Orthodox Church of Belize Web Log

A Warning to All Americans - the Virginia Tech Tragedy

2007-04-20T11:47:00Z

A Warning to All Americans

The Virginia Tech Tragedy

America is in a religious war. In a religious war, history tells us there are no victors, just copious amounts of blood and gore.

Shall we sit in our towers and ignore the fact that Virginia Tech was the scene of an act of religious war? Carrying on in the tradition of similar scenes in Iraq: the car bombs, the shootings and subsequent suicide of the killer, Cho Seung-Hui repeated all the elements of an attack as carried on in Iraq but on his fellow comrades in the University he attended. While it is evident that the tragedy at Virginia Tech was carried out by a mentally ill individual, (as the news media is telling us), it is not being said what would trigger such deplorable actions. It is, however, manifestly clear that the actions of Cho were clearly indicative of attacks that have been labeled Jihad in other situations.

The words of our Lord bring wisdom to this situation:

"Do not judge, that you be not judged, for with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what punishments you inflict, it shall be adjudicated that you be punished in the same manner.

Why do you behold the speck that is in your brother's eye, but consider not the log that is in your own eye? How will you say to your brother, 'Let me pull out the speck from your eye'; and look, a log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first cast out the log from your own eye; and then you shall see clearly to cast out the speck from your brother's eye."

The eye, as mentioned in the context of this quotation, is both literal and metaphorical. The eye represents the lamp of our soul which is illuminated with truth, grace, mercy, and repentance by the One God of Israel, through His unselfish acts of charity for humankind. Just as we look before we walk to avoid stumbling, we survey our heart, before taking appropriate action. A guilty man cannot act as a judge over others, in the sense of perfect justice, because the guilty man lacks righteousness. There happens to be no man or woman living on this planet who is free of guilt of sin to some proportion, large or small. In fact, sin is not really large or small; it is just plain sin. A Holy God cannot tolerate sin of any kind. This is why we need Christ Jesus, Who is the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of those who believe on His Holy Name and who repent of their sins by action of charity directed toward both God and neighbor.

There is power in the weapon of peace, more so, than with any other weapon one can devise. If we abide in peace and charity, all war, all unrighteousness, all misery, all suffering will perish.

But, what do we do about acts of Jihad? The answer is not in committing murder, adding more acts of anger on top of other angers. An unforgiving heart is equally unrepentant. So, shall we put down our weapons of destruction and put on our weapons of peace? Otherwise, God will, in His Divine anger, deal with all of us. Our soul is illumined by Christ Jesus, who preaches that all can be redeemed through Grace and repentance.

There is a better message to the world: Peace be with you all in the Brotherhood and Sisterhood of the Body of Christ Jesus, who is our ONLY True God.

May the memories of all the brothers and sisters who died in the Virginia Tech tragedy be remembered in the Kingdom of Heaven, now and always. Eternal be their memory.

Lord, have mercy upon Cho Seung-Hui and all the rest of us sinners.

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses (sins), as we forgive those who trespass (sin) against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Thine is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, both now and forever, and from all Ages to all Ages. Amen.

Church Staff

Pascha 2007 Message

2007-04-09T16:18:00Z

Pascha 2007 Message

Christ is Risen from the dead, by Death destroying death, and He gives life to those in the Tombs.

Dearly Beloved,

In the last days, "many will come in" the Name of Christ, saying, "I am the christ, follow me", but these ones are imposters and fakes, the deceivers of this world. "You will know them by their works" [of evil] and their folly shall be exposed. "As a wolf in sheep's clothing, the deceiver and the thief has come and caught you unawares in your sins. "Many will believe that they are doing service to God" but take no thought to the consequences of their actions, nor whether such is in harmony with charity (agape).

Beloved, we are advanced beyond many years, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Will we stand among the righteous and enter into the straight gates of Heaven, or will we accompany the scape-goat to perdition, the Lake of Fire called Gehenna? Will we wake up against our sins and repent of them before it is too late? Will we be numbered among the wise or the foolish virgins? "REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND".

Shall we follow the sons of disobedience into destruction? Heaven, forbid it! Before you support any action, be sure it is grounded in charity (agape) of God and neighbor, realizing that all have sinned, and fallen far short of the standard of God's Holiness. Only by His Great Mercy, do we enter into the Bridal Chamber. But will we be faithful to Him? Are we the unfaithful bride of Christ?

The wolf will preach only a portion of the pathway to righteousness catching us unawares that the omissions are enough to condemn us. Did we hear that right? I hear you say, "You mean to tell me that the sons of disobedience can cloak themselves in 'doing a sufficient amount of good' to deceive the flock into believing a lie?" Yes, my Beloved, our Lord taught us that "Many will come in my name and preach false doctrines and the kind of condemning heresies" that will lead many to destruction. Our Lord said this by way of a warning that we should watch for this moment and guard against being taken in by the deception.

The wolf preaches Noahide Law to the Gentiles to the exclusion of the totality of the Ten Commandments. The wolf preaches a system of salvation by works to the exclusion of Faith in Christ Jesus. The wolf preaches killing and mass destruction in the name of "righteousness", where there is no righteousness at all, but a killing machine. The wolf misrepresents God's justice and makes a mockery of His Righteousness. The wolf preaches dispensationalism instead of the New Covenant that fulfills every portion of the Old Covenant and thereby distorts the Gospel of Christ Jesus; the wolf preaching a foreign gospel; a false gospel leading to destruction. The wolf preaches a subtle message that "rings true", but is FULL OF ABSOLUTE FALSEHOODS.

So, let us repent and test our "religious leaders" and then join the One True Assembly of the Righteous that has the REAL JESUS CHRIST AS ITS HEAD. Shall we stop following Rabbis, false witnesses, Popes, Protestantism, and other wolves and begin to follow Christ our ONLY TRUE GOD who takes away the sins of the world by teaching us and giving us, through Holy Baptism, His Holy Body and Blood for the remission of our sins; taking such in charity of God and neighbor?

Love in Christ,
Church Staff
Orthodox Church of Belize

Vicar of Christ on Earth - The Heresy of Pride

2006-11-25T18:05:00Z

New Page 1

Vicar of Christ on Earth
The Heresy of Pride

From the title, we take no particular notice of the true meaning of the word, "Vicar", because it sounds official, ecclesiastical, and highfalutin, and highfalutin it is, indeed! The definition of the term, vicar, is given by the First Edition Encyclopaedia Britannica (published 1771), as follows:

"a person appointed, as deputy to another, to perform his functions in his absence, and under his authority."

In Holy Scripture, mention is made of the fact that Christ Jesus is the Only Sinless One, Who is the Alpha and the Omega, the Son and Word of God Incarnate. So, therefore, how pretentious can it be for a sinful man to take on the title of "Vicar of Christ on Earth" as if to imply that Jesus Christ, Our Precious Lord, is somehow absent from among us. If that is true, then the Body of Christ is rudderless, without a Head. But such fanciful thinking is preposterous in the extreme, and no rational, thinking person, would entertain such a notion for very long.

So, what do we make of the title? The title is a prideful expression of a Bishop gone bad, in a sea of prideful fancy. The Bishop of Rome cannot perform Jesus Christ's functions, because the Bishop is not God, is not the Son and Word of God. The Bishop cannot begin to comprehend the Wisdom of God, for he is a limited creature of God, who disobeyed God's Holy Will by committing sins throughout his life, just like we do. The Bishop is no different from any other man or woman in terms of his guilt of sin. How can the Congregations of God be successful in becoming Holy, without the direct Word of God being active in His Body, and without the operation of the Holy Spirit, through the Agape (Service Love) of God the Father? Is the Body of Christ dead? Heaven forbid! So, we know therefore that Jesus Christ is NOT ABSENT from His Own Body!!! Therefore, the attempt by the Bishop of Rome to be the Deputy of Jesus Christ is a highfalutin display of pride, and the Bishop of Rome, by attempting to act in that role is an also-ran because he cannot assume the Authority of Christ Jesus. Therefore, the Roman Pontiff, Bishop of Rome, is engaging in a heresy of pride. Lord, have mercy and stop this heresy now. Amen.

May the Grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Love of God the Father, and the Communion of the Good and Life-Creating Holy Spirit of God be with you all. Amen.

Church Staff
Orthodox Church of Belize

There Is No Act of Love in Sexual Misconduct

2006-10-30T09:58:00Z

There is to be found in sexual misconduct no act of love.

Whenever we read about a crime being committed, we look for the motive, the opportunity, and the alibi for catching the perpetrator(s). This can be instructive for determining the boundaries of sexual behavior in our society. When we apply the standard of agape (selfless love), we can see our Lord's motivations for defining boundaries of allowable sexual behavior. In this regard, it is well known that God established that sexual behavior is only by and between marriage partners. Any other behavior is from selfishness and risks not only spiritual maladies, but also physical maladies.

Before you act, think! Our Lord prohibits sexual misconduct because of His concern for our welfare. Consider the proliferation of sexually transmitted diseases and then ask yourself, why do I want to go there???

So, be careful and do not go outside marriage for a sensual thrill...it could very well kill you and your loved ones! Before Fifi La Touche gives you her look, consider the filthy disease that is floating around in her body. Before Mr. Suave sweeps you off your feet and suggests a one night stand, consider the disease that is floating around in his body.

Suppose you love someone, but you want to try "married life" before committing to that relationship... Such is wrong thinking, because if you cannot commit to a relationship for life, you best not ever try a gallon either, lest you end up in a terminated relationship, with germs that when combined with your future partner would bring death and destruction to your future family. Besides, trying out a "married" relationship without marriage is still considered by our Lord as a marriage and whether you like it or not, it is a life long relationship. Moreover, whenever such a relationship ends, and a new partner is found...it is a relationship that is barred by our Lord in order to protect us from disease, and the label for the bar is Adultery.

Please consider these things and perform agape in your relationships with people. In the long run, it will prevent misery and suffering later in our lives. As a seed is planted, so it is reaped in the harvest. Likewise, when we sow a good thing, then we obtain a good harvest. We have stronger children, less disease, and happier lives.

God Bless you all.

Grace, Love, and Holy Repentance - Key ingredients to a lasting world peace

2006-10-01T07:40:00Z

Grace, Love, and Holy Repentance
Key Ingredients to a Lasting World Peace...

Since the fall of Adam and Eve, the world has been at war. The war has not abated, because the world is populated by souls that are in a state of unrest and turmoil. The lack of peace is caused by a knowledge of the fact that all persons who can rightfully with perfect justice be convicted of sin, are condemned to eternal perdition in the Lake of Fire.

The problem is that we avoid this condemnation by pursuing hatred, killing, and violence of passions and vices - the very thing that brings about our death - to the exclusion of doing what our Lord told us...

1. Love the Lord your G-d with all of your heart, all of your mind, all of your body, and all of your soul.

and

2. Love your neighbor as with the same care that you love yourself and take care to preserve your own life.

It is interesting to note that if all of humankind were to follow the above two items assiduously and perfectly, then we could actually achieve world peace.

But, the sad fact is that we don't currently do this...yet, we have it in our power to perform a metanoia (change of mind, a change of direction) so that we can bring about a lasting world peace. However, that peace is not available to those souls who have a fearful dread of their ultimate condemnation by a Righteous Judge who is the Word of G-d.

Yes, there really is a Book of Life. Is your name written down in it???

If it is not, all you need to do is to contact your nearest Orthodox Priest, and be Baptized in the Holy Faith in Christ Jesus (the Author of the Formula for World Peace and the Author of Life itself, for He created you, me, and everyone, everything else around us.) Holy Scripture tells us that men and women love darkness more than the Light, so that their deeds will not be uncovered. Yet, from G-d and us, there is no darkness to cover our sin, and our guilt resulting from our sins and rebellion against our G-d. But G-d Loves us and sent His Only Begotten Son to give us all freedom from guilt and new Life in a body that houses the Holy Spirit of G-d, thus we are guided into remission of sins and assured of Eternal life in paradise with the Word of G-d. Now all souls who possess this Life-giving Faith in Christ Jesus have a peace that passes all understanding that permeates from their very inner heart. Have you ever experienced that kind of peace? It is the prerequisite to spreading peace and love to our neighbor without judgment.

Are we the children of wrath???? or the children of G-d ???? This is the kind of idea that needs viral marketing, so that we can change our world into a better place to live.

Our Lord commanded us to pray thusly:

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Instead of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, why don't we, knowing that we ourselves are equally guilty of past transgressions against our Lord and our neighbor(s), stop hating, stop killing, stop violating G-d's commandments, and pursue Light, Holy Wisdom, and Life! What a revolutionary thought? What right have we to be angry with our neighbor when we have a log in our own eye?? Why don't we think?

Our Lord is knocking....is anyone listening???? Open the door to our Lord, so He can sup with us.

Grace and Peace be with you all in Christ Jesus.
(501) 824-2382.

Peace Comes Through Holy Repentance

2006-09-11T18:15:00Z

The Pathway to Peace Comes Only Through Holy Repentance and the Universal Acceptance of the Lamb of God.

On this day, five years ago, a great evil was purpetrated upon the American Nation. It is not ours to judge who or what forces were responsible for these attrocities. With Oil Company backed News Media telling us it was Al Quaeda, yet with Michael Moore and others telling a different story, and with the capability of technology to fabricate any kind of story through words, pictures, and videos, who can really be sure of anything without inspecting irrefutable evidence? (which is not available to the average American)

There is no truth in politics. The Only Truth is with Jesus Christ Who Calls All of Us to Holy Repentance and Righteousness Through Agape (Charity) properly given to God and to Our Neighbor.

While brother makes war with other members of humankind and sister makes war with other members of humankind, there is no rest, and the charity of humankind waxes cold. That situation is destructive to the point of self-annihilation. That situation is Anti-Christ, because it is the opposite of what our Precious Lord (Adonai) taught us, you know, Love God, and Love your Neighbor. If we don't do this, then God will put His Creation in Order through His Holy Wrath and will marshall His faithful servants to Bring About Cleaning His House of all the chaff (liter) that prevents His Holy Servants from Joyously Beholding the Supernal Light of the Lamb.

Let us spread peace on Earth by spreading Agape instead of anger and revenge, instead of the pursuit of selfish interests, instead of prideful arrogance, instead of murder and destruction of God's Images, shattered by sin. None on Earth is free from the guilt of sin. Thus we should invoke the prayer, Lord have mercy, and then sin no more. The Messiah call us to Repentance after the forgiveness of sin.

Peace cannot come until our hearts are at peace, full of love, having been forgiven by Christ, and on the pathway to Holy Repentance (a change of mind, a change of direction [from evil ways to righteous ways.]).

News - American Conservatory of Music in Continuous Operation for 120 Years

2006-08-27T20:15:00Z

Conservatory of Music Celebrates its 120th Birthday

On June 16, 2006, the American Conservatory of Music celebrated its 120th birthday. President Theodora Schulze gave an address to the assembled faculty and students present on the occasion of the venerable anniversary of its founding. She noted that recent graduates have brought honor to the Conservatory, by the hard work and dedication they showed to their studies. Specifically, she mentioned Dr. William Baker, Dr. Alfonso White, Dr. Christoph Bull, Dr. Eun Hye Park, Dr. Tsi-Ping Peng, Dr. Andrew Isca, and Dr. John Pastin; thanking them and wishing them well in their artistic pursuits. The American Conservatory of Music is the first institution of its kind to align itself with the Eastern Orthodox Church and to develop programs in Orthodox Christian theology and practice. Please help to spread the light.

For more information about the American Conservatory of Music and its programs, visit the web site of the Conservatory that celebrated 120 years of continuous service.

Alumni and friends are asked to consider a donation to the Conservatory in commemoration of this event. Make donations large or small, payable to the American Conservatory of Music and send them to the Chicago Campus, 252 Wildwood Road, Hammond, Indiana 46324, ATTN: Office of the Dean. The Conservatory and the Orthodox Church of Belize expresses deep appreciation for all those who make a difference through their donations.

Violence in the Middle East

2006-07-27T17:26:00Z

Violence in the Middle East

It has been said of old that the love of men and women shall wax cold in the end times. This prediction has been coming true especially during the past 100 years. The concept of a world at war, perpetually speaking, although not really a part of reality in prior historical eras, is now a very real evil, and unless we do something about it, even the whole world is at peril. In order to understand how to solve the problem of hard heartedness, we must concentrate on breaking through the wax that covers our love. This behaviour shift can and will make a difference if we do it on a grand corporate scale. Is it possible for everyone to do this? With men and women, it is impossible, but with the Holy Spirit, all things are possible. How do I know this?

Exhibit One - The Seven Ecumenical Councils of the Undivided Communities of God's People

The fact is that decisions in the Ecumenical Councils were ratified only if there was unanimity amongst the council members. Reaching unanimous decisions is, at best, more possible as the number of participating voters are less in number. Yet, as the number of voters increase, it becomes ever more increasingly difficult to reach that unanimous consenting mind set. There are bound to be factions in any croud of people. So, in the Ecumenical Councils, where the number of voting council members was a big number, how did they achieve the impossible, namely, reaching unanimous decisions one after the other? The ONLY ANSWER is that they were enabled to do it BY THE POWER AND DIRECT LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

The Amount of Chaos in the world has spirally increased, exponentially so, as world leaders have taken the Holy Spirit out of the Equation.

The way to World Peace is through the Holy Spirit and following the commands of Jesus Christ: Love God with all your heart, mind, and soul, and ALSO to love your neighbor as yourself. When we all do these things, then there will be no war, no pain, no suffering; instead, there shall be happiness, contentment, fellowship, peace, and love. On a corporate level, we have the ability to bring a solution to the world's problems facing humankind. We MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT We ALL NEED GOD and to break through the WAX of a cold heart with the Light that we shine from God.

New Web Site for Orthodox Church of Belize

2006-07-08T05:49:00Z

Today, the Orthodox Church of Belize inaugerated its new website at:

www.orthodoxchurch.bz Help us celebrate by visiting it often! God Bless you all! Grace and Peace be with you all, Petros

Happy July 4!

2006-07-04T18:59:00Z

God Bless America the way George Washington and our founding fathers began it.

But, today, in order to obtain God's Blessings for America, we must recognize Him and His Sovereign Power over our nation. If we do this, we will receive His Divine Protection and His Divine Blessings upon our One Nation under God.

Although it is hard to rely on The Invisible God, we must overcome the difficulties and Worship Him in Spirit and in Truth with a repentant heart.

Be warned though....our failure to recognize Him as Sovereign Head of our Government is the one thing that will ultimately be terrible for the longevity of our government. Let us not go away from the law and become lawless in our affairs. An ordered society with full freedoms as expressed in our constitution carries with it a responsibility to utilize those inalienable rights in a manner that is full of Wisdom and Truth based entirely upon a lifestyle that is Life-giving, one that shuns death and destruction. On this day, let us all call to mind how much our Lord God truly loves us and let us show our thanksgiving by changing our mind to the direction of Holiness in Christ Jesus, Kyrie o Theos Hmon (Lord our God).

God Bless you all and America on this Independence Day of 2006, July 4, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Six.

The Whole World Should Trust In The Holy Spirit COMPLETELY!

2006-07-01T20:44:00Z

Believing in an invisible God is one thing, but putting our whole trust in an ever POWERFUL, but INVISIBLE CREATOR and RULER is quite yet another! Some of us are in love with our self sufficiency, while others of us look to visible rulers to lead us so we can attempt to pass the responsibility to the ruler, but that responsibility actually and properly belongs to each of us individually. Why do we do this? This is the concept that we shall meditate on today in our prayer lives.

The Holy Spirit of God calls each of us to righteousness through regeneration followed by repentance.

The state of Christian Denominationalism (a by-product of heresy) is a work of men and women who have listened to Satan cloaked as a VERY ATTRACTIVE Father of all lies. Satan's lies appear to us in our everyday walk through life by self appointed "apostles", "evangelists", "preachers", "teachers", and, yes, even "bishops". They tell us that the EARLY CHURCH is dead, a corpse of an era gone by, where the fervor of Christian life is no more. They tell us that the SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR are extinct, that we ought to believe in SEVEN STAGES OF CHURCH HISTORY from Pentecost to the DAY OF OUR LORD. All the while, they preach messages that are, at best, 70-85% accurate, and the rest are fables. BUT, THEY REFUSE TO ACCORD TO THE HOLY TRINITY THE RIGHTFUL PLACE OF HEADSHIP OVER THEIR CONGREGANTS! In point of fact, they appoint a man or a woman as their leader and follow their leadership, thus converting their organization into a worldly institution. So, therefore, WHY DO WE PUT UP WITH THIS?

The EARLY CHURCH NEVER CEASED TO EXIST. THe EARLY CHURCH IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, and EVERMORE IN THE FUTURE. Try clicking this link and see what you can learn about the TRUE UNDIVIDED CHURCH. God Bless you all as you begin to trust in the HEADSHIP of JESUS CHRIST, by the OPERATION of the HOLY SPIRIT, THROUGH the LOVE (AGAPE) of the FATHER----Holy Trinity, One in Essence and Undivided.

Orthodox Church of Belize Web Log

A Warning to All Americans - the Virginia Tech Tragedy

A Warning to All Americans

The Virginia Tech Tragedy

Pascha 2007 Message

Pascha 2007 Message

Christ is Risen from the dead, by Death destroying death, and He gives life to those in the Tombs.

Vicar of Christ on Earth - The Heresy of Pride

Vicar of Christ on Earth The Heresy of Pride

From the title, we take no particular notice of the true meaning of the word, "Vicar", because it sounds official, ecclesiastical, and highfalutin, and highfalutin it is, indeed! The definition of the term, vicar, is given by the First Edition Encyclopaedia Britannica (published 1771), as follows:

"a person appointed, as deputy to another, to perform his functions in his absence, and under his authority."

May the Grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Love of God the Father, and the Communion of the Good and Life-Creating Holy Spirit of God be with you all. Amen.

Church Staff Orthodox Church of Belize

There Is No Act of Love in Sexual Misconduct

There is to be found in sexual misconduct no act of love.

Before you act, think! Our Lord prohibits sexual misconduct because of His concern for our welfare. Consider the proliferation of sexually transmitted diseases and then ask yourself, why do I want to go there???

Grace, Love, and Holy Repentance - Key ingredients to a lasting world peace

Grace, Love, and Holy RepentanceKey Ingredients to a Lasting World Peace...

It is interesting to note that if all of humankind were to follow the above two items assiduously and perfectly, then we could actually achieve world peace.

Peace Comes Through Holy Repentance

The Pathway to Peace Comes Only Through Holy Repentance and the Universal Acceptance of the Lamb of God.

There is no truth in politics. The Only Truth is with Jesus Christ Who Calls All of Us to Holy Repentance and Righteousness Through Agape (Charity) properly given to God and to Our Neighbor.

Peace cannot come until our hearts are at peace, full of love, having been forgiven by Christ, and on the pathway to Holy Repentance (a change of mind, a change of direction [from evil ways to righteous ways.]).

News - American Conservatory of Music in Continuous Operation for 120 Years

Conservatory of Music Celebrates its 120th Birthday

Violence in the Middle East

Violence in the Middle East

Exhibit One - The Seven Ecumenical Councils of the Undivided Communities of God's People

The Amount of Chaos in the world has spirally increased, exponentially so, as world leaders have taken the Holy Spirit out of the Equation.

New Web Site for Orthodox Church of Belize

Happy July 4!

The Whole World Should Trust In The Holy Spirit COMPLETELY!

Vicar of Christ on Earth
The Heresy of Pride

Church Staff
Orthodox Church of Belize

Grace, Love, and Holy Repentance
Key Ingredients to a Lasting World Peace...