Sacred/Secular?

It is a common mode of thought in American, Evangelical, Protestantism to think in the dualistic terms of sacred and secular.  For many years, I tried very hard to categorize everything into this kind of world.  Everything was to be black or white, right or wrong, sacred or secular.  As I have become Orthodox in my life and worship, I have come to realize just how Old Covenant this kind of thinking is.
In the time prior to the resurrection, everything was categorized this way.  Everything could be compared to and run through the filter of external law.  Granted this is not to suggest that this was an easy task or one that was not abused via manipulation and verbal/literary gymnastics, but the worldview was there.  Since we have moved beyond the infancy of the Old Covenant and have moved into the New, we must change our thinking to fit.
We must not think in terms of law, black and white or a simple "draw a line in the sand."  Life is far too complex and "big" for our little brains.  Instead, our lives should be lived out in terms of our movement toward holiness and our relationship with God.  We need to ask, "Is this thing helping me or holding me back in my drive toward holiness?  Is this thing (physical, conceptual or otherwise) helping me keep my thoughts on loving God and loving neighbor, or is it simply a distraction to entertain me?"
But this is a question we must ask only ourselves and not try to impose on others.  This questions is deeply personal and must be discussed with our priest or spiritual father.  Everyone is in a different place with different needs, weaknesses and locale.  This is not to suggest that what is sin is different for different people.  Sin is sin.  But again, we must never impose on another.  Someone else's place typically cannot be known to us, looking in from the outside.  At most, we can only pose questions, and then pray for those we know and love, that they would continue to grow in holiness.

Balance

Over the years, I have heard stories and explanations about what we should expect as we enter the afterlife.  Sometimes, especially in Protestant churches, one hears the stereotypical hellfire and brimstone sermon.  Other times, one gets the impression that God is the old man in the sky, winking at our sins, allowing anyone, except maybe mass murderers, into heaven.
In Orthodox circles, things are a little more balanced and solid, but there still seems to be a bit of back and forth.  On one hand, we hear how God wants all men to be saved, that God is a merciful and patient God, giving us long life, in order to repent.  But on the other hand, one reads stories of monks who have struggled all of their lives, striving after holiness, only to approach death with much fear, afraid that they will be turned away from heavens gate. 
I would be the last one to criticize a monk, but I really struggle to accept the idea that God would turn anyone away, especially one who has fought long and hard to love him with all of their heart.  Jesus taught us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light.  But one also had to realize that it is a yoke and it is a burden.
So we must strive to keep a balanced view.  We must work hard to walk the path of holiness, for it is a narrow path and we are fighting against an ungodly culture and our own fallen, corrupted natures.  But at the same time, God really, really loves us and wants us to be with him.  If we make use of the tools he has given us (church, prayer, repentance, confession, and the sacraments), we can be assured that he will be faithful and help us succeed and keep our faith, to the end.  The Christian faith is a battle, but God wants us to be holy and if we let him, he will do what it takes to get us there.

Identification

I'm not sure which word most adequately articulates exactly what I'm thinking, but I find it frustrating that as an Orthodox Christian, I can't simply say that I am a Christian without having to give further articulation to explain my exact set of beliefs.  Instead, others will, upon hearing that I am a Christian, simply classify me as an American evangelical.
This is a matter of who controls definitions.  When the Protestants fled from the authority of Rome, the authority of Episcopalians, from the authority of the king, their rebellion led them to the Americas. In the generations that followed, the mindset of rugged individualism aligned with Anabaptism, formed what came to be known as American evangelicalism.  Unfortunately, this label not only stuck, but became the norm.
In all honesty, this is not about who is a Christian and who is not.  I am in no place to judge anyone.  It is simply and painfully frustrating that the title "Christian" had been hijacked by those not in line with the historic Christian faith.

Two stories, one message

There are two stories that Jesus told during his early ministry that communicate a very important truth, that many people miss.  The first story is that of the ten virgins. In summary, there were ten virgins who were waiting for the bridegroom, for a wedding they were to be in.  All ten of them were looking forward to his arrival, but five were foolish and failed to stay prepared.  When the time came and he arrived, they weren't ready and had to stay behind.
The second story, that of the rich guy who planned a big party and invited many people.  For the party, he provided special clothes for all of his guests.  As the party was taking place and the host was floating about, he noticed one of his guests was clad in old, regular clothes, not the special party clothes.  The host had him thrown out, for not following party protocol and for snubbing the host's gracious provision.
Both stories tell the communicate the same point. Our salvation is all about what God has done for us. The only reason we are saved is because of his gracious gift.  But at the same time, we too have responsibilities.  We must make use of what God has provided for us and be responsible.  God's gift is all about grace, but we have the responsibility to make use of his provision and prepare ourselves for him.  To not do so is an insult and lazy.  Like responding in love to our lover, anything else would be rejection.
Let us learn to make use of those things that God has provided for too prepare is us for a glorious eternity, namely, the sacraments, repentance and perseverance.  We can respond with no less.

For health

I have made mention of this in prior posts, but never as a main topic, I believe.  The Orthodox understanding of the church is radically different than that of Protestantism.  I won't put words into Protestant mouths, but I can speak for Orthodoxy.  One of the main values of church is its healing properties. In this I am talking about health of the soul.  If we come down with some sort of physical ailment, a cold, the flu, chicken pox, an appendicitis, etc. we go see the doctor, or go to the hospital and we receive physical treatment from someone who has the knowledge and training to lead us back to health, through surgery or medicine.
The very same thing can be said of sickness of the soul.  Since the fall of Adam, man's soul has been darkened, diseased and distracted.  THE answer to this is the church.  Regular, consistent, whole hearted involvement in the Divine Liturgy, repentance, confession and the sacraments will purify our soul and prepare us for eternity.  Some may balk at this, but it makes perfect, logical sense.  Just as physical, tangible medicine will heal our bodies, so too, mystical, spiritual things will be medicine for our souls.
Just as it takes months and years to change a flabby body into a fit one, it will take years to change a diseased, darkened soul into an enlightened one.

Recognizing influence

It is somewhat difficult and obviously uncomfortable, to honestly identify those things that are influencing and directing our thinking.  Especially in the area of appearance, the culture in which we live will, undoubtedly, seriously influence our thinking and actions.  What we consider beautiful, cool, acceptable and favorable will be influenced by our culture. 
The extremely difficult thing about this is that because we find these things "good", we will feel inclined to justify these things, even when they may be contrary to historic Christianity.  It is difficult to be objective when the subjective is so enticing.  Work to the point of blood and talk to your priest.

Doing something, 2

It is probably safe to say that the main goal of the Christian faith is that is sanctification.  We must strive, endeavour and work to the point of extreme, at purifying our souls.  The corrupting influence of sin has become so common, typical and even comfortable, that we have lost all appropriate perspective of it.  Sin is horrible, ugly, and ultimately damning, that we must continually recognize its true nature.
All of this is an absolutely necessary part of our lives.  We must eradicate sin from our lives.  In addition to this, what are we to do?  I think the easiest answer is that of love.  We must love OUR neighbor.  This means that how that love manifests itself will look different for each one.  Regardless of one's situation, I believe that the way that love lives itself out is specifically, never in general.  Love is always specific.  The neighbor lady, the stock boy at the grocery store, the mailman, our co-workers, etc.  This is one reason that the church simply does not do door to door, it is too impersonal to be successful.  The same goes for mass evangelism. To love is to love specifically.
To put a somewhat finer point on this, we should make use of our strengths as well.  In whatever way we have strengths or abilities, these we can use for the good of others.  It is far too easy to fall into selfishness, even to be point of no longer seeing it.  If we can step back and objectively analyze ourselves, do so.  If we cannot, a spiritual father can help us see ourselves, typically in ways we cannot do ourselves.
So what to do? There is no list, there is no specific ideal. Everyone is different.  But we must do something.  Begin by speaking with your priest.