The Original Church
Spirituality/Belief
The Original Church, with Dr. James L. Papandrea, is an ecumenical Christian community exploring our common roots in the early Church for the purposes of spiritual growth and practicing the Christian faith. No politics, debates, or proselytizing, just "faith seeking understanding" from the perspective of the early (and medieval) Church and the Church fathers. Jim Papandrea is an author and Professor of Church History and Historical Theology.
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Good morning - it's been a whirwind of a week!

My family finally came home from the Philippines late last Friday - with our five year old grandson Zeph, who has been the subject of this whole immigration process. All four of them are still so jet lagged that they are often awake in the middle of the night, and asleep during the day, which has put me off schedule a bit as well. And with the two little boys, they are not sleeping at the same time, so our home has been in time zone limbo.

Now add to that the recent hurricane - and we pray God's mercy, strength and safety for those now reeling from two hurricanes - we did leave our home in Fort Myers to go ride out the storm at my parents' place in Bonita Springs (just a little farther south). All is fine with us, we didn't even lose power other than some flickering off and on. No flooding for us, just the expected tree damage, etc. So we got off easy with these two, unlike Hurricane Ian two years ago. Bottom line is we are grateful - heading back to our home today - and sleeping in my own bed again.

Tomorrow - the last of the aftermath of our home flooding episode, which is that they will deliver our new couch, and with that, I want to say life gets back to normal, but actually this is going to be a completely new normal. I'm feeling much gratitude, including some for the inventor of noise cancelling headphones.

Thanks to all who have inquired as to how things are going. Life is an adventure, and you cannot plan for it - all you can do is discern what is the right thing to do in the moment, and try to be faithful in that moment.

Blessings to all!

  • Jim
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Sneak Peek into my NEW OFFICE!

I'm back, up and running, and ready to go - I should have a new JOURNEY episode within the next week or so - and because you are my loyal peeps, here is an exclusive, just-for-you, behind the scenes SNEAK PEEK into my new office:

00:02:17
In case you missed it, here's my Gospel Reflection

This was for March 24th, recorded for the Ascension App

00:02:57
The Journey is BACK!

Thanks for your patience - here is our next installment of The Journey - it's session # 96, but I'm also calling it PART 1 of a "miniseries" on John chapter 6.

Whoever watches it first, please let me know if it looks good or if there are any problems with it - I get through the first two sections of the text on the feeding of the 5,000.

Enjoy!

00:36:42
Here's another song... Come Let Us Climb the Lord's Mountain

I mentioned in The Journey that I wrote a song based on Isaiah 2, which is one of my favorite OT passages:

In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain, and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it. Many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations, and set terms for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

I hope you like the song!

Here's another song... Come Let Us Climb the Lord's Mountain
THE JOURNEY 101

This is Part 6 of our mini-series on John Chapter 6

Here's the latest from The Way of the Fathers

The second episode on St. Hildegard of Bingen

Here is Episode 100 !! of The Journey

Something to celebrate! 100 Episodes! Here it is, Episode 100 (which is part 5 of the series on John, Chapter 6) - post comments and questions!

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