Barton Pickens

NBC 33 INTERVIEW FOR ONE FOR THE ORPHAN

2011-07-23T15:42:00.000-07:00

http://www.nbc33tv.com/br-laginappe/24-hour-bike-ride-to-raise-funds-for-kids-in-africa

One for the Orphan new Updates

2011-05-31T16:52:00.000-07:00

http://youtu.be/tfwtoW9ft_U

One for the Orphan Update

2011-04-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

http://youtu.be/K5r1w2JZI1U

Guess Who's Here

2011-04-11T13:17:00.000-07:00

One for the Orphan Update !!!

2011-04-08T16:41:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update, up to this point we have raised over 6,000 meals for the children. We have a little less than 30 days left. Really excited and cant wait to see what all takes place in the next few days! Go check us out at www.onefortheorphan.com we would love to have you partner with us and make a difference in the lives of Children in Southern Africa.

Our NEW WEBSITE

2011-03-30T10:29:00.000-07:00

Check it out www.onefortheorphan.com

Childrens Cup Updates

2011-03-30T10:24:00.001-07:00

Our New Promo Video for One For The Orphan

2011-03-28T11:08:00.000-07:00

One For The Orphan Promo v2 from Healing Place Church on Vimeo.

Here is our New Promo Video for One for the Orphan check out the site www.onefortheorphan.com get involved, and help change the life of an Orphan in Africa.

From Pastor Steven Furtick ( This is Awesome )

2011-03-23T10:13:00.000-07:00

Can we skip this scene?

Posted: 23 Mar 2011 04:16 AM PDT

There’s a reason we love movies about people overcoming adversity. A reason why we’ll sit through 100 minutes of depressing scenes for 2 minutes of payoff at the end.

It’s because those depressing scenes make the victory and the payoff at the end that much more meaningful. And possible. Without the adversity, there wouldn’t be much worth watching. Or worth cheering for when the adversity is conquered.

What’s interesting is that what we look for in movies we avoid at all costs in life. The life most of us would prefer is a movie no one would want to see. Including ourselves.

Here’s what I mean.

Have you ever found yourself facing a season of setback and challenge, thinking:
God, can we skip this scene?

If you have, you’re not alone.

Joseph would have said it while spending 13 years in slavery and prison.
The apostles would have said it when they were being persecuted for the gospel.
Even Jesus said it before the cross when He was in the garden of Gethsemane.

So it’s understandable to have this feeling. Who wants to go through hell? Who wants to go through adversity? It’s ok to watch on a screen. But who wants to go through it in their own lives?

Yet what we have to realize is that it’s these very moments that make the payoff we’re waiting for worth it. It’s these scenes that build character. That setup for the big breakthrough and climax.

It’s the scenes that we all want to skip that produce the endings we all want to experience.

It was Joseph’s time in slavery and prison that put him in a position to save his family and an entire nation.
It was the very persecution that the apostles would have wanted to skip that ended up being the catalyst for the rapid spread of the gospel.
It was the cross of Jesus that provided salvation for all who would believe.

Nothing of great worth comes at a low cost. The hardest scenes of your life are the necessary stepping stones to the greatest breakthroughs and victories of your life.

I know that doesn’t make them easy. I know you’d still like to skip them. But you can’t.

And it’s the scenes that you’d prefer to skip that God is using to orchestrate an ending you wouldn’t want to miss.

This means Alot

2011-03-21T12:37:00.000-07:00

I found this old Photo a few days ago, I drew this picture of the Children Of Africa for Dave Ohlerking (right) and the Ohlerking Family. Many of you know that Brother Dave and Mrs Jean Ohlerking started Childrens Cup childrencup.org, a ministry that takes care of 30,000 children daily in Southern Africa and several other countries. Brother Dave passed away several months ago but his influence on my life and the time he shared with me I will never forget. There are not enough words to express the impact He had on some many people's lives. What an Honor to be near His story

We are now Live

2011-03-18T08:27:00.001-07:00

Hey Great news, we are now Live on our website www.onefortheorphan.com . Our Promo Video is almost done and will be up shortly, but for now, Check it out tell us what you think. Stay connected and will keep everyone posted to upcoming events, we are only 49 days out so lot's of work to be done. Again thanks for all the support, we could not do this without you guys.

One for the Orphan Update

2011-03-07T09:02:00.001-08:00

Really great news, our promo Video shoot is finally done, now we are getting ready to go live with the website soon. There is still alot of planning left and promotion to go but the team is making huge headway and clearing some big obstacles. If you can, go connect with the One for the Orphan facebook page on the side bar or go to the new onefortheorphan.blogspot.com page and link up. We would love to keep you updated with whats going on and all the updates. Thanks again, One for the Orphan Team!

Practical Hope and Tangible Love (ONE FOR THE ORPHAN)

2011-03-03T07:41:00.000-08:00

Africa is a tough place. There are millions of kids with no support network and no parents to take care of them. Imagine being 10 years old and you are responsible for your two younger siblings. Imagine being unwanted, unloved and forgotten. That's Rosa's story, that's Lindiwe's story, that's Namile's story, that's Sibusiso's story and the story of millions of other African children. The call to action is very real when you look one of these children in the eyes. We must do something. We must sacrifice to give the orphaned and vulnerable children opportunity. We must give our love. I believe in this. I've seen transformation. I've seen what a meal, a hug and a word of encouragement can do. I've seen what a little bit of medicine can do to a child with AIDS. As a member of the One for the Orphan team I challenge you to sacrifice a little in order to give life, hope and love. Oh and here at One for the Orphan that life, hope and love is given in the form of practical things such as water, medicine, and food. It makes a difference, it changes lives.

Opposition

2011-03-02T09:33:00.000-08:00

Have you ever set your heart on something only to hear from others that don't have anything better to do tell you why you should not be doing it, or your doing it wrong, or why don't you do something else. Opposition comes in many ways, often from people closest to you. There intentions are usually good only wanting the best for you, but in the end it's only negative towards your dreams. I'm not saying don't listen to critism at all I'm simply saying don't let all critism be the rutter to your boat. I had a conversation with someone who could not stop talking about how much need we have in America, how we need to stop focusing on other countries and start helping our own. There are poor people on our streets, kids without education, etc. Dont get me wrong, I completly agree and believe that we should help the people here, and put our energy and time into making a difference in our own cities and nation. But it struck a nerve when I asked that person, well what are you doing to help? There reply was two fold: 1.) When the Holidays are here or the community puts on an event I get involved. 2.) There needs to be someone in charge of giving others the ability to get more involved throughout the year. I could not help but think of two things in my mind at that very moment: 1.) Twice a yr feel good community service will not make a difference. 2.) I hear excuses to why you cant make a difference or help someone. It's often people that are not doing anything to actually help someone that are the first to tell you why you should not be helping those in another country, and then tell you why you should be helping people here. If there is a dream in your heart don't let the little voices of opposition keep you from the bigger voices of Desperation!!! Stay true to what is in your heat, make a difference the way you know how, and don't change to meet some other persons goal of seeing you bow down to them. It's the people that complain about whats not being done that have the most excuses when asked what are they doing about it. Each person has a gift, a niche, a form of influence with someone. Use your gift the way you know how to make your difference. Sometimes the biggest force of opposition only needs a sling and a stone, not much to work with but take what you have and it can make a big difference!

One of my many thought after C3 conference

2011-02-21T16:13:00.000-08:00

Joyce Meyer spoke one of the Night sessions and she made a comment that completly stopped me in my tracks. You were born an Original dont die a copy! It's amazing to me to think that God cared about us so much that He took His personal hands and molded us personally for an original, authentic, intimate relationship with Him. It's funny how we take this Authentic thing he made, look at other peoples gifts and talents and then make our selves look like them and then present ourselves to God. God look at me arent I better now dont you love me more are you impressed. And all God wants is for us to realize that we were made in His image, to look like Him and be in relationship with Him as He originally made us. He dosent want our attempt to be something we are not. If the very creator of the universe and the heavens and earth thought we were good enough the first time lets not mess it up. He cant have a real relationship with a copy he wants time with the original. He wants our love not someone elses love, our hearts not someone elses Heart. The World needs originals, thank goodness Jesus did not look at a pharisee and say I want his talents and gifts, boy I wish I could be like those guys. Lets be who He made us. Original

Really Excited about this

2011-02-11T08:36:00.000-08:00

Here are the new Logos for the Event in May we are doing for Children's Cup International Relief. Really excited about this and cant wait to see what God allows from all the Hard work and efforts put into the event. I'll be doing a 24 hr bike ride to raise awareness about the Orphan Crises in Africa. Over 53 million Orphans are currently in the continent of Africa alone. The website will be open soon, so stay connected and visit the facebook page One for the Orphan.

Who will "Lead" Us

2011-01-12T12:11:00.000-08:00

Ive been thinking about this thought (Directional Leadership) for a while a while now. Alot of times I see leaders or someone designated as a leader because of age or outward"characteristics" that seem influential be put in the place of leadership. When it comes to leading I've always thought it funny to ask someone to lead. Or make a request of someone to lead. Not that doing that is not required sometimes, some leaders are hidden and don't realize the potential that is there yet and it takes others to bring it out of them. But I'm mean someone who is already in leadership in general being asked to actually lead. There are times when an authority will ask leaders under them to step up and take over an area but I cant understand an Authority already asking a leader to lead when he or she is in the supposed position. My main point is groups, Aka (Connect groups,cell groups,tribes,small group,house meetings, etc.) I think when your considered a "leader" it should not entail in another leaders time schedule, (A. Motivate leaders to lead today). I don't mean this in a negative way, of course all leadership has higher leadership leading them. But it should not take someone else to tell a leader to motivate, dream, plan, inspire, teach, build. If someone has to ask you to lead a group but there was never a thought of leading a group to begin with, or a desire to lead, or because you had the title leader you said well I have to because that's my job then I think this is the difference between position and purpose. How as leaders can we expect others to jump on board with us and follow us and be apart of what we are doing if we ourselves have to be motivated to do it. There should be in our hearts as leaders a desire to be faithful and good stewards with time, and talent, and resources. I would not want to follow someone that seems like they have been put into that position because they could not find someone else to do it. Nor would i want to follow someone who has there own agenda or is a man pleaser. If we are disciples of Christ that means we should do what Christ told us to do ( Go!!!! AND MAKE Disciples) it's not, would you like to lead, I have all of these incentives to give you if you would. I don't want to be called a leader and be someone who gives people what they want instead of what they need. I know we are all guilty of that to an extent but it's no different than a doctor, why would you go to see whats wrong, pay, and then tell him before he does any work whatever you find I don't want to know what it is or how to fix it. You wouldn't, you would want the most accurate and helpful information to help benefit you life as possible. Same as leadership although there are many different levels of leadership. Leaders should see what is not there and fill it in, they should look for the questions not being asked and get the right answers. Your will replicate what you are and if it takes others to get you going then those that follow you will become people that need to be motivated. I want to do a better job at this, not because someone asked me to but because as a Disciple of Jesus Christ I should want to. Do all things as though we are doing them unto the lord. This should be our desire, to show Christ in all things we do!

Almost Done!!!

2011-01-04T10:54:00.000-08:00

I just finished the bowls the children eat out of, now the last thing is taking the dirt that I took from swaziland and making it into mud so I can paint it for the ground.

New Africa Art

2010-12-31T17:27:00.000-08:00

These are kids in line waiting for food. I started drawing this a few weeks ago off and on, the pic is not done yet but very close. The drawing is about 24x18. I took a photo of these kids when I was in Africa and always wanted to draw or paint the image.

Guys Retreat Recap

2010-12-21T14:06:00.000-08:00

All of Our Guys getting ready to head home

Getting ready to start the night Session

Bethany Retreat Center, so thankful for there service, amazing church!
Getting Ready to Head out
Me and My Brother
My Boy Adam throwing down the word, Encountering Others!!!
Pastor Jason Laird throwing down the word Encountering God!!!!

Notes

Howel Park outreach

Studying for Guys Retreat

2010-12-17T08:04:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things about Epic student ministries at my church is the guys Ministry. I love getting together with a bunch of young men on fire for God, there passion to see Jesus lifted up is contagious and there heart to see others come to know Him is inspiring. This weekend the 17th and 18th I'm really excited because it's our first Guys retreat in a long time. Today's day and age we see so few Men getting involved in Church. They are lining the walls in sports bars and athletic stadiums but so few are on the front lines of God's kingdom. It's such a privilege and honor for me to be apart of what God is doing at our church and in the young men at Epic that I could not imagine doing any thing else with my life other than serving. I sat down this week and looked at the topic, Encounter Yourself!!!! God how do you want me to share your word on this, what do you want me to say. Barton share your story!!! That's all I herd, and all I laughed about to because these past few years have been an amazing encounter with myself. Truly learning who God is in my life and who he sees me as not who I have made myself to be. I made my Cinnamon tea and broke out the Good book and began studying, God place in me your Heart!!! It's amazing how when you sit down in Gods word and truly let it pierce you the words of God will convict and challenge your every motive and aspiration. I Love His word and have often been convicted of not reading enough, but the great thing is that God uses his word no matter when you read or what it always comes to life in your heart and will draw you to be more like Him. Often studying as a teacher of the word makes you realize one thing. I need to be way more a student than anything else!!!

Controversy with Santa

2010-12-14T11:47:00.000-08:00

OK, first let me start off saying I know this is a touchy subject and some people get really offended and some people really don't care, but I want to share my opinion soley because I like to see what peoples thoughts are and how they feel on the issue. The older I get the more I honestly dont like the thought of Santa, not as a fun Christmas story or who the real guy was that started the whole thing, But! With Santa becoming something that so many parents make about there own personal joy than the moral issue it becomes after something we taught as truth now becomes a lie. I have a problem with Parents or people in General starting a belief in a child all the while knowing that several years after they start that belief they know they will tell that Child that the belief is not actually real! It's not a matter of me being anti Santa that's not it at all, to me Santa is just like a Disney character's it's just a fun experience, imagination and harmless fun. But the problem is that many people get offended when there child learns about Santa not being real and then the parents get angry with whomever it happened with, if not themselves and then wondered why they had to spoil all the fun or upset the child. Was that not something that was going to happen anyway. No matter who tells the child, parent, kid at school because of some conversation, or other means, the fact that the child was told it was real then told otherwise no matter how you word it there will be some type of let down. Anger, trust issues, etc, whatever, it is because we have to create this image and make it exciting that of course there will be problems when the child learns otherwise. My stance is that people cant get upset if what they are teaching knowing it is not true spoils a child's experience when they find out from whomever, even if it was not the intended person to find out from. It's not the truth either way so it's going to hurt either way. Secondly I'm a follower of Jesus Christ, I feel as though us as Americans, myself included, often get to caught up in the commercialized and industry image of Christmas. We put a created image and idea ahead of the original purpose, Jesus then family. Alot of people say well why would you want to spoil the kids fun. I think that's a funny statement because you already know one day you will have to anyway. They cant be 50 yrs old still thinking there is a Santa we would think something is wrong with that person, but we don't think something is wrong to tell a child there is a Santa and make them believe that it is truth. We want to make Christmas exciting so we create something that eventually disappoints, we put it first then make the very thing that Christmas came from second. If Christ stays first there will never be a moment where you have to say it's not real. Plus, Jesus came for all of us not only good little boys and girls. Again I think Santa is a fun part of Christmas as long as it's not first, or taught as a truth and made out to be a manipulation tool to get a child acting good or bad. I don't want to teach my child that lying is wrong then give them a great example of how to, and then make it ok. Again these are my personal beliefs. I have some friends that feel this way some don't. For me personally, I remember using it as ammunition against my parents when I was little. Then they would tell me something and say it was the truth and I would bring the whole you lied to me about Santa deal. Now this only lasted for a little while while I was little but it's the fact that for me that's what it created. Some kids don't get this way some do, but I just don't understand putting yourself in a situation where you have to explain your way out of it. And then parents get upset when there kids get upset. Parents or people say I would never do anything to hurt my child or so in so. But we create something that we know will eventually hurt them. In the long run I think people spend way to much time fighting and arguing about something that's not even real and there on the shelf is Jesus saying I started this whole thing. If I was the center it would not be an issue. It's just funny to me how something so innocent and seemingly good can and has been made an idol, really and truly that's what it has become. How much more is Santa talked about than Jesus in your own home. Is it just a religious thing, or is He your center. Is Jesus a religious tag mark that we as people can associate with or do we really Follow Him, Love Him, Obey Him. I don't want to sell short on Christ to much is getting His place already. The world replaces the very name that Started Christmas with holidays. Making it's king Santa. Now Christ is forbidden and Santa is glorified. It burdens me!

Changing my Standards

2010-12-08T11:48:00.000-08:00

Simple Thought

2010-12-02T08:14:00.001-08:00

Either we are Content are we Covet, Paul said with little or much I am fine. I believe it's because He knew Jesus was the only thing that never Changes, He could rely on Christ with a lot or little! Regardless of what we face we should Be Content with the Everlasting rather than Covet the temporary!

The Next Generation

2010-11-18T14:45:00.000-08:00

This picture is of two things, 1.) Our core leadership class of High school students and 2.) The unfinished space for kids ministry at Healing Place Church.
I've been thinking about this photo for a few days now, the next generation, and how the church would look if there was no investment in the future. There is a passage of scripture in Mathew 19:13-15 where Jesus is talking to the disciples about little children and how we can learn from them, children believe with there whole hearts and we must believe like them if we want to enter into the kingdom of Heaven. I believe as we get older there is a tendency to let time steal our dreams, get more complacent, and look for comfort. But there is something about kids, they want to play in the rain, get muddy, take risk's, go after it with everything inside of them. When I look at this photo I think of how beautiful this combination is, the youth who are on fire, and the older who are full of wisdom and knowledge. When the church has an investment in the two without putting them in separate categories amazing things can happen. The youth should learn for the previous generation all that they can so the can make that fire useful. And the previous generation should remember there former passion so that the flame can burn even more now, and use that wisdom to help those coming up. When you see a room like this it cannot be done without both sides. The torch has to be passed, the children of future generations must know about Jesus and grow up in His ways. And the only way to do it is to take that fire and combine it with understanding and you can build some amazing things that God will use for His glory!

The Passing of my Best Friend

2010-11-16T14:24:00.000-08:00

Jordan Gautreau
by Barton Pickens on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 4:15pm

"In these past few days I've thought over and over again about how I would tell the world about you Jordan. But many times I would try to express to them my words, and I would only speak tears. Like so many others there are many things I could say, so many stories I could share. You are my best friend, and you know all my struggles and fears, and yet you stood with me despite them. I want to tell them this story, it's one I 'll never forget, and one I believe you would want the world to know, now that you are home. About a year ago Jordan called me up and asked me if I wanted to go and see a movie with Him. It was such a funny thing because he had not even told me what the movie was before he began saying, now if you don't want to see it I totally understand. I was laughing because the majority of the time when Jordan and I saw movies together it was just me and Him by ourselves and it was a chick flick, haha. Yes, we watched chick flicks quite often, and when you go to the movies together to see them sometimes it can be quite awkward. I remember Jordan pulling up to my house so we could ride out to the theater together, now this is where it gets good. I walk out wearing a pair of dirty old military boots, jeans I had not washed in a few weeks and a Marine Corp sweater with a fresh military haircut. As Jordan gets out of His car He has on a pair of black chuck Taylor's, gray skinny jeans, a white dress shirt with a silver vest over it, a scarf around His neck, the black hat he always wears, and of course His mountain beard. It was such a funny sight the two of us going to see a chick flick. As we got to the Movies we started thinking how could we slip in unnoticed. Maybe we should go in a few minutes apart, ok txt me what row your on that way i can just come in and sit down, ok, that will work. As we figured out our strategy we realized how cheesy we sounded and decided to just man up and go in together. We had done this before no big deal. After grabbing some snacks we headed in! I have to say as soon as we came around the corner we were the only two dudes in a packed house full of girls, and we ended up sitting right in the middle of them all! You could not have written it any better how funny that was. As the movie went on we laughed all throughout the show, and louder than anyone else. After all was said and done we went back to my house to hang out and eat, talk about life, why the guy should have gotten the girl, and just enjoyed each others company. And this is the memory I want to share. Jordan after a few moments into our conversation looked over at me and simply said, I appreciate you! I know these are not your type of movies but you still go anyway just to hang out with me. I will never forget that. Not only did Jordan live a relentless life for Jesus fully committed to the cause of Christ but he valued those around Him, always telling others how much they meant to Him, showing others how much Jesus valued them through His life and words. I know that Jordan would have been shocked by the number of people that came to His service. He would never think that or say that he impacted that many lives and many more that were unable to come. They all came because Jordan valued them through His service, and we were all impacted. The story He would want me to share with you would be to tell others how important they are to you. Let them know you value them and appreciate them, tell them how much you love them. It is so short the time we have, and let us learn from such a great example like Jordan how to value others. How to show them they matter and that Jesus loves them. I believe this is what He would want told. Jordan, there is so much I want to tell you right now and so much I wish i could say, but I want you to know more than anything how much I appreciate you, and Love you, and miss you. And look forward to the day when we can share our brotherhood once again."

www.jordanslegacy.com

Encounter Yourself

2010-11-04T10:38:00.000-07:00

The word Encounter is such a unique word, some of the definitions mean to come face to face, or to confront an enemy, or a conflict with an opposing force. When thinking about this word with yourself it carries a much greater weight to it. The Bible talks about us being two separate people, the Spirit, and the Flesh, but often I think Christians forget we are a soul with a body not a body with a soul. We war so often with these two persons. There is apart of us that See's a child being picked on we want to go and defend them, and the other side of us says oh what will people say or do if I stand up for that child. There is apart of us that says I'm so tired of the same old addictions and I want to be free but another side of us that tries so hard to pull us right back into the same pain we are sick and tired of. Many people will try to put some type of scientific reason or intellectual answer to why this is or justifications other than the what the Bible says but no one can deny these impulses or internal urges. I often find it funny when Parent's wont curse around Children but do so in there absence, as if self admitting that what they are doing is wrong but as they get older truth for them is not truth for the child. Truth cannot be relative or it is not absolute. Encountering Yourself means taking a hard look at what we are in comparison to what Jesus wants us to be. Do we really follow Jesus, or do we really lead ourselves. There are a couple of things that I have been thinking about when it comes to Encountering ourselves. 1. A Big mirror and a small mirror. The Word says what Good does it do for a man to look at a mirror seeing what needs to be fixed and then walks away forgetting to fix anything. I know for myself I often take a small mirror, that way I can only see a little bit, I'm able to move it to the areas that I want to work on and I have control of. I don't have to look at the rest. But I know God wants a big mirror, so we can examine our whole self. We cant avoid the big picture or what we try to hide. We constantly try to achieve and excel so we wont confront the void and emptiness inside, we spend so much time trying cover our mistakes and seem perfect because we don't want people to know that we don't have it all together and that we are tired from trying to always be perfect. We try to always be funny because we want to be the center of attention because we don't want others to know we feel alone and depressed. Encountering ourselves is often a messy ordeal, but Jesus gives us one of the greatest examples of encountering our self than any other. When Jesus goes to the garden in the last hours of His life it's an amazing story of how we Encounter ourselves. 2. Jesus was faced with the greatest decision of His life, do I give up my life like God is asking me or do I go with my flesh and turn away. Often when we face difficult situations no where near the cost of death why do we bail out and run, Jesus could have but instead He decided to obey the Father and face His flesh, and literally crucify it. His word says we are to crucify our flesh daily so that are flesh will not live but Christ will. We are to confront our enemy and war with our flesh, Face it, encounter it and like Jesus say not our will but Father yours be done. Not our will but but Father yours. When we want to be mean not our will but Father yours, let us show Love. When we want to Gossip, Father not our will but Yours let us speak positive and encouraging words. When our flesh man wants to take control Kill it let Gods spirit have control. Not our will but Father yours be done. Encounter yourself! And find out who's will has control the flesh or our spirit. And keep in your mind always the example of Christ. Father not my will but yours be done!!!!

Honor Goes Down

2010-11-01T15:29:00.000-07:00

Honor Goes Down

We tend to send honor up.

We turn Ps into VIPs, rooms into greenrooms, and Americans into idols.

But here's the paradigm shift with Jesus.

He sent honor down.

Those who were last became first, those who had least gave most, and those in the lowest seats got promoted.

I saw this on another guys blog It really smoked me , I'll defiantly be chewing on this for awhile.

My Tribute to Dave Ohlerking

2010-10-23T19:05:00.001-07:00

In life there are men that we read stories about that have shaped the course of History

Where deeds of bravery have been left in scrolls for all generations to read

Where stories of Compassion have moved countries and nations towards action

stores of faith so strong that the very life given them they were willing to lay down

and lives so full of Love that Fathers and Mothers will lay at night beside there children and remind them of what they have done

many of these men we can only read stories of, and dream of what it would be like to have know them

to learn from them and to have been in the very midst of there bold presence

to have seen with our own eyes that bravery, that faith, that compassion, that Love.

Yes, to have known men with hearts so full of passion that the very earth they walked was carved by there character

to have known men that when they spoke, one word was more than a thousand and anchored itself in the well of our souls

to have known men like this would have been such an Honor, to have witnessed these stories written in person would have been such a priveledge, and to have seen that Love would have been such a gift.

Seven years ago I was blessed with such a gift

Priviledeged beyond words to have seen such a story

and given more than an Honor to have known such a man

If Hebrews had empty pages to fill you could take his life and paint the words

for his life has shaped my story, and for those that have known him they would say the same as well

I could write for days and not put in words what he has shared in life

nor tell a story worthy enough of the one he had written

but I can only say I will never forget his story,

and never forget the life that was written,

God blessed us with such a man,

and graced us all with more than a legend,

Jesus thankyou for such a story,

and thankyou for such a friend!

Dave Ohlerking

Loneliness for Fellowship

2010-10-05T20:35:00.000-07:00

As of late this has been a very lonely road, Im not sure when the last time I have felt like this has been or how long ago I have gone thrue a season like this. The funny thing is Im surrounded by many people all the time, my beautiful wife, amazing friends and family but all the same it has still been one of the loneliest times of my life, and I believe there is a very significant reason for this. I have been doing alot of training in the last few months for an event we have been working on to raise money and awareness for the Orphans in Africa, and during this training I can often spend anywhere between 5 to 7 hours by myself a day for 5 days a week, getting mentally and physically prepared. This loneliness I feel in my heart I have often compared to the struggles of Paul, and even Jesus. There are things that God has put in the hearts of His special utensil's that often times the only ones who understand it are them and them alone. It becomes a weight that only they bear and a burden only they can truly understand, not because they are more important to God than others absolutely not, but to me because they are the ones who let down there walls to feel the sting of other people's pain, they let it mark them, they did not hide or shelter there hearts from reality, but they embraced the struggles and drank in the terrible injustice of another persons hurt and sorrows, yes I know we are to let Jesus carry our burdens but I also know that Jesus had a constant burden for the people and we are to have His heart towards people as well. It's amazing how brutal Africa has tormented my heart, I often feel overwhelmed by the movies that play in my mind over and over again from what I have seen and how heavy and sick I feel many times walking through the streets of America knowing I can never turn off the comparison switch in my heart. There have been many times in the last 4 yrs when I have not slept because I cannot stop thinking about the more than 50 million orphans in Africa, and if Im honest it's hard for me to talk to someone complaining about there steak not being cooked just right when I have seen kids that have never tasted anything but rice and beans once a day. I'm just being honest. I think about Jesus and the last moments of His life the weight that was on Him and what He knew he had to finish, no one else understood, as a matter of fact the ones closest to Him all went to sleep but in His heart it was concrete and there was no other way. Ive thought about great men like Martin Luther who stood strong through the great test of trial and persevered and changed history. Yes, there has been great loneliness trying to help 50 million children or simply even one, even those closest to me at many times have been the ones furthest away. The more you let it mark you the more your eyes see differently and your heart focuses on others, your views change from other people what was important no longer is and now what wasent is the only thing that is important. You begin to know the fathers heart and all the things we see as "so important" begin to fade away as so temporary and empty. I get on my bike and ride thinking about them, how can we send shoes,soccer balls, toys, clothes, anything, it's always there. I have seen many people that have come back with such a desire to make a difference and sadly within a few weeks it becomes a distant memory swallowed up in the American dream. We cant be those people, once we have seen it we are now responsible for it, weather it makes us alone or not. But i'll finish up with this, it has been a long test for me to keep faith in what God has laid on my heart trying to bring hope to the children by making people aware, especially when there is such a competition with all other things pleading for peoples attention. With this test in front of me I have been fasting and I have noticed so strongly that when I sit down to get alone with God I'm mean instantly I can see how my flesh trys to go watch tv or go outside or just daydream it's a war to get intimacy with God. I was so convicted by this because it tells me that that is what my flesh is used to being feed, and that's what it runs to when I get alone with God if I had been training my flesh more to be alone with God more daily when I go to fast it would be dead to those things and craving the father. While carrying this weight and knowing what God has placed in my heart my one desire has been to known Jesus in His suffering and loneliness. He is not far from me but is familiar with all our sorrows and troubles. This has carried me, knowing that my Savior has for us endured His loneliness so that we could see His ultimate plan and then we could have fellowship and no more loneliness. I pray that in this season it is not loneliness that we focus on but fellowship, that He suffered to bring us, and once we have fellowship we can share it with others. Especially the children.

IF IT COST YOU!!!!!!

2010-09-16T20:57:00.000-07:00

If you could feed a Child that was Hungry would you?
If you could care for a widow that needed help would you?
If you could rescue a child from Human trafficking would you?
If you save and Orphan from starvation would you?
If you could stand up for someone who was just made fun of in public would you?
If you saw someone who was homeless and you could feed them would you?
If a kid at school was alone and you could comfort them would you?
If your neighbors were elderly and you could cut there grass would you?
If the kid down the street needed help with homework and you could help would you?
If the cashier at the store was having a bad day and you could be nice would you?
If you could pay for the meal of the couple beside you at the restaurant would you?
If you teacher at school was having a bad day at school and you could encourage them would you?
If it cost only 5 dollars a month to feed a child in Africa and you had the money would you?
If someone needed a ride to church every week but did not have the gas to pay you would you?
If your parents needed help Friday nite and it kept you from going out would you?
If your bonus at the end of the month was enough to get that thing you wanted but was also the amount to pay for that child in Honduras education for a year would you?
If Homeless outreach was on Saturday nite but so was the football game would you?
If you could pass out bottles of water on Saturday morning or sleep in would you?
If someone needed help and you were off the clock would you?
If someone you knew was lost and needed to know about Jesus and you could tell them would you?

IF IT COST YOU EVERYTHING FOR ANY OF THIS WOULD YOU?

Just Do Something!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-08-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

It was almost 4 years ago that God really birthed this idea of doing something for Childrenscup in my heart, and to be honest at the time I had no clue or even idea what I was going to do. I knew that after going to Africa and seeing the children and hearing the sounds of Suffering and witnessing the hands of injustice I could not just sit idly by in a church pew any more, or to be even more specific I could not just settle with doing church outreaches anymore. I love doing Church outreaches and all the events that we do with all my heart but I also knew it was not taking me outside of my own comfort zone. Going beyond what someone else set up for me and stepping out in my walk with God personally. Making my own life an outreach and my own heart an access to people more than just an allotted time period on the weekends. There was a burning desire in me to do more and to reach more and to settle for less. As I began searching for different ideas about what to do and possibly how to raise money for the kids there began to be this overwhelming sense of barrenness, this sense of I have no resources, no connections, no equipment or even idea of what to do or how to even go about doing anything. But the one thing I did know was this, every great story in Gods word came from people ( ordinary like you and me) stepping out in blind faith. I had this thought in my mind we have to JUST DO SOMETHING we cant sit around and think all the time or talk about how great it would be to actually do something. I wanted my faith and my relationship with God to be shown through my Heart first and then through my hands actively doing his work (Reaching)! I did not have a clue where to start but I watched and learned and began to ask questions. I prayed and read and started having ideas and in my heart. Faith started to grow and passion built it self by being active. You cant build a fire unless you blow a little wind into the coals, and the more wood you add the more air you will need to help it grow. I really believe that this day and age God is looking for and raising up more people who are wiling to just do something. Weather that means just simply serving on the weekends by holding a door open at church or putting together a huge food drive it does not matter. God is looking for those that are willing to Just Do Something, so my challenge to you is that that thing you feel burning inside you to do Go and do something with it for God. Ask Him how and what and He will show you, He wants to because he Has a plan and a purpose that He wants to work through you.

New Update for Ironman For Orphans

2010-07-23T19:12:00.000-07:00

Symptoms of Pride

2010-07-17T15:43:00.000-07:00

I find it so funny when Moses says to Pharaoh when would you like me to ask God to remove all the plagues and Pharaoh's response was, tomorrow. Why is it some times just for pride's sake we will put off freedom in order to prove a point that only cost us more pain. I mean is this not a perfect example of how we all sometimes make the worst decisions in the midst of the worst circumstances just to prove a point that really only proves how stubborn we are, when we could just humble ourselves and save alot of embarrassment and grief later on or even at that very moment in front of alot of people. Pride is a funny thing, the desire to be something or apart of something that is made to look better and greater than it really is or even could be. Everyone has this desire to be noticed and admired but why is it that we take it to the point of self idol ism or false representation. Lying to glorify ourselves and seem greater than all others. Pharaoh in all his "greatness" showed just how dumb we can all be, everyone knows how bad the situation is and knows it could be so much better if we would just change our attitude or even think about someone other than our self for once. Pride, it's ironic how the Bible says this is what comes before the fall and yet we try so hard to stand independent and in front of everyone with all the pride we can muster. Pharaoh taught such a good lesson God's grace and freedom is right there if we will just let God be God and realize that we are not. I've herd it said like this, Until we create our own universe and existence to life in 7 days then we better just let the one who did be in charge. HAHA I just pray that my life will line up to how much I agree with that

Another Chewer

2010-07-05T19:28:00.000-07:00

You ever wonder why people spend so much time after they have messed up asking God to forgive them, when they spend so little time with God before they mess up they are not able to withstand the temptation?

This is something God has been speaking to me about in my own life really convicting and helping me change so many things in my life. Making adjustments and corrections in ones life is always good to keep you aligned with God. It's His little way of saying I love you and want us to have a healthy relationship, as His word says (I discipline those I Love).

Something I've been chewing on

2010-06-14T15:49:00.000-07:00

I did not want to post anything big or long this week, I just wanted to post this one thing it's very small but alot to chew on, it's been stirring my heart for the past couple of days. Hope you like it.

Why do we ask God questions about why there is violence in the world, or poverty, or hurt? Isn't it GOD who should be asking us why there is violence, poverty, or hurt in the world? Francis Chan

How IronmanforOrphans all began

2010-06-06T20:47:00.000-07:00

In 2007 after coming back from my first trip to Africa it was really hard for me to process all that had taken place and all that I had seen. There was so much poverty, and so much need I really did not know what to do or where to start, but deep down inside I knew that once I had seen it I had now become responsible for it. While on the plane in the middle of the nite I spent a lot of time thinking of Ideas and ways to bring attention to need of Africa, the people and the orphans. At the time the United Nations issued a study that by 2010 there would be close to if not over 50 million orphans in the continent of Africa unfortunately that number has come to pass .In 2010 the United nations issued new reports that there were over 50 million orphans in Africa and over 26 million of them were aides orphans. I have had the amazing privilege to travel to several different countries in Southern Africa with Children's Cup international Relief to see and be apart of hands on relief efforts that go on daily to these countries. Children's Cup International relief takes care of close to 30 thousand children a day in Swaziland, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. Swaziland in particular has the highest percentage of Aids in the world, it is estimated that one out of every two has this horrible disease. When Dave Ohlerking the founder and President of Childrens Cup issued a statement at the mid of 2009 that much of the care that we provide to the children of these countries would be drastically cut back due to financial support and the economic crisis facing so many people, myself along with several others came together to form the IronmanforOprhans team. With long nites and many hours planning and gathering ideas on how to bring attention and support to Children's Cup we came up with the bike, run, walkathon called( Ironmanfor Orphans). I myself will bike for a set amount of hours representing the Orphan crisis in Africa, but we also wanted as many people as possible to be apart by coming out to bike, run, or walk for however long they wished to help raise and show support for Children's Cup, and the Orphans of Africa. So now that the vision is starting to take place our hope is that many of you will find a place on the team and be apart of something that we believe will bring a renewed hope to so many in need. We thank all of you so much who have joined so far and we will continue to keep everyone up to date as to all that is scheduled and taking place in the near future. Again thank you and God bless.

The Pain of the Mission Field

2010-05-29T16:17:00.001-07:00

There is a section in the New Testament where Paul is sharing his internal struggle with friends that he is about to leave, he knows he will probably never see them again until they get to Heaven and they know it as well. Before Paul departs there is much crying and weeping and anguish in there hearts about the loss and separation they are about to feel. Honestly that's how I feel right now, I have never felt that way towards any other mission trip before in my life, Africa I know I will see again. And God lets me revisit there every day in my heart because it stole a piece of me and kept it for itself. But I know that's where I'm called. It gets harder every trip I take because I feel that anguish in my heart towards the people in the field and having to leave them. For me the sacrifice is not the leaving all that we have here in the states but leaving the people that have taken pieces of my heart and kept it for themselves on the field. I feel the loss knowing that I may only see them again if God allows and if not then my heart is full of sorrow until that day. How beautiful are the people that lay there lives down for the Gospel and how beautiful are those that give up home, country, and comfort to see the Kingdom of God advance. It tears at my heart to part with them, and only wait on God to give another day of fellowship. For me The Pain of The Mission Field is having to part ways with those who for only a short period of time dug a well so deep in your life that when you pull from it, it is only Gods heart of Joy and love. It amazes me how you can be born in a country and not even feel at home, but when you go to the least of these you never want to leave, my soul misses all my dear friends on the field, and knows that weather here or in Heaven one day all the saints will sit together, and fellowship where the sun will never set!!!!

Back Home from Honduras

2010-05-24T13:32:00.000-07:00

The new Logo for Ironman for Orphans

2010-05-11T20:30:00.000-07:00

This is the new Logo for IronmanforOrphans it's an exciting step that brings us one step closer to bringing hope to so many orphans in Africa. Thanks to an amazing team that has worked long hours and sat through so many meetings things are finally starting to move foward. More updates will be on the way but for now hope you enjoyed the logo. Also check out the new facebook page and get updates on IMFO to see what going on.

14 days till Honduras

2010-05-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the amazing Heather Stewart I was able to gather a few pics of the sights and adventures of Honduras from her facebook(She is a full time Missionary there). We have 14 days till we leave, and in all honesty I have a totally different level of excitement for this missions trip than any other trip I have ever been on. One of the reasons has to do with the history of how it all got started in Honduras and the 2nd has to do with I have never been there. There is a new level of expectation and a new level of spiritual preparation that has been on my heart. I think alot of times when you go to a place more than once you can let your guard down or casually coast into the place thinking I've been here done that. It's always a new challenge spiritually to go into a new place, the smells are different, the sights are different, the culture is different, you cant do things the same that you can do in places you have been before. But the great thing is you get a chance to grow in ways you would not have been able to being in places your familiar with. I love new trip's because God allows you to see what He is doing in the world and how there are believers all across the world, beautiful people everywhere serving and following Jesus. It helps you see the big picture. I love meeting new people and getting to hear there stories and life journey at the end of the day you realize more often than not even though you came to help them they are truly giving you so much spiritually. I'm really excited and looking forward to what God is going to do, in filling us up then pouring us out, because the main thing is Jesus and our purpose is others.

(Just a few pics of what Honduras looks like and some of the areas we will be going to).

Arc All Access is Here

2010-04-25T18:31:00.000-07:00

About Registration Speakers Schedule Exhibitors Contact/FAQ News All Access Twenty Ten was born out of a heart to connect church leaders, encourage church planters and champion the cause of Christ through healthy local churches. It's a place for church leaders to connect, church planters to be encouraged, and where all who attend will be inspired and equipped to serve their cities effectively. Join us in these strategic days for this high-impact conference.

Brian Houston
Hillsong Church

Chris Hodges
Church of the
Highlands

Craig Groeschel
LifeChurch.tv

Dino Rizzo
Healing Place Church

Priscilla Shirer
Going Beyond

Rick Bezet
New Life Church

Robert Morris
Gateway Church

Stovall Weems
Celebration Church

Tommy Barnett
Phoenix First
Assembly of God

John Maxwell
Author/Speaker

Miles McPherson
Rock Church
& Academy

Greg Surratt
Seacoast Church

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First service in the HPC ARENA

2010-03-25T22:16:00.000-07:00

What a night!!!!!! The first service in the new HPC ARENA, it has been such a long wait but there is a scripture in Zachariah that comes to mind that says despise not the small beginnings. When I think about all that we have gone through as a church and all that is going to take place here that scripture fits so well. The biggest trees in the world start out as a small seed, the tallest building in the world starts with one drawing, the greatest ministry in the world started in a manger. Even though things started out small the became strong and great over time because of there growth and perseverance. The wait was well beyond worth it because it has taught us so much and grown us to where we are now. It is such a privilege to be here in Gods house and such an honor to serve at HPC. It's my church family, and it's our way of life, reaching the world by serving one!!!!

More Art Im working ON

2010-03-10T00:18:00.001-08:00

Just thought I would share with you some new Art I'm working on, the pics are a little blurry from the camera but the art in still in the works. As you can tell most of my stuff lately is all Africa, but as the old saying goes once you have been there you will re visit it in your mind everyday after that. Africa it gets in your blood.

Peters Comparison

2010-03-03T22:39:00.000-08:00

There are many times in ones life where we are faced with a little nasty human problem. Comparisons! I often feel there is a tendency to judge the season your in by the standard of someone Else's joy, grief, prosperity, success, or failures. It's honestly hard to not get distracted with Comparison when you have seasons that don't seem as "good" as other people. You may feel as though your doing something wrong which could be the case, but there are other times where Gods plan of refinement by fire does not match our idealistic walk as a comfortable Christian. You if your like me can feel like your left out, and everyone else is just flying by you. God why am I not moving forward, why am I not advancing, why do I feel like everyone else is so much better than me now? Honestly! we as people behind closed doors ask ourselves these things, it's nothing to be ashamed of. But if you live your life by these questions and let it dictate the value of who you are then there is an issue. I don't know why but I have been seeing this alot lately with friends, family, and especially myself! It really is funny to me how we as people will become insecure about ourselves just by how someone Else's life looks. And we let that determine our self worth and our value just because we want what there outside appearance and possessions look like, to be what we find our significance in . Why is it that we compare ourselves to others almost always by the way things look on the outside first, instead of what God is developing us into. We see big houses but we don't see lots of dept, we see fancy cars but we don't see marriages falling apart, we hear how much someone has great accomplishments but we dont see there dad telling them they will never be anything. Why do we compare ourselves to someone Else's possessions or place in life when we dont have a clue most of the time what it took to get that, or what they are losing to have it. We are worried about what people think, why? Why do we care? If we do get it all but then it all gets stripped away then do we lose our significance again. Are we found in what we have or what we do, or by who we are and how we live? Especially as a follower of Christ the inward should be what is our place of security and our outward expression of confidence. If I preach then great, if I mop floors even better, if I serve in parking awesome, if I'm a missionary to Africa spectacular. Our worth is not in what we do but who we are in Christ. What you do will always change but He does not. Our significance is found in Him! John 21:15-23 is such a good example of Comparison. Peter is comparing himself to John and questioning Jesus about how fair he thinks Jesus is being. Peter will eventually give his life for Christ and John will live an old age but Peter is not to happy with the fairness of this decision. I LOVE HOW JESUS RESPONDS: If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? YOU FOLLOW ME. Oh if we could only so this deeply in our hearts. Jesus calls each of us into a special plan and purpose and it is His will. We were found by Christ, we gave our hearts to Him, now, the only thing we need be concerned with is Follow Him. If we could just follow Him the way He asks us to we don't need to be concerned with comparison because that is not in our plan. His will is tailored for us and no one else, so why do we desire someones else's plan is it truly for wanting to serve Christ or to serve our own Glory. I hope and pray that we can be the FOLLOW ME people, that's His heart. That's His plan!

The Rescue in the Darkness

2010-02-26T01:07:00.000-08:00

It has been a while sense I have done any poetry but this one has been burning in my heart for a while. The story is about Man and his struggle with the flesh and the spirit and Jesus that rescues.

My Heart is held captive by the tent where it dwells and the fire that feeds it has been locked behind stone. Why has this shell not been shaken of its hold, or its grip not been torn of it's claim. This wild passion longs for release but only silence is herd, and desperation turns violent as these two men come to fame. Why does this war wage only to see ground taken and then ground regained. If I could run faster then I surely would go or if I could swim farther then I would let sea call my name. These two men that besiege me one is truth that lives free and the other that calls me gives death with eyes that cant see. OH how I long for the sword will cut through the night piercing the darkness pouring in me true light. In the battles they face one cries out in despair but the man of great darkness gives pain with no care. The chains that once bound me had torn through my skin but after I'm free there I return once again, why all this pulling that claws in my chest in chasing His light this tent gives me no rest. I see His grace giving life in my soul and His truth that sets free on my heart it lays hold. But this man that beckons me in his heart there's no life only darkness that binds me and a path filled with strife. In these two men one can see death that is free and in the core of his heart knows his eyes can now see. But the man that wages war his hatred is strong and the life that he gains is death without song. Oh heart, oh heart, The One that is calling can see these two men, He knows there's a battle that neither can win. His Army stands ready war they will wage but The One that is Calling steps on to His stage. Into the darkness He fought them and called me by name He slayed all the dragons by His sword covered in flame. He saw me in the distance battling within one longing for life the other for sin. By His hands He had grasped me pulling me tight to His chest in the midst of His presence I felt life giving rest. His arms covered in justice and His hands drenched in Grace He plowed through the darkness putting shame to there face. As He broke through the night darkness no longer I'd see only His grace abounding and His Love that sets free. With His body He ransomed me and fought through the night He called out my name and carried me to His light. Oh heart Oh heart only night did I see but because of His Blood Oh Heart your now free!!!!

Wonderful memories of being a Kid

2010-02-14T22:26:00.000-08:00

This is a very speacial post to me because it brings me back to when I was a kid and (Cartoons actually had class unlike todays junk) actually spent time watching cartoons. I remember being at my grandmothers house watching these old Disney cartoons my grandmother would record, she would have the firplace going it would be real cold outside and we would crawl up in some blankets on the couch or on the carpet on the floor to watch them. Such good memories I would laugh until it hurt. It was such an exciting thing to see the Disney logo come on tv in it's stripped design with the featured shows for that day in front of it. My grandmother had an old tv framed in a big wood carved box it still works to this day. It has to be some of my greatest memories growing up and spending long summers in Mississippi staying up late watching these old classics. I know I posted a lot but these are some of the ones I could find after seeing one on an old vhs we had. I half to be honest I watched every one and so many more I love them all and hope you enjoy them to. I wish Cartoons still had this kind of Character and class but all good things must come to an end I guess. Anyways Disney did such an amazing job and I Hope you enjoy.
Mickey Donald Goofy(Boat Builders)

Goofy Golf

Mickey Donald Goofy (GHOST Scare)

Mickey and Pluto

Goofy Football

A Disney Christmas

Donald Hockey Champ

Goofy Dance

Reminds me of my Dad( He's a Chef)

2010-02-10T23:07:00.000-08:00

This is absolutely hilarious. I used to love watching this guy growing up. My Dad is a chef so I always think about him when I see this he is as goofy as this guy to I guess that's where I get it from.

Sneak Peak to My New Book (Red Boots)

2010-02-06T13:25:00.000-08:00

Where The Story Begins
Adventure, risk, death defying moments, thrills that will make your adrenaline pump through your veins, if you are hoping to find all of this while reading, you will. This entire book is full of true stories from my life that in the process of writing I was full of thankfulness to God for the grace and protection he has had on me. But so much more than all of those things is a story of how God used all of that to bring me to one little boy across the world in a small country in Africa. I will tell you stories of my days in the Marine Corp, stories of the mission field, stories of wild animals and crazy friends, stories that will make you laugh and many that will make you cry, but most important of all, the story of a little orphan with the only name I remember, Red Boots. I hope to take you on a personal journey of life experiences that I believe God used to shape me and mold me for a special task, a task that is much greater than me and a task that requires many people far greater than my self to carry out. This journey I hope will inspire you to seek out Risk, faith, Adventure, and selflessness all for Gods kingdom to reach those that are thought unreachable, to share with those that are hurting, broken, poor, homeless, Orphaned, Widowed, forgotten, those that are looking for life, looking for Purpose, looking for Love, looking for what they don’t even know, Jesus. In all of these stories Christ drew me close into his arms and taught me that others are why he lived, that others are why he died. I hope you catch this passion, I hope you are a fisherman that will lay down your net and hear the call. The Call of Christ, the call to others. Red Boots, there are very few memories that I have in my life that are more beautiful than this one. My number one would be the day I gave my life to Christ, my number two would be the day I married my beautiful wife Heather, three would be the day I became a United States Marine. But this memory, this scene that always plays in my mind is very different, very special. I remember standing outside of a chain link fence peering through some barb wire and a locked gate. There were little children running around everywhere, all playing throwing rocks kicking dirt just doing what little kids do, have a great time. As I moved through the entrance down a small slope to the care point I saw a little boy standing by himself on the path to the playground, he had a huge grin on his face and on his feet were a big bright pair of Red Rubber Boots. I will never forget it, the moment he saw me come around the corner he took off towards me, jumped on me as high as he could and wrapped his arms around me. I was in complete shock, absolutely stunned to think that this little boy has never met me, has now clue who I am, doesn’t know any of my past, my issues, struggles, fears, sins, or failures and yet devoted his Love to me without second thought. I had been to Africa before with total different experiences but this trip opened my eyes to everything that was hidden in me the first time. This little Orphan showed me Jesus, and at this moment I understood why he said what you have done unto the least of these you have done unto me.

The Heart of a Veteran

2010-01-20T15:13:00.000-08:00

My Journal entry from a few days ago, ever sense I have been out of the Marine Corp I have made a concious effort to tell all veterans that I see in public thankyou for there service. This was a conversation I had with a man that has really touched my heart for the WWII Generation, here is what I wrote in my journal from that day.
Thinking about a man I met at Cracker Barrell a few Days ago that served in WWII named Mr. Murry .I walked up to him and told him thankyou for his service and what he did, he teared up and said to me thankyou for remembering because so many have forgotten. havent stopped thinking about it sense

TREK

2010-01-10T16:23:00.000-08:00

So really cool story, if you have been following my blog you know about my desire to do a fundraiser for Childrenscup.org our care points in Africa for orphans. My plan has been to do a 24hr bikeathon called Iron man for Orphans. I have a road bike already but after four years I'm ready to upgrade. For a few months I have been learning about new bikes and studying narrowing down my decisions and after a long time I narrowed it down to two bikes cervelo and trek. I have always liked cervelo but how can you pass on the tradition and legacy of a great bike like trek. After much consideration I went with cervelo because the Trek model I liked it would take me more time to save up for. Well such a cool story, I'm sitting with my mom talking about bikes and I happened to show her the trek I liked and she said oh by the way I have been doing a real estate deal with a guy who owns a bike shop and he said if we ever were interested in bikes just let him know. Then she told him about me and he said tell him just send me some info about the bike he likes and will get to work on it. I was like what! Are you serious how awesome is that! It was such a blessing, I have always loved trek and Lance Armstrong has always been my favorite athlete, just the effort and technology put into trek bikes to me top quality. So Trek is the choice, Model 2.3 Madone preseries. The first time I had my hand on the bike it was twice as light as mine no weld points vi sable and so much cleaner. I'm really excited about it and will definitely keep you posted on it.

Cervelo it is

2010-01-01T17:11:00.000-08:00

So after a good bit of research I have made up my mind, Cervelo. I have to confess I have done a really bad job with learning about my bike and have done more work towards learning about my nutrition and exercise. But in the last year I have tried to learn alot more about bike mechanics, aerodynamics, and the diffrence between good bikes and great bikes. After all this research I realized how much of a diffrence knowledge in the bike arena makes, and how much I did not know about bikes. But I have always liked Cervelo and Felt, and of course Trek, but I have always liked the design and style of Cervelo. This is the S1 series of Cervelo that I really like, I have tried it out several times and several other bikes as well and this is the model I found to be my best fit so with all that I'll keep you posted on how it goes. And by the way have a happy new year.

Getting back into the Saddle

2009-12-18T21:04:00.000-08:00

For the past year I have really been riding hard and getting back into the saddle not only for fitness, but I also love riding my bike and I want to get back into triathlons and road races. It really is addictive riding, I used to run a whole lot but I got real tired of my knees hurting after a workout. So after a friend introduced me to Bikes while in the Marine Corp I got totally hooked. Funny thing is I have always been a huge fan of Lance Armstrong. One of my Passions as of late has been to use my Love for cycling to raise money for my real Passion, Orphans in Africa. I'm still working on an event we have coming up in the future but as of right now I'm thinking about updating my bike. These are some of the new bikes I've been looking at. Check em out.
Tri Bike

Tri Bike

Road Bike

Some Good thought's about our Christian Role

2009-12-08T18:42:00.000-08:00

Hunting Tiger Woods
by C.J. Mahaney 12/3/2009 3:10:00 PM
Tiger Woods wants his privacy back.

He wants the media entourage to disappear from his life.

He wants to be left alone so he can manage his personal problems in private.

Not a chance.

The story began unfolding in the early hours of last Friday when he crashed his Cadillac Escalade into a tree and a fire hydrant near his Florida home. He refused to speak with the police about the incident, raising curiosity about the circumstances. The story has now escalated into allegations of marital infidelity, and that generated a blog post from Tiger that stated, “I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart.” This statement by Tiger has led most to believe that the allegations of infidelity are true.

Hunted by the Media

As expected, the allegations of adultery involving a public figure are attracting a media pile-on. This is a big story with a big audience and it’s a story that will not disappear soon. Tiger Woods is being hunted by the media.

But let us make sure we do not join the hunt. A Christian’s response to this story should be distinctly different. We should not be entertained by the news. We should not have a morbid interest in all the details. We should be saddened and sobered. We should pray for this man and even more for his wife.

And we can be sure that in the coming days we will be in conversations with friends and family where this topic will emerge. And when it does, we can avoid simply listening to the latest details and speculations, and avoid speaking self-righteously, but instead we can humbly draw attention to the grace of God in the gospel.

Hunted by Sin

But Tiger is being hunted by something more menacing than journalists. Tiger’s real enemy is his sin, and that’s an enemy much more difficult to discern and one that can’t be managed in our own strength. It’s an enemy that never sleeps.

Let me explain.

Sin Lies

The Bible in general, and the book of Proverbs in particular, reveals an unbreakable connection between our character, our conduct, and the consequences of our actions. These three are inseparable and woven by God into His created order.

Deception is part of sin’s DNA. Sin lies to us. It seeks to convince us that sin brings only pleasure, that it carries no consequences, and that no one will discover it. Sin works hard to make us forget that character, conduct, and consequences are interconnected. And when we neglect this relationship—when we think our sins will not be discovered—we ultimately mock God.

Sin Hunts

We’ve all experienced it: Sin lies to us. We take the bait. And then sin begins to hunt us.

One commentator on Proverbs articulated this truth like this: “The irony of a life of rebellion is that we begin by pursuing sin…and end up being pursued by it!….You can ‘be sure your sin will find you out’ (Num. 32:23…).”* In other words, sin comes back to hunt us.

In light of this fact, sin is an enemy Tiger can’t manage. He can’t shape this story like he does a long iron on a par 5. Tiger doesn’t need a publicity facelift; Tiger needs a Savior. Just like me. And just like you. And if by God’s grace he repents and trusts in the person and work of Christ, Tiger will experience the fruit of God’s promise that “whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).

Conclusion

Tiger cannot intimidate this enemy like he can Pebble Beach or any of the field of professional golfers. And there is no privacy he can claim from this enemy, regardless of his resolve, his silence, or the name painted on his yacht. It’s likely Tiger only perceives the press hunting him out of a vain “curiosity about public figures.” But Tiger is being hunted and hounded by a far greater foe: the consequences of his sin.

And this story should humble and sober us. It should make us ask: Are there any so-called “secret sins” in my life? Is there anything I have done that I hope nobody discovers? Is there anything right now in my life that I should confess to God and the appropriate individuals?

And this should leave us more amazed by grace because there, but for the grace of God, go I.

New Artwork

2009-12-03T14:32:00.001-08:00

The camera did not take good pics so if the Art looks blury thats why.

Grace or Faith

2009-11-09T18:39:00.000-08:00

Just a thought for this week, alot of times for me it's not faith that is the problem it is understanding that his Grace is sufficient. When you look at all of creation faith comes so easy and God is so obvious and present, but it's often times of hardship that understanding that his Grace is enough his power is made perfect in weakness is what we struggle with, that takes faith. Faith that his grace will sustain us, faith that his grace will keep us and pull us through. That to me is where growing seems to be tough.

PRUNING

2009-10-22T15:24:00.000-07:00

It's often difficult to hear God speak when we are talking over him with an obnixious focus on our frustrations. I say this only because I walk through this season pretty often and I know it's my own fault. But recently I have been thinking a lot about Moses, funny huh, yes and no! Moses, Moses, Moses, who are you amongst the greatest ruler on the face of the planet, well in the natural, nobody. But the funny thing is God pruned alot of bad branches on thst boy to make him ready in the spiritual for his somebody moment. His somebody moment only happened to make some body famous. God. When God is speaking it's good to remind ourselves that God has no branches to be pruned and when he speaks it's often the shears that will be prunning our areas that need to be fixed. Moses had many frustrations, but once he got the picture and stopped looking at his own situtations and started looking at what God was doing he realized that it was a lot of pruning to get him ready maybe for something big maybe for something small but none the less it was God getting him ready for something that God was doing, that is a much more important thing to fixed on, so let's get rid of those dead branched and make room for more growth.

10 Things I Love about upcoming Winter

2009-10-03T11:54:00.000-07:00

(Ten Things I Love about upcoming Winter)

1. Absolutely Love Hunting, Deer, Duck, Squirrel, Rabbit, hogs, coyote, you name it if it has a season I love to hunt. It is definitely a passion of mine I love putting my camo paint on and ghillie suit, stalking whatever prey it is and feeling the rush of making the kill. It's awesome.

2. A Warm fire. Absolutely nothing better than cuddling with my beautiful wife on the couch next to a warm wood fire.

3. Hot Chocolate, I don't know what it is about it but I Love hot Chocolate. On a cold cold day there is nothing better to get you warm. And it's even better with marsh mellows.

4. Christmas Movie Classic's. I love staying up late watching old Christmas Movie Classic's with the family, it alot of fun.

5. Hot Chocolate, Warm Fire, and Classic Christmas Movies all combined. Now that is a great Winter day.

6. Holiday Food, this has to be the greatest when all the family is together and we are all sitting around the table scarfing some food.

7. Driving around looking at all the Christmas lights, it's amazing what some people do to dress there house up in lights.

8. Christmas Music in the house, really good for a fun enviroment.

9. Christmas Eve.

10. Christmas Morning with my wife, I Love seeing how excited she gets on Christmas day, it's awesome.

Hunting Season is almost Here

2009-09-19T16:29:00.001-07:00

I thought this was pretty funny considering Hunting season is almost here. Enjoy!

Weekend with the Boys

2009-09-11T18:21:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was an awesome trip, I got to take my little brother one of the students from student ministries Caleb C, and my boy Jordan to the camp in Mississippi. We took a ton of Guns and plenty of Mre's (Meal ready to Eat). It was a really good time just hanging out and letting the boys be boys. There is something special about being in the woods sharing that warrior spirit, plus shooting watermelons is a plus, for a bonus there is a special video at the end you don't want to miss it.

My Top 6 Places I want to Go

2009-09-01T19:09:00.000-07:00

These are in No Particular Order but I did save my Favorite for last. I'm always in a traveling mood and I would drop everything at any moment to get in a plane just to go some place new but these are some places that I have always wanted to go. They are kinda my top picks.

1. Israel, I would love to go to the Holy Land and just be in the areas were the Jesus walked the Earth, I think it would be an amazing experience. And a really cool spiritual experience as well.

2. New Zealand, I would love to rid a horse and camp out through the valleys where Lord of the Rings was Shot what an awesome experience that would be.

3. Thailand, this one is awesome because of the unique scenery I have always been fascinated with Thailand, it would be a great adventure and amazing Missions opportunity.

4. Montana, I would love to Camp and outback like the old cowboys in the old days Montana is the wild cowboy dream for me, Horses and Stars, it would be an awesome experience.

5. Alaska, I cant say enough about this place, the last frontier, I would love to do a big game Hunt here and survive off of the land, fish wild salmon and hike for days this is truly God's beauty.

6. Africa, My heart resides here, the people the land, everything about it, especially the children, Africa it gets in your Blood.

Calling the less Equipped (Justice For Orphans)

2009-08-21T19:19:00.000-07:00

I have thought alot about these last few weeks and what God has in store for the Orphans in Swaziland and Mozambique Africa (Childrenscup.org).God who will step up and provide, who are you going to call to meet this need. There are care points with Children depending on us for food and clothing, education, and love, and now they are shutting down, this cant happen, how will they make it, we must do something. I wont lie to you I used to be the guy that when I would see commercials on TV of the children in Uganda and Sudan I would turn the channel as soon as possible because I was scared, and honestly did not think a dime of my money would do a bit of difference for these children. I did not turn the TV because it freaked me out or made me mad at people asking for money, I turned the Channel because I felt guilty for not having alot to give, or thought that what I could give wasn't going to be enough to help these Children for any more than a day so why give them false hope. I have to say that after going to Africa twice now my heart has been so captivated with these precious children, and I have learned that any little bit that you give makes a huge difference. Weather money or Prayer, clothing or food, it all makes a difference. God who are you going to call. The answer he has given me has been the less Equipped. When we are weak he is strong, when we have little God takes that and does much. I have noticed that God has been gripping this young generation to make a difference for his kingdom, he has been calling teenagers without jobs or income, he has been calling college students that are willing to risk what little they do have to make a difference, he has been calling those without great influence to step and be bold, he has been calling those with a passion to start a fire in the hearts of men for something greater than themselves. He is calling those that are willing at all cost to see others reached regardless of what comfort they lose and pain it causes themselves as long as they can share the Love of Jesus to others. God has birthed an amazing ministry called children's cup that takes care of so many Orphans in Africa with many essential needs, food, clothing, education, etc. But we all know that in these difficult economic times resources are limited and fear is running lose in the world, due to alot of these circumstances many of these carepoints are having to shut down because of lack of funding. My prayer for you and me is that we ask God to show us what little things he wants us to give so that he can make alot. God specializes in working with the little things and turning them into big blessings. The little boy only had a few loaves of bread and some fish but God made basket fulls. I am in the process now of putting together an event where I will do a 24hr bike ride to raise money for the children, called Ironman for Orphans, anyone will be able to come out and ride or walk or run for however long they want to show and help raise support. I just want to take what God has placed in my hands and do the best I can with it, even if it's not that much, because it's the less equipped that God equip's the most, and those with a willing heart. If you have any desire to get involved please contact me on facebook or go to the Childrens cup website to see how you can give. www.childrenscup.org . But most importantly pray that provision will come for the children and that people will get involved in what is going on. Thank you all for reading and praying for the Children it is greatly appreciated and felt. IN HIS GRIP

IronMan For Orphans

2009-08-13T20:05:00.000-07:00

This is gonna be awesome, for about a year now I have had a huge desire to do big fundraiser for the Orphans in Africa. After having the most amazing opportunity to go to Africa twice with Healing Place Church School of ministry and be apart of International Relief program I have wanted to do so much more for the Children. Our Idea right now is to do a, wait you ready for it. 24 hour Bike, Run, Walk event to raise money for the children. I will be biking for the full 24 hrs straight, but anyone will be able to come and bike, walk, or run for however long they desire to help support and raise money for the Children. 100% of the proceeds will go directly towards the children. In the process of thinking about this event there were many questions of how will we do it, where will we do it, and how will we get sponsors and partners, alot of that is still in the works but for the most part the planing stages are wrapping up. But we did know that we wanted to go big, we wanted to do something that would really be challenging but also allow people that would like to come out with family and friends for a few hours or just to show support for a little while for the event to be apart. So the 24hr Idea came up. You can go solo, you can have teams and do relays, you can unicycle if you want we just want people to get involved. Until we get the date set and location of the event I would like to ask you to pray for us as we continue getting this event together.Our goal is to raise between 50 and 100,000 dollars for the children.In efforts to reach this goal we are going to contact as many businesses in Baton Rouge as we can possibly find and also house to house outreaches to raise support. So as we get to a point where we are ready to kick off the event we will keep updates posted on facebook.com under Barton pickens for time and location if you want to get involved. Thank you so much for all your prayers and support, we could not do this without you and the children could not do it with out us.

Heather is Home and Recap

2009-08-06T18:42:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of Heather in Mozambique and Swaziland Africa with the Team from Healing Place Church. They spent two weeks preparing and putting on the Vacation Bible School for all the kids. It is so great to have her back home but also I am so excited at what God has allowed her to be apart of on this trip. I love her so much, hope you enjoy the pictures and also I hope that God places in your heart a desire for Missions especially for Africa and the beautiful children there.

Off To Motion Conference

2009-07-29T20:33:00.002-07:00

Im so pumped about this years student ministries conference in Alabama, but at the same time I am really sad because my wife Heather gets home from Africa on Friday and I will be gone until Sunday night. So this is Bitter sweet for me. It will be two whole weeks this sunday that we havent seen each other I am really missing my Love. But Motion is going to be amazing, Pastor Chris Hodges is an amazing man of God and there Church is doing amazing things in the kingdom. There will be tons of kids and crazy nights with no sleep, all for lives to be changed and Christ to be Glorified. It's gonna be amazing and seriously smelly all these little kids.
5 Things About Youth Camps everyone should Know
1.) If your gonna take a shower make sure your clothes are in the shower with you that way your friends dont run off with your clothes and leave just your socks.

2.)Make sure your the last one to sleep, you wont regret it I promise!!!!!

3.)Look for the guys who fell asleep first it's gonna be the so much fun as long as you have whip cream and duct tape.

4.)You have got to have a team song, Lunch lady land by Adam sandler is my fav.

5.)Make sure you find the secret bathrooms at camp sharing with 100's of students is the last thing you want to have to do, highschool boys hold nothing back!!! HAHA

Africa

2009-07-24T13:34:00.000-07:00

We are having a great time here in Mozambique, we have been at the church for the last two days getting ready for VBS and hanging out with the kids. The team is really working good together, we all fit well with each other. Here are just a few pictures of here. the first is the hotel that we are staying at, the second is the church at an orphanage near our care point,the third is becky getting bombarded by kids cause they want stickers, and the last one is all the kids waiting to be feed their one meal for the day.

Safe in Mozambique

2009-07-22T12:49:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, It's Heather. We are finally done traveling and we are at our hotel in Maputo, Mozambique. I don't know how much I will be able to get on the computer but I will keep ya' ll updated as much as possible. We will be visiting the church tomorrow to hang out with the kids and just serve in any way that we can. Keep tuned in the hear more as it comes. Keep the prayers coming they are much needed for everything to continue moving smoothly.

ON THE PLANE

2009-07-20T16:06:00.000-07:00

If you are reading this right now for the next 21 hours my wife will be on her way to Africa with a team from the Church for a missions trip, she will be gone for the next 12 days so please keep her in your prayers, I'll keep everyone updated and Heather will also post on my blog as well.

Funny thought:
The most memorable meal this year of my life this morning before dropping Heather off at the church, we ate at McDonalds I had a Chicken Bisquit and she had the pancakes with a little oj. Ahhh, the golden arches making memories it's a beautiful thing.

8 Days Till AFRICA

2009-07-12T15:20:00.000-07:00

My Beautiful wife Heather leaves for Swaziland and Mozambique Africa in 8 days, it's a very different feeling to know that she will be all the way across the world without me for a period of two weeks, but also a great feeling to know that she will have one of the most amazing ministry opportunities she has ever experienced. VBS for the children, sharing the message of Christ with these precious children is one of the biggest blessings God has ever allowed me to be apart of and I'm extremely excited that she will be able to share in that blessing. When you go to Africa or an overseas mission trip you will always get so much more out of it than you give while you are there, it's not a self centered thing but something God does to shift your heart towards his perspective. You learn how blessed you are and how much God has given us. And you also learn how much God wants you to use your blessings to bless others less fortunate. These precious orphans have nothing but they have everything, alot of times in America we have so much but inside we have so little. As I get older I see constantly the effects of trying to gain material stuff and wealth here on earth, it all fades and never satisfies. There is nothing wrong with having stuff as long as the stuff does not have you. While she is gone in Africa I know that God will show her amazing things, reveal to her parts of her heart that she never knew could feel the way it will when she holds the children, sees the suffering and See's the joy. Laughs and Cry's all in the same moment. I did everyday I was there. Africa is such an amazing place it captured my heart. It's a neat thing to know that while I'm home my other half will be traveling all the way there having her heart captured as well. It's 8 days till Africa, if you read this post please keep Heather in your prayers and the team going, they are going to need all the prayer that can be lifted up. With Lot's of long hours and many days of pouring themselves out for the work there, God has to be the center of all that is done. While she is gone I will keep post coming of what is going on while she is away and what is happening while she is there. Again all the prayers and support are greatly appreciated.

IRONMAN FOR ORPHANS

2009-07-03T10:19:00.000-07:00

This is gonna be awesome, for about a year now I have had a huge desire to do big fundraiser for the Orphans in Africa. After having the most amazing opportunity to go to Africa twice with Healing Place Church School of ministry and be apart of www.childrenscup.org International Relief program I have wanted to do so much more for the Children. Our Idea right now is to do a, wait you ready for it. 24 hour Bike, Run, Walk event to raise money for the children. I will be biking for the full 24 hrs straight, but anyone will be able to come and bike, walk, or run for however long they desire to help support and raise money for the Children. 100% of the proceeds will go directly towards the children. In the process of thinking about this event there were many questions of how will we do it, where will we do it, and how will we get sponsors and partners, alot of that is still in the works but for the most part the planing stages are wrapping up. But we did know that we wanted to go big, we wanted to do something that would really be challenging but also allow people that would like to come out with family and friends for a few hours or just to show support for a little while for the event to be apart. So the 24hr Idea came up. You can go solo, you can have teams and do relays, you can unicycle if you want we just want people to get involved. Until we get the date set and location of the event I would like to ask you to pray for us as we continue getting this event together.Our goal is to raise between 50 and 100,000 dollars for the children.In efforts to reach this goal we are going to contact as many businesses in Baton Rouge as we can possibly find and also house to house outreaches to raise support. So as we get to a point where we are ready to kick off the event we will keep updates posted on facebook.com under Barton pickens for time and location if you want to get involved. Thank you so much for all your prayers and support, we could not do this without you and the children could not do it with out us.

1 year Anniversary funny thoughts and reflections

2009-06-23T16:56:00.000-07:00

So this Friday is Heather and my 1 year Anniversay so I wanted to take some time to write some thoughts and funny things that have happened and a little of what God has taught us this year.

1. Live with tons of Grace towards one another, it's never as bad as you make it and never as big as it seems.

2. Slow to anger quick to forgive, Say your sorry as soon as possible, it's waisted time trying to prove a point,and at that point the only one your proving is your childishness.

3. Laugh as much as possible, embaress yourself on purpose, bring joy to the other, wouldent you rather happiness instead of grief

4. When you have one sink to share, boys you better go first or it's gonna be a long wait.

5. Never stop opening the door to the car otherwise you might get a reminder if it's been awhile.

6. If she dosent like being tickled do it anyway it's tons of fun.

7. When your wife slaps you on the but like the boys at the game and then says that a boy, yeah youve seen it all.

8. Random date nights are the best.

9. Saving money means turning off your AC UNIT and having a 20$ monthly note, but in louisiana when the summer is having 103 degree days that means no saving money but happy cool wife.

10. pray together and stay focused on God together, he will keep you close when times are good and bad

11.Hide her stuff, it's really fun to watch her get upset and then think your the hero when you say you found it. You even get a kiss sometimes.

12. Tell her she is beautiful in front of her friends major brownie points.

13. If you wash all clothes in one load it's a good thing right?

14. I hate washing dishes!!!

15. She hates washing dishes!!!

16. Somehow I like doing dishes now, but not always.

17. your parents or my parents for dinner, were out of money.

Begining of the Week funny thoughts

2009-06-14T20:18:00.000-07:00

1. Waiting until the absolute last moment to get up to go to work on Monday.
2. Waiting until the very last minute to get up for work Monday, tue, wed, thur, fri.
3. Once again you dont get up to cook breakfast like you said you would.
4. For some reason your socks dont match once you get to work.
5. Who took the last pop tart for breakfast.
6. Snooze
7. Snooze button twice.
8. Snooze button, 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, and 10 times before you get up.
9. turning the snooze button off by accident and the freaking out when you wake up 5 min before you have to be at work.
10. Have you seen my keys, oh my gosh are you kidding me where are my keys.
11. found them they were in my pants pocket.
12. Staying in your truck until the very last moment that you have to go into work.
13. eating breakfast in your truck while waiting until the very last moment that you have to go into work.
14. bringing your trash to work from the weekend to throw away in the dumpster behind work.
15. staying up really late on sunday night to stretch your weekend as long as possible so it seems longer than what it really is. PRICELESS.

The everyday ordinary is often hard

2009-06-09T15:29:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that pretty often I get very frustrated with the mundane. I cant stand repetition or groundhog day weeks where you can say everything that is going to happen before Monday even comes. If it is something you love than that is different but when you find yourself wishing you had greater purpose or even felt purpose then it is very frustrating. Being honest I feel like that a whole lot as of late. As a Male God has created me with a sense of conquer and exploration, this heart of adventure and danger. I often feel in my life that there is predictability and average, boredom and routine. I am not the average guy, alot of people want the 9 to 5 with a big house and American dream. Six figure job, nice car's, boats, material stuff. I would love a cabin in Colorado or Alaska maybe even Montana with a lot of land, I want travel and adventure, the feeling that your heart is alive and not suffocating from lack of testosterone, from lack of zeal, from lack of meaning. I open my Bible every morning, read, and look at the Gospel, what a great adventure. What an amazing life sold out for Christ holds. What an eternal purpose, winning the lost to Christ. I know that God has seasons and times where he is molding and shaping and we must learn so that we are not stuck in a lesson we should have been done with years ago. Transparency for a moment, that is tuff. I've learned that hiding behind mask gets nothing but friends that hide behind mask, transparency sets the heart free.

thoughts
1. Dive into your Bible
2.Travel often
3.Work less family and friends more( obvisouly you have to pay bills but you know what I mean.
4.Use you talents, bless people and give give give.
5.Challange yourself to encourage someone every single day, build them up.
6.Get in shape, working out helps your stress, or beat up a sibling I do with my brothers all the time.
7. be thankful all the time, others have it worse, so could we.

Memorial Day, looking back

2009-05-25T11:41:00.000-07:00

What God is Speaking now

2009-05-22T23:38:00.000-07:00

When God is hiding from us it is the best

When God is hiding from us it's because we are in a season of revelation, we may not feel a thing, no presence. But in this season God wants us to draw near to him so he can reveal new things to us, he wants us to come into the hiding place. Here the enemy cannot find us nor would dare to try and go if he knew we were there. Once God is done revealing all the things he wants to show us he then takes us into a season of manifestation. He his presence is all over us and is showering us with his spirit, in this season he wants to manifest in us and through us what he revealed to us in the season of revelation. For us and for others. When we are in the presence of Gods spirit we cannot see anything else but God b/c he is so big, so he draws away from us so that we can draw near to him and hear from him. Great Example: the disciples walking the road to emmaus and then Jesus shows up, they dont know that it is him b/c he is hiding himself from them to reveal to them things he wants them to learn,they speak to Jesus telling him do you not know what has been going on in the last few days regarding the crucifying of Christ. Jesus in classic response says no why dont you tell me, he then gives them revelation they want him to come and spend time with him. Jesus goes, then they eat, Jesus offers thanks and then breaks bread. At that moment Jesus manifest himself to them and there eyes are open and they realize it is Christ. After this the disciples were astonished and filled with joy then ran back and told all the other disciples that Jesus was risen. Revelation then manifestation for you and for others.

We were all Orphans at some point

Pastor Steve Ware spoke at retreat tonight, he just came back from Africa and told us how the children there have no record of birth, no identification of birth records, all orphans. When I went there last year and the year before that I learned about this truth. Tonight at retreat I herd this and then God spoke to me Barton before you and all of these people in here that are followers of me were found by me you were all orphans, you had now birth date, no identification, nameless,and fatherless, without a home or family. But once you accepted me and responded to me you were no longer Orphans, you became Sons and Daughters, with a family and a father, you were given names and those names were given not just by any father or dad but by our King!

Thoughts that have been messing with me.

2009-05-13T13:45:00.000-07:00

1. Quote: You can tell the size of a person by the size of what it is that makes
them angry. Robert Barringer

2. Quote: A real sign of maturity is when someone responds to a trial not
reacts. Graham Cooke.

Let's just say these have been timily words for me recently, nothing crazy just keeping me in check with Gods heart, thats where I want to stay near. And not fleshing out. If your human you know what I mean. God please keep me in your big bucket of Grace. I try to keep little thaughts like these in my Ipod so as Im going through out the day I'm reminding myself how my focus should be, that of Christ. Even though the medicine dosent always taste good, it's gonna make you better I promise.

Happy Mothers Day

2009-05-10T13:34:00.000-07:00

Happy Mothers day especially to my Mom, but I would also like to say happy Mothers day to all moms. God has made you such an important role in the family and in the life of your son or daughter. Thankyou for all your hard work and faithfulness to us and sacrifice you make. From getting us up to go to school to bringing us to church on Sundays and wednesday nights. Yall are awesome. so to all the moms God bless and know that you are so special to God. And your hearts are precious, and so needed in the lives of so many kids today. Moms where would we be without you.

3 pieces of Art and The Kids

2009-05-05T20:36:00.000-07:00

These 3 pieces of art are almost complete, I've been working hard to get as much art finished as I can each month so I can start making prints. It has been really cool for me to see the work come together, I Love Drawing, Painting, Photography, it is such a peaceful thing working on my art in the back room, little music on and creative juices flowing, Love it. I'm so thankful that God gave me this gift, I want to use it as much as possible to bless others and serve him with it. I Love Art, and as much as I can I'm gonna keep using it to serve.

Major and Koah at the Park

Pictures I've taken recently

2009-04-29T21:14:00.001-07:00

Wake Up!!!!!

2009-04-29T15:47:00.000-07:00

That's the name of our Sunday morning Discipleship class, Wake Up. We call it that because of everyone sleeping in on Sunday morning, so we wake up for 10:00 discipleship class and then 12:00 service. Future World Changers, destined to reach the world for Christ sharing the gospel all over the place. These guys are so awesome and so dedicated, and they serve like crazy. I look back on my highschool years and wish I was as sold out as these guys. But it is a huge blessing and priveledge to be able to invest into their lives. They inspire me to take my walk to a whole notha leval. A little bit of Coffee, a dozen donuts, and great group of guys to share life and the word with.

Incrediable Love

2009-04-24T12:03:00.000-07:00

I found this video post Easter and it really brings to life the real trama of the cross, and more than that the true Love of Christ.

Thats Creepy

2009-04-24T11:14:00.000-07:00

I know this is probably wrong but I saw this a few days ago and it kinda freaked me out, let's just say either they really like there job or they believe they have a prior life with the egyptians. But this is liscense weirdo number 2 for sure.

Reflection in Communion

2009-04-15T19:53:00.000-07:00

Really cool God moment this past Easter Sunday. While taking communion I took a step back and just released my heart to God, confession's of Fear, of Sin, of Doubt, all kind of stuff. Thinking about all he has done for me was an overwhelming moment, especially during Easter Sunday, the Cross, the Resurrection, and now ultimate forgiveness and atonement. How God? why? did it have to be that way? You love me so much to give your life for me was a joy set before you. I took the bread, and after I was done I gave thanks. Then I held the little cup of Grape juice that symbolised his blood, and while I was praying I just opened my eyes and I just froze. I looked into the cup and I saw my reflection and I started to weep. God just whispered to me that's why I gave my life and shed my blood, for you. Uncontrollable joy and weeping came over me. I could not stop looking into the cup, God, because of me, because of me, because of me, that's why? I don't deserve you or your forgiveness. But I took the focus off of me and focused on his love that's why he told me. Because I love you!!! Because I Love you, Because I Love you , Because I Love you. In that little tiny cup came to me one of the Greatest moments with God I have ever had. A moment of Love with my Savior, a Moment of knowing how much my Savior really loves me, all in a little cup that represents the biggest and greatest act of Love in history. His Love for us on the Cross.

One Statement

2009-04-12T19:12:00.000-07:00

I often think really hard about what to say at during these important times of the year, Easter Sunday is this specific time. And all I want to do is keep it really simple and say that Jesus Lives!!! He lives and he is risen, my savior and king. So happy Easter and know that Jesus Christ our Savior Lives.

Guys Campout, Now thats Dangerous Men

2009-04-05T12:54:00.000-07:00

Wow, that's all I have to say. This past Friday and Saturday was an absolutely amazing encounter with God, and an amazing showing of God's love for men. With all the weather doing it's best to be a hindrance towards us we still made it to the camp. Trucks driving through the water, 4-wheelers trekking where they have never gone before, and Men of God becoming transparent so others may be healed and set free. I was so humbled and also so blessed that 16 guys would come out and break down walls, spend time in the woods, and shoot guns like there is no tomorrow all for the Glory of God. Dangerous men, these are men willing to step out of there comfort zones and see the lost come to Christ, reach the poor, the hurting, the broken, and even come together with one another and be ministered to. I cant say enough how important it is as believers to stay close, bond with one another, and grow in the grace and love of Christ Jesus. Lives will always be impacted, and plenty of fun will take place. I'm mean seriously how can you not have fun shooting over 1000 rounds of pistol, shotgun, and rifle ammunition. That's a whole lot of manliness. The key is fellowship, and accountability. So chose to be dangerous, reach out get involved and get others plugged in. You never know what God may want to do.

Go Green Go Juice

2009-03-28T20:09:00.000-07:00

I saw this commercial the other day for a juice machine at like 11:45 at night it deffinatly reminded me of one of my favorite comedy clips ever hope you enjoy!!!

New Art Work and Major

2009-03-24T18:48:00.001-07:00

Here is some recent artwork I've been working on. Passion of Christ, and Batman in watercolor. I get anxious real quick and start on new art before I get through with other art I've been working on, but here is some recent stuff. Plus Major my first born, YEP HE IS MY MAN DOG.

A little humor goes along way!!!

2009-03-20T14:38:00.000-07:00

That's me 42ft in the air stuck on top of a forklift, I would have just climbed down but I said hey why not get a picture instead.

Leave your car unattended you just might get a Nike decal stuck on your windshield. When your on your way to an appointment and your car looks like it came off the used car lot, oh yeah definitely funny.

There are often times where work can be stressful even mind numbing,and to top it off I'm pretty adventurous and distracted allot. So what do you do, Man you got to spice things up a little. Now I have to admit, OSHA which is the government safety regulator system might not approve of this but I think everyone should have free right to wash windows on tall buildings without safety harnesses. But if you slip please, land on your feet so you break your legs and not your neck. OK I'm just kidding but seriously, if work is a little to stressed lately, I'm telling you a little prank, a little office humor goes along way.

Dangerous Men!!!!!

2009-03-18T20:32:00.000-07:00

After an Amazing HPC Men's conference this past weekend I've been processing so much info and fresh word that was spoken to us. What does it mean to be a man of God, how do we live as husbands for our wives, how do we stand up and against all the stuff the world says is ok?

5 Takeaways on being a dangerous man of God!

1.) Dangerous men are humble: They don't need to assert themselves through there words or lifting themselves up, they serve without reward don't ask for anything and know that it's all for the Glory of God, they are confidant in Christ, this makes them dangerous.

2.)Dangerous Men turn the other Cheek: What? that's right when someone slaps you on the face turn and give them the other side as well, basically saying I don't have to fight back that was me saying that slap was week I'll give you another shot to redeem yourself. Dangerous men are strong from the inside out like Christ, not the outside in that is called tyranny.

3.) Dangerous Men are ruthless: There pursuit of God surpasses all else, there Love for God shows in how they love others, and ruthless desire for God is what directs there life not the temporary things of this world.

4.) Dangerous men are Givers: They give without wanting anything in return, they give out of there heart because they understand how much God gave to them, it is only to bless others and to make sure that we give in obedience to Christ. Give with no strings attached, that way others see the love of Christ.

5.) Dangerous Men carry a sword: They understand that there is going to be a fight, the army of satan are after your family, your Purity, your heart, your finances, the call that God has on your life. Dangerous men know that they have to carry sword, it is a daily fight for the life that God has planned for us, and if evil is to prevail it is because men of God chose to do nothing. Dangerous men say not on our watch, we will stand we will fight, and God we be glorified.

CHOOSE TO BE DANGEROUS!!!!!!!!!

The Mandate and a Prayer

2009-03-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

If you read my blog pretty often or just skim by it hear and there I hope that this word will bring encouragement to your heart and faith to your soul. My prayer for these past couple of Days has burdened my heart. And more so bought me to a new Love in Christ. It's swallowed up in all the suffering that is going on in the world, finances, family's splitting apart, famine around the globe, abortion, homosexuality, orphans, human trafficking, the list could go on and on. Oh my gosh how there is so much pain so much sin, so much searching for answers, how do we fix all of these things. Other issues as well like the economy, terrorism, fear of whats next! Encouraging right, yea I'll stop now because I'm starting to sound like the news. My Prayer, my plea towards heaven, the longing of my heart has been so much for those in this world that are living a life of bondage and entrapment to the temporary things of this life would come to know the Love and Salvation of Christ. I remember how I was before Christ saved me, lost, angry, full of hate and destruction. Caught up in so much that this world has to offer and drowning in it. I had no peace no life. But after I gave up all the fighting and just surrendered to God I cant even begin to explain how my life has changed. I'm no longer trying to find fulfillment in things that don't last, investing my time in things that will fade away, I have acknowledged my mortality and my sin. And now I have life eternally, I quit trying to cover up the reality of what was going on with excuses. I just simply said God you have a plan and I'm trusting in you. Oh how his Love has given me peace, if I end up without a roof over my head and no place to live I am ok, I will still proclaim his goodness. If America wants to turn from God and support what is not just, sexual immorality, taking the lives of unborn children, ignoring the cry of the poor, orphans, widows, the hurting, human trafficking, my prayer will be that we would return to God, bring justice to the oppressed, honor back to Marriage created by God for Man and Woman. And turn from Greed, lust, and hatred. My stance will be with this as well. My prayer is that people would stop running from God, stop trying to figure it all out, stop trying to create a false sense of security, but let him do for you what you can never do for yourself, UNTIL YOU KNOW HIM, LOVE YOU. FORGIVE YOU, AND HAVE YOU. I pray that the Church will in these days reach out with love and not judgement or condemnation, grace and mercy and not anger and vengeance. Truth and Gods word, instead of complacency or what we should do politically to solve the worlds problems. Serve with a towel instead of command with a title. My prayer is that faith in the hearts of believers will not grow weak in these days but stronger, and faith for the lost would be found and hearts turned towards Christ. Throughout all of history the world has tried to provide answer after answer, solution after solution but has only remained successful at one thing repeating itself. With Christ our solution has been given, this world will one day fade. But those that remain in him shall not perish!!!!! For we will be given eternal life, my prayer is that you let go, open your hands and let let Jesus fill them. Let him hold them, let him guide them. Things now are discouraging, yes you can fear all the bad things that are going on. But I promise you this with your hope and faith in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone His love will never leave you, never leave you, and His peace will always comfort you, no matter what this world may bring. My Prayer, my plea, is that when he comes looking for you, you will let him find you. There will be no greater choice than that.

Guess WHO is home!!!

2009-03-02T18:28:00.000-08:00

MOM, Ray, Lance

Major with us Fishing

So My brother Ray is home on leave before he heads out to Japan for 2 yrs. It's been a great week so far, we went to the camp in Mississippi to spend time with the Grandparents and just have some family time. It has been a really cool experience to see Ray grow up and become the young man he is today. We went through alot as young men growing up, turmoil, fights, and all the stuff young guys go through. After Ray joined the Marines it was a very emotional moment for me and very close to my heart. After being in the Marines myself 3 yrs 3 1/2 years later after being out Ray joined. It made our blood thicker and our hearts closer and the past was put behind us. I'm so thankful for what God has done in our relationship. It has really humbled me and realised how much further Love goes than anything else. Lance , Ray, and Me, I love having brothers, especially these guys. Plus, brothers can beat each other up, which is alot of fun. But I'm proud of these guys, more than anyone could know. Fishing, shooting guns, and sitting by camp fires this weekend was a great memory stored away for me. God has blessed me so much, and I could never tell him thank you enough!!!

Making History

2009-02-21T09:26:00.000-08:00

What a cool feeling, last night the 20th of Febuary was the Grandopening game of the New Alex Box Stadium at LSU. I remember growing up going to LSU baseball games when I was little at the old Alex Box, and now I got to be apart of the very first game ever in the new one. I have to be honest, I'm not to much of a baseball fan but I love the atmosphere and the social time, talking with family and eating sun flower seeds, hot dogs, and peanuts, it's such a fun place to be. We were so blessed to be able to go to the game someone gave us tickets at the last minute and we all took off. What a night, we did not get a foul ball, but we were able to make a little history. And the best part was it was with the family!

Why Sleeping Gas is so Funny

2009-02-18T14:38:00.000-08:00

Poor David I have to say this is Halarious, I found it on youtube, the little guy is Awesome though. And deffinatly a little trooper.

An Expensive Decision

2009-02-14T19:44:00.000-08:00

OK, so I know this is a crazy post but I couldn't help but find humor in this this past week. I was down in New Orleans working a job at a funeral home of all places, needless to say I had some awkward feelings about it on the way there. But as we got to the site and walked into the room we were going to be working in and it was full of casket's. Wow, what a great feeling I'm in a room full of happy smiling faces all looking forward to the big football game party we are about to throw, not hardly. I'm in a room full of final check in hotels for the next 8 hours. And to top it off, we had to wait an hour because they had a service in session once we got there, also awkward. But as the day went on I started to walk around and look at all the caskets and I was pretty shocked at what I saw, $5,000 for a box this must be a scam. Ok, a little aggressive on the scam comment but I could not reason with myself that much for a box you wont even see, much less that is going in the ground 6 ft under. And then it hit me, that is the story of all the people in the world that don't have a relationship with Christ. Spend your whole life building temporary wealth and searching for all these temporary things to give a temporary peace when in the end all your doing is investing your whole life into a dead end that cost you a whole lot, (An eternity). It's pretty cool to think about our bodies being a tent, and when we pass on God will give us our glorified bodies. Why, because we gave our lives to Christ and he gave us an eternal purpose to spend our lives on. $5,ooo for this old boy, not quite, how about a couple of pieces of ply wood and some 2 by 4's to hold it together. It was a pretty serious environment but a funny thought that I work for a company with the name Ultimate Storage and I had to do a job at a funeral home. IRONIC. Anyways, just some thoughts about investment's. Or better yet, some expensive temporary yet eternal decisions.

Amped UP

2009-02-07T06:04:00.000-08:00

Starting it off right. Crazy Worship, throwing down the Word, and Host Homes with a bunch of hungry boys, haha and alot of smelly stuff. This is Amplified

Dr. Tweez throwing some announcements.

Worship

My Boy Jordan doing Bible Study.

My Boy Dylan singing it. With Jordans butt in his face.

This Weekend( IS AMPLIFIED)

2009-02-04T19:16:00.000-08:00

Student Ministries: AMPLIFIED
A discipleship weekend packed with incredible worship, life changing messages, community outreach, and a legendary dodge ball tournament! You don't want to miss!!

(Amplified, one weekend,no sleep, tons of Worship, serving our hearts out, Amazing encounter with God, crazy Kids everywhere, All For JESUS).
Why I Love this weekend, b/c it's is one of the wildest most kingdom minded investments we do at HPC for the students. Teaching them all about Serving, becoming Disciples, and living a life sold out for Christ. Stay tuned I'll post pics and hopefully soon I'll be able to post Video updates as well.

Just Obedience

2009-01-27T05:16:00.000-08:00

So I have one quick thought from a really close friend this week. All through morning prayer God has really been challenging me to seek him with all that I am, I mean everything, in all areas of my life. This past Week Adam Braud and me were talking about God's will for our lives and Adam told me this so simple but powerful truth. " God is not looking for the next person that wants to witness to a million people at a crusade, nor the next person that wants to Pastor a big mega Church, or the next person that wants to have a huge crowd they can lead into worship, God is looking for ONE person that just wants to be OBEDIENT.Weather that means your riding on the back of a garbage truck, or the janitor at a school for the next 20 yrs of your life, he wants someone that will be faithful to wherever he has placed them so that others may come to Christ". That was a powerful word for me, just obedience so that others may come to Christ. All those things in the beginning are great but it's really all about whatever the need , the service, the sacrifice are we willing to be Obedient to Christ. Where does he have you placed that you know there are those around you that need Jesus, trust him and stay the coarse, when they finally come to you to know Christ it will be so worth it.

New Art, 21 days countdown, What God is Doing

2009-01-21T05:09:00.000-08:00

So for this 21 days of Prayer my heart has been geared towards Africa and the Orphans that Children's Cup is reaching out to. It has been a big challenge for me because I usually find myself ok with my words being able to communicate pretty well whats on my heart, but this season is different, this Season I have struggled praying. But the funny thing in that is God has me writing prayers more and Expressing my heart towards him in Art. It has been really neat to see a new work and a new language being expressed towards God. I grew up not knowing much about prayer except that you just talk with God, share your heart,dreams,passions,fears, and desire to live for him and he will talk back. Well he definitely talks back and speaks to me in such awesome ways, mostly in that still small voice. But with this new direction he has nudged me into for the past few days it has been a totally eye opening experience. Talk to you through Art, or through writing, I don't really understand but I'm definitely willing. In this, God has shown me so many things that I have never seen. As I write it writing my prayer like Psalms, as I draw it's like putting myself in the shoes of those Children through each expression of the pencil and brush, reminding me and reawakening me to there need and there hearts. Prayer is so powerful and such a great tool that God has given us to stay on track with what he wants to do in our lives. Pray , Fast, and Seek it's his hearts desire to be close to us, these little things will help us get close to him, just make it a heart thing and not a ritual or religion. It's all about the heart.

The little boy we called RED BOOTS, he has had such an amazing influence in my life for Orphans and taking care of them. He is also the inspiration behind the book I'm writing. This art piece is only about a 1/4 of the way done.

21 Days of Prayer and Fasting

2009-01-11T17:22:00.000-08:00

Jan 12, at 6:00 in the Morning starts a season that I Love at the Church. Prayer and Fasting, it brings a closeness and a fresh reminder to the Church body and to me that what it's all about is our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I Love starting my day off in prayer, I have to admit I havent been the best at it sense I've been out of Healing Place School of Ministry. But this 21 days each year really allows me to just give God all of me with other believers. When I used to here that we were as a church going to do 21 days of prayer I used to think man I've got 21 days to pray about so much stuff, that will never be enough time to talk to God about all that is going on, where do I begin. God the world is really messed up, help me to fix it. That's where I started a time or to, thank goodness i've grown a little and God has helped me with this. My heart this year has really been pressed for the Orphans in Africa, Guidance for 2009, and a big Move on the Horizion for Heather and Me. But more than any of that I want God's will to be done, and for others to come to know and have a personal relationship with Christ. thats most important. I have also set out to write and finish a book that has been on my heart for awhile, it's only going to be 33 pages long but I believe that it will speak to the hearts of people about one of Gods greatest Loves. The book is going to be about the Orphans in Africa. 21 DAYS OF PRAYER AND FASTING, it's a great way to really plug into God's heart and know what he wants for you and what he wants you to do for him. Really it's all about centering him in your life and giving up some of those things that come and go like the wind, giving up the temporary to gain the eternal. And nothing better than putting Jesus first in every area of our life.

PRAYER POINTS
1. If you have a new years resolution to get in shape pray and walk at the same time, you would be amazed at how many laps in the church you will make. And it helps you stay awake for early mornings.( Although if your super spiritual you dont get tired your always Glowing in Glory, J/K ).

2. Morning prayer is not about catching up with your One year Bible reading, I know I was in Bible school and God really convicted me about this. But you can read your bible. God speaks to me alot through scriptures for my day.

3. Try prayer without music, music is completly ok. For me though I have found that I start singing and get distracted when I play music, but other times Music helps me get focused. But it's a really good way to hear God's voice uninterrupted when the rest of the day your employee's will be playing beasty boys or some really family friendly 4 letter lyrics that soothe your soul.

4. Just be transparent and real with God he already knows you, and what you need any way so just go to him like a child. He Loves you and wants the best for you.

5. Really believe that he wants to talk to you, if pinnocho a puppet, could believe a cricket, we God's children should trust our Creator.

6. What is always on your Heart, he wants to hear about it and give you direction.

7. Finally thank him for how Good he is, the Bible says when we thank him and praise him then he gives us peace. Peace that only comes for the father. Give him thanks, weather it is a good season or a bad season, he still is God and has great things planned for you.

8 POINT DOWN

2009-01-05T19:53:00.000-08:00

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

So this is definitely the biggest Buck I've killed to this date,8point, 15in spread, 215Pd's, and a really cool story to go with it. Sense the beginning of this hunting season I have been really excited about this year's opportunity to get a big one. It's funny you always hear guys talking about this year is gonna be the big one I can just feel it, well I did not have a clue what this year had in store but I could feel that it was gonna be a good season. This past weekend Major and Me went up to Mississippi to do a little hunting,and for the past month and a half I've been going up to the camp to hunt every weekend and have not pulled the trigger once. Well after I got off work Friday I came home and decided I was going to stay home but Heather made sure that left that weekend to for all the times I've come home frustrated not seeing a big one. So Major and me set out, this time we were going to the camp on the river, it was raining, completely calm, and a cold front coming in. I brought my Journal, My Bible, some snacks, my portable DVD player and my Dog, it was definitely a mans weekend. But at the same time it was such a relaxing weekend, Major and me sat out by the fire late at night and the turned the ac real low and crawled up in the sleeping bag to do some reading and journal. 5:00 came real early the next morning, I got up, got dressed, and let Major sleep in. After a morning of now bucks just one doe I got back to the camp just before the rain came in heavy. 3:30, time to head out again, I had a grunt call in my pocket and my rifle in my hands, I was feeling pretty good because usually after a big rain deer come out to reclaim the places that were washed away by the water. After I got to my spot I started to make some calls while the fog started settling in, after about 10 min a doe came out and started trotting my way, then immediately a buck came out chasing her, well those two were sprinting all the way across the field then another buck came chasing them. They came in and out of the woods so fast I did not have time to get a shot. 5:10 I make a couple of grunts and then I herd him, errr, errr. He called back I could feel my heart start to race, ok Barton stay calm, breathe, and get ready, a few more calls, the he called back again, errr, errr. I could hear him running through the water behind me. Finally he started calling me, 5:20 I hear him grunt in the woods directly to my right I give one final call the there he was, running out into the field about sixty yrds in front of me. I saw him then made a grunt to get him to stop, he looked over at me then paused, I got my scope on him then he began to trot across the field. It's now or never, line the cross hairs up, squeeze, boom, I waited the smoke cleared, I looked back through my scope and there he was 135 yrds down right were he stood, 5:25 on the dot. I was so excited, this hunt is definitely all because of how good God is. He blessed me with more than I deserved. I felt so wild after that hunt, like a man that was surviving off of the wild, it was a really great awesome hunt. That night ended finally at 12:15pm with
dirty hands, tired eyes, a sleepy dog, but a clean deer. Jesus you are so awesome all glory to you. Hopefully there will be more this year, but hopefully next time it will be Heather and not me.