Orthodixie

As traveling and holiday mail begins to complicate matters, NOW is the time to buy those last minute books and have them delivered just in time for gift giving! Order either or both titles from PayPal in the side margin and they will be signed, sealed & delivered ASAP. For quantity discounts, visit Regina Orthodox Press.
And — THANKS!

One Flew Over the Onion Dome …

The Convert experience is full of surprises, not only for the pilgrims involved but for those who attempt to pastor and teach them. One Flew Over the Onion Dome tackles these challenges with up-front honesty, good humor, and steadfast faith.

— Frederica Mathewes-Green

Fr Joseph Huneycutt’s book is reminiscent of John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, in that it details the pitfalls, traps and snares that so easily entrap those who set out to travel the narrow Way. Likewise, he points out the underlying spiritual maladies of the soul and how to avoid the various pitfalls. Many may be able to point out the problems one encounters, even giving them a name. But to identify a problem, i.e., a spiritual malady, is not the same thing as being able to cure it. Overcoming the problem is a different matter entirely. Thanks be to God he offers helpful pastoral counsel to those who must guide others in this difficult path.”

+ MARK, Bishop of Toledo and the Diocese of the Midwest

“We have found the Pearl of Great Price,” could be a subtitle to this gem, One Flew Over the Onion Dome. It is a precious collection of heart-beats reflecting the various facets of the same pilgrimage that St Paul made when called by Christ on the road to Damascus: scrutiny and doubt from Cradles, heart-wrenching rejection by family and friends, periodic re-consideration while zealously bearing fruit in the Lord, delight in the “coming home,” humble acknowledgment of the gift received. “My story is not much different from the host of other stories of Americans converting to Eastern Orthodox Christianity,” confesses Fr Joseph Huneycutt. Although each story has a thread common to the others, each one is singular because it is the life-searching quest of a unique soul longing for “in the present age the knowledge of the truth and in the future age, everlasting life.

This is a must read for Cradles who might need to re-appreciate the Truth, for Seekers who have found the way but must patiently walk it while waiting for that blessed life which is to come and especially for hierarchs under whose omophorions the Good Shepherd has led these sheep for pastoring and who will be called to account for their eternal well-being.”

+ NATHANIEL, Archbishop of Detroit

Defeating Sin …

This attractive exposition of current, yet timeless, anthropological issues is distinguished by its clarity of vision and originality of expression. As the book unfolds, it becomes increasingly evident that the unbroken Tradition of the Church is the sole key to understanding God’s revelation to man. Because the author has so firmly placed his trust in the holiness of this Tradition, his thinking, both creative and inspired, elucidates the charismatic character of the way of salvation which leads to the renewal of life. His doctrine is sound, and it will surely prove to be of great value in informing and convincing the heart of modern man about God’s truth.

— Archimandrite Zacharias (Zacharou) of the Patriarchal Stavropegic Monastery of St John the Baptist in Essex, England

Father Joseph has the unusual ability to take timeless truth, Biblical knowledge, and theology, and communicate them in a practical, and readily understandable form that has the wonderful potential of helping us to be transformed through the renewing of our minds.

— Ron Moore
International Singer/Songwriter/Speaker

This book has evolved over several decades of reflection that is both personal and part of our Orthodox family inheritance. This is a read that will bring many back through its pages just as memories of powerful retreats and epiphanies return to us and become once again moments of grace in an hour of need. DEFEATING SIN: Overcoming our Passions and Changing Forever is a book that will be marked up and well-worn by those who own it and no doubt shared with other Christians who long for a well of renewal and a blessed retreat.

— The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield – Chancellor, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary

Passions and virtues – words not generally used in everyday vocabulary in the 21st century. Yet, who of us has not seen lives ruined or exalted as a direct result of one or the other of these words and their implications. This book provides meaningful and practical insight into the significant “opposites” that affect our lives both here and hereafter. Fr. Joseph takes us to that fateful garden where the first Adam, the first Eve and the first tree set a course for death and destruction. But he also takes us to a hill where the second Adam, the second Eve and a very different tree changes that course for eternity. Read this, go to confession, and then read it again.

John Maddex, General Manager, Ancient Faith Radio

May you, reader, be blessed and enlightened and encouraged in your struggle by the wisdom contained in this book, to the glory of the All-Holy Trinity and the salvation of your soul.

+ BASIL, Bishop of the Diocese of Wichita & Mid-America

Order signed copies of DEFEATING SIN and/or One Flew Over the Onion Dome through PayPal in the side margin (at left) or — unsigned, multiple copies — through the publisher at Regina Orthodox Press.

Whodathunk, Missouri – In a move that some are hailing as “Well, Duh,” seventeen (16) congregations of Unitarian Universalists have signed an agreement of intent to join in full Eucharistic Communion with the Episcopals.

“Why not tie the knot?” said Jeff Jefferson of Jeffords Ford. “We’ve been watching the Episcopals for some time now. Oh sure, they’ve been getting some bad press — but it’s all good by us! One says heresy, another says hooray!”

Shannon Ford of West Jefferson chimed in: “I think this is great. My great grandfather was an Episcopal. But that was back in the day when they were known as Episcopalians and believed in many things contrary to Unitarian doctrine — like Doctrine. As Unitarians, we believe in the freedom of religious expression. All individuals are encouraged to develop their own personal theology, and to present openly their religious opinions without fear of censure or reprisal. We’ve come to conclude that the Episcopals believe the same.”

Wilma Tisdale (nee Jefferson) was one of the signers of the Accord. She said the convergence was harmonic, hastening to add: “We believe in the authority of reason and conscience. The ultimate arbiter in religion is not a church, or a document, or an official, but the personal choice and decision of the individual.”

One of the qualities that the Unitarians bring to the table is “stability,” said the Rev’d Alford Longfellow, pastor of St Gilded Lily by the Silver Lake. As a priest of 30 years in ECUSA, he’s grown weary of all the changes within his denomination. He quoted Benjamin Franklin, saying: “As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and his religion, as he left them to us, the best … but I apprehend it has received various corrupting changes, and I have … some doubts as to his divinity, tho’ it is a question I do not dogmatize upon.” Alford added, “It has taken generations and not a little sweat and toil, but we have all arrived at the same place.”

While many claim that this move was brought about by those formerly known as Episcopalians and their jettisoning the traditional beliefs of the Christian faith, others see this union as a labor of love that has come of age. “We believe in the motive force of love” said Jeff Jefferson. “The governing principle in human relationships is the principle of love, which always seeks the welfare of others and never seeks to hurt or destroy.”

However, not everyone is impressed. Cathy Olix of East Oxford called the new union a disgrace, saying: “I never thought I’d see the day! There once was a time when a Unitarian was a Unitarian (whatever that was) and an Episcopalian was an Episcopalian (whatever that was). Now it seems that what was is — and that just ain’t right. They’re even calling us Episcopals — whatever that is!”

When asked about the next step in the process toward union, everyone was in mutual agreement: “There is no next step.” As if to seal the deal, the Accord cites the Reverend Samuel J. May in a paper written in the 19th century: “Because we have no formula of faith; no system of doctrines; no list of articles prescribed by pope, bishops, General Assembly, or other human authority, which every one must profess to believe before he can be admitted to membership in our church, — there are those who allege that we Unitarians have no faith; that we believe nothing, or that each one believes what he pleases.”

And this, everyone agrees, is exactly what the Episcopals believe.

(This satirical post is not intended to diss the beliefs of Unitarian Universalists — which, it seems, have remained consistent. In that regard, they are more traditional than, well, the “Episcopals.”)

Did you read about that Baby Jesus that was recently stolen from someone’s yard? Oh, I’m sure more than one Baby Jesus has been stolen this year – perhaps even in your town!

Well, I decided to do something about it … I became an Investigator.

The other day I went door-to-door in my neighborhood in search … of Baby Jesus.

My first stop was the home of Minerva Simmons, aged 73, on Tomball Drive. She’s the owner of the giant Crèche scene … You know with the big plastic light-up Mary & Joseph, Wise Men, Manger, and the optional Star on a Pole …

And as I pulled into her driveway it was crystal clear that something – Someone – was missing … the Manger was empty. It was just a cradle for hay. Yep, Baby Jesus, MFM (missing from manger).

(In the place where the plastic body normally lay was a sign that read: “Have you seen me?” – with a picture of Baby Jesus … well, you know what I mean …)

Friends, I’ll spare you further details but, Mrs Simmons was devastated. This plastic Baby Jesus had been in their family since the 1970s when her kids were young. It meant the world to her.

Silly me, I don’t know why — but I asked her if it had been made in China. She said, “No, Malaysia.” Malaysia is, of course, predominantly Muslim – and I briefly contemplated them naming a plastic baby JESUS as opposed to a stuffed Teddy bear named … oh, never mind.

But that wasn’t the strangest part of my day! After getting a good description of the Missing Plastic Jesus, I moseyed on over to …

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

Image Source

Back in ’05, I received the following note from a reader:

I caught this [show on the Discovery Channel] on Christmas day. It was a very interesting history about his life and how his relics had traveled. Then using the relics they reconstructed his face using forensics.

My thoughts?

Well, it just goes to show ya, scientists should always check with the Orthodox — it might save time, effort, and money:

Icon of St Nicholas, 10-11th century, the Walters Art Museum.