Thou Shalt Not...

For the past 31 days, I have given up talking, texting, typing while driving.  Big woop, I understand.  But I figured I would ease into these “Thou Shalt Not…”  Three reflections I had on this

1)       I tended to make many of my personal phone calls on the commute home.  This would also give my wife a 30 minute heads-up that I was heading her way.

2)       Only two or three times would I have used the phone for driving directions during this month.  Instead of rushing to an appointment, while staring the tiny screen, I actually got directions before I left (remember that?). 

3)       Whenever I arrived at a stoplight, I would at first instinctively grab for my phone to check for email or some other bit of information.  I actually found that I would grab a book or magazine in the passenger seat (just as dangerous).  What this revealed is that the intrusion of mobile devices into our lives has left us—or at least me—impatient.  If you are not “reading” or “doing something productive” for the 30 seconds at a stop light, you are in a way missing out.  This was the most revealing part of the month.

 

 

Thou Shalt Not, February edition…use the internet.

            So you laughed at the apparent ease of no texting/phoning, this one will probably prove to be more problematic.  I have given myself some wiggle room.  1)  emailing will remain and 2) work necessities will be accomplished.  I do imagine that this means much of my sermon prep and research will happen in real books, that my Facebook page will be quiet for a month (I know what you all are thinking…thank goodness), and I will probably have Lindsay “do you mind checking on that for me…”

 

Wish me luck, and you on the otherside of February.

Wes

 

 

PS-yes I did choose the shortest month of the year for this challenge.

 

~~~~~~

Associate Minister for Evangelism and Young Adult Ministries

First Presbyterian Church

200 West Trade St

Charlotte, NC 28202

(p)    704-927-0240

(e)  wbarry@firstpres-charlotte.org

(w) www.firstpres-charlotte.org

 

 

Week 4 Training

Swim: 2400yds
Bike: 24mi
Run: 8mi

January Totals
Swim: 6mi
Bike: 88mi
Run: 57.25mi

Wes

<<Sent from an iPhone>>

Devotion: Dry Spells

The Book of Genesis ends with one of the best literary stories, the story of Joseph.  From a young child who receives hisfather's coat, to an Egyptian jail cell, and ultimately aspiring to become the right-hand man of the Pharaoh, we read about a manwhose life is dramatically transformed by the hand of God.  His final interaction with his 11 brothers, he forgives them and boldly states, "Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good" (Genesis 50:20).  This phrase reveals the deep faith that has grown out of Joseph's life. Joseph rose to power during the famine of Egypt.  During a dry and barren season, Joseph grew up from a young man to a mature leader of a nation.  It was because he went through the dry seasons of life, that his life blossomed. That is the good news of this story:  God comes to us during the famines and dry spells of life to extend a hand of grace and lift us up. What are dry spells are we facing?  How can we see God's hand in the midst of them?  How might he be intending this for good?       In Christ, Rev. Wes Barry

Article: Wikiterian

Written by Wes Barry, published in The Presbyterian Outlook,Tuesday, 25 January 2011 18:55.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) may want to take note of a phenomenon occurring online. What if the Presbyterian Church took a page — a Web page — from Wikipedia?

Click here to read more

Training Week 3

Swim: 3000yds
Bike: 29miles
Run: 14.5miles

Week 2 Training

Swim:  3400yds

Bike:  27mi

Run: 14.25mi

Devotion: Family Story

“When Enoch had lived sixty-five years, he became the father of Methuselah.  Enoch walked with God after the birth of Methuselah three hundred years, and had other sons and daughters.  Thus all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty-five years.  Enoch walked with God; then he was no more.”

If you’ve ever tried reading the Bible cover to cover, or just the New Testament.  You quickly come across the genealogy lists.  By chapter 5 of Genesis, we read about 11 generations from Adam to Noah.  These lists become very easy to skip over, and to dismiss as unimportant parts of the Bible.

 

However, to do so loses one the Bible’s most important statements.  In the paragraph above, a small clause is added to describe Enoch that no other person receives in Genesis 5, “Enoch walked with God…”  If we skip over these lists, we may miss these small but important points.

 

This Biblical story happened to real people, at real times in their lives.  This is not a spiritualized metaphor or poetic story, this a story that personally involves people.  Whether they were Enoch, Esther, Boaz, or any of these “characters.”  However, the story found in the Bible is not just about them, but also about us.  We should not read the Bible to find out what happened in the past, but we should read it with hope and anticipation about what can also happen for us.

 

Can God led us through the wilderness as well?  Can He bring love into our loneliness?  Can He transform the darkness we stumble through into a bright future? 

 

As we read about how God has done that for others; as we read that God promises that he will do that for us; let us find joy, comfort, peace and hope because we know that we are not alone on this journey but surrounded by a long list of names who have walked with God for generations.

Thou Shalt Not...

I fully admit this is originated from Outside Magazine, but I figured I would try a new form of New Year Resolutions: each month giving up something.

For January, I thought I'd start small but also with the hopes this will translate into a new practice year round.

1. No mobile device (phone, gps, texting) while driving

As my most recent text while biking proves, perhaps I shoul expand that to any wheeled mode of transport. Nah, that would be pushing it.

I'll update this in February to announce the next one (ps this is probably the most lame/common sense one) and followup on how I did.