The Crossroads of AD and BC

An ancient temple dedicated to Zeus located in modern day Turkey

I teach 6th grade, all subjects.  While it is a monumental amount of work, I love every moment of it and wouldn't trade it for all the tea in China.

Sixth grade Social Studies standards cover the major ancient civilizations and while they are all truly astounding, Ancient Mesopotamia and Ancient Greece are the two that stand out as the most fun and engaging to teach.  Ancient Rome is a close third because 12 year-olds love volcanoes and gladiators and Ancient Rome definitely has both.

I will readily admit that I knew pretty much zero about Ancient Mesopotamia and maybe close to zero about Ancient Greece when I started teaching.  At no time of my academic development do I ever remember learning about ancient civilizations so this was relatively new to me.  As I started to learn about these times and places while organizing lessons, a huge connection to my life as a Christian manifested.  Once you learn about these real historical people and places, the Old and Testament fall into place and a whole new level of understanding arises.  

The following passage takes place in what is now modern day Turkey apparently close to a temple dedicated to the Greek god, Zeus. St. Paul and St. Barnabas are out healing the sick while evangelizing and people freak out and think St. Barnabas is Zeus incarnate and St. Paul is Hermes because of his eloquence.  Here it is from Acts 14:6-18:

⁶ they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycao′nia, and to the surrounding country;
⁷ and there they preached the gospel.
⁸ Now at Lystra there was a man sitting, who could not use his feet; he was a cripple from birth, who had never walked.
⁹ He listened to Paul speaking; and Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well,
¹⁰ said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and walked.
¹¹ And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycao′nian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”
¹² Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, because he was the chief speaker, they called Hermes.
¹³ And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the people.
¹⁴ But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out among the multitude, crying,
¹⁵ “Men, why are you doing this? We also are men, of like nature with you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
¹⁶ In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways;
¹⁷ yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”
¹⁸ With these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.

There is just so much here to think about.  It's the cultural crossroads of BC and AD.  Also, the deep humility of the apostles as they lose their minds when people try to worship them. For me though, what I especially hold onto are verses 16-17.  God had done good to these people even when they lived in darkness as those outside of His chosen people of Ancient Israel.  But now was the time for the ultimate revelation to ALL people.  And that revelation is Jesus Christ, the true incarnate God, the lover of all mankind.

Christ is Risen!

Staying True

And now another year has passed.

Updates: I started another blog and tried to keep it secular but it turns out that I just can't.  It's impossible to separate myself like that and I think I'm just going to shut it down.  Perhaps I can transfer some of the posts over here.  I was unable to be myself on that blog so I'm back to posting here.

I have a blog post that I've been thinking about for a long while, so I'm going to start that today.

May you all be healthy and safe.  Christ is Risen!

Three years have passed

since I have last posted.  A child sent off to college, a new career for me and the passing of my father...

We are at the cusp of another Lenten Season.  My hope is to start this blog up again with thoughts and ideas from others that will help us "walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (St. Paul to the Ephesians 5:15-16)  In the past three years it appears that foolishness has run rampant and I am of the opinion that it has come to the point where we may not be able to halt the onslaught but humbly seek refuge and deflect as best as we can.

Back from Hiatus

It has been almost a year since I've posted and for no other reason than life just happens and some things simply get placed to the wayside.  Not that you all have been waiting with bated breath for my comments on the Sunday School post, but I apologize if that was the case.  It's a terrific piece and has a myriad of valid points.  Orthodoxy cannot be simply copied and pasted into existing models, especially not Protestant-based ones.  To learn the Bible is to experience it the Liturgy.  The following link outlines the use of Holy Scripture during the Divine Liturgy. Scripture in the Divine Liturgy.  Pretty awesome if you ask me.

At any rate, I'm back and I'm going to try to post more often.  I'm currently doing some post graduate work, trying to launch a second (or third if you count stay-at-home mom) career.  Pray for me.  That Demon of Noonday is a pest for sure.

Love to all who visit this blog and wishing you a fruitful Lenten season!

Children and the Church

Christ is Risen!

Here's a fantastic article about educating children in the Church.  I recommend everyone read it, even if you don't have kids.

The Epic Search for an Orthodox Christian Curriculm

I have so much to say about this.  Let me gather my thoughts and try to put something coherent together in the next few days.

The Most Difficult Prayer

While I was stressing out last week about something that really was nothing in the end, I found this prayer.  As I was going through it, I realized that this has got to be the most difficult prayer out there.  The difficulty lies in the condemnation and hence realization of how far my soul is from God.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.

Enemies have driven me into Thy embrace more than friends have.

Friends have bound me to earth, enemies have loosed me from earth and have demolished all my aspirations in the world.

Enemies have made me a stranger in worldly realms and an extraneous inhabitant of the world.

Just as a hunted animal finds safer shelter than an unhunted animal does, so have I, persecuted by enemies, found the safest sanctuary, having ensconced myself beneath Thy tabernacle, whether neither friends nor enemies can slay my soul.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.

They, rather than I, have confessed my sins before the world.  They have punished me, whenever I have hesitated to punish myself.  They have tormented me, whenever I have tried to flee torments. They have scolded me, whenever I have flattered myself.  They have spat upon me, whenever I have filled myself with arrogance.

Bless my enemies, O Lord.  Even I bless them and do not curse them.

Whenever I have made myself mighty, they have mocked me.

Whenever I have rushed to enrich myself, they have prevented me with an iron hand.

Whenever I have tried to sleep peacefully, they have wakened me from sleep.

Whenever I have tried to build a home for a long and tranquil life, they have demolished it and driven me out.

Truly, enemies have cut me loose from the world and have stretched out my hands to the hem of Thy garment.

Bless my enemies, O Lord.  Even I bless them and do not curse them.

Bless them and multiply them; multiply them and make them even more bitterly against me; so my fleeing to Thee may have no return; so that all hope in men may be scattered like cobwebs; so that absolute serenity may begin to reign in my soul; so that my heart may become the grave of my two evil twins:  arrogance and anger; so that I might amass all my treasure in heaven; ah, so that I may for once be freed from self deception, which has entangled me in the dreadful web of illusory life.

Enemies have taught me to know what hardly anyone knows, that a person has no enemies except himself.  One hates his enemies only when he fails to realize that they are not enemies, but cruel friends.  It is truly difficult for me to say who has done me more good and who has done me more evil in the world:  friends or enemies.

Therefore bless, O Lord, both my friends and my enemies.

A slave curses enemies, for he does not understand.

But a son blesses them, for he understands.  For a son knows that his enemies cannot touch his life.  Therefore he freely steps among them and prays to God for them.

Bless my enemies, O Lord.  Even I bless them and do not curse them.

Amen.

I told you that was hard.  Love to all!!

 

Let us pray.

I've been thinking about starting a whole new blog dedicated to prayer but being that I am crunched for time, it's much easier to just use this one.

It has come to my attention that almost every.single.night after the daily tragedies are read on the news, most of them end with "and our thoughts and prayers are with the family/town/survivors."  It made me wonder, sheesh, with all these people praying you would think that the world would be in a much better spot than it is presently.  If you have been living on Mars and have sketchy Internet service, and the only website you can get is my blog (my apologies to you), it's really awful. Truly awful.  One would not be incorrect in saying that we are probably at this point:

 “A time is coming when people will go mad and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him, saying, “You are mad, you are not like us.” - St. Anthony of the Desert, 4th century.

For the next year, or maybe for the life of this blog, posts will be dedicated to all things prayer. Of course, it will be the Orthodox Christian we-have-2000+years-of-experience-with-prayer viewpoint.

First posting, if I don't have to work, will be Monday.  Praying for you all to have a peaceful weekend.