The Legand and HUGE Respect

One of my favorite people in the entire is Jack Dyer, Aka (The Legend)when we talk about people in the Ministry who have laid it all on the line and lived a life on the Edge for Christ we talk about Brother Jack. He is the Modern day Christ following Indiana Jones. He has done everything from flying his old 2 seater plane into war zones delivering medical supplies to churches in Honduras and hospitals, to living in India for 7 years after living in Honduras for 23. He is an Engineer by trade and also was in the Army, and owned some of the top Arabian Horses in the World at one point. Brother Jack over the past year has really become a spiritual father to me, just investing time towards my growth that I'm honestly not at all worthy to recieve. He told me a couple days ago that all he wants to do before he passes away is devote the rest of his time to the Church and the Elevate students,what a heart, most people after retiring would rather chill and pick up a hobby or something but that just speaks Huge volumes about his heart and the man of God he is. Thanks Brother Jack your such a blessing.

We also had the Awesome priveledge of being able to serve at the Special Olympic Tennis Qualifying Matches today. I have to say that I have a whole new respect for what these amazing individuals accomplish. Tam, the guy I spent time with today got a chance to show Musso and me the way it all works, and how hard it really is. It was so much harder than it looks, Tam was blasting serves down my neck I couldent keep up for anything. HUGE Respect, Tam had such a great heart, his outlook and perspective on life really challanged me to live in everything I do with a new attitude of Thankfulness and a greater heart to serve others. When I saw how happy the guys were out there today it made me think, God has blessed me so much do I truly live with an Attitude of thankfulness as much as I should. Thats a lesson I'm learning and trying to get better at every day. I'm thankful for Tam, and I hope that I can keep the attitude of Joy he had everyday.


Musso wipped out trying to go to fast.

3 weeks Till Africa, The Barbarian Way

I cant tell you how absolutely excited and filled with expectation I am right now, we are only three weeks away from going back to where my heart resides AFRICA. And if I'm completly honest I must say there has not been a day that has gone by since the last trip that I have not thought about the faces or the the beautiful children and people there. In the past few years I have come to the realization that I am pretty wild at Heart, always wanting to be on the move and travel, Challanging myself to new levals of faith and going to places never thought of. I have always had this desire to see every country in the world and share the Gospel there, but there has been something about Africa that has absolutly captured my heart. I am reading this book right now by Erwin McManus called The Barbarian Way and I feel like I should be right in the center, my depest desire is to be like this calling, radical, extreme, sometimes on the brink of insanity when it comes to sharing about Jesus. But the one thing I want the most is to preach this message with my life more than my words, be willing to go wherever and do whatever for Christ. Africa, this land, these people, the children, they have all brought me to a whole new level of Love and a whole new leval of faith. I know that on the outside my biggest struggle is learning how to take that passion on the inside and share it with others with out tearing down the house. I've been told that Im kinda like a horse that is pulling a waggon and the owner lost the reigns and I just took off. Now that sounds pretty bad but they told me it's better to be slowed down than it is to have to try and beg someone to get started. It's tough for me alot of times, wanting to just let it all out but not knowing how. Africa, when my heart goes there it is all laid out and barely a word is even said. When my eyes see what struggle is upon them my heart screams justice, my ears hear help, and my hands grip hope. I long for this adventure Christ has designed for me. I just want all to know him, his Love and Grace. Africa, how it has changed me, Africa it gets in your blood.

Arc Conference and the New Journey

This past weekend was the Arc Conference at Birmingham Alabama, and I have to say what an amazing experience. Amazing men like Pastor Dino, Pastor Chris Hodges, Pastor Brian Houston, Pastor Matt Fry, and so many more were all there sharing there live's and experiences of ministry. I dont think that I could have ever expected to learn so much in just 3 days. It was an awesome experience just to see the raw honesty from such Godly men, getting real about ministry struggle's and burdens they have,it really made you want to pray for them more, and gave me hope to know that God is faithful even in the tough times. It was a weekend jammed packed with work, and little sleep, but deffinatly one of the most memorable moments that I have had in these 3 years of Elevate. As the end of the trip came to a close I finally had my last meeting with Pastor Mike. After three years in the program and now only five weeks away from graduating I have to say during the meeting I had the greatest peace. Last year I was sweating bullets but this year I felt completly at peace, I love how God, no matter what the outcome in the natural, give's you peace in your heart. Even though things may be hard and you dont have answers to whatever is going on. As the second night came to an end and we finished talking I immediatly started Laughing, why? yeah I thought the same thing to. God has really brought me to a place for the last 5 yrs of my life where every big decision that comes up I dont have a clue what is going to happen next. He just makes it happen when it is the hardest time for me, it's seems funny to me because God does this alot to me. I am learning that he is really wanting all of my faith, and that he wants to bring me to new levals of growth and trust in him. It's hard but I know he is faithful. After I left the military I did not have a clue what to do, then he brought me to Elevate. After the first two years I was faced with what to do again he made a way. Now I am faced with that situtation again where to go what to do. I'm getting married in less than 3 months and I dont have a job, havent had one in the last 3 years, I would say thats something to laugh at. But he is faithful and he knows my heart and what we gave these last 3 yrs. All I know is that we are not owed anything but I want to give everything. It's a new season and a new journey, my heart is to bring the Gospel to the world, but it's his timing and his word that tells us when, thats what I want to stay submitted to. But for now my heart is heavy with prayer and fasting, and keeping the right perspective. I want my life to be like Jospeh, I may look like I'm in prison but whats hidden on the inside is a prince. It all boils down to the heart, keep that pure and hidden in him and you will always have joy, no matter what.

Pastor Dino preaching it up.

Pastor Brian Houston

Me and the guys eating BBQ RIBS

My 2nd year family. I Love these Guys

Bare Naked Truth

A few nights ago we had a class for Elevate at Pastor Dino's house and ever since then the Ghost has been carving on my Heart. I heard Brother Dave Ohlerking say something that brought me back several months ago to an life changing moment that I had. To the root of who I want to be, and to Christ the Disciple I want to become. QUOTE: Jesus took the Bread, then he Broke it, then he passed it out for use. Only when we are Broken can Christ really use us, and disperse us out for his ultimate purpose. I absolutely began to weep, I felt as though God why so many times have I continually put my hands in your way keeping you from breaking this bread and passing me out the way you want to. If you know Brother Dave you would know that he is one of the most humble men you will ever meet in your life. He has absolutely given his life as a living sacrifice to Christ. I want that so bad and I desire a life that is completely on the edge for Christ, without care for myself worth but only the worth found in him. Those that know me know I'm a little tough at times and tend to be rough on the edges. I have to confess, I am so tired of this, so tired of feeling like I'm failing at all that Christ wants me to be. I read throughout Hebrews on the great Hall of Faith and tell myself, do I have stories like that in me that are ready to be lived, stories that one day they will write about telling others what an awesome God he served. I feel so little and so without purpose so many days, it may not seem like it but if I share the bare naked truth, tear down the Tuf outer man, and reveal the heart. There he is, hidden in a shell of faces, full of Desperation to make God famous, to travel and Preach. To lay it all on the line without any thing left in the tank. My heart is craving more, and I struggle with this Holy Discomfort, this spiritual dissatisfaction of what am I doing wrong. Or the truth may be will I just wait? Barton you could be a hidden Joseph, but it's all in how you live this season. My heart is a Moses, God what can I offer, do you know that I am nothing. But then he is everything, he is all I must become, and all I truly desire. This is what I want!!!! Christ

Dream Team / Chick Night

What a great few days of outreach, this past Friday with the Donaldsonville dream center and then Monday Night Chick night with the Art Auction. It would usually seem a little to feminine for me to be surrounded with hundreds of ladies from the Church, but today was alot different with all the setup we have been doing it was a really cool thought to know that a few guy are really investing into the lives's of the women at the church. I love the thought that no other ministry is put above any other, there are all just as important as another. But it is kinda funny to be surrounded by tons of pink and purple, that's ok I'm a big strong confidant man that likes to wear wrangler jeans, straw hats, drives a huge 4 by 4 with mud tire's, eats with his hands and leaves his dirty clothes on the floor. Not Really but I love being a man. Then D'ville Dream Center, what can you say God has been moving all over that city. The Dream Center is 3 yrs old now and getting ready to celebrate it's 4 yr anniversary. We thought it would be fitting to give a little boy band flavor to the Album cover, anyways God is awesome and never ceases to amaze me with his faithfulness. What a life to live in the ministry, fully devoted to him and something new around every corner. I would not want it any other way, thankyou Jesus.
Donaldsonville Dream Team (Our Boy Band Pose)


My Boys Jordan and Dustin playing family fued on the chick night Buzzer.

Sneak Peak to the Art Auction

The Elevate Art Auction is this Monday during Chick Night. I currently have 3 pieces I'm turning in, and this is one of them the first pic is the started picture in progress the 2nd pic is the final piece I finished 3 and a half hours later. I had to take a break to watch American Idol with Heather, haha. Anyways tell me what you think. It's a mixture of pencil, pastels, ink, and the actual dirt from Swaziland Africa. I like to mix media's and create stuff, it was a fun picture. The title is (The Children).
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