Achronos
What's so good about Cincinnati? You like it? You think Cincinnati is cool? I've never heard anyone say, 'I'm going to Cincinnati on vacation.'
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Hoplitarches
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And we gave him the Rolling Stone cover?!
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« on: March 13, 2011, 06:30:32 PM » |
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Dear friends I have been pondering on removing certain aspects of my life to facilitate more of an ascetic life that I believe would grow me closer to God. What I mean by this, is an elimination of material items that I have that cause a distraction from prayer. I already don't have cable, never saw the need for it, but I was thinking about removing or perhaps blocking certain websites that take up too much of my time. In the absence of these things I would replace them with Orthodox books and prayer.
I am curious if anyone has tried to remove certain things such as these, and how much of a success or failure did it have? Or is this a false allure into some sort of monastic vocation outside of a monastery?
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“Without music, life would be a mistake.”
“The last capitalist we hang shall be the one who sold us the rope.”
"Face the facts of being what you are, for that is what changes what you are."
"We see at once that the words absolute, divine, eternal, and so on do not express what is implied in them.
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PoorFoolNicholas
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« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2011, 06:39:04 PM » |
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It is better to first remove sin from our lives before we worry about other things.
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orthonorm
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« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2011, 06:47:03 PM » |
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You could also just get rid of those things and give the money to charity.
Give me a closet to sit in without "any" distractions, and I will make a million of my own.
But your point I don't think is without merit. I jettisoned a lot of possessions over the years and pre-occupations (never much of a TV watcher save via DVD).
While I might still come up with my own distractions, I think that is a better place to begin than trying to fit everything in between a job, family, video games, nightly TV, etc.
Best of luck.
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We cannot legislate morality by passing laws controlling firearms. The only evil we can combat lies within our hearts. We need stronger laws to protect the moral foundation of society against the evil of gay marriage. |
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NW Nik
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+ St. Nikolai (Velimirovich) of blessed memory +
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« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2011, 06:59:41 PM » |
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My 2 cents, remove what you are able w/o substituting another 'vice'. Incidentally, I discovered that secular pop music disappeared from my life pretty early on in my inquiry stage, but other things are taking a more determined effort.
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Achronos
What's so good about Cincinnati? You like it? You think Cincinnati is cool? I've never heard anyone say, 'I'm going to Cincinnati on vacation.'
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Hoplitarches
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And we gave him the Rolling Stone cover?!
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« Reply #4 on: March 13, 2011, 07:01:14 PM » |
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It is better to first remove sin from our lives before we worry about other things.
Well if these distractions causes me to sin, then they'll have to be removed. |
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“Without music, life would be a mistake.”
“The last capitalist we hang shall be the one who sold us the rope.”
"Face the facts of being what you are, for that is what changes what you are."
"We see at once that the words absolute, divine, eternal, and so on do not express what is implied in them.
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PoorFoolNicholas
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« Reply #5 on: March 13, 2011, 07:57:55 PM » |
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You are correct. I was alluding to another topic that you brought up recently. Have you rectified that issue, before you start with the smaller things?
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sainthieu
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« Reply #6 on: March 13, 2011, 08:54:13 PM » |
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Turning off my TV was the best move I ever made. Haven't watched in 6 years and haven't missed it. It is--literally--like swimming in a cesspool.
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quietmorning
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« Reply #7 on: March 13, 2011, 09:18:30 PM » |
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I remove one thing (and after Lent is over I do not bring it back. . .it's gone - for good) . .but pray for weeks before Lent begins before I do anything. . .because if the Lord doesn't build a house, the laborers labor in vain. Make sure it's what He's working on in your life, or it will be fruitless as we can do nothing on our own. This lent I THOUGHT it was going to be chocolate . . . then something happened that helped me to see that there was something else that I really needed to address - remove myself from or apply myself to. Chocolate did take a different approach. . . but not removed. The other? Wow. . .yeah, that was much more important.
Seek your spiritual father on this - and pray a lot before you do anything.
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« Last Edit: March 13, 2011, 09:19:06 PM by quietmorning »
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Ortho_cat
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« Reply #8 on: March 13, 2011, 10:35:20 PM » |
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It is better to first remove sin from our lives before we worry about other things.
It is possible that such things referred to in the OP might tempt one to sin. |
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Achronos
What's so good about Cincinnati? You like it? You think Cincinnati is cool? I've never heard anyone say, 'I'm going to Cincinnati on vacation.'
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Hoplitarches
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Faith: Building Steam with a Grain of Salt
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And we gave him the Rolling Stone cover?!
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« Reply #9 on: March 14, 2011, 09:25:34 AM » |
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Regarding the situation with my ex? Well there are some things I would like to remove so it doesn't remind me of her.
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“Without music, life would be a mistake.”
“The last capitalist we hang shall be the one who sold us the rope.”
"Face the facts of being what you are, for that is what changes what you are."
"We see at once that the words absolute, divine, eternal, and so on do not express what is implied in them.
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orthonorm
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« Reply #10 on: March 14, 2011, 12:50:59 PM » |
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Regarding the situation with my ex? Well there are some things I would like to remove so it doesn't remind me of her.
This is good psychologicals. Do it. Unless it is like a hand or something. |
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We cannot legislate morality by passing laws controlling firearms. The only evil we can combat lies within our hearts. We need stronger laws to protect the moral foundation of society against the evil of gay marriage. |
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blessedbeggar
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« Reply #11 on: March 14, 2011, 02:03:24 PM » |
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This is good psychologicals. Do it. Unless it is like a hand or something.
"...it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell...."  I, for one, do agree with trying to rid oneself of sinful preoccupations. However, as has been said...make sure it's something that won't cause you to crash and burn later. Much like folks who hold to a strict diet that is beyond their ability, and later binge and become worse off than they had been. As far as websites...I've tried that...not a lot of luck for me. In the end, it boils down to your own determination to follow God, or your own passions. Limiting access to things without mentally, and PRAYERFULLY, letting them go will typically fail. I think Quietmorning said it best, ". .because if the Lord doesn't build a house, the laborers labor in vain." Allow God to lead you in this. I will be praying, whatever the situation. |
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"Acquire a peaceful spirit, and around you thousands will be saved."
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Tikhon.of.Colorado
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« Reply #12 on: March 14, 2011, 02:55:07 PM » |
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I think that over time, this will happen. now, almost a year after being recieved into the Church, all I can read when I "read for fun" are spiritual books. also, most of the music on my mp3 music player is Orthodox music (Church hymns) that I get from CD's from Church. also, I find that I can no longer watch movies with a whole lot of things that would ignite the passions. I have sinply lost interest (and I used to be quite a big occult TV and movie junkie.) as for websites, I have downloaded an Orthodox toolbar that I found from an old post on here (just search for it). whenever I log on, I use the little music player and listen to Ancient Faith radio. this keeps my mind on prayerful things when I'm on the net. over time, it will happen  |
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No longer posting. However, send me a PM if you'd ever like to get in touch. 
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orthonorm
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« Reply #13 on: March 14, 2011, 03:30:08 PM » |
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This is good psychologicals. Do it. Unless it is like a hand or something.
"...it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell...." I, for one, do agree with trying to rid oneself of sinful preoccupations. However, as has been said...make sure it's something that won't cause you to crash and burn later. Much like folks who hold to a strict diet that is beyond their ability, and later binge and become worse off than they had been. As far as websites...I've tried that...not a lot of luck for me. In the end, it boils down to your own determination to follow God, or your own passions. Limiting access to things without mentally, and PRAYERFULLY, letting them go will typically fail. I think Quietmorning said it best, ". .because if the Lord doesn't build a house, the laborers labor in vain." Allow God to lead you in this. I will be praying, whatever the situation. If he is talking about a memento from the relationship that pains him, toss it or put in storage, whatever, if it that traumatizing is what I am saying. Your thoughts and Quietmorning are well taken and black belt psychologicals, I was talking just your basic cleaning house stuff. |
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We cannot legislate morality by passing laws controlling firearms. The only evil we can combat lies within our hearts. We need stronger laws to protect the moral foundation of society against the evil of gay marriage. |
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