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I saw this on Facebook… good stuff…
BMD
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Within my faith community there are some who’ve decided that “outing” other individuals is a Christian way of dealing with differences in sexual orientation. These messages are a response to that disturbing development, however, these quotes show Orthodox Christianity at its best and most authentic:
Enemies have driven me into Thine embrace more than friends have.
Friends have bound me to earth; enemies have loosed me from earth and have demolished all my aspirations in the world.
Enemies have made me a stranger in worldly realms and an extraneous inhabitant of the world. Just as a hunted animal finds safer shelter than an unhunted animal does, so have I, persecuted by enemies, found the safest sanctuary, having ensconced myself beneath Thy tabernacle, where neither friends nor enemies can slay my soul.
Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.
They, rather than I, have confessed my sins before the world.
They’ve punished me, whenever I’ve hesitated to punish myself.
They’ve tormented me, whenever I’ve tried to flee torments.
They’ve scolded me, whenever I’ve flattered myself.
They’ve spat upon me, whenever I’ve filled myself with arrogance.
Bless my enemies, O Lord, Even I bless them and don’t curse them.
Whenever I’ve made myself wise, they’ve called me foolish.
Whenever I’ve made myself mighty, they have mocked me as though I were a dwarf.
Whenever I’ve wanted to lead people, they’ve shoved me into the background.
Whenever I’ve rushed to enrich myself, they’ve prevented me with an iron hand.
Whenever I thought that I’d sleep peacefully, they’ve wakened me from sleep.
Whenever I’ve tried to build a home for a long and tranquil life, they’ve demolished it and driven me out.
Truly, enemies have cut me loose from the world and have stretched out my hands to the hem of Thine garment.
Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and don’t curse them.
Bless them and multiply them; multiply them and make them even more bitterly against me:
so that my fleeing to Thee may have no return;
so that all hope in men may be scattered like cobwebs;
so that absolute serenity may begin to reign in my soul;
so that my heart may become the grave of my two evil twins, arrogance and anger;
so that I might amass all my treasure in heaven;
ah, so that I may for once be freed from self-deception, which has entangled me in the dreadful web of illusory life.
Enemies have taught me to know what hardly anyone knows, that a person has no enemies in the world except himself.
One hates his enemies only when he fails to realise that they aren’t enemies, but cruel friends.
It’s truly difficult for me to say who has done me more good and who has done me more evil in the world… friends or enemies.
Therefore, bless, O Lord, both my friends and enemies.
A slave curses enemies, for he doesn’t understand, but a son blesses them, for he understands.
For a son knows that his enemies can’t touch his life.
Therefore, he freely steps amongst them and prays to God for them.
St Nikolaj Velimirović of Ohrid and Žiča
Prayers By the Lake (A Treasury of Serbian Orthodox Spirituality, Volume 5)
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I posted this as a comment to the above:
Alex… are you ready to rumble? They want to take over the Church. Paffso, Whiteford, and Reardon… the Unholy Trinity… there’s more, but they’re the “Godfathers”. Shall we swallow a kopeck’s worth? I fear that we’ll down a rouble’s worth before it’s over.
There be dragons abroad… they mean what they say. I know this from personal experience. No one who doesn’t fit their idiosyncratic and Pretendodox criteria is fit for communion or even attendance at the Liturgy. Beware ALL who say, “I speak the truth in love”. Such people NEVER speak the truth nor do they EVER show any love (beyond their family circles and friends, that is, as our Lord Christ said, “Even the Pharisees do as much”). We live in perilous times. Have a care… I’m handing out the AKs, RPGs, axe handles, and dynamite at the back door…
BMD
Voices from Russia 
Russophobia is Like AIDS: Once Infected… You’re Always a Mark
Tags: Belgium, black propaganda, dezinformatsiya, EU, European Union, international organisations, mass media, media, Media bias, media spin, misinformation, NATO, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, political commentary, politics, propaganda, propaganda war, Russia, Russian, Russophobia, United States, USA, Western media
Russophobia
Vitaly Podvitsky
2015
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When it comes to Russia, people tend to talk about Russians as “this unfortunate people that have no clue what freedom is”. To that, I answer, “How do you know? Have you lived in Russia? For example, unlike our Belgium, they have an opposition there. We don’t have one at all”. It’s true, in Belgium there’s no opposition. There are parties that weren’t part of the Government at the last election, and they sometimes criticise those who are in power. However, it isn’t an opposition in the proper sense. Nevertheless, as a rule, Belgians are simply unable to understand what I’m talking about. Western propaganda is so pervasive that most Belgians now view Russia as a belligerent country with a fascist dictatorship. Discussion with people is useless; you’re talking to a wall.
Every war has two phases… firstly, there’s a preparatory phase, with programmes, news, various kinds of propaganda, and lies on TV; then, comes the second stage… the war itself. Everything that I watch now shows that the preparatory phase has already begun. All of this follows a set scenario. Firstly, the rhetoric in the articles on the country of the supposed “enemy” changes… suddenly, this country doesn’t have a real government; its leader is no longer a President, but a “dictator”. Therefore, gradually, an image of an “enemy” emerges. However, when Belgians started to agree with the Russians, the media removed any mention of Russia.
Propaganda always portrays the leader of the putative “enemy” as an evil dictator; they tell us, “The people of this country suffer, and we now can help by toppling this dictator from power”. That’s how it was in the First World War and Second World War; all countries do that before they attack. They did that way back when, too. Let’s remember how we talked about dictatorial régimes and violence of Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi before the attacks on Iraq and Libya. By the way, these leaders also received the same treatment, first, they had their assets abroad frozen, and there was a publication of what they held. These are all signs of the first phase. Russia, of course, is a bit different. Let’s not forget, Russia has a strong army, which can smash Europe to bits without the use of nuclear weapons, everybody knows this, so we’re all perfectly aware of the consequences of a possible armed conflict with Russia. Therefore, everybody’s very careful and prudent with Russia.
Recently, the USA incessantly criticised Europe for miserly contributions to the NATO budget; they accused Europeans of cutting corners on the military budget because of financial problems caused by the economic crisis. However, the USA can’t fight alone; they need puppet-allies. During all the 25 years after the collapse of the USSR, NATO never gave up its ideas of attacking Russia. However, they had no pretext. Now, due to the chaos in the Ukraine, a pretext appeared, so, they’re actively developing plans. People of the older generation, bred on propaganda against the USSR have already accepted the idea of the inevitability of conflict with Russia. I know what they say; I grew up at a time when they told us constantly in school, “If the Russians come here, they’ll stick you in the Gulag”. The cry, “The Russians are coming!” is again relevant. When our Minister for Defence announced that 1,000 Belgian soldiers would go to the Baltic States in case of a Russian attack and that we need to increase NATO military budget expenditures, no one in the country raised any eyebrows. Russophobia is like AIDS…once infected, you’re always a mark. The only thing that prevents America from dominating the world is Russia. Therefore, don’t build illusions about a possible friendship in the future. I wish you fortitude and courage.
1 July 2015
Chris Roman
Masterskaya Karikatury
https://www.facebook.com/podvitski/posts/1608290712773728:0
Editor:
I’d like to remind my Orthodox readers that Victor Potapov grew grey in the service of the CIA as an unapologetic and mendacious purveyor of black propaganda via Radio Liberty, the CIA’s dezinformatsiya outlet to the Motherland. He’s never repented of his treason to Holy Rus and to the Holy Church. Think on this… that makes him one of the WORST Sergianists ever. Remember what a Sergianist is… a cleric who kisses the ass of the powers-that-be for personal enrichment, and who distorts the teaching of the Church to do so. Potapov is (or was) a responsible official in the CIA-front Radio Liberty (all know this, it’s no secret), he held a US official passport, he has an income well in excess of the median, and he tries unremittingly to link the Church with dubious Far Right groups, figures, and publications. That’s Sergianism, kids… funny, those who blubber the most about “Chekists in riassas” are Chekists in riassas themselves! Ponder that, if you will…
BMD