Blog drought.

Sorry it has been dry (cold and wet actually).

During the past few days we have had icy and frosty cold mornings. I went out to run after a night of freezing rain and almost fell down on our gravel driveway.

The opportunity created an intense temptation to go back to bed but I went to lift weights and hit the treadmill instead. The old tape player I got when I was 13 keeps me company in the "house of pain."

I have been listening to the Beatitudes /Sermon on the Mount over and over again. It has been such a blessing. I'll give it out in pieces later. Too much good stuff!

Okay...

There is a sequential progression of blessings that can be related to our level of spiritual maturity.

If we are supposed to be the salt of the earth and we abandon what makes us salty, we become road base.

If the Beatitudes are not practiced in our daily lives should we be surprised that we get walked on by the world? Why are western churches in a general decline? Hmmmm.

The Law will stand. How you teach others can influence your pposition in the kingdom but if you are depending on self righteousness rather than being justified by faith you won't even get in. It is easy to be self righteous and knock yourself out of the running.

The attitude of your heart matters to God just as much or maybe even more than your actions. Especially in relation to "sins."

Don't swear by things you can't control.

Return evil with good. Go the second mile.

Love your enemies. Everyone loves their loved ones. The imperative (direct order, not suggestion or possible future state) is to be perfect like God. How so? By blessing and loving everyone, whether they are your friends or not. It's all about the heart.

God sees your sacrifice. If you seek recognition from men for your good deeds, you cash a check on earth that God would have honored in heaven. Bad investment.

God knows what you need. Pray like He loves you; He does! Don't babble.

The Lord's Prayer... (That is about halfway...) I'll do this one later.

I love you even if I don't like you! :)
DWB

Finishing touches...

Denise and I are putting the finishing touches on a 11,000 word translation! Denise translated a thirty day prayer guide focused on the major issues of the continent of Africa that will be going to many churches and every YWAM location across Africa.

We are doing this to serve Africom, our YWAM friends in South Africa that are doing an awesome job of getting information to and from some of the most remote areas of the planet.

We are working with Africom and other YWAM communication teams to help our missions and missionaries connect.

Good job Denise!
DWB
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My first "run"...

Ephemistically speaking, none of my former "runs" really counted. the early ones, especially, where glorified walks accentuated by bouts of heavy breathing, coughing, profuse sweating, creaking of the knees and moments of severe guilt and self-pity.

Today was the first day that I literally ran from beginning to end. I thought that I was going to cough up a lung on the last hill but I am pretty stoked about it now that I have recovered.

Baby steps. My goal is to be in good enough shape to be able to hike a 14,000 foot mountain this summer which I have not been on top of in over a decade.
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It's all uphill...

Going uphill is harder than going downhill. It is easy to understand why we usually follow the 'path of least resistence."

One thing that I have noticed about going uphill is that the closer you get to the top the less you are able to see of what is ahead. Near the top of the hill you can hardly see anything past where you currently are and then... BOOM... All of a sudden, you are greeted by a panoramic vista stretching to the horizon.

My experience has been that the last 10% of anything is the most challenging part.

If you are seeking after God and you are going uphill, keep going. Trust God to give you what you need to reach the top of the hill. Even if you can't see what is coming next, let God guide you and you will soon be able to see how everything fits together!
DWB
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30 page translation

I am editing a 30 page translation that Denise finished last night. We are serving Africom, the communications team that serves all of YWAM Africa. This translation with help include Portuguese speaking Africa in a 30 Day prayer event focusing on major issues facing the continent.

Google YWAM Africom to find some amazing people to pray for and support!
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Pride and Fear 2

When I was 22 I had an incredible encounter with God in which the main issue was my pride. It was a 'watershed' moment in my life and I have never been the same. One would assume that having dealt with pride as a major turning point I would be the 'poster boy' of humility. Not the case...

I have a chronic case of RHS - 'red hen' syndrome. When I ask for help and get a negative answer, my natural tendency is to say, "then I will do it myself..." And I usually do. We have been able to do a lots of wonderful things in our years of ministry but they probably would have been more fruitful if I didn't suffer from RHS. I have secretly taken pride in the fact that we have 'persevered' in the face of financial adversity and huge challenges without the help of others.

It sounds a lot like the Apostle Peter. He says 'I will never leave you...' And then betrays the Lord.
He says, 'you're not washing my feet...' but when he gets the big picture he asks for an unnecessary bath...
Jesus calls him a Rock and then has to rebuke him as Satan. What a guy!

He was also the only guy who stepped out of the boat and walked on water. He failed in part, as he succeeded in doing what others didn't dare to try, by faith.

He had an issue with pride that was broken again and again. Direct rebukes from Jesus (even once from the Father!), rebukes from the church, rebukes from Paul...

I have recently but gently been rebuked again. My pride feeds my fears and I need to just trust God to take care of me. It is hard but good. It defies my logic but our ways are not His ways.

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Trust me and I will take care of you...

It is humbling to hear simple truth. As I was running (and walking) today I felt God impress this on my heart.

I have been guilty of missing the basics recently... Busy with details and worrying about big challenges, I have been trying to take matters into my own hands.

When facing giants... We each need to do what is possible, but then we need to trust God to take care of the impossible.
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Pride and Fear

During an interlude in an illustrated sermon about the life of Peter, Pastor Brady at New Life Church made a statement that hit me like a ton of bricks.

Pride and fear have the same root: self-sufficiency. When we rely on our own strength, rather than resting in God's, we tempted to be impressed with our accomplishments and we are shaken to the core when our inherent weakness shows through.

On my run today I felt very aware that these things have a place in my life.

I used to have an issue with pride. As I am digging deeper in preparation for a new season of ministry I am struggling with fears about being able to do what God has called me to do. I have also had some quiet setbacks because I don't like to ask for help. Pride? Could be. Pray for me.
DWB
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GIVING IS GOOD! - Associated Press

I couldn't help but repeat this one... DWB
________________________________
Science, Bible agree: Giving is better - AP

By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, AP Science Writer
Thu Mar 20, 6:49 PM ET

WASHINGTON - The Bible counsels misers that it's better to give than to receive. Science agrees. People who made gifts to others or to charities reported they were happier than folks who didn't share, according to a report in Friday's issue of the journal Science.

While previous studies have shown that having more money can increase happiness, the researchers at the University of British Columbia and Harvard University wondered if the way people spent their money made any difference.

Turns out, it does.

Lead researcher Elizabeth W. Dunn, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, said she wasn't surprised that doing something for others made people happy.

But she was struck by how big the effect was and that how people spent money was more important than how much money they had.

"This work suggests that even making small alterations in how we spend money on a daily basis can make a difference in happiness," Dunn said in a telephone interview.

"That doesn't mean go get a high paying job so you can spend tons of money on others. The message is, given what you have, how can you make little alterations to do something for others," she said.

And, she added, "there's nothing special about money," giving can involve time or special skills to help other people.

The report didn't surprise Sue Citro, senior digital membership manager for the Nature Conservancy:

"We do hear from our members and our supporters that the do get a real feeling of satisfaction from knowing their giving is doing good," she said.

Andrea Koslow, director of advertising at the American Red Cross, said: "The act of helping has its own profound effect."

"People need a humanitarian outlet ... feeling that they make a difference ... that's very motivating," Koslow said.

The good feeling associated with giving is why workplace charity opportunities can engage employees and lift morale, added Kristine Templin, director of corporate partnerships at the American Red Cross.

The researchers started by asking a sample of 632 Americans, 55 percent of whom were women, to rate their happiness on a scale of 1 to 5, the higher the number the happier.

Then they asked the participants to report their annual income and estimate how much they spent on paying bills, buying gifts for themselves, buying gifts for others and giving to charity.

The first two were considered personal spending and averaged $1,714-a-month, the second two were termed "prosocial" spending and averaged $146-a-month.

"Personal spending was unrelated to happiness," said the researchers. "But higher prosocial spending was associated with significantly greater happiness," they found.

Not content with that, they then studied 16 employees of a company in Boston, asking about their happiness one month before and six to eight weeks after each received a profit-sharing bonus from their employer.

In the second interview they also asked about personal and prosocial spending and once again those who spent more on others were happier.

"The manner in which they spent that bonus was a more important predictor of their happiness than the amount of the bonus itself," the researchers found.

Finally, 46 Canadian students were asked to rate their happiness and then each was given a random envelope containing money, ranging from $5 to $20. Some were instructed to spend it on themselves, others were told to buy a gift for someone else.

At 5 p.m. that day, they were called together again and asked to rate their happiness.

The amount of money had no impact on happiness, but those assigned to buy something for another person reported greater happiness than those told to get something for themselves, the researchers said.

A separate study published in 2006 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that the same parts of the brain that produce the good feeling when a person receives a reward also respond when they give to someone else.

Indeed, researchers led by Jordan Grafman at the National Institutes of Health found the reward areas were more active when giving a gift than when receiving one.

___

Associated Press Writer Natasha Metzler contributed to this report.

Running, not running. Sleeping, not sleeping...

I didn't run on Tuesday because it was our 13th anniversary, but I did run yesterday, but not today...

I slept on the day I ran, but not last night. Our puppy ate something he shouldn't have and I had to take him outside on an hourly basis all night long.

I suppose that the golden retriever motto is true... "Eat anything you can now because there is always time to throw up later!" (Although, our issue was with the other end.)

Now we are cooking rice and sweet potatos on the advice of wellvet.com...

DWB
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NINE70 rockin' it at BEACH REACH

A group of young adults from NINE70 are on a missions trip right now in South Padre. It is awesome to see how God is using them to reach out to Spring Break party-ers from all over the nation. The leader of NINE70 is Reza Zadeh and he is doing daily blog updates... Check out Reza's Blog to get a feel for the sort of people we will be privileged to hang with.

13 years!!

It is hard to believe that Denise and I got married 13 years ago yesterday.

I still remember the way that I felt when I saw her appear through the doors at the back of the church. My heart fluttered and it felt as through the world had stopped. The sparkling gleem of her white dress was stunning. What a day.

Marriage is a good thing. The intimacy of a long term relationship reveals so much about who we really are and teaches us what it means to love.

Thank you to all of you that have supported us in our relationship. We are happy and we are looking forward to many more years together.
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Our Latest Update

“NEW” News!

Behind the scenes, we have spent the last six months laying the groundwork for a new initiative which we feel will develop into our life long contribution to changing the world. It is so exciting to finally be able to send you this update!

In 2004 we joined Youth With A Mission and almost immediately we were invited to coordinate major global projects. Our first YWAM project was “50 Days of Prayer” which became the largest single event in YWAM history. Our second YWAM project was to coordinate the development of a global coordinating system called “4K” which is currently being used by a network of over 200 international Christian organizations.

“Connecting People”

Building on the success of “50 Days” and “4K” our new initiative is “Connecting People” With “50 Days” we connected thousands of volunteers in a global grassroots event.

With “4K” we connected hundreds of organizations with information and technology. “Connecting People” brings both dynamics together. “It’s ALL about relationships.”

Our vision is to make the world a better place… By developing a global platform for connecting people with opportunities and resources, to implement solutions to global challenges related to survival… (food, water, shelter, healthcare, safety, security, etc) and sustainability… (justice, education, access to resources, environmental issues, etc).

Using research, networking and leadership development, “Connecting People” provides understanding, connectivity and empowering to produce positive social change. There are enough people and resources for every challenge; they’re just not connected… yet.

NINE70

As a first step towards implementing this vision, we have accepted the responsibility of overseeing discipleship, outreach and leadership development for NINE70, a college ministry of 300 at Colorado State University. This leadership position came with an invitation to become “resident YWAM missionaries” at Timberline Church in Fort Collins, Colorado. This is an amazing “grassroots” opportunity for blending local and global outreach while providing a context for refining our “Connecting People” projects.

YWAM

We have started a new YWAM entity in order to develop “Connecting People” while we continue to be involved with research, networking in the Body of Christ and building YWAM communications teams around the world. This new configuration is an experiment in bridging between local church ministry, campus ministry, missions, university programs and humanitarian relief. “It’s ALL about relationships.”

Progress

Over the last six months we have developed the foundational elements of “Connecting People” and we are ready to start sharing it publicly. We chose to share our plans with you first as a way of saying, “Thank you” for all of your support. We hope that you are very encouraged by what your support has been helping us to accomplish.

Here are some of the significant milestones in our journey:

Ø We have studied global trends and challenges to make sure that our initiative is necessary, viable and relevant to what is happening in the world today.

Ø We have developed an initiative with clear concepts and goals.

Ø We have developed a comprehensive plan for our initial implementation.

Ø We have developed an international network of people, opportunities and resources to work with in developing case studies and pilot projects.

Ø We have started a new, non-profit entity in partnership with the YWAM International Communications Network.

What’s Next?

Here is what we are working on right now:

Ø We are preparing to move to northern Colorado.

Ø We are developing a public communications strategy and portfolio.

Ø We are looking for a facility in northern Colorado for our new YWAM entity.

Ø We are recruiting 6-10 YWAM team members to work on international communications, research and networking projects.

Ø We are developing a fundraising campaign and researching funding options.

Ø We are building discipleship and leadership development materials for NINE70.

Our Financial Needs

In order to continue moving forward, we have to have personal and ministry resources. We are currently raising a budget of $5,280 per month for our family’s personal support. Once we have completed our personal budget items we will need to raise support to cover our ministry expenses, investments in infrastructure (office space, office set-up, computers, vehicle, accommodations, deposits, etc) and each of the projects.

Your Opportunity

We would like to ask you to consider joining us in this adventure.

Is there an issue or global challenge that you are really passionate about?

Do you have special talents, abilities or expertise? Could you donate time or resources?

We would love to help you connect to opportunities or resources that will help you make a significant difference.

Please consider supporting us financially, on a monthly basis and/or with a one time gift.

(Our budget is very close to the national average. If 100 people invested 1%, 50 people invested 2% or 33 invested 3% of their income in our ministry, our goal would be met.)

We need to raise our personal and ministry budgets as soon as possible. For more detailed information about budget items or any other questions please contact us at: dustin@ywam.org or call us at (808) 989-4706.

Thank you so much for all you do! We appreciate you and look forward to working with you to make the world a better place!

Dustin and Denise Barrington

Rooibos, meaning "red bush," only grows in South Africa

I only found out last night that our lastest house guest had left us a special gift... Some "organic rooibos tea." It is a very nice herbal tea that has too many positive attributes to mention and it tastes good without sugar. Awesome!

DWB
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March in the SNOW

We took the girls out in the snow and built a 4 foot snowball! March is supposedly Colorado's snowniest month of the year. The girls are drinking hot chotolate with mashmallows. We aren't missing Hawaii today. :)

DWB
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3 inches of snow...

It sounds like the perfect excuse not to run... unfortunately, I can not, in good conscience omit the fact that there is an exercise room in the garage at house where we are staying. I went to this place affectionately called "the house of pain" and found that due to underuse it was brimming with discomfort.

I ran on a treadmill.
Insight: Sometimes we position ourselves in situations where our work hard really doesn't take us anywhere.

I lifted weights.
Insight: If you calm down and focus, even when you are shaky, you can do more than you thought.

I am glad I didn't have a good excuse to stay in bed today, even if it meant going to the "house of pain."

DWB
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The Third Day: My Funeral...

I stumbled out of bed as the sun was starting to rise. I successfully avoided collisions with doorframes and got dressed for my daily run. As I headed out into the cold I awoke enough to realize that every article of chothing on my body was black. Hat, gloves, fleece, pants... "Am I going to my own funeral?"

(Suspensful pause...)

I didn't die... Whew! What a cliffhanger!

Denise joined me this morning and her company was very refreshing. So much so that after we went around once and I went around again! (Going around twice means that I don't have to exaggerate quite as much about how big the circle is...)

Here were the moments of insight:

Barking Dogs
The problems and challenges that we face in life are like barking dogs. If we compare the hundreds of times that we have been barked at with the times that we have been chased or bitten we find that the former is common and the later is rare. (That means lots of barking... Not much biting.)

Our fear of getting bitten has more negative effects on us than actually getting bitten. Our fear influences our decisions much more often than there actually is danger to be dealt with. Wanna bet?

As we came jogging down a certain hill we saw a big black dog. He was not tied up and his body was tense... focusing intently on us. As we continued down the road he quickly intercepted us, hackles raised and eyes wide open, he was not looking friendly.

We dealt calmly with the situation and did not get bitten. As I came around on my second trip he began wagging his tail and I was even able the read the tag on his collar. My new friend "Max" accompanied for a quarter mile.

There are many passages in the Bible when God says "do not fear." Jesus said, "do not fear, I have overcome the world." That is not a suggestion, it is an imperitive.

Don't let what you fear keep you from living the life that God has for you. "Perfect love casts out all fear."

Polarized sunglasses
When we were at the mall a few weeks ago we stopped at one of those little kiosks that sell sunglasses. I tried on a few pairs and found one pair that looked really cool. Then the attendant asked if I had ever tried "polarized."

It was true. They reduce the glare.

While running today I had another insight:

Theology is like polarized glasses. It reduces the glare of the sun allowing you to see details that would have gone unnoticed. Theology is man's attempt to understand God. It filters out some of the brilliance of God's glory in order to bring a bit more understanding but it doesn't actually change God's glory.

We are created to reflect His glory.

"Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and praise your Father in heaven."

Running is okay, I guess.
DWB
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"BRICKS"

Yesterday a British friend told me that I am a “brick.” Apparently, being a “brick” means that I can be counted to be helpful and reliable. I know so many “bricks” whose helpful and reliable efforts are part of an enormous, disorganized pile of human goodness. They do wonderful things but their impact could be multiplied with better connections. Our project is intended to provide the blueprints, the mortar and the bricklayers to help piles of bricks become solid bridges, strong pillars and useful buildings.

Each person can be a “brick.” Our goal is to release this untapped, positive potential and help each person to fulfill the purposes for which they were created. We can change the world by connecting people with opportunities and resources. You might ask, “How?”

The blueprints represent understanding and direction we gain through research. The mortar represents relational, organizational and infrastructural networking that connects and unifies. The bricklayers build. They represent the relationships that coordinate and empower people through servant leadership development.

Would you like to know more? Visit us at: www.dustinbarrington.com

DWB

My Daily Run...

After having postponed my New Year's resolution for two months (so that I would not fall into my typical habit of giving up before January 15th) At the beginning of March I had the added complication of receiving two house guests, each for one week. During the first week I felt that postponing another week was very reasonable and hospitable. During the second week, however, our second house guest unintentionally brought out of me all of the guilt, shame and remorse I should have been feeling since December 31st when I decided that postponing the inevitable fitness push was a good idea.

With a bouncy disposition our guest would bound out the door, into the cold, for an hour long morning run only to show up at the end even happier than before. Disciplined portions of fruits and vegetables only added insult to injury (of my pride).

I determined by the middle of the visit that I was going to get serious about getting back in shape (a different shape than the currently rounded one). I politely declined the invitations to join in my friend's joyful routine knowing full well that, although it is exactly what I need, in my current state the experience would not produce quite the same sort happy feelings.

While weighing bags in preparation for our friend's journey back home, I stepped on to the scale and saw a number that was frighteningly close to double digits past the 200 pound mark (which I have sworn for ages that I would never pass). To ease my conscience I switched the digital scale from pounds to kilos (94) so that the number was less intimidating. Within hours I was able to shed about 5 pounds (in the form of clothing items and some VERY heavy shoes).

As soon as our friend was safely on an airplane to the other side of the planet (Africa) I decided to start. My first "daily morning run" actually only amounted to a brisk walk around our rural neighborhood's mile and a half long circle drive. Even so, the ball was rolling (walking briskly to be more accurate).

Today was the infamous second day...
I donned my body armor (which makes me sound like a valiant knight preparing for battle, but in reality is spandex that keeps my fat legs from chaffing) and some old running shoes.

I was able to start off with a strong pace (at least until the neighbors who were walking their dog were out of view). I ran all the way to the bottom of the hill, setting a pattern I would follow for the rest of my "daily morning run" (running downhill and walking uphill).

The quiet, uninterrupted moments of running are an excellent time to pray (in my case, for grace and mercy). I was praying this morning and as I was nearing the midway point I had a very cool insight (it seemed quite spiritual but that could have been compounded by the almost hallucinogenic effects of not getting enough oxygen).

As I rounded the corner and started heading East I was virtually blinded by the rising morning sun. I was hit by a moment of insight (it was impressive enough to me that this exercise thing might even be repeated tomorrow...).

God, in His glory, shines brighter than the sun. As we orient ourselves directly towards Him, our vision of the dusty road we are traveling on is absorbed in the brilliance of His glory.

As we walk through the shade of things that get between us and God we naturally perceive much more of the dusty road. If we go so far as to turn around and head away from God we can see the details of the road so clearly that we can be tempted to focus so much on the road itself that we forget about what is illuminating it.

Life is like a dusty old road. As we walk down our dusty roads sometimes the rough spots do affect the way that we walk. However, if we focus our attention on the God, the splendor of His glory makes the bumps and irregularities of the road less noticeable.

My advice is: Run your dusty road gloriously (even if you aren't in the shape you wish you were) and set your sights on things above. Everything else is dirt...

Do me a favor, please. Ask me if I ran...
(I need all the help I can get.)

DWB

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Can't wait to be cool!

I am so excited about the work we are going to be doing with NINE70 at Timberline Church in Fort Collins.

With the help of a few hundred college students is there a chance that I can be COOL? I am so looking forward to the attempt...

We were up there last week and met dozens of cool people. It feels like an instant fit. Veronica the graphics girl, James the aspiring political science guy, the set up guys, the worship band... One guy had been hit by a car and is a walking miracle, another wacked a tree while snowboarding and had to have brain surgery. We met a young lady that wants to return to Africa as a missionary who also speaks a pigeon form of Portuguese. They are a wild crowd!

There is a palpable hunger for God and for making a difference.

I know that our ministry at NINE70 is going to be an amazing experience.

DWB
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