Through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, I have passed out from under the curse and entered into the blessing of Abraham, whom God blessed in all things.
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– Derek Prince
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Below is my comment about George Sipos’ intelligent, self-reflection on Romania’s troubles:
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I celebrate the author’s passion to ask soul searching questions that are rarely asked by Romanians in Romania. There may not be one answer that helps us understand what happened, what is going on, and who we are. Good questions will lead to better questions.
Beyond the economic, political, social and psychological predicament, there is also a spiritual predicament. Romania is besieged by evil spirits, great and small. Curses and demons abound and the spiritual armory is in profound disrepair. Romania is not alone in this predicament but the people were truly unprepared to receive the demons and vice of Mammon that must always accompany the promise, blessings and virtues we celebrate in democratic capitalism.
The lack of knowledge of God’s word, sacrifice, and promise may be the greatest problematic. And not just for Romania.
Dostoevsky’s Grand Inquisitor (The Brothers Karamozov) illuminates the problem of a church, government and bureaucracy that presumes it, alone and unaided by heaven, can mediate and resolve the sins and salvation of a people. Nor will the idolatry of the violet light cult, Reiki, Masonic secrets, Feng Shui, astrology, etc. save Romania; infact, it brings God’s curse (for three or four generations!) as God promises in Exodus 20: 5.
Be sure of this – God keeps his word.
Those pure-hearted individuals who believe, repent, obey God’s laws and live in virtue (faith, hope, and love), however, can find deliverance. Even the Romanian, the Syrian, the American, the Russian…
Do not be afraid. And other social media DOHs. by Stan Faryna
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Play the soundcloud player to hear the podcast. Or download it here. The podcast sounds awesome with earphones or played on hi-fi speakers. Try it and tell me what you think.
Mobile users: you should be able to hear the podcast here.
Empty-handed and less traveled roads. And other social media DOHs. by Stan Faryna
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Play the soundcloud player to hear the podcast. Or download it here. The podcast sounds awesome with earphones or played on hi-fi speakers. Try it and tell me what you think.
Mobile users: you should be able to hear the podcast here.
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Notes:
There are bloggers that I cherish, like, and fan – bloggers who have embarked upon a pilgrimage to fame, fortune, success, and happiness. They travel a road less traveled – in a manner of speaking.
These bloggers arrive at destinations (100 readers/month, 1,000/mo, 10,000/mo, 100,000/mo, etc.). They often arrive empty-handed with great expectations and hope. They move forward into empty-handed whole-heartedness. They move forward undaunted by disappointment and seemingly unrewarded faith, due diligence, and sacrifice.
They connect. They uplift each other. They do amazing things, day and night. They declare victory in the midst of the test. Again and again.
I relish and celebrate their courage, fortitude, and hutzpah.
The trials of these brave bloggers remind me of my own pilgrim’s progress. My disappointments. And my spiritual defeats.
@janetcallaway also wrote an amazingly kind blog post about community building bloggers. Janet tells us about the top bloggers she has met as a blogger. I also recommend her post.
@marcus_baker recently wrote an illuminating blog post on Oprah, blogging, and your calling. The dude’s reply to my comment (to his post) was beautiful.
Note: You can submit fan art to stan(dot)faryna(at)gmail.com. Please provide contact information (FB, website, etc. so I can include it like I’ve done above). Unless otherwise specified, all works submitted will be considered as released by the author under the Creative Common’s Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA.
This morning, I went to church. And I nearly kicked in the face of a 12 year old.
There’s a homeless man that I sit behind. There’s a moment in the service where we clasp hands and exchange a sign of peace. This happens almost every day. I don’t cringe or delay when I clasp his blackened hand.
Noah was dressed in a black tuxedo. He and two other well dressed men stood when the ladies entered the restaurant.
“Thank you so much for joining us, ladies. You are sparkling jewels that light up the night. Tonight, I want to celebrate the return of our hope. Of our children…” said Noah.
“I give thanks to God with a joyful heart. And I want to welcome you home, ladies. We have long awaited your arrival with much anticipation.”
Note: You can submit fan art to stan(dot)faryna(at)gmail.com. Please provide contact information (FB, website, etc. so I can include it like I’ve done above). Unless otherwise specified, all works submitted will be considered as released by the author under the Creative Common’s Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA.
“He [The Blessed Pope John Paul II] restored to Christianity its true face as a religion of hope”
– Pope Benedict XVI, 1 May 2011
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Blessed Pope John Paul II
In an interview, a reporter asked him how he felt about the enthusiasm and cheering of crowds for him. He replied that the enthusiasm is not about him, that the enthusiasm was for the Successor of Peter and Christ living in the church. His reply is splendid in the man’s humility, conscience, and convictions.
I am not a man qualified to demonstrate or explain the heroic virtue of that man to you. I am not qualified to describe the miracles nor the inquisitional examination of those miracles that qualify that man for beatification. Nor am I qualified to explain how he was one of the most influential leaders of the twentieth century or that he may have been the most important thinker and philosopher of the twentieth century. His titles and service recommend themselves as much as they recommend that gentle man.
If I am to be honest with you (and I do want to be honest with you) I can only share with you, inadequately, how that man encouraged me to pray, to think about the dignity and drama of the human person, and to remember the splendor of truth that shines from Christ, from the cross, and from the resurrection. Read the rest of this entry »
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