Hello from the greater Detroit Area
Just a quick note to let you all know that I and my Wife are now in Lavonia Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, attending the MidWest Diocesan assembly.
I will be presenting to the assembly on some software that I and a couple of others from my Church are creating. It should be interesting. Well I just wanted to throw out there what we are doing at the moment, since I had promised a more complete update about OhioLinux, complete with pictures.
That will have to wait I guess for some other time.
This is the Scariest thing I have seen
In a long time.
This is not a statement about Basil’s fitness to carry a weapon, or to serve his country. No it is a statement that the man I know, the one who wishes to serve Christ’s Church is now carrying a weapon that can snuff out life in the blink of an eye.
It is an incredible responsibility, and one that I know Basil does not take lightly. Let us pray to the Lord of All that Basil is never asked to use that weapon during his service.
A small request…
If you are the praying kind, please read the following and do what you feel is appropriate.
For the past week or so I have been experiencing a large amount of pain in my left knee, and hearing a very disturbing grinding noise emminating from it when I would walk up and down steps. I finally gave in and went to see a physician on Monday, and after some x-rays and consultations they diagnosed me with Patella Femoral Syndrome.
A visit to a physical therapist today confirmed that, and I found out some more info about this condition and what to expect for the future. Unfortunately there is no way to cure this problem; I will be dealing with it for the rest of my life. The therapist thinks that I am in pretty good shape right now, and since we have caught it early I might be able to forgoe surgery on both knees. If I stick to a strict regimine of no high impact excersizes, and keep my weight under control that is.
I am asking for people of the praying persuasion to remember me and my family. My wife and I are attempting to start a family and I want to be a father to my children. I want to be vital and strong so that I can keep up with them as they grow; not be left behind because my legs don’t want to cooperate. I ask this for myself. I ask it for my wife. And I ask it for my children to come.
May God, the Great Physician of soul and body hear your prayers for this unworthy servant, and visit me in my affliction bringing healing to soul and body. Thanks for your time and attention.
Tuesday Nights
I posted some pictures from my Tuesday Night gaming group, this time it was a WAN party featuring Age of Empires II. You can see some of the pics here: Geek Orthodox Album.
In other news I picked up a new Digital Camera yesterday and I must say I am pleased with it. I opted for a combination of value and image quality, picking up the FujiFilm FinePix S7000. The S7000 features a nice heavy, anolog feel great for those of us who cut our teeth on SLR cameras like the N90 and F5. The image quality is actually quite good for its price range, 6.3 million effective pixels, or ~6.3 megapixels for around $550.
You can find other stats such as focal length, apeture settings and exposure modes on this page. Anyone who is looking for a good, affordable digital camera, should definately give this one a look.
I told him, his “cool thing” quotient was full…
Apparently our man Reader Joel didn’t listen to me, and I think that he was right to have ignored me on this one!
Here is a photograph of “blessed as a sub-deacon Joel” serving His Beatitude Metropolitan Herman at the Akathist for the Tihkvin Ikhon this past weekend at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Chicago.
I think I can let this one go Joel, but don’t push it brother.
Back Home again…
Heather and I arrived home from our whirl wind trip to Chicago last night around 10:30.
All in all it was an incredible trip. Heather and I were able to meet another member of our Holy Synod, His Emenence Archbishop Job and were able to take the Eucharist from his hand.
We were priviliged to have been praying at a Vigil for the Saints of North America, in a Cathedral that houses the Epitrachelion of St Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow; the cathedral was also consecrated by St. Tikhon.
The Most perfect joy we had was of course watching Joel Wilson a dear friend of ours, be tonsured a reader, and blessed as a sub-deacon. We have only known Joel for a short time, but in that time I have seen his love, servants attitude and a heart that is seeking God. I look forward to watching from the sidelines as he runs his race; I can just imagine where it will take him.
I would be remiss to close this brief discourse without touching upon one of my favorite experiences from this weekend; being able to spend time eating and laughing with Joel’s family. I told him more than once that he is very lucky to have such a wonderful family. Heather and I both found them to be warm and accepting… and at least one of them a bit insane, I think we all know who I am referring to *cough* Caleb *cough*.
Well that is enough for now, I am working on a proper entry that will explore the impact this weekend had on Heather and I, but for now I take my leave of you.
Chicago bound…
Well in around 15 minutes My wife and I will be setting out for Holy Trinity Cathedral in Chicago to celebrate with Joel Wilson and his family; Joel will join the rank of the Clergy this Sunday as a Reader and pseudo-subdeacon.
Well see you guys on the flipside.cd /chicago/illinois/christ-the-savior/
Archpastoral Visit…
As of the time of this publishing I am probably up to my neck in ecclesia, just finishing the reading of the 3rd and 6th hours, or the Royal Hours as they are commonly known, and am now watching my Bishop being vested in the midst of the faithful at my little church.
And so begins the real life of my Parish. In many ways this is a watershed moment for my Parish and specifically, three men who attend. Three good friends of mine will be tonsured Readers, the first office of the minor orders, and the first step in a treck that could take one or all of them to the Priesthood.
This is an exciting time for our Parish, but also a nerve-racking one. Anytime you have visitors you feel the pressure to “perform”, and you can only imagine how much more so when you have the first visit of someone whom is as dear to you as your Bishop. Today begins a new chapter in my life, and that of my Parish Family, I pray that the Triune God will perfect the faith of those who gather in His name, and protect those that have undertaken service to His Church, and the families they represent.
The cassock is very heavy, and not just for those who don them.
Back from the abyss!
Greetings and salutations! I know it has been awhile since last I wrote, but Mr. Hib Gib has been filling the void quite nicely I think.
Todays entry will be short and sweet, since I am swamped at work and at home, but I wanted to chime in here at the end of Bright Week and simply say,
Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!
What can I say, Holy Week this year was the greatest week of my life, never has the ressurection and triumph of Our Lord over death so real and meaningful to me. Well I need to go for a bit, I am going to work on a bigger post over the next few days, so stay tuned.
more »
Holy Bishop Patrick
Today the world over people are getting drunk making asses of themselves and generally being idiots. All in the name of St. Patrick. Who was St. Patrick you might ask, He was a righteous and long suffering servant of God; a sinner, a man, a priest and a Bishop. Now don’t get me wrong I am Irish, and I love a good party and drink at times, but it seems wrong somehow that this man who fought against the devil in Ireland should now have his memory tied with such reckless abandon and debauchery.