some sort of ministry: inter-faith prayer

while responding to someone asking for an advise how to provide assistance and/or guidance in an inter-faith environment... as an ordained minister no less (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/09/some-sort-of-ministry-what-now.html)...

In your particular case, maybe the best way is to approach someone is through conversation using key words like (magic, God, Bible, Christmas, Torah, etc). If the person reacts to any of these words, maybe this person believes a specific faith system (religion). At that point (after getting that person's trust, of course), ask or confirm what you believe that person's faith is. Then pray with him/her. It is pretty much shooting in the dark, but sometimes it works.

ordained, three months later

Three months after being ordained by the Universal Life Church (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/09/two-years-later-such-charlatan-that-i.html), my little faith's of course still tested. Maybe it'll be for the rest of my life for accepting this responsibility. My problem's that I'm not sure what I'm doing or what to really do. I'm glad the Universal Life Church website has a guide that someone like can definitely use (http://www.themonastery.org/jcontent/training/12-guide-to-divinity). Of course, all this means absolutely nothing I can't even help my own son with prayer and my pains (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-sons-first-ever-seizure-my-dying-son.html). Maybe I'm just a sham (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2009/02/me-me-always-me.html).

small church, part-time pastor

Living in NYC, I've noticed that pastors of small churches (both small building and congregation) have a "common" day job to cover their day-to-day expenses -- instead of getting some sort of stipend from the church income (donations). Considering this fact, these small church pastors lead their flocks on a part-time basis regardless of their best intentions. In all, being a pastor in a small church is a true labor of love.

This is similar to on-line ministers or lay-persons involved in ministries in a larger church (commonly referred to as church leaders, not pastors, yet ministers of faith). I'm fortunate to know some of these ministers like my friend Henny who leads several small groups and is actually considering to become a seminarian (NY), my on-line friend Renee who works with young adults (CA) and even my cousin Marco who helps other members of the church where he goes to (NJ).

Maybe this is where I could come in as an ordained minister (ULC; http://www.themonastery.org/). Then again I might just be looking for an excuse for getting ordained on-line as a minister (pastor) two months ago. As a matter of fact, I still don't know how I can use this obligation I adopted.

small fish in the pond

There are hundreds accounts in social networks for organizations and "common" people who publicly worship God. At the same time, there are many times more websites dedicated to worshiping God. Some these names are well known, but many others remain simply unknown.

I'm one of those unknown voices out there (somewhere) sharing my life and how the God News might affect me. I wish I knew how to sell myself to a handful of followers and have my own little ministry, but I'm merely a small fish in the pond.

The biggest obstacle might simply be obsession with my privacy. I'm restless and outspoken, yet quiet in this regard. As a matter of fact, I've never learned how to pray or show my feelings in public.

Preaching would definitely mean breaking out of a shell or being reborn. Ironically enough this pond might even contain sharks. This makes my desire much more difficult having to prove that I'm not interested in conning anyone. How do I prove my integrity in a godless world of deceiving?

At the end of the day, I'd still wonder how I could become a bigger fish in a pond of thousands. I've got no answer, yet a big interest in finding out. Being realistic, I might remain a small fish in this pond while being a wicked and chunky fish in other ponds -- computer science, for example. Should I go back to preach about the Good News of computer science and new technologies?

opinion of one

It's hard to justify one's opinion. I keep going back to the lack of faith and interest that we as Christians have in our own faith and God (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/10/no-utopia-then-how-much-more.html). Maybe I should take a break from beating on this dead horse (horrible expression to be used by a vegetarian; http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/10/animals-better-than-men.html).

So where do I find myself in all this? I haven't been participating in church as I used to. Perhaps I've been more worried thinking what I could do rather than doing anything. Both FAPC (http://www.fapc.org/) and ULC (http://www.themonastery.org/) -- both of which I'm a member of -- have several opportunities to serve God, but I'm not taking advantage of any (except from being asked to help during service once in a while). I'm such a waste.

rants: spiritual guide

As much as I've tried to be a "spiritual guide" to someone, I haven't yet connected with anyone. It may all be a stupid dream or desire. I've even considered to have some sort of on-line ministry, but this is going nowhere regardless how much I pour my soul out. Then again, it's only been three weeks' time since I became ordained.

Needless to say, it was much easier when writing about wrestling (site no longer live) or computer systems. People would look for my information. Now in the case of saving souls, not many people look for my ideas (this blog). Perhaps I need to restructure my ideas (already in this blog) into a "real" website, but they might not necessarily translate properly in this other format.

Well by accepting my ordination, I became a "small time" minister. Now it's my responsibility to make the best of it. Perhaps it was a calling. Then again, it might have a foolish joke and now I must face the consequences -- its obligations as such.

rants: ordained minister

We all have rants that we don't let go and return to again and again. My current involves my ordination and weather or not I'm worthy of such.

Before I start my long rant, I must emphasize that I'm a minister of faith (every Christian's obligation to teach others about God) as emphasized by the Presbyterian Church. Am I betraying or mocking PC(USA) by accepting the ordination of ULC?

Said the latter, could asking for this ordination be a mistake -- a poor joke gone bitter or simply backfiring at me? After all, I wanted to be ordained, but was it a good idea?

Maybe wanting to be ordained and being ordained is matter of choice regardless how impure one may be. In such case, my desire to be an ordained minister (pastor) could have been enough to be ordained and take on such responsibility. Nonetheless I still believe that a pastor must have a degree in theology and follow the "correct" procedure to be a "real" pastor (seminary, church, ministry, etc).

Nonetheless, I feel I'm deceiving myself thinking I could be an ordained minister (ULC). Nonetheless I look for cheap excuses to justify my actions. I'm such a farce and this might all be a charade.

death of the knowing few

I always wanted to believe that extra-sensory perception (ESP) was a gift. It turns out that it's part of the occult (a Satanic trait as seen by many religious groups) similar to witchcraft.

"The [magic] that is typically included with the occult includes alchemy, extra-sensory perception, astrology, spiritualism, and numerology."
http://www.themonastery.org/jcontent/training/12-guide-to-divinity/155-the-occult

I don't practice the occult (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/05/trying-to-raise-my-boys-as-christians.html), but I do still believe in ESP as a gift to foresee possible events. This is what many would call a gut feeling or instinct. Regardless of the name, the sensation I feel has helped me identify how good or evil, trustworthy or not someone may be just by looking and/or hearing that person. I hardly ever fail.

Perhaps is ESP what the prophets of the Bible employed to hear, see, communicate and/or interact with God. Of course, if you bring this as a theory, the Church will tag you as a heretic and/or demon of sorts. Maybe I should just stay quiet since knowledge to correct the ignorance of the many can lead to the death of the knowing few.

shields up!

When talking to anyone of a different opinion, we normally protect ourselves from these foreign ideologies. These ideologies can be politics, religion or anything else we hold dear.

Said this, yesterday I spoke to a Lutheran pastor (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/08/walking-by-lutheran-church.html). We talked a bit about the differences between the Presbyterian and Lutheran practices. We both protected our beliefs against one another although we agreed on basic Christian concepts.

It's weird how undoubtedly Christianity's become heavily divided -- just like Judaism and Islam. The core beliefs are the same, but we all seem to believe what the true secondary beliefs are.

For example, is the Virgin Mary to be worshiped and/or considered holy? Most ironically, is Jesus really an extension (son) of God, 100% man and/or 100% God? Is the Holy Spirit another extension of God or something derived from God? Should musical instruments be played in church during the hymns? Should pastors marry and have children? Can a woman be a pastor and/or lead a ministry? Can anyone be a pastor or should that person study in a seminary (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/09/some-sort-of-ministry-what-now.html)? Well there are many more, but I don't have patience to find out what we claim as true and then list them all.

some sort of ministry: what now?

So now (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/09/two-years-later-such-charlatan-that-i.html) I'm an ordained non-denominational (yet Christian) minister as per ULC, but a registered member in PC(USA). I guess now I should start some sort of ministry.

From a practical point of view, we're all ministers of faith and hence hold a ministry teaching our children about God. An ordained minister (pastor) is someone who's studied enough to teach others in a more profound manner.

In my case, I haven't studied enough. Regardless how much I constantly read, I know so little. Being a pastor remains a big commitment and responsibility to me at least. Nonetheless I'm seriously considering getting my identifications and other documentation from ULC to prove myself (more than to others) that I've been ordained.

reading

I've been reading what it means to be an ordained minister and also about the various differences between Christian denominations and in some cases other religious systems all together (traditions, rites, ideologies, etc; for example, http://www.ulc.org/training-education/6-baptism/72-baptism-overview). From all the religious material that I've read in the past decade or so, coming to a non-denominational church website has helped me most to understand the different ideologies in Christianity.

What does this all mean in my twisted mind? Am I becoming a better person, a better Christian or a "real" ordained minister? Does all this mean that I betrayed the church I go to? Am I still Catholic? Did I become Presbyterian? Did I join the Universal Life Church unknowingly?

I don't bloody know and I'm so bloody confused right now with my beliefs (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/09/more-confused-than-usual-minister.html)!

two years later: such a confused man that I am or have simply become

So what am I?

1. I was raised Catholic, but always questioned the Church and its traditions and rites. Questioning the Catholic church would immediately brand me as a heretic or Protestant.

2. I took a break from church (not religion) for about fourteen (14) years. I read about different religions and faiths including Krishna.

3. I checked out the Methodist and Anglican church (2008), but I didn't feel comfortable there.

4. I've gone to a Presbyterian (Protestant) church for two years (since 2008). After a lot of soul searching, I even became a member of that church (congregation and denominational records).

5. Now I've become an "ordained minister" (pastor) in the Universal Life Church. Nonetheless I still go to the same Presbyterian church.

At the end of the day, what am I? At least, I know that I'm a Christian.

two years later: such a charlatan that I am or have simply become

Just for kicks, I got ordained as a Universal Life Church (http://www.themonastery.org/) minister on-line in under a minute (http://www.themonastery.org/?destination=ordination). Nonetheless my views on what it takes to become a pastor remain the same. A person must study the Bible in Greek and Hebrew at least, theology, how to pray and deliver a good sermon, how to be an ambassador of God on earth and so on.

Said the latter, I might never be a pastor. Most importantly, I don't see myself using a title like "pastor" to get a tax break or other benefits. After all, I know that I might not be a shepherd (definition of the word "pastor") of any flock after all (other than my boys). Further more, I don't see myself pure enough to officiate a wedding or other "divine" functions.

In the end, getting ordained on-line under the jurisdiction of the ULC might be a blessing after all. I could use it to learn more about religion as a whole and perhaps be a better Christian.

"Ordination is the personal calling of an individual, by God, to enter into the ministry, usually in a church leadership role capacity. Because they say that God, and not any man or organization, directs people to go into ministry."
http://www.themonastery.org/jcontent/training/5-ordination-training/255-legality-of-online-ordinations?template=themonastery

Ironically this ordination took place on the eve of me coming church -- FAPC (http://www.fapc.org/) to be precise -- for 104 weeks straight (two years). I know and understand that I might be an ordained minister (pastor) on paper as per the ULC, but I truly wish at times that I was a "real" pastor at a church like FAPC (a place I've learned to consider my spiritual home for the past two years).

In all, I'm still confused (my cheap excuse) and a total charlatan (the truth). Now I must do the best of this situation and the opportunity to serve God and be a better person too (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/09/christian-in-word-not-in-action.html).