Fr. Barnabas Powell, Author at Faith Encouraged Ministries

Fight The Illness! Be Healthy!

BlogAugust 30, 2021183Views 0Likes 0Comments

You've met them. They are the ones who always seem to have a criticism of how things are going AND they don't jump in to assist, they just want to complain. Truth be told, I've caught myself doing the same thing. Isn't it amazing how much insight into a problem you can have and feel completely…

Let Your Word Be Your Bond

BlogAugust 27, 2021207Views 0Likes 0Comments

A wise leader was teaching a group of “leaders to be” and he made a provocative statement ” When someone comes to you and asks for permission to do something in the organization, let your answer always be ‘yes.'” Yes? Yes! In my years of ministry, both as a Protestant pastor and now as an Orthodox…

Remembering Mistakes Wisely

BlogAugust 26, 2021342Views 0Likes 2Comments

In 1861 Robert E. Lee wrote, “With all my devotion to the Union and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American citizen I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand against my relatives, my children, my home.” In the end, he simply couldn't raise his sword against…

Be Suspicious of Power to Control

BlogAugust 25, 2021234Views 0Likes 0Comments

It's amazing how quick folks get upset if they feel like they are being bossed around. I had a couple come to see me once about how to raise their child and they informed me they had decided to not say anything about God to the child so that he could make up his mind…

But HOW?

BlogAugust 24, 2021231Views 0Likes 0Comments

"But, how does it work?” That was the question burning in my mind as a young, curious, typical pre-teen boy. So, I did what any normal kid would do. I took the clock apart! Still didn’t get my question answered because I didn’t understand the gears and spring system concept, and the clock never worked…

Do You Have the Mind of Christ?

BlogAugust 23, 2021271Views 0Likes 0Comments

“We are of one mind about this.” I heard his words and I understood each word and its meaning, but I had never heard this put this way before – “of one mind.” What did he mean? But, hey, I was a kid of 22 and the situation was such that I was hoping he…

Your Heart As God’s Temple

BlogAugust 20, 2021206Views 0Likes 0Comments

If you have a younger sibling then you've heard this before: "She did it! Why can't I?" I know I've heard it in my house on numerous occasions, especially when the younger kiddo wonders out loud "What about me?" But sometimes (actually, many times) the younger child isn't developmentally ready to take on the task that…

The Unexpected Cure

BlogAugust 19, 2021177Views 0Likes 1Comment

When I think of the requests we make of God, I find my own requests break down into a few categories - Personal needs, Family concerns, Parish concerns, and Hopes and Fears. But one of the blessings of being Orthodox is that the wise prayers preserved in the Faith cause my prayers to ever expand to…

Four Fantasies of Fairness

BlogAugust 18, 2021226Views 0Likes 1Comment

I don't believe in "fairness." Really! I really don't believe in it at all. Oh, I get the concept, don't get me wrong, but I simply don't believe humans are capable of it. At least not yet, anyway. Frankly, I'm convinced the Evil One uses our innate knowing that fairness SHOULD exist AND our inability…

The Fantasy of Power And Pride

BlogAugust 17, 2021217Views 0Likes 1Comment

"Those that don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it." So goes the saying that came to my mind as I considered today's lesson. You see we humans are easily conned into believing "bigger is better." We think that if some church has a lot of people then it must be successful. But how…

Author page: Fr. Barnabas Powell

Fr. Barnabas Powell

Fight The Illness! Be Healthy!

Let Your Word Be Your Bond

Remembering Mistakes Wisely

Be Suspicious of Power to Control

But HOW?

Do You Have the Mind of Christ?

Your Heart As God’s Temple

The Unexpected Cure

Four Fantasies of Fairness

The Fantasy of Power And Pride

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