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.

The Immesurable Riches of His Grace

· Fr. Barnabas Powell 1 Leave a Comment on %s
“All is gift.” This phrase captures both the simple and profound message that embodies the mystery of living a Eucharistic life. You may ask “What does that mean?” And I understand. We moderns are far removed from a world where mystery and wonder and story dominated our human society. And we are impoverished by this reduction of true mystery in our lives. Although, I will say that our modern world is slowly…

The Wisdom of Humility; The Foolishness of Pride

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
On this Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, we are once again invited to prepare our lives for the Arena of the Virtues called Great Lent. The whole point of this spiritual spring cleaning season is the tried and true wisdom of learning the power of humility to create virtues and the damnable disease of pride that always destroys. Even a sinner who embraces honesty is justified just as apparent pious…

They Despise Authority

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
“Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble, when you’re perfect in every way! I can’t wait to look in the mirror, ’cause I get better lookin’ each day.” Hilarious, right? But what makes it funny is that we know people who actually feel that way about themselves. They are always saying things like “Listen, it’s going to be huge. I’m going to make everything right again!” OK, careful there padre! (hee hee)…

St. Photios The Great

· Fr. Barnabas Powell 4 Leave a Comment on %s
Today’s devotional is a bit different. I wanted to write about a part of my story of becoming Orthodox, which can’t be told without talking about my best friend, Rod Loudermilk. So, indulge me a bit and I pray this is an encouragement to you. Rod and I met many years ago when his family moved from West Virginia where he was a Pentecostal pastor, to my hometown of Marietta, GA. Rod…

According To Your Word

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
One of the most meaningful Pro-Life demonstrations I ever saw was a graduating High School class deciding to put out the number of empty seats with them in the graduates’ area of all the children who would have been graduating High School with them had they not been aborted. It was a powerful, silent, but effective witness of what had been sacrificed by the rampant abortions in this society. We truly are…

My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
Today is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. It recalls the Baby Jesus being brought to the Temple by His mother and foster father to present an offering to God on behalf of the firstborn son. You see, in the Mosaic Law, the firstborn son is “holy” unto the Lord. In Exodus 13:2 God commands the people to consecrate the firstborn male to Him. By the way,…

This Is A Test – Sunday Homily

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
The spiritual disciplines of the Faith many times lead us to moments in our lives where we are really tested so that we will know reality both internally and externally. These tests in our lives are “good” but rarely pleasant. As we approach Great Lent, let’s do what we need to do to pass the Test! This Sunday our diaconate student Sy Nease gives us a great homily.

You Are Never Rejected!

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
She was always cheery. It seemed no matter what, she had a smile on her face. I could count on some inspirational quote or some uplifting phrase every morning as we worked together. And then, the bottom fell out of her life. I watched as her smile began to fade and her words of encouragement became fewer and fewer. You see, her life and disposition had never been tested like this before…

You Are the Body of Christ

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
“Your worldview has to have the same shape that reality does.” This quote by American philosopher J. Budziszewski seems to be common sense. But anyone looking at society today will have to conclude that common sense isn’t really all that common. It seems to make sense that how I see the world should include the reality of that world. Of course, humans, blinded by selfish narcissism and short-sighted self-interest can’t embrace reality…

You Are The Light. You Are The City on the Hill!

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
The famous philosopher Aldus Huxley once wrote: “If most of us remain ignorant of ourselves it is because self-knowledge is painful and we prefer the pleasures of illusion.” Huxley wrote “The Perennial Philosophy” in 1945 and suggested that the basic wisdom of authentic human reality is common to all religions. An interesting historical note, he died the same day as C.S. Lewis and President John F. Kennedy. There is a great little…