Barnabas Powell's Blog, page 32
September 26, 2022
God Comes First!
There’s something about intimacy that scares us to death AND becomes a central hunger for our lives. We are terrified of loneliness AND intimacy! From sociological studies showing modern society becoming more and more lonely, to small groups of Baby Boomers forming support groups to talk about death and dying, to the perennial stories of men and their lack of close friends; modern humanity is struggling with a dual challenge: A deep-seated…
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September 23, 2022
The Cure For That “Barren” Place in Your Life
Through the centuries, barrenness was always seen as a sign of brokenness. It isn’t a mistake that both the Old Testament and the New Testament have stories of God answering the prayers of women to heal their barrenness. The truth is in much of the world in ancient civilizations barrenness was too often seen as a punishment from God. Of course, that was never the case, but it is interesting that these…
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September 22, 2022
The Day
I remember the preacher looking at his congregation and saying “One day every crooked place is going to be made straight, and every low place is going to be made high, and every high place is going to be made low!” Then he added the kicker: “Ain’t nobody going to escape coming face to face with justice! There’s going to come a reckoning” I confess this made me squirm in my seat.…
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September 21, 2022
Cleaning Up the Mess You Made
“I am sick of this! I mean it, this is the very last time!” I hear these words in my head and I know they are a lie. I’m having to clean up another mess someone else has made! And I feel the resentment and anger rising in my heart and mind, and starting to feel the intoxicating effects of that anger making me say and think things that are both unhelpful…
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September 20, 2022
Be Strong In The Lord!
I love this Armed Forces Motto: “The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in battle.” Isn’t that great? In other words, when you put the time into preparing for battle, you are more ready to face the fight. And what is true for physical fighting is also true for the spiritual battle each of us faces every day! What? You didn’t know this was going to be a fight…
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September 19, 2022
Join Us For Bible Study Online
Do you want to study the Bible with Fr. Barnabas? You can! Join us Wednesday mornings at 10 AM Eastern as we continue studying the Gospel of John. You can join us online on our Zoom Connection! Just click above and be a part of our Study!
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Meant to Be Visible!
In his “must read” book “On The Incarnation” St. Athanasius said ““Even on the cross He did not hide Himself from sight; rather, He made all creation witness to the presence of its Maker.” Think of that, The Creator insisted on making visible the Invisible, and to make accessible The Uncreated. But that was God’s intention all along, to make Himself Visible and Accessible to His Creation. He even made His suffering…
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September 16, 2022
She Loved Much!
The ancient Oriental philosopher Lao Tzu said “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” It is amazing to me that every culture has this idea of the concept of “love.” And every culture embraces the definition of love as a great good and a deep desire of every person. Love is central, and that’s why misunderstanding “love” is so consequential for society! The misunderstanding…
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September 15, 2022
Completing The Sufferings of Christ
Sometimes, the scriptures say things that really unsettle me. But I’ve learned when that happens, that’s a clue that I am approaching a place in my own heart that needs attention. And it’s beginning to dawn on me that most of the time I am unsettled by the wisdom of the Faith it’s because this wisdom touches on suffering. Take, for example, this quote from St. Isaac the Syrian: If you would be…
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September 14, 2022
The Cross Exalted!
“Until you have eradicated the evils in your heart, do not obey it, because the heart seeks to increase what it already has stored inside.” St Mark the Ascetic, On the Spiritual Law We prideful humans can’t understand the power of this wisdom without the “foolishness” of the Cross of Jesus Christ. It is the paradox of the Cross that confronts humanity with our short-sightedness. If God can take the tragedy and…
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