What are the best threads in the forum?

[Jonathan Hayward]

Question in particular to people who have been around for a while:

What would you consider the best, or your favorite, of old and new threads in this forum?

Christos Jonathan

[Andreas Moran]

1. Those that answer one's questions.
2. Those that throw new light on one's understanding.
3. Those that provoke a lively debate (since one measures one's own thoughts against those of others).
4. Last and not least, those that confirm one's own opinions. (Smiley if I could insert one!)

[Margaret S.]

Question in particular to people who have been around for a while:

What would you consider the best, or your favorite, of old and new threads in this forum?

Christos Jonathan

Donno... I just discovered the archives and have that kid in a sweetie shop feeling... I suppose though the ones that have been most useful to me are those on finding a spiritul father and contemporary monasticism.

Regards
Margaret
in Edinburgh

[Jonathan Hayward]

(Any links would be welcome.)

Christos Jonathan

[Paul Cowan]

Click on community quick links at the bottom of the page, select the first one and move your way down the list. Look for the most views on a particular forum or which ones have the most stars beside them. Of course some of the best ones, are also the shortest and go unnoticed. Other than that, it's what ever suits your fancy. If you want to know my best interests, go here (http://www.monachos.net/forum/search.php?searchid=944365).

Paul

[Jonathan Hayward]

If you want to know my best interests, go here (http://www.monachos.net/forum/search.php?searchid=944365).
Thank you.

Was there an error with the link? I clicked on it and got a "not found"-type page.

Christos Jonathan

[Paul Cowan]

No, I was able to open it. Go to my profile and clisk on all threads started by Paul Cowan. I et, if you looked at specific people's profiles, you will see what is th emost interest to that person.

[Effie Ganatsios]

Andreas just about covered everything.

Personally, I like discussions that deal with the practical aspects of Orthodoxy.

I like the posts that offer personal insights, I like those that force me to think and look at various subjects in different ways.

The theoretical discussions I leave to the experts.

Effie

[Alice]

Andreas just about covered everything.

Personally, I like discussions that deal with the practical aspects of Orthodoxy.

I like the posts that offer personal insights, I like those that force me to think and look at various subjects in different ways.

The theoretical discussions I leave to the experts.

Effie

I agree! I would also add that I like to read Effie's posts... (though , unfortunately, she doesn't post as much as she used to)

[Effie Ganatsios]

I agree! I would also add that I like to read Effie's posts... (though , unfortunately, she doesn't post as much as she used to)

Thank you Alice. I just don't have that much to say. My life - my journey with Christ - seems to be all downhill lately.
I am being attacked spiritually, to the point where I am starting to doubt my faith. My love for Christ is strong but everything else seems to be crumbling. I need the prayers of all on this forum.

I read this the other day and thought that if St. Paul could say this, then there is hope for me.

"For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

St. Paul, Romans 7:15-24"

Alice, I would recommend that Father Averky's posts be read. He was always an inspiration to me. He is now sleeping but his posts are very much alive.

Effie

This is a link, given to us by Father David Moser, to one of his posts.

http://www.monachos.net/forum/showthread.php?p=44132&highlight=father+Averky+American+orthodoxy#post441 32

[Alice]

Yes, I used to read Father Averky's posts--may his memory be eternal--at the same time that I used to read yours, before I became a member here. He was so caring and so pastoral and sweet and kind in his temperament. He did a great service to the posters and readers here by taking the considerable time to minister to them.

We all experience periods of spiritual dryness, spiritual laziness, etc. We all have times when even our faith is tested or is lacking..."Please Lord help my unbelief"!!

Do not despair. Despair is of the evil one. Despair means no hope. When I was having a particular 'dark night of the soul' (as the Catholics call it, and also some Orthodox), where I was going through trials but at the same time I would cry out to God and the saints but not feel their presence for a long time, I was told by my then monastic elder to say many Jesus Prayers and do many prostrations daily in order to counteract the despair.


If you do not feel like praying, you have to force yourself. The Holy Fathers say that prayer with force is higher than prayer unforced. You do not want to, but force yourself. The Kingdom of Heaven is taken by force (Matt. 11:12). REF:St. Ambrose of Optina (+1891)

I persevered for a long time and eventually was granted many spiritual graces of God's love to see me through.

If you are having instead a difficulty in actually believing in God,cry out to God and ask Him to manifest Himself to you somehow, and to help your unbelief. He *will* answer you. I experienced this once for all of a day, but for that day I really, really did not believe anymore, but God was merciful to my sinful and unworthy self and He answered me with a sign which has helped to keep me focused on eternity for the past twenty-five years. God will never hesitate to answer us when it comes to our faith.

Infact, I realize that is probably because I am so weak and lazy that Heaven always allows some problems, worries, and challenges to come to my life in different manners, so that I can always turn to God and not forget Him.

I definitely go through laziness in prayer, and I am sure most people do. By reading the above quote by St. Ambrose of Optina we know that we are not alone in feeling this. It seems that even some of the saints have had to struggle this way.

I was feeling this way this week, despite fasting (which I was also complaining about--not wanting to do it, but did it only to help my husband who is under obedience to his SF to keep all the fasts), and yesterday after going to the new Acropolis Museum, and having some coffee in Plaka afterwards and then walking around the Metropolis, we heard the bells for Vespers. They were held in a little ancient church next door, and since my husband had on walking shorts, the candilafti asked us to sit in the back, which was fine. We ended up being the only ones who stayed for the whole service (of the handful of persons who attended), and at the end--voila--we were spiritually rejuvenated again!! Then this morning, I had the hardest time getting to church for Liturgy (I hate waking up so early--church is sooo early here in Greece vs. the U.S.), but I forced myself, and was glad that I did. I feel so much better now.

The point I am trying to make is that the world pulls us like a magnet to her, and if we don't make that extra little effort, we may get swallowed up. God will not abandon us in our spiritual lives. We simply have to ask Him or seek Him out or force ourselves to fight and to do that which our lazy bodies and lazy minds do not want to do..

I don't know if any of this made any sense, dear sister...and it offered in all humility and unworthiness with the hope that it may help you just a little. I will pray for you too! :-)

Be well!

In Christ,
Alice

[Effie Ganatsios]

Thank you Alice. Can I answer you privately?

Effie

[Adrian]

Orthodox Miracles Movies: http://www.youtube.com/user/IoanRomania09
http://www.monachos.net/forum/showthread.php?6114-On-Sundays-Orthodox-church-gives-people-holy-communion-for-eternal-life