There's a wonderful little video running around the internet making fun of those who claim the original apostles and followers of Christ were all lying to get ahead. They lied about the resurrection so they could be powerful.
Well, if that were true, they were a bunch of idiots, because every one of them, with the…
Fr. Barnabas Powell
Henry David Thoreau said, "If I seem to boast more than is becoming, my excuse is that I brag for humanity rather than for myself." I like that. But what if my mind was so reoriented that I can even boast about my weaknesses? This is the invitation of the wisdom of the Faith.
The truth…
Otto von Bismarck once said, "There are two things you don't want to see being made - sausage and legislation." Why do I want to add "Because both are usually unhealthy."
I find this also applies many times to the inner politics in churches. Too many times it isn't a pretty picture.
All too often this describes…
Are you the jealous type? I guess with me, it all depends. I am jealous of my time. I am jealous of my schedule. But other than that, I can't say I really struggle with jealousy.
Oh wait, if I'm honest, I do have to admit I do get jealous when someone is being recognized for…
Sometimes, when I read the Bible, it really is hard to understand and it sometimes strikes me as God being "unfair!" Is it bad that I say that out loud?
But when I read that "God has mercy on whomever He wills and he hardens the hearts of whomever He wills" I am initially confused and…
It was a defining moment in the Old Testament when, at the end of Joshua's life, he apportioned the land of Israel among the 12 tribes. Joshua was Moses' successor and had led the tribes of Israel since entering the Promised Land. He and his people had driven out the pagan inhabitants of the land…
The gradual shift in modern educational philosophy to a “self-esteem” emphasis is complete. From the math standards that discourage teachers from “correcting” incorrect answers to the ball fields where “we don’t keep score” so no one “feels” bad, this shift is now producing consequences of its own. In fact, some have come to call the modern…
William Barclay once said, "Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory."
Of course, we've heard this most of our lives. We have to stick with it. We can't give up. We give up just when the breakthrough is coming. And all the other inspirational quotes we…
Sometimes you just gotta cut your losses! But how do you do that, especially when emotions are involved? And especially when you don't know yourself well enough to see the end of your personal talents and gifts in a given situation!
It seems I was at a very familiar place in my life. Being someone who…
At the risk of really dating myself with this movie reference, I remember the movie “Love Story” and the famous line from the film “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”
Hey, it was the early 70s and we were just coming out of the tumultuous 60s. We needed a bit of saccharine sweetness!
But does love really…