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Hey. How are ya anyway?

How am I? Hmmmm....

In transition. I have suddenly been relieved of my Employment position, just last week (basically, my Boss took the Northern half of the market, and gave the Middle-market guy my branches in the South... meaning I have been squeezed out)... but I believe that I have enough clients to go into business for myself, which is my intent at this point. I believe that I have the numbers to make it work; God willing; it will.

Sending you a hug. 52 posted on 11/14/2003 10:31 PM PST by MarMema

Sending me a hug. (sigh)... gladly accepted, but why did you have to do that?

I have to confess, it's breaking my old Mother's heart that my French-Catholic elder brother has declared, "My Children will be raised Eastern Orthodox!!"

I have, of course, tried to explain to her that Martin Luther himself considered the Eastern Orthodox to be the "better half" of Christendom (from whence we derive the English marital expression); but we are a Protestant family... and though it would nearly kill her for her Grandchildren to be raised Papist Catholics, she is not greatly familiar or comfortable with Eastern Orthodoxy.

I myself would like to confront my elder brother on this matter -- IF he intends to raise his children (my nephews) according to the Orthodoxy of "The Confession of Cyril Lukaris", then I shall hold my peace, and shall advise my mother to do the same. Patriarch Cyril Lukaris, of course, was entirely Eastern Orthodox on the matter of Liturgy, Ecclesiology, Sacramentology, Veneration of the Saints, and other such Eastern Orthodox distinctives; but his Soteriological doctrine of Salvation was largely Lutheran-Protestant (or Fideistic-Orthodox, might be another way of putting the matter)...

...and if my Brother is intent upon raising his Children, my nephews, within the Lukarian Orthodox tradition, then I am able to overlook the adiaphora of distinctives between Orthodoxy and Protentantism.

But Protestants do have legitimate and genuine disagreements with the mainstream of Orthodox theology -- We really do. it's just that...

Ecumenical theological analysts have often identified Protestantism as "The Church of Faith".
Ecumenical theological analysts have often identified Romanism as "The Church of Law".
Ecumenical theological analysts have often identified Eastern Orthodoxy as "The Church of Love".

And, I think, the designation is often accurate. And the Churches have much to learn from eachother... for God is the giver of all good things: Faith, Law, and Love.

But you Eastern Orthodox sure make it difficult to fight with you. "Church of Love", indeed... I'm trying to fight about Theology, and you offer a Hug and a Benediction.

I still have my theological disagreements with the Eastern Orthodox church -- and I expect I always will (although, as I have said above, I shall be able to make my peace with Lukarian Orthodox, if my elder brother so decides). But you certainly make it difficult.

Eastern Orthodoxy -- "The Church of Love". And on your better days... you actually live up to that Reputation.

By the Grace of God... may ye always.

best, OP