Daniel Ayad's blog on Coptic Orthodoxy

Telling someone off July 13, 2012

 It’s interesting to hear the views people have regarding the right to tell people off….and how to go about it. In an earlier post we discussed whether to scream or not to scream (found here screaming) and perhaps we can build upon this to explore the right to tell people off.

As we said earlier there is a big difference between holy and unholy anger. Sometimes a holy anger happens for God’s sake, BUT it does not have nervousness and loss of temper.

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To scream or not to scream May 26, 2012

I’m so over the screaming of the world.

It seems like everywhere you turn there is somebody upset at something, and often the level of frustration reaches over boiling point into a scream.

Screaming is ultimately connected with a person’s heart, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Mat 12:34). You can speak well or not so well, either way what you say comes from your heart.

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Don’t be harsh….but gentle May 1, 2012

Have you ever been screamed at unfairly?

Have you ever been criticised, name called or victimised..?

Or maybe you are doing the screaming, criticising and victimsing….?

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Calmness April 10, 2012

Calmness is definitely a beautiful characteristic of a spiritual person. Being a calm person is very healthy for yourself and for everyone around you. Calmness includes having a calm heart, nerves, thoughts, calm senses and ultimately calm actions of the body.
Being a calm person is ultimately connected with the virtue of humility. Saint Dorotheus said: “The humble person does not anger anyone, nor is he angered by anyone.”

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Shift your focus November 26, 2011

In life, with all its circumstances and troubles, it is of paramount importance to keep perspective. Life throws up many challenges and troubles, even if you are a good person. Bad things happen to good people.

No matter who you are in life, things (good and bad) will happen to you. The question is, when things happen to you what direction is your focus. Is the focus of your circumstances on yourself…..or is the focus on God.

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Be polite….all the time October 22, 2011

There seems to be a lot of rude people in the world today. I mean I’m sure you know countless people who are impolite and disrespectful. People who are rude and uncooperative are everywhere; you don’t have to travel too far to meet these types of people. You may have some rude people at your school, university, workforce and even your church.

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Feeling the loss June 21, 2011

Many people do not feel the value of something until after they have lost it!

Some people will complain about various people and programs, but realise that they were of great benefit only when they have been lost.

For example a school student may not feel the value in education and its importance to his future until the end of the school year, after he has lost it…..He may drop out of school saying that education is not important but reflect back years later saying ‘if only I realised the value in school education I would be much better off today than where I am now’.

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Purity May 13, 2011

I was recently asked to speak about purity in a youth meeting. I tried to cover as many topics as possible and give a practical approach to purity.

I certainly do not claim I am pure, but I do claim that purity can be helped by following a few simple steps.

Click here: Purity for the powerpoint