Orthodox Biz Blog

Globally, Orthodox Christianity is known to be highly conservative concerning what is frequently referred to as "traditional Christian morality." In Europe, for example, more progressive and liberal elements of society spare no effort in attacking the Church as a bastion of traditionalist repression, especially concerning homosexuality.

Ironically, however, in the United States an image seems to be growing of the Orthodox Church as more liberal towards sexual sins than, for example, the Evangelical denominations. Quite a few people, judging by chatter on the Internet, are getting the impression that Orthodoxy is similar to the Episcopal Church in respect to moral issues.

Obama's stimulus plan won't help the economy, and might actually sound the death knell of the dollar. After all, the whole thing is predicated on the idea that you can borrow and spend your way to prosperity. That is just plain nuts, of course. You don't borrow your way to wealth - you produce your way to wealth. Americans are tapped out and swimming in debt, so producing for the domestic market is a tough slog right now. Good thing there is a big world out there, and a good way to sell what you produce is to target it.

Last month I issued an invitation to harpists to upload their favorite arrangements to my website: www.HarpMusicNow.com and I am pleased with the response. These uploads add an element of diversity as they are very different than the kind of harp music that I produce. Ruthann Ritchie uploaded a harp and voice version Caledonia, a tribute to Scotland by Dougie MacLean. Alice Freeman of Windy Wyoming shared two traditional Celtic pieces, The Cutty Wren and The Star of County Down. And Susan Strick graciously uses the website to debut her original composition Amandina, flamboyant piece and the first installment in a series of "gypsy" pieces. A sound sample of each of these pieces can be heard on the home page.

I offer my heartfelt thanks to these harpists. There are now a total of 33 titles available for download on the HarpMusicNow website! If you have not visited the site, please do.

There is still room for plenty more uploads. I am particularly looking for arrangements for wire strung and triple or cross strung harps. If you have a contribution and you are not yet a member, please contact me directly. A timely upload could earn you a complimentary membership!

Maryjean Zarick
www.HarpMusicNow.com

Angel Hi Di, this is so awesome to get together for our blog. Several people have emailed to ask us how to use Clarity and all our other Young Living therapeutic grade essential oils. We need some clarity on this issue (laugh). To start, the easiest way is to inhale them.
Di Right, sister, just open the bottle, take a deep breath, and take in the aroma of the oil.

In the U.S., Orthodox Christians rarely get the opportunity to feel good about celebrities. There are quite a few people who claim to be Orthodox who work in movies, in politics, and in the arts. Unfortunately, almost all of these people are not what could be termed spiritual role models. Nominally Orthodox politicians get busted for corruption, Hollywood Hellenes live tabloid lives that shame everyone, and our artists cause no end of mischief. We are so used to this state of affairs, most of us don't even react anymore. Which is why when someone who is genuinely Orthodox, and famous, does something important we need to take notice.