The Barnabas Award

I want to thank my brother in Christ Stu from Something To Stu Over for nominating me for The Barnabas Award!  Stu is a deeply honest man and he speaks God’s truth in love as he ministers to people with a humble loving heart.  I have known him for over a year now and he has become one of my closest and respected friends and fellow soldiers in Christ.  I recommend checking out his blog!  I also want to thank my sister in Christ Jenny from Of Progress and Purpose for nominating me as well!  I have known Jenny for several months and have enjoyed reading her uplifting blog.  She is a loving mother and wife and she shines the heart of Jesus!  Thank you both!  I am humbled and honored and all the glory goes to Jesus!

Who Was Barnabas in the Bible?

Barnabas is an Aramaic name meaning “son of consolation.”  Barnabas was a first century disciple of Jesus Christ and a fellow missionary with the Apostle Paul.  He was a great encouragement to the brothers and sisters in Christ and he was filled with the Holy Spirit.  He was there in Antioch with Paul where the disciples were first called Christians.

Quick Bible Fact:

You will notice in the verses below that Paul is still called Saul.  Dual names were common in first century Jerusalem and Paul was still using his Hebrew name “Saul” at that time.  Paul was also a Roman citizen since he was born in Tarsus and he started using his Roman name Paul as he went further into the Gentile world preaching the Gospel.  We see him called Paul for the first time in Acts 13:9 when Paul and Barnabas preached on Cyprus.  He is called Paul in every chapter after that.  It is a common misunderstanding that Jesus changed Saul’s name on the road to Damascus.  He was still called Saul after his conversion in Acts 9 until he and Barnabas are sent off on their missionary journey in Acts 13.

“Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews.  Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.  The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.  When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.  He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought of the Lord.

Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch.  So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people.  The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”

Acts 11:19-26

I love Biblical history!  Now you know who Barnabas was and the important role he played in the encouragement of the church and the spread of the Gospel around the world.  Hence, the Barnabas Award!

The Barnabas Award Rules:

Thank the person (or people) who nominated you and share their blog(s).

List 5 things about yourself

Answer the 5 questions you were asked

Think of 5 bloggers who encourage and inspire you and nominate them

Ask your nominees 5 questions

5 Things About Me (5 little paragraphs anyway)

#1 and always #1, I love Jesus Christ with all of my heart!  He is my Lord and Savior and I submit to Him and His will for my life!  Jesus Christ is Lord and only He can save our souls!

I love Colorado and have lived here most of my life.  I grew up in Littleton, which is just a few miles from Denver driving south on Broadway.  I lived off Littleton Blvd. just west of Santa Fe.  I love the mountains and I’ve had many great days fishing, camping, and snowboarding in the high country.  Winter Park is my favorite ski resort, especially the Mary Jane side of the park.  With over 330 days of sunshine per year and amazing outdoor opportunities, Colorado is a beautiful and encouraging place to live and raise a family.

I have had a very strange supernatural life that has included living in a demon possessed haunted house, 2 angel encounters in Denver in 1998, and dying and coming back by a miracle of God on 4-28-2012.  I wrote a book about it all and published it on Amazon.  It is my personal testimony of how I came to Jesus and the supernatural life I have lived following Him.  It is called One Man’s Very Strange Supernatural Life.  If you live in the U.S. and you would like a free eBook, please let me know through my contact page and I will send you a free copy directly from Amazon.

I have been married for 18 years to the woman I fell in love with in college (University of Northern Colorado), and we have two beautiful awesome kids, our 9 year old son and our 12 year old daughter.

My main mission in my life and for this blog is to preach the Gospel to the world unashamed in fulfillment of the Great Commission, which the Lord commanded in Matthew 28:18-20.  Romans 1:16 forever!!!

“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Romans 10:9

Stu’s Questions:

Which song picks you up the minute you hear it?

Christian songs, especially TobyMac and Lecrae and the Reach Records crew.  I’ve been really enjoying Kanye’s new Gospel album too (p.s. Speaking of encouragement, any haters out there need to stop hatin’ on the brother and pray for him.  He is young in the faith, lift him up!).

In your short time on this Earth who has been your biggest inspiration?

Jesus!

Who is your biggest encourager blog wise?

There are so many brothers and sisters in Christ who encourage me on my blog every day.  I couldn’t pick just one.  Thank you all for your encouragement and prayers!  It has helped me more than you know!

How can you be a better Barnabas to those around you?

By always being prayerful and mindful of speaking life to everyone, especially my family.  God’s Word tells us that whatever is excellent and praiseworthy we should think about such things.  Sometimes I get really discouraged from fighting Celiac every day and I can fall into a negative funk.  Filling my mind and heart with God’s Word and staying in prayer empowers me in the Holy Spirit to be an encouragement and glorify Jesus!

How do you encourage that friend who is going through a hard time?

By just being there for them, listening more than talking, and comforting them with prayer, kindness, and understanding.  It’s all about sharing the same comfort I have received from Jesus.

Jenny’s Questions:

Who in your life is your biggest encourager?

That would be Jesus again!  He also encourages me through my wife and kids every day!

How do you see yourself as being an encouragement to others?

God gave me the INFJ personality type, which is very rare and even more rare for a man.  God gave me a deep empathy and intuition and He has always used those gifts to help lift people up.  I care about people and what they are going through to the point that I feel it inside my soul.  I will always offer an encouraging word and prayer and a hug too.  I will also stand up for people and protect them if necessary.

When was the last time someone gave you words of encouragement?

Today!  My son said, “I love you Daddy.”

When you are down, what encourages you to get back up and keep pressing on?

The loving fire of Jesus inside my heart to do everything I can to help people get saved!  God has done great and miraculous things in my life and I have a great responsibility to tell the world what He has done for me!  Thank You Jesus!!!

Who was your greatest encourager when you first accepted Christ?

My friend Roberto from college!  He was one of my best friends and roommates and several years older than me.  He was like a big brother to me and he still is!  We have been friends since 1997 and we are still friends to this day.  He just had a birthday and I sent him an ecard of a little dancing animal in a Scottish kilt singing Happy Birthday with a Scottish accent.  He loved it!  He was a great friend to have after first accepting Christ.  He read the Word with me, helped me with questions, and inspired me to preach the Gospel and be strong in the faith.  That is the kind of friend everyone needs!  Love you brother!

My 5 Nominees:

Heart Tokens by Renee

Steve’s Country by Steve (and Muffin too)

Blessings By Me by Michelle

J-M’s History Corner by JM

ExCatholic4Christ by Tom

I love the questions that Stu and Jenny asked, so I’m sticking with those!  Feel free to answer 5 of those or all 10 if you like.  Have fun with it!

Thank you again Stu and Jenny for the nomination!  I pray this blog is an encouragement and blessing to everyone who reads it!  Thank you all for your encouragement!  Don’t ever forget, Jesus loves you!

Grace and peace to you all!