THE BIG DAY

After all this time it's finally here, with everything that I could be thinking about there is only one thing God has been laying on my heart. 1st Cor 13:1-13 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. It truly is hard to Love, giving everything of yourself to someone else when it cost you all your pride and securities is the perfect Christ model, True Love. It cost everything because it is everything, the Love of the Father. I pray that I will be this man and be the example of Christ that I should, for as Christ gave his life for the church (His Bride) I hope I will do the same daily for my Bride. I love what Brother Wayne always says (I has to Die ) so true. It will be a great day and a life changing day, I Love her with all I have and hope I show that with all my actions. Heather you are wonderful and the most beautiful gift God has given me other than Christ. Thankyou God for your grace, your Mercy,
your blessing's and your Love. To all those who read I will be back next week after the Honeymoon, Love yall and thanks for your support. IN HIS GRIP Barton

Bachelor Party 3 days till Wedding

So I have 3 days till my Wedding, and one thought comes to my mind. (Finally!!!!)That's kind of a joke Heather and me have. This Friday will be 1 year and 6 months that we have been engaged, it has been such a long time but at the same time it has gone by so quick. It has been amazing how God has taught us so much with this time that has gone by, patience, grace, forgiveness, and Love. It's going to be an amazing day, and a great gift back to God for giving us one another. But on to the Bachelor party, 4 wheeler off road and ramp jumping, finished off with some seafood and College baseball. It was the first time I have ever been on a motocross track so it was definitely a blast for me. Rooster lip's a good friend of mine let us come over to his house and ride the course in his back yard, it was huge and full of mud just the way it was meant to be, but a great time a huge blessing to be able to hang out with the boys. After that we headed back to the house to watch the game and chill, nothing better than just catching up and enjoying each other's friendship. I think back on some of the moments these guys have been there for me that have really been life changing investments, words spoken, wisdom shared. I have come to realize how hard it is to find true friends these days, not people looking for something from you, no strings attached, but genuine care and an honest heart. Proverbs 12:26 says A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. What I have learned about this verse is not so much me being anything righteous but about these guys believing in me enough to be a friend. It is a great honor. And they have been amazing friends. But when it all comes down to it, my best friend my Love is Heather. All of my groomsman are, Best Man Edwin Williams he has been a great leader in my life and a true friend that has invested in me more than I could ever give to him. Elton Mile served with him in the Marine Corp and we have been staying close ever since. Bryan Alford one of my best friend's, he keeps me straight when Heather is not around. Eric Block, my older brother, been there when I needed an ear to listen, and a word of encouragement. Tim Leblanc Heather's brother, one of the funniest guys I know and a great friend, crazy good on the x-box. And My Paw Paw Cecil, my inspiration in everything and my book of wisdom, I could not ask for a greater friend or a more loving grandfather, he is the best. I Love this journey in life, you learn so much and God is so good, regardless of the bumps and bruises there is life in it all if you let God teach you. And what a better way to learn than share it with friendship's of a lifetime.
Elton Clearing a jump
Edwin Acting like a punk avoiding the mud Edwin and Me Elton and Me Elton Clearing the jump

Lightning and Water Parks

To start off, this is Heidi, Heather's sister, and the small blue blob curled up in the fetal position is Kelsey, Heidi's little girl. It was pretty funny at the time but about an hour earlier we were at the top of a 60ft steel water slide when lightning struck right by us. Now since I used my training Chuck Norris taught me back in the Military, I was able to remain calm under extremly violent and gail force hurricane weather conditions, but judging by the rest of the angry mob their training did not pay off so much. I felt like I was in one of those situtations where things could have got really bad b/c people were freaking out screaming and cursing, trying to get down as fast as possible. I tried to get people to calm down but this one lady behind me was crusing me out telling me to get out of her way before we get fried up here. I kinda started laughing, while at the same time having this huge urge to want to punch her, I know it sounds bad I'm just being honest. But this is Kelsey back under the canopy where all the lifeguards kept us until the storm passed. It's a mixture of staying warm while also hiding from the lightning striking all around us. It's funny how when your little you think as long as you can keep your self from seeing what it is that scares you, you will be fine. I wish that were the case but you can't get over your fear until you face what it is that scares you that way you can know how to overcome it. But in this case I think Kelsey is doing a mighty fine job. haha.

Dance Dance Revolution

This was deffinatly a first for me and also one of the funnest things I have been apart of. Heather's neice Kelsey had a dance performance this past weekend that the family came to cheer on. I have to say at first I was like there are hundreds of little girls running all over the place getting ready to dance, is this some kind of scarry omen to me saying I don't want little girls(Hope Not). But it was absolutly a blast, the little one's would come out and one would be dancing, one would be turning circles, and the other picking there nose, it was really funny but really cute as well. It was also a highlight moment for me thinking about the family I'm about to start in 16 days, there were dad's cheering and mom's screaming it was like being at the dancing superbowl, but it was cool to see how supportive they were regardless if it was dancing or a baseball game. That is the kind of husband I want to be and one day long long long time from now the kind of dad I want to be also. Encouraging, and uplifting, there nowadays is more competition and so little put on character and heart. It was good to see the positive side shown. But all in all I still think a good game of rugby or football would be more of my type of sport, I'm just not that good of a dancer, plus I've got the two biggest left feet you have ever seen!

Staying Cool

Well I have a new swim Buddy and her name is koah, it's pretty funny actually one day Heather and I were swimming and the next thing I knew Koah was in the water. Being a Siberian Husky Louisiana doesn't exactly carry the chill factor as Mother Russia so Koah has found a new way of just staying cool during the summer. To be honest when you get close to her on the steps she will step out to you in the water. My next task is to see is I can get her jumping for tennis balls into the deep end, but for now I guess the little dip will have to do. Other than that she really like to just sit and enjoy the spa treatment of the jets by the wall. Next thing you know I'll have to write a personal bio for her. She is 21, single, her favorite hobby is sitting in the shade by the palm trees, catching lizards in the bushes, and if you like dog bones you better bring your own because she does not like to share.

Rope around the Waist

It has deffinatly been a new set of Glasses for me the past week, Elevate is over after 3 yrs, and I dont see any of my amazing friends anymore, Raymond my Brother is following the footsteps I walked several years ago after heading off to bootcamp (Marine Corp) today. And Heather and me are trying to be patient and understand that God's plans are not our plans. I feel like there is this House I'm on the outside of wanting to get in and I'm looking through all these diffrent windows seeing from all these diffrent angle's and perspectives of what is going on. It's tuff for me alot of times because I dont have a peace of mind in the mundane. I have peace because of Christ, but there is always this Holy Dissatisfaction saying there is more to be done. More preaching,Loving,reaching,serving,helping,praying,blessing,giving,
growing,giving it all I've got!!!! to be done. But now I feel like I'm stuck in this ordinary life with 9-5 routine, now mountains to climb, or countries to explore. But looking back this new ordinary for me will be a challange for me because I have never had ordinary to face. I remember the week before I came home from the Marine Corp, I sat in my room looking at my Bible and talking to God saying no more running, God everything I have, everything I am, everything I could ever be it is all your's now. I made the decision to devote the rest of my life to full time ministry, all those yrs I spent partially committed when I knew he wanted and would not stop until he got all of me. There were extremly tuff days and night's but there have been others who have suffered far more. All these windows, is it that God does not want me getting in the house but instead is trying to send me out to bring back others, I believe so. I could stand and look all day but I have tasted, so many have not, and they must. It's funny because I was wondering what God was going to speak to me this time in Africa and he made it loud and clear. Kenya again, after all that time with wonderful friends in Swazi and Mozambique he reminded me of the call and the Dream. But the timing for now is God's and my growth to be prepared. There has been great fear in my heart as of late of Failure, what have I accomplished, or what diffrence did you make. But I'm reminded that people fear not because of the opposition, but because the have forgotten that the unbeatable opposition they see has already been defeated on the cross. My heart is burning to Go, but God is yeilding me to stay, why? there is much to be learned. A whole new season, But one thing I know everything I've got and everything I am, I'm gonna give to God with all I've got in this new Journey. I mean seriously I get married in 25 days, God is probably like boy thats why I'm holding you back the biggest journey you'll ever face is a quarter away. But it's like brother Wayne always says, Boy you take care of your bride and God will take care of his bride. HAHA I love it. Stay patient Barton, or better yet Stay content!!!!