Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!

Transcription

1 Psalm 144:15b Happy are the people whose God is the Lord! Psalm 100 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. From The Orthodox Study Bible, NKJV

2 Large Print Version THE FRUIT BASKET Edited and published monthly or so by An Orthodox Christian The goal of this publication is to provide a friendly, light, Orthodox Christian Zine (a mini-magazine) that contains a blend of something to exercise our minds, something to make us laugh, and something to make us meditate on spiritual matters. It is also a venue for sharing our insights and interests. Articles or comments from our readers are welcome. We reserve the right to edit for suitability, clarity and space. Printing of items does not imply endorsement by the church or the priest or even the editor of this publication. Send comments or articles by to fruit36basket@yahoo.com or by snail mail to The FRUIT BASKET, Howe Road Strongsville, OH The FRUIT BASKET Meditation Acquiring the Holy Spirit of God Prayer, fasting, watching may be good in themselves, yet it is not in these practices alone that the goal of our Christian life is to be found, though they are the necessary means for its attainment. The true goal consists in our acquiring the Holy Spirit of God. Fasting and watching, alms and all good works done for the sake of Christ are the means of acquiring the Holy spirit of God. Great is the power of prayer; more than anything else it brings the Spirit of God. Through prayer we receive the privilege of conversing with God our Savior himself, all-bountiful and life-giving. St. Seraphim of Sarov We thank Templegate Publishers for permission to print the above meditation taken from Daily Readings in Orthodox Spirituality edited by Peter Bouteneff. Dear Folks, We would love to hear from you. 1.Please send in (a) short items of interest, inspirational or otherwise; jokes, puzzles, other. (b) Original writing that could be an encouragment to the rest of us in our Orthodox Christian walk gleaned from reflection, or experience during your life as a practicing Orthodox Christian. It could be a passage from the Bible or from a sermon, and tell why it it is meaningful to you. Parish news is great or share a traditional holiday custom or favorite recipe, or what have you! 2. Send by or regular mail typed or handwritten is fine. Don t worry about spelling, grammar or punctuation all material is proofed before printing. 3. If your submission has already been printed someplace, please include the source of your material if possible.. 4. The whole name of the person submitting material will be printed unless you state some other preference. We can, of course, find many items to print from the many sources available, but a publication like this needs the heartbeat of the people your wisdom, insight, humor, etc. to make it come alive. Together we can make this truly a Fruit Basket of goodies to send to others. I am looking forward to hearing from you and serving you. The Editor We get letters... June 14, 2007 Dear Friend-- Just a quick note to tell you how much I enjoy the Fruit Basket!! Thank you, thank you! God Bless!! Love, Marcia P. Thank you so much, Marcia, for taking the time to write. It is so encouraging to hear from somebody out there to know that I am not just winking in the dark! The Editor 2 The FRUIT BASKET JULY/AUGUST 2007

3 Taken from From DAILY READINGS IN ORTHODOX SPIRITUALITY edited by Peter FROM THIS MINUTE earthly life there are poor and rich, so also in the If we love someone, then we always think of that one, we strive to please that one; day and night our heart is preoccupied with that object. Is it in this way that you love God? Do you often turn to Him, do you always remember Him, do you always pray to Him and fulfill His holy commandments? For our good, for our happiness, let us give a vow to ourselves, that from this day, from this hour, from this minute we shall strive above all else to love God and to fulfill His holy will! St Hermanof Alaska spiritual life, in the spiritual order, there are poor and rich. As the poor ask charity of the rich, and cannot live without help from them, so also in the spiritual order the the poor must have recourse to the rich. We are the spiritually poor, while the saints, and those who live in the present life by their faith and piety, are the spiritually rich. It is to them that we needy ones must have recourse. We must beg from their prayers that they may help us to become simple as children, that they may teach us spiritual wisdom, how to conquer sins, how to love God and our neighbor. May the saints of God pray for us, that we may become like THE CROWN OF CREATION unto them. St John of Kronstadt Know to what extent the Creator has honored you above the rest of creation. The sky is not an Image of God, nor is the moon, nor the sun, nor the beauty of the stars, nor anything of what can be seen in creation. You alone have been made the image of the Reality that transcends all understanding, the likeness of imperishable beauty, the imprint of true divinity, the recipient of beatitude, the seal of the true light. When you turn to him you become that which he is himself.nothing in creation can be compared with your greatness. God is able to measure the whole heaven with his span. The earth and sea are enclosed in the hollow of his hand. And although he is so great and holds all creation in the palm of his hand, you are able to hold him, he dwells in you and moves within you without constraint, for he has said, I will live and move among them. St. Gregory of Nyssa THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS We ought to have the most lively spiritual union with the dwellers in heaven, the apostles, prophets, martyrs, saintly bishops, confessors, with all the saints, as they are all members of the one body, the Church of Christ, to which we sinners also belong, and the living Head of which is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. This is why we call upon them in prayer, converse with them, thank and praise them. It is urgently necessary for every Christian be in union with them if he desires to make Christian progress; for the saints are our friends, our guides to salvation, who pray and intercede for us. As in the JULY/AUGUST 2007 HEARING THE LORD S VOICE Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come to him and eat with him and he with me. How often have we stood weeping looking far away up to heaven where we think the Lord Jesus lives! He is present and living before us, and all that prevents us from encountering Him is our heart s lack of perception! How often have we stood praying before Him, begging him to speak to us, hoping that we might hear him, but it was useless! He never stops calling us by name; nothing prevents us from hearing His voice but our preoccupation with our own daily problems. The mistake we make is that we want to see Him in midst of the daily events that fill our mental and emotional emptiness. But in fact the Lord is present now beyond all these things, beyond time and events, which He controls according to His own wise plan. The alert and simple soul notices the touch of His hand writing the story of its salvation through the years and succession of events. Our successes and failures work together in a positive way guided by the Almighty for our salvation. Temporal losses are not spiritual losses, and trouble, sadness, pain and sickness are the language of divine providence, its secret code, which when deciphered in the Spirit spells resurrection, joy, and eternal glory. Matta El-Meskin (Matthew the Poor) We thank Templegate Publishers for permission to print the above meditations taken from Daily Readings in Orthodox Spirituality edited by Peter Bouteneff. Pass it on! 3

4 Commemorated on July 20 I Kings 17:1--22:51 I Kings 22:51-2 Kings 2:1-18 The Holy Prophet Elijah is one of the greatest of the prophets and the first dedicated to virginity in the Old Testament. He was born in Tishba of (1) Gilead into the Levite tribe 900 years before the Incarnation of the Word of God. 4 THE HOLY PROPHET ELIJAH St Epiphanius of Cyprus gives the following account about the birth of the Prophet Elijah: When Elijah was born, his father Sobach saw in a vision angels of God around him. They swaddled him with fire and fed him with flames. The name Elijah (the Lord s strength) given to the infant defined his whole life. From the years of his youth he dedicated himself to the One God, settled in the wilderness and spent his whole life in strict fasting, meditation and prayer. Called to prophetic service, which put him in conflict with the Israelite king Ahab, the prophet became a fiery zealot of true faith and piety. During this time the Israelite nation had fallen away from the faith of their Fathers, they abandoned the One God and worshipped pagan idols, the worship of which was introduced by the impious king Jereboam. Jezebel, the wife of king Ahab, was devoted to idol worship. She persuaded her husband to build a temple to the pagan god Baal, which led many Israelites away from the worship of the true God. Beholding the ruin of his nation, the Prophet Elijah began to denounce King Ahab for impiety, and exhorted him to repent and turn to the God of Israel. The king would not listen to him. The Prophet Elijah then declared to him, that as punishment there would be neither rain nor dew upon the ground, and the drought would cease only by his prayer. Indeed, the word of Elijah was a torch (Eccles. 48: 1) The heavens were closed for three and a half years, and there was drought and famine throughout all the land. During this time of tribulation, the Lord sent him to a cave beyond the Jordan. There he was miraculously fed by ravens. When the stream Horath dried up, the Lord sent the Prophet Elijah to Zarepath (4) to a poor widow, a Sidonian Gentile who suffered together with her children, awaiting death by starvation. At the request of the prophet, she prepared him a bread with The FRUIT BASKET JULY/AUGUST 2007

5 the last measure of flour and the remainder of the oil. Through the prayer of the Prophet Elijah, flour and oil were not depleted in the home of the widow for the duration of the famine. By the power of his prayer the prophet also performed another miracle: he raised the dead son of the widow. After the end of three years of drought the Merciful Lord sent the prophet to appear before King Ahab, and promised to send rain upon the earth. The Prophet Elijah told the king to order all of Israel to gather upon (5) Mount Carmel, and also the priests of Baal. When the nation had gathered, the Prophet Elijah proposed that two sacrificial altars be built: one for the priests of Baal, and the other for the Prophet Elijah who served the True God. The Prophet Elijah told them to call on their gods to consume the sacrificial animals with fire, and he would call on his. Whichever was first to send fire on the sacrifice would be acknowledged as the true God. The prophets of Baal called out to their idol from morning till evening, but the heavens were silent. Towards evening the holy Prophet Elijah built his sacrificial altar from twelve stones, the number of the tribes of Israel. He placed the sacrifice upon the wood, gave orders to dig a ditch around the altar and commanded that the sacrifice and the wood be soaked with water. When the ditch had filled with water, the prophet turned to God in prayer. Through the prayer of the prophet fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, and even the water. The people fell down to the ground, crying out: Truly, the Lord is God! Then the Prophet Elijah had all the pagan-priests of Baal put to death, and he began to pray for rain. Through his prayer the heavens opened and an abundant rain fell, soaking the parched earth. King Ahab acknowledged his error and repented of his sins, but his wife Jezebel threatened to kill the prophet of God. The Prophet Elijah fled into the Kingdom of Judea and, grieving over his failure to eradicate idol worship, he asked God to let him die. An angel of the Lord came before him, strengthened him with food and commanded him to go upon a long journey. The Prophet Elijah traveled for forty days and nights and, having arrived at Mount Horeb (6), he settled in a cave. JULY/AUGUST 2007 The Lord told him that the next day Elijah would stand in His presence.there was a strong wind that crushed the rocks of the mountain, then an earthquake, and a fire, but the Lord was not in them. The Lord was in a gentle breeze (3 Kings 19: 12). He revealed to the prophet, that He would preserve seven thousand faithful servants who had not worshipped Baal. Later, the Lord commanded Elijah to anoint Elisha into prophetic service. Because of his fiery zeal for the Glory of God the Prophet Elijah was taken up alive into Heaven (8) in a fiery chariot. The Prophet Elisha received Elijah s mantle, and a double portion of his prophetic spirit. According to the Tradition of Holy Church, the Prophet Elijah will be the Forerunner of the Dread Second Coming of Christ. He will proclaim the truth of Christ, urge all to repentance, and will be slain by the Antichrist. This will be a sign of the end of the world. The life of the holy Prophet Elijah is recorded in the Old Testament books (3 Kings; 4 Kings; Sirach/Ecclesiastes 48: 1-15; 1 Maccabees 2: 58). At the time of the Transfiguration, the Prophet Elijah conversed with the Savior upon Mount Tabor (Mt. 17: 3; Mark 9: 4; Luke. 9: 30). Orthodox Christians of all times, and in all places, have venerated the Prophet Elijah for centuries. The first church in Russia, built at Kiev under Prince Igor, was named for the Prophet Elijah. After her Baptism St Olga (July 14) built a temple of the holy Prophet Elijah in his native region, at the village of Vibuta. In iconography the Prophet Elijah is depicted ascending to Heaven in a fiery chariot, surrounded with flames, and harnessed to four winged horses. We pray to him for deliverance from! drought, and taken from Give God what s right not what s left. Pass it on! 5

6 6 BEWARE: LATEST SCAMS Identity theft is becoming more prevalent and we need to be constantly on the alert to new threats. Phone Scams: It usually works like this: The victim receives a phone call with a recorded message saying their credit card has been compromised and to call a certain phone number immediately. Once they call that number, another recorded voicd asks them to enter their 16 digit account number. Easily obtainable software converts the phone keystrokes into a display that the thief can read. The solution is easy. If you get a phone call with a recorded message referring to your credit card or other bank information, do not call the number given. If it says press 1 or press 2 to disregard or similar message, do not press anything. Simply hang up. Instead, call your financial institution s number (usually printed on the back of the credit card) and ask if there is a problem with your account. Be careful, because they are working in the area I got one of these phone calls just last week. The Editor Online Scams: If you use on your computer there is a different set of cautions to observe. First there was phishing and pharming to obtain your personal and financial information via . Phishing is where you reply directly to the . Pharming is a more elaborate scheme where the perpetrators lure you (via ) to a Web site that resembles the real thing. However, it is only an elaborate mirror site where all your information (passwords, account numbers) go directly into the hands of thieves. Do not open s that refer to financial matters, but if you have opened it, do not reply to such s, and never, never click on links supplied in the e- mails. ( In fact, do not open any s that you are not absolutely sure about.) If you are concerned, log in directly to your financial institution s website and see if there are any messages concerning your account. Play it safe with your personal and account information. Don t become a victim of identity theft. It can cost you big and take months to make right again. Adapted from PSE Credit Union newsletter, June 2007! LIFE LEFT IN US YET To heck with salad--give us pie--at least once in a while, and never mind the comfy clothes we want the latest style. To heck with spending time Thanks, discussing every ache and pain, Barb A. or using every gathering to stroll down memory lane. To heck with feeling old and looking backward with regret-- We re looking forward, don t you know... Ther s LIFE left in us yet! Submitted by Barb A. DO YOU SUDOKU? Are you one of the millions who ve gotten hooked on the numbers puzzle Sudoku? If so you could be doing your brain a favor. Working your brain with puzzles and other brainteasers could help keep your mental health in shape as you age. In fact, according to Alzheimer s Association, any type of regular mental stimulation might increase your brain s nerve connections and even help generate new brain cells, reducing your risk of Alzheimer s disease and other dementias. Here are some other activities that ll keep your brain young: reading books, magazine or newspapers doing crossword puzzles tinkering with cars, computers or applieances designing and planting a garden building a model car or airplane take up painting, drawing or a musical instrument. (It is the doing that counts, not the end result.) exercise regularly to increase oxygen to the brain change the way you do ordinary things--take a different route to the store, or use a new recipe for your favorite food, brush your teeth or hair with your left hand. Exercising your brain can be as simple as changing how you do things, or doing something new anything that makes you really think about what you are doing. Adapted from Healthwise Connection from Cleveland Clinic! The FRUIT BASKET JULY/AUGUST 2007

7 Thanks, Augie Q. HOW TO STAY YOUNG 1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That s why you pay them. 2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. 3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. An idle mind is the devil s workshop. And the devil s name is Alzheimer s. 4. Enjoy the simple things. 5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. 6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive. 7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it s family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge. 8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help. 9. Don t take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is. 10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.! Submitted by Augie Thanks SHOPPING CARTS TEST DIRTY! Ann K Investigations by Inside Edition testing the shopping carts of nine supermarkets, and a study by Dr. Kelly Reynolds, a microbiologist with the University of Arizona,found disturbing evidence that supermarket shopping carts can expose shoppers of all ages to harmful bacteria and germs! Several types of bacteria and fungus were found that could cause disease. Dr. Reynolds says, You need to be aware that there could be harmful bacteria from raw meats and produce, (even from leaky diapers of young children sitting in the cart seats) and harmful viruses from the hands of people who have been sick present on shopping cart handles. The shopping carts she tested were dirtier than public restrooms. The fact is restrooms are frequently cleaned and disinfected but shopping carts are not. Women often put their purses on the shopping cart seats and on arriving home they set the purse on the kitchen table or counter, thus transferring the germs directly to the kitchen surfaces where food is placed or prepared. To protect yourself it is suggested that you clean the handles and seats with sanitation wipes before using the cart, and use fresh sanitation wipes to clean the hands after shopping. Other areas that can collect germs and should be wiped frequently with sanitation wipes are telephones, door handles, steering wheels, purse bottoms, remote controls, and any other area that is frequently touched. Take a little care and keep your world a healthier place to live.! Submitted by Anna K of Parma Thanks, Marie. HAVE NO FEAR Have no fear for what tomorrow may bring. The same loving God who cared for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. He will either shield you from suffering or give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations. Francis de sales Submitted by Marie K. JULY/AUGUST 2007 The more you look the more you see! Pass it on! 7

8 8 ON THE LIGHT SIDE... An elderly lady was sitting and reading her Bible when a fellow airline passenger, noticing what she was reading, leaned over and asked her a question. Do you really believe all of that stuff? Why, yes! she replied. Even the story about that man who was swallowed by the big fish and survived? he wanted to know. Sure, I do, she said. How do you know, what proof do you have? he continued. Well, she said. When I get to heaven, I will ask him about it. Suppose he doesn t get to heaven? he persisted. Well, then, she snapped. You can ask him! Thanks, Marusha! Submitted by Marie M. of Parma POSITIVE THINKING X Living on Earth is expensive, but it does include a free trip around the sun every year. X How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you re on. X Birthdays are good for you; the more you have, the longer you live. X Happiness comes through doors you didn t even know you left open. X Ever notice that the people who are late are often much jollier than the people who have to wait for them? X Most of us go to our grave with our music still inside of us. X If Wal-Mart is lowering prices every day, how come nothing is free yet? X You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person. X Don t cry because it s over; smile because it happened. X We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors...but they all exist very nicely in the same box. X A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.! Thanks, D.J.! Submitted by D.J. THE WATER PISTOL When my three-year-old son opened the birthday gift from his grandmother, he discoveed a water pistol. He squealed with delight and headed for the nearest sink. I was not so plessed. I turned to Mom and said, I m surprised at you. Don t you remember how we used to drive you crazy with water guns? Mom smiled and then replied... I remember! LIFE AFTER DEATH Do you believe in life after death? the boss asked one of his employees. Yes, Sir, the new employee replied. Well, then, that makes everything just fine, the boss went on. After you left early yesterday to go to your grandmother s funeral she stopped in to see you! CANDID OBSERVATION Little Timmy watched, fascinated, as his mother smoothed cold cream on her face. Why do you do that, mommy? he asked. To make myself beautiful, said his mother, who then began removing the cream with a tissue. What s the matter? asked Little Timmy. Giving up? Submitted by Augie FR. JAMIE S HEALING HUMOR A young Army recruit had the misfortune of receiving guard duty during the night. He had never done it be-thanksfore and he kept getting sleepier and sleepier. Finally he Betty gave in and began dozing. He awakened with a jolt when he sw the officer of the day standing before him. Remembering the heavy penalty for being asleep while on duty, the quick-thinking soldier kept his head bowed and reverently added, Amen, before looking up. (from POINTS WITH PUNCH by Dennis R. Fakes, 1982) Submitted by Betty Scherry FOR HAPPY SUMMER FEET In summer we like to wear barefoot sandals or shoes without stockings. But too often sweaty feet lead to blisters or other discomfort. Here is an inexpensive, easy solution. Just cut a panty liner to size and stick it down inside your shoe. It stays in place for many hours and keeps your feet comfortable. Remove it at the end of the day to prevent sticky residue in your shoe. This solution was discovered by your Editor this summer and will be submitted to columnnists. The FRUIT BASKET JULY/AUGUST 2007

9 JULY/AUGUST 2007 Pass it on! Our church is prayer-conditioned. 9

10 ! THE FRUIT BASKET Howe Road Strongsville, OH Sunshine Greetings from St. Theodosius Orthodox Cathedral CALENDAR for July/August 2007 July 20 Holy Prophet Elijah July 25 Dormition of St. Anna August 1 Begin Dormition Fast August 1 Procession of Life-Giving Cross August 6 Transfiguration of our Lord August 15 Dormition of Theotokos August 29 Beheading of John the Baptist Addressee The Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ on Mount Tabor (Luke 9:28-36 NKJV) Now it came to pass, about eight days after Him. 33 these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and Then it happened, as they were parting from James and went up on the mountain to pray. Him, that Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good 29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles; one for You, one for Moses, and one for altered, and His robe became white and glistening. Elijah not knowing what he said And behold two men talked to him, who were While he was saying this, a cloud came and Moses and Elijah. 31 who appeared in glory and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they spoke of His decease which He was about to entered the cloud. 35 accomplish at Jerusalem. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This 32 But Peter and those with him were heavy with is My beloved Son. Hear Him! 36 sleep; and when they were fully awake, they When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found saw His glory and the two men who stood with alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen. 9:29 The Transfiguration demonstrates Jesus is the Lord of glory, despite the fact that He will later suffer and die on the Cross (see The Transfiguration at Matt. 17). Jesus humanity was filled with splendor, was made Godlike, deified. His Transfiguration is the most evident expression of our hope for glorification in God s eternal Kingdom. St. Paul writes, Behold, I tell you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed (1Cor. 15:51). And St. John writes, We know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. (1 John 3:2) For eternity, we shall be like Jesus as He appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration. 9:30 Christ s Transfiguration is witnessed to by Moses and Elijah, appearing in the glory (v.31) which reveals the transfiguration of our humanity. Moses and Elijah, as representatives of the Law and the Prophets, appear to the apostles showing that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. Commentary on 9:29-30 was taken from the Orthodox Study Bible