Adam Barnett

Heavenly Sound - Sneak Peak #3

Here's a preview of the 13 tracks that will be on the Heavenly Sound album. 

Heavenly Sound - Sneak Peak #2

Here is one of the tracks from the Heavenly Sound album - it is a friend of ours from Haiti (Claudel) singing Amazing Grace in Creole (Grace Infinie). The CD's will be available to purchase @ Journey Church before Christmas! Enjoy! 

01 Grace Infinie (mp3)

Good Seats!

Went to the Thunder game on Friday... had great seats and actually got to sit next to Kevin Durant's brother and Hardin's father during the game. 

  

Heavenly Sound - Sneak Peak #1

This year, the Lord gave me an incredible vision to bring international worship home with me to share with others. In mid-December, we will have albums produced that have 13 tracks from 5 different countries for you to purchase and enjoy! 100% of the money that this album makes will be given directly back to the people and places that we recorded. This is possible because the church chose to fund this project!

 

Scenic Route... Really?

If you read a few posts ago, you noticed that Andrea and I took Ellie on her first road trip last week. On our way home, we drove through the scenic route of the Arbuckle Mountains in southern Oklahoma. This is a picture of one of the stops on the scenic route. Lame. Oklahoma has good people, sweet tea, plenty of deer and football. That's about it. 

Acts of Righteousness

"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them.  If you do you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."  Matthew 6:1

These 'acts of righteousness' that Jesus is teaching on in Matthew 6:1-8; 16-18 are (1) giving, (2) praying and (3) fasting.  Scripture shows how to accomplish a disciplined lifestyle of giving, praying and fasting in a way that only glorifies the Lord and never seeks personal recognition or honor. This is easier said than done because the majority of us care to some extent if/when others see our acts of righteousness.   

While this challenge is difficult enough, here's another concept that is currently consuming my thoughts and evaluation of... self. 

1. If everyone gives the way I give, would the church be empowered or limited?
2. If everyone prays the way I pray, would the church be empowered or limited? 
3. If everyone fasts the way I fast, would the church be empowered or limited? 

Personally, I know that I'm not grading in these three categories as high as I'd like to. It is something to dwell on and... well, pray about - that I could be disciplined enough to give, pray and fast in a way that if everyone imitated me (as Paul says in 1 Corinthians), the church would thrive. 

Ellie's First Road-trip!

We took Ellie on her first road-trip this weekend.  We went to Dallas to the Lead Now Conference and loved every minute of it! Of course, it is a different experience when some of the time, you're less concentrated on the conference and more concentrated on Ellie's hungry tummy or full diapers. At one point, during Matt Chandler's session, Ellie blew out her diaper and passed gas so loudly, people multiple rows away were looking our direction.  Once they realized the "toots" were coming from our sweet Ellie, they minded their own business.  All that to say, she did a great job and as you can see in this pic, loves her car-seat!!!  

I Don't Own a Universe...

I was just reading in Francis Chan's Crazy Love about how the Lord is fair and just... in ALL circumstances. He says, "But to put it bluntly, when you get your own universe, you can make your own standards.  When we disagree, let's not assume it's His reasoning that needs correction." 

Think about that - when we disagree with the Lord's "fairness," he has a response that is much stronger than our disagreement.  For example, "God, why are so many people dying of starvation?"  If I ever said that to God, he can fairly turn the question back around on me and say, "Adam, why are you allowing so many people to die of starvation?"  

So, in those moments that I don't understand or agree what is happening to me or around me, I must remember that I'm borrowing my own body for x-amount of years and paying rent to occupy a space on this earth. Nothing belongs to me.  I own nothing.  I deserve nothing.  When those things sink in, God becomes more just and fair, spiritually and intellectually. 

Person vs. Purpose

I got an encouraging email from a friend the other day that said she was praying for Andrea and me as we continue to learn about parenting.  She said something very profound that has challenged me and consumed me since the moment I read it: "Don't raise a person; raise a purpose." I've thought a lot more about this and here are a few things I've thought of: 

Raising a person leads to fear.  Raising a purpose promotes boldness and courage. 

Raising a person limits creativity.  Raising a purpose promotes dreaming wildly. 

Raising a person is ownership.  Raising a purpose is knowing what belongs to the Lord. 

Raising a person creates worry.  Raising a purpose is to fully trust the Lord. 

Raising a person is to define a future.  Raising a purpose allows freedom and choice. 

Raising a person is selfish.  Raising a purpose is to promote God's desires. 

Raising a person is defined.  Raising a purpose keeps one open to the Holy Spirit. 

Raising a person requires plans.  Raising a purpose requires following God's direction. 

Raising a person can be done alone.  Raising a purpose requires the body of Christ. 

Raising a person is stressful.  Raising a purpose is to be filled with the joy of the Lord.

Raising a person is boring.  Raising a purpose is full of anticipation! 

Raising a person can be done with luck.  Raising a purpose requires prayer. 

Raising a person lacks purpose.  Raising a purpose promises a fruitful life! 

... So, Lord, help Andrea and I (and those around us who love Ellie) to raise more than just a person, but a daughter with a purpose to shake things up in this world!  Amen. 

Who's to Blame?

This week, Craig Gross, founder of XXXChurch, spoke a few times at Journey.  I was especially encouraged to see almost 100 men from our church attend Craig's motivating message against pornography called Porn and Pancakes.  

One thing that Craig said when he was here that really challenged me is this: "Don't blame the darkness for being dark.  Blame the light for not going into the darkness."  Wow.  What a convicting thought! It isn't people's fault, necessarily, for not knowing the Truth and Hope found in Christ... but it is more MY FAULT for not being more active with the Gospel in those places of darkness. 

One example he gave is that of men that have been accused of child-molestation. These men can be located through different websites so that you can check to make sure one doesn't live in your neighborhood.  It isn't bad to look to see if any live in your neighborhood, but if one does, you should not only protect your children from him, but also, go befriend that person and show them the love of Christ.  

So, who's to blame?  Me.