I Am Still Here...

Blogging is more difficult than I thought - for some reason, I just don't have quite the time I thought I would to post 'Thoughts' & 'Happenings' as often as I would have imagined! But you guessed it - it (Blogging) has moved up the list on New Year's Resolutions - so I am making a commitment to be more consistent in 2009! Let's see...

2009 has been planned and laid out for the COC! Exciting new adventures this year and I am looking forward to what God has in store! We (COC Staff) had a GREAT TIME in Silverthorne, Colorado last week - finalizing the details of 2009! TY to Gary for lining up such a 'sweet cabin' for us that week! TY to my Mom & Mom-In-Law for making it possible for Ging and I to get a week away! TY to God for giving us a BRILLIANT 36+ INCHES while we there and to COPPER for making the slopes - smooth on our Ski Day!!

Ginger has really been dealing with her Kidney Stones more often lately! Please keep her in your prayers! Her visit this week to the Eurologist indicated that her Kidney's are 'locked and loaded' - TEN STONES IN EACH KIDNEY!! He also was concerned that the stones as of late are increasing in size for some unbeknownst reason!? This means one thing - TOUGH DAYS ARE AHEAD! Pray for her!!

Kiddos ROCK! Only FIVE more days till Christmas Break - we're heading back to Missouri to see family for a few days - looking forward to WINTER WEATHER!! Attached a few pix for you all to catch up on!

BARRETT FAM...

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT...

Wrapping up our JUICY FRUIT Series this and next week (Gentleness/Self-Control) - it's been a good one! Ck out our podcast if you'd like a listen (www.churchofcelebration.com)!

Stay tuned for more info on 2009's first Series - FAMOUS LAST WORDS!!!!!!!

Getting ready for FOUR Christmas Eve Services this year!

~SHOPPING FOR A SAVIOR~

Dec 24th / 3p - 4:15p - 5:30p - 6:45p

Come on out and CELEBRATE with us!!

So this is what BLOGGING is...

So you know it's bad and that you haven't blogged for a while when you have to LOGIN to your Blog page - and to make matters worse - you forget your password!!

Things are going well here - trying to recup from the big Maricopa Trick-or-Treat last Friday PM! Well...we had over 8000+ that came out to Maricopa Trick-or-Treat this year! That's approximately 25% of Maricopa's Population! What an INCREDIBLE night! God's name was most definitely made more famous that night! TY to everyone who made this event so successful, we are already dreaming about next year!

The family is doing well - Isaac won 3rd place in the Costume Contest this year as an OLD MAN - in which he designed his own attire for the evening! Caleb went as a KC Chief Football Player (Larry Johnson) but we kept him away from the anything or anyone that he could 'SPIT' on! Charis was a PRECIOUS little KC Chief Cheerleader! Tom & Wanda (Ginger's Folks) were able to make it in town for a week or so as well! Ginger is HANGING IN THERE - please keep her in your prayers - she has now passed (drum roll please) - 14 KIDNEY STONES in the last 3 WEEKS! Yes - she is WONDER WOMAN!!

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT...

Started our New Series a couple weeks ago - JUICY FRUIT! This series will take us through the end of the year!

In Galatians 5:22-25, Paul defines what a Spirit-Filled, Spirit-Led & Spirit-Driven Life looks like… “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of Fruit in us: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. Here there is no conflict with the law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.” The Fruit of the Spirit is a FULL MEAL DEAL! WHEN the Spirit Controls our lives then our lives exhibit these GREAT qualities! Saying that, if the Spirit DOES NOT Control our lives, then our lives DO NOT exhibit these qualities! It’s ALL or NOTHING!

Come out and hang with us sometime! We also launched a THIRD SERVICE (8:30A / 10:00A / 11:30A)!!

Facebook -vs- Blogging

That's the real question for today! Both serve the same purpose - right? Keeping up with both is a challenge - I'm now down to Facebook once a week, and it's on my schedule to update my Blog once a week - but we know how that's been...right? I'm doing my best - thanks for your patience with my extremely inconsitent posts - we'll keep them coming as often as possible - no guarantees!

Just got back from a 'quick trip' to Missouri to see my nephew play in Football! What a great game he had - he is highly touted, and numerous colleges/universities are looking seriously at him - being 6'5'' and 210, running the 4o in 4.6-, plus having a 4.0 cumulative GPA helps the interest! HARVARD is really into him, and I think they have the edge thus far! It was really nice seeing the family - if only for a short time! I also took CHARIS with me - after some pretty intense negotiations with Ginger, to let her go! She was PHENOMINAL - as usual - a lot like her Daddy! First Plane Ride - First Trip to Missouri - many FIRSTS!!

This week is FALL BREAK - both boys (Isaac & Caleb) are out of school for the week, Tom & Wanda (Ginger's folks) arrive today, and I'll be taking a few days off for some FUN FAMILY TIME! Looking forward to it!

FIRST PLANE RIDE!

DON'T I LOOK PRECIOUS!

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT...

Started a new series last week called...

WHEN I DON'T DESIRE GOD.

It's all about JOY...

-Searching For Joy

-Fighting For Joy

-Praying For Joy

Unless we fully understand THE JOY OF JESUS, we will never understand THE JOY OF HIS SALVATION! When one confesses their sin and asks Jesus to help them turn from it, He touches them and says, “Be of GOOD CHEER! Your sins are forgiven and your faith has made you whole; welcome to the kingdom of God.” In one word, Jesus says… “JOY!”

The JOY of the Lord is not something we DO, it’s something we RECEIVE and to which we are prompted to RESPOND! SEARCHING FOR JOY TODAY? You’ll never know the JOY OF JESUS until you know THE JESUS OF JOY!

Come on out and WORSHIP with us this Sunday! Should be a blast!!

SAVE THE DATE...

OCT 26th - We Launch a THIRD SERVICE!!!

8:30A

10:00A (Addicted SH Youth)

11:30A (Addicted MS Youth)

Don't FORGET to come see us at MARICOPA TRICK-or-TREAT / OCT 31st!!

MISSING PERSONS REPORT...(Josh Barrett Found!)

Have you filed a report on "WHERE I'VE BEEN YET?" Ok - maybe not - maybe I think that more people actually read this blog than the 1-2 of you that probably actually do! I must say that I do get a kick out of writing into the (WorldWideWeb) BLOGOSPHERE every week or so thinking that someone actually comes to my blog and checks it out more than once!?

If you are one of the FEW - then to give you a quick report of the recent weeks on "JB's International and National Travels" / one could start a show called 'Where in the World is WALDO (aka Pastor Josh)?

Got back last week (Tuesday PM) from our FIJI OUTREACH TRIP! What an amazing experience! Homes of Hope is a very unique ministry making a pretty remarkable impact in the Human Traficking Industry! It was extremely a joy meeting these young women and there children who were so passionately friendly! GOD IS DOING SOME AMAZING THINGS IN THEIR LIVES - I am blessed to have played such a small part in them for those 7-8 days! WWW.VISIONABOLOTION.ORG is where you want to go to find out more info on how you may get invloved!

I was stateside for about TWO DAYS, catching up on what I missed in the DNC, and catching the 'Heart' of the RNC - and the shocking announcement of Gov Sarah Palin as Senator McCain's running mate! What an intriguing pick - one that I of personal opinion have found full of fresh air for the GOP! I am truly impressed with her inteligence, perserverance, and fortitude! Should make for an interesting couple months!

FOX NEWS seems to be a set channel in our household!

I left on FRIDAY PM of last week to go INTERNATIONAL traveling again - TEXAS! Now many might be saying right now - "Josh, Texas is a State in America!" (SSHHH) I know that, but they don't - so if they're any Texans that frequent this blog - we won't offend them! One of my bestfriends, Brad Wilkerson, officially launched the first COC Network Church (COC METRO / www.cocmetro.com) this past Sunday! What a day - 185 total people! They are doing a tremendous job in their quest of 'Making His Name More Famous" in the 380 Corridor! Congrats COC METRO!! Proud to be partnering with you!

Last week - the GREATEST SPORT finally arrived - the National Football League! With it - Fantasy Football came as well, once of my favorite 'little' things to do - it was a day that I do wish had not happened though! My #1 Draft Pick - TOM BRADY - was 'Shelfed' for the year, by none other than my Favorite Football Team - the Kansas City Chiefs (btw...who lost in the endeavor / looks like another GREAT YEAR for my CHIEFS)!

Nonetheless...

I am back and still a bit fuzzy in the head catching up on which TIMEZONE I actually am in?! But TIME is on my side, and focus is in sight!

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT...

First, I'd like to say a huge AMERICAN welcome to the newest COC Staff Member -

DUNCAN ROBINSON (just arrived from the land 'down under' - Austrailia)

-Duncan will be officially introduced this week at the COC!
-He will be leading the charge in our efforts at the COC in Discipleship, Assimilation & LIFE Groups!

-His wife, Carly, is not here yet, but plans are in motion for her to arrive mid-OCTOBER!

-Great young man of God - and passionate about joining us at the COC in 'Making His Name More Famous' in Maricopa!

This coming weekend will be the 4th week in our Current Series....

i am not but i know I AM

EMBRACING SMALLNESS

Louie Giglio writes in I AM NOT BUT I KNOW I AM…
“Humility is the instant rightsizing of ME that occurs with just one eyeful of His majesty! True Humility (not the false kind that ends up being about us at the end of the day) is not a sign of weakness, failure, or inability, but rather a sign that we are getting to know God and have glimpsed His glory! And once we see how glorious His glory really is we realize that all other glory is futile and fading, and totally inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.”

He continues to remind us to keep perspective...

“We are nothing more than tiny bundles of nanometer-sized components, yet people INFINITELY loved by God!”

Hope to see you on Sunday - I've missed ya!

Heading to FIJI...

Sorry, once again that it's been a while from the last post! Things are pretty 'amazingly fast' right now in my life!

Today, I am heading to FIJI to a very small location in the jungle regions called "HOMES FOR HOPE". Myself, our Outreach Pastor (Mat Balgaard) and three others from COC (Rob & Amber Dolson - Brad Dandurand) will be leaving today with about 7-8 others from some sister churches (Sun Valley Community / Superstition Spring Community / Rock Point Church).

'Homes for Hope' is a strategic mission that is dealing directly with the rescue and restoration of Women and Children out of the Sex Traffiking Industry! We are doing our best to completely be ready to be used by God in seeing WHERE it is that COC can be involved in righting this injustice!

Our passion has always been have our heart that breaks with the same things that break the very heart of God! VISIONABOLITION.ORG (ck it out)

Please keep us in your prayers (AUG 25-SEPT 02)!

Keep our families in your prayers as well!

You can check our progress and pix at... TEAMFIJI.ORG & GOCOC.BLOGSPOT.COM

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT...

Started a new series this title I AM NOT BUT I KNOW I AM - featuring many excerpts from Louie Giglio's book - I AM NOT BUT I KNOW I AM

Louie Giglio writes in his book…I Am Not But I Know I AM, ‘If you see your life as your own one-act play and history as your story, you could be in a for a rude awakening when the curtain finally closes on your tiny tale – and you discover that life wasn’t all about you after all. The real story of life is GOD – “I AM” – the main character and true star of time and eternity. He is at center stage in all of Creation, and He wants you to know Him by name. Knowing “I AM” means celebrating your smallness in light of His Greatness!”

This series deals primarily with PERSPECTIVE! Identifying how HUGE GOD is, and how REALLY, REALLY, REALLY SMALL - we are!!

Finally coming to understand what God's Name is... "I AM"

And coming to terms with what our name is... "i am not"

Come check it out!!

WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

Where in the world have I disappeared to? Between the worlds of FB & BLOGGING, add into the mix of Husband, Daddy and Lead Pastor -- sometimes TIME FLIES!!

Well, the kiddos headed back to school yesterday, Big "I-Man" is in 2nd grade and had a great day! Little "C" is now a Kindergardner and LOVES SCHOOL! His back pack is about HALF his body size and he won't let you take it off of him!

Charis is my little 'Chunky Monkey' right now, she is really developing her 'Girlish Curves' - love her to death!

GMA & POP are here from Missouri, spoiling them all absolutely rotten and then will do something Evil -- LEAVE!!! We actually are heading to San Diego tomorrow for Isaac's 8th Birthday (LegoLand / Sea Life Aquarium / Padres Game) - we'll be hanging out with Ginger's Family (Brown's/Partida's) who live in San Diego and also we'll be meeting my Bro (Jeff), Sis-In-Law (Ally) and neice (Summer) and nephew (Jake) as well - they are coming down from LA - my mom is out there as well - she also will be coming, then she's heading hear to AZ (next week) for a week to stay with Ging while I'm on the FIJI MISSIONS TRIP (more to come on that next week)!!

CK OUT THIS "CHUNKY CHICA!"

GREAT FORM...

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT...

Finishing up our last week of LAW & ORDER!

COMMANDMENT #10 - CONTENTMENT

Exodus 20:17 "Do not covet your neighbor's house. Do not covet your neighbor's wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else your neighbor owns."

THE PROBLEM TODAY… WE HAVE A NEW RELIGION!

CONSUMERISM!
-We are constantly preached at to buy…
Newer . . . Faster . . . Bigger . . . and Better!
-We’ve changed Scripture to read…
“Seek ye first the kingdom of ‘stuff’ and ye will find happiness!”
-The modern Latin conqueror proclaims…
“I Came . . . I Saw . . . I Shopped!”
-The ‘Religion of Consumerism’ has…
Theologians as Marketers…
Priests as Ad Men…
Temples as Shopping Malls and…Worshippers as Shoppers!

The Tenth Commandment is a major change from the previous Nine Commandments…

-The first nine deal with BEHAVIOR in general!

-The last deals with INWARD ACTIONS such as lust and greed!

WE VIOLATE OR BREAK THE FIRST NINE – BECAUSE OF THE TENTH!

The tenth deals with Motives (i.e. violating the law before breaking them)

The tenth reveals the dark regions of our heart!

NO WONDER WHY GOD ENDS WITH THIS PARTICULAR ONE!
It’s linked with “ALL THE ABOVE!”

Ck us out this weekend - should be a GREAT CLOSER!!

Taking a break...

Hey all! Can you believe the Summer is almost over!? CrAzY!! God has been doing some pretty amazing things at COC this Summer! Once again - WE ARE ON THE GROW! It is pretty remarkable to sit back and watch God do what He does!! Thank you all for your prayers!

It's been a great 'Journey' this Summer! We've added to our family with a new baby girl - Charis Leigh! Boys have become water logged with the amount of swimming they've done - get this...CALEB IS SWIMMING BY HIMSELF!! We broke through early in the Summer with him swimming with a life jacket, and the other day Ginger discovered rather quickly that he doesn't need it anymore, HE'S SWIMMING with nothing at all! Now...if we can just get him from 'taking a dukey' in the pool, we will have accomplished the unaccomplishable!

CK OUT THAT GRIN!!

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT...

Heading into our 4th week of our series...LAW & ORDER

Commandment #5 - Honoring God By Honoring Mom & Dad!

Our GO Pastor (Mat Balgaard) will be speaking this week as I'm out for a brief sabbatical weekend! This is a week that you don't want to miss!

Mat is truly a HERO of mine! Several years back his Mom suffered a Stroke in which has dramatically effected her life! Mat has risen and HONORED her and his step dad like a true miracle! He is a MIRACLE - and his willingness to care for and HONOR her is a story of HOPE, ENCROURAGEMENT and INTEGRITY!

Come and here this great story!

IT'S HEATING UP!!

AZ is getting HOT!! As I mentioned last week, we got some RAIN in the JULY! Humidity blew a gasket last week, and now the TEMPS are rising!! The next month to month and a half in AZ will be SCORCHING!!

Family is doing good this week, CHARIS LEIGH is developing her own little personality each and every day! Demanding constant attention from Mama, who willingly submits!

Isaac & Caleb are about 3 weeks away from School starting - 'Back To School' shopping will occur soon for our 2nd Grader and Kindergardner!! BIG DOGS in a BIG YARD!! They're constant need for Mom's attention has made this Summer a bit more interesting around the house with 3 little 'Yahoo's', while Dad is at the Office! You can keep Ginger's SaNiTy in your prayers these days!

How about these shots...

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT...

Week #3 in our Current Series...LAW & ORDER

The Third & Fourth Commandments…Honoring God In Speech & Schedule

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

In Paul Dickinson’s book WHAT’S IN A NAME…
He has taken his hobby of collecting actual names and has shared them with us. Some names are strange and unusual. Others he says are names that seem to be prophetic.
For example, here are some real names from his book…

-Joe Bunt became a baseball coach.

-Dan Druff became a barber.

-Jeff Treadwell became a podiatrist.

-Two men by with the last names of Goforth and Ketchum became police officers and actually became partners.

-Two other men became partners in church equipment…
Mr. O’Neill and Mr. Pray.

-Will Crumble became a plaster contractor.

-Mr. P.P. Peters became a urologist.

In the Old Testament God reveals Himself by these names…
-Yahweh means I am that I am.
-El-Elyon means God most high.

-El-Shaddi means God Almighty.
-El-Hai means the Living God.
-Emannuel means God is with us.

-Jehovah means Lord.

-Jehovah-Jireh means the Lord my Provider.

-Jehovah-Tiskenu means the Lord my Righteousness.

-Jehovah-Shalom means the Lord my peace.

-Jehovah-Shammah means the Lord is there.

-Jehovah-Rapha means the Lord who heals.

In the New Testament we know the Name of God as Jesus Christ!
Jesus means Savior!
Christ means ‘Anointed One, Messiah!’

GOD'S NAME REQUIRES REVERENCE & HONOR!

In the KJV - Most of the Commandments begin with the words…THOU SHALT NOT…
Interestingly…The Fourth Commandment does not!

It begins with a simple REMINDER!
"REMEMBER to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy."

It’s not Legalistic in its approach!

The purpose of this Commandment is to TEACH PHYSICAL & SPIRITUAL REST!

-Focusing our attention on WORSHIP!

Happy POST (lol) Independence Day Week!

Hope this post finds everyone well! The 4th of July weekend was GREAT! Incredible Steaks, Chicken & Shrimp on the Grill with some GREAT friends! Then off to another GREAT friend's house for the the Big Maricopa Fireworks Spectacular! Nice job Maricopa - GREAT SHOW!

Big week last week for COC - as we started a new series called...LAW & ORDER! It's going to be a fun one as we take a look at the Ten Commandments! I intro'd it last week, Mat (our Outreach Pastor) is going to be bringing the first 2 this week (Worship God and God Only!) this week, as I will be out Guest-Speaking at a Sister Church (Cornerstone Christian Fellowship) this weekend! He will do a GREAT JOB - always does!

Kiddos are hanging in there, having a Fun Summer! Isaac is BORED with 'No One To Play With!' as he puts it! Caleb is done with ESY (Extended School Year) and is getting up WAY TOO EARLY! Charis Leigh is still GROWING and BEAUTIFUL as ever! Swimming isn't exactly the funnest - since the pool temp is at 95 degrees right now! But it did do something AMAZING last night on JULY 10th, that it doesn't do a whole lot of in the Arizona Summer -- IT RAINED FOR ALMOST 10+ HOURS!! A great break from the heat, and a HUGE DRINK for my newly landscaped front yard - my plants & trees were 'HUNGOVER' this morning - they had a late night (lol)!! This means one thing - MONSOONS are arriving and HUMIDITY will be rising! The Heat is one thing, but Mid July-August or so, it becomes close to unbearable in AZ! HEAT & HUMIDITY -- OUCH!!!

Came across an INCREDIBLE PIC the other day of Ging & Isaac, last Summer, at the Grand Canyon! Thought you'd enjoy! As well as another of my "ANGEL!"

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT...

The Ten Commandments are Universal Biblical Truths that do not have an expiration date nor do they have a date of inception!

-The first Four Commandments have to do with our RELATIONSHIP with God!
-The last Six Commandments deal with our RELATIONSHIP with Others!

COMMANDMENTS 1 & 2...

Worship Me & Only Me!

Nobody Else But Me!!

The Bible tells us that GOD IS A JEALOUS GOD!
-God does not want to share you with anyone! -It’s not that YOU have something that God needs that He is Jealous - but He knows that He has something YOU NEED and wants to keep you from losing it by trying to find life from any other "god!"

How about these PIX...

FATHER'S DAY PIX...






Ck out this Bathing Beauty!





Great stuff happening in MY LIFE! Charis' Adoption was finalized this week (JULY 01st)! She is 100% OFFICIALLY OURS!! Birth Certificate is coming shortly! TY to everyone who has been praying throughout this process!! We love you all!



Summer is 1/3 officially through in the BIG 3 MONTHS that is (June/July/Aug)! We had a great time with my folks last week, who visited from Missouri! Dad played good golf, and didn't get heat stroke this time (I think it was 114 that day)!




COC is going GREAT! God is still doing some AMAZING THINGS - we really have a GREAT TEAM and INCREDIBLE PEOPLE!!


IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK - SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!!




SUNDAY SNAPSHOT...

You don’t need to not look any further than each day’s newspaper, or web-sourced news page, or any major News Correspondent to realize that we are in a world that desperately needs Law & Order! We have done our best to institute it where we think it need be applied or not applied! We have done our very best at removing this ‘Moral Code’ from anything of significant importance! I then would simply ask - Is life better now? Or does it appear that we still need assistance? I would offer that God was on to something when He gave us the Ten Commandments; I would also suggest that they were not just intended for the Israelites in the Old Testament, and that they have major significance for all of mankind, and that was what He originally intended! God forgive us for viewing them as Ten Suggestions!


Should be an exciting series - come join us if you're in town!

SUNDAYS @ 9AM & 10:30AM
Maricopa Elementary School (Alterra)

I'm Still Here...

Hey All!! Just wanted to briefly touch base and let everyone know that I'm still alive! So much for my promise of 1-2 posts a week!

Ever since we've gotten back from the Adoption - life has been INSANE! But we seem to be gaining ground on BALANCE once again - so I'll get some new 'Charis' Pix up this week as well as a SUNDAY SNAPSHOT!

See you all then...

Sunday Snapshot...

New Series @ the COC...
Max Lucado says it best… “The Sweet Spot!” What engineers give sports equipment, God gave you! A zone, a region, a life precinct in which you were made to dwell. He tailored the curves of your life to fit an empty space in His jigsaw puzzle. And life makes ‘sweet sense’ when you find your spot!” Jesus talked about ‘Spiritual Temperatures’, and the one that disgusted Him the most was an attitude of Complacency! He talks very precisely about the dangers of ‘Casual Christianity!’ Know this very fact should prompt a desire within every person who calls Christ the King of their lives to DO MORE! Please know ahead of time…You can never be ANYTHING you want to be – however…you can be EVERYTHING that God wants you to be!

DADDY'S BABY GIRL!! (New Pix)

MORE PIX...

ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!!!

BARRETT'S "BEAUTY QUEEN"

ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!