DP

No.

God bless your search. The young Earth mandate pushed at our former church was one of the issues that built up a discontent in my husband (I had my own issues.) We took a quick peek at church history and a year and a half later became Orthodox Christians. That was 4 years ago. I couldn't be more satisfied this side of Heaven, working out my salvation with fear and trembling joined with the ancient Church. May Jesus guide you and keep you.

Sorry, double post.

My impression is that this person is mired in negativity. I don't like to hang out with people like this. If forced to hang out with such a person due to living with them or working with them I would try to find out what they consider positive and stick with those topics.

I believe the group is using the first book this year and Sweet Land of Liberty next year. We will join next year.

Oh dear! We are Orthodox.

I'm looking into a co-op / Academy which uses this book as the spine. Thoughts / experience with this text?

I'm looking into a co-op / Academy which uses this book as the spine. Thoughts / experience with this text?

My youngest is like this. He's been drawing since he could hold a pencil. He's drawing a Superman logo right now, as I type, he's 7. Some days he can draw for 12+ hours a day. I just let him. We do math every weekday and he can read well and write his letters. I don't bother him too much with other subjects because he just loves to draw. We own a print shop and I could see him taking over.

So sorry. Lord have mercy and calm the children. {{hugs}}

Amen!

Amen!

One of our priests said Sunday before last that we aim to have our eyes opened so that we can see as Christ sees for Lent. May our eyes be opened to see.

True, if all we hear is about Absolution and the Eucharist, growth in walking with Christ and in Christ can be frustrating. Good teaching is very important. Without a guide, we can go off in our minds and make up all kinds of crazy doctrines that do not lead to union with Christ. I would agree that if my parish priest was not helping me grow as my Spiritual Father and guide and if he wasn't an excellent teacher, but he is, I would still come to church as often as possible, but it might be a frustrating situation.

The Eucharist, physical and spiritual communion with Jesus, Mary and the Saints, is what keeps me coming back as often as I can. "And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me." I go as often as possible and teach my kids to also to go as often as possible. During some times of the year it can be up to 3 times a week that we can commune. In the earliest church, and in many monasteries across the world, Christians commune every day (except a few days which are designated as "No Liturgy" days.) The Divine Liturgy is so important that in some times and places during war, once a Divine Liturgy had begun, even though the church was being bombed all around the Liturgy went on. There is one story I heard where the entire village was bombed all around during a Divine Liturgy (I think this was during WWII in Germany maybe? - someone chime in if they know this one) and after the service the parishioners came out to a town desolated, but the church was spared. This is the kind of devotion and church attendance that is worthy of emulation. Can I get an Amen?

We've been using Todoist for a week. I like that it links to Outlook. I've been using it for work too. We'll see how it works. I like the share function.

I've probably seen this before, but it's a great reminder and seems to have new meaning this year. :)

I really look forward to and love Lent because there are extra weekday services, which draw us nearer to Christ. I love that we move toward Pascha together and though we can participate at different depths as individuals, we are together in our aim, to prepare for Christ's Resurrection. I'll try to keep my focus on preparing for Christ's Resurrection, and to be grateful that there are physical and spiritual ways to do that. The Orthodox Church has the guidelines all set up and I'll try to follow them, but keep my eye on Christ which is the most important thing.

I'll check it out

I put this out on the General Board and no response yet, so I'll put it here. I want an app to task my teenager on her daily to do. I want it to notify me with push notifications when she does something and checks it off. A bonus would be an option to add comments or notes to ask questions and have a little messenger back and forth option on each task. The reason I want this is that I've been working a lot and I'm not as physically present as I used to be. I would like a little convenient accountability.

I would like an app on my phone and synched with my highschoolers phone where I can task her assignments and to-do lists/reminders and she can check them off as she goes through the day. I will get a notification on my phone that it's done and an option to add questions or notes or comments and it requests an answer back. Does this exist? Cozi works through email which I don't prefer. I prefer the iPhone "notification" thing. So my daughter will get a notification, "mom just added a task" or "sent you a list". And I will get one, " Daughter just completed a task." Etc.

Check out the GAPS diet. Though I might not have had as severe a problem, it healed my gut. ETA: My experience does not include removal of gall bladder, but did include rushing to bathroom. I believe what helped most was the bone broth and plain yogurt and ginger tea, but idk if bone broth and no gall bladder are a good combo.

Yes, I have. I spent 12 years heavily invested in a church group of "like minded" people. When I started exploring ideas outside this group I was curious. One thing led to another and today I have many different opinions and beliefs. Today I long for the like minded group to plug into but I don't think that's necessarily good for me or the group, if there was one. I just want that comfort, but it's not healthy (for me.). It's better to be surrounded and plugged in with various people who have various ideas. I'm enjoying the experience with humanity by mixing and mingling with all types but there is something sure and comforting about having a group of like-mindeds. I'm sure there isn't one out there for me though.

My mention of Google was in reference to Elder Paisios. If you are getting hits referencing Stigmata, then this was a mistake for me to mention Google. I just Googled "Miracles on Mt. Athos" and I found a wonderful website with a page on Contemporary Elders of the Orthodoxy and a page dedicated to Elder Paisios. I clicked on one of the stories and it is a wonderful story. These are the kinds of stories I'm familiar with, and the kind I'm talking about when I reference Saint stories. http://www.impantokratoros.gr/elder-paisios-student.en.aspx