The Christmas Story: To Be Continued

He wasn’t coerced, manipulated, bribed, or threatened to leave his lofty throne and live among a bunch of peasants. This wasn’t some slapdash, haphazard, last minute plan to save humanity. There was no plan B, no alternate ending. Our Immanuel was not the victim of some cosmic bait & switch in which He would unwittingly become a reluctant sacrifice for all sin. Nor was He some shrewd operator...

Looking for a Visible Kingdom in a Culture of Death

The culture of death has never been so visible. It's every where you look today. The sanctity of life has lost all meaning. Another black teenager dies in a drive-by and we just flip the newspaper page because it happened in the same section of town that last week's shooting occurred. And oh, by...

Ruach 2014: A Life-Changing Event

Everyone has had a moment or two where seemingly everything changed. Speaking naturally that moment could be graduating, your wedding, the birth of a child, and so on.Spiritually, the moment you were saved or baptized in the Spirit would classify as a life changing time in your personal history. I've experienced all the above. Those were all times of great transition in my life.Recently, I had...

Ruach Conference 2014: Wrecked on Tuesday

I have a half-written post about Tuesday's morning and afternoon sessions, but my heart is so stinkin' full after the night service I've gotta spill some of it before I explode. Let me just start by saying how ridiculously good and anointed the RPC Worship Department is. I say department because they...

Ruach Conference 2014 - My Thoughts on Day One

When I first heard about the Ruach Conference some months ago, I knew it would be a can't-miss event for spirit-filled believers everywhere. And let me tell you, day one of the conference certainly lived up to those lofty expectations. After a brief time of worship, the conference began with a greeting...

The Church: Being the hands and feet or sitting in the seat?

Sunday morning has come and gone for now. Don't worry, though. You'll get another opportunity next week. Chances are that seat is really comfortable. It's likely right in the middle of your comfort zone. No pressure. No work. No hassle. Just come and enjoy the show for a little while. No doubt that...

Victory Formation Christianity: Playing it safe til He comes

It's as frustratingly maddening as it is sweetly exhilarating. If you're on the winning side there's no greater sight. If you're the loser, you'd rather stick a needle in your eye than watch as it plays out. It's football's Victory Formation. When the outcome of a football game is no longer in question...

Overcoming Sudden Trials

Things are going smoothly. You feel like your steps are being ordered by the Lord as He positions you to move into a new season. You’re receiving fresh revelation and insight on a daily basis, it seems. Then it happens. Some random Satanic dart finds its way into your transition-zone, and it momentarily...

Living as Kingdom Citizens

I am blessed to be an American. Living in the land of opportunity makes me thankful. Being a citizen of this country leaves me with very little excuse if I don’t follow the plan of God for my life. There’s very little chance that I could lose my life for proclaiming God’s Word on the streets or...

Staying Kingdom-focused in a #selfie -focused world

It’s way too easy to take a #selfie and put it up on every social media platform these days. Because we are inundated by the #selfie mindset, it’s only natural that this phenomena would creep into the Church. Am I calling you out if you’ve ever taken a #selfie? Absolutely not. There is nothing...

Rise up, Kingdom Voices!

If there’s ever been a time for God’s people to reach out to a diverse and desperate culture that time is now. I know the world appears hopelessly lost. I realize it looks like there’s no help in sight. But it only appears that way because the church as a whole is not in her rightful place. In...

Hit the Restart

Yep, I’m hitting the restart button again. Welcome to my third attempt at joelabarker.com. Here, you will (eventually) find short devotionals, cultural commentary, video/audio podcast posts, and basically whatever strikes me as interesting at any given moment. Check back early and oft...