The "B" Word

I'm not sure if you have a problem with the "B" word in your house but in mine, it has been pretty crazy! We had a meeting about the "B" word just Friday afternoon and we had to lay it all out on the line. It was time to kick back into gear our monthly Budget meeting. After getting out of credit card debt, we slacked off with the budget and just did whatever we wanted with the money. Too much spent on groceries, shopping, and out to eat, & we have noticed it!
With the third barbour boy due this next month, & uncertainty with the support raising, it was time to bust out the "B" word once again. We are back to Dave Ramsey's cash envelope system, & we are tightening the belt!
We are grateful to God for all the support that has come in so far and we want to be the best stewards of it! We are hoping to get back to a place where we can give to those in need and expect nothing in return.
Luke 6 tells us to "give and it will be given into you...good measure, pressed down,& shaken together"
Giving God our best means we start with Him in the budget!

Man Vs. Wife

I have to say that I'm excited for our new series beginning this coming Sunday.  As the Worship & Arts Pastor at Elevation, I get the privelege to help people understand what worship is, and to express that through music and creativity.  In this series, we'll be doing some popular songs that will hopefully get people to think about their marriages, relationships, or what they'd like out of their marriage or future marriage.  The thing I'm most excited about is that God is going to do a miraculous work in saving marriages that are on the brink of divorce.  We are praying that He shows up in power through the Elevation Experience each week so that people will leave better than when they came in.  I love one of our mottos, "it's OK to not be OK, but God doesn't want you to stay that way."  It's OK if you are having problems in your marriage, but God is on the verge of a breakthrough and He may just want to use this series to help you overcome those struggles and be better together!  Come check it out!  Or watch online at www.mediasocial.tv/elevationcc! 

Support The Barbours

My wife and I have been on quite a spiritual and emotional roller coaster ride over the last six months.  During a season of prayer, we sensed God calling us to plant a church.  Jenni and I began to seek more earnestly for God’s direction and guidance.  When we announced that we were considering planting a church we received many different reactions.  Mostly, we were told that planting a church would be the hardest thing that we would ever do.  Now, those were really encouraging words!  Jenni and I were scared and unsure of where to start.  I wasn’t quite certain what our church would look like, but I knew that I wanted to be in a church that existed for people who did not like church.

So, we decided to look at some churches in the area.  We mainly wanted to get a sense of what church planting looked like, but we also endeavored to see if any churches in our area were reaching the un-churched.  We were told to check out Elevation Christian Church in Aurora, Colorado.  We decided to visit and I remember leaving that Sunday thinking to myself, “This is exactly how I would do church.”  As we continued to pray for God’s hand in our lives, Elevation asked me to lead worship on a Sunday morning.  It was such a great experience seeing the churched and un-churched worshipping God together.  Wow!  We even witnessed several people surrender their lives to God that day.  Every Sunday I witness God working in the lives of the lost and I would not change it for the world.

We believe that God has called us to Elevation to learn and be a part of a church planting team that is excited about reaching the un-churched.  We just celebrated our 100^th baptism in less than two years!  God is moving here in Aurora, Colorado and Jenni and I would like to invite you to be a part of our experience.  Here is how:  First, please pray for us.  Second, ask God to send people to our church that do not have a relationship with Jesus.  Finally, consider giving financially to support my position at Elevation.  We believe that God has called us here and we also believe that God will provide.  By the way, Jenni and I are expecting our third child (Jaxon) in October.  Perfect timing, right? 

Despite our circumstances and worries, we are placing our faith in Jesus and his promises that are found in Scripture.  Will you help support our family, ministry, and my position here at Elevation?

We are trusting God to provide for our needs, and we want you to be a part of our journey! Would you be willing to step out in faith and support my family financially as we pursue God?  We need to raise $30,000 to continue here at Elevation and we know that with your help, God will richly provide over and above our need.

Here is a breakdown of what we need and how you can partner with us:

1.    3 people to give $1,000.

2.    20 people to give $500.

3.   30 people to give $200.

4.   40 people to give $150.

5.   50 people to give $100.

Please feel free to give what you can.  You can sponsor us with a one-time gift, or with automated monthly gifts set up online.  All gifts are appreciated and will be tax-deductible. 

Thank you so much for your support and your prayers.

             

If you want to hear more about my journey, click the video below!  You can give online here!  Don't forget to specify "Support the Barbours"

Insanity!

After pressing through 60 days of Insanity, I got my free shirt in the mail! Now, I'm in good company with those who dug deeper to see some results. I lost 5 lbs & 5% body fat in 60 days! If you or someone you know is interested in getting in the best shape of their life, then let me know!!

Transformation

In February of 2011, I realized that something in my life had to change.  I had become stagnant, lazy, and tired.  I never had energy, and endured constant heartburn even if I wasn't eating spicy foods (which I love).  I got a little "twinspiration" when my brother told me he was going to start P90X.  I thought, "I have always been the skinny twin, and there's no way he's going to lose weight without me!"  I weighed in at a whopping 230 lbs.--the heaviest I'd ever been.  Those first few days were tough--fighting soreness, fatigue, and the desire to just give up after not seeing the six pack in 2 weeks.  I pressed through with the motivation and accountability of my brother and my wife who was doing the program with me.  I lost about 15 lbs, and I was hooked.  I did it again, and then graduated to Insanity, and then back to P90X, and then to P90X2.  All in all, I've lost almost 50 lbs, and am in the best shape of my life.  I'm here to tell you that P90X, Insanity, and P90X2 works.  I'm currently doing a P90X/RevAbs hybrid, and hoping that this is the phase that helps me to say good-bye to that spare tire and hello to my six pack abs that I never saw in those first two weeks of P90X.  


I was looking through old pictures and was amazed at the transformation.  Not only in my looks, but my life as well.  I have energy to run around with the kids, play basketball on a rec team with guys 10 years younger than me, and I haven't had a single heartburn in almost a year.  I was using Prevacid, and other OTC drugs for this and haven't had to take a single pill since I changed my life.  I'm also using Shakeology to help with the weight loss, energy, and overall health.  You gotta get on board if you are looking for a change!  I loved it so much that I decided to become a coach.  Visit my page at www.beachbodycoach.com/pastorgregg42 for more information!

The Power Of Encouragement

I have never been a person who describes myself as having the gift of "encouragement."  Though, I often try to encourage people, it just doesn't come as naturally to me as to other people.  I am often struck, however, by the power of a positive encouraging word in someone's life.  

I have been watching shows like American Idol, and the Voice, where people receive honest feedback, are often let down by harsh truths, or even feel left out because they weren't part of something they've been dreaming about their entire lives.  One of the coaches on the Voice, after not hitting the button to turn his chair around, told the girl she was "pitchy," and then he said, "but, you're beautiful, so congratulations on that."  I thought it was funny at first...I even laughed out loud.  As I thought about that a little more, there were a couple of things that struck me.  1. He realized that he didn't want to completely crush her feelings by telling her the truth, so he stuck in a compliment, an encouragement.  It probably would have felt like throwing a dagger, to just end his comment with "sorry we didn't pick you, it was pitchy."  I completely understand that.  2. How often are our "encouragements" superficial?  "You're beautiful." "Great hair." "Nice hat."  Now I get that we want to comment on people's style, their look, but why can't we be more genuine with our encouragement?  "I really like your hat" doesn't go as far as, "Wow!  I'm really intrigued by your style."  Or something that comments beyond the normal, everyday encouragement, and speaks of something deep within a person.

  I'm always struck whenever I receive an encouragement that I never expected, or from someone that I never expected.  I got a facebook message tonight from an old friend that went to elementary school with me.  We also shared a workplace in high school, but I never would have expected to receive an encouragement from someone that I don't really interact with on a daily basis.  It was wild, and it really meant a lot!  Sure, he could have said a number of different things and I would have been happy, but he also spoke to something in my life at the moment that I needed to hear it, in the midst of some of my own insecurities and weaknesses.  

  A well timed encouragement can go a long way--it may not even matter if it's about someone's look, style, hair-do, or singing voice--but if it's genuine, and more so, if it's lead by God (you just get that feeling that you have to tell them) then it may very well make all the difference in the world.  

  Thanks, friend, for a well timed, God-lead, encouragement.  

Shockwave Challenge

My brother issued a challenge to his church 55 days ago to share the gospel with at least one person a day for a week. He couldn't, in good conscience, issue a challenge and not do it himself. So, for the next 7 days, he shared the gospel with at least one person a day. Little did he know that he would be so changed that he would continue the challenge from then on. So, for the last 55 days, he has been sharing the gospel and posting the results to his facebook, and sharing the details on his blog.

I've been inspired by all of the posts of his obedience to the Great Commission, and have become increasingly aware of the opportunities that God gives me each day to either be a witness, or cower in fear. Most days, I notice the opportunities too late, or am too fearful to open my mouth to intentionally share the gospel, though I've done it hundreds of times.

After missing several opportunities, I decided that today would be different. I was helping one of our teens out with a radio interview with StoryCorps. We were at his old elementary school and we were being recorded while I interviewed him to get his life story, which would later be added to the archives at the Library of Congress for future generations. The lady operating the recording equipment was listening in as Orry was able to share his testimony, and his involvement with the church and our youth ministry. After the interview was over, and we filled out our surveys for them, I decided that it was now or never, so after making some small talk, I asked her if she went to church where she lived, and she said, "no." So, I began to talk to her about her upbringing, and she said she was still trying to figure out what she believed. I asked if she knew anything about Christianity, and she said, "Not really." So, I began to share with her how God had created us to be with Him, and how sin entered the world, but God sent Jesus to die on the cross so that we wouldn't have to be separated from Him. After sharing, I asked if she believed in God, but she wasn't ready to accept the God from the Bible, but just a higher power. So, I asked if I could pray that God would reveal Himself to her, and she agreed, and we prayed for her right there in the library of the school. I then challenged her to pray that type of prayer on her own as she's trying to figure out what she believes for herself.

I believe when we ask God to show up, that He will. And so if she prays that prayer, God will show her that he's real. I just pray that she'll confess Jesus as Lord according to the Bible.

Though, it's been a couple of months since I consciously presented the gospel to a stranger, I was reminded at how easy it is once I open my mouth. Praying that God will give me the boldness to continue the challenge!  Follow along with Nate's Shockwave Challenge at www.natebarbour.blogspot.com