Comments on: Confessions of a NEW Convert http://orthodoxy.michelle.themccallums.org/2007/08/23/confessions-of-a-new-convert/ Jesus, God of my heart, come and unite me to Thyself forever. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:09:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Anam Cara http://orthodoxy.michelle.themccallums.org/2007/08/23/confessions-of-a-new-convert/#comment-226 Anam Cara Sat, 25 Aug 2007 12:56:00 +0000 http://orthodoxy.michelle.themccallums.org/2007/08/23/confessions-of-a-new-convert/#comment-226 I, too, had trouble with the Bible reading. But I noticed that I somehow find time to read my e-mail everyday and spend time on blogs. (What does that tell you about devotion?)<br/><br/>So, in an effort to read the Bible more, I subscribed to the daily readings at: http://listserv.goarch.org/archives/dailyreadings.html<br/><br/>Now I at least get that done as I feel really guilty if I would take time to read everything BUT that! <br/><br/>Some days I actually get more read ( I want ot get to the point where when I have time to read, the Bible is my first thought) - but I am still a work in progress - or as Protestants are fond of saying, "God isn't finished with me yet." I, too, had trouble with the Bible reading. But I noticed that I somehow find time to read my e-mail everyday and spend time on blogs. (What does that tell you about devotion?)

So, in an effort to read the Bible more, I subscribed to the daily readings at: http://listserv.goarch.org/archives/dailyreadings.html

Now I at least get that done as I feel really guilty if I would take time to read everything BUT that!

Some days I actually get more read ( I want ot get to the point where when I have time to read, the Bible is my first thought) - but I am still a work in progress - or as Protestants are fond of saying, “God isn’t finished with me yet.”

]]> By: Dixie http://orthodoxy.michelle.themccallums.org/2007/08/23/confessions-of-a-new-convert/#comment-225 Dixie Fri, 24 Aug 2007 12:01:00 +0000 http://orthodoxy.michelle.themccallums.org/2007/08/23/confessions-of-a-new-convert/#comment-225 The kissing was hard for me at first...I come from reserved German stock...but in time I have grown to love it although it still isn't natural for me yet.<br/><br/>Haircovering...same thing here. The only woman in our whole parish who covers her head is a woman who moved here from Russia less than a year ago. So while it is utterly natural for her to wear a head covering, if I were to show up with a head covering it would stand out and appear utterly unnatural. <br/><br/>I loved your list...BTW, I still listen to some contemporary Christian music (well, John Michael Talbot, my contemporary...not yours! ;) And some contemporary Orthodox musicians as well. And...I have a couple of Orthodox CDs with teens and children singing typical Orthodox hymns...some redone for children...which are some of my favorites. I drew the line several years ago...even before I became Orthodox and, with the exception of Rich Mullins, quit listening to anything from anyone that did not come from a sacramental church body. I figured they had nothing much to sing about if they didn't understand the sacramental life. The kissing was hard for me at first…I come from reserved German stock…but in time I have grown to love it although it still isn’t natural for me yet.

Haircovering…same thing here. The only woman in our whole parish who covers her head is a woman who moved here from Russia less than a year ago. So while it is utterly natural for her to wear a head covering, if I were to show up with a head covering it would stand out and appear utterly unnatural.

I loved your list…BTW, I still listen to some contemporary Christian music (well, John Michael Talbot, my contemporary…not yours! ;) And some contemporary Orthodox musicians as well. And…I have a couple of Orthodox CDs with teens and children singing typical Orthodox hymns…some redone for children…which are some of my favorites. I drew the line several years ago…even before I became Orthodox and, with the exception of Rich Mullins, quit listening to anything from anyone that did not come from a sacramental church body. I figured they had nothing much to sing about if they didn’t understand the sacramental life.

]]> By: DebD http://orthodoxy.michelle.themccallums.org/2007/08/23/confessions-of-a-new-convert/#comment-224 DebD Fri, 24 Aug 2007 10:47:00 +0000 http://orthodoxy.michelle.themccallums.org/2007/08/23/confessions-of-a-new-convert/#comment-224 I recognize myself in many of these. I've added my own to my blog.<br/><br/>Hope all is well. I recognize myself in many of these. I’ve added my own to my blog.

Hope all is well.

]]> By: Lauren S. http://orthodoxy.michelle.themccallums.org/2007/08/23/confessions-of-a-new-convert/#comment-223 Lauren S. Thu, 23 Aug 2007 20:18:00 +0000 http://orthodoxy.michelle.themccallums.org/2007/08/23/confessions-of-a-new-convert/#comment-223 We have a lot of the same confessions...<br/><br/>I don't miss "praise and worship" music AT ALL either, and I used to be on the "vocal team". Ha ha ha! <br/><br/>I love all the smooching and hugging. But that's just how I am -super affectionate. <br/><br/>I haven't fasted either - but I'm NOT looking forward to it. I wish I wanted to fast. Lord change my heart!<br/><br/>I feel the exact same way about head coverings too. I think they look very dignified and beautiful. I don't know why I feel chicken about wearing one.<br/><br/>My prayer life is SO much better now too! <br/><br/>One of my confessions - I'm a very irreverant person by nature, so I'm always feeling goofy when I am trying to be reverant.<br/><br/>When I look back on my faith as a Protestant Evangelical, it seems very stale. No wonder I was constantly struggling with the same things over and over. But one thing's for sure - I would not be becoming Orthodox if I didn't believe it was the true Church - because it's way harder. It kicks my butt. We have a lot of the same confessions…

I don’t miss “praise and worship” music AT ALL either, and I used to be on the “vocal team”. Ha ha ha!

I love all the smooching and hugging. But that’s just how I am -super affectionate.

I haven’t fasted either - but I’m NOT looking forward to it. I wish I wanted to fast. Lord change my heart!

I feel the exact same way about head coverings too. I think they look very dignified and beautiful. I don’t know why I feel chicken about wearing one.

My prayer life is SO much better now too!

One of my confessions - I’m a very irreverant person by nature, so I’m always feeling goofy when I am trying to be reverant.

When I look back on my faith as a Protestant Evangelical, it seems very stale. No wonder I was constantly struggling with the same things over and over. But one thing’s for sure - I would not be becoming Orthodox if I didn’t believe it was the true Church - because it’s way harder. It kicks my butt.

]]> By: Mimi http://orthodoxy.michelle.themccallums.org/2007/08/23/confessions-of-a-new-convert/#comment-222 Mimi Thu, 23 Aug 2007 17:22:00 +0000 http://orthodoxy.michelle.themccallums.org/2007/08/23/confessions-of-a-new-convert/#comment-222 Great reflections! Grinning about the prayer rope and cross. Great reflections! Grinning about the prayer rope and cross.

]]> By: -C http://orthodoxy.michelle.themccallums.org/2007/08/23/confessions-of-a-new-convert/#comment-221 -C Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:48:00 +0000 http://orthodoxy.michelle.themccallums.org/2007/08/23/confessions-of-a-new-convert/#comment-221 "All the "kissing" was weird to me at first, but now that I have seen how important it is to my son, I have a new-found love for it."<br/><br/>I thought this would be really weird - but one of the biggest surprises is that it is not. It does not feel weird at all (at least to me).<br/><br/>"...I actually want to fast"<br/><br/>May God bless you for that. Fasting is the busiest time of "fall down, get up, fall down, get up" for me.<br/><br/>"I really do like head-coverings, but I am too chicken to actually wear one"<br/><br/>I do not care for them, but I totally respect and admire women who observe this pious tradition. <br/><br/>"Watching my children grow up in the Orthodox church strengthens my faith every day"<br/><br/>Me, too! I am a little jealous of them (my kids were baptized Orthodox as infants.<br/><br/>I would be honored to be on your blogroll and hope it's OK to add you to mine!<br/><br/>-C “All the “kissing” was weird to me at first, but now that I have seen how important it is to my son, I have a new-found love for it.”

I thought this would be really weird - but one of the biggest surprises is that it is not. It does not feel weird at all (at least to me).

“…I actually want to fast”

May God bless you for that. Fasting is the busiest time of “fall down, get up, fall down, get up” for me.

“I really do like head-coverings, but I am too chicken to actually wear one”

I do not care for them, but I totally respect and admire women who observe this pious tradition.

“Watching my children grow up in the Orthodox church strengthens my faith every day”

Me, too! I am a little jealous of them (my kids were baptized Orthodox as infants.

I would be honored to be on your blogroll and hope it’s OK to add you to mine!

-C

]]>