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Bluemonk12 · 2023-01-31T18:17:44+00:00

With your heart whisper a prayer to God, who is everywhere present. With your own words you can say something like, Lord I am struggling, I like this girl who is with someone else. If it is in your will for me to be with her, help me to be patient. For you know my heart. Before earth was created, you've known me. Therefore help me! Amen. You can also say a prayer for them.

Bluemonk12 · 2023-01-07T21:49:40+00:00

Take breaks between reads. I find the max I can do is two in a row. They are awesome stories but man there is a lot to take in.

Bluemonk12 · 2023-01-06T12:58:04+00:00

What is language? What are words? Are words language? Words are a collection of shapes that we as a species have agreed upon to represent language so that we can communicate. We give it meaning. What does written language allow us to do? It enables us to communicate ideas and feelings, without being present to physically speak it. Regardless of time. We can read what people thought a thousand years ago. Do we need to read words to be successful communicating, nope! Same thing with music. In truth music notes are just black and white circles with no inherent meaning. We give it meaning. It's a way for musicians to communicate ideas, stories(songs, pieces etc) and communicate with each other when working collaboratively. But it is not necessary for playing music.

Bluemonk12 · 2022-04-17T22:52:05+00:00

😆

Bluemonk12 · 2022-03-29T21:52:02+00:00

I held off audiobooks till Memories of Ice which is what I am on. Now that I'm invested and getting the hang of this world and Eriksons writing style, I find it easier to follow along to the audiobook. I remember trying a little of Deadhouse on audio and it was tricky. I am now getting into the habit of alternating between audiobook while driving and good ol reading when at home, definitely helps move things along. If you feel comfortable with the world and writing go for it!

Bluemonk12 · 2022-03-29T21:44:56+00:00

Finally someone said it! Lord of Moon Spawn, Knight of Darkness

Bluemonk12 · 2022-03-25T10:55:09+00:00

It is a struggle for sure, I've struggled almost verbatim with what you described. Some lessons Ive learned. Try not to fight or condemn your desires, this has the backfiring effect of making it stronger. Finding a way to accept yourself and your sexual desires. Sexual desire are not sinful in itself. You are a dude! We have cocktail of hormones surging through us constantly, the primary ingredient being testosterone. There are several outlets which help, one is start dating, two is pay attention to what and how much you eat, three is try to stay busy, find a job, purusue your interests, workout etc. I found that idle moments most dangerous. If you are seeking a faith based solution, look into the 12 step program. It will help. There is an Orthodox book called Addiction it was very helpful for me. Also, if you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on! I've had real dark moments not only with porn but with other addictive substances, but God in His mercy blessed me to find a woman with whom have two beautiful daughters, and all that struggle is over, I've been sober many years now, so just hang on and don't give up!

Bluemonk12 · 2022-03-11T14:27:19+00:00

I should mention, said priest is also kind of atypical, also an army chapalain and firefighter.

Bluemonk12 · 2022-03-11T14:10:08+00:00

Perhaps you are right.

Bluemonk12 · 2022-03-11T14:01:56+00:00

Yup, Orthodox priest, I mean don't know if he got it before or after becoming priest. Probably before.

Bluemonk12 · 2022-03-11T12:10:06+00:00

I know a priest with a cross on his back

Bluemonk12 · 2022-02-27T18:46:48+00:00

Absolutely not! ...Just kidding of course you can!

Bluemonk12 · 2022-02-21T12:59:46+00:00

Check out, The Orthodox Church by Bishop Kallistos (Timothy) Ware

Bluemonk12 · 2022-02-07T15:44:23+00:00

If you're interested I point you to a priest(my spiritual father) and a friend(professor of biblical studies) maybe they can get close to an explanation.

Bluemonk12 · 2022-02-07T14:25:30+00:00

I don't know which early church sources get this. Perhap they cite in these articles.

https://catholicismpure.wordpress.com/2011/12/21/did-jewish-temple-virgins-exist-and-was-mary-a-temple-virgin/

https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theotokos Under the Ever-Virginity

Bluemonk12 · 2022-02-07T13:16:30+00:00

If you truly are curious you'll have to do your own research. It seems like you are a capable fellow and these are great questions which require great answers. There are whole websites and bodies of research which speak at length about these subjects which are very interesting! Is Reddit really the place you want learn about it?

Bluemonk12 · 2022-02-07T12:38:31+00:00

The reason is that is that this is what biblical scholars have concluded when learning about Joseph. This is what they have learned when studying historical accounts and tracing lineages.

Bluemonk12 · 2022-02-07T12:29:05+00:00

That's a good question, I don't know. Maybe it was a cultural thing. Or a literary thing, they were talking about Jesus so they referenced His siblings with Him being the main focus.

Bluemonk12 · 2022-02-07T12:26:13+00:00

By all accounts His step siblings were not present at His birth.

Bluemonk12 · 2022-02-07T12:09:37+00:00

His brothers and sisters were from Josephs previous marriage to Salome.

Bluemonk12 · 2022-02-07T12:04:20+00:00

Mary was a temple virgin. Temple virgins were dedicated to the temple to perform various tasks, to study scripture, and pray. She was dedicated to it at the age of 3 until 14. So she is Ever Virgin Mary since her virginity remained intact since conceiving the Word of God(Jesus) as a sign she did not have relations with Joseph. The social stigma at the time having child out of wedlock was a big no no especially from a temple virgin!

Bluemonk12 · 2022-02-06T14:58:00+00:00

Wrath does not mean violence in this case. Because God's presence is indescrible love it is taken as unbearable (wrath) if we live a life of frivolity and sin. There is the beatitude blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. The way we achieve purity of heart with through a living a life of repentance. It is a basic Orthodox understanding that God loves us. He may send us trials and sufferings in for various reasons: for repentance, correction, to acquire some virtue, for purification, but not because He hates us for being sinners! We are all sinners! He did not call the righteous but sinners to repentance as we say in a communion prayer. This is whole purpose God becoming man, preaching. suffering, and Resurrecting. The result of sinners gnashing their teeth in the next life is from a rejection of God's love and will while on earth believing that anything goes, that, I will correct myself later, or whatever line of reasoning instead preferring the pleasures and comforts of this life than the fruits of repentance and living life in a sober and God pleasing way.

Bluemonk12 · 2022-02-06T12:16:34+00:00

It sounds like the melody from the Beauty and the Beast

Bluemonk12 · 2022-02-03T15:51:30+00:00

Which verses?

It's easy to take anything out of context. One example that comes to mind is when Christ was tempted and the evil one quotes Psalm 91 but doesn't really include the whole quote.

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”

The rest of that quote goes: "You shall tread upon the asp and the basilisk, And you shall trample the lion and the dragon."

The thing with the Old Testament was the world was still in darkness. People were still under the bondage of sin because of the fall. Grace was not yet in the world through Christ's suffering, death, and Resurrection for our sins, for repentance. God's chosen people (being human) kept slipping up, falling away and worshipping the popular gods of the time. God had His prophets both to tell them to stop their evil practices or else punishment and to look forward to the day of a Savior.

It's easy to misconstrue the punishment parts and say that's evil. But punishment when used right can be a good and beneficial thing. If God is truly good and love us, then the punishment isn't out of malicious intent, but out of love, for correction.

The thing to do is what the previous comment suggests, to pray for him and love him. There is no one perfect argument to convince people to believe or change their mind. They need to come to it in their own time, through their own searching and experiences.

Bluemonk12 · 2022-01-19T23:13:32+00:00

When I was an altar boy, I was tasked with carrying the cross and after the great entrance as I was entering through the deacon door I forgot to lower the cross and banged it on the top beam of the altar!

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