I have collected in one PDF all of the blogs which I posted in 2015 throughout the Nativity Fast and for the Feast of the Nativity of Christ. For those who find it more convenient to search the posts in one PDF, please go to 2015 Nativity of Christ PDF.
You can find a list of all the PDFs I’ve produced from each year since 2008 at Fr. Ted’s PDFs. There you will find links to all of the PDFs I’ve produced over the years for any of my blog series.
I have no idea who to thank, but this evening I was notified that my Blog has been nominated in the Best Theology Blog category on the Eastern Christian New Media Awards Webpage.
I am deeply honored, and quite surprised that someone is of the opinion that this blog should be considered for any award. So again, thanks.
You can visit their webpage, view all of the nominees and cast a vote for your favorite Orthodox media in a number of different categories at http://ecawards.blogspot.com/
Seven months or so ago, my eldest son John talked me into blogging. He thought since I write a lot anyway, and send those writings as emails, a more effective way of communicating was to blog. He even convinced me to read NAKED CONVERSATIONS: HOW BLOGS ARE CHANGING THE WAY BUSINESSES TALK WITH CUSTOMERS, which he lists on GoodReads.com as one of his favorite books. (He also had me join GoodReads.com as well!).
The blog has become the place where I do most of my writing these days, and it has become a way for me to communicate with people I know, as well as with people I’ve never met. I get comments from those who agree with my opinions, those who make very perceptive comments and criticisms of what I’ve written, and those who hold positions contrary to my fundamental beliefs. I’ve enjoyed a few debates with other bloggers over the existence of God, and the relationship of truth, science and religion. I’ve used the blog to express what’s on my mind, not to make dogmatic statements, but to express how I react to the world around me, and to invite others to join the conversation. For I truly see the blogs not as my final word on anything, but as real conversations which means I also learn from what others say as they often bring to bear pertinent ideas which I have ignored or missed. And they are so kind as to gently and privately point out when I am not clear and when I am clear but wrong! But they do it so as not to offend or embarass, which means that many of them are decent, God loving humans.
As a result of this blogging, I was “quoted” today on National Public Radio’s webpage: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95296475. I’ve also had one of my blogs translated into Russian, and one appeared on an Argentinian webpage.
I admit I would have never begun this if not for my son, who gets the credit or blame for creating this blog.
A good friend of mine, who is of Serbian descent, told me the Serbian word “blag-” (pronounced like blog) has the meaning of a “blessing.” The discipline of writing has always been a blessing to me. Like the seed which the sower scattered I hope that some of my meditations will also prove to be good seed that finds good soil in which to take root.
Fraternized 