Month / December 2020

by kennieb

HELLO -My Introduction

I wrote one of these a short while ago, and it was also short, which is posted. What I want to say about me is mostly just answering those questions in the Module of Blogging for Beginners. I do keep a journal as well, but it is mostly for private things I don’t really care to share – my private thoughts.

I have been doing some sort of blogging for about two years now, not regularly and I think I need to be more regular (can a person be more regular or is that like being more perfect?) about my writing. One of the reasons is that it gives me something to do since I am retired. I am a Bishop in the Orthodox Catholic Church of the Philippines (if you have questions about that, send a message to me at FB messenger – Gregory Theologian). My ordination name is Gregory.

The people I’d most like to reach are those interested in Theology (no arguments please, just discuss to learn about others). Some of my other ideas are simple things I have learned about history, philosophy, or Theology. I have posted some Biblical quotes for (I hope) inspiration and guidance. I am not one to make judgements about others and what they believe (I guess I am sort of like an Anglican in that respect), but I am more than willing to share things about the Orthodox Church (most of the jurisdictions) and the Byzantine Catholics, where I learned many things about the Christian Church.

Hopefully there will be people who are interested in my opinions and thoughts and we will become friends albeit online mostly, but hopefully in person one day.

Thank you for reading.

by kennieb

WISDOM From Heaven James 3:17

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere’. (3:17)

James was one of those writers who wrote to the entire Christian Church – one of the “catholic” writers. His intent then was to teach what the Good News was about. That’s different from Paul, who wrote to specific churches. Paul was helping people to try to practise what the Good News taught.

by kennieb

PERFECTION: James 1:2-8

bible.com/1922/jas.1.4.rv1895

Again we read about being complete (perfect), but James writes more, giving an explanation of completeness: “and entire, lacking in nothing.” This is the same meaning Jesus in mind when he said, “be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect”; that is, be complete.

2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials,  3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete (some translations have “perfect”), lacking nothing.
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.  6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways.