tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47023098074659717252024-03-19T03:01:28.648-07:00Seekers of LightThis is a blog exploring various topics affiliated with philosophy, religion, the media, and anything interesting, clever, and/or bizzare that concerns us as human beings.Kostas Romeoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131089006977828749noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702309807465971725.post-75786910781723154662011-12-15T11:09:00.000-08:002011-12-15T11:09:29.171-08:00Confusion of the Saints 9/12/11<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4yrMAog5wJW0UU_ZzfRRXDiVk9DnMuuyioNCB7jVbg3yEs7RWVE7XBXNAbLKjclwSgNcOxCFCTvRGp8eBlh0SkzOU8HCzJL7qO2d0TSILlKw2n5NtW3D5QGl5AvRjFDQLvqqxy_3_e5Q/s1600/imagesCA4IWOTH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4yrMAog5wJW0UU_ZzfRRXDiVk9DnMuuyioNCB7jVbg3yEs7RWVE7XBXNAbLKjclwSgNcOxCFCTvRGp8eBlh0SkzOU8HCzJL7qO2d0TSILlKw2n5NtW3D5QGl5AvRjFDQLvqqxy_3_e5Q/s200/imagesCA4IWOTH.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjf4AkU5i-Jrs8VnfWHgatzEvCTBs5caHAlMYNHpYiVDMnyEhFrh_aoxSatY0c5xx_M7u1-PrRM6c00_JNK-c0kzWL0QRY5cmQovmy_PL7SYT0FnpveM8Q3rYkMOby0OVMkbvfrAy_ZCL/s1600/220px-Kolokotronis-01d-by-Karl_Krazeisen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjf4AkU5i-Jrs8VnfWHgatzEvCTBs5caHAlMYNHpYiVDMnyEhFrh_aoxSatY0c5xx_M7u1-PrRM6c00_JNK-c0kzWL0QRY5cmQovmy_PL7SYT0FnpveM8Q3rYkMOby0OVMkbvfrAy_ZCL/s200/220px-Kolokotronis-01d-by-Karl_Krazeisen.jpg" width="153" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Valleys of Fire and Valleys of Sand,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Millions of enemies reach for your hand,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Will you join them or not that’s not your choice to make,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s your horror of life, not controlling your fate.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All the pain and the sadness, the blood and the tears,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We forget that we felt them, in our <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>careless of years,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But they’re phantoms, they’re demons, they won’t go away,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They will haunt us till all of us lie in the grave. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We fought for the difference; we strived for the change,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Only to be beaten and strangled with chains. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This world wants no saviors; its heroes are crying,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now join them or join us, your old friends are dying.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Your life is uncertain, your death is a fact,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Will you fall a hero, or live like a rat…?</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Kostas Romeoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131089006977828749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702309807465971725.post-980772913077421682011-12-15T10:59:00.000-08:002011-12-15T10:59:04.917-08:00I haven't wrote a blog post for nearly half a year. For all you wondering, no it wasn't "writer's block." Here are soem pieces I've unburied, all written during the past six months, or my "dry writing period" if you will. I will post quite a few pieces before I start blogging weekly again startign at the Holidays. This first piece is a brief view on changing the world, written August 29th:<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Why do bad things happen to good people? Well, in actuality, we should be more clear with this statement. Bad things happen to all people, doesn’t matter if they’re good or bad. This is the world we live in. It’s a messed up place and unfortunately, there are people who choose to use their free will on the expense of others. It’s incredibly awful yet amazingly inevitable. To change this world, one must focus on the people themselves. What drives a human being to lay hands on another? Why do people find satisfaction in others’ distress? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">In order to solve these issues we must be open and willing to answer these questions and ready to encounter adversity. No radical movements had it easy. In this world, change comes with hard work, tons of disappointments and retries, more hard work, pain and blood, and even more hard work. The education of people is the best way of shaping who they are. Now, by education I am not referring to school. This is a deeper, more radical view of education, one than can be equipped from a peaceful suburban home of Evansville, to the roughest streets of Brooklyn. In order to educate, first of all, you need to set yourself available. Place yourself in situations and places where you are needed. Yes, go for the danger zones. These are the areas that you want to influence anyway, right? If not, maybe you shouldn’t take a part in this cause at all. By trying to accomplish change, you are risking your reputation, and more essentially, in many cases, your own life!</span></div>Kostas Romeoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131089006977828749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702309807465971725.post-13480807821712464632011-04-07T13:45:00.000-07:002011-04-07T13:48:36.035-07:00a Dark AngelMetallica released an entire album named after him. People around the world embrace him and make him the leader of their lives. Others despise him and declare him as the enemy of all that is virtuous and all that is good. <br />
<br />
St. Anger<br />
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I've read quite a few books and articles that elaborate on the issue of anger. I observed that intellectual approaches mostly hold resentment and avoidance towards it. "To be happy, to become a better person, you should rebuke all anger." That's the idea. On the other hand, most of the voices that embrace anger come mostly from anarchist and radical groups, terrorists and rebels, and religious sects.<br />
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Both extremes.<br />
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<div style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;">There is no middle ground. There is no balance.</span></div><div style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6;"><i><span class="sqq">“It is wise to direct your anger towards problems -- not people; to focus your energies on answers -- not excuses.”</span></i></div><div style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6;"><span class="sqq"> William Arthur Ward </span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: black; clear: both; color: #3d85c6; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vpugDdh0YDVk8B1PACA7Ej6UtVGorTOvkfSV5PcxXKoMF770q8xYFnPGRoBpjAl6aaA5MViSNfhnF4KjLufdwYtNoZVQLvXiv8qhnbYaoEkXx9Q4h1rzhZdB5S7iZWWS90DIE6w_LHf_/s1600/original.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vpugDdh0YDVk8B1PACA7Ej6UtVGorTOvkfSV5PcxXKoMF770q8xYFnPGRoBpjAl6aaA5MViSNfhnF4KjLufdwYtNoZVQLvXiv8qhnbYaoEkXx9Q4h1rzhZdB5S7iZWWS90DIE6w_LHf_/s200/original.jpeg" width="185" /></a></div><div style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6;"><span class="sqq">There are certain issues in which anger towards them can and should be justified. When the weak are being opressed, when the innocent are being convicted, and the pure discriminated, that is a good direction to target your anger towards. Not the people. The issue. And yes, there is a difference. Because when your anger is unleashed on people, there is the tendency of resenting them and ultimately separating from them, without showing them of what they're doing is wrong. When you're mad directly at them you don't care about helping them one bit. You just want to hurt them. Now, on the other side of the coin, if you are angry towards an issue (human trafficking, war, abortion) you partner up to help those who are involved with the issue to show them its harmful and dark side. And yes, you can help people when you're angry. In fact, most rehab organizations that I am familiar with started by people who fell in the trap of drugs, their anger towards them is indescribable, and simply wanted to help others escape from their claws.</span></div><div style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6;"><span class="sqq"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6;"><span class="sqq">Anger can be good. I like to see it as a necessary evil. Powerful, yet unpredictable. Its motives questionable and risky, a dark angel, but if used wisely- and for the right reasons- can play a major impact in the process of making this world a better place. </span></div>Kostas Romeoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131089006977828749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702309807465971725.post-21025140052620349032011-04-04T19:29:00.000-07:002011-04-04T19:29:50.169-07:00Tied Down I haven't written a post on here in nearly 3 months. Well, they say accepting a problem is the first step in fixing it. Well, I believe that, but going from accepting something to actually changing it is a huge, radical, and many times, painful step. So, understanding I'm not ready to take that step jsut yet, here's some advice for those of you who are: <br />
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If I had to describe my lack of blog posting with the use of one word, that word would be "commitment." That's one of the areas in my life i mostly struggle with. Being a college student, having this peculiarity can be an interesting challenge. So, it's encouraging to daily hear that others deal with this same issue.But I feel but most of their commitment issues have to do with schoolwork. I mean, what college student's doesn't? You know you have serious issues when this commitment problem affects your hobbies, out of school friendships, family, and intimate relationships. When you are even scared to commit in making it to a friend's birthday party, you know something is wrong.<br />
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I feel that a significant key to commitment is <span style="color: lime;">trust.</span> Trust that in that by agreeing to go through with an activity you have something to gain from it, but also something to offer. This may be anything, from writing a creative piece, to commiting to marriage. If this kind of trust isn't present, the chances of you fully commiting are minimal. <br />
Another important aspect in commiting (maybe the most vital) is <span style="color: red;">love.</span> Even if you have doubts of the benefits you will get, or confidence in what you have to offer, love may be the factor that sparks the fire. When you love something, you put all your energy, thoughts, and emotions in it. In the presence of this other person (or activity, I guess), you feel fully alive, unbreakable, liberated. When there is love in the picture, commitment isn't the demon that ties you down, but more the reassurance of this love. People that have hard time commiting in different aspects of their life, don't lack discipline. They lack love for these different aspects. <br />
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What about those people that have immense amoutns of love about a person, hobby or whatever, but just can't show it? Well, this is an entirely different topic that I won't touch right now.Kostas Romeoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131089006977828749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702309807465971725.post-72621534440310793392011-04-04T12:51:00.000-07:002011-04-04T19:26:50.557-07:00Conforming (This is a post from 3 months ago)<br />
As I've said before, I attend school in Northern Indiana. So many people here ask me daily: "Why on earth do you wear shorts and flip flops in the winter? It's snowing!!!!" Well, there are some simple answers to this question. I don't do this to draw attention. I don't wear flip flops and shorts because i don't get cold, or because I'm a masochist. In this life, there are things that happen that shape who we are. There are different circumstances that change and with them, so should we. My wearing flip flops and shorts is more a symbolic action than anything else.<br />
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<div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><span class="body">"I have never seen snow and do not know what winter means."</span> </span><span class="bodybold"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/d/dukekahana291462.html"><em>Duke Kahanamoku</em></a> </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/snow_2.html#ixzz17ONVRuul" style="color: #003399;"></a></div></div><br />
I agree, I live in denial...sometimes it's good to change for the better. But please, define "better!" Why conform? Why wear pants and shoes just because it's colder outside? If you like wearing flip flops and shorts, why not do it throughout the year? I have to admit "Pneumonia," sounds like a good answer but it isn't. Look at me! I never got pneumonia, and I've swam in a lake with freezing temperatures.So here is what I have to say:<br />
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Sometimes, living in denial is a good thing. It can get your mind away from your troubles. This is what i'm doing with my shorts and flip flops. Am i cold? Yes. Do i think about it? No! Instead, I look at what i'm wearing and simply murmur: "Nah, it ain't that bad out here..."<br />
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This is the same method many people deal with solitary confinement in prison. By creating a utopia in your head, a lie if you may, you forget about the horrible situation you are in and time passes faster.Prisoners in isolation have used this same tactic to avoid paranoia. By planting the thought in their head that they are free men, they started feeling it, and eventually lived like they were. In a suffocating, secluded cell.<br />
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It's all in the mind... and it's until you realize that you will surpass your limits!Kostas Romeoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131089006977828749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702309807465971725.post-64974767415467012022011-01-27T18:34:00.000-08:002011-01-27T18:34:16.061-08:00The people of Greece part 1 Many people here in Bethel College hear me talk about how different my Greek culture and its' people are from Americans. When they ask me to list some of the differences I can't seem to recall all of them. Here i will take some time to talk the history of my people. Somebody's past tells you a lot about who they are and why they are the way they are today. Hopefully through my ideas you guys will be able to spot the similarities and differences Greek people from Americans.<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">People from the Past</span></i></b><br />
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Thousands of years ago,on the southeastern leg of Europe, bordering with the Mediterranean sea, was a land known as Hellas. Its occupants were known by the rest of the word as "Ellines" (pagan worshipers). These people were considered strange and mysterious to the rest of civilizations. Sharing -for the most part- the same language, culture, and religious practices, they were divided in city- states, some survive to this day (Athens, Sparta). What's very interesting about these city- states is that despite their acknowledgement that they have the same faith and culture as the other states of the region, they still proceeded in fighting each other. Civil warfare between these city-states was common. This is the reason why many scholars today debate on whether or not ancient Hellas should be considered a country or not. The city-states acted as individual countries with their own government, army, and social events. They all knew however that they were a part of a whole and stuck by each other in the presence of a greater evil, but that's something we'll talk about later on.<br />
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<i><b>Their Faith</b></i><br />
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As stated earlier, religion was the same throughout all regions of Hellas and the islands. There were slight variations in certain areas. Ellines were polytheists, they believed in the existence of various gods, but they mainly focused their worship on 12 of them. These are the famous <b>12 gods of Olympus</b>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVYp_8gTCMSONnfDkBW5h5iKkUEZ3mS7B4hDtf1aYahZ8PUNjAULZ3SkufjbE4-BQsVrcXjtaEWbSgqu1qk5nOHWWHYX9ez91ucH0INEYBjp15TU3tAbmgU6mY9doOPbtPuKr_rS0p5tF/s1600/olym02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVYp_8gTCMSONnfDkBW5h5iKkUEZ3mS7B4hDtf1aYahZ8PUNjAULZ3SkufjbE4-BQsVrcXjtaEWbSgqu1qk5nOHWWHYX9ez91ucH0INEYBjp15TU3tAbmgU6mY9doOPbtPuKr_rS0p5tF/s320/olym02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Olympus is the tallest mountain in all of Hellas. It was believed that it was the home of these 12 gods. Each god represented either an element of nature, an art, or an idea. There are hundreds of gods and other mythical creatures according to ancient Hellenic beliefs. Ellines worshipped many of these gods but each city-state had an appointed god- protector. Devoted followers built temples to honor and please these god protectors. The Parthenon, a temple still surviving to this day was dedicated to Athena, goddess of wisdom, and protector of Athens. The city takes after her name.<br />
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Ellines believed that their soul was trapped in their human body and could only be set free through death. They believed that living honorably would please the gods and in return they would grant them peace and prosperity. In this Hellenistic belief there is no heaven and hell. They knew that in the afterlife, the same fate awaited those who lived accordingly to their gods requests, and those who defied them. So trying to understand those who chose the narrow path of living a good life isn't an easy task. There are some accounts in their tales and myths of people who defied the gods and spent afterlife in a more painful manner than others. Their place of residence from the others, however, remains the same. Hades. <br />
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(to be continued)<br />
p.s. Any questions you guys have on any of this material or how it relates with the modern Greeks you are welcome to either ask me or wait to read the next parts.Kostas Romeoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131089006977828749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702309807465971725.post-40869806032139692692011-01-26T20:09:00.000-08:002011-01-26T20:09:16.493-08:00Musical Journeys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/maTcoGZ3feY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>They say that an image is equal to 1,000 words. I believe that a musical piece can be equal to 1,000 images if conducted effectively. Now, how many words is that? <br />
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This is a song I was recently introduced to. I find it incredibly imaginative and addictive. Dubstep is a music genre only people with unique taste can enjoy. Many believe that through its' eccentric sounds, it speaks truth we don't often hear, or don't want to hear. This song has definitely become one of my favorites in the genre.<br />
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Enjoy...Kostas Romeoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131089006977828749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702309807465971725.post-58039293817049293482011-01-13T08:39:00.000-08:002011-01-13T08:41:07.625-08:00Part of "Back in Reality" ft. Planet Earth<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vWS2OMSnhuiFVP449EHzNnIFmWM3g6GjzMkqeDF8S9k09QpuQ8TSQaCdOCuvCKQs1bchO_dpskO67ZHfeM924XOIZfaJoC4RMIYbNic_F0REPAb6MVzpRUwvdP9dtmDXeHdVU9s_qGP0/s1600/sunio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vWS2OMSnhuiFVP449EHzNnIFmWM3g6GjzMkqeDF8S9k09QpuQ8TSQaCdOCuvCKQs1bchO_dpskO67ZHfeM924XOIZfaJoC4RMIYbNic_F0REPAb6MVzpRUwvdP9dtmDXeHdVU9s_qGP0/s320/sunio.jpg" width="320" /></a>One of the best aspects of my visits to Greece -besides all the food- is spending time with family and close friends. That's exactly why the idea of leaving seems unbearable. This time i made it. I am back in Indiana, trying to cope with all the differences. From the food, to the way people drive, and even my friends. Nothings the same... This is a good reminder that even though Earth is an extremely small planet compared with the rest of our galaxy, non of it is the same. We know that Mars is a bigger planet but from what we know, it's all similar in its every shape and form. Life brings such color to our small planet that others can't even compete in. Animals, plants, people are all forms of life that (so far) are not found in any other planets. It seems that from all forms of life, especially us people possess unique features and differences, but our veins still run blood, and that makes us -in a peculiar way- the similar.<br />
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(Don't you love how i started off talking about my Christmas break and trip back, but ended up discussing cosmology? I will lbe posting a blog shortly discussing what i failed to on this post. )Kostas Romeoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131089006977828749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702309807465971725.post-15642410452226566832010-12-15T19:23:00.000-08:002010-12-15T19:23:11.185-08:00Happy Travels This is my last blog post written and posted on American soil for 2010. In a couple of hours i will be flying over the country, and then over the Atlantic and Europe to finally go back home. It's been 2 years since last time i was in Greece for Christmas and i am very much looking forward to it. One of the "catches" of going back home is the traveling aspect of it. From a car to a train, from a train to a bus, from a bus to a plane, from a plane to another bus and then ANOTHER plane. Oh yeah, i didn't mention that all this is a process of almost 20 hours... Very, very fun times!<br />
Something I've discovered recently about myself is that my reading speed increases by 4x times than usual. I literally eat books the one after the other. So, i brought 25 books with me and i'm hoping the otucome of the journey will be worth the trip. I'll catch up with you guys lateeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr<br />
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Seeker of Light.....Kostas Romeoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131089006977828749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702309807465971725.post-91253825158756675582010-12-06T12:37:00.000-08:002010-12-06T12:37:26.320-08:00Who is God?As I've stated in my introductory post, some of my topics will be more "touchy" than others. Well, this is one of them. I will present my thoughts, but the main purpose of this is post is for you viewers to consider and respond. If you don't feel like you have something to say that's cool.<br />
Being raised in a protestant environment while in the same time experiencing a secular way of life I want to observe that many young Christians do not really put thought in their beliefs. "Jesus died on the cross for my sins." Ok, but why? How does this sacrifice affect your life today? So the questions I'm bringing forth shortly is striving to do just that. Think.<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Sans-serif,sans-serif;"> "Reason can be used to determine that God exists, but it falls far short in discovering all of God's qualities." </span></i><br />
Thomas Paine<br />
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If we could understand God's qualities then He wouldn't be God now would He? The Bible serves as the main source of information in understanding the sides of God we are allowed to. As I've been studying the Bible here and there, recently, I've come upon certain passages of contradiction between the God presented in the Old testament and the New. Here is one:<br />
<br />
In the Jewish Torah God has given the Israelites a set of strict laws they should abide to and follow. There's a specific passage in Leviticus 20:10 on the issue of adultery.<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
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</tbody></table><span class="versiontext"></span> <i> "'If a man commits adultery with another man's wife--with the wife of his neighbor--both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death."</i></td><td class="btext" colspan="2" height="20"></td><td class="btext" colspan="2" height="20"></td><td class="btext" colspan="2" height="20"></td><td class="btext" colspan="2" height="20"></td><td class="btext" colspan="2" height="20"></td><td class="btext" colspan="2" height="20"></td><td class="btext" colspan="2" height="20"></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
In the Jewish traditions, executions were committed by the entire community, usually by lethal stoning. Even in Arabic nations today, that's how adultery is punished. This is a without a doubt gruesome, and ruthless punishment. God ordered it. Even if it has deep reasons behind it, if you believe that the Bible is the Word of God, then he really gave this order.<br />
<br />
Hundreds of years after this command was written, a Galilean carpenter, considered by many, the Messiah, came upon such an execution in Jerusalem. The religious leaders were aware of his "heretic"- for them- teachings. He basically claimed that he has come to fulfill the prophecies of Isaiah. This statement on its' own caused controversy. When they saw him, the leaders tried to trick him by asking him what they would have them do. If he commanded them to stone her, he was going against his own teachings of forgiveness and compassion. If he did not allow them to stone her, he was going against the Law of Moses. Jesus' answer was witty, clever, and unexpected:<br />
<br />
<i>"You who have never sinned should throw the rocks first."</i><br />
<br />
Nobody moved. Slowly, the leaders and the crowd dropped the rocks and left. My question is: Doesn't Jesus still cancel out the Law of Moses? There is nobody who hasn't sin. Why place that law in the first place? Is Jesus truly the God who placed that laws of the Torah? An answer I usually get is that "Jesus does not cancel the Law, but fulfills it. What does that mean? Why did he have to become human to fulfill it?<br />
<br />
I believe to have some answers to these question, but i want to hear other opinions. Tell me...Kostas Romeoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131089006977828749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702309807465971725.post-37685138348177698262010-11-17T11:02:00.000-08:002010-11-17T11:04:25.565-08:00I live in the Zoo<i>"Our wretched species is so made that those who walk on the well-trodden path always throw stones at those who are showing a new road."</i><br />
Voltaire<br />
<br />
Last week my school's theatre department was presenting two student directed one acts. My roommate happened to be in one of them. The first one act was called "Second chance." It was a play dealing with the elderly and their attitude towards getting older. It was an ok play i guess, with good acting. The second play, however, the play my roommate was in, Edward Albee's "Zoo story" caught my attention. There are only two characters in this play. The first one is Peter, a middle class textbook publisher. He is enjoying a quiet Sunday afternoon at the park. Jerry, a poor and troubled New Yorker barges into the park and interrupts Peter's peace. They fall into a series of conversations about life, sexuality, and love leading to a shocking finale. The play ends with Peter, losing all control, stabbing Jerry leaving him dead on the bench. The play as a whole is dealing with human nature. You have a wealthy publisher, a man that's making 200,00$ a year, somebody who seems to have it all together. In reality Peter is as messed up and broken as Jerry. Their only difference is a wife, two daughters, two cats, and two parakeets.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAB8N2t0ZHHrqqVeTH1o1wIIyXIhfCO9sN5RqOS7RPI-LZPaYWG5BlSj7HgvvFyQTW9qoZTs6i8gXrBaCiLuqwx5-Pem8PCZKMKnLWOIgBuQpwQrBLtJVg4AFkGK1bfhkTpwn1w68uxEpq/s1600/vietnam-flood-bench-www-lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAB8N2t0ZHHrqqVeTH1o1wIIyXIhfCO9sN5RqOS7RPI-LZPaYWG5BlSj7HgvvFyQTW9qoZTs6i8gXrBaCiLuqwx5-Pem8PCZKMKnLWOIgBuQpwQrBLtJVg4AFkGK1bfhkTpwn1w68uxEpq/s320/vietnam-flood-bench-www-lg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
It seems to me that Albee is striving to communicate that people are like animals. We really do not care much about others. We are selfish and individualistic, and even when we act like we care, we prove over and over that it's all about us. Even after Peter hearing the horrible things Jerry went through, including his abusive landlady and stimulated dog, one would expect that he would value more his own blessings. That doesn't happen. Peter ends up defending <b>his bench</b>. It was like he forgot everything Jerry just told him, about how much bigger problems exist in the world. He just cared about <b>his bench</b>.You can however, argue that Peter wasn't just fighting for his bench. He was fighting for his solitude, his manhood, and his freedom. Because that bench was Peter's only escape from the troubles, and routine of his everyday life. For him, some stranger came to take that away. For Albee- and i think i agree with him on this one- every single person has something in their life willing to take a life to protect. Everybody has <i>a bench</i>. That is exactly what makes us humans identical despite our small differences. I got the impression that Albee goes even deeper in saying that not only we are all the same in our selfishness. Our ability or even willingness to love and care about our neighbor is overshadowed by our selfish needs and wants.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mWEhqypFSjlM0NNAaoZ8RA9qUni9kjX3Xu584VAAOJUSc78GCwoMsQ5t5pSZbnh79ydJpHT8z6fy03xWICqhHJouFdWzfTJGoxUXEmWmhDVQqRPr4a06dXWWy0SZZQvkpLhUGgl5LmFQ/s1600/dp112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mWEhqypFSjlM0NNAaoZ8RA9qUni9kjX3Xu584VAAOJUSc78GCwoMsQ5t5pSZbnh79ydJpHT8z6fy03xWICqhHJouFdWzfTJGoxUXEmWmhDVQqRPr4a06dXWWy0SZZQvkpLhUGgl5LmFQ/s320/dp112.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The animals in the zoo seem not to mind the company of others but once one gets in their "cage"- Jerry intruding into the dog's hallway-, they don't like that very much.That's how Albee suggests us humans are. We appear to be ok with others walking outside our cages. When somebody decides to walk in however is where we lose it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> There are many other ideas presented in this one act, I won't get into now. I would encourage you to read this play and think about it. At first, it may seem as confusing and "out there," but i think Albee knew what he was doing when writing this.Kostas Romeoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131089006977828749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702309807465971725.post-63538680838877223522010-11-16T20:16:00.000-08:002010-11-16T20:16:53.996-08:00This was the lifeI really enjoy Amy McDonald's music.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #bf9000;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKwXpXazVjw</span><br />
<br />
This is my favorite from all her songs. For me personally, it brings back memories from past years. The lyrics of the song are slightly ironic:<br />
<br />
<i>"And you're singing the songs</i><br />
<i> singing this is the life</i><br />
<i> and you wake up in the morning</i><br />
<i> and your head feels twice the size...</i><br />
<i> Where are you gonna go, where are you gonna sleep tonight?"</i><br />
<br />
You feel like this is the life yet your head feels like it's about to explode. For many of us, that's how some or our teenage years were. This doesn't necessarily imply countless hangovers, and sleepless nights. Just try and bring back to mind all those silly things you did as a teenager. Things that were fun, maybe educating, but not wise. Things that, when doing you were probably thinking "this is the life." Then you grow up and realize that life is far more complicated and messed up than what we teenagers would like it to be. And that is exactly the point where regretfully admit: "This <i>was </i>the life..."<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKwXpXazVjw" style="color: white;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKwXpXazVjw</a>Kostas Romeoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131089006977828749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702309807465971725.post-40723010487401056342010-11-15T16:26:00.000-08:002010-11-15T20:48:13.346-08:00Thoughts on Christian movies <link href="file:///C:%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C06%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C06%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C06%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, I read an article my father recommended. This was its’ title: <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Why are Christian Movies so bad?” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have to say that I love films. I watch anything. Drama, Action, Comedy, Horror, you name it. Growing up in a Christian home I’ve watched quite a number of films made by Christian filmmakers. It saddens me to say this, but I agree with this article. It’s true that Christian movies are pretty bad as movies. There are many reasons for this. In the article Scott Nhering mentioned a term which intrigued me. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Evangelical Isolation</i></span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have to agree that Christians have isolated themselves from the rest of the world. The mentality of many Christians is simple. “If we can’t change them we will then be separated by them. We will let them live their lives and we will live ours.” That’s a mentality that led to isolation. This, even though not a physical isolation anymore, has become a definitely psychological one. The world views Christians as people who live in their own little bubble, laying all their troubles and weaknesses on a “Higher Being” to cover up their insecurities. This view withstands until a Christian proves differently. There are Christians who are respected in their societies, because they are not conforming. They are not following the norm. They do not get satisfied with a meaningless way of life with a goal of wealth, or even a typical Sunday morning service. They are actually not scared to step in a “grey” zone in order to impact the secular world. Trying to impact your society when you are preaching off your church stand won’t make much of an impact. You need to step out TO the world to preach, and if necessary you can use words (St Francis). That is exactly what Christian filmmakers should do if they want to impact the secular world. You can’t impact a secular world by presenting themes and problems which do not relate with their sense of reality. There are three ways to attempt communication with somebody from a different world, whether this is physical or psychological one. The first way is by start yelling from your world in the hopes that the people of the other world will first hear your distant cries, and then hopefully understand. It’s obvious that this method isn’t very effective. The second way is by reaching some sort of agreement with the other world. Both want common understanding and both work towards such a result, so they meet halfway. In the third method you realize that there’s no other way you can communicate your message other than diving in their world, getting a better understanding of their beliefs, and then attempt to communicate the message. Sadly, most Christians persist in following the first method. Here is our church; if they want to get saved they will come here. Some believers even participate in marches outside abortion clinics, or invade gay weddings. They might physically seem to be reaching to the other world, but in reality spiritually they are just screaming their heads off from their own comfort zones. They do not make any effort whatsoever to understand the people they try to influence, and the reasons why they are the way they are. Back when I tried harder to be a Christian somebody in church asked me. “You have friends from outside the church? Drinkers, and Smokers?Why? The Bible says blablablabla!” As a matter of fact that was the closest I ever got into living like Christ. All his friends were sinners. This applies to filmmakers as well! Why are Christian films so bad? Well, simply because they do not want to have to do anything with the audience they strive to impact. That’s the reason why Christian films are mostly embraced by Christians. The best Christian production in my opinion is “to save a life.” Let’s be honest, as a plotline, developed characters, the movie just cannot compare with any Hollywood hits. What I liked about it was that it portrayed the other world. It showed the positive sides of both a secular, and a religious lifestyle. The film also touched the subject of hypocrisy, which is what really won me over. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;">To be fair however, I have to admit that it’s double times tougher for a Christian filmmaker to pass on a message than a secular one. People associate Christianity with strict religion, senseless laws, and anti- pleasure preaching. There are particular words which people associate with Christianity. As soon as a word like “Salvation,” “Jesus loves you,” or “prayer” appear in a film over and over again, it causes the secular viewer to become more and more irritated. It’s so sad how the best Christian messages have been passed on by secular productions, whom also encourage secular beliefs. Films like “seven pounds,” and “the green mile,” are not only amazing productions, but also carry a valuable moral applied in Christianity. One may argue <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.do" name="_GoBack">that there are not available resources for Christians to make a hit </a>film. That is a good argument, but if you really work on your filmmaking skills, producers will see that. If you write thought provoking material with a good message, they will see that. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">These are some of my thoughts on the subject for now. I know I've presented some general ideas without elaborating yet, but i will soon. Feel free to comment and ask me any questions.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>Kostas Romeoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131089006977828749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702309807465971725.post-36736449975558893882010-10-04T21:00:00.000-07:002010-10-04T21:00:13.526-07:00"How could I make a man out of you?"I have observed that lately, many of my friends, boys and girls are debating on the subject of manhood.<br />
What should a real man be like? What should he stand for? Where should he be getting his strength from? How can he protect himself, and those he loves from harm? What happens when he remains apathetic?<br />
<br />
Hollywood has given us a few examples of how a"real man" should be like. Here is a recent one:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4d-kiUby9tvwzg_E2cWqjNw6yt7tVEgE63IegzcEZhyphenhyphen_9dADeX4Z-AWpoH7sIHjnJWVvsEhSOj786PLF5sDWbGQ5PkxOTMuc9CFS6dHAe865NVEaAjPtx4ZVnkOhhm7cXGFyixu9KGVN/s1600/aragorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4d-kiUby9tvwzg_E2cWqjNw6yt7tVEgE63IegzcEZhyphenhyphen_9dADeX4Z-AWpoH7sIHjnJWVvsEhSOj786PLF5sDWbGQ5PkxOTMuc9CFS6dHAe865NVEaAjPtx4ZVnkOhhm7cXGFyixu9KGVN/s200/aragorn.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Meet Aragorn! King of Gondor and one of the greatest warriors in Middle Earth. He is calm, slow to anger, charismatic, decisive, a true leader. He always keeps his sword near, and when the enemy arrives he does not fear to fight, no matter their numbers. This is a guy willing to sacrifice his dreams and feelings for the woman he loves, for her prosperity. Most importantly, he is willing to sacrifice his life for his people. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
You might be wondering why i used this Lord of the Rings character as an example. See my friends mentioned him as how many people view a real man. A warrior! A king!<br />
Oh boy, us men have such a high standard to live up to if that's the case. I mean, this dude can kill orcs by the hundreds! His sword is taller than me! He is dating an elf! I have to admit he's kinda intimidating for a college bum like me.<br />
I do not doubt Mr. Aragorn's manhood, but i feel we're missing the picture if we set him as the stereotype of how a real man should be like.<br />
Yes, a real man may not own a sword. A real man may not be a king, or one people look up to. A real man may not be as handsome or appealing, and of course just because you're not dating an elf doesn't mean you're not a real man. <br />
For those who insist that a man should fulfill the example of a equipped warrior, ready to put it all in the line and fight to the death I have to say this. You can carve the sharpest blade and lay it upon the hands of a boy. With some instruction and training the boy can become amongst the most fearful warriors. Here is, however what separates this boy from a man. The boy can fight battle after battle, no matter who the enemy, no matter what the odds. Unattached, fearless. He might be experiencing victory after victory, which will bring more and more pride in his heart. Then one day he will pick a fight too great for what he can handle. This will cost him friendships, family, his pride, and maybe even his own life.<br />
A real man picks his battles. He knows that you cannot always win, even more than that he knows that some times it's impossible to win. There's a difference between being brave and being just plain stupid. Just because you have the guts to fight doesn't mean you should. When he chooses to fight, every victory humbles him. She reminds him of what he could have lost, and so he is thankful. Every loss he keeps in memory instead of trying to forget. For it is from his losses that he receives greater lessons about life than his victories. There are times where he does not feel as brave and courageous. There are times where he is so scared that he wishes he could run away. But he doesn't... And it's not the fear of loss that prevents him from doing so. It's Love. Love for his family, his wife his friends, the cause he fights for. It is this love that keeps him from stepping down when facing the greater challenges.<br />
<br />
Now, you might say: "You said a real man doesn't necessarily have to own a sword! Yet you describe him like such a bad ass warrior!" <br />
Well, not all wars are fought with swords. There are so many battles in life where your opponent is faceless. Maybe a tough situation, overcoming an addiction, or facing a tragedy. These are some of the battles modern men are called to face, and trust me, they can be far more intimidating than a goblin with a battle axe.<br />
This is all for now. For next time, i will attempt to explore another side and issues on manhood. Until then, feel free to make any comments, and objections! Stay safe and fight the good fight.<br />
<br />
Sincerely,<br />
<br />
Seeker of the LightKostas Romeoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131089006977828749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702309807465971725.post-53173232384538057252010-09-23T20:26:00.000-07:002010-09-23T20:26:05.359-07:00Why follow me Hello my name is Kostas Romeos, born in Chattanooga Tennessee, raised in Athens Greece, and currently living in Mishawaka, Indiana. I will be talking allot about my cultural transitions and life experiences later on. No, that is not my attempt to persuade you to follow my blog. <br />
We live in an era of constant change. The media is bombarding us with information which -outside the reach our comprehension many times- manages to shape the way we live. Sometimes it's good to take a step back and view life and its' mysteries from the outside, without being "brainwashed" by the media and people spreading their opinions. You must think that I am some sort of "media" hater. Nah, that's not the case at all. As a matter of fact I'm working on my BA degree in Communications with a Media concentration. It's very important to be able to analyze the information given to you before you allow it to affect your life. So, let's say that's what I'll be trying to do over here. I've always considered myself a friend of wisdom even though I don't always follow her counsel, so philosophy will definitely be present in many of the issues i will discuss. Film has also consumed a great portion of my life so I'll be talking about a couple motion pictures as well. Growing up in a protestant home, while having extremely different beliefs than everybody around me has always been a challenge in my life, therefore religion will be amongst the hottest topics debated. I am open to disagreements, questions and comments of any sort and even grammar and punctuation (did i spell that right?) corrections as English is not my first language. I really want to encourage those who are crazy enough to follow my posts to think about the issues. Even if what you read makes you mad, just that will be counted as success in my book!<br />
We live in a world of darkness, there is no doubt about that. Many times it seems that even a tiny sense of happiness is overthrown by the sadness and pain surrounding our every day struggles. So, let's take a step back and take a better look at the world around us. Who knows? We might find a light bright enough to give us hope for the future.<br />
<br />
Sincerely,<br />
<br />
Seeker of the LightKostas Romeoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131089006977828749noreply@blogger.com3