ORTHODIXIE ... Southern, Orthodox, Convert, Etc.

There’s one of those fru-fru juice shops near the church which not only offers delicious frosty fruit smoothies but, among other things, fresh cut sod to drink. Those of you in California are probably way past this craze by now, but I can’t help but think it odd every time I walk in and see the nice green sprouting sod patches on a shelf above the smoothie work station. Usually, there’s a swath or two which have been freshly mown down and sold for a few bucks to some member of the Health Illuminati to drink.

Okay, truth be known, I’ve only ever been in this establishment twice … and both times, I kid you not, this 300 year old man – the same one, I believe – came in for a shot of the green grass juice (he even brought a thermos for them to fill with those watery green yard clippin’s).

No kidding. He looks 300 years old, but in spectacular health. I mean, he dresses like a jogger, with little runner-man muscles all poppin' out and stuff … but his face, hair, and wrinkles betray his true age which is, as I said (but, honestly, I’m guessing here): at least 300 years old.

So, I got to thinking: Maybe I should get me a shot o' that sod …

That’s when the voice of my Dad popped into my head. Well, not really … I mean, he doesn’t actually SAY anything; he just kinda moves his head (in my head) a little … which, well, says it all.

My Dad, who passed away 4 years ago, lives on – loud and clear – in my head.

Speaking of sod, my Dad, and all …

When I was a kid, every time we passed a cemetery (and I do mean, every time) he’d say, “Son, people are just dyin’ to get in there!”

It was one of those things that's funny the first 5 times you hear it … and then not funny again until about the 5,000th time. But, passing cemeteries (though not EVERY time) I still think of it.

“People just dyin’ to get in there …”

In all fairness, what father doesn’t love to aggravate his children? I never really appreciated the ol’ Dad-drives-kid-crazy thing ... when I was a kid. I just thought my parents were stupid. (I say that with lots of love Mom, cause I know you’re reading this.)

Take, for example, a recent Huneycutt family camping trip. We spent two nights in Brazos Bend State Park. It was Houston, it was June, and I’ll be doggoned if it weren’t just plain … H.O.T!

My son, early on, asked: “Dad, when are we going to build a fire?”

Y’all, it was 92 degrees in the shade!

In a very affected artsy voice, I said:

"When the Sun is in the sky …

there’s no need for the Fire …

in the pit."

My three kids smiled.

That only encouraged me.

So, I repeated it: “When the Sun is in the sky … there’s no need for the Fire … in the pit.”

By about the 5th time, there came a chorus of voices: “Da-ad!”



I ask you: Did that stop me?

Absolutely not. What encouragement!

I told them, “Y’all just wait … I believe that’ll preach -- 'When the Sun is in the sky … there’s no need for the Fire … in the pit.'”

“Dad! Please … No!”


“Or, better yet, I might make a podcast or blog post about it …”

"When the Sun is in the sky …"

That’s when my son stopped dead in his tracks and turned to me in all seriousness, and said: “Dad, really … please stop.”

Heh heh.

And although his seriousness resembled that of my father’s when I think of drinking the green grass juice … I FELT victorious like my Dad must have felt when he’d gotten my goat as a kid.

Forgive me.

All this is to say ... I'm away from the computer this week, on the road to North Carolina. No posts expected, comment approval may be sporadic. Twenty hours, one way, with the family.

Pray for me and mine, especially ... mine.











Oops! Wrong picture ...


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I'm tying up some loose ends before hitting the road for summer travels ...

First of all, it's interesting to note that the video posted here is from 1980. 1980! And still seems funny and relevant. (Even sad, for those who've lived through it.)
Thanks to Jim for the FWD.

When I recently titled a post a "MEME" -- that posting garnered the poorest showing of site visits in a while. My bad. Fr Stephen's excellent podcast You Are Not a Bible Character has nothing to do with, is quite contrary to, MEMEs.

I updated the Orthodox Converts in Syria posting with the first names of the lay team and a quote from an AFR listener regarding missionizing the Missionaries. (Speaking of which, Fr James Early's new book is out.)

Regarding those flies in the holy Chalice, a comment on that story (concerning bees) is worth notice.

That popular Russian TV show, Orthodox Encyclopedia, was in Houston (visiting St George, here) a while back ... here's Part Two. Stay tuned, toward the very end of Part Two, for the Johnny Deppish Fr Serge Veselinovich of Ss Constantine & Helen Serbian Orthodox Church, Galveston.

Finally, per this post's title, if you're in the doldrums ... spin that ol' tune from Houston native, Archie Bell. He and the Drells been doin' The Tighten Up since 1967.

(But, he ain't too big on Houston it seems: "He calls Houston bedrock. 'There are too many Fred Flintstones that live here, people with one-track prehistoric minds,' Bell said. 'People here say "I listen to blues or rap music," but nothing else. My music is played in the South but not in Houston.'" Source)
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This is the funniest thing (in a sort of dry, understated & witty way) that I've heard in a long time:

You Are Not a Bible Character

Go listen, HERE.

Pic Source - which reads: "OK. So it's really a baby strong man - but it can also be a baby Saint John the Baptist!"
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The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world with one of the highest densities of clinical facilities for patient care, basic science, and translational research. The Medical Center receives over five million annual patient visits, including over ten thousand international patients. In 2006, the center employed over 75,000 people, including 4,000 physicians and 11,000 registered nurses.

Last week, as I made my way down the sidewalk, there were people bustling all about, to and fro, in multicolored scrubs and white lab jackets …

Then there was me, the man in black, walking in my rapid pace through the bustling throng …

Good Morning, Father.

I had a lot on my mind … I was thinking about having parked so far away … how hot is was …

Good Morning, Father.

… the person I was going to see in the hospital, the one who was dying across town … what was for dinner …

I said, Good Morning, Father.

“Morning” – I mumbled, sort of, under my breath (I promise, I did!).

Bums.

They’re everywhere in a big city. Here they were sitting all across this little wall that lined the sidewalk.

Where was I? Oh yeah: I had a lot on my mind … hurry to see this gal … run over later to see the other one …

I said, Good Morning, Father!

Good grief, is that the beggar still yelling after me?

Keep walking, I thought, just keep moving …

I said, Good Morning, Father!

Now, y'all, this was getting ridiculous.

Without thinking, I turned ‘round and said ...


The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

Pic Source
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Turkish TV gameshow looks to convert atheists

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - What happens when you put a Muslim imam, a Christian priest, a rabbi and a Buddhist monk in a room with 10 atheists?

Turkish television station Kanal T hopes the answer is a ratings success as it prepares to launch a gameshow where spiritual guides from the four faiths will seek to convert a group of non-believers.

The prize for converts will be a pilgrimage to a holy site of their chosen religion -- Mecca for Muslims, the Vatican for Christians, Jerusalem for Jews and Tibet for Buddhists.

The whole article.

The Vatican?

How 'bout sending the Christians to Jerusalem too? I mean, really.

No offense to Roman Catholics but this is an obvious slight to Christians. (Okay, it's a slight to sanity and all things sacred ... but, you know what I mean. What's that you say? Right. We are talking about an atheist that converts to Christianity on a Turkish gameshow. Fine. The Vatican it is.)
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The tragic martyrdom of Tsar Nicholas, his family, and all intimately related to him was the signal wave of an in-rushing tide of barbarous secularism that would sweep over Holy Russia in the years after Ekaterinburg. For a century before the royal murders, wise Russian souls forecast a flood of materialist humanism, with brutal cynicism, utilitarian philosophy, and utter disdain for life and the sacred. Satan's hatred skillfully manipulated, distorted, lied, and deceived, unleashing a fury of bloodletting appalling to the heart. Pray that the Russian tragedy serves to warn this generation in Europe and America: the up-welling of secularism within our culture, societies, and governments announces, in dread and discordant voices, terrible consequences for the beautiful, good, humane, consecrated, and God-fearing. Satan is here. Men chose to murder the Tsar; and, today, men rush to crush holy foundations. They set the stage for horrors to follow.

Stolen from the daily posting of DYNAMIS ... read it all HERE.
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