Brandon@Random

Warren Barfield Sings "Love is Not a Fight"

Jackie and I loved the movie Fireproof!!  Great, great story.  In the movie I heard this song and recognized the voice...but couldn't place the singer.  I Googled the song and found out that it was Warren Barfield.  Jackie and I saw him open for FFH 6 or 7 years ago. It was just his guitar and his great voice. 

He is one of those singers who can't help moving as he sings...like he is connected bodily to the song...i.e. David Gray, Taylor Hicks, Robert Earl Keen. (all favorites of mine)

Here is a live clip of Warren performing this sweet song.

Different Versions of the Valley: Psalm 23:4

 

New International Version

Even though I walk
       through the valley of the shadow of death, 
       I will fear no evil,
       for you are with me;
       your rod and your staff,
       they comfort me.

King James Version

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

New Living

Even when I walk
      through the darkest valley,
   I will not be afraid,
      for you are close beside me.
   Your rod and your staff
      protect and comfort me.

The Message

Even when the way goes through
      Death Valley,
   I'm not afraid
      when you walk at my side.
   Your trusty shepherd's crook
      makes me feel secure.

Contemporary English Version

I may walk through valleys 

   as dark as death,

   but I won't be afraid.

   You are with me,

   and your shepherd's rod makes me feel safe.

Transitioning my Blog into a Website

 

You may notice that I've added a new area to the blog titled "Highland Park."  In the future, I would like to transition this site into our church website.  There is a way to add pages and make the blog feel more like a website.  I'll be adding things to the links under "Highland Park", but for now, they are empty.  Once the site is built up and the empty pages are filled, I will have my blog be a category under the new site.  Those are the plans anyway.

Bad News/Good News

The bad news is that OSU lost to Texas in an extremely (painfully) close game this afternoon.

The good news is that I won a battle with a painting that had been giving me grief for weeks (month +).  I think I finished it today! 

Today was also a good day because we had 20 walkers from Highland Park show up before 9AM to walk around Boomer Lake.  It was a show of support and a fundraiser for Stillwater Life Services.  Good times!

Finding My Life's Target

As we graze through Psalm 23 we come to a line that reads, "He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake."
 
This Sunday I will focus on how this is a great verse for finding direction...or locating the target in your life. 

6-1 or 7-0?

Our outstanding OSU football team is on the verge of being 7-0!  I remember when I was a freshman, our stadium was “The Erector Set” and Oklahoma State won only three football games.  Fourteen years later, we are a top ten team.                       

What are your expectations for the homecoming game?  If 7-0 would be the greatest thing since fajita quesadillas, what would 6-1 be?  A loss would guarantee a gloomy bunch come Sunday morning, but by no means would we stop loving our Pokes.

 

In spiritual terms, we are at best a 6-1 people.  Our record is imperfect, but God loves us still.  The Bible says, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”  What a great excuse to celebrate!   There might not be any tailgate barbecues, but you can still party with us this Sunday at 10:30.

 

Brandon Mitts, pastor

Highland Park Free Will Baptist Church

 

This was the devotion I wrote for the 10/17/08 edition of the Stillwater Newspress.

 

@ Mickey D's with Joe Grizzle

Yesterday, I had the privelege to drive south to Norman to meet with Joe Grizzle for a couple of hours.  He is the pastor of Crosspointe Church.  Joe has been a pastor for 40+ years, has been at the same church for ages and helped transition them into a church that is attracting the unchurched.  I wanted to pick his brain and he let me.

I can't wait to share his suggestions with our congregation.  For now, I'll share one of the first things he told me. 

"The world is more reachable today than ever before."

Joe Grizzle, pastor of CrossPointe Church in Norman, OK.

Newspress Devotion

If you happen to pick up this Friday's edition of the Stillwater Newspress, pay close attention to the Religion section.  I was asked to write the devotion for this week.  I themed it around the homecoming game on Saturday.  If you miss the paper, don't worry, I'll publish the article on here next week. 

New Things

I did a couple of new things today.  We had our church service outside at Couch Park...and we celebrated the congregation's 50th anniversary.  It was a beautiful time.  I am physically zonked...but spiritually filled. 

Thanks to everyone who showed up and to everyone who helped.  Round Up 2008 was a great experience for me and hopefully for you too.

New Art

I am finally in somewhat of a groove with regards to ministry/job/kids/husband/prayer/art.  I've finished 4 pieces of art over the past few months and have been happy with the images.  They are all acrylic on board...24"x24" birch.  As always, attention has been given to organic structure, layering, color and naivete/principle.  Have not settled on a title for the series yet...I'm up for suggestions.

Here are the first 3.