Where in the world is... James Isaac Barnts

For those of you, who like me, heard about the Volcano eruption in Ecuador just this morning, and were RATHER curious as to it's location in relation to our good friend James, I thought I'd post some geography data for you.

Thanks to technology and Google, I was able to use Google Earth and snag these photos via satellite some minutes ago.
James and his parents are staying (or so I was told, ask a Barnts for details) in Quito, Ecuador. The volcano, was just outside Banos, Ecuador. Here's what that looks like:



The distance is some 85 miles apart, the volcano being to their south, the fall out, still southwest of the volcano itself. Here's what THAT looks like:



Meantime James is theoretically in Quito -



- taking as many pictures as his 40 gig hard-drive will hold of lush, green Ecuador -



Hopefully this was of some encouragement to you all, and do be sure to keep James and his family in your prayers as they travel around South America.

Turn, Look, Point...

Last night during prayer, I was inspired with this little quip, I thought it might be of some encouragement to you all, as well as a handy reminder.

In all my troubles, I will TURN to Jesus. In all my questions, I will LOOK to Jesus. And in all my successes, I will POINT - only to Jesus.

Where the magic is at...

I am actually happy in this photo, as doubtful as that may look; I am sitting in the very inner sanctum of the staff retreat meeting room deep in the heart of La Quinta Inn. Hot tubs and "fresh mex" meals were the perfect serenade to long deliberations, times of prayer and edification amongst the one28 staff. This being my first year at staff retreat, I have been refreshed, I leave relaxed and I am ready to go.

The Crop

It can be a matter of great discouragement, to spend much time and concern sharing the gospel with someone when there is seemingly no acknowledgement that any effect was made. It is neither fun nor preferable to give much of oneself in the pursuit of something with little to no return. However, this though came to me this evening and I thought it might be of some encouragement to those in this position.

When a farmer plants seed in the ground, the dirt, for all intents and purposes, will still look like – dirt. The seed, in the farmer’s case, will never instantly bring forth action on the visible level, and in most cases, the soil will look all the worse being now disheveled and mounded in uneven array. However, though the soil may continue to look dim and unyielding, the growth may still be taking place on a level not yet visible. Were the farmer to neglect this potential crop because of the not yet visible fruit, and fail to water, nourish and tend the grounds, the crop will in most cases die. It is the faithfulness without validity that will bring many of the crops to full harvest.

The Woodsman

It stands tall; immovable, constant and all around unchanging; this mountain has seen the beginnings and it will see the end. Tended by gentle mist in morning and heralded by flaming clouds by evening. It is the mountain everyone will climb, few will summit and only one knows the way. It is said that all must come through the Woodsman to get to the top of the mountain.

The Woodsman is a man of great mystery, there is great debate by today’s scholars as to who has been around longer, the Woodsman or the mountain, no other man knows the beginning of either just as no man is able to predict either’s end. We aught, however, afford more thought about this Woodsman. The Woodsman is the only one who knows how each person can reach the top of the mountain. It was said that no two paths made by the Woodsman are the same, though some join together before the summit is reached. It is said he knows a man before he arrives to that quaint, lumber home at the foot of the hill. When one arrives, ready to begin the path, the Woodsman looks deep in the traveler’s eyes, and with a few glances up and down; has composed the path best suited to that individual’s needs.

Many have tried taking the path, those who were not ready or were not meant to climb the mountain. For these, the Woodsman derives a special path; a path that quickly leads over brambles and shifting stones with a view of the threatening crags before the summit is obtained. Some will last longer than others, but all these will tire in the end and lose sight of the peak.

Then there are those who were meant to climb. Some will be hesitant. Some will have already tried to climb by another way. Some will be young, some old and some who will be made to watch others climb before they begin themselves. Many have wondered what thoughts brew behind the kindly and level eyes of the Woodsman; what master of navigation and understanding composes such a varied and unique path for all who come?

Standing by the foot of the mountain, one can hear the conversations, joys and pains of those already climbing. The stories drifting down the hills range from the majestic views one’s path has shown to the laughter of some understanding joke the Woodsman planned for a weary heart.

Occasionally one will hear the disdain and groans of one who was not expecting where the path lead. Sometimes they find themselves so far from where they thought the path would be by that point, they call down with frustrations and cries of questioning, wondering how this could possibly be the way? The Woodsman however is swift in rushing up the mountain to ensure the climber of the path he has chosen for him.

There is one sad tone, however, that finds it’s way down the mountain, a tone that is spoken far more often than it aught. It is the tone of one who wandered off the path, one who was distracted by the many pleasures found along the way. These pleasures look enticing and draw climbers off the path, only to turn into dangerous animals and creatures meaning to harm the now lost and scared climber. It is this tone that burdens the Woodsman the most, for he warns all who climb of the many dangers and tells them of the story how he himself fought against these evils to ensure none could ever harm those that climb on the path he has made. His heart becomes heavy that they have chosen their own path and not the one he so carefully and lovingly detailed for them.

It is a long path up the mountain, and there are stories as to how the final ascent begins. They say the path is made special in this way so that no man can get to the top without the Woodsman. It is in these higher altitudes that the last of the climbers run out of energy and come to lay by some tree or rock with a view of the peak. Then the climber falls fast asleep, only to be caught up in the strong arms of the Woodsman and carried to the top where all the voices of the other climbers fade away and there is not but clear skies and climbers before, kneeling in continual awe of the view. Some say it is here the Woodsman has another home, made of gold and fine jewels where one day he will retire when the last of the climbers has made their way up the path to the top of the mountain.


Isaiah 2:3 And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths…

Nails

Permit me a momentary cliché as I share with you lyric that struck a cord with me this evening. As the words were sung, “You bore so much shame to love me,” I was convicted. The context of the song Nails is placed around the crucifixion. This got me to thinking about how willing I would be to lay my life down for another. These thoughts are connected please bear with me.
I would imagine it an easy thing to lay one’s life down for someone whom you felt was worthy. One might easily lay their life down for the President, a favorite school teacher, sibling or friend, but how many would lay their life down for a the lawless? How quickly would you lay your life down for a prostitute, a murderer or simply the man who cuts you off on the freeway? We tend to adopt this “you deserve what’s coming” attitude much too quickly.
Pursuing this train of thought further I came to self-examination of my what I will call the “burn threshold.” I use the burn threshold. The burn threshold is the limit upon which time “I” will no longer “pursue” someone’s friendship, but wait for “them” to come to “me.” I am a fairly easy going guy and I generally desire to be friends with everyone, but if a person “burns” me enough times by ignoring me, spreading rumors or things of that type, that’s it. I will no longer pursue that person in that scenario; they have reached the burn threshold. The person in question no longer deserves my time and my energy; they no longer deserve for me to try and make something work, they have crossed the line. It was this “philosophy” and examination that will connect the dots.
I tell Christ on a regular basis that I want to serve Him and I want to know Him more, yet I turn around and do these absolutely blatant sins and choose so many other gods before him, that in the jargon of my own philosophy, I have “burned” God. I have sinned against God; I have denied the God that loved me – and the kicker, the God that laid down his life for me. I would readily lay my life down for someone who I thought was worthy, but I admit I would hesitate a long time for someone whom I didn’t feel worthy. I would hesitate a long time to lay my life down for someone who “burned” me, someone who crossed the “burn threshold.” And the reason: pride. I would hesitate because my pride would not let me be shamed so much to be taken one more time by this person- and that is where the issue lies. I would not bear the shame by love or any other motivation to sacrifice for a person who has done so many personal attacks against me. And to the point; God has, is and continues to bear the shame of me sinning in the face of his ultimate sacrifice, his death on the cross - His death for a man who mocks the payment on a regular basis. This is the thought that struck me and convicted me this past Wednesday night.