Adam Barnett

Dangerous Prayer

Lennell, a man of God and brother I hold close to my heart, recently shared this with me, and hopefully he's consistently praying it over me! 

May God bless you with discomfort with easy answers, half truths and superficial relationships so that you may live deep within your heart.  May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.  May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.  And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done." 

When I Speak Your Name

Jesus, the most beautiful name of all names.  Jesus, the only name that brings healing and strength. When I speak your name, mountains move; chains are loosed.  When I speak your name, darkness flees.  It has no hold on me. 

Jesus... the most beautiful name that I know.  You're the exalted One.  Jesus... you have the power alone.  You lift the lonely one.  Jesus.

Jesus, the most wonderful name of all names.  Jesus, the only name that brings freedom and hope.  When I speak your name, mountains move; chains are loosed.  When I speak your name, darkness flees.  It has no hold on me.

Jesus... the most beautiful name that I know.  You're the exalted One.  Jesus... you have the power alone.  You lift the lonely one.  Jesus.

Be exalted... be exalted... be exalted... higher and higher.

(From Gateway's "Wake up the World" Worship Album - my friend Kevin and I listened to this over and over again in Nicaragua and wept.  I hope these lyrics bless you today)

The Little's

"Don't be sad because it's over; be glad because it happened."

It has been a difficult and tiring week.  After waiting 12+ hours at the hospital on Monday, our dear friend Sherri Little walked through the door of eternity.  To remember that she is with our Savior now is what continues to help Sherri's family and friends cope with this loss.

I'm very connected with the family and hurt because they hurt.  Katie has been one of my long-time little sisters in the youth ministry here... Andrea has been her small group leader for years.  I ask that if you read this, you take a moment to pray for the Little family.

More than anything else, I have been overwhelmed to see how many people have been impacted and influenced by Sherri's life.  Schools are calling in substitutes so their entire staff can come to the funeral.  The Photo-lab staff from Target sent flowers, sharing that she was more of a friend than she was a customer.  Offices are closing so people can come to honor her.  I have never seen anything like this.  All that to say, it is Christ that people saw in Sherri.  She loved Jesus with an intense passion, which spilled over into everyone that she met. 

"How precious it is to the Lord when one of His saints comes home."

Should be Good...

I'm about to start John Pipers, Let the Nations be Glad, and I can't wait!!!  Check out the first few lines of his book and I'm sure you'll agree that it should be really good!

"Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church.  Worship is.  Missions exists because worship doesn't.  Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man.  When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more.  It is a temporary necessity.  But worship abides forever."  (page 17)

Slinkie

This is hilarious, but let me preface this by saying that all people are valuable and important, ultimately making this quote inaccurate.  But, it's still hilarious. 

"Some people are like Slinkies... they're really good for nothing, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs."

This is Oklahoma

I had lunch yesterday with my good buddy Mike.  On our way back to the church, we ran into this 5-foot rattlesnake.  Boys will be boys, so we taunted and aggrivated it a little bit by talking trash to it.  This led to us discussing how awesome it would be to say, "I've been bit by a rattlesnake."  Then, Mike said, "Ok, I'm going to grab it by the tale."  I responded, "You're an idiot... I'm getting in the truck."

Just look at your Underwear

I got an email today sharing funny things that kids have said to their parents or grandparents.  Here's a few that I thought I'd share.  As weird as I feel saying this, they're actually pretty "cute."

Melanie, age 5, asked her grandmother how old she was.  Her grandmother replied sarcastically, "I'm so old, I can't even remember my age!"  Melanie responded, "If you don't remember, look at the back of your underwear; mine say I'm 5 to 6."

Susan, age 4, was drinking a cup of juice and got the hiccups.  She then told her mom, "Please don't get me this juice any more.  It makes my teeth cough."

Mark, age 4, was watching a young couple kissing in a public restaurant and asked his parents, "What is that guy whispering in that girl's mouth?"

Adam & Eve

Typical Saturday morning... woke up at 9:00am, watched about 2 hours of recorded Animal Planet and Discovery Channel shows and then ate Waffle House with Andrea, Ashley Carter and Lennell.  On our way back to the house, Ashley said, "What did the Insurance Agent say to Adam & Eve?"

"I can see that you're not covered."  HILARIOUS!!! (That's all for today.)

God Can!

Adam:        What are you doing?

Tyler:         I'm counting.

Adam:        What are you counting to?

Tyler:          I don't know yet.

Adam:        How high can you count?

Tyler:          I don't know.  I counted to 900 once when I was in time-out.

Adam:        Wow!  That's awesome!  (referring to counting to 900, not time-out)

Tyler:          I wish I could count higher, but I can't. 

Adam:        Ah, I bet you could if you tried really hard!  Maybe to 1,000!

Tyler:         No.  No one can count to 1,000.  Well, no people can.  God can!

(Conversation with my little friend, Tyler Wheelis, who has probably received such an incredible understanding of God from his wonderful parents, Robert and Jenny)

No Apology Necessary

I was shopping today in Wal-Mart for Summer Camp (a total of 4 hours... it was horrible).  I needed to buy a greeting card with an apologetic theme, an "I'm Sorry" card.  I couldn't find one anywhere.  There were birthdays for everyone, anniversaries, congratulations, weddings, new home, new baby, I miss you, new job, and sympathy cards... but no "I'm sorry" cards.  I asked a Wal-Mart staff person if they had one, and she said, "Hmm... I don't think we carry those anymore." 

I know it is silly to compare the Wal-Mart card isle to our culture, but I think there's a direct link here: we don't apologize.  (Trust me, I'm preaching to myself - I've got to be the worst at this)

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you."   Colossians 3:13