Things I’ve said before

The author of this blog is not a theologian trained in schools where they study what cannot be studied—theology.

He studied the humanities, something which can be studied because it is worldly, human knowledge.

He drew his faith and piety from parádhosis (παραδοσις, "handing over the goods").

He received it in the way faith and piety are transmitted—from teacher to disciple, from parent to child, from elder to disciple, from Christian to Christian, in other words, by personal relationship.

For this reason he is one who experiences divine things, not one who learns about them, having faith as a guide and not knowledge (encyclopedic-scientific information).

He “walks by faith and not by sight,” as Apostle Paul says
(2 Corinthians 5:7).

This is why his words sometimes seem harsh. He does not entertain the compromises that reveal little faith, nor accommodations to avoid being unpleasant to people of contrary views, nor any false brotherliness.

He believes at all times that “honesty is the best policy.”

“…it will be no use… to sail for the World’s End with men unwilling or men deceived.”

C. S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Whether you have a degree or not (I don't), whether you're ordained or not (I'm not), as a follower of Jesus there isn't a moment when you're not available for ministry, not a location where you're exempt from doing His will. It's all just a matter of choice.

Not only in a ‘Christian’ context does the seed of the Word get planted in the souls around us by every action, every word, even every thought that issues from our being.

The call of Jesus is so fundamental, so basic, so universal, and so available (in the Word of God) that most people miss it.

The incense smoke screen between the sacred and profane is pierced by a mere puff of breath, of the Holy Breath (το πνευμα το αγιον, to pnévma to ághion) who lives in us.

It's good to say, “His will, not mine.” As a follower of Jesus, it's good to keep repeating in your heart, “Not my will, but Yours, not my thoughts, but Yours, not my love, but Yours, not my life, but Yours.”

Over and over, we whisper it under our breath, we wake up hearing it flowing as the blood pulsing through our temples, we feel it reverberating with our every heartbeat. It is the background silence (ησυχία, isychía) to our waking stream of thought.

Everything is consecrated now, all water is holy water, all paths walked in obedience to the call of Jesus become paths to paradise, though they pass through the valley of the shadow of death.

Go with God, dear brethren, and pray for Romanós the sinner who prays for you.
I am here with you.