Early on in my journey into Orthodoxy I read a book by an American philosopher named Dallas Willard. The book was "The Spirit of the Disciplines." This was really my first exposure to the wisdom that how you are formed inside, how you are shaped, and what you allow to shape you, has a profound…
		Christ is Baptized!
"Now Appearing!" I read the words with a mixture of pride and embarrassment! You see, this was part of a sign advertising a book signing I was doing in an area. Ugh!
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled to be a "published author." Frankly, coming from the back woods of the American South,…
		Christ is born! 
It was arrogant of me, I know. I thought I knew how to communicate deep Orthodox wisdom to everyone. But, here I am in front of these folks who are very different from me. They weren't from my country. They didn't speak my language. They didn't know any of the references to…
		Christ is born!
"You're making a spectacle of yourself." With that, my 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Thompson, set about correcting me for being the class clown during math! Since I didn't know what a "spectacle" was, she suggested I look it up! Mrs. Thompson was a really good teacher!
"Spectacle" is defined as "a visually striking performance,…
		Christ is born! Glorify Him!
"Do as I say, not as I do!" I remember thinking "Well, that's not very convincing." How can someone who refuses to follow their own advice have any credibility at all? My mom drove that point home to me as I watched her follow her convictions when it would have been…
		Christ is born! Glorify Him!
On this last day of the year, hear this from St. Paisios: "Humility and Love, there you have it. This is everything!" As we say "goodbye" to this unique year of challenges and difficulties; trials and triumphs, let's recalibrate our ideas of "success" and "happiness." The only way to do this…
		Christ is born! Glorify Him!
Listen to St. Poemen. "As far as you can, do some manual work so as to be able to give alms, for it is written that alms and faith purify from sin."
Why? Why does almsgiving and faith purify from sin? Why is the purposeful discipline of generosity so important to a…
		"καλά Χριστούγεννα! Very grateful to have your guidance and wisdom, Father Barnabas."
"Merry Christmas Father, to you, your family, your parish, your congregation, and the whole world.  Greetings from Greece!" 
"Merry Xmas Father. God bless🙏 Greetings from Sydney, Australia.   Please continue your mission in helping our souls intact." 
"God Bless  From UK…
		Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
The Christian Church has been around a long time! And the place it's existed the longest is the place where it first sprang up. The Church is, at its heart, a Semitic Faith, an Eastern Faith. And that's because the Christian Church is the fulfillment of the promises made by God…
		Christ is born! Glorify Him!
My doctor looked at me and said “Father, your body is thirsty! You need to drink more water!” What I mistook for hunger was actually my body being thirsty! Wow, what a revelation.
So, it is with our lives. We can mistake our thirst for God as a thirst for safety or…
		