archives2005

Echos of Encouragement
Encouragement and Challenge for Singles for the Year 2004
by Brother Barnabas

NOTE: devotions below are in REVERSE order chronologically

Barbara Clayton
December 17

My friend and church member Barbara Clayton went to glory last Friday. When I wrote the last Barnabas she was on the verge. As I was about to leave last Friday afternoon for a banquet I received a phone call. When I saw the number I realized what type of call this was. I was right. I immediately phoned the proper people to tell them I wouldn’t be at the banquet and left for Kingfisher, OK where Barbara lived.

With all the accolades that I could give Barbara the greatest is also the truth. This woman loved the Lord Jesus and her local church. She was one of two backbone people at the church which refused to allow First Indian Baptist Church of Kingfisher, OK to die. She and her best friend, Edwina Milligan, kept the church going when they barely had two nickels to rub together.

Barbara wasn’t influential in the community. She wasn’t a power broker or anyone that many people deem important. She was a wife and a mom. She lived life simply and one day at a time. She was plain spoken. One never had to guess where they stood with her. With her simplistic life she made a profound impact in my life. I realized that many that are the greatest in God’s kingdom aren’t the people we tend to admire and think are great. Many of the greatest people in Heaven are simple people living simple lives while making impact after impact for Jesus in the lives of others.

I visited Barbara and her family regularly and often. When I knocked on the door and went in it was like being at home. I always felt I was around family. She helped me to realize what being “a pastor” verses a preacher was all about. Being a pastor is caring about people. It’s loving them and trying to minister to them in Jesus’ name when you aren’t preaching to them. Being a pastor is having time for people rather than always having to do something else or be somewhere else. I am becoming a pastor and Barbara has aided me tremendously in the process.

I already miss Barbara. We will have her memorial service on December 18 at 2:00pm. This one will be a little tough, but enjoyable in that we will celebrate one who loved Jesus and is now in His presence fully.

Let me encourage you this week to tell someone who points you to Jesus how much you love and appreciate them. In this season of thankfulness be thankful for the gift of Christian friends and loved ones. I know I am thankful for Barbara’s friendship.

Thankful for Barbara and those like her,

Brother Barnabas

Merry Christmas?
December 10

God, I JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND!! If I’ve said that once I’ve said that millions of times it seems. But it’s the truth, and I so desperately want to understand what is going on with God and His actions when I don’t understand.

During the Christmas season we tend to treat Christmas as if it were in a vacuum or some type of utopian experience where nothing of a sad or hurtful experience exists or should interfere with our Christmas celebration. We desire a truce from bad things happening during Christmas. I so wish it were true, but it isn’t. It just simply isn’t!

Tuesday, I will participate in a funeral for a beloved relative of some of my church members. He was an elderly Cheyenne man who is (not was) a Christian and is now in glory. There are now and will be tears during Christmas in his behalf.

I have a very precious lady, Barbara Clayton, who is on the verge of going to glory herself. She has been one of the backbone people of the church. I have grown to love her and her family deeply in the short time I’ve known them. There are now and will be tears during Christmas in her behalf.

Understand that encouragement doesn’t always occur with the absence of pain, but often it arises in the midst of it. My small church family is already grieving over the loss of one of their most beloved members though she hasn’t quite gone to glory. It’s Christmas yet my church family needs encouraging.

I’m reminded that the Bible itself teaches that the birth of Jesus didn’t bring any type of relief from pain and suffering. His birth was actually the direct cause of pain and suffering to many. Remember Herod going on a mad rampage and having all the little boys two years and younger killed?

But remember that the life of Jesus did and does also cause and bring joy for many. Because of His birth, life, and death/resurrection we who are in Christ Jesus now have peace with God and eternal life. Because of Christmas there is encouragement to both the hurting and non-hurting. Praise God for encouragement in and through our Lord Jesus.

Let me encourage you this week to be an encourager during this Christmas season. Some you interact with will be non-hurting. Encourage their positive attitude. Some may be hurting deeply. Encourage them to praise God in the midst of their hurt.

Merry Christmas to all,

Brother Barnabas

Profits for Prophets?
December 3

A few weeks ago I was walking in a store where you have to have a membership card to shop. It was early November and already Christmas stuff was out for sale. I began browsing around when I noticed “an Advent calendar.” It was in the shape of a Christmas tree with the numbers beginning in the bottom left corner traveling horizontally across from left to right in an ascending order until finally the 25th was at the top of the tree. By each number was a peg with a Christmas ornament attached to it. It was rather cute...at first.

As my eyes followed along each date looking at each ornament I smiled appreciating the creativity until my eyes landed upon the 25th. There on the peg for the 25th was nothing to do with Christianity. No baby Jesus, no angel, nothing announcing the birth of the Savior. The ornament atop the tree shaped calendar on the 25th was in fact a Santa Claus. THIS WAS ENTITLED AN ADVENT CALENDAR, but it had nothing to do with Advent. Advent refers specifically to JESUS. It would have been bad enough it the item had been entitled a Christmas calendar with Santa on top. I was livid!!!

Understand that I have nothing against Santa personally, but I remember in my home growing up, though both parents were Christians, that more emphasis was placed upon Santa than upon Jesus at Christmas. Christmas is about Jesus, not Santa!! Praise God for the work that St. Nicholas did for the cause of Christ.

It seems that we in America today are exchanging the words and acts of the prophets for profits. Forget about Isaiah. Forget about Malachi and all the other prophets who spoke of the coming Messiah. Forget that even some in Jesus’ day referred to Him as a prophet. Just “show me the money!” Whatever brings in the “bucks” is what we’ll emphasize. After all, Jesus has the rest of the year to be remembered.

Let me encourage you this week and this Christmas season that not only is life about Jesus, but Christmas time especially is about Jesus.

“Behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”(Luke 2:11 NAS)

Brother Barnabas

What’s Your Agenda?
November 29

Oh. to be back in Alabama this week! This is “smack talk” week in our state. It’s the week of the Alabama/Auburn football game. It’s an intense rivalry that divides friends and families as well as foes. Most of it is done in fun though I must admit that sometimes it gets a bit too intense.

This year there are more Alabama fans pulling against Auburn than usual. As I currently live in Oklahoma City there are lots of Oklahoma Sooner fans pulling for the Crimson Tide this year over Auburn. Auburn is challenging Oklahoma’s chance to play for the college football National Championship game. The Sooners are not pulling so much for Alabama as much as they are pulling against Auburn. The Sooner fans have their own agenda in this game. That’s ok with me as long as people pull against Auburn.

This week has reminded me of an episode in the life of Jesus. The event is found in the Gospel of John chapter six. Jesus had been meeting various needs of people. He had healed many, He had cast out demons, and He had fed many with physical nourishment. Some of these people began following Jesus because He fed them. They looked to Him as their meal ticket. They weren’t so much interested in spiritual matters as they were in getting their stomachs filled.

Jesus finally confronted them. He told them He was the “bread of life.” Following Him meant more than getting their stomachs full. He described the commitment to Him in such a manner that many quit following Him. He then looked to the disciples and asked if they wanted to quit also. Peter replied, “Lord to whom shall we go?” Peter spoke for the twelve stating that they would continue to follow Jesus. They were mostly committed to the primary agenda. I say mostly because even some of them had personal side agendas.

Let me encourage you this week to reexamine your reasons for following Jesus. Do you have your eyes on the primary agenda of unconditionally following Jesus or do you perhaps have your own agenda for following the Savior? Relinquish your own agenda, and allow the Savior to give you His.

Setting an agenda for encouragement,

Brother Barnabas

Distractions
November 12

This week I was almost killed. Had this happened, it would have been my fault because of being distracted. I had left my place of employment to go find something for lunch. As I was leaving, I phoned a “boat junk yard” because I needed a part for a boat I’ve been working on. As I began conversing I stopped at a red light.

As I approached the light I thought that I had seen that the color was green or was about to turn green. As I began proceeding to turn left a car buzzed by. “How rude,” I thought to myself as I began to proceed again when an SUV came buzzing through the intersection. It came closer to hitting me than the first car did. I thought to myself, “What are these idiots doing driving?” Mind you, I’m still talking on the phone to this junk yard. I glanced again at the light only to discover that the light was red, not green, and it had been red the entire time. I was the idiot not the other two vehicles. In fact some co-workers drove beside me to inquire as to what I thought I was doing. How embarrassing. How close to death I came. I’m not exaggerating. Both these vehicles, had they hit me, would have in all probability killed me. All this happened or nearly happened because I allowed myself to be distracted from my driving. Thank you Jesus for taking care of me and the other drivers. I put the phone down and drove.

This incident shook me up for a while during the day. It reminded me of several things that I should have remembered. One thing it reminded is that harmless distractions can have fatal consequences. I was also reminded of the Christian life. It is very important to keep the Lord Jesus and one’s walk with Him as top priority. When we become lax in our walk, begin taking the Christian life for granted, and allow distractions in our lives we begin to loose the joy, the adventure, and the urgency that is the Christian life. We loose focus and forget our priorities as Christians. We loose our hatred for sin, and our love for Jesus begins to cool.

Let me encourage you this week to avoid the distractions in the Christian life. As Carlos McLoud, a great Christian man now with the Lord, use to say, “Keep the main thing the main thing.”

With a few distractions,

Brother Barnabas

It “Appears” to be God
October 8

I wrote last week concerning stepping out on faith. I stated that I believe God spoke to me about moving to Kingfisher, Oklahoma. I also stated that at 47 years old, I was more reluctant to say “God told me” than I was at 27.

Within a week from the time I decided to be obedient to what I perceived was God’s will for me I had a contract on a mobile home with an acre of land. It was a decent mobile home, with a non attached two car garage/work shed, fencing, and a few other pluses. I honestly believed that God had led me to the place especially with the proposed price. For almost a month, every time I went to Kingfisher I would go by the place and pray about it as to whether or not God wanted me to have it. I learned this from my mentor Dr. Jim Talley. It “appeared” to be God’s will for me.

The week of the original closing date I received some interesting news. I could have said bad, but I don’t believe it was bad. The news was that there was no clear title to the property, and I would not be able to get title insurance for the place for at least four years. This completely closed the deal for me. I’m not going to buy anything without a clear title. I don’t believe that would be a good steward of God’s resources. Was this then God’s will?

My friends, it has been and is my experience that finding God’s will varies. Sometimes His will is easy to ascertain while at other times it can be quite difficult. We must be careful saying “this is of God” or “this isn’t of God.” Sometimes what we believe is of God isn’t, and what we sometimes believe isn’t of God actually is. Was planning to buy this mobile home of God or wasn’t it? I don’t know really. I do believe God led me to the place. I believe God wanted me to go through the experience with this home to see how complicated buying a home can be. Remember, in the past housing was always provided for me; therefore, this is my first experience at buying a house. I can truly say that I’ve learned lots.

I am now trying to find housing in Kingfisher from another direction. I am applying for a loan that will actually place me in a house which is what I had rather have. Is this of God? I don’t know. It “appears” to be of God, but stay tuned.

Let me encourage you this week to seek God’s will. Sometimes it will be easy, but sometimes it may be difficult. I do know that Jeremiah 33:13 says that we will seek Him and find Him when we search for Him with all our heart. Whether easy or difficult His will is well worth seeking and finding.

It “appears” that I’m encouraging you,

Brother Barnabas

A Step of Faith
October 1

A few weeks ago it was raining steadily on Sunday morning as I was driving to my church. My church folk don’t do rain well at all. One elderly lady, whom I pick up most Sundays, called on my cell phone to tell me not to come by. I began thinking and praying something to the effect of “Lord, there’s not going to hardly anyone at church today because of the rain. If you’re really up to something there, would You allow some people to be there today?”

When I arrived there were eight people there with three more showing up later. Wow!! Eleven people may not seem like many, but for our church on a rainy Sunday it was awesome. Later, as I was returning to Oklahoma City, I sensed God speaking to me concerning the church. I sensed He was saying for me to quit trying to get a full time church, to invest my life at Kingfisher until further notice, and to even move there. And for once in my life I didn’t argue. I simply said ok.

Let me share with you a few things I am learning. First, I have learned at 47 to be more careful saying “God told me” than I was at 27. Secondly, I am learning not to argue with God when I believe He has spoken even though I may have some objections. And thirdly, I am still learning to step out on faith which is still sometimes difficult.

Understand, I didn’t hear God say there would be no problems in doing this. I also didn’t hear God say there would be sure success, and that “hundreds” of people would come to Jesus if I obeyed. Quiet honestly, I didn’t hear anything in my spirit except this is what I’m supposed to do. It’s a step of faith.

Understand also that this step of faith isn’t without a bit of fear. Personally, I think it’s easier to step out on faith when one is younger, though when I was younger I was somewhat reluctant to step out on faith then too. For me stepping out on faith isn’t with the absence of at least some fear, but it is challenging the fear trusting that I am hearing God correctly.

Lastly, as my friend David Nobles reminded me, it’s not about me. It’s all about Jesus. It’s all about loving God and loving people in Jesus’ name. Remember, the Bible says that we walk by faith and not by sight.

Let me encourage you this week to be ready to step out on faith when God speaks to you. Your step may be different from mine, but it’s still a step of faith. Be careful attributing to God what may not be from God, but don’t allow fear to keep you from being obedient to God. It’s a step of faith.

Faithfully encouraging you,

Brother Barnabas

Movin’ On
September 17

Friends, it’s been approximately a month since I’ve last written. Some were wondering if anything had happened while others are still just wondering. The truth is that between procrastination, the single’s secretary at church going on vacation, and life I’ve not gotten anything out until now. I hope you’ve missed bb. If not, oh well I’m back anyway.

Speaking of the single’s secretary, Cheryl Scroggins, this is her last week at work. She’s movin’ on... or shall I say movin’ back. Cheryl has an opportunity to return to her old job, the right choice for her at the right time in her life. I will miss Cheryl, but we will continue to be friends and share Alabama things.

One of Cheryl’s brothers, Rick Parker, and myself went both through Samford University and Southwestern Seminary together. Cheryl is an “old” (had to do the “old” thing) Alabama girl that pulls for the Crimson Tide and than moved to Oklahoma years ago. Instead of going to Samford, she decided to go to Oklahoma Baptist University. Obviously she isn’t very good at decision making except for pulling for the Crimson Tide.(kidding)

I met Cheryl through an unfortunate event we have in common. Cheryl’s husband died in the Oklahoma City bombing while I survived. I had talked with Rick Parker about the commonality. He told me I should contact and meet Cheryl but I was intimidated. It’s one of those almost guilt trip things because I survived, and her husband didn’t.

I met Cheryl over the phone, and we became friends. Later, she became the single’s secretary, and we met in person. We have worked and laughed closely with each other for the past couple of years as she has tolerated me being late with Barnabas, and as we have shared Alabama things.

Sometimes God places people in our lives for various reasons. I am glad God placed Cheryl in my life. She has helped me not feel guilty for surviving the OKC bombing. She’s a good friend. I think I hear Michael W. Smith singing “Friends” in the back of my mind right now.

God has been and is teaching me some things that I can’t wait to share with you over the next few weeks, but I couldn’t begin this week. Instead, I had to say “au revoir”(Good bye until we see each other again”) to a trusted friend. Cheryl, keep trusting Jesus and keep “movin’ on” for His glory.

Encouraging Cheryl and hopefully you,

Brother Barnabas

Attention Getter*
August 13, 2004

Let me relate to you a story told to me by a good friend recently. They were entering a local Christian book store when they saw money laying in the entry way. They picked the money up, discovered how much it was, and began searching to see to whom it belonged. They found the owner in the parking lot with several small children. This person had inadvertently dropped it. My friend reentered the store and shopped. Upon coming to check out the clerk waiting on them began saying to them what a noble act they had performed, etc. At first my friend didn’t know what the clerk was talking about, but then understood it was concerning the money they had found. It embarrassed my friend to have someone give attention to their actions. They simply turned to the clerk and said, “What else would I have done, I’m a Christian. Don’t thank me thank the Lord.”

I understand as well as anybody a little encouragement can go a long way. In fact I began Barnabas as a means to encourage Christian Singles. But why do we feel we have to always praise someone for doing what they were supposed to do in the first place? It’s not noble for a Christian to return something that doesn’t belong to him. It’s what’s expected of him from the Lord. We do live in a time I suppose when it’s surprising for Christians to actually live and act like Christians. Lots of dumb “stuff” is being said and done in the name of Christianity. We should never be surprised when Christians to the right thing. We should be surprised and dismayed when they don’t. Are we going to have to begin applauding people for driving on the correct side of the road? You get my point.

Read Luke 17:7-10. I’ve never heard a sermon preached from this passage, but it should be preached regularly. We are to do the right thing without making a big deal out of it or having someone else make a big deal out of it. If any praise or credit is given let it go to the Lord who miraculously changes hearts and minds to allow people to do the right thing. Don’t praise people, praise the Lord.

Encouraging you to draw attention to Jesus,

Brother Barnabas

Something Still Stinks
July 30, 2004

Do you have an acute sense of smell or does your nostrils seem to betray you? I tell you my sniffer is fairly sensitive. I can smell things others miss, and sometimes I wish I had missed some of the things I’ve smelled. It’s both a blessing and a curse.

Have you ever gome into a kitchen and smelled something with a “peculiar” odor? You look and look but can’t find the source of the odor. Finally you ask what the odor is. You’re told that a particular something was in the kitchen a while back but is no longer there. The other person can’t smell anything, but to you it’s as if the object was shall we say just under your nose. Fish is like that. The stench of fish can linger and linger and still linger some more. Apples on the other hand don’t seem to have the same strength of smell as fish.

Doing the right thing or doing something nice for people is like having apples in the kitchen. They emanate a nice pleasant sweet aroma throughout the kitchen. Their fragrance doesn’t overwhelm nor does it seem to last long. Doing something that is hurtful, mean, or callous is like the smell of fish. It’s smell is described as an odor rather than an aroma. The stench of fish lingers long after the fish are gone. If apples and fish are together the fish is definitely the dominate smell. People remember fish when they forget apples.

As Christians our lives are to emanate the pleasant aroma of Christ. The aroma of Christ soothes one’s soul and refreshes the soul. The aroma of Christ is attractive and desired. Often times our lives emanate the pungent odor of the devil. We get callous in our walk or negligent and before long our lives rather than emanating the attractive aroma of Christ produce the pungent odor of sin. Rather than remembering the good we do people will unfortunately remember the evil we do instead.

Let me encourage you this week to be careful to emanate the fragrant aroma of Christ to others. Let them be drawn to the soothing wonderful fragrance that is Jesus in you the hope of glory. Let others remember the fragrance rather than an odor.

Smell something?

Brother Barnabas

Too Much Information
July 23, 2004

A couple of weeks ago I was running an errand for work. I struck up a conversation with another customer while we were both waiting to be helped. In the midst of the conversation he told me he was from Davis, OK a town about an hour and a half south of Oklahoma City where I live. He had to go to another place of business for an item and asked if I knew where it was. I told him I wasn't sure. He got out his cell phone and called the place of business to receive directions.

Upon relating the directions to me he again asked if I could explain to him how to get there. I began telling him the quickest way while answering a couple of questions about how not to go to the place. Then I completely goofed up. I began telling him to watch for this and that along the way. I told him about some lanes he would need to stay in or not to stay in while driving. He began looking at me quizzically and I knew I was losing him. I began to try to reassure him on the directions. He cut me off telling me that he had to go and walked out. I had given him much more information than he could process. I had given him too much information.

Upon the completion of my task at this business I began making my way back to where I work. I noticed the lanes and places I had told the man to avoid and such. I became aware that perhaps I didn't need to give all the information after all. While it was actually all good information, I was trying to help him avoid some of the mistakes I had made. I was only trying to help but I helped too much. I had this poor man more confused than ever.

I began thinking about my experience with this man and the Christian life. Sometimes either lost people will get saved or uncommitted Christians will recommit themselves to Jesus and come to us for directions on how to successfully live the Christian life. We're excited to be of service and that somebody actually wants our advice. We begin telling them some of the basis pitfalls to of which to be aware. Then we make the mistake to begin thinking too much. We begin telling them of other pitfalls to avoid and other possible pitfalls if they ever find themselves in a particular situation. We begin giving them too much information too soon and sometimes it is very unnecessary information. Then we wonder why they leave us more confused about the Christian life and defeated rather than excited about the process.

Let me encourage you this week to think simply concerning the Christian life. If someone came to you asking for advice on successfully living the Christian life, what would you tell them? My suggestion is to use the K.I.S.S. principle: keep it simple somehow! Give them enough information but not too much information. Let them leave with a smile rather than a confused look.

Simply encouraging you,

Brother Barnabas

Freedom’s Real Ring
July 1

This weekend we in the United States will celebrate our freedom once again. Over the past several years I have written numerous articles dealing will freedom and how real freedom is only found in a relationship with the Lord Jesus. Only in Jesus is one truly free regardless of his outward circumstances.

As I was driving home from my Indian church in Kingfisher, OK (where I serve as pastor) I began thinking about my article for this week. I began to ponder how I was going to be able to be creative in writing another article dealing with freedom. Then it hit me. I don’t have to be creative. I simply need to remind people that we live in a wonderfully free country and that the subject of real freedom is best defined by spiritual definitions and not physical ones.

My mind and heart began drifting towards Iraq. We have heard very little about the plight of Iraqi Christians. It was said that under Sadam’s reign of terror the Iraqi Christians had the freedom to worship. Now that Iraq has been liberated, will the Iraqi Christians continue to have religious liberties? What a paradox!

Let me encourage you this week as we in America celebrate freedom this weekend let us not forget those throughout the world that aren’t able to have the same freedoms as we do. Let us not forget our Christian brothers and sisters in various places throughout the world that are persecuted for their found freedom in Jesus. These places include China, Indonesia, and parts of Africa to name a few. Let us also remember our brothers and sisters in Iraq. Pray for their religious liberty as they experience physical liberty.

Encouraging you to pray for freedom’s real ring,

Brother Barnabas

Will There Be Rollie Pollies in Heaven?
June 25

No matter what state I have traveled to I have found Rollie Pollies there. What is a Rollie Pollie? Rollie Pollies are little bugs with a hard exoskeleton that when one touches them they roll into a little ball. I have no idea what the official name for a Rollie Pollie is. I tried looking it up both in the dictionary and on Encarta, but found nothing. I thought I might even find it under the Latin as in “Rollis Pollis;” only kidding.

Rollie Pollies are interesting creatures. They never make noise or at least none that I can hear. You might never notice them unless you’re bored, look down on the floor or ground, and then you might observe one minding its own business going about life. Rollie Pollies don’t cause a lot of trouble. You never hear on the news about someone being bitten, killed, or even traumatized by Rollie Pollies. They never call attention to themselves. They are just there. I have no idea even what useful purpose they have according to the Lord, but since they are here they must have some useful purpose or God wouldn’t have created them. I remember as a child sitting in the dirt in my yard poking at them, watching them roll into balls, and then thumping them so as to roll them in the dirt. I was fascinated with them, but I don’t think the Rollie Pollie got a lot out of it.

A short time back I happened to look down on the floor and there was a Rollie Pollie. I hadn’t paid much attention to a Rollie Pollie in a very long time. I began observing and thinking. Will there be Rollie Pollies in Heaven? Yes, I believe there will be; at least in a manner of speaking.

There are Christians that remind me of Rollie Pollies in a positive manner. There are many Christians that live their lives in a manner that one hardly notices them at all. They don’t have their name in the church bulletin every Sunday. They don’t stand out in any given situation. They simply don’t draw attention to themselves. They have a hardened outer layer in that they don’t become offended very easily. They simply go through life living for Jesus without being noticed unless one happens to notice them. They are what I believe Jesus was referring to as “the salt of the earth.” They may go basically unnoticed here on planet earth, but is my understanding that they will be given plenty of positive notice by the Lord Himself in Heaven. Yes, I do believe there will be Rollie Pollies in Heaven; in a manner of speaking.

Let me encourage you this week to be thankful for the Rollie Pollies. You may even be a Rollie Pollie yourself. You may never be a Rollie Pollie because God has gifted you in a manner so as to be noticed for His glory. You may have a leadership position of some type that places you in front of people. That’s ok too as long as Jesus is being glorified.

Encouraging you to be thankful for Rollie Pollies,

Brother Barnabas

Mind and Heart
June 17

The mind and heart are wonderful and essential components if we are to live and live life to its fullest. Their functions are vastly different from each other, but without either we simply couldn’t survive. When they work together with their differences we have progress. When they don’t we have lots of trouble.

In the Christian life the mind and heart are also essential though there are times when we feel or think that we can get along without one or the other. For instance some Christians simply want to feel their relationship with Jesus. They don’t care about doctrine or being able to logically explain their position concerning Christ. They always want the “warm fuzzies” and are distraught and confused when they don’t have them. Others don’t seem to care about the “warm fuzzies” because these tend to get in the way of the “deeper” components of the Christian life.

Just as we need both the mind and the heart in the body to survive and be healthy, so also we need both types of experiences in our Christian lives. There are times of discouragement or of exhilaration that we need the “heart” side. But there are also times when we are trying to figure out what we believe and/or explaining to others concerning what we believe and need the “mind” to function well. By reading Romans 10:9 - 10 we see that salvation is not an either/or process but a both/and process. Therefore, our Christian lives should function in the same manner.

Let me encourage you this week to use both components to worship the Lord Jesus. Both understand and feel the goodness of our God.

President Reagan
June 11

Former President Ronald Reagan has died. He was our fortieth president of the United States of America. He became president at a time when our country was at a low period, but led our country to once again believe in itself, reach new heights, and dream dreams. He was the point man in ending the “cold war.” The highest achievement he ever accomplished was that he was and is a Christian; therefore, he is not dead but lives now in the full presence of God.

I admired Ronald Reagan. He wasn’t a hero, but he was someone I looked up to and respected. One aspect of his character I immensely appreciated was his sense of humor. I remember Tom Brochaw of NBC news reporting that during his second race for president, President Reagan told a joke that was a little on the “politically incorrect” side. Brochaw then told the joke on the air. I love that joke. I tell it over and over again. It has to do with a Polish person taking a duck to a cock fight.

I remember Frank Gifford of Monday Night football telling numerous times that his favorite memory of Monday Night Football was once watching Ronald Reagan placing his arm around John Lennon and teaching him about American football. Gifford was amazed at Reagan’s ability to divorce political differences for the sake of friendship. It is a very admirable quality be able to love those with whom you disagree with intensely. I believe that its part of being a Christian, but unfortunately lots of Christians don’t practice that quality.

Let me encourage you this week to live your life in such a way that at death with all the accolades, true and untrue, people may bestow upon you the highest and most important accolade that you receive is that you were and now are a Christian.

Encouraging you at death to live,
Brother Barnabas

Ed Morgan
May 28

A couple of weeks ago Ed Morgan approached me at church. Before I go to Kingfisher, Oklahoma each Sunday as pastor of the Indian Church. I first go to my home church, Village Baptist in Oklahoma City, to mingle and pick up a couple of people who go with me to Kingfisher. It was during this mingling time that Ed approached me and told me he wanted to say goodbye because he was leaving the church.

I had known Ed for a couple of years. We had been out together during Faith Evangelism visitation. Ed is quiet and reserved. I admire Ed because he is a “thinker.” He chooses his words carefully, thinks things out before he speaks, and normally when he speaks it’s worth listening. He has a good, dry sense of humor. I have prayed for Ed numerous times. He’s a good friend even though we weren’t extremely close.

We’ve had several people leave Village Church recently for various reasons. I was saddened that he was leaving and interested as to why and where he was going. His response took me by surprise. He stated since I was from Alabama. he wasn’t sure I would approve of his reason. "Oh no," I thought. "I hope he’s not going to go off the deep end and join some fringe church of some type." But he told me he was going back to Knoxville, TN. Now, I understand why he thought I wouldn’t approve. 'Bama people, as in football not the state, hate the University of Tennessee almost as much as the “blue and orange on the plains.” That’s alburn University if I must write it out.
(I didn’t capitalize the “a” intentionally.)

Ed, a native Okie, had lived and worked in Knoxville for a year and had decided to move back there. And get this, he was moving back because of his church there!! He had been a part of a wonderful church in Knoxville, and decided to return in order to be a member there again. What a wonderful testimony to that church. He was going there because he missed the church and had found nothing like it in Oklahoma. Wow, instead of being disappointed that Ed was leaving, I was suddenly encouraged over his commitment to Christ and envious of this church.

I stood there speechless, which isn’t often. Here Ed was leaving his home to go back to Knoxville in order to rejoin a church that had ministered to him and he took the time to tell me goodbye. I was quite humbled and extremely honored. He had told very few people of his decision to leave but he told me. God had allowed me to touch Ed’s life in a positive manner. I sometimes wonder whether I have much of a positive influence or not. Here at least was one.

Let me encourage you this week to continue to live your life for the Lord Jesus. Love Jesus and His church. Seek to touch lives positively for Jesus. God speed Ed Morgan even in Knoxville.

Encouraged and encouraging you,

Brother Barnabas

Work vs. Walk*
May 21

I’m glad that our Single’s Ministry is involved with the book Start A Revolution. It is important to find out what your spiritual gift(s) is/are and begin utilizing those gifts to serve the Lord. When we all begin using our gifts for the glory of the Lord, He is blest and His church functions much better. By the way, the book also helps one identify their personality type which is very beneficial. If you have not read this book I highly recommend doing so at once.

As interesting as finding out concerning our personality type is and as important as discovering our Spiritual gift(s) is/are, let’s be very careful in their use. I have seen some folks find their place in ministry, begin doing quite well, but allow their ministry to take precedence over their walk with Jesus. Ministry must never come before one’s personal walk. When ministry takes priority in one’s life the ministry becomes mechanical. Sure, God is gracious enough to allow good things to continue to happen, but there is an obvious change in the person. God is much more concerned about the person than He is about their ministry. In fact, God will allow ministries to be abandoned in order to salvage the person. We must guard our walk with the Lord Jesus at all costs in order to continue a vibrant living relationship.

Let me encourage you this week to find your place of service. Begin serving the Lord with all your might. But never ever allow your ministry to become a substitute for your quiet time and your walk with Jesus. Remember, branches don’t fair very well apart from the vine.

Encouraging you,

Brother Barnabas

“Wrongs?”
May 14

From time to time people get “sideways” with each other. It happens in the lost community, but it also happens in the Christian community as well. Feelings get hurt, people get angry, friendships are tested or even ended over issues that should have either been avoided or dealt with in a more appropriate manner. Wrong happens.

My concern isn’t so much that wrong happens though that is a very big concern of mine. My major concern is how do we act or react when wrongs happen. I’m amazed how many of us say very definitively that we believe the Bible and all that it says. Fine. We can say it all we want, but the proof of what we say is in how we live.

Matthew 18 speaks of when people sin against us and how we are to deal with it. I’ve seen over the past few years how Christians are sinned against, but they don’t apply the Matt. 18 principal. There are numerous reasons why Christians don’t apply what the Bible says. There is the time element. It takes time to repair wrongs whether they are actual or perceived. Many Christians don’t want to take the time to right wrongs. They had just as soon be angry. The problem is they end up spending more time and effort being angry than they would if they dealt with the matter.

Another reason we don’t apply Matt. 18 is the care issue. Many of us don’t simply care enough about the other person to get involved in their life to right this wrong. Oh we don’t “hate” because hating is a sin. We simply have such a disdain for the other person that we poison them behind their back with our tongues. We choose to be disobedient to the Lord’s command because we don’t exhibit Christian love.

There are many reasons and excuses why we don’t follow Jesus’ command, but there is really only one reason to follow the command. Uh, we’re commanded to follow it. Jesus didn’t give us this command as a option but as an imperative. If we are to live Godly fulfilled Christian lives we have to work at being in right relationship with each other as well as with the Lord Jesus. Living in right relationship with each other takes both work and humility.

Let me encourage you this week that if you find yourself crossways with someone whether a fellow Christian or not to follow the Matt. 18 principal. Hopefully, all will turn out well. Whether end result turns out well or not, be obedient to what Jesus says to do. Obedience leads to further obedience.

Rightfully encouraging you,

Brother Barnabas

Stay In Shape
May 7

I’m learning a very valuable lesson the hard way. The older I get the more difficult it is to stay in physical condition. I have always loved and still love physical exercise. Part of my love for exercise may stem from my hyperactivity, but I think most of it comes from my competitive nature and the fact that I simply enjoy being active.

With the heart virus being diagnosed this past year and not knowing how much is too much I have “backslidden” somewhat with my exercise. As a result my weight has somewhat elevated. Basically, I’m fatter than I have been. I don’t like being fat. Even though I’m capable of doing things athletically more than some skinny people it doesn’t excuse the fact that I weigh too much. As the heart continues to improve I have returned more to my normal lifestyle. I’m getting back into better physical condition. The problem is that it is taking more effort than I desire.

I may be youthful in my outlook in life, I may be more physically active than most people my age, but the fact is my body is getting older. It’s taking more energy and effort to get in physical condition, but I’m getting there. I’m noticing improvements both in strength and stamina. I had rather wave some sort of magic wand and immediately be there, but “that ain’t happening.” It’s taking WORK. If I hadn’t gotten this far out of shape I wouldn’t have to work so hard getting back into shape, but I didn’t and it is.

I began thinking of how easy it is to get out of spiritual condition. A little neglect here and there and before we know it we are way out of spiritual condition. We can’t simply say a prayer or two and immediately get back into spiritual condition. Just as it takes work and lots of it to be in physical condition it also takes work and often times lots of it to get back into spiritual condition. If we do the work then the end results are rewarding.

Let me encourage you this week to take a good assessment of your spiritual condition. If you find yourself lacking then take the time and effort to get back into spiritual condition. It’s always better to stay in condition rather than having to get back into condition.

Conditioning myself to encourage you,

Brother Barnabas

Keep the Fire Burning
April 23

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to preach at our Indian Baptist Associational meeting in Elk City, OK. I thought it was primarily going to be preachers, but it turned out to be both preachers and people from the various Indian churches. I shared how that 2003 had been one of the toughest years in my spiritual life, but God is faithful and has not let go of me. I shared with them from Jeremiah 19 and Acts 5 concerning Barnabas and how they must have a “fire in their soul” and encourage others along the way. Here in synopsis form is what I shared with them.

First, there must be a fire in order to “keep the fire burning.” You can’t keep something burning that isn’t there in the first place. For preachers, the fire must come from the divine anointing or divine calling. It must not come from maw or grandmaw but from God alone. For all of us the fire must be kindled from the salvation experience.

Second, we must keep the fire burning. All sorts of circumstances can be used to chill the fire and keep it from burning. The fire must be stoked and the flames fanned. This comes through holy living. We are living in a day when spiritual leaders as well as laity are dropping by the droves morally. We must do whatever is necessary to never allow the fire to die out. The great thing is that the fire will never completely die out because eternal life means eternal. However, if we don’t live Godly lives the fire will die down to the point that we wonder if there is fire even there. We must make any and all sacrifices not only to keep the flame burning but to keep it burning with intensity.

Finally, we must become an encouragement to others whose flames have died down. We must aid them in rekindling the fire. We must be about the business of being a catalyst for God to ignite the flames in others’ lives. We must all be a Barnabas.

Let me encourage you this week to keep the fire burning in your life. If the flames have died down they can be rekindled through repentance. Aid others in catching the fire in their lives. By all means keep the fire burning.

Burning to encourage you,

Brother Barnabas

Short Memory
April 16

Easter is over for another year. NOT!!!! Easter is just beginning!! As I love to say Easter is everyday for the Christian since the resurrected Christ lives within our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Celebrate, for today is Easter, tomorrow is Easter, and next Wednesday will still be Easter.

People tend to have short memories. Those of us with ADHD have a biological problem with short term memory, but we’re not the only ones that do. Non ADHD people tend to have memory problems also. I’m told married guys really have a bad case of it. Oh well. Already, many Christians have put up the Easter decorations, forgotten what the sermon from last Sunday, and Easter is only a memory in time. We tend to have only short term memory. How sad!!

Much of the short term memory in Christians can’t be attributed to biological malfunctions such as ADHD. Much of the short term memory loss in our lives can be diagnosed simply as “a lack of importance” or “a lack of caring.”

Most of the time when things are important to us we remember them or we do something to help us remember. Those things of less importance we tend to take for granted or simply place less emphasis on, and therefore they are quickly forgotten. This is especially true of the Christian life! Some never remember how to share their faith in Jesus with someone else. When is the last time you memorized a new Scripture verse? Ouch!! I’m preaching to myself as well.

Leading others to Christ is the preacher’s job or the deacon’s job. We have the idea that we always have a Bible around so why memorize Scripture. We quickly forget Easter is every day and become dull in practicing much of our Christian life. We somehow draw to conclusion that our Christian lives and our “practical” lives are somehow segregated from each other or at least for the most part. We forget the freedom we have in Christ and willingly subject ourselves yoke of sin that we have been liberated from thanks to Easter. We get so excited about so many things in life except the things of God. Beloved, our short term memory has gone array. We must not forget, but we must remember what is really important!!!!

Let me encourage you this week to work on your short term memory. For one, remember today is Easter. For another, remember that much of how we live as Christians is in fact practical. Begin remembering the important things in life such as Galatians 5:22-26.

Always remembering to encourage you,

Brother Barnabas

The Triumphal Entry?
April 2

This Sunday we celebrate Palm Sunday which begins Passion Week which in turns climaxes next Sunday with Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Lots of things went on during the last week of Jesus’ life before the cross/resurrection experience. But Passion week begins with the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.

The term “triumphal entry” has me a little confused. It seems in history when generals and those in authority made triumphal entries into places the places celebrated and those in authority celebrated along with the crowds. Speeches were made declaring whatever victory, and it became a joyous time for all. This didn’t happen with our Lord Jesus. You see, when Jesus “triumphantly” approached Jerusalem, He cried (Luke 9). He wept openly over the city because they basically didn’t have a clue as to what was really happening.

A crowd had formed. Within this crowd there was all sorts of excitement. People were seeing Jesus approaching and began doing all sorts of things. They were waving Palm branches. Some were placing these branches and articles of clothing on the trail in front of Him as a type of “red carpet” treatment. The crowd was intensifying with its excitement.

Those of us who preach know a little about crowds. It’s nice to have a large crowd at church. My philosophy is that if I’m going to preach to one I might as well preach to a couple of thousand. It doesn’t take long though to see that it’s not the size of the crowd that brings excitement to a preacher or pastor, it’s the amount of changed lives that take place that excites us.

All sorts of people come up to you after a service and tell you how much they “enjoyed” the message. Some will tell you that you’re the next Billy Graham. It doesn’t take long to see that the words can and will be said to most anyone that comes their way. If you’re smart you won’t place a lot of stock in these accolades because some of these same people will be the very ones that will act like Judas and betray you. Just because you have a crowd doesn’t mean you have success. Again, it’s the changed lives that determine success. That’s why I believe Jesus wept over the city because of the lack of changed lives. Triumphal entry or Messianic entry?

Let me encourage you this week to celebrate Passion week beginning with the “Triumphal Entry.” Go through the week following the Scriptures as they detail the last events before the cross/resurrection experience. Don’t forget next Sunday. I call this Sunday the Messianic entry because next Sunday is the real “triumphal entry.”

Encouraging you in the Triumph of the Christ,

Brother Barnabas

Towards Jerusalem
March 26

When I was in Southwestern Seminary my friend Jerry Sutton who was working on his PhD at the time was teaching a class on Jesus. He spoke of Jesus leaving the Galilean region for the second time resolutely setting His face towards Jerusalem (Luke 9: 51-56). This was the first I had ever heard of that though I had read the New Testament numerous times.

As I was re-reading and studying over the passage I noticed several things. One, as Jesus set His face towards Jerusalem He met with objections and resistance. People were wanting all sorts of things from Him; some were genuine some weren’t. As He was set towards Jerusalem a Samaritan village wouldn’t receive Him. James and John wanted to call fire out of Heaven and have a barbeque. Jesus wouldn’t hear of it. He simply went on to another village.

Another observation is that Jesus wouldn’t be detoured from His objective. There were all sorts of distractions He had to deal with while on the road towards Jerusalem. He dealt with the distractions, but never allowed Himself to be distracted.

Finally, Jesus never allowed His objective to get in the way of doing genuine ministry. While headed towards Jerusalem He taught on the cost of following Him, called another to follow Him, and taught of putting first things first. Who knows how many other ministry events Jesus performed that aren’t written.

As we are fast approaching the climatic events of Jesus’ life it is imperative that we as Christians study His life in order to learn how we are to live.

It is my understanding that as Jesus set His face towards Jerusalem we as Christians are to set our eyes on Jesus in Heaven as seen in Hebrews 12. We are to resolutely keep our focus on Him. We are to deal with objections and resistance in a loving manner as He did. We must keep our eyes focused on Jesus not allowing ourselves to be distracted from our goal while simultaneously dealing with distractions. This is very difficult I assure you.

Finally, we are not to allow our focus to keep us from doing genuine ministry along the way. We are NOT to be so Heavenly minded that we become no earthly good.

Let me encourage you this week as you do your Christianity to follow these lessons from the life of Jesus. Continue to learn to be like Him.

Resolutely encouraging you,

Brother Barnabas

It’s About Living
March 19

A friend and I were talking recently about death and living. I told her that I actually enjoyed doing funerals when the people were Christians because, though the heart is saddened because of the loss, yet the heart rejoices because of knowing the loved one is with Jesus. The funeral then becomes a time of celebration. I told of the most difficult funeral I have had to do: an eighteen year old kid died probably drunk in a drunk driving accident.

We talked about death and the comfort Christians have at death when assured their loved ones were Christians. We Christians talk about death a lot. We tell people to accept Jesus so that when they die they will go to Heaven. That’s all well and good, but the Christian life isn’t so much about dying as it is living.

First, we are to become alive. Ephesians 2:4-5 says that when we were dead in our trespasses God made us alive in Christ. We only become really alive as we receive Jesus and become alive in Him.

Secondly, we are to live alive. We are to live the Christian life in such a way as to testify that we really are alive in Christ and not just existing on planet earth. We aren’t just to receive Jesus and then live in a manner that people wonder if there has been any change in our life. We are to live and demonstrate that life.

Thirdly, we are to die alive. This seems paradoxical, but I assure you that it isn’t. At the end of our journey on planet earth we are to be more in love with Jesus than when we began. At death we are to be alive in Jesus.Let me encourage you this week to demonstrate your life in Christ. Lead the “walking dead” to become alive by sharing Jesus with them. Live the life. At the end of your time on planet earth be more in love with Jesus than ever.

Living to encourage you,

Brother Barnabas

The Door Finally Opens
March 12

Do you remember the story of how Paul went to Greece? How in Acts he had tried to go into Asia, but the Holy Spirit kept closing the doors and would not permit it. While asleep Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia urging him to “come over and help us.” From that vision Paul went to Greece with Philippi being one of the churches established there.

My question is did Paul ever preach in Asia? The answer is yes. One of the first churches if not the first church established was Ephesus. The Ephesian church was one of the most precious churches to Paul. In fact one of the passages of Scripture that can almost always make me blubber is Acts 20 where he tells the elders goodbye and that they will never see him again. Paul waited for a long time, but the door finally opened, and when it did it was Ephesus a wonderful door.

As of March 7 I began my ministry as pastor of the First Indian Baptist Church in Kingfisher, OK. I am a pastor AGAIN!! I can’t tell you both the exhilaration and quite honestly the fear I have. I am exhilarated to be a pastor again. I wondered if it would ever happen. I doubted my calling at times, had others doubt my calling for me, and struggled spiritually in 2003 probably more than I ever have. But praise God the door finally opened, and it’s a good door. They want me as their pastor. There is much work and much potential.

I’m a bit frightened because the position is basically a volunteer position. At almost 47 I am a bit concerned what type of job the Lord will lead me to in order to support myself. I personally desired a full time paid position. “This ain’t it.” However, it is where I believe God wants me. I want to be where He wants me, and I love these people very much. I want to be at this church. I also know that God will provide. He always has.

Let me encourage you this week as you may find yourself waiting on God to open doors to be faithful. The doors don’t always open immediately though we often wish they would. The doors that open aren’t always what we expect or perhaps even personally desired. The doors do open, and when they do they are the right doors. Be faithful and grateful that the doors do open, and when they do they are the right doors.

Encouraging you in the waiting,

PASTOR Barnabas

Misplaced?
March 5

Have you ever known where something important was yet when you began looking for it couldn’t find it? That has happened to me more times than I ever desire to remember. In fact it happened to me just last evening. I have a notebook with some ideas for these articles. I hadn’t looked for it in a week, but I was sure I knew where it was. As I began to look yet nothing turned up, I began to panic a little. I was sure it was here at the house and would be found, but began to wonder when and how long it would take to find it. Finally, the prized notebook was located and all was right with the world.

Are you guilty of misplacing Jesus? Do you know where you’ve left Him? You had your “quiet time” a few days ago. You think you remember just where you left Him, but is He still there? When you go to look for Him will He still be in the same spot that you think that you left Him? How long and how hard will you look before you decide to just forget it because He’ll eventually show up. Have you panicked because you’re not exactly sure where He is and where you’ve left Him?

Let me encourage you not to misplace Jesus. The best way of avoiding that mistake is to take time daily with Him. If you have misplaced Him He can be found. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

Encouraging you,

Brother Barnabas

Dirty or Disarray?
February 20

I've a confession to make. I am forty-six years old, and I am a sloppy person. I am not a dirty person mind you; just sloppy. I hope the bed gets made, I need to pick the clean clothes up off the floor and place them either on hangers or in a drawer, and I have papers with bb ideas on them scattered abroad. My favorite person in the Peanuts series is, of course, Pig Pen. Believe it or not, I hate having things in disarray, but it happens. My attention deficit disorder may have something to do with it, but I’m not going to excuse myself by placing the blame on anything other than myself.

I don’t like dirt. I enjoy getting dirty, but I don’t enjoy staying that way. I have been laughed at by some of my fellow campers and cyclists in that I shower early in the morning when camping or cycling even though I am about to get into a lake or do something that will cause perspiration. I have been known to take as many as four or five showers in a day. The dirty clothes are always placed in the hamper. I don’t like things dirty, but I live with disarray.

For me disarray is more damaging than dirty. Dirty is obvious. Dirty is a sure sign that immediate action needs to be taken to rectify the situation. Dirty is easy. Disarray on the other hand means I need to do something, but it can wait. Disarray leads to laziness. Disarray also means that I often can’t find something when I need it. I spend lots of unnecessary time looking for things that I could have immediately found if I had put them up to begin with. Disarray is troublesome, but evidently it isn’t too troublesome. I am learning to hate disarray, and I have begun taking steps to eliminate disarray. I’m not there yet.

In relating this to the Christian life most of us don’t live dirty, but many of us live in disarray. Our lives are cluttered with activities, “meant to’s,” and “going to’s.” We never get around to memorizing Scripture. We seldom take time to actually study the Bible though most of us have some type of quiet time. We know we should witness but often don’t. We even sometimes tell off colored jokes though we would never be caught telling a dirty one.

Disarray is subtle and can often be more damaging than a dirty spiritual life though I am in no way advocating a dirty spiritual life. Living one’s spiritual life in disarray is not good.

Let me encourage you this week to examine both your physical life and your spiritual one. If you find yourself dirty in either take immediate action to clean up the problem. If you find either or both in disarray take immediate action again. Let both your physical life and spiritual life be in proper order.

Properly and orderly encouraging you,

Brother Barnabas

Developing
February 13

Our singles group is currently doing our annual melodrama to raise money for a singles mission trip to New York City. I am one of the actors in this production and have my biggest part so far in my short acting career. The play is a murder mystery with my part being that of an author who is rather pompous. I asked the director, who knows me well, if this was "type casting" to which she replied, “Of course.” All of us have lots of fun doing these plays and there is normally a great koinonia or camaraderie between the actors.

As a thespian I am called upon to develop my character. I’m given a sketch pertaining to this character, but it’s up to me to develop him into something believable and hopefully laughable. In order to do this I recount movies, cartoons, and all sorts of memories in order to bring life to my character. One memory I draw from my childhood is Wylie Coyote “super genius” from Bugs Bunny cartoons. There are of course other references.

I began pondering how this drawing from memories and references might relate to my Christian experience. I began thinking of people whose lives made an indelible mark in my Christian life such as Dr. Sygurd Bryan one of my former profs at Samford University. He not only is one of the godliest men I have ever known he was also single until the age of forty. He has told me several times how he could relate to my situation. There are many others that have impacted my life; many on the Barnabas list are such people.

In fact all of you that take the time to read Barnabas and periodically send me a critique pertaining to Barnabas impact my life by encouraging me and aiding me to become a better writer. I draw from you in order to become a better and more effective Christian.

One must be careful however as to what and how much they draw from something or someone into their lives. I recall hearing Dr. R. T. Kendall preach once. This famous Southern Baptist preacher, now pastoring in England at Spurgeon’s Tabernacle, admonished young ministers to be careful emulating their heros. He said it was "easy to miss their genius and emulate their faults." Good wisdom!!

Let me encourage you this week that as you do your Christianity draw from others those qualities that enable you to become a more complete Christian. In fact, you may want to jot a note of thanks to someone that has made a major impact into your life which has helped you immensely in becoming who you are in Christ. Keep developing in order to aid others in their development.

Drawing encouragement from you for you,

Brother Barnabas

Ministry & Friendship
February 6

This past weekend I began to understand the meaning of ministry and friendship a little more. My friend Brian White underwent arthoscopic knee surgery last Thursday. From what he now tells me, it wasn’t a fun gig. There
was actually quite a bit of pain involved which I’m not into at all. I had called Brian early Saturday afternoon to check on his condition.

When I called, I didn’t talk to Brian. The voice on the other end of the phone was that of a mutual friend of ours. She is a nurse and basically a big sister to Brian. She is doing a great job making sure Brian is seen about and is helping him with his recovery. She told me his condition. Then she asked a favor of me for both Brian and her mother. She told me God had placed me in her thoughts in respect to the favor. Oh great! She’s thrown God on me! How can you get out of something when someone throws God on you? You know when someone throws God on you, you’re probably going to be asked to do something you really don’t want to do.

The favor was to go to the grocery store for both of these friends of mine. To many people this would be no big deal at all. However, for me this was a test of both ministry and friendship because I go to the grocery store
on Saturdays early in the morning. If I’m not there by nine at the very latest “it ain’t happening.” I DO NOT go to the grocery store on a Saturday afternoon under any circumstances for anything.

I’m told that the grocery store is a great place for singles to meet. If it is ordained of God that I meet the future Mrs. Flournoy at a grocery store, it will be between 7:00 am-9:30 am or it won’t happen. God will have to come up with plan B.

But I went. What I would not do for myself, I did for my friends. Why? Because it was the Christian thing to do. I would have gone even if God hadn’t been mentioned at all. It was an OPPORTUNITY, not an imposition, for me to
demonstrate Christian love and to show these people how much their friendships mean to me. It was an opportunity to minister and to minister outside my comfort zone. I went and I’m glad I did.

Let me encourage you this week to be watching for ministry opportunities. Sometimes God catches us off guard in order to grow us more deeply in the Christian experience. What we might normally call an imposition, might
actually be an opportunity. When the opportunity presents itself, demonstrate friendship and ministry. Do the Christian thing.

Friendly ministering encouragement to you,

Brother Barnabas

Surprised
January 30

When I was in seminary I took all the courses I could in preaching and in evangelism. I had eighteen hours in preaching when one only needed four to graduate. I simply love the preaching event. While finishing up my final mandatory course Preaching Lab I was suppose to be one of the student preachers the next day.

I saw my professor and good friend Dr. Farrar Patterson the evening before. I flippantly made some sort of remark that I didn’t need to work on a new message and that I would pull out something I had already preached since after all it was for a grade. He proceeded to chew on me and compliment me simultaneously reminding me that “he” was the primary one who was grading me and not the other students in the class. I was to get my Bible, get with God, come up with a message, and preach my heart out. I did.

Sunday while we were at the little Indian church we had only one person show up. Not exactly high attendance day! My friend and pastor of the church David Long had wanted to hear me preach since he is recommending to the church that I become the next pastor after he leaves. We proceeded to have worship in spite of the fact that only one person besides David, his family, and myself were present.

I entered the little pulpit contemplating what to do. Should I really preach or simply run through the outline quickly basically “blowing it off?” It was then I remembered the previous incident I have just shared with you. I decided to preach. I didn’t use my normal style, but circumstances dictated that I change my style. I shared my heart concerning the Parable of the Sower found in Matthew 18 and Luke 8. Afterwards both David and his wife told me that God had spoken to them through the message. I was surprised!!

There are times when God places us in circumstances in which we wonder what to do. Perhaps it’s a witnessing situation. You’re prepared to speak to adults when only young children are around. It could be one of any number of scenarios you find yourself. The temptation is to blow the situation off and try again another time. You must not make light of any opportunity God gives you no matter how frivolous you make think it is. You must be faithful. Jesus said he that is faithful in the very little will be faithful in the bigger things. He also said the opposite is true.

Let me encourage you this week to look for opportunities to serve the Lord and others. The circumstances you are expecting may not transpire. Don’t be surprised if God desires to use you in unexpected circumstances. Be faithful.

Circumstantially encouraging you,
Brother Barnabas

Indian Time

January 23

Do you consider yourself to be one who not only wants to be on time to events but demands it of yourself and others? Normally( if it is normal) this mind set is attributed to the “type A” personalities of the world. Type A’s tend to have the motto, “To be ten minutes early is to be five minutes late.” Type A’s can drive non-type A’s nuts with their personalities. They are driven people and want others to be as driven as much as they. How do I know this? I’ve been told I am a type A+++.

Oklahoma like my native Alabama is in the central time zone. I have lived and functioned in Central time most of my life. However, the little Indian Church I help in Kingfisher doesn’t run on Central time. It runs on “Indian time.”

Indian time is defined as whenever they show up it’s time to get started. I’m told by friends in Brazil that Brazilian time is much the same way. I was told stories of missionaries who were very punctual etc. that had a difficult time adjusting to Brazilian time. The interesting event that has taken place in my life is that I’ve had little to no trouble adjusting to Indian time.

It occurs to me that perhaps the main reason I haven’t minded adjusting to Indian time is because I genuinely love these people. I see their need to be involved in the church and can overlook punctuality. Punctuality isn’t one of the seven virtues of life nor is the lack of it one of the seven deadly sins. Not being punctual isn’t a sin at all. It just seems that way sometimes for those of us who are type A’s.

I also have discovered that I find myself functioning on Indian time periodically. I was late getting there one particular Sunday morning. One of the ladies told me that she was wondering where that Indian from Oklahoma City was. She was referring to me!

I’m learning in my old age that punctuality and lots of other “stuff” such as a good vocabulary and keeping up with world events are good things to have in life, but there’s no need to get upset when people don’t function as you would like them. There are lots more important issues at hand rather than whether or not a person speaks with good diction or uses proper English and such. Aiding a person in passing from spiritual death into spiritual life is vastly more important.

Let me encourage you this week as you do your Christianity to over look unimportant traits in the lives of those you love in order to properly minister to them. Major on the major issues in their lives.

Timely encouraging you,

Brother Barnabas

Encounter and Obey

January 16

One of my dear friends Max Janzen wrote me a quick note over the holidays. One of his statements to me was, “May you encounter God constantly and obey Him instantly.” What a wonderful friend. I loved it when I first read it, and I love it more each time I think of it or read it.

I don’t know about anyone else, but yes I indeed want to encounter God constantly. I get a bit on edge when I don’t experience the presence of God in my life numerous times during the day. Even when times are a struggle in my spiritual walk I must know that the presence of God is with me.

I reflect sometimes and marvel at Abraham the patriarch of Israel. In Genesis there was a time when Abraham went approximately twelve or thirteen years without hearing from God. Yet his faith was still strong. I simply can’t imagine what that was like nor do I want to experience that. I am grateful for my encounters with God and hope in 04 for you my friends and readers as well as for myself that there are more encounters with God and may they be mostly positive.

I not only want to encounter God constantly I do want to obey Him instantly. I’m afraid though the obeying instantly is going to take some work. Sometimes my trust level of God gets depleted hence obedience becomes reluctant. Sometimes I simply don’t want to do what God wants me to do. Instant obedience again doesn’t happen.

Instant obedience is a result of absolute submission to God’s perfect will. It requires trust to the degree of abandoning self in order to please God at all costs. My friends this is not impossible, but I submit that this is very difficult sometimes to do. Can we encounter God constantly if we don’t obey Him instantly? Honestly, I don’t know.

I have always been one of the people in the class room that did the “question asking.” It wasn’t because I was trying to be annoying, though it happened, but because I wanted to know. Even now, in my spiritual walk I constantly have lots of questions that I want answered, but they don’t always get answered. Obey God instantly, that would be nice, but it will take lots of work on my part.

Let me encourage you this year that you may also encounter God constantly and obey Him instantly. One will be more difficult than the other.

Constantly encouraging you,

Brother Barnabas

You’ll Be Missed?
January 9

I talked with Cherell Scroggins both the Youth and Singles secretary on Wednesday. She told me it was rather quiet around the office. The reason it was so quiet was because Todd Sanders and his wife Angelia have left to begin a new ministry in Tulsa. She told me the lights were out in his old office, and everything seemed a bit sad there. Actually, I’m glad it was a bit sad.

I’m glad because Todd is being missed; already. Todd, I’m privileged to say is my friend. Todd and his wife are one of the best ministry teams I’ve ever seen. The way he connects with kids is simply incredible. Angelia is the stabilizing force in his life, but she also had an incredible way of connecting with the girls. I told him how much I envy the fact that not only does he have a wife, but he and Angelia make an incredible team. If I ever do marry I hope to have a wife that is a team player similar to Angelia, but that’s me because not everyone wants that.

I wrote last week about how would you liked to be remembered by people, recalling an embarrassing incident over Christmas. Now, I’m writing about being missed. If you moved and left your current surroundings this year would people be glad or sad that you’re gone? Of course you’re almost always going to have some of both, but how would the majority of people feel? Would they miss you? Would it be said of you that you made a positive impact in peoples’ lives? Would you be missed or would it be “good riddance?” Would people help you pack without it being considered ministry? When you left would there be more joy than when you were there?

One can’t say, “Of course I’d be missed I’m a Christian.” I’ve seen numerous Christians over the years that I wouldn’t miss “on a bet.” Their attitudes and demeanor was so serious, solemn, and sulky that I wanted little to do with them. Others, on the other hand were never serious about anything. Then there were those that didn’t practice what they preached.

Let me encourage you this week to live your life in such a manner that if you left you would be remembered; positively. Live your Christian life in such a manner that you bring the honor and joy of Jesus into peoples’ lives as do my friends Todd and Angelia Sanders.

Encouraging you to be missed,

Brother Barnabas

Remember Me?
January 2

Something both humorous and embarrassing happened to me during the Christmas holiday at home. While shopping for some Alabama Crimson Tide stuff to take back to Oklahoma with me I thought I spotted someone I use to know from my home town which is about thirty minutes away from where I was shopping. I contemplated whether I should risk embarrassing myself to see if in fact this was the person I thought I knew.

I decided to take the risk. If it wasn’t the person I thought I knew it wouldn’t be the first nor would it be the last time I embarrassed myself.

It turned out to be the person I thought I knew; relief for the moment. It was a ministerial friend of mine’s youngest daughter. Her name is Angelia. She is married with three children now living in Mississippi. They were shopping before going to my friend’s home for Christmas.

As introductions were being made she asked her husband if he remembered being told about a guy who use to tease her about her name calling her “Devilia” instead of Angelia. She then turned to me and told him, “This is the guy.” I began laughing because I vaguely remember doing that when she was a little girl. Of all the ways she might have remembered me she remembered me for teasing her about her name! This is where the embarrassment kicked in big time!!

I have always said that my two primary spiritual gifts were proclamation and aggravation and that I’m good at both. We all know aggravation isn’t a spiritual gift, but sometimes I wish it were in order to justify my teasing. I enjoy a good laugh and always have. My teasing has mostly been good-natured, but it sometimes goes into excess. It has rarely been meant to be caustic. I refuse to admit how many times my intended “innocent teasing” has gotten me into trouble with people.

As we laughed for a few moments and said our goodbyes I began thinking. I wonder how many people remember me for my teasing? Some of it I want to be remember for, but some of it I don’t. I want to be remembered in part as someone who laughed with others and at himself. I never want to take myself too seriously in life. God gave us the gift of laughter, and I want to share that gift with others as often as I can.

I mainly want to be remembered as a person who loved the Lord Jesus and tried to magnify Him in and through my life. I want to be remembered as a man that pointed others to Jesus.

Let me encourage you this week as we look forward to the new year to contemplate how you want to be remembered. Live your life in such a manner that you will be remembered primarily for loving Jesus.

Encouraging you to be remembered,

Brother Barnabas