is okay! Got it!!




But I really love this one!

This is from

http://jammiewearingfool.blogspot.com/2009/02/classy-obama-blows-off-brothers-of-911.html

Classy: Obama Blows Off Brothers of 9/11 Victim, Invites Anti-Gitmo Aunt Instead

Talk about giving them the finger.
President Obama is caught smack in the middle of a family feud among 9/11 relatives of a financier killed at Ground Zero, The Post has learned.

The brothers of Adam Arias went ballistic when they learned that their aunt, Valerie Lucznikowska, was among the 9/11 relatives invited to last week's White House meeting with Obama. The brothers were not invited.

Arias, 37, a vice president of operations at Euro Brokers who worked on the 84th floor of the World Trade Center South Tower, was the eighth victim identified following the terrorist attacks.

His brothers, Andy and Donald Arias, attended the hearings of five suspected plotters of the 9/11 attacks at Guantanamo Bay last month and support keeping the facility open and prosecuting the detainees immediately.

By comparison, Lucznikowska has complained about alleged torture of Gitmo detainees and favors closing Gitmo.

The Arias brothers both sent letters to Obama protesting her presence in the Oval Office because she does not speak for or represent the Arias family.

They complained that Lucznikowska is exploiting their brother's name to promote her own agenda.
Naturally, Obama sides with the one who has an agenda.

So your brother was murdered by these monsters? Obama tells them to screw themselves.

Classy.


If George Bush had done this to a family to promote his side, you KNOW it would have been front page news and he would have been demonized.

Change YOU can believe in, but not me.

Orthodox Christmas

As we approach Christmas, we're all reminded that heavy consumerism can lead to despair, not to mention large amounts of unnecessary debt. And in this particular time, it must be stressed all the more.
My inner struggle today however doesn't deal with those issues.

This is first Christmas I have spent with my family since being baptized Orthodox.
Therefore, the traditions I have grown up with are in conflict with those I am embracing now, and it is hard to explain to others who are not Orthodox. (I.e. Christmas Eve feasts vs fasting, blessing of the waters, long liturgical services on Christmas Eve, etc. etc.)


Here's some information I pulled off a BBC website in regards to the Orthodox calendar:

Christmas is celebrated by Orthodox Christians in Central and Eastern Europe and throughout the world on the 7th of January in the Gregorian Calendar - 13 days after other Christians.

In the East, Christmas is preceded by a 40 day fast beginning on November 15th. This is a time of reflection, self-restraint and inner healing in the sacrament of confession.

Usually, on Christmas Eve, observant Orthodox Christians fast till late evening, until the first star appears. When the star is seen, people lay the table ready for the Christmas supper.

On Christmas Day people takes part in divine liturgy after which many walk in procession to seas, rivers and lakes. Everyone gathers around in the snow for outdoor ceremonies to bless the water. Sometimes rivers are frozen, so people make holes in the ice to bless the water. Some take water home to bless their houses. Then a great feast is held indoors where everyone joins in to eat, drink and enjoy themselves.

A Orthodox Russian custom is to serve Christmas cakes and to sing songs. The tradition is mixed with other pagan traditions of ancient Russia such that people may visit their neighbours in disguises, dance, sing and ask for presents, similar to trick-or-treating.

There are similarities, as well as differences, between the Eastern and Western celebration of Christmas. The Eastern Christmas has a very strong family and social appeal just as it does in the West. It brings people of all generations together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Unlike the West, where Christmas ranks supreme, in the East it is Easter, centred on the cross and the resurrection of Christ, which is the supreme festival of the year. Also, Eastern Orthodox Christmas lacks the commercial side that is so typical to the West.

A legend in your own mind

This post is dedicated to Wayne Coon Sr., my highschool band director. I got most of my values from my mother, but I got a lot from Mr. Coon. During my formative years he provided a stern leadership I really needed, to help me set goals for the future. After my mother passed away when I was 15, I did get a lot of strength from being in band and having him as a mentor. Many other kids my age that weren't interested in band hated him because of his discipline. He was hard on us. But when he gave praise it was because you knew you had done something extraordinary.

Reminds me of the uncle of William Wallace in Braveheart when he explains to the young warrior, "I will teach you to use this..." (tapping his finger against his skull) "before this..."(tapping the sword hanging on his waist)

Mr. Coon was a phenomenal teacher and also fought in the Korean War. He had the ability to take a kid that was lost and straying, to being a disciplined and fantastic musician.

I remember my senior year, he moved me from 2nd chair trombone to bass in the jazz band. I looked at that thing and I said, "You expect me to play that?"

(The whole idea of being a bass bone player was very intimidating. It was huge and I weighed 100 lbs wet back then)

With a stern look, and without batting an eye he said, "Yes I do. And you will. You have the ability, you just don't know it."

I took it home and started toying with it, thinking, "This man is totally crazy," because I knew what challenges it would bring and what he would expect from me.

After a few weeks, I started kind of getting the hang of it, but balancing the rest of the section was really tough. When the word got out what I was doing, more than just a few eyebrows went up.

I spent countless hours learning more scales, etudes, ballads, and more practice combinations than I care to remember. It was like picking up the horn and learning to play it all over again.

But somehow, after a few months, I began to see a development in myself and a newfound confidence I hadn't had with my playing up to that point. The work paid off because when we started going to contest I just did my thing, and many educators came up to Mr. Coon and asked him where he got his bass bone player.

I made the All State jazz band 5A the following summer just before I packed up to go to college.

Basically, the point of my post is that I was forced to draw upon something within myself that I hadn't before, either because I was too scared or just didn't think I could do it. And that is what's wrong with society today. We don't have enough Mr. Coon's anymore to help us overcome our closet skeletons.

He had a lot of profound sayings too full of life lessons. Some of my favorites were:

1) Never say "I heard." (Meaning don't listen to idle gossip and give in to it.)
2) "You are a legend in your own mind." (Referring to people that had such big heads and egos that they couldn't fit through the door. Gee, how many of those have we all run across in our lives?)
3) If someone walks up to you and insults your clothing, appearance or values, simply walk away.


We as a society, because we're so obsessed with American Idol, Hollywood, pop culture, our possessions, and the haves and the have nots, we've forgotten the fundamentals that define our characters and identity as Americans. We've forgotten what freedom is and how hard it is to keep it. We've forgotten what personal responsibility and integrity are.

We are throwing in the towel, giving in to the criticisms, and not walking away to stand up for this world. We say "I heard" more than "no."

We're becoming legends in our own minds, with no respect for those that would guide us to be something better than ourselves. And we're teaching our youth to do the same.

What will our country be like in 20 years? I don't know if I want to hear the answer to that.