Sveta has been going to the Orthodox church with a friend on Wednesday nights. They have a Russian group that meets afterwords for a spiritual study. We went to the service. One of the aspects of the orthodox church is how they really bring out the beauty and majesty of God in their services. You do have to focus on God (or daydream about other topics if you are not engaged). It is too bad the global church cannot see the strengths of each group. I had a vision several years ago of the church. It was a picture like you hang on the wall with four army groups in foxholes in each corner. Everyone had helmets and guns that were firing at each other. Perhaps we spend too much time "shooting" at each other and not finding common ground. Believe me, I could visit an orthodox or other church but would not necessarily find it the best choice for me for the long run. That is a personal choice. The priest read a story about Daniel. It was interesting, but one aspect that many spiritual leaders do not include is how does it apply to our lives. That approach is seen across the boards in the church. We read the Word of God and expect people to apply it, they do not get it unless the teacher covers it or there is dialog between the teacher and followers.
That brings me to what I really appreciated in the follow on study. We watched a video in Russian about Moses and the children of Israel from their time in Egypt up to the Jordan river. The speaker presented much content and commentary. He did explain some of the traditions of the orthodox faith. For example, he covered the issue of work; the Israelite typically worked 7 days a week and when God gave the law, he allowed one day for rest. With the resurrection we added Sunday. His point was that we should be working 6 days a week and resting one day.
Father Anthony came in after the video and asked what the group learned. I have heard him a few times before in other meetings about 9 years ago. He is very good at encouraging people and applying biblical principles. He gave the analogy of a vehicle traveling on the earth will eventually stop. Once a moving rocket in space is pointed in the right direction will continue to its destination. We must find the right direction and continue the journey. Time is the question that we wrestle with. We are on the journey and do not know when we will reach the destination. Some are moving faster and some slower, but the point is to move towards God-that is the right direction. Now I am challenged to point people in the right direction. There is so much interference in this world. As I grow spiritually, it is in my heart; now how do I apply it?
That brings me to what I really appreciated in the follow on study. We watched a video in Russian about Moses and the children of Israel from their time in Egypt up to the Jordan river. The speaker presented much content and commentary. He did explain some of the traditions of the orthodox faith. For example, he covered the issue of work; the Israelite typically worked 7 days a week and when God gave the law, he allowed one day for rest. With the resurrection we added Sunday. His point was that we should be working 6 days a week and resting one day.
Father Anthony came in after the video and asked what the group learned. I have heard him a few times before in other meetings about 9 years ago. He is very good at encouraging people and applying biblical principles. He gave the analogy of a vehicle traveling on the earth will eventually stop. Once a moving rocket in space is pointed in the right direction will continue to its destination. We must find the right direction and continue the journey. Time is the question that we wrestle with. We are on the journey and do not know when we will reach the destination. Some are moving faster and some slower, but the point is to move towards God-that is the right direction. Now I am challenged to point people in the right direction. There is so much interference in this world. As I grow spiritually, it is in my heart; now how do I apply it?
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