August 26th, 2007

Where do I begin? It has been an amazing month! To start, I celebrated my "Quarter of a Century" birthday. This was my first birthday as a married man. Ali, my dad, and I took on team "Glove-feste" (Jim, Jared, and Lacey) in a vicious round of par 3 Golf at Lafortune Park. Needless to say, we completely dominated thanks to the help of my studly wife. Three days later, we held the "777" sale (7/7/07) at Jim Glover Chevrolet. We sold over 100 vehicles and had a blast doing it. We had backyard burgers there. There were clowns, live bands, and hundreds of people. The lot was so busy that I even had to sell a car because there were not enough salesmen to go around. We had a dunk tank and Jim, Kristen and my dad all got dunked several times over by customers and employees.

In late July, Ali's family and I went to Estes Park, Colorado for some very much needed down time. We started the week with ambitions of climbing a few small mountains and hiking a couple trails. However, we were seduced by a massive mountain known as Longs Peak. This mountain is the highest in Rocky Mountain National Park, reaching a height of 14,259 feet. It is one of the most difficult mountains in America to climb. Ali got this great idea that we should hike up to the summit. I did not share the same enthusiasm. Needless to say, 72 hours after being at Colorado Altitude, Ali and I tackled the monster. We started at 2 a.m. on a 16 mile round trip. We broke through the treeline by 5 am and reached the famed boulderfield by 8 a.m. "The boulderfield is over mile long and requires the hiker to jump nearly thousands of times to make it to the "Keyhole" route. Our trekking poles came in handy during this boulder-jumping extravaganza. "The keyhole" was a nice place to take a break, but it didn't last long for we only had 2 hours to reach the summit. The reason we had to start so early was to try and get back down to the treeline by 3 pm. In Colorado, there are thunderstorms nearly every afternoon in the Summer season. Several hikers have been struck by lightning on the Longs Peak trail. Ali and I proceeded form the Keyhole through "The Narrows." The narrows is a jagged cliff that goes for hundreds of yards. This cliff has a drop-off of over 1,000 feet in some areas. This has been the site of many of the 56 deaths in Longs Peak's history. From the narrows, you reach "The Trough." The trough is a vertical climb of about 800 vertical feet over the course of of a couple hundred yards. It is covered in loose boulders that always seem to roll down and knock people off of this mountain. At this point, the altitude sickness began to sit in for me. I started having pounding headaches as well as a rapid heartrate. After the trough we went across another cliff before coming upon "the homestretch." The homestretch is the last climb towards the summit. It is steeper than the trough and much more dangerous. It spans several hundred vertical feet and has been the site of many a falls including one written about in the Tulsa World just last week. Ali and I reached the summit around 10:00 and called several of our friends. From the top, you could see for over 60 miles. It was an unbelieveable view that was worth the climb. The climb down was more dangerous than the climb up. Ali started developing some seious altitude sickness by the time we reached the trough. For a while it didn't look like she was going to make it down. However, a very nice gentleman came by us on the way down. He gave Ali some altitude sickness pills as well as some much needed water and Propel. Ali swears that he was an angel sent by God to save her. I would have to agree, he truly was a blessing. Ali finally got going again after a while. We made it back to the keyhole, through the boulderfield and back to the main trail. It took us 16 hours to reach the ranger station back at the base. I have never been so sore in my life, but it was an experience that neither of us will forget for a very long time.

Overall, it has been an incredible month. Ali and I are now living in Overland Park, KS and I begin school at Cleveland Chiropractic College on September 11th. Ali is teaching English in the Lee Summit School District and is loving every second of it. We will truly miss our friends while we are away, but Oklahoma will once again be our home someday. May God bless you all and keep you always. Look back soon for a new update! A Longs Peak video will be up next month.

LONGS PEAK INFORMATION

Longs Peak is one of the 54 " fourteeners " in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado . It can be prominently seen from Longmont , Colorado , as well as from the rest of the Colorado Front Range piedmont. It is named after Major Stephen Long , who explored the area in the 1820s . It is very popular to climb.

Longs Peak rises to 14,259 feet (4,346 meters) above sea level . Surveys conducted prior to 2002 list the elevation as 14,255 feet (4,344 m). [1]

When taken with its neighbor Mount Meeker , they are sometimes referred to as the Twin Peaks. This is not to be confused with another pair of mountains, called the Twin Sisters.

As the only fourteener in Rocky Mountain National Park , the peak has long been of interest to climbers . The easiest route is not "technical" during the summer season, and was probably first used by American Indians collecting eagle feathers, but the first recorded ascent was in 1868 by the surveying party of John Wesley Powell . The East Face of the mountain is quite steep, and is surmounted by a gigantic sheer cliff known as "The Diamond" (so-named because of its shape, approximately that of a cut diamond seen from the side and inverted - see image at right). Another famous profile belongs to Longs Peak: to the southeast of the summit is a series of rises which, when viewed from the northeast, resembles a beaver .

The first proposal to climb the Diamond, in 1954 , was met with an official closure by the National Park Service , a stance not changed until 1960 . The Diamond was first ascended by Dave Rearick and Bob Kamps that year, and the route was listed in Allen Steck and Steve Roper's influential book Fifty Classic Climbs of North America . The easiest route on the face, the "Casual Route" (5.10-), was climbed many years later and became the most popular

No technical climbing is required to reach the summit of Longs Peak during the summer season, which typically runs from mid July through early September. Outside of this window the popular "Keyhole" route is still open, however its rating is upgraded to "technical" as treacherous ice formation and snow fall necessitates the use of specialized climbing equipment including, at a minimum, crampons and an ice axe. It is considered to be the most difficult 3rd class fourteener in Colorado. Those intending to summit would be advised to read the National Park Service guide linked below for tips on proper preparation and equipment to bring. Another helpful resource is Paul Nesbit's Longs Peak: Its Story and a Climbing Guide released in a new 11th edition in 2005 (edited by Stan Adamson, Broomfield, Colorado: Grey Wolf Books U.S.A.).

While the climb is non-technical it is by no means easy or without serious danger. The climbing trail past the Keyhole presents dramatic, sweeping vistas that can feel a bit exposed. Due care is advised on the Ledges - inexperienced climbers have fallen to their deaths in this portion of the climb. The Trough is difficult physically and is the last real attempt of the mountain to turn around those unworthy of the Summit. Rock fall caused by other climbers is a real concern in the Trough - Stay Alert. Warn others if you kick out a rock by shouting, "ROCK." To move successfully through the Trough, break it down into a series of small climbs and rest periodically. The Chockstone that separates access from the Trough to the Narrows remains problematic. Access the Narrows by going to the left of the Chockstone and climb over the obstacle. Descend via the other side of the Chockstone when returning to the Trough from the Narrows. The Narrows have seen some thinning of the ledge/trail over the past decade. This is primarily due to natural erosion of the granite from the natural freezing/thawing process. Access from the Narrows to the Homestretch has also become more difficult over the past decade due to this erosion process. Rockfall now blocks an old, wide portion of the narrows that gave access to the Homestretch. Climbers will now have to negotiate an approximate twenty-foot pitch of Class III climbing to enter the Homestretch. This pitch can be taxing due to the 14,000' elevation.

The hike from the trailhead to the summit isoulder Field, 5.9 miles (9.5 km) into the hike. After scrambling over the boulders, hikers reach the Keyhole at 6.2 miles (10 km).

The following quarter of a mile involves a scramble along narrow ledges, many of which may have sheer cliffs of 1,000 feet (305 m) or more just off the edge. The next portion of the hike includes climbing over 1,000 vertical feet (305 m) up the Trough before reaching the most exposed section of the hike, the Narrows. Just beyond the Narrows, the Notch signifies the beginning of the Homestretch to the football field-sized, flat summit. It is possible to camp out overnight in the Boulder Field (permit required) which makes for a less arduous two day hike, although this is fairly exposed to the elements. According to the National Park Service, one person, on average, dies every year attempting to climb the mountain. In the summer of 2005 a Japanese climber was blown off a ledge after reaching the summit. On September 3, 2006 a man fell 800 feet (244 m) to his death when some rocks let go while he was descending the loft route.

For hikers who do not wish to climb to the summit, there are less-involved hikes on the peak as well. Peacock Pool and Chasm Lake are popular hiking destinations and follow well-maintained trails. It is also rewarding to hike just to the Boulder Field, the Keyhole, or the seldom-visited but spectacular Chasm View. Camping is available at the Boulder Field and also on the lower portions of the mountain, such as Goblin's Forest. Technical climbers, with the correct permit, are allowed to use "bivy" sites at the base of the East Face and at Chasm View. It is also possible to camp to the South of the mountain at Sand Beach Lake.

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May 27, 2007

What an amazing week! To start out my best friend Jared Glover graduated as Valedictorian from Bixby High School on Thursday! My wife and I went to Kansas City this weekend for a variety of events! My wife interviewed for a job with Lee's Summit on Saturday morning, we then drove to our future apartment and were able to switch our current apartment selection for one with a scenic view. After that we went to my Cousin Jeremy's wedding! We wish him the west with his new bride! Finally, today my wife and I went over to Matt Thomas' house for a celebration. One of my dearest friends from high school: Joey Guzman, was in town with his wife for her birthday. This was the first time I got to meet his wife Lisa. Aaron Rooney and Matt Thomas were also celebrating birthdays. But the biggest surprise of the day was that my best friend from grade school: JJ Sheffield proposed to his girlfriend Allison. You know I just happened to have my camera, so I caught the whole event live in HD. It was incredible to see my oldest friends again. They are a very big part of why I am who I am today. I really wish I could spend more time with those guys. I am taken back every time I see them. On another note, my grandfather purchased me a Glock 32 this weekend. This gun is capable of shooting .357 sig, .40, and 9mm rounds. It will make a great small framed carry piece or a hunting sidearm. I'll get some video of it in action on my next blog. Hope everyone is doing great and I look forward to posting more photos and videos in the next month. My wife and I will be working the Tulsa Inner-City FCA camp in one week. Check back to see some photos and hopefully some incredible video.

May the Lord bless JJ and Allison in the preparation of their union.

Below are videos of Jared and Jake's Valedictorian speech as well as the proposal video from this weekend's reunion!

Jared Glover and Jake Hanus deliver a unique Valedictorian speech for graduation	Watch a Memorial Day weekend reunion with the highlight being J.J.'s Proposal to Allison

Pictures of the week

April 8, 2007 - Resurrection Sunday (Easter)

Well today was Easter Sunday, one of my favorite days of the year. Since my wife's family spent Easter with our family in Tulsa last year, this year Ali and I spent the day in Edmond with them. We went to church in Guthrie but drove back to Tulsa Sunday Night for a baptism service at our church. I was actually baptized when I was 13 but I felt that I needed to be baptized once more. The main reason behind being baptized again was simple. When I was 13, I only held an intellectual belief in Christ. I got baptized because I had gone down for an altar call. No fruits were ever present in my life, I never desired to read God's word, and I never bowed my knee to Him as Lord. Bottom line, I never exhibited any proof that would show that I was a genuine believer. I don't know the exact moment of my regeneration but I would place it some 2-3 years after the first time I was baptized. So you see, this baptism was to signify my pride being crushed, my knee being bowed, and myself being denied as I now serve Christ instead of the other way around. He is the sole reason I exist and the savior that my soul desperately needed. Good Friday was the 5th anniversary of the day I got the tattoo on my back. Yes, that is a picture of me on the banner of this website, and yes that is a tattoo on my back, not a scar or some other kind of optical illusion. If you would like to know the significance of that day and the meaning of my tattoo click on the banner at the top of any page or click here. I hope that you will watch the baptism video at the bottom of this blog and I hope that you will examine your own heart and see if you are in need of a savior.

Click here to visit Grace Community Church of Tulsa.

Click the Photo to see Barnezy get Baptized

I'd like to leave you with a final thought to meditate on during your week. Phil Johnson of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA preached a sermon a few weeks ago about the doctrine of grace. Here is a small excerpt..

"You may be one of those people who doesn't want to be referred to as a Calvinist or an Arminian. But the fact is, if you are a Christian at all, you do already affirm the fundamental principle in every one of those truths. You already know in your heart of hearts that you weren't born again because you were morally superior to your unbelieving neighbors. You were worthy of God's wrath just like them (Ephesians 2:1-3). According to Ephesians 2:4-6, it was God who quickened you and showed you a special mercy--and that is why you are a believer. You already know that in your heart. You don't really believe you summoned faith and came to Christ in your own power and by your own unaided free will. You don't actually believe you are morally superior to people who don't believe. You therefore must see, somewhere in your soul, that God has given you special grace that He has not necessarily shown everyone. You also believe God is absolutely sovereign over all things. I know you do, because you lean on the promise of Romans 8:28. And that promise would mean nothing if God were not in control of every detail of everything that happens. If He is not in control of all things, how could he work all things together for good? Furthermore, you pray for the lost, which means in your heart, you believe God is sovereign over their salvation. If you didn't really believe He was sovereign in saving sinners, you'd quit praying for the lost and start doing everything you could to buttonhole people into the kingdom by hook or by crook, instead. But you know that would be folly. And you pray about other things, too, don't you? You pray that God will change this person's heart, or alter the circumstances of that problem. That's pure Calvinism. When we go to God in prayer, we're expressing faith in His sovereignty over the circumstances of our lives. You even believe God operates sovereignty in the administration of all His Providence. You say things like, "If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that" (James 4:15)--because in your heart you believe that God works all things after the counsel of His own will (Ephesians 1:11), and nothings happens apart from His will. Nothing is more biblical than these doctrines that are commonly labeled Calvinism. In a way, it is a shame they have been given an extra biblical name, because these truths are the very essence of what Scripture teaches. The very gist of Calvinism is nowhere more clearly stated than in the simple words of 1 John 4:19, "We love Him, because He first loved us."

April 6, 2007

I can sum up Oklahoma weather in one short phrase... "You gotta be freakin kiddin' me!" It was 35 degrees this morning when I walked outside. Less than 72 hours ago it was a toasty 86 degrees. The weather channel is predicting a 25 degree low for easter morning. Did I mention that it snowed last night and today? If Oklahoma weather isn't crazy enough for you, I'm adding a video of an absolute crazy man. He actually tries to take up close photos of a venomous cobra. Download and watch this guy, it's absolutely ridiculous.

This man has a death wish

April 5, 2007

Today I awoke to the news that we had an incident at my job. KJRH channel 2 in Tulsa reported the story on the 7 o'clock news. I arrived at work around 9 am and was shocked with the story I heard. This really happened and I have the photos to back it up. It was around 10:45 pm last night at the dealership when one of our managers was getting ready to leave. He started his red Chevy Avalanche demo and was about to pull out of the lot when he noticed a vehicle that needed to be moved. He got out of the Avalanche and walked back into the dealership to get the keys. Moments later a man ran out from behind some new Silverados and jumped into the Avalanche. He tried to exit through 2 gates that were blocked with trucks. He backed into our Chevrolet sign, hit a Dodge Avenger, spun around a Chevy Work truck before plowing through a steel security gate. The criminal then proceeded down I-44 towards Oklahoma City. Our managers, being the sharp guys that they are, called OnStar so the police could track the Avalanche. Long story short... Sometime after midnight the highway patrol saw a man hitchiking near Keifer, Oklahoma. They picked him up and soon learned that he was the man they were looking for. So what happened to the $50,000 LTZ Avalanche? Below are photos of the recovered vehicle.

The bottom 3 photos are of the Lock the Avalanche plowed through, the Dodge Stratus it hit, and the base of the GM sign it backed into. Suprisingly enough, after rolling several times and sliding on the roof a few hundred feet, the criminal was not hurt and walked away from the crash.

March 15,2007

Well, we keep dropping like flies. I am of course speaking of my fellow men. There have been more weddings in the last year than any year I can remember. Last week Paul Smith and Krista Barker were married at First Baptist Church in downtown Tulsa, OK. It was a short wedding with classic antics on Paul's side. The reception was more of the focal point of the day. It's funny how I will always compare every wedding I attend to Ali and I's wedding. I wish Paul and Krista Smith the best of luck in their new lives together. Coach Brandon Blizzard Tied the Knot with Traci Ash this past weekend. I would also like to wish them the best of luck in their new life together. They are two very special people that truly know how to handle adversity. Brandon was one of the guys that helped orchestrate my proposal to Ali. I have been to half a dozen FCA camps with "Bliz", I also spent a year at NEO with him a few years back. Like I said, we're dropping like flies... FAST!

Finally, a special treat for all of you out there. If you know me or have spent any time looking at this website you probably know that I work a few hours a week at a Chevy Dealership here in town. What you might not know, is that there really never is a "dull day in the car business." For instance, you know those ramps you see out in front of dealerships,the ones that have cars showcased on top of them? Well, one of our normally intelligent employees decided to park a Z71 Tahoe on top of the ramp without the assistance of a spotter. Needless to say, I don't think the end result was the one the employee had in mind. The employees name will not be released do to the OSHA regulations. HA HA! LUCKY FOR HIM!

Photos by Douglass Marrs

Luckily, Chevy's are "Like a Rock" and there wasn't even a scratch on the Tahoe. Of course this is after a tow truck with a crane was called in to rescue the Tahoe from certain doom. Hope you enjoy! -Chris-