"A Simple Question Attached"

Somewhere inside of me there is a space wanting and waiting to be filled. Perhaps it is in my soul, perhaps it is in my intellect, perhaps it is in both. The space has a longing in it to "press in and go deeper" so that I may "know" and "feel" without reservation or dispute, the true way to worship God. The need to fill in this space inside of me, which I see as a "simple question attached to my innermost being" has now led me to consider the teachings of the Orthodox Church.

So, here I go......

Just a mere 8 days ago I discovered on "facebook" (yes, facebook, the Lord uses all things for good, you know!) that a friend of mine (Jim) was reading the "Orthodox Study Bible". So I messaged him and asked him for a review of the study Bible. Jim attends a church that I used to attend (The Church of the Nazarene) before I joined my current church, The Church of Grace and Peace. Quite a different setting between these two churches, but, both are Christ centered. Jim replied, and I was amazed by his review and some of the comments he included in his message. Amazed, in the sense that most of his comments sounded like I had made them, it seemed to me, that we were both "exploring" the same simple question, well at least in my mind it did, guess I should not speak for Jim! But, it was very clear to see that he was considering the Orthodox Church as well and had been at it for some time now. In fact Jim has written about his own journey involving the Orthodox Church and you can find it here: http://orthodoxyorbust.blogspot.com/

For the last 6 or 7 years I had been "exploring" Celtic Christianity by reading many books on it and visiting "official Celtic Christianity web sites and forums" while attending my current church which many would label as a "Charismatic Church". There is of course quite a difference here between the two, but I sought out the value in each. I don't believe I have yet made the connection to get the answer to my "simple question" in either, so I now make a new consideration, that being Orthodoxy.

"The Orthodox Church" by Timothy Ware

So since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery (yes it is Jim!) I have created this blog to become my shared journal, of my journey of exploration, into Orthodoxy. I have in the last 8 days read many articles, visited many web sites, and read a few chapters in the books I have on the History of the Christian Church as they pertain to the Eastern Orthodox Church. Yesterday my wife Judy and I spent sometime driving around the "Shore" to take advantage of seeing the beautiful display of color that the Spring season brings about in God's flowers and trees. We stopped off at Barnes and Noble, where I bought  two books.

"The Orthodox Church" by Timothy Ware (shown above) and "The Philokalia" by St. Nikodimos (shown below). I have also ordered the "Orthodox Study Bible" online from Amazon and expect delivery very soon.

I have begun reading the first book, "The Orthodox Church" and I am very impressed and fascinated by what I have read so far, already several beliefs that I had about the Orthodox Church have been corrected, along with a complete reversal in my opinions on some very important doctrines, WOW! it is amazing what a little education can do!!! I cannot wait to read more!

I am also planning on attending Vespers at the Orthodox Church that Jim has attended (thank you Jim for agreeing to let me tag along!) on an upcoming Saturday.

So where is this all going to lead, can't say as of yet, BUT, I will be posting my journey here, so please continue to visit.