The "Passions"

In worship this past week, we talked about where temptations come from - not an external source per se, but, as James tells us, "...each person is tempted when he is lurned and enticed by his own desire" (1:14).  The idea of disordered passions is not something I had really given much thought to, yet it makes a great deal of sense in our Lenten context.
Apparently, the Orthodox tradition is well out ahead of me.  For Lent this year, I'm reading, "First Fruits of Prayer - A Forty-Day Journey Through the Canon of St. Andrew," which is a Orthodox litany of confession by St. Andrew.  In it, he writes this, some food for thought:

I have fallen beneath the painful burden of the passions and the corruption of material things; and I am hard pressed by the enemy.  Instead of freedom from possessions, O Savior, I have pursued a life in love with material things; and now I wear a heavy yoke....I hav cared only for the outward adornment, and neglected that which is within - the tabernacle fashioned by God.  With my lustful desires I have formed within myself the deformity of the passions and disfigured the beauty of my mind.  I have discolored with the passions the first beauty of the image, O Savior.  But seek me, as once Thou hast sought the lost coin, and find me.

Did You See That?

Hopefully, you saw my post of the Marian Hossa goal vs. the Atlanta Thrashers earlier in the season. I think Alex Ovechkin's goal last night against the Canadiens top it. What a play!

On Perfection

While studying for this week's sermon, here's a little snippet I ran across from St. Gregory of Nyssa out of the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (well worth your time and money)...

"I do not think it is a fearful thing (I mean that our nature is changeable).  The Logos shows that it would be a disadvantage for us not to be able to make a change for the better, as a kind of wing of flight to greater things.  Therefore, let no one be grieved if he sees in his nature a penchant for change.  Changing in everything for the better, let him exchange "glory for glory," becoming greater through daily increase, ever perfecting himself and never arriving too quickly at the limit of perfection.  For this is truly perfection:  never to stop growing towards what is better and never placing any limit on perfection."

Not To Be

The Ravens losing, especially in the AFC Championship, is bad enough.  To lose to the Steelers makes it even worse.  I'll be in a bad mood tomorrow.

Unmediated Grace

Hello all,

Working on my sermon, I was perusing my school notes, and came across this little gem:

"There is no such thing as unmediated grace."

Discuss.

A Worthy Role Model

In the sports world of me-first-ism and unrepentant thuggery, its helpful to have someone to look up to from time to time.  One such player is Tim Tebow, quarterback for the Florida Gators.  Check out this article on him at ESPN.com:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3812762&sportCat=ncf

Just trying out a new widget...good times.