Facing Dad in faith matters

It's still the same. Dad and I can't accept each other. Being stubborn to each other. And being hostile to each others' point of view. Why is it that Dad wouldn't open his heart when it comes to my religion?

I may have failed a lot and lost a lot but it doesn't mean I would follow dad entirely because I desire some things dad cannot give me. Sounds selfish? I am still selfish but not so much. I am praying that eventually, dad and I would reconcile no matter what happens.

For now, religion plays a barrier between me and dad. He couldn't believe it is happening and would play mind games just to make me change my mind. Do I have to change my mind just to appease him? Here's my take. I don't want to be a hypocrite anymore. I am tired of it. I am tired of hiding on his shadows too often. If it is about religion, I don't even need to convert him. What is he thinking all this time?

What dad told me?

It's ok to be a Muslim, Buddhist or a Protestant one but not Eastern Orthodox Christian.

I can live with it. I tell everyone now and will never regret it because God shows me the way no matter how hard I am a sinner or how hard people make a curse about my deeds to scare me.

NGO against faith

Searching for something to talk about, i saw this article. This article that made my head burst into annoyance. Why? Of all the groups that will make this stupid statement, an NGO named Movement for Enlightened Society is against the celebration of Saint Sava as the patron saint of schools in Serbia.

Here is the article from B92:

The NGO also protested over Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) priests taking an active part in school celebrations, "with prayers and inappropriate sermons, and performance of religious rituals," in this way "additionally stressing the religious importance of the holiday." 

"By celebrating patron saint day of schools as a religious holiday, the Constitution of Serbia is being directly violated in Article 11 that mandates the separation of churches and religious communities and the state," said a statement. 

The NGO, which earlier this month criticized President Tomislav Nikolic for sending his Christmas message and taking part in Christmas rituals held at the presidency building as "impermissible abuse of the holiday and violation of the Constitution," reminded headmasters of state schools and "responsible persons in the government" that there are members of other religions, "as well as atheists," among schoolchildren and their parents and teachers.

According to the statement, they are denied the right to celebrate St. Sava's Day as "a true school holiday open to everyone, regardless of their religious and ethnic orientation."

This is the disease of ultra-liberalism in Europe and the discontent of some pro-EU trying to destabilize the Serbian state, that cannot recover in a hurry because of the events in it's history that made them bad in most states by means of false propaganda.

Danas Vidovdan

I will always remember this date. Vidovdan. It is not just the political celebration of the but also the Slava of St. Vitus as well and the memorial day of Saint Prince Lazar and his soldiers during their sacrificial battle at Kosovo.

Many events that occured coincidentally from the sacrifice at Kosovo to the Montenegrin independence happend all throughout history. If I would be asked why in the future, i would celebrate Vidovdan, one thing is what i would amswer. The feast day of Saint Prince Lazar according to the Srpska Pravoslavna Crkva, marked this day if the Julian Calendar would be used but if i prefer June 15, i may as well.

I may ask my Srpski prijatelji more when i get there to properly celebrate Vidovdan in honor of my future patron saint. Despite my turbulent week and emotional distress, i pray continually to God for Saint prince Lazar's intercession and to give me strength throught the many challenges that will unfold in my life. If there would be a one time i may visit Srbija, i hoped it will be Vidovdan week and go on a pilgrimage that will make me a strong person by heart. By all means, Vidovdan is not just a political but more on religious celebration as well. We have options but i will prefer the religious one.

May this day as a whole be a source of strength to the Serbian people and to those who looked upon their medieval heroics and spiritual strength all through out the years.

Šta Vera je Važno

Why faith is important this days? It is because our life is totally nothing without our faith. Many people has everything. Money, fame but they are not great persons even to everyone. I don't know why a lot of people are not attending churches or praying or even believe in God. I am not confused but enraged on those forces that are called anti-religious.

You may not read all the bible passages but you must understand what religious teaching you will receive/learn because it will define your whole life.

Changing your faith is optional or if you truly feel your faith will improve but it is on your heart how you will become a religious man. For myself, i am still waitig for that day. The day i will experience how God gave me the keys to his one true church, i will value it as irrefutable, priceless and my lifetime contract. In business, we have a short term contract. With God, it is a lifetime. With faith on our hands, nothing is impossible. 

If there is one thing i can show everyone how i would become a true Christian, it is on my actions and not just my mind. Deep down inside, my faith is what keeping me more to fight for my life and my future family.

Moja vera, moja familija, moja budućnosti

Despite writing some entries about religion, politics, culture and others, i haven't mentioned if my future is uncertain. One thing in my heart is for sure. I will be a good father someday, teach my children true Christian values, make passionate and true love with my last girlfriend and future wife(hope so) and uphold the virtues of what God taught me through priests and teachers.

I won't even hide i thank my teachers from the high school i went through. With all the joys and pains in my life, they instilled in me what i need to be. A survivor and upholding a true Christian within me despite my imperfectness and my sinfulness.

What i will learn through my next spiritual father when i get baptized to God's original church will mean everything in my continuing process of maturity. For now, i am still immature enough to stand for my faith and my future. Despite all the challenges i am having, i hoped to inspire others that have the similar case they also have. Because every life has a story to tell. When i become a Pravoslavac, i will take the name Lazar and everyone will mention Lazar, Lazara, Lazaru and any additives.

I hoped that one of my male sons will be named Srđan, the name of the Bosnian Serb hero named Srđan Aleksić who sacrificed his life for his Bosniak friend's life, like how i wanted to teach my children human compassion. And whether i will stay here in Japan or marry a Serb and become a naturalized Serbian citizen, i will accept what responsibility God will give me in the future.

The Bethlehem Fire

I am not a big fan of mysterious coincidences or so called hear-says or superstitions. I am not supportive of superstitions so much. But would someone wanted to know why the Church of Nativity went into flames. Was it the lamps on by 6pm? No. Would it be some sabotage experts among Israeli spies or mistep by the Palestinian police?

But to most Orthodox Christians even if i don't believe it, the recent visit of Pope Francis to the holy site was the one. Maybe, God's punishment for this alleged ecumenist activity even if i am not a critic of Patriarch Bartholomew since i am supporting his endeavors. Maybe, this is a way that God wants us to see the true church, repent and never let ourselves be a subject to Satan's deception.

I don't know much but among the facebook trend by Serbs and others, it is pointed towards non other than the visit of Pope Francis. Not to take away from the good guy but the act is somehow, not accepted. Of course, he is a good guy but he is under the Vatican's scheme.

Whether it is true or not, may the people just decide. I cannot decide on that matter. I will just believe on what my spiritual father would tell me. Avoid ecumenism and pray for repentance always.

Negative effect of Globalization

So, we have this problem of globalization. Why this globalization is becoming negative? No political statements here. But sure it affects every people in the world. Whether it is through fast food chains or chemically used preservatives or creating worthless disco party events. I am criticising the so-called "party-party" mentality of everyone, especially in my country were people just want to have fun and will not care about the political and social situation.

Maybe, this is becoming more of an ignorant society as people flock to the city as what they believed as becoming rich yet, uneducated and corruption will hinder them from becoming a workforce in this ever changing society. How the hell that people are used to broken changes, like broken promises. I am saying this because no one will. Good and bad people are there but, people choose the bad ones instead of the lesser evil.

One thing in my mind is that, globalization hurts every culture, tradition, religion, social life, simplicity and lifestyle. Why not those people promoting globalization will promote a balanced lifestyle and the resources they gain would be used for the empowerment of everyone and not just of a few?