The Morning Offering

The Orthodox Student and the
College Experience

Dr. Thomas Krise, President of Pacific Lutheran University

Preparing for the Challenging of Your Faith

My article titled, The Orthodox College Student was well received in many quarters, but I did hear from two individuals who took exception to what they perceived as a desire on my part to disallow our young people from having their beliefs questioned. This is, in fact, far from my point of view. I do not believe the average young person is well prepared to face the world if their education is based upon an insulated college environment where their beliefs are never challenged. Nor do I  believe we should censor everything that confronts them, for this would not prepare them for the world they are facing.

I am a frustrated academic, and come alive when socializing with professors who have a commitment to excellence, and who love and respect their students. I am encouraged about the future of our planet when I meet bright young minds who show enthusiasm for learning, and who are open to new ideas. Never am I happier than when having the occasion to share Orthodoxy with college students.

Orthodox young people need not to be insulated from challenges to their faith that will come with a university education. Questioning one's faith is an important building block to developing a faith that can sustain a person for their whole life. Censoring the educational process for our youth will not better prepare them for a world in crisis, nor will it help prepare them to stand against the spiritual and verbal attacks they will face as they venture forth. That said, I do believe, as I said in my previous article, that our youth should be prepared to be intimidated and discouraged in their faith journey, and should be prepared with the knowledge and the skill to successfully defend their Orthodox faith.

Although there are a great many professors who will challenge them in a respectful way, and honor their religious beliefs, there are others who will take pleasure in undermining their faith. The Orthodox student needs to enter the university setting with a clear knowledge that he need not be intimidated by someone who is simply a better debater. Truth is not based on who wins a debate, but rather on the inner journey of the heart, which is beyond the intellect. That said, we need not fear the process of learning, nor fear the beliefs and teachings of others.

With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

Two martial arts students acting as my body guards

Photos:
Over the past eight years of being invited to lecture on the Pacific Lutheran University campus, and forming a lasting friendship with Dr. Brenda Ihssen, and her husband Tim, I have grown to love and respect the faculty and students of this fine university. I was therefore delighted when I received an invitation to participate in the inauguration of their new president, Dr. Thomas Krise, as the thirteenth president of PLU. I was able to meet Dr. Krise during the Inauguration Reception and the Regents' Luncheon, and the garden reception that followed in his home. Dr. Krise is going to be a great asset to this university community, and has accepted my invitation for he and his wife to visit our monastery.

Dr. Krise and Abbot Tryphon

Together with my good friend, Dr. Brenda Ihssen

Wednesday September 5, 2012 / August 23, 2012

14^th Week after Pentecost. Tone four.
Fast. By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)

Apodosis of the Dormition.
Martyr Lupus (306), slave of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica.
New Hieromartyrs Ephraim, bishop of Selenginsk (1918) and Archpriest John Vostorgov of Moscow (1918) and Martyr Nicholas.
New Hieromartyrs Paul and John priests (1937).
Hieromartyr Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons (202).
Venerables Eutychius (540) and Florentius (547) of Nursia.
St. Callinicus, patriarch of Constantinople (705).
Holy Martyr Ebba the Younger, abbess of Coldingham, Northumbria, and her companions (870) (Celtic & British).
38 Martyrs of Thrace (Greek).
Venerable Nicholas the Sicilian, who struggled on Mt. Neotaka in Euboea (Greek).
Hieromartyr Pothinus, bishop of Lyons (177).
Martyr Victor of Marseilles (3rd c.).
Martyr Tydfil of Merthyr Tydfil.

You can read the life of the saint in green, by click on the name.

THANK YOU, to all of you who have been able to contribute towards the support of the monastery. These difficult times of economic hardship have impacted the monastery, and those of you who have been able to donate, have been our lifeline. May God bless you for your generosity, and kindness.

With love in Christ,  
Abbot Tryphon

Donations can be made directly to the monastery through PayPal, or you may send donations to:

All-Merciful Saviour Monastery
PO Box 2420
Vashon Island, WA 98070-2420 USA

2 Corinthians 13:3-13

³ since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. ⁴ For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.

⁵ Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. ⁶ But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.

Paul Prefers Gentleness

⁷ Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified. ⁸ For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. ⁹ For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete. ¹⁰ Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.

Greetings and Benediction

¹¹ Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

¹² Greet one another with a holy kiss.

¹³ All the saints greet you.

Mark 4:35-41

Wind and Wave Obey Jesus

³⁵ On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” ³⁶ Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. ³⁷ And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. ³⁸ But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

³⁹ Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” ⁴¹ And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

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