Where will I be?

Ok, I lied. I have been thinking about something recently...

This past summer I went to Thailand on a cross-cultural project with Campus Outreach. It was the most difficult thing I've ever done, but at the same time, it was the most rewarding...by far. I'm not going to lie, when we boarded the plane in Khon Kaen to return to the States, I was happy. Living in Thailand is not as easy like it is here in America. What's funny is that as soon as we stepped off the plane in Atlanta, it hit me for the first time what an amazing experience it was. I went as a missionary to Thailand, befriended Thai college students, shared the gospel with some, and for the first time in my life, I was a cultural minority. I know being a cultural minority doesn't sound like an amazing opportunity, but it was! It humbled me to the point of realizing how self-centered an unaware of the rest of the world I am.

I've been back in the states for 6 months now. Besides the financial support checks written each month, the passion to see nations reached for the gospel has been but a dim, blue flame in my heart. Going to Thailand seems like a dream I had back in the summer, not a real-life experience. Sure, I pray for the world when I think about it, but somehow I've slipped back in to my narrow-minded view of God and that I'll always be living here in America where it's easy and comfortable.

As I was out walking one morning last week, I began to think about Thailand. I prayed for my friends and the missionaries that work over there. I missed them. All of sudden, a picture that one of the missionaries had described came to my mind:

Imagine there are 10 men carrying a telephone pole. Nine of them are at one end, and one is at the other. Which side do you think needs more help?

We all know the answer to that question - the side with one man. Sadly, when related to the Great Commission, this is the state the world is in. As we were told by this Thai missionary, 95% of Christian workers stay in America, while the other 5% are laboring in other countries. As I walked through my neighborhood, the weight of that burden pressed heavily upon my heart. I don't want to plan to live in America the rest of my life. I want to be ready and willing to travel outside of my own country to help this 5%. Why in the world would I stay here with statistics like that? God may call me to stay, but I want to be willing to go, and I encourage anyone who reads this to consider the same. Think on your talents, gifts, abilities, experiences, etc. that the Lord has given you and think with me about ways they can be used in other countries. Financial gifts are just as spiritual as going, but at the same time there is a need for people, and that is why I am asking God to make me available.

Not much on my mind tonight...just staying busy with youth stuff and music. I've been working with the youth at Grace Presbyterian Chelsea for about 3 months now (4 months as worship leader). We're getting to know each other slowly but surely. It's been a blessing to have the job.

My music gigging has seen a steady increase. I recently have been playing with Hunter Lawley, an indepedent country/rock artist from Montevallo. Hunter has a business called "Acoustic Entertainment" that has brought him a lot of success around Birmingham. He has a pretty healthy network of contacts and musicians. We've been playing at the Billy Club Lounge in the Lightning Strikes Bowling Alley (Trussville), as well as an upcoming appearance at Double Play Sports Bar in Montevallo on March 3 (time TBA). It's given me the opportunity to 1. play with someone, 2. practice my creativity and improvisation, and 3. get my name out in some non-church venues. I'm enjoying it.

I'm still getting some weddings here and there. I had the amazing opportunity to serve as the entertainment for former Alabama quarterback Tyler Watts' wedding reception back on January 21. There were alot of large gentlemen there, to say the least. Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox was among them.

I've thirdly seen some fruit from what seems to have been a "2 months of nagging". Basically, back in early December I decided it would be good for me to go on a local tour to promote my new cd "Always There". I formed a list of about 35 churches and began calling them every day, sometimes more than once a day (except the weekends). Some of them I never got in touch with, some received my press pack but never answered my calls following that, some denied me, but some have booked me, and for that I am thankful. You can view my upcoming shows by going to my website: www.rickbarnesmusic.com.