Archives for 2010

For the basketball fanatics among us

16 March 2010 · by Fr. Ernesto Leave a Comment

Tony Campolo, Glenn Beck, and heresy

15 March 2010 · by Fr. Ernesto 5 Comments

Over the last couple of days Father Orthoduck and I have been discussing short-term missions, theology, and social justice. Let me now return to short-term missions with a quote from the article by Tony Campolo that was cited earlier. In this quote, Tony Campolo provides the link between Glenn Beck’s disdain for government and private […]

Glenn Beck and social and economic justice

14 March 2010 · by Fr. Orthoduck 33 Comments

Recently Glenn Beck said on his radio shows that if their priest or pastor or preacher is using the terms economic or social justice that they should leave their local congregation. To make sure that you do not think that Father Orthoduck is misquoting Glenn Beck, please go here to read his defense on his […]

Short-term missions, social support, and Tony Campolo

13 March 2010 · by Fr. Ernesto Leave a Comment

I am a supporter of short-term missions. However, my blog post of the day before yesterday did not make that clear. I have seen at least two people called to long-term missions because they served on a short-term mission team. My problem is not with short-term missions per se. My problem is with under-trained teams […]

“In God We Trust” upheld in San Francisco federal court

12 March 2010 · by Fr. Ernesto 1 Comment

Fed. appeals court upholds ‘under God’ in pledge By TERENCE CHEA Associated Press Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal appeals court upheld the use of the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance and “In God We Trust” on U.S. currency, rejecting arguments Thursday that the phrases violate the separation of church and […]

Learning about whom we visit in short-term mission

11 March 2010 · by Fr. Ernesto 5 Comments

In January of 2009, I posted a blog on what we can learn from the poor. I talked about Fr. Alejandro Mesco and what he had taught me about sharing the good things that the Lord gives us. Just today, I read an article in Mission Frontiers which is a magazine of the US Center […]

Gossip and justifications

10 March 2010 · by Fr. Ernesto 4 Comments

From Pithless Thoughts: Do you fast? Let the ears by not listening to evil talk and gossip. For what good is it if we abstain from birds and fishes, but bite and devour our brothers and sisters? (St. John Chrysostom). When my wife and I were married less than five years, we were asked to […]

… but not so little boys (and girls)

9 March 2010 · by Fr. Ernesto 3 Comments

A dragon lives forever but not so little boys Painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys. One grey night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more And Puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar. As I was listening to this Peter, Paul, and Mary song on Sunday, I found myself […]

Brain on Lent

8 March 2010 · by Fr. Orthoduck 4 Comments

As Father Orthoduck is writing this, he is very tired from a long Sunday of very worthwhile worship and service of the Lord. But, thanks to a fellow blogger, Father Orthoduck was introduced to the blog of a delightfully wacky fellow Orthodox blogger. And, so, Father Orthoduck recommends Steve of Pithless Thoughts. Particularly his current […]

MacArthur, Marshall, and the Middle East

7 March 2010 · by Fr. Orthoduck 3 Comments

What can we learn from the experiences of General MacArthur and Secretary of State Marshall on handling the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan? After all, both history and statistics show that both men were fully successful in turning former enemies into stable and reliable allies. Mind you, this does not mean that they never disagree […]