Visit #46 ~ Thinking of a Protestant Sermon during Vespers

Pastor Del

I  kept thinking, as I enjoyed visit #46 at my Orthodox parish, about a sermon my protestant Pastor preached on New Years day.  That's him above! He retold the story of Moses and the Isrealites at a dead end, caught between the Red Sea and the approaching army.  Moses acted in obedience to God by raising the staff so the waters could be parted. "It was only at the point of obedience that God parted the Red Sea" My Pastor concluded his sermon, asking, "What is it that God is asking you to do?"

Well, I guess the answer to that is, become Orthodox. In fact, that thought has been more intense now than it ever has been -Even as I worshiped the Trinity during Vespers, I couldn't shake that thought.  So I guess it is time to act. I am going to have to start going to the Divine Liturgy. 

Those who have read my blog know what a struggle this is for me. 

So keep me in your prayers.

Two more things before I "sign off" ~

*Before I left to pick up my son from work, I had a short chat with Fr. Ken.  We talked a little bit about old calendar verses new calendar. He currently serves a parish that is old calendar and I asked him if it got confusing hanging out between two jurisdictions. He said yes.  Also, I asked him how to do  "The asking the priest for a blessing thing" and he showed me step by step the process. How to hold my hands, when to kiss the priest's hands. I know it's no big thing but I tend to mess things like that up. Plus, I am just so used to hand shakes.

*My protestant pastor is a really good preacher and has been very helpful in bringing me closer to Christ, both by his words and his example.  Below is the sermon I referenced above. at about 19 minutes in is when he asks the question that is causing me to act. The great thing about my Pastor is he knows we must all obey God's direction. Even when I talked to him way back when about becoming Orthodox, he didn't like it but knew enough that if God is leading than we must obey. Take a listen. (By the way, I am the one who "produces" the sermon's for our church's website. I like the intro and outro ~ sounds just like a radio show )