Barringer's Blog

Joy Part 4 - Joy and Grace

2012-01-18T07:27:00.000-06:00

Grace is getting exactly what you need when you need it. Grace is always undeserved. God’s grace is sufficient. What did Naomi and I need in that moment aswe walked down those three endless hallways to meet with the doctor? We needed grace, we were desperate for grace,we were hopeless without grace. We bothunderstood that we didn’t deserveanything in that moment. The fact that Iwas a youth pastor, that Naomi was a pastor’s kid, that we both had answeredGod’s calling in our lives, that we had spent so much of our time servingothers didn’t earn us any special privileges when it comes to suffering. We both were utterly helpless. Every single one of us is destined to one daydie, no one is exempt. Joy was nodifferent and there is nothing inherent in her that says that she should livemore than that one day. Each day is agift, in Joy’s case each breath was God’s grace. She could not at that point in her life haddone anything to merit any favor. Sothere Naomi and I were, nothing but our “faith as a crutch to lean on”. That’s all religion is after all, a crutchfor the weak minded isn’t it? It’s sadto think about, in our moments of greatest despair that man’s best attempts arejust shouting at the wind. That howeveris precisely the point of God’s grace. It is not man trying to reach God, but God reaching out to man, to giveus what we don’t deserve, it’s all we need for every moment. God’s justice was never called into questionin our minds. We deserved no special treatmentfrom on high at that moment. We neededGod’s grace in that moment just like a thousand other moments we needed it andprobably weren’t even paying attention to our helpless needs. We prayed silently as we walked down the halland God gave us what we needed even though we didn’t deserve it. Three feet away from the doctor he finallyclued us in as he smirked and said, “Well, that went great.” Naomi and I almost fell to the ground. Joy was now hooked up to the ECMO machine, alife support machine that would take over the job of her lungs. We had no idea how much grace God was goingto provide for us in the days ahead.

Joy was going to need constant care. Literally there was not a minute that would go by that Joy would nothave, not one, but two nurses watching her and her machine constantly. A constant flow of doctors, nurses, PAs,NNPs, you name it were all hovering over Joy and her ECMO machine. There were only 3 ECMO machines at Children’s(one was always on reserve in case one of the two in use failed) Joy was ableto be put on the ECMO machine right when she needed it – GRACE – we didn’tdeserve that. All of the right doctorswere on shift when Joy was desperately in need and ECMO needed to happen –GRACE – we didn’t deserve that. Joywould be put under the care of one of the foremost Neonatal doctors in thecountry, a man that had been a pioneer in his field for decades – GRACE – we didn’tdeserve that. We walked down to see Joyin her new room and this giant machine she was attached to. She was swollen up like a balloon with tubesin her neck, mouth, and chest. It was ahorrible sight. Joy’s life was in a delicatebalance held together by grace that we were only beginning to understand. An army of people would surround our boys andfamily for every need above and beyond – GRACE – we didn’t deserve that. Thousands of people, all across the countryand the world, were logging onto Joy’s Caring Bridge sight and praying for her,crying out to God on her behalf – GRACE – we didn’t deserve that. We didn’t know if Joy would ever come off themachine or if she would survive from one day to the next. We were made well aware that we needed God’sgrace each day (like every day of our lives) and Joy needed God’s grace forevery breath like we all do. Thehospital had a Ronald McDonald house (all that change really makes a difference) on the same floor as Joy’s hospital room. God’s grace even allowed us to stay at the hospital with Joy – GRACE –we didn’t deserve that. Naomi was ableto pump milk and freeze it in the hopes that Joy would one day be able to drinkit – GRACE – we didn’t deserve that. Over and over again we would see God’s grace,exactly what we needed when we needed it even though we didn’t deserve it. Grace took many forms, things that made allthe difference like being able to touch Joy, to sing to her, to pray over heror having meals provided at the hospital or a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Words of encouragement from doctors andnurses that indicated slight progress and even at times hope. There was a constant flow of visitors withwhom we would share our prayers and our tears. I recall at one point a nurse reacting to the constant flow of peoplemeeting with Naomi and I at the hospital. The nurse said to Naomi, “You have an incredible care network!” The nurse may not of realized it but that isGod’s grace.

The Bible speaks very deeply about grace and our need for it throughevery circumstance.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient foryou, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all themore gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That iswhy, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, inpersecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Philippians 4:12-13 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what itis to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and everysituation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or inwant. I can do all this through him whogives me strength.

How about you? Do you desire God’s grace in your life for each day, foreach breath, through all your suffering as well as your times of exhilaration? How can you get something that you don’tdeserve and can’t earn? You can begin bysimply crying out to God. “God I needYou. I’m hopeless without You.”

Joy Part 3 The Dark Night of the Soul

2011-12-11T16:34:00.001-06:00

By Naomi Barringer
June 1st 2011 I woke up at 5:30 A.M. I realized that my water had broke. I was exactly 37 weeks. I called my midwife, Dawn, and she said to come in within an hour to an hour and a half. I went to wake up Jim who had gotten up in the middle of the night to help Jacob. Jake had a bloody nose and Jim had fallen back asleep next to Jake on his bed. I tapped him on the shoulder and said, “My water just broke” he casually laughed and said, “shut up”. I assured him that I was not kidding and he immediately bolted out of bed. We had nothing prepared for the hospital and so we both worked to quickly pack a bag. I took a shower & kept thinking to myself, “This can’t be happening!” My mother was in Nebraska spending time with my sister and her husband. We called our neighbor Stephanie across the street, who has 5 of her own children, and she gladly agreed to come over to watch our boys until Jim’s mother could arrive from Buffalo, MN.

We arrived at the hospital & and I still was not in any pain so we tried to get things going by walking up and down the halls, bouncing on the birthing ball, laying in the bathtub etc. At 2 PM, over 8 hours after my water broke, I let them give me Pitocin to help move the labor along. The baby was posterior (face up) which complicated the labor. I labored for 4 ½ more hours until Joy Dianne arrived at 6:36 P.M. I pushed her out while on my hands and knees & pulled her up through my legs. I immediately thought she looked just like our Jacob James. She was full of “cottage cheese” & didn’t cry at all. I was so thankful to have her out that I didn’t think anything of it. My mother had arrived just in time, after driving 7 hours straight, to be there when Joy was born. I was proud to tell her that Joy’s middle name, Dianne, was because of her.

The nurse took her to check her out and tired to get her to cry a bit, she did a little, but still no one realized anything was wrong. Joy nursed on both sides which was beautiful and wonderful! When they checked her blood sugar it was very low – 24 – it should be above 45. I had gestational diabetes so they had some concerns for Joy as well. They said they needed to give her some formula orally. However when they attempted to feed her they noticed her breathing was labored. Our nurse called in another nurse just as our boys and Jim’s mom were arriving to see Joy. It was a real scary time for the boys to be in the room and they were only able to see her a few minutes before they quickly took her to the level 2 nursery at St. Francis. Most of the initial concern for Joy was that she may have been fighting an infection because of the group B strep that I had tested positive for in pregnancy. I went to see her in the nursery and wept when I saw that they had her hooked up to oxygen. The nurses told us that if Joy’s condition didn’t rapidly change that they would have to take her by ambulance to Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis. They were not equipped to handle Joy’s needs at St. Francis.

Joy’s condition did not improve and in fact, it steadily got worse. A team came from Children’s hospital to transport Joy. They arrived around 10 PM (3-4 hours after Joy was born) with four people and a lot of equipment. I was overwhelmed. Physically I was exhausted after just giving birth and emotionally I was a wreck. “What in the world was going on?” I had to sit down. Jim took me back to the room. The hospital agreed to discharge me so I could be with Joy and Jim in the hospital at Children’s. When we arrived at Children’s around midnight the ambulance still hadn’t arrived. Both Jim and I felt a sense of dread. “What if she didn’t make it? What if we weren’t there with her?” We sat in the hallway of the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) waiting for what seemed to be an eternity. Why was this happening? I began to second-guess everything in my pregnancy. Every detail was running through my mind. What could I have done differently?

The elevator doors opened and there they were wheeling a cart with Joy in her incubator / oxygen machine on it. Angela, who was a neonatal nurse practitioner, stopped by and talked with us. She told us that she had trouble with Joy’s oxygen / breathing & she was under such distress that they had to intubate her. We later found out that she had a pulmonary hemorrhage (bleeding from the lung) as a result of trying to get so much oxygen into her lungs. We finally got into Joy’s room with a team of people working on her. We were inundated with paper work and information. One of the doctors came in and said that Joy probably had an infection and that we would be here a week at the most but that she would ok – whew! Finally, we felt some relief.

We were told that we could stay in the room with Joy. They had a couch that folded out for Jim and me to sleep on. There was no room at the Ronald McDonald house (on the same floor as Joy’s intensive care room) and they had to prioritize those rooms based on needs of families. A social worker came and asked us what she could do for us. She was a wonderful advocate and explained all the wonderful things that Children’s offers to support families while they are with their children in the hospital. She gave us a $45 gift card for the Starz Café that the hospital provides for nursing / pumping mothers, a discount on parking, a breast pump to use, and evening meals at the Ronald McDonald house. Oh my goodness, what a blessing & amazing provision in our time of need. She also offered to look into getting us a night or two in the Ronald McDonald house if a room opened up but explained again they had to prioritize rooms based on need. Both Jim and I were so exhausted but we felt we could rest knowing that Joy was going to be ok. We tried to sleep on the futon but we were both restless – sick to our stomachs due to the traumatic events of the last 6 hours. I started praying right away. Wednesday night flowed into early Thursday morning and Jim and I got moments of sleep throughout the early morning hours.

Thursday was the worst day of my life to date. It was a roller coaster of information and emotions as things spiraled out of control throughout the day. One of the doctors had come by early in the morning to explain that Joy had something called pulmonary hypertension but not to look that up because it would freak us out. At the time, they considered Joy’s case mild and not one of the more drastic versions of pulmonary hypertension. It was a serious problem but the doctor didn’t want us to be unnecessarily concerned –whew – another glimpse of hope. They felt they were still able to help Joy recover and that she would be ok. Joy’s condition however got steadily worse. The doctors and nurses kept having to turn up Joy’s ventilator more and more until they couldn’t turn it up anymore. She developed a pneumothorax (hole in her lung) and one of her lungs had collapsed. They had to put a chest tube in her to let the air out. They told us that would help solve the problem. But Joy got worse.

It all came to head late in the afternoon on Thursday. We were in the room with Joy and one of her nurses. (There was never a single second while Joy was in the hospital when there wasn’t at least one nurse in her room looking over her constantly, not a second. The care Joy received was nothing short of extraordinary. Most of the time there were two or three people looking over Joy and taking care of her.) The nurse who was in the room at the time very calmly said to us, “I’m going to push a button & lots of people are going to come into the room now.” She pressed the button and people from all over came running to Joy’s room. CODE BLUE! They were losing her. Jim and I had to leave her room. We saw the look of concern on the nurses and doctor’s faces as we walked down the hall to find a place to sit. We waited.

The doctor came out to inform us that Joy’s condition was even more serious now. She had the most extreme case of pulmonary hypertension. Most of these medical words Jim and I had no idea what they were talking about. In the moments we had between doctors and nurses we would read pamphlets and look up definitions, risks and treatments for all the things they were telling us about Joy. The doctor said they could not keep ventilating her. We were going to have to make a decision, very quick. She told us that were going to have to put her on ECMO or “she wasn’t going to make it.” That was the first time we heard the words that we had been fearing in our hearts. Weeping does not adequately explain what we did and how we felt. We had no idea what ECMO was. Through our tears we quickly tried to read some information the doctor handed us to help us make our decision. ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) would become a lung bypass for Joy. They were going to operate on our infant girl, put two tubes into her neck. This machine would take over for Joy’s lungs. Instead of Joy’s lungs putting oxygen in her blood and taking carbon dioxide out her blood the ECMO machine would do it for her while her lungs remained dormant and hopefully healed.

The procedure and ECMO both carried with them considerable life threatening risks but we had no other option. It was either risk ECMO or Joy had no chance at all. We gave our consent and they said we could see her before they prepped her for surgery. Before that point we were not allowed to touch her but now Leann (our nurse on the horrific day) said to touch her. We touched her and prayed over her. We felt they were helping us to say goodbye to her. How does one convey enough love a parent has for their children in a few minutes with just a light touch? We cried (my tears were falling all over her), we prayed and we tried to hug her. They whisked us away and the doctor made sure that we were aware of the awful risks (brain damage, brain bleeds, seizures, hearing loss and often death). There was nothing we could do. It was up to God now.

By now, there was literally an army of people praying. The prayer network that developed for Joy was astonishing. We went down to the living room of the Ronald McDonald house to wait. We were joined there by my parents, Jim’s mom, his step dad, his dad, his brother and Tim and Sharon Whitmore. We sat there as we were praying tears flooded my face but truly God’s presence was filling my soul. My dad has long talked about something called the “dark night of the soul” the darkest moments are lives where God doesn’t calm the storm but calms His child. It is a peace that can only be experienced when all hope in self or man is absent and can only be found in Him. It is those moments where relationship with our heavenly father distances itself from man’s mere religions. While we were praying the manager of the Ronald McDonald house interrupted us and let us know that the doctor wanted to see us. That was the longest, most sobering walk of my life down three hallways to meet with the doctor. The last hallway seemed a mile long. At the end of the hallway we could see the doctor standing alone. We were trying to examine the doctor’s face and body language as we approached him. Our feet felt heavy. We didn’t know whether to run to find out the news or to run the other way.

Ps 144:3-4 “O LORD, what is man that You care for him, the son of man that You think of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.” (NIV)

Joy Part 2 "It's a girl!"

2011-11-25T15:31:00.001-06:00

A pregnant woman needs a lot of patience. There is a lot changes going on internally and lot she is faced with externally that can put any woman to the test. Externally, for example, there is a long list of annoying things people ask you or say to you during a pregnancy. Externally people are often well meaning in their attempt converse with a pregnant woman but encouragement isn’t high on their list of gifts. Some questions are standard and get asked over and over again: 1. When are you due? 2. Do you know what you are having? 3. Are the siblings excited? These questions can be expected but the quantity of the same questions can be overwhelming on any given day. On the other hand some of things people say are outrageously rude: 1. You are really starting to show now. 2. You look so tired, are you ok? 3. Wow, you look REALLY BIG, when are you going to pop? There should be a pamphlet or business card that every pregnant woman could carry around with her. Before people decided to open their big mouths, she could hand them a card with all the answers and some advice on what not to say to her. Do people even realize what is going on internally on a physical, mental and emotional level with this woman? Clearly they do not because through all four of our pregnancies Naomi had to face the bombardment of these questions over and over again.

The fourth pregnancy had to almost set Naomi over the edge. After having three boys, we should have been prepared for the countless questions regarding the gender of our expected fourth child. I could see behind Naomi’s smile as people asked, “Do you hope you are having a girl?” that there was a volcano just waiting to erupt. I would rescue her as often as I could, but the onslaught for her was relentless. We both felt like screaming at the top of our lungs, “Of course we do not really care if it is a boy or a girl!” Of all the things to be concerned about during a pregnancy, gender was very low on our list. Naomi failed her glucose test which meant changing her diet radically, checking her blood sugar and going on medication. She had a lot on her mind to take care of the precious child and she was becoming weary of the questioning.

With the exception of our 2nd child, we have found out the gender of all of our children prior to the birth. Naomi loves to be surprised. I like to be prepared. She sometimes asks me while I’m snooping around the house for Christmas presents, “Don’t you want to be surprised?” I say, “Yes I want to be surprised. I just want to be surprised EARLIER than you do.” Having a fourth child was surprise enough for both of us. We had long since given away all of our infant stuff (crib, stroller, high chair, car seat, toys, clothes, changing table etc.). We had arranged our home for our family of 5. So, with the surprise of being pregnant again, we both felt like we needed as much info on this baby as early as we could.

Jesus talks about our desires verses God’s desires, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matt 6:33-34 NIV). I paraphrase that verse for the students in our ministry, “Want what God wants, and then He will give you what you want.” Make your desires God’s desires and then He will give you what you desire. There have been plenty of times in my life, however, that I didn’t know what I wanted. I recall a few times as a young man that I was confident that a particular girl was the right one for me. I look back and I can see how I didn’t know what I wanted and so I’m thankful that I didn’t get what I thought I wanted. That is God’s grace. We don’t deserve that kind of sovereign interaction in our lives, but yet He does incredible things in our lives to help direct our steps towards His will.

People ask me about my call to ministry. “When did you know you wanted to go into youth ministry, to be a pastor?” I tell them that I didn’t know until I was already a youth pastor that I wanted to be a youth pastor. I remember very clearly as a junior in high school on a bus ride from Minnesota to Mexico two of the youth interns at our church talking to me. “Jim, what do you want to do with your life?” I told them that I didn’t know. “We think you should go into ministry,” they said. I thought that would be fine. Then they asked me where I was going to go to college. I told them that I didn’t know. They said I should go to Moody, and I agreed. That’s it, that’s my call to ministry. I didn’t know that is what I wanted, but God did. Years later, after I graduated from Moody, a pastor asked me to be the youth pastor at his church. Naomi and I prayed about it and we sensed that was God’s will for us. I had no idea that God was giving me the desires of my heart before I understood those desires.

I remember Naomi calling me after her ultrasound appointment. I could tell she was very emotional. I immediately thought that something was wrong. “What did the technician say? Is everything ok with the baby?” I asked her. Through the sobs, Naomi said some words I was not prepared to hear, “It’s a girl.” By now, Naomi and I were professionals at raising boys (i.e. managing chaos). I knew my roll with the boys and I felt like I was prepared to help them (having been a male for all of my life). “A girl!?” I thought. I felt like I was starting parenting all over again, totally unprepared. I gathered myself and asked Naomi, “Why are you crying, what’s wrong?” Naomi went on to tell me that nothing was wrong. She was overwhelmed with the joy of having a girl. She didn’t know that having a girl was important to her until she realized she was going to have one. God was giving each of us the desires of our hearts before we knew what they were.

How about you? Have you handed over your desires to God? Do you want what He wants? If you do, He will give you what you want.

Joy pt. 1 "Oops"

2011-11-17T21:13:00.000-06:00

I heard someone say once that if you wanted to make God laugh, then you should tell Him your plans. Naomi and I have each had many plans for our individual lives. I had a plan to become a professional football player and Naomi to sing duets with Sandi Patty and Amy Grant. How funny those plans must have been to an eternal God who sees all things past, present and future. That is not to say we did not seek God for our future. I remember praying A LOT for a Godly wife. Naomi remembers praying for God’s direction on whether to go to Moody Bible Institute or go to Concordia on scholarship. There were several situations in our lives for which we asked God to direct our steps. When we got married, our individual plans were now attached at the hip to each other. For many couples, this can be a source of tension and even division, not so with Naomi and me. We were satisfied to go where God led us—together. We did, however, have our moments of doubt. After graduating Moody, I was working as a security guard in the city of Chicago and Naomi was a waitress in the suburbs. “God, is this the reason you wanted us to go to Moody?” we would ask. We were content to be a Godly security guard, waitress, or whatever He wanted, but it still seemed confusing at the time.

We realized we were so young when we look back on those first few years together. We had just enough wisdom to survive and only by God’s grace have we made it thus far. We had ideas of the home we would live in, the jobs we would have and what our future family would be like. When God called us into ministry, we were so thrilled, humbled and anxious. We knew enough to ask others to keep praying for us. Praise God that they interceded on our behalf. We had a desire to start a family together. We didn’t pray about it, we just started trying. After all, we knew God’s blessing that comes through children. Unfortunately, we had a hard time getting pregnant. Now we started to pray, “God will you help us get pregnant?” After Dr. Love (no lie, that was his name) performed a minor surgery on Jim, Naomi got pregnant a short time later. Josiah was born in December 1998. However, Josiah needed a sibling, we thought, so in May 2001, Jesse was born.

This was an anxious time for our country (Sept. 2001) and our lives. It was during the next two years that we started praying for God’s direction for our futures. We sensed that God might be calling us out of our church to something else. I remember being very frustrated with ministry and frustrated that God had not made our next steps clear. I wanted to be faithful in the moments but was constantly thinking about what may be next. Naomi was feeling it too. Finally, in the summer of 2003, I had enough. I felt like I was trying to live two lives. I was so consumed with wrestling with the questions of what may be next that I had less and less focus on the here and now. I had stopped surrendering my “todays” to God and I was dictating to Him my “tomorrows”. At the beginning of the summer of 2003, I remember making a very conscious decision to live for God in the “todays”. I remember surrendering my “todays” and “tomorrows” to God. I soon found a peace and contentment about my present as well as my future. God used a worship leader conference that summer in Naomi’s life and a conference I was attending with students to grab our attention. There were some more things He wanted us each to surrender. We did surrender and God moved in our lives and opened the doors for our future ministry at our current church. God called us to a new church. God's timing was perfect - we couldn't have planned it better if we had tried.

Naomi wanted more children , but I felt like we were done. I came from a small family with only one sibling and Naomi had three siblings. We talked about it but not really coming to an agreement. Naomi got the desire of her heart and Jacob was born in January 2006. I remember apologizing to Naomi repeatedly. How could I ever have NOT wanted another child? Our family was now five —mom, dad, and the JCrew (Josiah, Jesse and Jacob). That was it. That would be our family. Naomi was 35, Jim 37, Josiah 12, Jesse 10 and Jacob was 5. Naomi and I were both looking forward to the freedoms of having older children. We started making new plans together. God was smiling. Both Naomi and I were stunned when she missed her period, but not nearly as stunned as we would be to hear the ultrasound technician say, “It’s a girl”.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8

How should I reach out to my friend of another faith?

2011-06-24T09:04:00.001-05:00

This is the 2nd question from one of our students at Youth Alpha 2011.

Question #2 How should I reach out to my friend of another faith?

How do dinosaurs fit into the Bible?

2011-06-24T09:00:00.002-05:00

This was the first question we received from the Youth Alpha Class 2011. Our desire is that we would post the question and then interact with the responses.

Question #1 How do dinosaurs fit into the Bible?

My hope and prayer for you - Christmas 2010

2010-12-25T19:18:00.004-06:00

I hope for you all that you have something greater in your life to celebrate than just a day. I hope your celebration can't be contained in a day. I hope what you celebrate is broader than the scope of your geography, larger than your nationality, and reaches far beyond all the days of your life. I hope that the celebration in your life causes you to share it with everyone you meet. I hope that your celebration is supernatural. I pray that you find celebration in a gift you didn't deserve, a gift that will forever change you from the inside out. I pray that your celebration is God demonstrating His love for us that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. I pray that you call on the name of Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Celebrate!

The Test Was a Sham

2010-03-16T12:13:00.004-05:00

I recently was confronted with an argument from a non-believer concerning the Garden of Eden. I felt that was interesting in and of itself, that we were discussing what I thought they had already ruled out as a fairy tale. The question came up as to God's intentions when He set before Adam and Eve the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Gen 2:16-17
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;
17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
(NIV)

The individual was referencing a blog written by John Loftus. His blog is entitled "Debunking Christianity" and the title of his post was "The Test in the Supposed Garden of Eden Was a Sham" In it he states his contention with God's intentions and the validity or integrity of the "test" as he calls it.

If under the same initial test conditions in the supposed Garden of Eden every human being would fail that test, then either, 1) God created us faulty in some way, or 2) The test was a sham. And since a fair test would mean some of us would not have sinned, then some human beings are being punished in this world for something they never would have done in the first place. This is just one of many problems that keeps me from believing.

Several assumptions have to be made with this argument.

1. If I had been there I wouldn’t have failed the test nor would other “innocent” people who are being unfairly punished

2. God made man faulty and thereby it was impossible to pass the test.

3. God is judging man (all men) because of the sin of one man

4. God’s "test" wasn’t fair – He tricked Adam and Eve

The first one can’t be qualified and thereby speculation doesn’t prove the point – just trying using it in a court of law once and see how that works out.

The second one demands that God makes men with only the ability to do good (and thereby not be able to choose evil). However, that would require that God remove the ability of men to choose freely between good and evil - that would be a sham - I couldn't choose at all.

The last two are false assumptions and do not reflect an accurate picture of what the Bible clearly teaches. The Bible clearly shows that it is our own personal sin that separates us from a Holy God – it is our choices and our selfishness. We are part of the “evil” that we want God to rid the world of. Romans chapters 1-3 give a thorough treatment on the subject. Also to say the test wasn’t fair or that they were tricked is a very shallow argument. God had made it clear and had given them everything else they needed to make the right good choice (we do the same – today). One writer put it this way

“After all, the bar seems pretty low. Beautiful garden. Good looking spouse. Having every earthly need met. This all looks like a pretty good gig. God simply asked the couple to leave one tree alone and to eat whatever they want from any other. Of course, you could complain about the clever, talking snake but that wouldn’t help you anymore than it helped Adam or Eve. So here was the deal: Leave the tree alone. That’s it. Leave it alone and everything goes on without an issue, but touch it and die. That doesn’t sound so hard. Yet evidently it was hard and the Bible says that you and I would do no better. How can we prove this? In one sense, we can’t. We can’t take a test that’s never offered nor will ever be offered to us. In another sense, we prove it everyday – as each of us harbor nasty habits that always rebels against some authority. Speed Limit, anyone?”

Notice also that God also gives a picture of redemption and hope once the consequences had be enacted.

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." (NIV)

Who was it that would “crush the serpent’s head”? Clearly referring to Christ’s atonement for our sins. If anything in this isn’t’ fair it is that - Christ paying the price for the penalty I deserve. I make the bad choices – I deserve the consequences of those choices but God offers forgiveness even though I don’t deserve them – that is Grace and Mercy and that isn’t fair – I don’t deserve that.

Fellowship of the King

2010-02-02T11:41:00.006-06:00

We've started a new series at the River on Sunday nights called The
Fellowship of the King. We will be exploring a unique group of people in the 1st century and discover how with God's grace they not only transformed the entire Roman Empire but the whole world as well. I was reminded of this fellowship concept while watching the Lord of the Rings triology. (yes, I do realize how much of my life I spent watching those movies and yes, I do know there are better uses of my time) The Fellowship was a unique group brought together for a unique purpose. Pastor Keith Missel, lead pastor at Friendship Church, wrote this summary of the fellowship.

"The fellowship of the Ring is made up of individuals of distinct origin and ridiculous diversity that exceed any of our ethnic or social differences: four hobbits, tiny beings with large, hairy, shoeless feet—Frodo Baggins and his friends Merry, Sam, and Pippin; two men, warriors of the first rank always dressed for battle —Boromir of Gondor and Aragon, son of Arathorn II, King of Gondor, one wizard, Gandalf the ancient nemesis of evil and a repository of wisdom and supernatural power; an elf, Legolas, from a fair race of archers of the forest with pointed ears; and a dwarf, Gimli, a stout hairy, axe-wielding creature from the dark chambers under the mountains.
The nine members of the fellowship bore few affinities. However, the nine very different individuals were BOUND TOGETHER BY THEIR GREAT MISSION to defeat the forces of darkness and save Middle–Earth. As a result they became inseparable and their covenant indissoluble.
Such can be OUR FELLOWSHIP when we PRIORITIZE OUR MISSION and PARTNERSHIP IN the gospel."

I hope you will be able to join us as we look into the book of Acts and the record of what God did in and through the 1st century believers in Christ

To Save a Life Movie

2010-01-22T12:20:00.002-06:00

I had the opportunity to preview this movie over a month ago and I was very impressed. I think the content of the movie may be for high school students (specifically) and older. The message of the movie resonates with the passion of my life - rescuing high school students. I highly recommend you see this movie.

http://tosavealifemovie.com/win.php

Bloodmoney movie

2009-08-27T10:47:00.005-05:00

While Naomi and I were in Chicago last week we were approached by volunteers from Planned Parenthood on 2 separate occasions. Each time we were approached were asked if, "we could spare some time in support of Planned Parenthood" at which Naomi and I responded in unison, "NO WAY!" We walked away after the first time discussing how us spending one second of support for planned parenthood was the biggest joke of all time. Support the killing of unborn defenseless children all in the name of convenience, selfishness and financial gain. You've got to be kidding. NO way! Not a chance. By the second time I could feel my blood boiling, BOILING! I was thankful there wasn't a third.

3 summers ago I had the opportunity to visit Auschwitz in Poland. I have spent a great deal of time studying history, specifically Jewish history as well as the history of World War 2. After all that I knew going into Auschwitz I was still stunned. It was MASSIVE. I could not believe how large it was. It was well organized. It looked efficient. UGH. I don't know if I'll ever recover from it. 60 years ago the Germans argued that the Jews were less than human. Therefore they were justified in killing over 6 million Jews. 30 years later the United States justified killing children because they did not consider them to be human. The death toll around the world due to abortion makes World War 2 look like a footnote is the history of murder.

I did not have one second to spare in support of Planned Parenthood last week. I do, however, have many opportunities in direct opposition of Planned Parenthood to direct people toward the truth about abortion. I recently came across a movie that has yet to be released called, "Bloodmoney". I am intrigued to see what this movie reveals about the truth and I'm hopeful if helps turn the tide against abortion in our country.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYaTywSDmls

Pride can be a national sin as well.

2009-08-11T12:54:00.005-05:00

A quote from Abraham Lincoln from a speech given in 1863.

We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!

The consequences of pride can be felt on an individual level as well as on a national level.

A Neglected Theology

2009-08-05T21:32:00.005-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGMG_PVaJoI

The theology of suffering still eludes many within the Body of Christ. This neglect seems to be localized within the United States but has spread to many other countries with the rise of the "prosperity gospel". It is natural for men to pursue their own self interests. However, there seems to be less and less distinction from the natural ways of the world and what should be the salt and light of the Church. The desires, goals, values of the church should be radically different from the world that surrounds it.

I know I am often prone to comfort and indifference. I can sense the hypocrisy as I type on the laptop and the T.V. plays for noise in the background. I go out of my way to avoid pain or conflict. I find myself often claiming my rights to what I feel I deserve. I've felt the pressure of churches who are typically more interested in numerical growth than real authentic spiritual growth that challenges people to Go and Make Disciples. These attitudes and values have infiltrated the church like a virus. I thank God that Friendship is often making choices to do the right/righteous thing which is often not the popular thing.

The reason I posted this link was to remind myself and anyone else who cares to watch it of the importance of "brokenness" or what the speaker calls anguish. If we pursue comfort, our own rights, and embrace a consumerism what will our churches look like in the end. This is a theme I have been trying to drill into our students over the past 24 months. Brokenness over our sin and brokenness over those who are lost and desperate without a Savior. This is the beginning of calling. This is the beginning of selfless service. This is the foundation for the grace and forgiveness that needs to be extended. This is what motivates young people to deny self and pray desperate prayers for their friends. We don't need better music, better dramas, or better multimedia we desperately need the desperate prayers of broken students.

The Christy Nockels song Hosanna says, "break our hearts for what breaks Yours" I couldn't agree more. I believe this to be the most dangerous prayer a young Christian can pray.

Pray that we as a church accurately teach and model this theology in our church.

Dawkins Delusion

2009-06-10T17:09:00.004-05:00

I thought this was spot on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QERyh9YYEis&feature=PlayList&p=EA2D863160AFCFDE&index=13

No Choice?!

2009-02-01T09:40:00.002-06:00

I am discovering that in spite of me reorganizing my life to line up with my final 30 days there are a number of things that are out of my control. Certainly the way people treat me or respond to me is out of my control. I also realized that there are a number of my choices that are not really a choice at all. There are things that I have to do during my final 30 days. If I do not do these things I will limit my choices and goals in other areas of my life. I have to eat, sleep, go to the bathroom, drive the speed limit, brush my teeth and a number of other things. You could argue that some of these things I don't have to do but as I said before, if I do not do these things they will limit my freedom in other areas of life. I spent some time today reflecting on God's boundaries for my life. When God says to do one thing in His Word or to avoid another He is actually providing me a path that leads to the MOST FREEDOM in my life.

God's Word says If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:31b-32 (NIV)

We are often resistant to the "requirements" that life, someone else and often God puts in our life. The truth is that if we realize that these things ADD to even our final days will discover the LIFE that God has for us EACH DAY.

Distractions

2009-01-28T16:38:00.003-06:00

Well it didn't take long to become completely distracted on my final 30 day mission. If only I could be a little more like my wife. Naomi has the ability to be completely focused on one and only thing. Everything else sacrifices and is put off to fuel that single minded mentality. I would ascribe it on a positive note much like a pregnant woman. The baby inside will demand everything it needs and can often have harmful effects on the mother as a result. God protects that child in the woman by demanding that the body prioritizes all its resources to help it grow healthy. This can also be seen in the evils of some diseases and viruses. They actually demand resources and a prioritization to help them grow and destroy their host. I can see so many examples of how focus and clarity bring an energy and passion to accomplish what needs to be done. So why can't I focus my mind for 16 hours in a day? I got so distracted yesterday. They were little things that took over the whole. I looked back on yesterday and I had to say to myself,

"That was one of my last days!? What do I have to show for it?"

The Bible give us a clear challenge with focusing our thoughts and thereby focusing our lives.

2 Cor 10:55 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.(NIV)

Take captive? We go after our thoughts and make them obey. Wow. How is this possible? My mind so often wonders. I understand books have been written on the subject. This 30 days really brings some things into focus. It brings what is important to focus and what is not. It determines the absolutely essesiantal that can't be put aside and the disease of distractions that have to be cut out and destroyed. It only took a few days to become almost completely distracted - to forget - to waste time - to become weary and tell myself to take a break. It reminds us that time is running out and I just lost 1 more day that I can't get back.

Disappointed

2009-01-27T09:37:00.003-06:00

Yesterday was not what I had hoped for or imagined it could be. The beginning of my last 30 days on earth started with the painful sound of the alarm clock. I was determined to start the day with my Bible along with the several other books I am currently reading. I wanted to exercise to feel that sense of energy that comes from accomplishment. If this is my last 30 days why am I struggling to go after all these final goals for my life. Then it hit me. There are 2 problems with this 30 day journey that I'm going to have to overcome quickly if I am going to get anything out of it. Problem number 1: No one cares. If this was my last 30 days I would imagine SOMEONE would care. I might be getting phone calls, emails, visits from friends, cards in the mail all trying to communicate tearful goodbyes. Nope - didn't happen. Why is this an important to overcome either in reality or in the 30 day experiment? Well if it was really my last 30 days and I did receive all those tearful goodbyes I might be distracted into thinking my life focus is "me". I might spend several hours, or a day or possibly a week depending on how self indulgent I am, focusing on what my life had accomplished and become satisfied with all I had done. In the 30 day experiment I feel a sense of sorrow that seemingly no one cares. This however I have discovered refocuses me that my final 30 days should not be wasted on the "self centered" pride in all the things "I've done" but rather it should be a "selfless" mindset of all I have yet to do for others. Problem number 2: I've already clued you in on the 2Nd problem with the 30 day experiment that I realized yesterday morning and ever increasingly throughout the day. The second problem is that "it is not real". If it were REALLY my last 30 days I would do many things DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT. I definitely would not have gone to my Monday morning meeting (no offense to my coworkers). I certainly would not have gone to volleyball. I know for certain I would have pulled my boys out of school for the next 30 days and made it my primary mission to love, teach, and disciple them. I could think of nothing else more important in my final 30 days that giving everything I had left to my family and modeling Christ for them. These 2 epiphanies however have changed today (day 2 - 29 days left) for me. They have focused my values, tasks and emotions into great clarity. I know what I should adjust and make changes to accommodate these priorities. I am a little disappointed that you didn't call or write but I am thankful that you didn't at the same time. It has allowed me to not become distracted and self centered. I am also thankful for the things in my day yesterday that choked out what I really wanted to do. It was that tension that really helped my discover what I really wanted in my last 30 days.

One Month to Live - Day 1 - Begin with the End

2009-01-25T21:07:00.002-06:00

Beginning anything new is difficult. The problem with most beginnings is we neglect to think through what it will cost to follow through. It is not simply enough to have passion in life there must also be wisdom. (Luke 14:28-30) So let me ask you as you begin the next 30 days like they were your last 30 days to consider how you want to end. Considering the ending will help you trace your way back to the beginning.

"Death is more universal than life; everyone dies but not everyone lives." - Alan Sachs

I am a big fan of history. When we had expanded cable I could easily watch the History Channel, A&E or the Discovery Channel and be lost in the stories. I find it so interesting how when someone looks back on a life they can see the passions that were pursued, the sacrifices that were made, and the relationships that were prioritized. How would you want to summarize your life? What would you want to be remembered for? During the next 30 days, if you could leave your mark, what message you like to send out as a memorial for your life? Begin with the End in mind.

One Month To Live - Introduction

2009-01-25T11:15:00.004-06:00

What if you only had 1 month left to live? What would you do differently? How would you spend your resources? What legacy would you want to leave behind? How would you go about doing that? Would you plan your days or just let them happen? What regrets would you have? What things would you want to change that are out of your control? What picture / metaphor best describes your life right now? What are you waiting for?
The truth for most of us is that we would live radically different lives if we knew for certain that we have 30 days left. We will spend the next 30 days journing together to see what needs to change in our lives maximize the days we've been given.
What are your thoughts?

Don't let the title fool you

2008-11-04T12:19:00.003-06:00

Conversations with God by Neale D. Walsch

The author purports to answer various questions asked by kids using the 'voice of God'. However, the 'answers' that he gives are not Bible-based and go against the very infallible word of God.

For instance (and I paraphrase),
1) When a girl asks the question 'Why am I a lesbian?' His answer (as the voice of God is that she was 'born that way' because of genetics (just as you were born right-handed, with brown eyes, etc.). Then he tells her to go out and 'celebrate' her differences.

2) Another girls poses the question 'I am living with my boyfriend. My parents say that I should marry him because I am living in sin. Should I marry him?' His reply is, 'Who are you sinning against? Not me, because you have done nothing wrong.'

3) Another question asks about God's forgiveness of sin. His reply 'I do not forgive anyone because there is nothing to forgive. There is no such thing as right or wrong and that is what I have been trying to tell everyone, do not judge people. People have chosen to judge one another and this is wrong, because the rule is ''judge not lest ye be judged.'

Not only are these books the false doctrine of the devil, but in some instances quote (in error) the Word of God.

And the list goes on. These books (and others like it) are being sold to schoolchildren through (The Scholastic Book Club), and we need to be aware of what is being fed to our children.

Odis R. Phillips

Barringer's Blog: Courageous Leadership

2008-06-17T14:07:00.000-05:00

Barringer's Blog: Courageous Leadership

Boats and Bibles
June 10, 2008
What does it take to be a LEADER?

1. COURAGE
2. CONSISTANCY
3. CHARACTER
4. INITIATIVE
5. SERVANT
6. STRATEGY
7. DESPERATE

Examples of Courageous Leadership?

Isaiah 41:10; 43

1 Samuel 17

Joshua 1

Courageous Leadership

2008-06-12T13:54:00.005-05:00

Boats and Bibles this year for our Juniors and Seniors is focusing on leadership. Leadership is not for the spectator or for those who are content to watch life happen around them. Leadership is for those who want to make a difference. They see problems as opportunities to rise to the occasion. They are the opposite of the complainer. They do not know the definition of boredom. Leaders make it happen.

Leadership is not for the faint of heart. There is high risk in leadership because as soon as some one steps up to lead a target is painted on them. The critics come out of the shadows to complain about the goals and the means by which those goals are being reached. These critics would not think to raise a finger to help solve problems but rather they feel satisfaction only in pointing out the negatives. The critic loves a leader because it gives them an object in which to focus their energy.

Most students do not desire to step into leadership for that very reason. They don't want a long line of critics they want to FIT IN. Why would they risk their comfort for a problem that needs to be solved or for a cause that people may not believe in. Leaders can be very unpopular and the risk of rejection and criticism is great. Very few students can define what exactly their life's purpose is. Why do they get out of bed, what drives them, what are the passionate about. Students have a difficult time articulating their convictions. Often they will leave much in their lives open to negotiation and have therefore allowed themselves to be led rather than being the leader. Therein lies the two obstacles to a student becoming a leader the fear of rejection from their peers and a cause they can really believe in.

So where does the COURAGE to LEAD come from for the student? This past Tuesday we discovered in the story of David and Goliath that the courage comes from a God that is bigger than our obstacles. This God of the Bible defines our purpose for living. That same God also call us to make ourselves AVAILABLE to His leading in our lives. Where does David find the COURAGE to lead the Israelites in standing against Goliath? He finds it in a God that he has already experienced in his life and by making himself AVAILABLE to His leading.

Upcoming Movie

2008-02-13T12:51:00.003-06:00

Hey check out this website and let me know what you think about this upcoming movie.

http://www.expelledthemovie.com/video.php

Lame Duck Leadership

2008-01-30T13:45:00.001-06:00

Hey Juniors and Seniors want to avoid being a Lame Duck Leader? Here on some practical ways to INVEST or POUR into someone else's life. Feel free to add to the list with your own comments.

1. Give them a ride (offer before they ask)
2. Call them on their Birthday
3. Take them to McDonald's for a Happy Meal, who doesn't like that?
4. Invite them to eat dinner with you and your family one night.
5. Tutor them (a.k.a. help them with their homework)
6. Bring them a can of soup when they are sick
7. Send them and email with a "God Centered" challenge
8. Say, "Hi" to them at school
9. Pray for them
10. Memorize a Bible Verse with them
11. Ask them about their Non-Christian friends, who they are and what they are doing about that.
12.
13.

RETREAT!

2008-01-24T15:48:00.000-06:00

Retreat!? That doesn't sound like a real good rallying point for anyone in the battle. "you want us to retreat? You want us to go backward, to give up territory?" It is difficult for soldiers in the midst of battle to understand the strategic advantages of retreating. However, some of the most famous battles in history have been won because the commanders had portions of their forces retreat. Why would a youth pastor challenge his group to "RETREAT". It is true that we are in a battle but not against flesh & blood, it's a spiritual battle. We prioritize a couple times a year for our group to gain a strategic advantage during the battle by retreating.
Retreat = repair, renew, re-energize, restore, recover & regroup. Don't miss this opportunity to retreat with us for just a few days in February. You won't regret it.

Christmas 2007 "Its not about me"

2007-12-18T20:37:00.000-06:00

Why don't you share your story with us on how you are making this Christmas NOT ABOUT YOU.

Thankful

2007-12-18T20:28:00.000-06:00

I justed wanted to say how thankful I am to everyone who overwhelmed me with so many fantastic gifts. In over 12 years of youth ministry I've never recieved gifts like those. I felt really akward considering I just got done saying Christmas is not about me in my message. Rarely in my life am I speechless but Sunday night I was. Friendship you are the best youth group in the world!

My Heroes

2007-11-26T13:30:00.000-06:00

I am so proud of so many of you over the past month. I've checked out your websites, listened in on your conversations and watched your behavior. So many of you are actually making the changes you said you wanted to after the Fall Retreat. I've seen some of you in your "about me" sections on your websites have put "its not about me"! Way to go. I've observed many of you bringing friends to the River and to other youth group events. Some of you are going out of your way to serve others. Many of you have forgiven people and have reconciled old relationships.

I wanted to point out one guy in particular this past week. It is difficult to single out just one person in a group of students that I think are so incredible. However, I feel like what he did was so outstanding I want us all to celebrate. Many of you brought friends to the Turkey Bowl this year. I hope they had fun. Craig Larson went out and rallied his friends (7 of them) and got them to come to the Turkey Bowl this year! There were many stories on that day that I am celebrating who you invited but I thought we should all pat Craig on the back and say, "way to go". He took a risk and we should all encourage him for doing it.

What about you? Who are the HEROES you've seen over the past month that you want to celebrate how they are proving "its not about me"?

Baptism

2007-11-08T15:23:00.000-06:00

Why get baptised? Duh because Jesus commands people to "believe and be baptised". Notice the order. Baptism is something Christians do AFTER they believe. It is an opportunity to share publicly your commitment to Jesus Christ. Baptism is a symbol of "I no longer live (under water) but now its Christ living within me (raised from the water)" It is a symbol of the new life we have in Jesus Christ. You also get to ask everyone in the audience to hold you accountable to being a Christ follower.

Why wouldn't a believer get baptised!

Anyone want to share their story of baptism?

Fall Retreat

2007-10-30T12:46:00.000-05:00

How long can you go? How long can you go keeping the commitments you made on the Fall Retreat? How long can you go before you stop reading your Bible? How long was it before you placed yourself as the most important thing in your life?

Now what? Give up? Wait until next year or at least until Winter Retreat? Call someone? Start again?

Is God just God on Fall Retreat?

Scary Movies

2007-10-24T10:56:00.000-05:00

Well its about that time again for every movie theater and every television channel to focus on Halloween. Valley fair transforms into Valley Scare and I pass by the Trail of Terror on my way home from work. I know the boys elementary school has some activities associated with this as well. Don't worry this isn't another "Halloween is the devil's holiday" rant, most of you already know my take on that. It does however seem incredibly unbalanced to focus attention on Halloween but stores, schools, and city councils are afraid to mention Merry Christmas, go figure.
I am however curious with the fascination of scary movies. I do not understand the joy or thrill that comes from glorifying evil & watching humans being murdered or mutilated.

Phil 4:88 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things.(NIV)

What are your thoughts?

Movie Reviews

2007-01-22T13:13:00.000-06:00

Before you go see a movie, you should check out an online review at http://www.pluggedinonline.com/

The Real You

2007-01-22T11:46:00.000-06:00

So I was checking in on a few MySpaces of people I know. Well I thought I knew them but it seems that their space is really different from the person I thought I knew. So which is the real you. Is you the you that everyone sees or is the real you the one you try to present on MySpace? Myspace really creates a dilema. Is it an alter ego, the fantasy of who you wish to be, the person you are trying to hide from real people, or are you trying to be different people in different situations?

Don't worry I'm not the MySpace police. I would rather you be honest and real. That's what I'm looking for. But first perhaps some should be honest with themselves - who they really are.

What are your thoughts?