elainebarnett.com

If I’ve ever met someone who really knew God, it was Rich Mullins. Some of y’all know him and some of y’all don’t. For those of you have no idea who he was, he wrote some of the most recognizable worship music ever written-like “Awesome God”. At the height of his “career”‘ he went back to school to get a degree in music, with the plans of teaching on an Indian reservation. Doesn’t that tell you a great deal about him? He had an agreement that all he would take of his music sales and concert appearances was enough to live on. (I think at the time he was living 40-50 thousand dollars might have been the amount the average American made, which is ALL he received from his financial manager).

Any excesses of that, the concert appearances, the royalties from music sales were never seen by him and donated to missions, and I do believe a large part of that went to the Indian reservation where he lived and taught.

I love this video-it will preach deeper than a life time of sermons. Two weeks after this was filmed, Rich went home to be with the Lord-I believe that was his last concert.

Where are all the song writers who will live with God long enough to know God-one who is, as Rich said, a God who will make you hold on for dear life-a WILD God-and one who will ask you for your life AND give you life-at the same time? Oh, to be this real and spiritual. I miss you Rich!

I got to meet Rich one night after he did a concert-which was really a church service, make no mistake about it-not a concert, at all. I asked him how it was that he had come to know the Lord like he did? He just stared at me in amazement with a blank stare. I wasn’t leaving without an answer-and so he told me-to know the Lord -read the Bible and do what it says. All I know is that the gap he left seems unfilled, still. Come on all you songwriters-we’re waiting! Although no one can fill his shoes, I wish someone would try.

God bless you Rich Mullins and thank you for showing me that God is much more deep and real than the twenty first century church has lead us to believe.

I’ve just got to go watch that video, AGAIN!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyUaNvcl690&NR=1&feature=fvwp

Filed under: Inspiration, July 2010, More God Things, Music, Songwriting, Uncategorized on July 10th, 2010 | No Comments »

Y’all tonight I found out that a wonderful musician, songwriter, guitarists, pastor and man of God went home to be with the Lord!

Dana Key wrote and performed so many songs with amazing words-where would I even start?

How about songs like “Casual Christian” (I don’t want to be a casual Christian -I don’t want to live a lukewarm life.”)

“Rock Solid”,”Up On A Cross”,”Boycott Hell”,” Get Right of Get Left”, “Destined to Win”, “Are You Read” (to sit by His side),”Alleluia, Christ Is Coming”, “Every Moment of My Life”, “Dear Mr. Clapton”, “Competition”, and about 100 more excellent songs-any one of these songs would have put your name on the map in the industry-but -WOW, he had waaaay more!

I read on Todd Agnew’s website, that he Dana Key is the one who put him on the map, gave him a chance to record and mentored him! Oh, how amazing!

I first heard of Dana as he and Ed De Garmo were the first band that toured with Amy Grant, back in the day!

Here is a video for you from De Garmo and one from Todd.

This song seemed like a perfect tribute-thanking the Lord for all the good times

and for knowing the best is yet to be!

Here is a piece I wrote previously that had this song on it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_l3rdApnKU < Competition < D&K

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03G4Y3i-RZg&feature=related   <Todd Agnew

God bless his family and all who love him!

Thank you God for this amazing man’s life and ministry!

Filed under: God Things 2010, Inspiration, June 2010, Music on June 8th, 2010 | No Comments »

“FREEDOM”! There are few movie moments that have had the impact that Mel Gibson did in his portrayal of Sir William Wallace in “Braveheart”. God made us to be free-it resonates within our hearts that there is a place we were made to be-and wouldn’t it be great if you could LIVE that way?

What if you could listen to someone who actually lives the way Jesus taught?

What if you could hear how to be free and to know that when you talked-the devil thought it was Jesus?

What if you could learn just how close you are to the Lord?

Okay, enough already-show me what you’re talking about!

Here is a link to hear Rev. Curry Blake , the General Overseer of the John G Lake Ministry.

See my blog roll for the link!

This video may be only 5 short minutes long-but, hey-it will change your life-because Jesus has already done the work-you just need to get your mind transformed and THEN-oh, then you will see the difference!

http://www.ustream.tv/user/jglmorg/videos http://jglm.blip.tv/

Filed under: God Things 2010, Inspiration, June2010 on June 4th, 2010 | No Comments »

Yes, we walk by faith-but there are times when we just need to be reminded of God’s great heart of emotion-we need to feel God.
This song always does that.
Get the Kleenex and be prepared.
Oh how pure is the heart of God’s love.

The song I was referring to above is ,”The Prodigal Suite”. Feel a little distant from God-well be reminded that He is NOT far from you and loves you oh so much-unconditionally!

Here is part one:

Part two will play when you are done-just click the link they show you to play part two.

And just in case you don’t know who Keith Green is, your life will be ROCKED and turned upside down when you hear him.

I want so much to write about someone who wrote and sang songs in a way no one I know of ever has.

Keith Green was a prolific minister of music as well as someone who truly lived the Gospel.

Becoming a Christian in 1975 after many years of searching-and then forsaking his lifetime’s ambition to make it to the top in the music industry, so Jesus could be the one others saw in his music-wow, doesn’t that just make you love him even more.

Keith and Melody Green , his precious wife became true believers in the last years of the Jesus Movement days back in the 70′s. Their home in Hollywood housed so many runaways, single moms and others who needed a place to go, that at one point they rented seven homes to accommodate their growing community of seekers, who eventually became Christians.

It’s so hard for me to write this article, because he had and STILL has such a huge impact on my life.

In 1982, Keith and two of his children went home to be with the Lord, after being involved in a plane crash.

His life was truly intense! For example, when he was to make his third album, he believed that he could not charge for his music, because the Gospel should be free. Re-read that last sentence so the full impact will set in!

That is the legacy we all want to leave -one of “No Compromise”, which was the name of the album that launched his policy to not charge for his music, because he knew there would be people who needed ministry who could not afford it!

I saw the other day, that a movie is now being made about his life! Here is a site to let you know more details about someone who left an indelible impression in the world-and I guarantee you-he left an indelible impression in hell-by truly living 100% for the Gospel.

Here is a site with more info about his life and legacy-

http://KeithGreen.com

Here is a song to challenge and encourage you- “No Compromise”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbf86MlcEU0″No Compromise”

Make my life a prayer to You,
I want to do what you want me to,
No empty words and no white lies,
No token prayers, no compromise,
I want to shine the light you gave,
Through Your Son, you sent to save us,
From ourselves and our despair,
It comforts me to know you’re really there.

Oh, I want to thank you now, for being patient with me,
Oh, it’s so hard to see, when my eyes are on me,
I guess I’ll have to trust and just believe what you say,
Oh, you’re coming again, coming to take me away,

I want to die, and let you give,
Your life to me, so I might live,
And share the hope you gave to me,
The love that set me free,
I want to tell the world out there,
You’re not some fable or fairy tail,
That I made up inside my head,
You’re God, The Son, you’ve risen from the dead.

Oh, I want to thank you now,
For being patient with me,
Oh, it’s so hard to see,
When my eyes are on me,
I guess I’ll have to trust,
And just believe what you say,
Oh, you’re coming again,
Coming to take me away.

I want to die, and let you give,
Your life to me, so I might give,
And share the hope you gave to me,
I want to share the love that set me free.

Go bless~

Filed under: God Things 2010, June2010, Music on June 4th, 2010 | 2 Comments »

How much of what we believe is true?

One of the best parts of being a Christian is that we get a new mind! If you’ve been thinking that you would love to trade yours in for a new and improved model-then boy, does God EVER have a deal for YOU!

The Words of God in the Holy Bible are the ONLY words that will never ebb, flow and change.

Unlike our world that consists of almost nothing but sound bytes in this information age, God’s Word is honest and always TRUTH!

God tells us to be changed by the renewing of our minds, and that comes from reading God’s word AND doing it.

You will know that your mind is renewed when it thinks what God thinks automatically, without you having to force those thoughts into subjection!

Here is one of the best songs ever written. The effect this song has on me is one that is hard to describe; it was written over twenty years ago and still has such a fresh and current sound. I really think any Christian group could take this song, remake it with very little arranging and it would be widely played and loved.

Now, doesn’t that sound like God’s Word-never old, always true and Wisdom that will not deceive you when the current trends and fashions are ever changing?

Wired for Sound as recorded by Michael W. Smith

Word of mouth is the counselor
There is no need for proof
In a world that’s wired for sound
The tongue becomes the mighty sword
That battles the truth
In a world that’s wired for sound
Comin’ on like a tidal wave
That washes thru the brain–a state of mind
No dispute when the noise is made
And so it lets the blind lead the blind
Lured by charisma to be swayed to believe

Chorus

Easier believing what is hard to get rid of than to try
Never searching–just accepting
Feeds the mind enough to get you by

Scratching the surface yet to dig deeper down

Chorus:
Word of mouth is the counselor
There is no need for proof
In a world that’s wired for sound
The tongue becomes the mighty sword
That battles the truth
In a world that’s wired for sound
Wisdom from the sacred page
Is turned and ignored
In a world that’s wired for sound
Word of mouth is the counselor
There is no need for proof
In a world that’s wired for sound
The tongue becomes the mighty sword
That battles the truth
In a world that’s wired for sound
Comin’ on like a tidal wave
That washes thru the brain–a state of mind
No dispute when the noise is made
And so it lets the blind lead the blind
Lured by charisma to be swayed to believe

Chorus

Easier believing what is hard to get rid of than to try
Never searching–just accepting
Feeds the mind enough to get you by

Scratching the surface yet to dig deeper down

Chorus:
Word of mouth is the counselor
There is no need for proof
In a world that’s wired for sound
The tongue becomes the mighty sword
That battles the truth
In a world that’s wired for sound
Wisdom from the sacred page
Is turned and ignored
In a world that’s wired for sound

Filed under: God Things 2010, Inspiration, May 2010, Music on May 28th, 2010 | No Comments »

 I just heard an interesting statistic on Dr. Jack Van Impe’s weekly television show.

He said that more Christians have been killed and persecuted for their faith in recent history than in all the years preceding it.

Think I’m wrong? I wish I was.

Back in January 2001, I heard a pastor from Indonesia tell the congregation of the church I was attending that he could never be seen in the same car twice, because he as a Christian pastor was under constant surveillance by the muslims in his country.

He went on to say that on Christmas Day in 2000, there were eleven Christians who were killed by bombs as they were attending church.

Here is a clip from a ministry that is documenting the stories of those amazing Christians world wide, who are standing strong in their faith .

Be inspired and be encouraged to pray for these heroes of the faith!

As I am closing this article, the lyrics of an old Michael W. Smith song are running through my head:

Brothers, have you noticed -there’s a war on the soul of man?

Hey there sisters, the world is reaching, it could use a helping hand,

So, come on, no dues are needed, just a kind heart will be enough,

Just a kind heart will be enough,

There’s a hunger, but you can feed it,

So sign the card and join the club.

We are drawing from an ancient solution

We’re embarking on a new regime

Get on the Love Crusade!

This is from the nineties tune “Love Crusade”.

This bible verse comes to mind-

“But, Lord, when did we feed you, visit you in prison, and clothe you?

When you did it for the least of them, you did unto me.”

This link will tell you more about Open Doors an amazing ministry that supports the persecuted church.

http://www.undercoverchristians.com/

Gotta love this tune-it is the Gospel-Love your neighbor, like you would love yourself!

Check out the rap-

If we only did what this said…wow…………………………………………………………………………………..

OK-I’m off to find my cassette TAPE of that song-if you don’t remember what those are, you’ve probably never heard this song and I KNOW you will LOVE it!

Filed under: May 2010, Music on May 27th, 2010 | No Comments »

Hey Y’all,

This is a reply I posted on a forum for Christian business owners today. The topic was on teaching children discipline and how some folks were pondering the use of karate. RED flags of caution went up-read on to see why!

Would I be too controversial if I told you that I know several Christian ministers who are NOT big fans of the martial arts-as they were in them and the deeper you go-the more of the Eastern philosophy your are exposed to. I was just listening to one of them’s (Rev. Curry Blake’s) teachings last night and he was once again re-iterating that the martial arts can open doorways to the demonic.
He actually took lessons from guys who were in movies and were at the top of the game world wide, and he used to get TONS of money doing personal lessons. His dream was to have a chain of martial arts studios.
He had to do a thesis paper to be awarded one of his belts and was assigned the topic of writing about a karate move that meant “palms up in praise of Buddah.” He also talked about how he was NOT a fan of yoga , because all the poses are a form of worship-they are done with the intent of worshiping pagan (demon) deities. The word yoga means -to praise god-and the god is not that of Jehovah.
He talked about how he could do these different stretches and instead of being tired after matches , he was energized -which was another red flag. When he was assigned the paper on the karate pose -that’s when he started to put 2 and 2 together.
He also talked about how the deeper he got into the martial arts (name after the god of mars -the god of war-in the Greek culture-an actual pagan god-in other words an actual demon)-he talked about how in the United States-it is the only culture that does not understand that the martial arts are for war-for killing -thus the name.
He talked about how the deeper he got in the martial arts, he being about a 5 foot 4 inch man had more power and strength than guys bigger than him-and he was not very muscular-and in fact could be punched EXTREMELY hard and not fall down.
God showed him that the power he had was not from God, but rather demons who came into his life, although this man was a Christian. He repented and they left and of course he does not possess those feats of strength anymore. This supernatural strength reminds me of the fire walkers-like the kind you see in India, who walk on fire and/or sleep on beds of nails and it doesn’t seem to affect them!
This man is Rev. Curry Blake, and he said God told him, Curry, instead of using his hands to teach people to fight-and ultimately they were weapons that could kill-God wanted him to use those hands to help and to use those hands to heal. He now has a healing ministry and is one of the best Bible teachers I have ever heard, as well as being extremely humble.
Curry said that the Christians in the New Testament did not need to put their children under the tutelage of Roman soldiers (who were occupying Israel then) in order to teach them discipline. And so he draws the conclusion that we do not need to put our children in classes like that to teach them what is ultimately war like activity.

Rev. Curry Blake is the General Overseer of the ministry that John G. Lake started many years ago, in case you are familiar with Lake-who was by the way someone who was a tremendously wealthy business man who sold EVERYTHING to go to Africa with his family and
he had NO foreign mission support.

Curry is on Facebook as well as at JGLMinistries.org-he is EXTREMELY busy as he travels constantly and is always praying for someone, but he talks about things like this on Face book a lot.

I know that what I’ve shared seems out of the norm, but I am accountable to God to share what I know, so that others will have wisdom to protect themselves.

I memorized this verse last week- I think it applies-

Proverbs 15:32>
He who neglects discipline , despises himself.

Gal. 5:22- The fruit of the Spirit is….self control.

God bless,
Elaine

Filed under: May 2010, Uncategorized on May 24th, 2010 | 1 Comment »

Don’t you love that title? Are you scratching your head thinking-what on earth has this blogger just posted?

Recently, I have been talking to God about things that don’t make sense. For example, if Jesus lives inside of us, those of us who claim to follow him , then why do we have to wonder and question God all the time-like God, how can I REALLY tell if that’s YOU talking to me?

It seems all the rage in Christendom as of late is writing books, articles, and newsletters on hearing God. I am not going to throw the first stone, as I just finished reading a wonderful book on that very subject. Just think of what I’m sharing as me taking the a different approach to hearing God, one that looks and feels a little different.

Yes, we all need to connect and to feel the personal touch, but we also need something greater-the faith that rests on the promises of God, the kind that says like Job did-though he slay me, yet will I trust him.

We need the kind of faith that sees God’s hand in each circumstance, each person and each detail. God tells us in His word, when we did *it* -that being feeding the hungry, helping the stranger-we did it to the least of them; we did it as unto Him

The world isn’t really interested in the lofty and inspirational ditties that we collect from our treasured times with God. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and many of the things we just know that the world is DYING to hear, are really NOT that relevant to them. Things that were fine and wonderful when God spoke them to you, were just that-fine and wonderful for you.

Hey, I’m a writer-that’s one of the things I do. I also love to hear from God and write down the things that He says. Many of the times, I don’t bother to go back and read them, because it would be like reading the notes of what me and my friends said when we were chatting over dinner.

The grand revelations we hear may be grand and they may be profound, but I think I’ve found a better way-a better way to hear from God, a better way to write what He thinks-an open heaven, if you will.

What would that be? That would be the hearing of God in the everyday of life AND my responding back to Him.

HONK, honk-the guy cuts me off in traffic and almost sends me in the other lane, my response -I hear God say -remember when you used to THINK you were the center of the universe and thought everyone owed you a living?

The crush of people at work- I need this, I need that, you’re not fast enough, smart enough or anything enough-hurry, hurry, hurry and by the way-thanks for nothing! Yes, working with the public is a PhD. in hearing God. God says, Jesus washed feet, Jesus listened to the disciples fight over who was the greatest in the kingdom, Jesus was ignored by the Sanhedrin-the guys who had to memorize the first five books of the Old Testament-you know the book that HE wrote-but did they HEAR him?

Then there’s the good stuff-the times when others hear God through YOU! The times you buy someone coffee or a coke, just because. Then you find out they just broke up with their boyfriend and think the world is over. To you, it was just a thought-but what was the result? God took on flesh and someone felt real LOVE-is God not LOVE-and where did that loving thought come from??? Don’t think too hard, because the answer is in your face.

Yes, I want to hear God in hell, when the world is falling apart, because moments like THAT are precisely WHEN I need to hear God the most-and there is no PLAN B to save the day.

It’s at times like that when there is no sound of the ”still, small voice”, when I have come to hear God best- to see that His word is true, to see that His character is pure and perfect. It’s those times of testing that refine my soul and show me what I really want the most- to know a God who doesn’t owe me an explanation-because , HE is God.

I want to hear God in hell, because if I can hear Him in the face of His enemies- I cannot be defeated, and God stands Supreme.

I want to hear God in hell, because like Daniel, I believe that He can deliver me from whatever problem of difficulty I face. I know when I am truly dead and Christ is the one that others truly see in me, then I can begin to be HIS VOICE-a voice, that is much more valuable and touchable than the pretty poems and prose I hear while on my staycations with God.

I want to hear God in hell, because without a life in Jesus, others ARE in hell. They need me to be a part of their world and show them the God who goes to the fiery furnace, the God who goes to the lion’s den, the God who knows what a living hell feels like. He suffered the loss of what He loved most-His precious Son, Lord Jesus Christ who died so that you would not have to transfer your right now hell to one that lasts forever.

If you want to know more about Jesus and/or are tired of a boring, lukewarm life, then check out this link :

http://www.jglm.org/

God bless~

Elaine < who just remembered what Corrie ten Boom, the Christian lady who was imprisoned in WWII for her faith said, “No pit is so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.”

Filed under: God Things 2010, May 2010 on May 12th, 2010 | No Comments »

Yes, I was thinking of that old 80′s tune that’s been remade into a commercial, and it really seems to bring the point home-God is gonna get what He’s looking for.

Christian film maker, Darren Wilson tells the story of a bold pastor, one who is not afraid of a fight.

He ministers in the Pacific Rim-and is a man of no compromise. If they gave awards in hell for being dangerous and evil-this guy would win-hands down. I want this to be a family friendly post so I won’t mention the things he did-it shocked me, that’s all I’m saying.

The pastor told the head witch doctor for that region to repent, and did this everyday while standing outside the guy’s door and telling him-do it or else! Can you imagine?
What courage.

One night, Mr. Big Time Witch doctor has a dream-Jesus tells him that he needs to go to the church that the pastor leads . The dude says , “no and I have more power than those Christians.” Jesus says, “Oh, yes you will-and they have MY power and just to show you how powerful I AM, I’m going to take your powers away.” Having spoken that, Jesus taps the guy on his shoulder and says something like, “your powers are gone!”

The witch doctor awakes to someone tapping him on the shoulder-but he can’t see who is there. He remembers the dream and wonders if could be real? He tries to use his evil magic to do something really bad and guess what? NOTHING! IT WASN’T A DREAM! For three days the guy tries and tries to use his old powers-again, NOTHING!

The once powerful witch doctor ends up going to the pastor’s church….and the rest is history. All the prayers of that pastor and his flock chased him down-he never had a chance. Oh, how powerful is prayer-only heaven will reveal it!

The name of Darren Wilson’s film is “Furious Love”, about the lengths God will go to, to demonstrate His love. He goes to the darkest places on earth and shows like Corrie ten Boom said, “No pit is so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.”

Do you know a hard case like this witch doctor-don’t give up on them, because
God hasn’t-and nothing is hard for God!

I saw the interview with Darren Wilson this past week on line at :

www.SidRoth.org

Elaine < who knows that God is waaaaaay more determined than the strongest willed person and has lots of secret weapons up His sleeve!

Filed under: God Things 2010, May 2010 on May 10th, 2010 | No Comments »

Hey Gang!

I saw this article and thought it was so well written, it simply

had to be shared-it speaks about “The” Flood in Nashville and

the surrounding areas.

If you’ve never been there, you would love it and wish your

vacation was a bit longer, because it’s just that fabulous!

Why has this news just now made it to the forefront? The

article made the point that there was no looting and no sordid

mess to deal with-just people helping people-what else would you

expect from the “Volunteer State”?

God bless you Nashville as you recover from the worse destruction

since the Civil War.

http://www.section303.com/we-are-nashville-4366/comment-page-14#comment-4049

Filed under: May 2010, Music on May 8th, 2010 | 1 Comment »