Light of the World: Thank God It's Friday

Thank God it's Friday. An understatement. I'm thankful for Jesus' Passion, Crucifixion, and Death on the cross. After a long and reflective week being sick and homebound, Good Friday feels especially Good. I suppose this also rings true in a larger sense. The same Light of God stands ready to transform people's dim souls as they make the powerful decision to except Christ into their heart, and as they no longer deny Truth.

Read Ron Ethridge's special accounting of the true meaning of Good Friday here, and a wonderful reflection he made previously on the Light of the world.

I pray for Good in your Friday. And everyday.

BarryBlog: People Notice. What Do They See?

When I began BarryBlog at the end of 2006, I never considered who, how many, or from where readers might come. Just like that first post about boxing, this blog remains a tool for me to record items of passion and personal interest, with the idea these items may also interest others. Nothing too complicated, and something I maintain without high expectation or reward.

An unexpected and surprising by product of the blog consists of new friendships and connections, new insights, and the occasional spike in interest by way of increased visits. Occasionally I am surprised too by an encouraging comment, which is always special and something I'm always grateful for. Especially as you consider how busy people are now a days, and how valuable time is.

But one thing which still blows me away is how far people come to visit my blog. And as I consider this, I begin to thinking seriously about the opportunity this represents. How do people view my blog? What is the takeaway? As a believer, I want to be a light. Are my words and actions glorifying to God? Do my interests and talents and what I share reflect one who lives to serve the Most Holy God? Am I too interested in things? In stuff? Do I reflect through my writing and sharing the things that are important to me deep inside? Does my outside add up? Or does the blog highlight some of my failures as a believer? As a person? Am I missing opportunities? Might what I've discussed or the perceptions people have fall short of where they should? Or could?

Well suffice it to say, these things are all important and weigh heavily on my mind. And in reality, this is not just related to my writing and sharing on BarryBlog. But my everyday interactions, and actions as a whole. They all matter to me. And to God. So as I share with you the list of all of the countries where people have come from to read BarryBlog, pray for me. My successes and failures are by no means critical to the overall work of the Kingdom, but I want like nothing else to be a light. Perhaps my transparency might be one way. Through what I do right. And what I do wrong.

So take a look at this list. A list of the different places where what I've written and shared has been read. BarryBlog readers have come from:

Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Palestinian Territory, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam.

My prayer as I ponder this list is that I'm given wisdom, and draw close to Christ as I continue to share the talents, interests and insights He lays on my heart. And with God's grace, in ways that glorify Him. Because as you can see from the list above, people do notice.

Calvin Nowell. Start Somewhere.

As many of you know, Sunday is off limits to me in terms of blogging. But I find it fitting to break this tradition if for only this reason. The reason is Calvin Nowell, and as you'll see from his story, this is a most worthy reason.

I had the distinct privilege, and I mean privilege, to meet Calvin personally several weeks ago. We have spoken several times since, and in one conversation he asked me if he could pray for me and my wife. I will never forget that generosity. It meant a great deal to me, and it came so absolutely out of the blue.

He speaks to people through his weight loss experience, having lost over 200 pounds, but that just scratches the surface. Calvin's life is Holy Spirit lead–something he is very aware of. Calvin shares that he lost weight from the inside out. He shared that when he was wearing a 60 inch waist pant, people could easily see he was carrying around a lot of weight. But his real message lies deeper in the realization that you too are carrying around as much weight as he, but no one can see it. Think about that. Your weight. The weight of sin. No one around you can see it, but God, and He wants you to realize the freedom in His name so you can free yourself from that bondage. Through faith and discipline Calvin found out how. And he is a changed person.

I suspect if I had met Calvin before his weight loss, I would have been drawn to him just the same. His music will draw you in too. He is a master song writer in the same league as Fred, Kirk, Marcus Cole and other brothers anointed with the gift of song. I would ask that you check out the videos for yourself. See the work being done in his life, and pray for Calvin as he continues in his ministry, in his traveling and in his every day walk, that he meets great people, and that God gets all the glory.

As Calvin himself says...

"Start with what's necessary. Then what's possible. And suddenly you're doing the impossible."

I find meeting Calvin as a high point in my life. His CD is the best CD I've heard in years. If you are looking for a gift giving and life giving opportunity this holiday season, buy Calvin's CD "Start Somewhere."

Check out the video from Start Something, for the song "Mercy's On It's Way."