Month: November 2008

What’s Normal?

On By josephbarlowIn Uncategorized1 Comment

Do you live a normal life? Do you want to?

If there was such a thing as a normal life, what would it look like?
Remember that the word normal means conformed to a norm. A norm is a set way, it’s predefined by someone.  
If you decide the way your life should be and you make it that way that’s one thing. 
But, if you’re living your life in a way that conforms to the rest of the world or some predefined pattern that you don’t like then it’s time to change things.
Do you like your life?
You might want to take a moment and assess what you like about your life and what you don’t.
For me, when I think of a normal life I think of what normal Christianity should look like. If I’m walking like Jesus walked then I’m living the normal Christian life. If I’m not living like that then I’m not conforming to the norm that I really desire. I want to be like Him. I want to live like Him. I want my life to reflect God’s love, His glory and as many of His attributes as it can. 
For me, normal is a good thing. Because for me, normal is defined by Jesus Christ and His word.
Love y’all!
Have a normal day!
Joe
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Costa Rica – Days 5, 6, 7

On By josephbarlowIn MissionsLeave a comment

Sorry we have to lump all these days together. We traveled to an area where there was no internet available. So we’ve put together some slideshows so you could see what happened each day.

On day 5 we:
On day 6 we:

We want to thank everyone who contributed to this trip and prayed for us.
There was much fruit. Don Korach & Elmer Flores were very encouraged by our visit. We want to go again. There is a lot of work to be done down there. Don is over almost 200 Bible Schools throughout Central & South America. They even have one in Spain. Several thousand students are being touched by these schools and Don & Elmer’s work.
If you’d like to contribute to their ministry go to the Family Life donations page and click on the Missions Trip button. Mention in there that this is for Don Korach, we’ll forward it to him with our monthly gift. You could also go to Mutual Faith’s website and contribute there.
I believe in the work that Don & Elmer are doing down there and I commend them for there work.

Day 8

Monday morning we were up at 3:30am, caught the taxi at 4:30am, to the airport by 5am. We had a smooth trip all the way home. Glad to be home with family.
Love y’all
Joe
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Costa Rica – Day 4

On By josephbarlowIn Missions1 Comment

Hey Friends,

We got to rest a bit this morning then around noon we headed for Turrialba, that was about 3 hours drive through the mountains.

Here’s the view from the place we stopped at for lunch. 
Double click on the picture for a cool panoramic view.

We ministered at two different places. Mike O’Connor taught at a Bible school and I spoke at a church service in a little town called Sauce. That’s pronounced sah-ooh-say. Several people were healed and very encouraged. One fellow had an ulcer in his leg and was scheduled for amputation. We know he is healed and are looking forward to the testimony. On the way home I got a little car-sick but Mike & Mark prayed for me. I’m feeling much better now but I gotta go to bed so good night.
Mark took some cool pictures, click  on the slideshow below. There’s some really neat pictures at the end of the ministry time Mike had with Elmer Flores our interpreter; also check out the view of San Jose’s city lights from the mountainside. It’s beautiful.
Joe

http://familylife.cc/slideshows/costaricaday4/showit.swf

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Costa Rica – Day 3

On By josephbarlowIn Missions1 Comment

Wow!

What a day.
This morning we had a great breakfast that Don’s wife Marjorie made for us. Scrambled eggs with black beans & rice. Seriously delicious.
Then we went to downtown San Jose to the bank to get our exit visas & cash some traveler’s checks. Lunch at Rosti Pollo(Poyo means chicken), it was one of the best tasting meals I’ve ever had. (That’s saying something)
At 2pm we went to a prison to speak to the inmates. Usually I don’t know what I’m going to speak on before I minister. This case was no different. But when I started to speak the Holy Spirit began to really minister to these men about what He was trying to do to them while they were in prison. Afterwards we got to pray for each one of them. God spoke many prophetic words to them. At the end one man testified that he had been really considering killing someone in the prison because he was so angry but he said that as I spoke and when we laid hands on him everything changed. Another man said that when we laid hands on him the power of God was flowing into him. Another man, when we laid hands on him I heard the word “Leadership” and God had me prophecy over him that God wanted to use him in leadership. After the Lord spoke manyh things to him he said in English, “I have waited many years for this day.” Another fellow testified that the Lord had spoken to him this morning saying that he was sending three angels to him today.
Tonight we ministered at a Bible school. After I taught for an hour and a half the Lord had me pray for them. About 10 of them got filled with the Holy Spirit and got their prayer language. It was a blessing.
After the meeting several students said they were amazed that I spoke on the same things the pastor had been speaking on for the last several weeks.
God is working through us down here. Please continue to pray for us that the ministry would affect many.
I found out tonight that my friend Don is overseeing about 160 Bible schools all over central America and South America.
If you want to support him go to our church’s web site and give through the missions trip button. Don & Elmer could use the money. They are doing a really great work and these men are faithful.
Love y’all
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Costa Rica Day 2

On By josephbarlowIn MissionsLeave a comment

We finally made it to Costa Rica. My friend Don picked us up at the airport, it was great to see him. We went straight to his house and his wife made a delicious lunch for us. After that we got some rest and headed out to minister at a Bible School. Don interpreted for me. Mike helped in the prayer line and Mark shot some pix. Enjoy.

http://familylife.cc/slideshows/costaricaday2/showit.swf

A lot of powerful words came forth during the prayer time. Thank God these people really got helped and encouraged.

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Costa Rica: Day 1

On By josephbarlowIn MissionsLeave a comment


Well the Costa Rica trip started off interesting:

We had to spend an extra day in Chicago because although my passport was not expired it didn’t have 30 days left. That’s not allowed in Costa Rica. But God laid out the red carpet for us and we had my renewed passport by 12:30pm. We’re back at it tomorrow same time, same place. That means up at 2am to the airport by 3:30am again. It’s been a long but blessed day. Pray for us.

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