As for Ronda and I, we were so thrilled to get the updates from Tacoma while we were gone and it spurred us on towards the Lord and encouraged us that we were going to be coming home to a new church family.  Our spirits were personally strengthened to come back and jump right into what the Lord is doing in a new and fresh way.

So here we are now, ready to launch into a new season with very few answers, but a deep yearning to see the Lord’s face in a powerful and transforming way in this coming season.  I believe this is a season where we are going to walk into the things of the Lord that we’ve always wanted to, but have been intimidated to.  It’s time to change lifestyle patterns and realign them to the radical lifestyle the Lord has offered to us.  I’m excited to not just read about living radically, but actually live radically myself!

Lastly, on our vacation I made an interesting discovery in my family heritage.  Through some research I came to find that on my father’s side of the family back 7 generations a grandfather of mine was named Lewis Morris.  He was from New York and lived in the late 1700s.  It turns out he is considered one of the founding fathers of our nation and was actually a signer on the Declaration of Independence.  WOW!  I was quite surprised as no one in my family knew this piece of history.  When I discovered this it was so inspiring.  I thought that I want to leave a similar legacy that continues down my generations for my own children and grandchildren.  This ancestor of mine decided that he didn’t want to live his life reading about radical living in biographies, but actually live it out in his own life!  This is the attitude that founded our nation!  When Morris was warned by his brother of the consequences of signing this rebellious document he said, “Damn the consequences, give me the pen.”  What an incredible attitude!  What conviction!

Lord, let that type of conviction carry into my life!  Who cares what the consequences are!  I don’t want to look back anymore, I want to abandon myself to the Lord and live radically for him like I’ve always wanted to!  So if you’ve read this far and agree let’s make a fresh commitment to the Lord and sell out for Jesus now and forever!  Commit yourself to seeking him consistently and persistently until we are living completely aligned to the Lord’s will in our lives!  He is faithful to meet us when we knock on the door!

Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)  7“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

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!

Find Rest