I never cease to be amazed at the effects of a slavery mindset on society. The reason why slavery is so horrible is the caustic sickness it always sets up in a soul and how that illness is passed from one generation to the other, even after slavery has "ended!" Look at all the groups…
Fr. Barnabas Powell
One of my favorites was in the 1969 comedy "Support Your Local Sheriff." In this movie James Garner plays a character that becomes sheriff in an old West town just for the money, and, well, comedy ensues. But, in the end, both Garner and the town gain a great deal as they learn to truly…
It's a bit of a paradox, but the truth is Faith and Joy are gifts that can only be possessed by giving them away! Strange, isn't it? But think about it. joy and faith are always the casualties of inattentiveness. When I stop prioritizing Faith and Joy, they diminish their presence in my life. When…
"He's steady as a rock!" With those words, the person giving the reference for this potential hire gave a strong and satisfied look to the potential employer. And she was right. The guy got the job. You see, everyone wants stability. But is that enough? After all, graveyards are "stable!"
What if there was a…
The preacher was telling the story of the plight of those in biblical times who suffered from leprosy. They were social outcasts and had to live in leper colonies and if they ventured out, they had to call before them to warn all around the "Unclean! Unclean!" You see leprosy was highly contagious, even to…
Sometimes, I hate Facebook! OK, what I really hate is being misunderstood and then I have to scramble to be understood and end up making things worse! Ugh!
It seems the harder I try the worse it gets. Do you know what I mean? Have you ever, with the best of intentions, tried to make…
Here's a quote to ponder today: "He who desires to worship God must harbor no childish illusions about the matter but bravely renounce his liberty and humanity." This comes from a Russian anarchist named Mikhail Bakunin who died in 1876. But does the worship of God require a renunciation of liberty and humanity? Well, yes…
Ah, summertime! The season of vacations, a more relaxed pace of life, adventures, and warm weather. "Summertime, and the livin' is easy...." Summertime is such a wonderful time of year.
But our society is one in which most Americans take little to no vacation time. The drive to produce creates the sense that I always have…
The word "asceticism" is something of a mystery to our modern way of life. We have lived with such plenty and such amazing comfort and ease for so long that now we assume that all of life is meant to be pain (and even effort) free. Just consider our attitudes towards marriage. We assume that…
They say Jealousy is the "green eyed monster." What a powerful image! And it comes (as so many of our allusions in English) from Shakespeare. In his play "Othello" Iago warns Othello "O! beware, my lord, of jealousy; it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on." They say this comes…