Written Devotional
Time To Throw It Out!
“But they are so comfortable!” That was me whining about having to FINALLY throw out an old pair of sneakers that I loved. Sure the soles were coming unglued, and, yes, the laces were worn out, BUT I loved wearing them around the house. Throwing them out would me...
Confronting Your Doubts
Have you ever struggled with doubt? If you’re honest, the answer is “yes.” But I wouldn’t be surprised if some read this and said “no, I don’t doubt.” And that kind of scares me more because that means either this person has never really paid close attention to themselves...
Step To The Edge, Challenge Yourself!
I really like to write and I enjoy public speaking, but I had a hint of my tendency to wordiness when my first time in seminary produced a comment from one of my favorite professors. I had just finished a fairly intensive philosophy paper for his class and was...
What Is Your Life Growing?
“Don’t judge me!” With that, the argument was supposed to be over. After all, my interlocutor had used the nuclear bomb of debate. He had pulled out the “Judge Not” card. And, after all, since he was debating a Christian, that meant the discussion was over and he had...
What Is Your Spiritual Credit Score? – Sunday Homily
What “credit” is it to you to do what everybody else does? The confrontation with this head-on honest truth taught by Christ is essential if you or I will be free from having our possessions possess us. This spiritual formation of your character touches you even at that place...
What Provokes You?
What provokes you? Politics? Religion? Race? Inequity? Violence? Chaos (OK, this one is a personal provocation!)? No matter what might provoke you to action, if you allow the provocation to be your primary motivation, you are sure to always be provoked. You see, provocation is a “result”, not a...
He Will Come Again In Glory
Alexander Pope said, “Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.” What a sad, cynical attitude. And yet, this just goes to show that it isn’t having expectations that are wrong; it’s having wrong expectations. So, the Church calls us to discipline our expectations by...
Fr. Barnabas Is Speaking In Chicago!
If you or your friends/family are in the Chicago area, Fr. Barnabas is speaking at the celebration of St. Demetrios on W. Winona St. starting on Monday, October 24th! He is going to stay in the community through Wednesday the 26th to help celebrate this wonderful Saint’s celebration with...
Why 12 Apostles?
Jesus didn’t come to start a new religion! I know, I know, you think He started Christianity. But Jesus came and told us He didn’t come to abolish the Law, the Torah, but to fulfill it. (see Matthew 5:17-20) The whole of the New Testament is the story of...
On A Level Place
One of the greatest consequences of our modern world is that we moderns have been convinced that egalitarianism and individualism have been elevated to the highest good. We insist on a definition of “freedom” that means “I want to do what I want to do!” But the problem is...