Reading Tsunami op-ed pieces from London is like a breath of fresh air: 1) they don’t hesitate to mention God (the Incarnate one) 2) they’re fearless of questions that we Americans are too naive to ask, much less answer 3) being a creedal Christian culture, though few go to church, their opinions and articles are spiked with traditional Christian terms and jargon (which is obviously woven into the fabric of the culture) For example, in a piece by Frank Johnson,... Read more

“Today’s Herod would seek the baby Jesus to implant a computer chip somewhere deep under his skin as the mark of that beast that, in poet William Butler Yeats’ phrase, “its hour come round at last, Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born.” On December 17, 2004, President Bush signed into law measures that gaurantee a National ID system. With the overwhelming coverage of the horrendous tragedy in Southern Asia, I totally missed this news item — though there was some... Read more

The Antiochian website offers some reflections on the Feast of Theophany (Epiphany) including a poem I wrote, from water’s perspective, H E R E. Fr Patrick Henry Reardon’s offering for the Sunday before Theophany helps to explain the essence of the Feast. Thanks to Karl, here’s some more info & family ideas for the celebration of the Feast. Fr John Whiteford and others await the Winter Pascha, the Feast of the Nativity. Read more

How is it that my Creator comes to me? I’m not worthy. To quench is my fate. THIRST All can relate. Before Eden thou wast; even before the flood. I parted for Thy people at the behest of Moses, Thy chosen one. I’ve whetted e’ery path man’s trod; every field he’s plo’d. At Thy command I came to be; my rest shall be in Thee. Tell me Lord, what brings Thee to me? I’m not worthy, I must confess. Me?... Read more

Back in 1987, after less than a month of marriage, I got my wife a cat. It was our first Christmas; we were newlyweds. The landlord had a “No Pets” policy. But, doggonit, she wanted a cat and I wanted to make her happy. I sweet-talked the landlord, paid him an extra $75, and started hinting to customers that I was in the market for a cat. I was selling air time at a radio station in those days. A... Read more

Michelle Malkin displays the inevitable … tsunami reflief scams. For a list of bona fide relief agencies go H E R E. For an account of an heroic effort by a small community go H E R E. Read more

If all the lights, decorations, and general hoopla was about some nebulous Winter Festival … Why are businesses taking down all the decorations when winter’s just begun? Read more

This is the current guess at the number of souls lost in last week’s Tsunami. Thanks to Cheese & Crackers. Read more

First there was Bill Cosby’s crusade against the dumbing down of Black Americans, now Essence magazine gets on board. I hope it’s okay for a conservative to say: “Keep hope alive!” Read more

The Church’s view of human nature is: God created Man in His image and likeness to be in communion with Him. Man has free will to respond to this relationship. Although created in the image and after the likeness of God, humanity does not sustain communion with God (p.15). While humanity is still a creature, fashioned after God’s image, the likeness has been lost and, through sin, the image tarnished. What is this “image?” St Gregory Palamas claims the “image”... Read more