Do you ever get something stuck in your head and it just won't go away? It's like hearing a tune and have that be on a constant replay in your head...which can either be enjoyable, or drive you crazy. I've got something like that in my head and it's been there for a few years now, raising its head every now and then and coming to the front of my thinking. I call it the Barnabas Paradigm.

Barnabas is one of my top 5 favorite people in the New Testament. I'm really looking forward to meeting him some day... Anyway, we are introduced to him in Acts 4:32 - 37.

³² All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. ³³ With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all ³⁴ that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales ³⁵ and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

³⁶ Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), ³⁷ sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet. NIV, courtesy of Biblegateway.com

So what is the Barnabas Paradigm, and why is it important to me, to you, to God's Kingdom? According to Webster's Dictionary, the word Paradigm means example, pattern, an outstandingly clear typical example or archetype. Barnabas was an outstandingly clear example of what we should be like when it comes to understanding what's important in life.

Before I lay out what I see as the Barnabas Paradigm, let me give you some background about myself and my incredible wife Sara. When we first got married, 39 years ago, we felt that there was a task before us that God had given to us. We wanted to be connected with missions. Well, kids came along, scrounging for work in the back waters of the Iowa farm country and just the cares of this life changed our plans. I suppose some may say that we missed our calling. I don't know, perhaps that's true. But we raised 5 kids that love us and love each other. In this day and age, that's some kind of accomplishment. The love of missions and wanting to minister have always been there in our hearts. God put within us a love of serving, and we've striven to be servants of the Kingdom of God, and of His servants.

Although our pastor has always spoken on the body’s ministry to the poor, and to each other, these last few weeks since the election, has brought some concern by many as to what the future holds for us economically.  He’s brought a few messages that should be a wakeup call to all of us.  Let me state at the beginning, that our faith lies in Jesus Christ, and in His provision for us.   That’s a given, or should be, for anyone whose faith is firmly on the Rock of our Salvation.  But this is a double edge sword.  One side handles the spiritual battle, the other the corporal or physical battle.  My calling is to be one of helping with the latter.  There are many wonderful teachers of the Word of God that will teach us, and show us the spiritual side of our life.  That’s their gift.  Mine is to help in the physical world.  That being said, the Word of God is peppered with verses that tell us that we should prepare for hard times, and if we don’t, we’re being foolish.

Proverbs 22:3 says “A prudent man sees hard times and takes precautions.”

Proverbs 6:6 says “Go the ant you sluggard.  Consider her ways and be wise.”

Genesis chapter 41 tells the story of Joseph, and how he interpreted the dream of Pharaoh, and put aside provisions for the time of famine.  In the new testament, in Acts chapter 11, it talks about the prophet Agabus who said that a famine was about to hit Judea, and all the saints in Antioch took up a collection for those believers and sent it on to them via Paul and Barnabas.

I say all this, because hard times are here. They’re not “coming”, they’re here.  Many of the body of Christ are in need of basic comforts, food, money for utilities, cars that work reliably etc etc.   Many are either unemployed or underemployed.  We have single moms in our church that could use some help with something as simple as giving them a “day off” where they didn’t have to cook, or they had someone to just come and help them with the dishes.  It sounds silly perhaps, but after raising 5 kids, I’ve seen firsthand what my wife went through.  I can’t imagine how someone could handle that on their own.

The Barnabas Paradigm is a blog to perhaps open doors for ministry.  I don’t know how it will evolve, but it’s a burden on my heart to see it happen.  Yes, we put our faith in the Lord, but we also are prudent, and take precautions.  Some of what will follow in the blog will give simple ideas that you may have already thought about.  There’s nothing “new” here, but perhaps these simple ideas will jog your thoughts and bring something to mind that you could do for someone.

I’ll let you know how our family is going to prepare, and how we’re going to extend that to our church body.  If you have ideas, please let me know.  If you think I’m all wet, hey, tell me that too. J

The first thing I’ve done is to put together an emergency packet that I keep in my car.  It has a Mylar (space) blanket ($3-$5 from most sporting good stores) a flashlight with extra batteries, a whistle to signal with, should you have to leave your vehicle and move about in wooded areas or some such situation, hard candy, energy bars, waterproof matches and a candle, a simple first aid kit, bottled or boxed water, lightweight poncho for bad weather, light sticks (available at the dollar store….for a dollar) are really handy, and can last quite a while.  Have a few bright colors to put on the hood or roof of the car and along the side of the road to help in spotting you if you’re broken down and lost.  I’m sure you could think of more things to add and that’s good.  Everything I’ve listed here can fit into a couple gallon size Ziploc bags, or into a small pack.  You can build one for $30 or less.  Put one together for yourself, and think about doing a couple extra and give them to single moms or others in your church that can’t afford to do it themselves.  Just bless someone with one.  It might save their lives some day.  At the very least, they will recognize that you care about their safety, and will encourage them that they are loved and thought of.  And that can mean a great deal to someone.