After Sunday at 1st Pres in Yakima Ronda and I will be taking a few weeks off from our responsibilities at New Song Church in Tacoma to rest and spend some time with our kids and pressing into the Lord for what lies ahead. We are so excited to have a few weeks on end to be with one another and in a way reacquaint ourselves with normal life. Our plan is not finalized, but we are going to get a chance to visit Bethel Church in Redding and also a chance to see some family, play, and also visit “The Call” in San Diego! We are excited to be around raw passion for God and allow it to strike our hearts with something fresh and new!
And I do believe it is a crucial hour for something new. I’ve heard insanity defined as doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. If this is a true definition and I believe it is then I guess I’ve been found out! If you’re honest you probably have been too! It’s scary to think about it! Let’s take our health. We are aware of the risks of eating unhealthy food and not exercising, but we continue to do it year after year after year and then we’re surprised when we get a report back from the doctors that we need to change our lifestyle! Like that’s news! C’mon, we’ve been told that since pre-school! Or on a more serious note, take the church. The church is hardly on the cutting edge in society. We’re not drawing in the world in droves or effectively speaking to our generation. Does this cause us to take drastic steps to change our plans? It certainly doesn’t seem to. We continue to walk blindly forward and expect the world to be effected by our not effective communication. Something new is needed!
Ronda and I don’t claim to be on a holy pursuit of the answer for the church at large, but we do believe the Lord wants to bring a fresh and new life to our own personal lives and the sphere of influence we live in! Hopefully that includes you! If you’ve read this far, you might be feeling the need for something fresh and new in your life. Maybe it’s a fresh vision for your school, or your workplace, or family, or church…Maybe you need a rekindled flame for a vision that has become dormant! Whatever it is I implore you to press into the Lord for it! Here in the Barker household we’re a bit slow which requires us to take a few weeks to get that, but I believe that you are faster, sharper, and able to press into the Lord on the run! Take a day, a weekend, a night and begin to spend time with the Lord like a child and then don’t stop! Remember, the Father always loves to share with his child! I trust that you’ll experience a fresh and new day as you explore a new vision with the Lord!
So peace out, and we’ll be back in at New Song City Central in a month or so. Just in time for the most wonderful time of the year! Wow…that went by fast! I just posted this song below from a rehearsal a couple years ago. I’ve always loved this song as it was written out of a cry to find true peace in our Father. I hope it encourages you! Just click on “Find Rest” below! Enjoy!
October 19th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
We greatly enjoyed you leading worship at 1st Pres this morning.
Good luck with whatever new pursuit you feel God calling you to! I am a restless soul myself, much to my wife’s chagrin, and know how strong the call for “fresh and new” can be. However, remember change for change’s sake can and often does lead to unrealized mission. Take your time, it sounds like you are, and seek the counsel of people you respect as one way to hear God’s plan for you.
Thanks again for this morning!
October 29th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
“rise up” Tour!! C’mon something fresh and new!!
Rol