Author: Fr. Barnabas Powell

Fr. Barnabas is the parish priest at Sts. Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene Greek Orthodox Church in Cumming, Georgia. He is also host of Faith Encouraged Live on Ancient Faith Radio and author of the Faith Encouraged podcast.

This Sunday is Open LINE Sunday on Faith Encouraged LIVE

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
Join us Sunday night for an all new Faith Encouraged LIVE on AncientFaith.com. Fr. Barnabas is going to be talking about allowing our faith to inform our priorities, especially during this time of the year as we prepare for the Feast of the Nativity with the Nativity Fast! We will also share some exciting news with you, and, YOUR PHONE CALLS and questions! Every caller is entered into a special drawing at…

Make Friends for Yourselves

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
“Daddy, I don’t have any friends!” It was a heartbreaking moment in the life of my daughter’s young life, and it broke my heart for her. She was learning a lesson that we all have to learn: “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 We humans crave companionship. We long for connection and to be known in a…

Narcissus the Narcissist

· Fr. Barnabas Powell 4 Leave a Comment on %s
The myth of Narcissus is legendary. Narcissus was a man who was exceptionally handsome and knew it. And his actions reflected his utter disdain for those who loved him. He walked through life proud of his appearance and dismissive of those who admired him. Nemesis watched Narcissus and how he treated those around him and lured Narcissus to a pool where Narcissus could see his reflection. Narcissus fell in love with his…

Salt Makes People Thirsty

· Fr. Barnabas Powell 1 Leave a Comment on %s
No matter how hard we try to pretend, we live in the real world. Philosophies and worldviews may try to shield us from this cold, hard truth. But, try as they might, they only succeed in stealing real life and real time from us. Why is this truth so hard for us to accept? You see, we humans suffer from a blindness that robs us of peace and joy. This blindness is…

Tax Collectors and Sinners, Oh My!

· Fr. Barnabas Powell 3 Leave a Comment on %s
Let’s face it; we all have to deal with unpleasant realities. You know the situations I’m talking about: those moments in life when there either a difficult confrontation that has to happen or a struggle with bureaucracy or just a difficult relationship that has to end or change. It’s just not fun. It’s scary. It’s aggravating. But, it’s going to happen! So, how do we face such moments in life as believers?…

A Mere Hireling

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
October was Clergy Appreciation Month! Did you know that? Those of us in the clergy did! Of course October is also International “Walk-to-School” month, so don’t get too excited! Seriously, there is something powerful about appreciation. But there is something insidious about seeking appreciation. What a fine line it is to encourage the good virtue of gratefulness and acknowledging the gifts of others on one side and the ego serving self centeredness…

Relax! Wait, Maybe Not

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
Socrates said “Beware the barrenness of a busy life.” Sometimes, I must confess I fall into the trap of being so busy doing things “for” God that I forget to actually “be with” God! A fatal error! But, we moderns pride ourselves on our “productivity” and “Taking care of business.” We scramble to fill every waking moment with “productive” work and “goals” so we can feel we’ve used our time well. And…

To Whom Much is Given…

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
Listen to what St. Theophan the Recluse says in his brilliant “Unseen Warfare”: “Refuse to listen to the devil when he whispers to you: give me now, and you will give tomorrow to God. No, no! Spend all the hours of your life in a way pleasing to God; keep in your mind the thought that after the present hour you will not be given another and that you will have to…

Your Hunger Reveals Your Heart

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
“You are what you eat.” So goes the the saying that has at times served as a means to get people to have better diets, and a way for philosophers to reduce the human person to merely a thinking animal, and even to theologians trying to have folks consider the profound teaches of the Eucharist. For the vast amount of history, before the modern industrial revolution, the search for food and “daily…

The Temptation of Misplaced Trust

· Fr. Barnabas Powell 3 Leave a Comment on %s
Say what you will about the old TV shows: They were naive. They weren’t completely honest. They were sentimental. All of that may be true, but at least they attempted to foster the best of our hopes and dreams rather than pandering to our lowest desires. One such show was “Father Knows Best.” Robert Young played the dad and the comedy was gentle, but the show focused on a good natured father…