In my humble status in life and as I have insufficient financial means to adequately assist any physical efforts, I thus endeavor to pledge myself and feeble services in behalf of the faithful and suffering Christians. In my personal implementation of the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Commandments I intend to undertake the following activities for the propagation of the Holy Gospel, the wellbeing of the entire Church, and the betterment of the world in which we live. Inspired by the above mentioned commandments, the words of our Lord and the prayer which he taught us, in addition to numerous other portions of Holy Scripture; I am embarking on a long term personal campaign of prayer, peaceful demonstration and speaking out on behalf of persecuted Christians, while denouncing all abuse and murder. (Also ref. Matthew 5, Second Corinthians 4 and Romans 12)
Prayer and Fasting: 1) For those being persecuted that they may be released and until such time, that they may have abundant spiritual strength, sufficient physical comfort and the ability to share the Gospel throughout the duration of their persecutions; 2) For the spiritual conversion of the persecutors, offenders, and observers; 3) For the end of persecutions in all forms which have the religious or political intent of suppressing Christians through such means as intimidation, imprisonment, torture, and executions; 4) For the rescue of captives, especially those held by human traffickers of sex trade or slavery; 5) For Christ to intervene with His healing grace in situations of physical and sexual abuse; 6) Against random acts of violence and for the ending of such horrific practices as euthanasia and infanticide; 7) For the comfort of the bereaved families who suffer the loss of a family member due to religious persecution or violence; 8)For those who convert to Christianity and are now at risk of persecution and death; 9)For survivors who live with the memories and physical scars of abuse or persecution; 10)For missionaries, aid workers, advocates, rescuers and those who relocate refugees of religious persecution and victims of human trafficking.
Peaceful Demonstration: 1) In special remembrance of Eritrean / Ethiopian Christians who are suffering intimidation, imprisonment, torture and death, I will daily continue to carry with me an Ethiopian Blessing Cross as an aid to prayer and pastoral ministry. 2) I shall regularly wear my black cassock, but with a red cincture (rope-belt). The cassock is the historic outer-garment (like an over coat or long suit coat*) worn by the clergy of the Church since the 5th century; it continues to be worn by some Protestants, some Roman Catholics, most Eastern Orthodox and some Lutherans. Though not frequently seen publicly in America, this attire is universally recognized. The cassock is black, a somber color, symbolizing that the minister is laying down his life in service to Christ and His Church. The red cincture symbolizes the blood of Christian martyrs. I am hereby allying myself with our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who suffer on account of their Christian faith, and this attire can straightforwardly serve as a public reminder of their hidden imprisonment, torture, and murder. *
Public Speaking: I shall continue to proclaim the Holy Gospel, and speak publicly (whether on my blog, in Church, during Bible classes, individually or wherever invited to speak) for those who have been silenced through imprisonment, intimidation, abuse, torture, and martyrdom. In the public arena, people will naturally enquire about my cassock and which tradition I represent, this will give me an opportunity to individually: a) share the Gospel; b) educate about the modern holocaust of Christians; and c) speak for the sanctity of life.
Non-Solicitation: I am asking for NO financial support; I only ask people to be aware, to pray for the persecuted Christians and to cherish the sanctity of life.
For further information you may contact the following rescources:
The Voice of the Martyrs
http://www.persecution.com/
Focus on Persecution
http://www.focusonpersecution.com/
International Christian Concern
http://www.persecution.org/
Open Doors
http://www.odusa.org/
Release International
http://www.releaseinternational.org/
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
http://www.lirs.org/
Lutherans for Life
http://www.lutheransforlife.org/
Lutheran World Relief
http://www.lwr.org/
The U S Department of State, International Religious Freedom
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/
Blessings+
Father Daniel
_____________________
*For obvious reasons of practicality and others’ safety, I refrain from wearing the cassock & cincture while functioning in my capacity as a public safety chaplain.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
A Thanksgiving Meditation
On this day of Thanksgiving, in the year of our Lord Two Thousand Eight, we gather with family and friends to fellowship as a nation around a traditional meal to meditate upon our blessings and to offer prayers of thanks. I have discovered that Thanksgiving celebrations occur on various levels. The most base and shameful is the one marked by carnal greed and gluttony. Sadly this is most often associated with Thanksgiving. It is purely natural and animalistic. If the practice of eating Turkey with the trimmings and pumpkin pie is all that thanksgiving constitutes, then my childhood dog celebrated Thanksgiving like no one ever could. He ate the giblets and all the scraps from the preparation through the last item of cleanup. Then he went to the neighbors’ houses. I seriously doubt that my hound dog’s base animal nature even remotely grasped the concept of Thanksgiving above or apart from his bulging stomach. Gluttony is quite far removed from the intent of the day. Therefore, I explain and dismiss this activity without classifying it as one of the three levels for today’s consideration, because there is nothing substantively Thankful about it. Yes, we feast! Yes, the food tastes great! Yes, we gather with family and friends and watch parades, movies and football. However, let us raise our eyes a few degrees above our tables and TV’s to feast with our spirit and soul. Above the physical celebration, there are three levels that transform the feast regardless if we eat Turkey or bologna this blessed Holiday.
Level One: As a child, I thought about my family, friends, pets and possessions. I listed my personal blessings and was quite content to offer a prayer to God. My prayer went something like this. “Dear God thank you for all my blessings like: food, clothes, house and family. Thank you, for Grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. Thank you for my pets. Amen.” Essentially, I saw the world from the first person, ego centric perspective. I was practicing a level one Thanksgiving. As I got older and my basis of understanding developed, I remembered to give thanks for abstract things like education, political, social and religious freedom. As I continued into adulthood, my Thanksgiving meditations continued to revolve around my personal benefits. Today I still say, “Thank you, Lord, for my family, my vocations, my situation in life, my American liberty and my early twenty first century conveniences.” This is indeed a good thing and I would encourage each and every person to live his or her life with daily and abundant prayers of thankfulness. Why starve yourself of the wealth of joy which is there to be had in maintaining a thankful heart? Living a thankful life is a wonderful way of life! Consider (Luke 17:11-19) the people who suffered from leprosy who were healed of their horrid disease. Of the ten, only one returned to Jesus rendering thanks and praise. What a joyful interaction with their healer the nine people missed out on! How many joy filled moments of life do we rob ourselves of by forgetting to be thankful for such as we have. On this level, as we become less egocentric, we can be grateful that others, such as friends, coworkers or even strangers are blessed with such temporal blessings as they have.
Level Two: As one matures in faith, it becomes evident to the individual that along with one’s thankfulness for the temporal blessings of house, home, food, clothing and family; that spiritual blessings are worthy of being acknowledged with prayers of thanksgiving. As the Psalmist wrote, “O give thanks unto the Lord for He is good and His mercy endures forever. How good and right it is that we sinful humans who suffer the scourge of spiritual leprosy and are healed through divine forgiveness bestowed to us in the blessed Sacraments, should return and give thanks for such healing blessings. God’s mercy to us is abundant, and He desires that we come to Him in penitence bringing to Him our sorrows and sufferings. He sees our need and grants us divine grace beyond measure. If it is good and right to render thanks for temporal blessings, then how much more worthy of thanks to God are the eternal blessings of forgiveness, life, and salvation? Meditating on and giving thanks for spiritual and eternal blessings, I would classify as a level two Thanksgiving. On this level we also pray for and give thanks for God’s grace and mercy which he bestows upon humanity. We rejoice and give thanks when others receive these spiritual blessings.
Level Three: Above level two which finds us rendering thanks for temporal and spiritual blessings, there is level three where-in the worshiper renders thanks for having been given life and for being in the presence of Almighty God who is of Himself complete and is love eternal. Here one worships God and gives thanks for who God is and for His attributes. The worshiper gives thanks for God’s perfect will being accomplished in time and throughout eternity. Let us pray Psalm 100 as we render thanks to God and worship him this blessed holy day.
A psalm. For giving thanks.
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his [a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
[1]
Blessings+
Father Daniel
_________
a Or and not we ourselves
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ps 100:1
Level One: As a child, I thought about my family, friends, pets and possessions. I listed my personal blessings and was quite content to offer a prayer to God. My prayer went something like this. “Dear God thank you for all my blessings like: food, clothes, house and family. Thank you, for Grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. Thank you for my pets. Amen.” Essentially, I saw the world from the first person, ego centric perspective. I was practicing a level one Thanksgiving. As I got older and my basis of understanding developed, I remembered to give thanks for abstract things like education, political, social and religious freedom. As I continued into adulthood, my Thanksgiving meditations continued to revolve around my personal benefits. Today I still say, “Thank you, Lord, for my family, my vocations, my situation in life, my American liberty and my early twenty first century conveniences.” This is indeed a good thing and I would encourage each and every person to live his or her life with daily and abundant prayers of thankfulness. Why starve yourself of the wealth of joy which is there to be had in maintaining a thankful heart? Living a thankful life is a wonderful way of life! Consider (Luke 17:11-19) the people who suffered from leprosy who were healed of their horrid disease. Of the ten, only one returned to Jesus rendering thanks and praise. What a joyful interaction with their healer the nine people missed out on! How many joy filled moments of life do we rob ourselves of by forgetting to be thankful for such as we have. On this level, as we become less egocentric, we can be grateful that others, such as friends, coworkers or even strangers are blessed with such temporal blessings as they have.
Level Two: As one matures in faith, it becomes evident to the individual that along with one’s thankfulness for the temporal blessings of house, home, food, clothing and family; that spiritual blessings are worthy of being acknowledged with prayers of thanksgiving. As the Psalmist wrote, “O give thanks unto the Lord for He is good and His mercy endures forever. How good and right it is that we sinful humans who suffer the scourge of spiritual leprosy and are healed through divine forgiveness bestowed to us in the blessed Sacraments, should return and give thanks for such healing blessings. God’s mercy to us is abundant, and He desires that we come to Him in penitence bringing to Him our sorrows and sufferings. He sees our need and grants us divine grace beyond measure. If it is good and right to render thanks for temporal blessings, then how much more worthy of thanks to God are the eternal blessings of forgiveness, life, and salvation? Meditating on and giving thanks for spiritual and eternal blessings, I would classify as a level two Thanksgiving. On this level we also pray for and give thanks for God’s grace and mercy which he bestows upon humanity. We rejoice and give thanks when others receive these spiritual blessings.
Level Three: Above level two which finds us rendering thanks for temporal and spiritual blessings, there is level three where-in the worshiper renders thanks for having been given life and for being in the presence of Almighty God who is of Himself complete and is love eternal. Here one worships God and gives thanks for who God is and for His attributes. The worshiper gives thanks for God’s perfect will being accomplished in time and throughout eternity. Let us pray Psalm 100 as we render thanks to God and worship him this blessed holy day.
A psalm. For giving thanks.
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his [a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
[1]
Blessings+
Father Daniel
_________
a Or and not we ourselves
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ps 100:1
Friday, November 21, 2008
Thank the Christians
Do you enjoy having a Thanksgiving Day family gathering, complete with a turkey dinner? Thank the Jews and Christians; it is their custom of dedicating a day of rest for giving thanks that you are enjoying.
Do you like to have parties with family and friends while exchanging presents at Christmas? Do you benefit at all from the significant influx of revenue into the economy each year? Thank the Christians as Christmas is one of their primary holidays that you are celebrating.
Do you like to have Santa Claus hear the children’s wishes and see the merry old soul bestow gifts? Thank the Christians because you are borrowing their remembrance of old Saint Nicklaus. He was a beloved Bishop who famously cared for the needy people of his diocese in Myra (in modern day Turkey).
Do you enjoy reading books? Thank the Christians, they invented books.
Do you like being able to go to a hospital for medical treatment when you or your child is ill? Thank the Christians; they started hospitals as we know them today.
Do you like having an education, being able to read, write, do math and study the liberal arts in an academic setting? Thank the Christians; they developed the academic system that you matriculated through.
Do you like to listen to music or play a musical instrument? Most classical and standard musical theory was developed through the history of the Church; thank the Christians.
Do you think it is a good thing for abandoned and orphaned children to be adopted by loving families? Then you agree with the Christians of the Roman era who rescued children who had been purposely abandoned to die of exposure. The Christians found caring homes for them. Thank the Christians for starting adoption & family counseling agencies.
Do you wish the homeless had shelters and warm meals on cold nights? Thank the Christians; they operate most of the shelters.
Do you think the hungry should have a place to get food, even if they can’t pay? Thank the Christians; they are feeding the poor hungry people around the world at this very moment.
Do you like to watch little children hunt for Easter eggs and beam with delight upon discovering their Easter baskets? Thank the Christians; you are celebrating their most important holiday.
Do you like to send and receive notes of friendship and affection or even chocolates on Valentine’s Day? Thank the Christians; this day remembers and celebrates the ancient priest, Saint Valentinus, who died aiding persecuted Christians and officiating their marriages.
Do you like to eat corned beef and cabbage and drink green beer, with a shamrock on you lapel while watching a parade of heart stirring Bagpipes and Drums every March seventeenth? Thank the Christians from Ireland; you are celebrating the holiday that remembers Saint Patrick who brought Christianity to the Celts and founded the Celtic Church in Ireland.
Do you think that animals should be cared for with love and respect? Thank Saint Francis and the Christians following his ideals, which cared for and blessed the animals. He even featured them in the first nativity scene of the middle ages - he honored them and demonstrated their importance by portraying them next to the manger of the Christ Child.
Do you prefer to worship in the church of your choosing or even not all? Thank the Christians who formed the United States of America upon the principle that people have the inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; where men and women are free to assemble as they desire for religious, political or social purposes.
Do you like to speak your mind openly among friends, publicly and in the media? The first amendment right which protects your freedom to choose a religion or decline membership in a religion is the same one that allows you to spout off your point of view. While you are using your right to speak up and speak out regarding any issue you desire; don’t forget to thank the Christians.
Blessings+
Father Daniel
Do you like to have parties with family and friends while exchanging presents at Christmas? Do you benefit at all from the significant influx of revenue into the economy each year? Thank the Christians as Christmas is one of their primary holidays that you are celebrating.
Do you like to have Santa Claus hear the children’s wishes and see the merry old soul bestow gifts? Thank the Christians because you are borrowing their remembrance of old Saint Nicklaus. He was a beloved Bishop who famously cared for the needy people of his diocese in Myra (in modern day Turkey).
Do you enjoy reading books? Thank the Christians, they invented books.
Do you like being able to go to a hospital for medical treatment when you or your child is ill? Thank the Christians; they started hospitals as we know them today.
Do you like having an education, being able to read, write, do math and study the liberal arts in an academic setting? Thank the Christians; they developed the academic system that you matriculated through.
Do you like to listen to music or play a musical instrument? Most classical and standard musical theory was developed through the history of the Church; thank the Christians.
Do you think it is a good thing for abandoned and orphaned children to be adopted by loving families? Then you agree with the Christians of the Roman era who rescued children who had been purposely abandoned to die of exposure. The Christians found caring homes for them. Thank the Christians for starting adoption & family counseling agencies.
Do you wish the homeless had shelters and warm meals on cold nights? Thank the Christians; they operate most of the shelters.
Do you think the hungry should have a place to get food, even if they can’t pay? Thank the Christians; they are feeding the poor hungry people around the world at this very moment.
Do you like to watch little children hunt for Easter eggs and beam with delight upon discovering their Easter baskets? Thank the Christians; you are celebrating their most important holiday.
Do you like to send and receive notes of friendship and affection or even chocolates on Valentine’s Day? Thank the Christians; this day remembers and celebrates the ancient priest, Saint Valentinus, who died aiding persecuted Christians and officiating their marriages.
Do you like to eat corned beef and cabbage and drink green beer, with a shamrock on you lapel while watching a parade of heart stirring Bagpipes and Drums every March seventeenth? Thank the Christians from Ireland; you are celebrating the holiday that remembers Saint Patrick who brought Christianity to the Celts and founded the Celtic Church in Ireland.
Do you think that animals should be cared for with love and respect? Thank Saint Francis and the Christians following his ideals, which cared for and blessed the animals. He even featured them in the first nativity scene of the middle ages - he honored them and demonstrated their importance by portraying them next to the manger of the Christ Child.
Do you prefer to worship in the church of your choosing or even not all? Thank the Christians who formed the United States of America upon the principle that people have the inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; where men and women are free to assemble as they desire for religious, political or social purposes.
Do you like to speak your mind openly among friends, publicly and in the media? The first amendment right which protects your freedom to choose a religion or decline membership in a religion is the same one that allows you to spout off your point of view. While you are using your right to speak up and speak out regarding any issue you desire; don’t forget to thank the Christians.
Blessings+
Father Daniel
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Salt of the earth
“Apart from the multitude of people with whom you live amongst and see every day, there is also another group of people who live within the multitude….Among the many who live a common life, there are a few whose life consists of little more than seeking the Lord every minute. That in itself brings them rejuvenation and an angelic sweetness. Their life is full of expectation and constant struggle. However, they go on with a sense of, as it called, ‘joyful mourning’. These people, however, remain unknown. If they were to reveal their particular way of thinking to the many, they would be found strange and would be ridiculed, so they keep it to themselves.” St. Nektarios of Aegina 1846-1920 (p 182 Saint Nektarios: The Saint of Our Century, by Sotos Chondropoulos 1997, 2004)
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
What if you were locked in a closet...
What if you were locked in a closet and the people outside were trying to decide whether or not to kill you.
Should I: A) walk away and not get involved, because it is none of my business? B) stand off and see who is right and who is wrong? C) get involved, speak out on your behalf, and call for help?
...That's why I am pro-life! These are the casualties from yesterday's electoral process. There are lots of little people hidden away and at risk of being killed. The baby holocaust continues, please pray, please speak out with God's love.
"We elected the most pro-abortion president ever to sit in the White House. The State of Washington legalized assisted suicide. Michigan legalized unrestricted destruction of human embryos for research purposes. California said no to requiring that minors to obtain parental consent for an abortion. Colorado failed to pass an amendment affirming that life begins at conception. South Dakota failed for the second time to ban most abortions in the state. "
Lutherans for Life 11/5/2008
As we continue to speak out for the sanctity of life, let us pray for the women who are at risk of making the worst decision of their lives. Let us also pray for the mothers who aborted their children, now living with regret and sorrow that they may experience the joy of God's love and forgiveness in Christ Jesus.
Blessings+
Father Daniel
Should I: A) walk away and not get involved, because it is none of my business? B) stand off and see who is right and who is wrong? C) get involved, speak out on your behalf, and call for help?
...That's why I am pro-life! These are the casualties from yesterday's electoral process. There are lots of little people hidden away and at risk of being killed. The baby holocaust continues, please pray, please speak out with God's love.
"We elected the most pro-abortion president ever to sit in the White House. The State of Washington legalized assisted suicide. Michigan legalized unrestricted destruction of human embryos for research purposes. California said no to requiring that minors to obtain parental consent for an abortion. Colorado failed to pass an amendment affirming that life begins at conception. South Dakota failed for the second time to ban most abortions in the state. "
Lutherans for Life 11/5/2008
As we continue to speak out for the sanctity of life, let us pray for the women who are at risk of making the worst decision of their lives. Let us also pray for the mothers who aborted their children, now living with regret and sorrow that they may experience the joy of God's love and forgiveness in Christ Jesus.
Blessings+
Father Daniel
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Orate et Vigilate. Watch and pray.
The other day I had a joyful E-Mail dialog, regarding prayer, with a Brother in Christ via an E-Mail group in which I participate. I responded with the intent to encourage him to continue praying and not to be side tracked by nay-sayers. Since it was an open interaction and thus not a confidential communication, I can share with you most of the discourse as a meditation for your spiritual enrichment.
Fr. Coffey,
You're one of those strange fellows that believes prayer actually works. ;-) God bless you for it. Whenever I've posted prayer requests…, it's always a great comfort to know that Fr. Coffey is praying for me. By name.
In Christ,
(Signed)
My Brother,
Thank you for your encouraging word. Yes, I do believe that our good and gracious Lord does indeed hear our prayers. I have seen him answer prayers in many, many ways. In fact daily - Thanks be to God! I cannot but fervently believe he hears our prayers and answers those prayers. Sometimes they are "Yes" in the way I had hoped and sometimes they are "Yes" in ways I did not expect. Sometimes the answer is silence; even this apparent silence is an answer. I have gotten to the point where I mostly (but NOT strictly) pray the Our Father, the Psalms and practice the Jesus Prayer i.e. "Lord Jesus Christ Son of God have mercy on __(name)_ / on me a sinner." I know that the Lord God is good and gracious, and that His perfect will is rooted in His infinite love. When I call upon my dear Heavenly Father for His attention and assistance what more need I say? When my child has trouble with her toys she calls to me, "Daaaaddy." I look and see the trouble and I am moved to correct the problem. Sometimes I fix it right away and sometimes it is better for her that I show her how she is to fix it. Other times, I oversee the situation and encourage her to keep trying because, in spite of how she feels, she is on the right track. If I, an evil sinner most worthy of death and eternity in hell, tend to my daughters in such loving paternal fashion; how much more does our Heavenly Father tend to our cries for mercy and assistance! Call out to him He hears and answers your prayer. Orate et vigilate. Watch and Pray.
Blessings+
Father Daniel
Fr. Coffey,
You're one of those strange fellows that believes prayer actually works. ;-) God bless you for it. Whenever I've posted prayer requests…, it's always a great comfort to know that Fr. Coffey is praying for me. By name.
In Christ,
(Signed)
My Brother,
Thank you for your encouraging word. Yes, I do believe that our good and gracious Lord does indeed hear our prayers. I have seen him answer prayers in many, many ways. In fact daily - Thanks be to God! I cannot but fervently believe he hears our prayers and answers those prayers. Sometimes they are "Yes" in the way I had hoped and sometimes they are "Yes" in ways I did not expect. Sometimes the answer is silence; even this apparent silence is an answer. I have gotten to the point where I mostly (but NOT strictly) pray the Our Father, the Psalms and practice the Jesus Prayer i.e. "Lord Jesus Christ Son of God have mercy on __(name)_ / on me a sinner." I know that the Lord God is good and gracious, and that His perfect will is rooted in His infinite love. When I call upon my dear Heavenly Father for His attention and assistance what more need I say? When my child has trouble with her toys she calls to me, "Daaaaddy." I look and see the trouble and I am moved to correct the problem. Sometimes I fix it right away and sometimes it is better for her that I show her how she is to fix it. Other times, I oversee the situation and encourage her to keep trying because, in spite of how she feels, she is on the right track. If I, an evil sinner most worthy of death and eternity in hell, tend to my daughters in such loving paternal fashion; how much more does our Heavenly Father tend to our cries for mercy and assistance! Call out to him He hears and answers your prayer. Orate et vigilate. Watch and Pray.
Blessings+
Father Daniel
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