Barnabas Powell's Blog, page 39
June 29, 2022
Examining The Ground That Grows Your Choices
We were talking in Bible study recently about “First Principles.” It seems this is something we so rarely consider, but if we miss fundamental truths, we always end up in places we never intended to go. I will go further and say that a regular examination of the ground that grows your choices is absolutely necessary for you to know WHY you do what you do. For instance, if you don’t build your…
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June 28, 2022
Making Things Worse!
Sometimes you just gotta cut your losses! But how do you do that, especially when emotions are involved? It seems I was at a very familiar place in my life. Being someone who loves to help and loves to be seen as a benefit in someone else’s life, I was once again hitting a brick wall with this person. Try as I may, I just couldn’t get past the wall of anger…
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June 27, 2022
Wisdom Makes Compassion Effective
Is compassion enough to make real change or make good decisions about how to live your life? There are so many voices in our culture today that claim to justify choices about actually changing timeless moral virtues based on their insistence that they are compassionate towards persons who have been marginalized or mistreated. They say that compassion demands we dismantle society and remake society where compassion is the key. But what happens…
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June 24, 2022
A Priority Check! Are You Paying Attention?
OK, I’ll come clean. I really have a hard time really paying attention. Oh, I can keep attention for a while, but, inevitably, my strength gives out and I’m distracted by my pain, or expectations, or even my hopes. My attention is pulled in a million different directions by a world and the passions that want me to focus only on them. And I give in to that temptation too much! No…
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June 23, 2022
Peace in The Middle of the Storm
What struck me was his strong, silent presence even in the face of chaos and tragedy. Here we were, dealing with the human tragedy and destruction in the aftermath of a hurricane. We were there as clergy to help people. We were moving through the American Red Cross “tent city.” It was set up to hold hundreds of displaced people and we were there as IOCC Frontliners, the First Responders ministry of…
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June 22, 2022
To Know Him Is To Become LIKE Him!
“Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy; he hath borne me on his back a thousand times; and now, how abhorred in my imagination it is! My gorge rims at it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft. Where be your gibes now? Your gambols? Your songs? Your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the…
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June 21, 2022
Fr. Barnabas Powell – Why A Pentecostal Became Orthodox
I recently enjoyed being on the “According to John” podcast. If you have friends who are interested in Orthodoxy, this might be a good video to send them. Hope you enjoy it and I pray you’ll share it too! “In this interview, you will hear Father Barnabas Powell speak about his faith journey, from being a Protestant pastor to an Orthodox priest. It was a journey that affected other families, involving historical…
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Developing The Discernment to Spot the Wolves!
Marketing experts expect U.S. companies to spend over 200 BILLION dollars on advertising and marketing this year. While TV advertising is still number one in marketing dollars, online ads are gaining ground, with the mobile ads now appearing on the phone screens of Americans gaining the most ground. And do you know why American companies will spend this much money on advertising? Because it works! In fact, something horrible happens when you…
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June 20, 2022
Loving Rightly – A Cosmic Invitation
On this Sunday of All Saints in our Orthodox calendar, we are confronted by the stark beauty of the “friends of God” and how they loved God first in their lives. All other priorities are AFTER my love for God. Jesus, Himself, says a disturbing truth when He declares that I must love Him more than my mother, and if I don’t love Him more than my mother I cannot be His…
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“No” Makes “Yes” Possible!
So, I’ve been doing something called “intermittent fasting” to help with the battle of the bulge! My doctor recommended I try it and it has really helped me. But, surprisingly, the biggest help hasn’t been the weight loss! Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad about that. No, the biggest change for the better is how this discipline has made me more attentive to my food choices and portion size! Imagine that, Fasting…
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