Who is Clarence Larkin and what is Dispensational Truth? Well, for many of us raised in Evangelical Protestant churches, this teaching about the Lord's Second Coming is THE norm. Worrying about taking the Mark of the Beast, wondering if the events in the Middle East mean the "Rapture" is just around the corner, and begging our friends to "get saved" so they can miss the Great Tribulation! Sound familiar?This Sunday night tune in to Faith Encouraged LIVE with Fr. Barnabas as we talk about this popular misconception about the End Times and the much more profoundly glorious wisdom of our Orthodox Faith and the wise End Time teaching in the timeless Church! That's at 8 PM Eastern/5 PM Pacific on ancinetfaith.com   Like our facebook Page at Faith Encouraged LIVE with Fr. Barnabas

You've seen the bumper sticker "Practice Random Acts of Kindness." I confess I've seen them all over and my reaction to this altruistic admonition ranges (depending on my mood) from mild annoyance to a twinge of guilt. But rarely does this bumper sticker psychology move me to action. But, hey, that's the weakness of a bumper sticker mindset!

Today, we hear the Lord use the words that we priests use every time we baptize a new Christian: if anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. Today, if we are to be the followers of Jesus, we must embrace the rhythm of the spiritual life laid out for us by our faith. That rhythm is basically three movements toward spiritual maturity.…

Faith Encouraged Live with Fr. Barnabas now has it's own Facebook Page where friends can get advanced notice about upcoming programs, guests, and special offers. All you have to do is "like" the Faith Encouraged Live page on Facebook and you are part of the "in the know" family! Go to https://www.facebook.com/faithencouragedlive and "like" our page today! Oh and don't forget to tune in Sunday night at 8 PM Eastern/5 PM Pacific on Sunday September 28 for our program on "Rapturemaina: What does the Orthodox Church Teach about the End Times?" You can submit your questions here and maybe Fr. Barnabas will use it on the show!

Today's Guest blog comes from Fr. Stephen Freeman: Among the many losses within modern Christianity has been the place of transformation. Nineteenth century revival movements and theology emphasized a single experience that was associated with salvation. Those who concerned themselves with what came later, described growth in the Christian life as “sanctification,” and tended to imply that it was optional. Contemporary Christians have settled for a spiritual life in a plain brown wrapper ever since. Read the rest here - https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/glory2godforallthings/2014/09/13/christianity-in-a-plain-brown-wrapper/

I am always amazed at my own blindness to what I say I believe when my life is flooded with fear. I don't just talk about this in the "big problems" of my life. That's too easy to see. No, I'm talking about those everyday challenges that flood my moments with a hypocrisy that really shocks me about myself. Do I have your attention?

Most of the time I feel pressed for time. A confession - I am addicted to saying "yes" to offers, invitations, and projects! I do this so often that my wife has to remind me that, as of now, I do not have the gift of bi-location! Because of this addiction, I frequently find myself stressed over deadlines, commitments, and projects yet to be completed. And, when I'm tempted with impatience (as I often am) I have to remind myself in repentance that most of this stress is self induced!

Why does the Church offer us the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross? Because the Christian faith is about dealing with reality and having our all too easy temptations to delusions and the fantasy of what I'm afraid of or what I wish for blind us to the reality God wants us to embrace! Waking up is hard, but it has to be done! [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8t81evmvJM?list=UUexfCDc6_Cu6Scuq2Y-9HWQ]

I have a fun refrain with my girls. It started some time ago. In a teasing manner, I would yell "REPENT!" and their little voices would respond "and believe the Gospel!" So, to this day I will sometimes yell "REPENT" and here comes that response... Ah, the exclusive humor of being a preacher's kid! I may need your help paying the therapy bills for these kids!

My daughters and I have this little game we play. I ask them "How much do you love me?" And they, giggling and smiling, try to stretch their little arms as wide as they can and say "This much, daddy!" Of course then they ask me how much I love them and I make as big a show as I can to stretch my arms as wide as I can and say "This much, baby girl!" And then we all start trying to compete and see who can stretch their arms wider! It all ends with much stretching, laughing, and smiles! It's a fun game.