Fr. Barnabas Powell, Author at Faith Encouraged Ministries

Be Friendly If You Want Friends

BlogNovember 17, 20227Views 0Likes 0Comments

"A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24) This bit of wisdom is absolutely necessary to embrace. But it is especially true for young people to learn this lesson early so they can mature into healthy adults. And the reason is…

Don’t Avoid the Hard Work!

BlogNovember 16, 20227Views 0Likes 0Comments

Let's face it; we all have to deal with unpleasant realities. You know the situations I'm talking about: those moments in life when there is either a difficult confrontation that has to happen or a struggle with bureaucracy or just a difficult relationship that has to end or change. It's just not fun. It's scary.…

Be Humble! Pay Attention! Sunday’s Homily

BlogNovember 15, 20227Views 0Likes 0Comments

The temptation to try to weasel out of true compassion and true Christ-like living is so very common in our lives. We always run the risk of having our souls atrophy into hard-hearted souls. The only remedy for this spiritual sickness is the twin medicines of humility and attentiveness.

This Is A Hard Saying

BlogNovember 15, 20228Views 0Likes 1Comment

St. Paul says "Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise" in Ephesians 1:1-3 and we even have prayers for people on their deathbeds asking God to forgive them if they have not honored their parents. It seems pretty clear in scriptures in both the Old and New Testaments that…

Seeing Others As Christ Sees Them

BlogNovember 14, 20227Views 0Likes 0Comments

Prejudice is always the ugly counterfeit to true discernment and good judgment. But we humans all too often confuse these realities to our own detriment. As a man who has grown up in the American South, I can readily attest to the sickness of prejudice in society, in communities, and in my own heart. By God’s…

How To Face Hard Times

BlogNovember 11, 20226Views 0Likes 1Comment

"But, father, why is this happening to me?" It was a hard question to hear, mainly because I didn't have an answer. I was sitting across from this precious father as he told me about the medical diagnosis of his little girl. It wasn't good, and he didn't understand why God was allowing this to…

The Refuse of the World

BlogNovember 10, 20228Views 0Likes 0Comments

"Poor me! Are you enjoying your little pity party?" She had a pouting look on her face as she chided me for complaining about how some of my friends were treating me. It was a lesson I wouldn't soon forget. She was my single mom and she simply didn't have the time to allow her…

The Power of Being Attentive

BlogNovember 9, 202213Views 0Likes 0Comments

St. John of Damaskos says: "Without attentiveness and watchfulness of the intellect we cannot be saved and rescued from the devil, who walks about ‘like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour’" Sounds pretty serious. And yet, the virtue of attentiveness is so very difficult and elusive. I guess it's so difficult because it is…

For A Little While

BlogNovember 8, 202211Views 0Likes 0Comments

Orthodox Christianity is an eschatological religion! O, Mr. Fancypants with your big words! :-) Ok, Orthodoxy is the Faith that keeps eternity in mind and the ultimate victory of Christ over all darkness. Is that better? In fact, the reality that eternity is more real than these temporary events is seen in how we worship, how we…

How Do You Make Decisions?

BlogNovember 7, 20226Views 0Likes 0Comments

St. Paul tells the Galatians the truth about being a serious follower of Jesus Christ. In doing this, St. Paul reveals the wisdom of the Faith to form us and shape us in how we choose to live. The truth is we all make choices, both big and small. But if we never examine ourselves…

Author page: Fr. Barnabas Powell

Fr. Barnabas Powell

Be Friendly If You Want Friends

Don’t Avoid the Hard Work!

Be Humble! Pay Attention! Sunday’s Homily

This Is A Hard Saying

Seeing Others As Christ Sees Them

How To Face Hard Times

The Refuse of the World

The Power of Being Attentive

For A Little While

How Do You Make Decisions?

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