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...
"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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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."...
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;...
"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...
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...
