Comments

131 responses to “About”

1. 

   Reader John

   October 7, 2010

   Father, bless!
   This may be old hat to you, but I heard some parallels to your thinking from an unexpected quarter today: BBC Radio 4’s “Thinking Allowed” podcast on “Disenchantment.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tdn2h
   Here’s the BBC summary:
   “The sociologist Max Weber saw the Enlightenment as the period when science started to take over from religion as the way of comprehending human existence, and became the defining character of modernity. The process of casting magic and superstition aside in favour of rationality he defined as ‘disenchantment’: no longer was the world a place of supernatural signs and natural magic. In the second of a special series of programmes looking at some of the key concepts in social science, Laurie Taylor explores the idea of disenchantment with three experts. David Voas, Sam Whimster and Linda Woodhead, discuss how the idea has been applied to understanding the development of secular societies and whether we are now entering a phase of re-enchantment.”
   What struck me as parallel to your “Three Story Universe” was the discussion of the Reformation, and how it shoved God off to arms’ length.
   As I say: maybe old hat. Maybe you learned some of this as an Anglican. But I thought that you might find listening to it 30 minutes well-spent.

2. 

   Darrell Lahay

   October 18, 2010

   Father Stephen..I am slowly trying to bring a bit of Liturgy back into my church. Although i have deep Catholic roots, I have been pastoring in protestant circles for the past few years, mostly with classic pentecostal denominations..I would be absolutely grateful if you could write (or perhaps send something you’ve already done) a guest post that i can post on my blog that would begin to open their eyes of the understanding about things such as litanies, tradition, and liturgy..

   i really have a heart to see my people come back to a sense of wonder, rather than fear when they look back into thier own roots and gaze at the ‘Great tradition”.

   I’m essentially asking if you could write under the theme (for lack of a better title) LITURGY FOR DUMMIES.

   Please let me know if this is something that interests you..

   peace be with you

   Rev.Darrell Lahay

   email hidden; JavaScript is required
   http://www.darrelllahay.wordpress.com

3. 

   theresa

   January 26, 2011

   Just wanted to say that your blog is incredibly inspiring and thoughtful. Thank you for being a voice of biblical thought and the gospel of grace amidst all the vitriol and distortion (especially in America and especially online).

   Theresa

4. 

   Fr David Gilchrist

   April 18, 2011

   Dear Father,
   Frederica put me in touch with Ronda Wintheiser, who contacted me today and suggested I visit your blog.
   Glory to God! Thank you!
   I am a 60 year old Anglican priest in England who has wanted to be Orthodox for many years. My dear wife was not keen, but she contracted cancer 18 months ago, and is now with the Lord.
   Life has been hard, but I am hoping to become Orthodox next year.
   Please pray for me!
   May the Lord bless you ‘real good’ this Holy Week.
   Yours in Him,
   David.

5. 

   Lina

   April 19, 2011

   Fr. David G. Go for it! I made the trip at 72. Coming home is great!

6. 

   NW Juliana

   April 19, 2011

   Fr. David, I will pray for you.

7. 

   fatherstephen

   June 21, 2011

   Neurotic (name used) I noted the recommendations but did not see it as a post of general interest or in response to a conversation. No intent to offend. Generally I am sceptical of posts that do not give their correct address. It’s fine to use a pseudonymn or whatever one might call it. But comments require a valid email address. I don’t always catch these, but I consider them important. There is no other way to respond to a person privately (which is sometimes required) when a fake email address is used.

   Fr. Stephen + Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless

8. 

   fatherstephen

   June 24, 2011

   Myshkin,
   You might this article of mine to be of some small interest – certainly related to the topic.

9. 

   Anna

   July 25, 2011

   Hi,

   i just came across your blog when i was looking for some answers on praying to angels. I’m a Greek orthodox by faith and i just have some questions in regards to praying to Arch Angels. Is there such an Arch Angel named Uriel?

   Kind Regards,
   Anna

10. 

    fatherstephen

    July 28, 2011

    Anna, yes. One of the Archangels is named Uriel.

11. Forgive Everyone for Everything « † Pick it up!

    September 6, 2011

    […] 6, 2011 by sermonwriter Leave a Comment BY FR. STEPHEN FREEMAN ON SEPTEMBER 3, […]

12. The Nature of Things by Fr. Stephen Freeman « † Pick it up!

    September 17, 2011

    […] he knows it or not,, Fr. Stephen Freeman is really helping me work through some very basic concepts of the Orthodox faith of which I […]

13. 

    Crispin Pemberton

    October 10, 2011

    As an Anglican (Church of England) who has been harbouring a deep attachment to Orthodoxy for 25 years, I just wanted to write and thank you for both the blog and the podcast which are my constant companions along this journey.
    My journey towards Orthodoxy is, I trust, coming to an end very soon as I feel the Lord calling me to take the step of real commitment and become Orthodox in life as well as in heart.
    Your calm, measured, godly words have helped in consolidating my own reflections and assuring me that just as there are things about Anglicanism I would miss (1662 Prayer Book, Choral Evensong etc.) there is also much that I can anticipate with great joy and many new discoveries that await me when my life within His Church is all of a piece with the work of His Spirit in my heart.
    God bless your ministry to Oakridge and to the wider world. Maybe you’re not aware of how your words are received, maybe you think you are talking to yourself sometimes – believe me, you’re not. You counsel has been of immense value to me. Long may He give you strength to pastor His worldwide flock in this way.

14. 

    fatherstephen

    October 10, 2011

    Crispin,
    Thank you for your words of encouragement. May God bless you in your journey, give you strength, and always make the way clear for you!

15. 

    David Ravel

    February 15, 2012

    Father,

    I have a personal question for you and would like to know if there is a way to send you a private message.

    Thank you very much.

16. 

    Annette Edwards

    June 22, 2012

    Dear Father Stephen,
    I came across your blog when I was looking for information on Lazarus’ tomb for the book study I am helping to lead. The book is “Lazarus Awakening” by Joanna Weaver. I found your information helpful. I hope you will not mind if I use some of it during our book study. I am a United Methodist Christian. I find I am intrigued with your blog entires andplan to follow your blog. Thank you.
    Annette Edwards

17. 

    ecollage

    June 25, 2012

    Father, Bless

    Who are the other two priests? Thanks Susan

18. 

    fatherstephen

    June 25, 2012

    Ecollage,
    A page that really needs to change. Sitting with me is Met. Kallistos Ware and the other is a Deacon from Memphis (name escapes me for the moment). We were sitting at the Patriarchate in Jerusalem.

19. 

    ecollage

    July 8, 2012

    Thanks so much for letting me know Father. Sounds like a wonderful afternoon.

20. 

    mary benton

    July 14, 2012

    Blessings to you, Father Stephen
    It is a joy to have discovered your blog as your words express so much of what I also experience. Would you mind if I occasionally quoted you briefly on my own blog or Twitter account (where I micro-blog)? If all right with you, please let me know how you prefer to be credited. If not, I undertsand. Thank you.

21. 

    fatherstephen

    July 14, 2012

    Mary, Yes. Feel free to quote. When credited, Fr. Stephen is fine (last name is Freeman if you like). Link to this blogsite.

22. 

    Susan M

    July 20, 2012

    Father Stephen,

    I love love LOVE your blog. I have read your post on Ecclesiology of the Cross so many times. As a Roman Catholic, I think we need much more consideration of a kenotic ecclesiology (although I did read your post that indicated some reasons why it does not mesh so well with Catholicism, especially papal primacy, which was also very interesting).

    I thought I remember some time ago reading on this site a post that covers the title of your blog, Glory to God in All Things. I have been trying to find it, but the search function was not helpful. Would you be so kind as to help me locate it with a link or some directions? I would really appreciate it.

    Thank you!

    Susan

23. A Few Thought Provoking Items « Requisite Danger

    October 26, 2012

    […] Father Stephen (an Orthodox Priest in Oak Ridge, Tennessee) wrote an insightful article on the development of the New Testament canon. All too often followers of Jesus tend to think that God dropped the Bible down from heaven as is – yet history shows that that the earliest followers of Jesus survived and multiplied WITHOUT the written New Testament (the same can be said of the earliest heroes of the Old Testament as well – like Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob). Father Stephen talks a bit about this ‘gap’ between the early church and the NT while pointing out that it was the Church that Jesus left behind, not a book. […]

24. Loving a Dying Friend | reedettes

    April 4, 2013

    […] three hours away from Knoxville. I called a few numbers but no one was answering so I called my priest, who lives in another town, and asked if he knew anyone who could help meet my son at the Emergency […]

25. Why Would a Protestant Convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity? | Conciliar Post

    June 27, 2014

    […] from the world). I regarded God to be “the man upstairs” and humans to be “downstairs.” Fr. Stephen Freeman talks about this misunderstanding of Christianity in his book Everywhere Present where he calls it […]

26. Angels, Forgotten Junk? | L.A. Emrich

    November 19, 2014

    […] they feel that materialistic, consumer-driven societies inoculate people against the spiritual.  Stephen Freeman, an Orthodox priest and popular blogger, often speaks of the two-story universe to explain things. […]

27. The Kingdom of God | ADULT CATECHESIS & CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS LITERACY IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC TRADITION

    December 26, 2015

    […] -by Fr. Stephen Freeman […]

28. Mar 30 – St John Climacus(aka of the Ladder, Scholasticus, Sinaites), (579-649 AD) – The Ladder of Divine Ascent | ADULT CATECHESIS & CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS LITERACY IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC TRADITION: hosting ONLY True Christians!!!

    April 12, 2016

    […] -by Fr. Stephen Freeman […]

29. Marriage: A Hard Discipline Over a Lifetime | ADULT CATECHESIS & CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS LITERACY IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC TRADITION: hosting ONLY True Christians!!!

    May 1, 2016

    […] -by Rev. Stephen Freeman […]

30. 

    Andrew

    December 18, 2023

    Fr. Stephen,
    Awhile back I seem to remember a post about painting decorative gold borders on the walls at saint anne’s. Could you send a link to it? Our church is considering something similar. Thank you!
    Andrew

31. 

    Mark Spurlock

    December 18, 2023

    Andrew,

    I found this describing the borders at St. Anne via Google. Perhaps Father Stephen referenced it here, but I wasn’t able to locate the post:

    https://orthodoxartsjournal.org/decorative-borders-adding-beauty-in-an-orthodox-church/