Ian & Jocelyn Barker

Happy Thanksgiving! Like all holidays, American culture celebrates this holiday in a distorted way far below what is truly called for. I suppose the pilgrims had a much better idea of being thankful because they knew what it was like to go without food and what would happen if their crops failed. My wife and I go to the grocery store and buy our food without a thought to the fact that one day there may not be food on the shelves. Or without a thought to the hard work and sacrifice of thousands of farmers throughout America and the world. So I’m thankful to the farmers across the world.

I hope I haven’t put a downer on your Thanksgiving because I like eating and football and all that good stuff. I’m just overwhelmed at the thought of true thanksgiving because there is so much to be thankful for and living under the watchful, caring eye of my Father makes me feel grateful and confident at the same time. So, here are some things I’m thankful for…

1. My wife. We have been married almost 16 months and she gives me joy every day. She challenges me to be more like Christ and find my identity in Him.
2. IHOP. I’m grateful that the Lord led me to Kansas City over 4 years ago when I didn’t really know what IHOP was. He has set me in a community of people who I am proud to run with and provoked by every day. Let us go to the end!
3. Our supporters. Thank you to all of our supporters who faithfully give every month and allow us to do what we do.
4. A working car. It’s the little things in life that matter, and I’m thankful that my little ’93 Toyota Paseo has been good to me (and now Jocelyn) for 7 years. It’s time is coming to an end, but it has been good.
5. Apple, the computer company. I’ve owned Macs for 8 years and I shudder at the thought of going back to PCs. Thank you for fun and reliable computers.
6. Books. I don’t know what I would do with myself if it weren’t for books. They open up new ideas to me, tell me stories that give me courage, and give me new and emboldened confidence that I serve a good God. Of course, you have to read good ones for all these statements to be true.
7. My parents. They have been faithful to the Lord their whole lives and have modeled for me what it means to fear and trust the Lord. Thanks for always loving and encouraging me.
8. My friends. Good friends that are more faithful than a brother are hard to find. Thankfully, I have a few of them which is priceless.
9. My brother and his family. Thankfully, my brother is more faithful than, er, a brother. We’ve always been close and his wife and two, soon to be three, are more than a blessing.
10. Finally, the gospel. The gospel is what has saved me from sin and death and transferred me into a kingdom of Light. My ideas of what the gospel is are constantly being challenged and modified, but I know for sure that it has to do with God’s plan to restore His blacked and damaged earth and people, and He has invited me to be a part of this new creation. For that I am thankful.

For this, and many things, I am thankful to God on this day. I will celebrate it at the Prayer Room and with friends. Thank You Lord for all of your many blessings and care-filled provision and watchfulness of Jocelyn and I. Happy Thanksgiving!