joypeacehope: April 2009

Friday, April 24, 2009

Have It Your Way, If You Insist!

Oregano Oil And Antibiotics

The premise I am making is based on the argument that man cannot create anything superior to what already exists in nature and the specific niche I want to address is medicine but before I get there I want to momentarily dwell on this concept of man's drive to create. Considering that man is made in the image of God, it stands to reason that each of us share bits and pieces of His character and behavior. Since we are creatures, we of course have limitations in regards to our abilities whereas God has no creative limitations or hinderances in acting out His will.

Synthetic vs. Natural

With that in mind, it have been revealed to us through the ancients that when God gave man a place on the earth, He also provided us with an abundance of plants and herbs numbering in the thousands that benefit our well being. Considering, His perfect provision for us, does it stand to reason that we really need synthetic alternatives for our bodily benefits? I don't think so and I would challenge anyone to prove to me that synthetic products of any kind can command a superior position over natural products.

Antibiotics Defined

I would go so far as to say that synthetic products are not only inferior to natural products but that they do more harm than good for mankind and the further these synthetics depart from the natural order of life, the more dangerous and harmful are their effects on the human body. Pharmaceuticals are a prime example and more specifically, we can address antibiotics which have been falsely touted as one of the great discoveries of the 20th century. The very term 'antibiotic' should solicit concern in that the term is defined as 'anti-life' or 'against life'! So, what do antibiotics do exactly? Simply explained, they indiscriminately kill bacteria both good and bad and unfortunately many forms of bacteria are necessary for good health so when you're ingesting antibiotics you are indeed destroying bad bacteria but you are also destroying the micro flora that is crucial to bodily health but not only are you compromising your immediate health, you are also paving the way for the pathogens which have intelligence to strengthen their abilities to fight against the synthetic antibiotics which don't have intelligence. Thus we are now seeing the evolution of super bugs which are a major and ever present danger in every hospital across America and around the world.

Wonders Of Natural Oils

There is ample research available (which I will address in future articles) to prove the superiority of plants and herbs ability to effectively destroy bad bacteria without any detrimental side effects. More specifically, we can look at oil of oregano as one of the most effective naturally occurring products available that acts as an antibacterial, antiseptic, antiviral, anti-fungal, antimicrobial and an antioxidant. Oregano oil is packed with minerals and vitamins and outperforms any and every antibiotic on the market by targeting a myriad of bad pathogens while at the same time strengthening the immune system and girding it up so that it is better able to combat infectious invasions of destructive bacteria.

Natural Empowerment

Additionally, oregano oil is significantly less money than a round of antibiotics and low and behold, it is are available without a doctor's prescription! One of the key components to gaining bodily vitality, clear thinking and new found energy is to take responsibility for your own well being by disciplining yourself not to rely on government mandated healthcare. Practice thinking outside the box and stay connected with others of like mind to keep your skills of discernment sharp, clear and focused and most important of all, seek to uncover nature's secrets!

Mindless Disclosure

I found the following statement on another website and liked it so much I thought I would share it with you:

"These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and this product is not intended to diagnose, cure, prevent or treat any diseases."
The above is a government ordered statement and is not based in either reality or sanity, just like our government.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

The Orthodox Way

"No one can learn the art of virtue by himself, though some have taken experience as their teacher. For to act on one's own and not on the advice of those who have gone before us is overweening presumption. If the Son does nothing of His own accord, but does only what the Father has taught Him (cf. John 5:19-20), and the Spirit will not speak of His own accord (cf. John 16:3), who can think he has attained such heights of virtue that he does not need anyone to initiate him into the mysteries? Such a person is deluded and out of his mind rather than virtuous."

St. Gregory of Sinai

Saturday, April 4, 2009

National Geographic Pictures Of The Church In Russia

Click on title to link to the National Geographic site.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Modern Medicine Myths Parallel Greek Mythology

The Greeks had their many gods, and modern western civilization has its "science." Throughout human history, cultures have always invented mythological heroes to heal and protect them. Those cultural heroes have typically taken the form of imaginary deities (such as in Greek mythology). But today in modern medicine, they take the form of imaginary scientific achievements that assume the same roles as make-believe deities.

In times of ancient Greece, for example, citizens who wanted fertility prayed to Demeter. Today, Americans pray to Viagra.

In ancient Greece, citizens who wanted happiness prayed to Eutychia. Today, Americans pray for Prozac.

In ancient Greece, people who wanted to improve the quality of their sleep prayed to Hypnos. Today, Americans pray to Ambien.

The gods and goddesses change, but the underlying mythology stays the same: These pills (or deities) have magical properties that alter your state of being or protect you from tragedy.

(Click on title to read the rest of the story)

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"Anathema To Him Who Divides And To Him Who Confounds"

This statement was made by the most reverend bishops of the
Fourth Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon. As the mind of God was, so the seven holy councils of the first 800 years of the church spoke, establishing and confirming the great doctrines of the Christian church universal which stand firm and solid to this day and will for all eternity. In ignorance most Protestants and Romanists today aren't even aware of Byzantine history and the glorious reign of the church during the first thousand years of history after the coming of the Blessed One. If you knew that to not embrace the decrees and canons of these councils put you in an anathematized condition, would you not repent and return to the 'true faith' of your fathers? "Do not move the ancient boundary stone", so it states in the Proverbs and what happens when we do? We will be prosecuted and thus shall it be for us who violate these ancient decrees and canons of the Holy Ecumenical Councils.

Icon Of The Descent Into Hades

Jesus Christ stands on the doors of Hades and breaks them open. The doors are in the form of a Cross to remind us that Jesus shattered these doors through the power of the Cross. Christ is pulling Adam and Eve out of Hades or Sheol, the place of death. Notice the limp hand of both Adam and Eve. The limp hand symbolizes that it is through Jesus' power that they are taken to heaven out of this place of death. It is Jesus' death and that alone that has conquered death. Left of Jesus we see John the Baptist preaching about the one who is to come to Hades to save them. John the Baptist is Jesus' forerunner even in Hades. Next to John the Baptist is King David and King Solomon. Right of Jesus we find Abel, the first saint of the Old Testament. This icon is also called the Icon of the Resurrection.

Biography of Saint Basil, Fool for Christ

Saint Basil the Blessed, was born in December 1468 on the portico of the Elokhov church outside Moscow. His parents were commoners and sent their son to be trained as a cobbler. During Basil's apprenticeship, the master cobbler happened to witness an occurrence, which showed him that his apprentice was not an ordinary young man. A merchant had brought grain to Moscow on a barge and came in to order boots, specifying that they be made in a particular way, since he would not pick them up for a year. After taking the order, Saint Basil began to weep and said, "I wish you would cancel the order, since you will never wear them." Confused, the master cobbler questioned his apprentice, and he explained that the man would not wear the boots, for he would soon die. After several days the prediction came true.

When he was sixteen, the saint arrived in Moscow and began to display what is called "Yurodivy" or foolishness for Christ. In the burning summer heat and in the freezing Russian winters, he walked barefoot through the streets of Moscow. His actions were strange, for instance, he would topple kalachi and kvas stands in the marketplace. Angry merchants would throttle and beat Saint Basil, but he welcomed the abuse with joy and he thanked God for it. Soon after it would be discovered that the kalachi was poorly cooked, and the kvas was badly prepared. The reputation of St Basil quickly grew. People saw him as a holy fool, a man of God, and a denouncer of wrong.

Another story tells of a merchant who wanted to build a stone church in Moscow, but its arches collapsed three times. The merchant turned to the saint for advice, and he pointed him toward Kiev. "Find John the Cripple," he said. "He will advise you how to construct the church." Traveling to Kiev, the merchant sought out John, who sat in a poor hut and rocked an empty cradle. "Whom do you rock?" asked the merchant. "I weep for my mother, who was made poor by my birth and upbringing." Only then did the merchant remember his own mother, whom he had thrown out of the house. Then it became clear to him why he was not able to build the church. Returning to Moscow, he brought his mother home, begged her forgiveness, and built the church.

Preaching mercy, Saint Basil helped those who were ashamed to ask for alms, but who were more in need of help than others. Once, he gave away a rich imperial present to a foreign merchant who had been left destitute. Although the man had eaten nothing for three days, he was not able to beg for food, since he wore fine clothing. The saint harshly condemned those who gave to the poor for selfish reasons, not out of compassion, but hoping for an easy way to attract God's blessings. St Basil also visited the taverns, where he tried to see goodness, even in people who others had given up as lost, and to strengthen and encourage them by kindness.
Once Saint Basil even reproached Tsar Ivan the Terrible, saying that during the divine services the Tsar was preoccupied with thoughts of building a palace in the Vorobiev hills.

St Basil died on August 2, 1557. His body was buried in the cemetery of Trinity church, where in 1554, In an early icon, St Basil is portrayed as old, with white hair curling at his ears, and a short, curly white beard. He is completely naked, and holds a handkerchief in his hand. The veneration of St Basil the Blessed was always so strong that the Trinity temple and the attached Protection church were renamed for him as the famous St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. The saint's chains, his relics, are preserved at the Moscow Spiritual Academy.

RUSSIAN ICON "GUARDIAN ANGEL"

"Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven." Matt. 18:10 " Although we can not see them with our bodily eyes, we can see them clearly with the eyes of faith. Are we really so poverty stricken in sensitivity and spiritual awareness that we do not wish to believe anything except the easily visible world? Are our hearts so occupied with worldly vainglory that they love nothing which does not pertain to wealth and temporary pleasure?" The Guardian Angel pg. 10

Icon of the Holy Archangel Michael, Captain Of The Angelic Host.

Saint John Chrysostom The Golden Mouthed

St. Gregory The Theologian

St. Gregory the Theologian, when barely thirty years old, won acclaim throughout the region as a mighty warrior in the fight against paganism and heresy. He headed the reorganisation of the Orthodox Church which had been torn asunder by the heresy of Arianism from within and by the harassment of pagans without. In the course of this holy work, he achieved distinction as an orator, traditionalist, and a crusader that earned him the title of "Theologian" despite the opposition of Maximos the Cynic, who had been set up against him by the bishop of Alexandria. He was the instrument of God in unifying the Church into a cohesive unit that could withstand any internal or external pressure.

St. Basil the Great

St. Basil set Christian perfectionism as the goal of monastic life. The monks were to practice Christian virtues together, especially love; to practice obedience to a spiritual father; to practice chastity and poverty, and share the common goods of the monastery. After they achieved Christian perfection, they were allowed to come back to the world and help others to achieve Christian perfection. Thus, the monks had the mission of "social workers" as well. St. Basil's institutions, especially his Basileias, which was at the same time an orphanage, a "kitchen for the poor," and a school for the illiterate was in practice run by monks. This was St. Basil's way of utilizing the monastic movement to benefit the mission of the Church in the world.

Prayer of St. Ephram The Syrian 306-373

O Lord and Master of my life! Take from me the spirit of sloth, lust of power, meddling and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chasity, humility, patience and love to Thy servant. Yea, O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own errors and to judge not my brother; For thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen. (The church historian, Sozomen credits Ephrem with having written over three million lines of hymns, poems, homilies and biblical commentary). His works are known only within Orthodoxy. "The greatest poet of the patristic age and, perhaps, the only theologian-poet to rank beside Dante." — Robert Murray.