Fr. Barnabas Powell, Author at Faith Encouraged Ministries

What ARE You Thinking?

BlogSeptember 27, 2019518Views 0Likes 2Comments

“It is a great achievement not to be attracted by things. But it is a far greater achievement to remain dispassionate in the face both of things and of the conceptual images we derive from them.” St. Maximos the Confessor Isn’t that great? The ability to be free from a slavery to desires, but not just…

Three Questions God Asks You Today

BlogSeptember 26, 2019440Views 0Likes 0Comments

“But I don’t want to!” My 5 year old simply didn’t want to go to school that day. She didn’t want to, and that fact alone should have released her from her obligation to attend class that day. “I don’t want to!” Imagine her surprise when her father, the mean ogre forcing her to do…

Cooties!

BlogSeptember 25, 2019590Views 0Likes 1Comment

It’s amazing how perspectives change as you get older. When I was a kid in elementary school, we boys were absolutely convinced that the girls had cooties! Of course, we had no idea what “cooties” were, but if the girls had them then that meant we needed to be as far away from them as we…

Go To Church!

BlogSeptember 24, 2019434Views 0Likes 0Comments

In one of the retreats that I give around the country, I have a particular presentation about how to heal the weaknesses of our modern age. I use examples from sociology, psychology, science, and even religion. But then I get down to the timeless and purposeful answer from Orthodoxy: GO TO CHURCH! It usually gets at least…

Abraham Had Two Sons…

BlogSeptember 23, 2019455Views 0Likes 0Comments

“Did you hear…” That’s the beginning of a moment that rarely turns out good! And that’s because this is usually the beginning of a conversation that is more gossip than true. But we do love to gossip, don’t we? Unfortunately, there are real consequences to spreading stories, especially when those stories are either untrue or,…

The Whole Armor of God

BlogSeptember 20, 2019738Views 0Likes 0Comments

I love this Armed Forces Motto: “The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in battle.” Isn’t that great? In other words, when you put the time into preparing for battle, the more ready you are to face the fight. And what is true for physical fighting is also true for the spiritual…

We Did Not Yield!

BlogSeptember 19, 2019421Views 0Likes 1Comment

There was a day when I relished a good theological argument. Jousting with this or that “opponent” over this or that doctrine was as much fun as it was challenging. My favorite fights were over questions about the Trinity or predestination or even the very question about what was salvation anyway. I’d pour over scriptures…

Examine Yourselves, Test Yourselves

BlogSeptember 18, 2019483Views 0Likes 0Comments

It is said that Aristotle once declared “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” And yet, St. Basil taught that the most terrifying thing for a man to do was to look into the “abyss” of his own soul. It seems one of the most important activities of one’s life is also the most…

Don’t Make Me Stop This Car!

BlogSeptember 17, 2019513Views 0Likes 1Comment

Every parent has heard themselves say this at one time or another: “If you two don’t stop bickering, I’ll stop this car and punish you both!” I mean, surely I’m not the only one! Please tell me I’m not the only dad that has threatened this! Seriously, as parents, we really do set expectations of behavior…

Now Is the Acceptable Time

BlogSeptember 16, 2019430Views 0Likes 0Comments

“There’s no time like the present.” This and many other “time” quotes really get to a central wisdom we humans have learned: Timing is everything. I have a dear couple who are dating. And, on top of that, they are exploring becoming Orthodox. Talk about a double whammy! Their relationship is growing with each other and…

Author page: Fr. Barnabas Powell

Fr. Barnabas Powell

What ARE You Thinking?

Three Questions God Asks You Today

Cooties!

Go To Church!

Abraham Had Two Sons…

The Whole Armor of God

We Did Not Yield!

Examine Yourselves, Test Yourselves

Don’t Make Me Stop This Car!

Now Is the Acceptable Time

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