What's the best way to improve society? Change the person or change the society? There was a day in America when the common understanding was to change the person and society would improve, but nowadays it seems that many think that fighting to change society means addressing society's faults...
I love it when the Church gives us these Old Testament readings! And the reason is because too many of us misinterpret the word "Old" for "unnecessary." And nothing could be further from the truth! In fact, if Truth is true then it's true no matter when it is revealed....
An Optimist says the glass is half full; A Pessimist says the glass is half empty; A Realist says the glass has water in it; An Opportunist drinks the water while the other three are arguing! Let's face it; life is complicated and perspective makes a difference in practically all...
Ok, so it's a pet peeve of mine. This whole notion of "fairness" strikes me as a cop out and a danger. Precisely because fairness is so important AND so illusive. But why? Why does fairness always seem to be just outside our grasp? Why do we hear so much...
You've heard the old joke about the man who bought a horse from a very religious owner. The horse didn't respond to the normal commands like "giddy up" for "go" and "whoa" for "stop." The religious man who had trained the horse taught him to "go" at the word...
"But it's not fair!" You could hear the pain and anger in her voice. You could see her face was contorted and shaped in a way that communicated just how upset she was. Hey, get use to this if you have children! My daughter was indignant that her sister...
Animal sacrifices are found in many cultures and many belief systems. Which begs the question, where did this idea that blood was necessary to atone for sins originate? Glad you asked. It originated from the beginning. Look at our Lesson today in Genesis 3:21-4:7: And the LORD God made for Adam and...
Years ago there was a variety TV show hosted by the then famous American comedian, Flip Wilson. He was outrageous but one of his most famous lines was "The devil made me do it." It seems we humans have a particular gift for shifting the blame to someone else when...
Phillip James Bailey, an English poet of the late 19th century, once said: "Let each man think himself an act of God; his mind a thought; his life, a breath of God; and let each try, by great thoughts and good deeds to show the most of heaven he...
Fr. Barnabas' New Book - A Faith Encouraged - will help keep you focused on the Faith between Sundays. In the style of his daily devotional podcast, A Faith Encouraged is a spiritual tool you can use year round to be Orthodox on Purpose. And Ancient Faith Publishing is...
