Thanks for visiting! I find the whole idea of a blog a little pretentious actually. I mean, why would you want to read my rather opinionated thoughts on things that I think are important? Good Question! Anyway, my humble reasons for wanting to write and even engage in conversation with others are here: getting started For all my strong opinions and quick conclusions, I trust that somewhere in the tension of conversation lies the gift of wisdom. I will appreciate anyone who finds a little time to comment or respond to my thoughts. be well!
if you are at all interested in who writes this opinionated pretentious stuff…
i’m usually called barry (i’m told the name means “spear” or “words like a spear”)
i am content in marriage with elaine botha
we are parents to ruben and cate
i am commonly referred to as a “minister” which, for me, means I serve the interests of a local community of faith
i best understand my role in that community as pastor - a person who cares for the well-being of the community as a whole
i am a devoted disciple (read learner of) Jesus of Nazareth. I encounter him through the eyes of some 1st century Christian authors. I am comfortable that amongst their own interpretations and inventions, their writings convey enough of the person and teaching of Jesus to be a helpful guide to his perspective of all things - and most notably, his understanding of the nature of God-ness (what he calls “the kingdom of God”)
to describe my relationship with the church (the broader community of faith that includes various denominations and theological perspectives) I often quote something I once heard someone else say: “the church is my mother - and she’s a whore!”
for some inexplicable reason (i increasingly like things that are inexplicable) i love this community of my birth… she’s not all she could be, but for me, she’s enough. and i feel challenged to associate myself with this problem saturated community that - every now and then - gets it right and reflects beauty and peace and grace…
i think that for a very long time (western?) people have been taught to keep a brave face and hide the struggles. i think that it was possibly worth a try (as an approach to living well) but the experiment has failed. all this hiding has produced awful “dishonesty” - we’ve been hiding the real struggles of our lives in an attempt to live up to a community’s expectations. I’m more interested in being transparent and sharing the struggles so that a) others will know i struggle and b) they might feel permission to acknowledge (even if only to themselves) the struggles of their own lives…
If you’re into brave-face-hiding-the-struggles kind of living, then this blog is probably not going to prove helpful to you - except as an example of heresy that you use to illustrate how not to pursue a Faithful Spiritual Journey… i figure, even then i’ve served you in some way… 
either way, peace!