Comments for Father Justin's Blog http://www.fatherjustin.com Contemplations of an Orthodox Christian Priest in Texas Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:44:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 Comment on Taxes & Taxes by Steve Hayes http://www.fatherjustin.com/2008/04/16/taxes-taxes/#comment-54 Steve Hayes Tue, 10 Jun 2008 05:47:59 +0000 http://www.fatherjustin.com/2008/04/16/taxes-taxes/#comment-54 Thanks very much for this. I've been having some rather strange discussions in comments on my blog, and I think some could be helped by referring them to this post. <em>Steve Hayes's last blog post..</em><a href='http://khanya.wordpress.com/2008/06/08/st-stithians-college-founders-day/' rel="nofollow">St Stithians College Founders Day</a> Thanks very much for this. I’ve been having some rather strange discussions in comments on my blog, and I think some could be helped by referring them to this post.

Steve Hayes’s last blog post..St Stithians College Founders Day

]]> Comment on Taxes & Taxes by John http://www.fatherjustin.com/2008/04/16/taxes-taxes/#comment-53 John Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:12:20 +0000 http://www.fatherjustin.com/2008/04/16/taxes-taxes/#comment-53 Your sarcasm really inspired me to respond. My wife is a public school teacher, my children are public school educated (the oldest a national merit scholar). I was public school educated. I believe literacy rates are about the highest they have ever been in the U.S. (I can't remember or cite the study currently).My wife works many hours "off the clock", we have helped provide supplies and food to some of these children. Public schools teach special needs children, children from all types of backgrounds, both good and bad. I live in rural SW Arkansas in a county with a private Christian school that pays its teachers minimum wage and teaches a certified curriculum since the teachers are not certified. Our rural county is approximately 40% black, 60% black; the private school is 100% white, most, if not all are from affluent backgrounds. This school is not equipped to deal with special needs children. While I may agree with some of your notions of "owning" land, I absolutely dispute your cynical analysis of public school education. Perhaps if us good Christian people were concerned with truly providing for all peoples needs and education; you might be able to justify some of this sarcasm. If we did a better job of following the man Jesus in taking care of many of these children that public schools now do, but until you and I do; perhaps it would do to be a bit more circumspect. Respectfully, John R. Moran Arkadelphia, Arkansas Your sarcasm really inspired me to respond. My wife is a public school teacher, my children are public school educated (the oldest a national merit scholar). I was public school educated. I believe literacy rates are about the highest they have ever been in the U.S. (I can’t remember or cite the study currently).My wife works many hours “off the clock”, we have helped provide supplies and food to some of these children. Public schools teach special needs children, children from all types of backgrounds, both good and bad.

I live in rural SW Arkansas in a county with a private Christian school that pays its teachers minimum wage and teaches a certified curriculum since the teachers are not certified. Our rural county is approximately 40% black, 60% black; the private school is 100% white, most, if not all are from affluent backgrounds. This school is not equipped to deal with special needs children.

While I may agree with some of your notions of “owning” land, I absolutely dispute your cynical analysis of public school education. Perhaps if us good Christian people were concerned with truly providing for all peoples needs and education; you might be able to justify some of this sarcasm. If we did a better job of following the man Jesus in taking care of many of these children that public schools now do, but until you and I do; perhaps it would do to be a bit more circumspect.

Respectfully,

John R. Moran
Arkadelphia, Arkansas

]]> Comment on About Father Justin by Steve Hayes http://www.fatherjustin.com/about/#comment-31 Steve Hayes Sat, 19 Apr 2008 02:17:58 +0000 http://www.fatherjustin.com/about/#comment-31 You've been tagged! http://methodius.blogspot.com/2008/04/tagged.html <em>Steve Hayes's last blog post..</em><a href='http://methodius.blogspot.com/2008/04/tagged.html' rel="nofollow">Tagged!</a> You’ve been tagged!

http://methodius.blogspot.com/2008/04/tagged.html

Steve Hayes’s last blog post..Tagged!

]]> Comment on Taxes & Taxes by Anna http://www.fatherjustin.com/2008/04/16/taxes-taxes/#comment-25 Anna Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:29:38 +0000 http://www.fatherjustin.com/2008/04/16/taxes-taxes/#comment-25 Hi - Thank you for this - interesting...especially about the property tax. Hi - Thank you for this - interesting…especially about the property tax.

]]> Comment on After A Long Break by Father Justin http://www.fatherjustin.com/2008/04/04/after-a-long-break/#comment-20 Father Justin Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:07:14 +0000 http://www.fatherjustin.com/2008/04/04/after-a-long-break/#comment-20 Thank you. Taxes prompted today's post. Another is the the works. I'm guessing we may hit one or two a week--we'll see. Thank you. Taxes prompted today’s post. Another is the the works. I’m guessing we may hit one or two a week–we’ll see.

]]> Comment on After A Long Break by Svetlana http://www.fatherjustin.com/2008/04/04/after-a-long-break/#comment-19 Svetlana Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:03:55 +0000 http://www.fatherjustin.com/2008/04/04/after-a-long-break/#comment-19 A lot of your parishioners enjoy your blog! We're eagerly waiting for inspiration to find you! A lot of your parishioners enjoy your blog! We’re eagerly waiting for inspiration to find you!

]]> Comment on After A Long Break by Priest Seraphim Holland http://www.fatherjustin.com/2008/04/04/after-a-long-break/#comment-18 Priest Seraphim Holland Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:03:53 +0000 http://www.fatherjustin.com/2008/04/04/after-a-long-break/#comment-18 Dear Fr Justin: I *had* mixed feelings about writing a blog. I have found that my parishioners who read it seem to be benefited. Inspiration is hard to come by for me too, but during Lent I have posted something on either the services or readings every weekday except 3 days, I think. You and I have some important things to say, and I have tried to use the blog for additional teaching to my flock (primarily). Our people may have dusty bibles and perhaps one lone dusty prayer book, but their computer screen is clean! I think that quality material makes it more likely they will make good use of their time. I am also aware of comments from occasional church attenders that show they are reading all my posts. One man's opinion. <em>Priest Seraphim Holland's last blog post..</em><a href='http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/redeemingthetime/~3/264083681/my-hope-is-father-by-sophie.html' rel="nofollow">"My Hope is the Father", BY SOPHIE!</a> Dear Fr Justin:
I *had* mixed feelings about writing a blog. I have found that my parishioners who read it seem to be benefited. Inspiration is hard to come by for me too, but during Lent I have posted something on either the services or readings every weekday except 3 days, I think.

You and I have some important things to say, and I have tried to use the blog for additional teaching to my flock (primarily). Our people may have dusty bibles and perhaps one lone dusty prayer book, but their computer screen is clean!

I think that quality material makes it more likely they will make good use of their time. I am also aware of comments from occasional church attenders that show they are reading all my posts. One man’s opinion.

Priest Seraphim Holland’s last blog post..“My Hope is the Father”, BY SOPHIE!

]]> Comment on What To Do About A Bad Priest by Father Justin http://www.fatherjustin.com/2007/12/22/what-to-do-about-a-bad-priest/#comment-17 Father Justin Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:51:59 +0000 http://www.fatherjustin.com/2007/12/22/what-to-do-about-a-bad-priest/#comment-17 Yes, translation is hard work! I don't do enough of it; I should do more. Thank you for your kind words. It is easier to translate from a learned language into one's native tongue than the other way around. And humility is needed--one is bound to make mistakes and must be able to learn from them! Yes, translation is hard work! I don’t do enough of it; I should do more. Thank you for your kind words. It is easier to translate from a learned language into one’s native tongue than the other way around. And humility is needed–one is bound to make mistakes and must be able to learn from them!

]]> Comment on What To Do About A Bad Priest by Vara Drezhlo http://www.fatherjustin.com/2007/12/22/what-to-do-about-a-bad-priest/#comment-13 Vara Drezhlo Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:53:37 +0000 http://www.fatherjustin.com/2007/12/22/what-to-do-about-a-bad-priest/#comment-13 Batiushka Justin! It appears we are both involved in translation from Russian! I do NOT do theology, as I am not trained in it. I stick mostly to news, history, art, and general information concerning Russia, which I do have some expertise in. Why don't you go to "Voices from Russia" (URL above) to see Metropolitan Kirill's speech at the Christmas Readings? I believe that my translation is the only English version available. My other website ("Art and Faith", http://01varvara.wordpress.com) deals with Russian art, which I find it largely unknown in the West. DO you find, as I do, that translation is DIFFICULT? How DOES one translate sobornost' or podvig or vostorg? It is a completely different thought world, thoroughly soaked with Orthodoxy, as English is not. Just a reflection, sir... Your translations are very nice, indeed. They DO time a large amount of time to polish correctly, don't they? a fellow labourer in the vineyard, Vara Batiushka Justin!

It appears we are both involved in translation from Russian! I do NOT do theology, as I am not trained in it. I stick mostly to news, history, art, and general information concerning Russia, which I do have some expertise in. Why don’t you go to “Voices from Russia” (URL above) to see Metropolitan Kirill’s speech at the Christmas Readings? I believe that my translation is the only English version available. My other website (”Art and Faith”, http://01varvara.wordpress.com) deals with Russian art, which I find it largely unknown in the West.

DO you find, as I do, that translation is DIFFICULT? How DOES one translate sobornost’ or podvig or vostorg? It is a completely different thought world, thoroughly soaked with Orthodoxy, as English is not. Just a reflection, sir…

Your translations are very nice, indeed. They DO time a large amount of time to polish correctly, don’t they?

a fellow labourer in the vineyard,

Vara

]]> Comment on Late for the Most Important Date by Fr. Justin http://www.fatherjustin.com/2007/12/20/late-for-the-most-important-date/#comment-8 Fr. Justin Wed, 02 Jan 2008 02:50:02 +0000 http://www.fatherjustin.com/2007/12/20/late-for-the-most-important-date/#comment-8 Fr. Seraphim, You are right about the services of Nativity. There are many appetizers that prepare us for the main course. This works in many facets of our Christian lives. Daily Vespers and Matins, and Saturday night Vigil prepare us for Sunday morning Liturgy. Great Lent prepares us for Pascha. This life prepares us for the Kingdom. This homily was directed at general practice throughout the year rather than being given as a tune-up for Nativity. It so happened that the week before, half the people who eventually attended arrived after the homily, not characteristic of the parish. The Gospel text almost demanded that I address the subject the very next week. I don't want such bad habits to get rooted here! Fr. Seraphim,

You are right about the services of Nativity. There are many appetizers that prepare us for the main course. This works in many facets of our Christian lives. Daily Vespers and Matins, and Saturday night Vigil prepare us for Sunday morning Liturgy. Great Lent prepares us for Pascha. This life prepares us for the Kingdom. This homily was directed at general practice throughout the year rather than being given as a tune-up for Nativity. It so happened that the week before, half the people who eventually attended arrived after the homily, not characteristic of the parish. The Gospel text almost demanded that I address the subject the very next week. I don’t want such bad habits to get rooted here!

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