What Would It Be Like To Be God?

During our low times, we might ignorantly express the sentiment that God can't possibly understand our struggles and disappointments. Upon reflection, do we really think that is true?

Not that any of us will ever fully know what it is like to be God (since He is unique), but would you swap your problems for His? He is the custodian for close to 6 1/2 billion people on earth, and His zoo spans the globe. Our planet is but a speck of dust in the universe.

At a given instant, He is perfectly aware of the minutest detail of each and every human being's life (that means you). How it must pain God to know that a vast majority are living far away from His will. He can see the multiplied billions of sins committed every day. The multiplied millions of good deeds likely never come close to outweighing the bad.

The Almighty's eyes and ears are treated to daily doses of physical abuse, murders, drug overdoses, adultery, vulgarity, lying, theft, and such like. Beyond these outward acts, He reads every thought and knows every motive we entertain. How it must grieve Him to see those close to salvation keep putting it off, and to witness once-faithful Christians turn their back on Him in going back to the world.

Understand that He hurts even more than we do when we or our loved ones are beset with sickness, injury, and disease. Foolishly, we might think that God causes us (or allows) many problems, when in fact WE ARE THE ONES THAT CAUSE GOD GRIEF.

Today, marvel at the power, patience, wisdom, and love of our God. One day, we will understand better why life is the way that it is. Regardless of what we face in life, heaven will surely be worth it all.
by Brian Jarrett

I Will Not Be Lukewarm

I have alluded to the book I have been writing for the past several months, well, the publisher now has it and it should be out sometime this fall. As you can see by the cover, the title is I Will Not Be Lukewarm.

My purpose in writing the book is to challenge each of us to rise above the mediocrity of the world and become the zealous, on fire Christians that God intends us to be. I try to deal with some very real issues that each of us face each day such as depression, fostering relationships, being true witnesses for Christ, becoming more fervent in worship and overcoming the fear of death as well as why we should long for Heaven and fear Hell.

The book consists of 13 lessons with journal type thought questions and exercises throughout each lesson. It will be a great class book as well as excellent for personal study. A Power Point presentation for each lesson will be available on disc also. Check out the publisher at www.spiritbuilding.com for info on how to order the book and availability. I believe their will be additional info on the website next week sometime. I hope you'll check it out benefit from it.

God Almighty

We plough the fields, and scatter
The good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered
By God's Almighty Hand.
He sends the snow in winter,
The warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine,
And soft refreshing rain.
by Jane Montgomery Campbell

We've been studying the different names of God in Wednesday Night Bible class and we just finished talking about El Shadiah (God Almighty). I think this brief poem so clearly describes the God that provides so abundantly--the meaning of El Shaddai. How perfectly our God amply provides all that we need to sustain life. How perfectly He controls all things. May He be praised and glorified in all things by each of us.

Dana Burk

VBS Dominica

We had a great VBS in Dominica. The children were enthusiastic and came by the droves. The first day we had 55. (We were only expecting 50-60 at the most by the end of the week) Every day after that we had 68-71. The village population we were at is only about 400-500 and the school where we met has an enrollment of 65. The locals were amazed that we had basically all of the children from the village attend.

There were only 8 of us and so needless to say we had our hands full; my husband and myself and a young man from our congregation, a sister from Alabama, a teenager from Kentucky and three students from Florida College assisted us. We conducted 5 different class levels including one teen class of about 7-8 teens attending. Most of the teenagers in the village must work to help support their families by the time they are 14-15 so they are not available to attend VBS. The people in the village are very religious and therefore are insistent that their children should attend each day.

We have been doing VBS in this village for 3 years now and each year it grows exponentially. The first year we had 25, last year 42 and now a high of 71. If we continue to go each year, it is obvious we will need more help. Pray that God blesses His word and much fruit may come from this effort.

Dana Burk

Home At Last--Final word about Modesty

We finally returned home from our trip to the Caribbean for VBS late last night--tired, worn and without luggage--but hey, we slept in our own bed and with air conditioning. Our luggage came this evening about 5:00 and the only mishap was a busted bottle of honey--what a sticky, gooey mess.

We had a fabulous week with the children--we averaged nearly 70 each day--we were only expecting around 50-60, but we managed just fine. I'll have some pictures up later this week.

I've had lots of e-mail to answer and stuff to catch up on today so I've been busy. I did notice a couple of e-mails and comments regarding the letter I posted about modesty and wanted to address those briefly.

The "letter" was one that was passed on to me and was "anonymous". Whether it is even "real" or not I do not know, but I did feel that it made some good points about how we as Christian women should think about how our appearance can affect the men around us. I certainly believe that men have the responsibility of controlling their own thoughts, but I also believe that we as women should not be guilty of placing a stumbling block in another's way either. I believe we can be stumbling blocks to weak, Christian men when we are guilty of dressing immodestly and we too must take responsibility for our actions. Paul says in Romans 14:21, "It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak." (NKJV) In verse 19 of this same chapter, he tells us to "pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another."

It is very much my responsibility as a Christian woman to make sure I am not the cause of my brother lusting after me. If I am careful to dress modestly and behave appropriately around those of the opposite sex and they still continue in their lust, then certainly, I have no control over that. On the other hand, if I am guilty of dressing in such a way as to incite lust in a man, God will hold him accountable, but He will not hold me guiltless. I believe that to be the point of the letter and certainly my point in posting it.

Often times we do not "think" about how we may appear to others and yet isn't that what Paul is addressing when he tells Titus that the older women are to teach the younger women to be "chaste"? The Greek word translated "chaste" here has the idea of being "modest" according to Strong's. We are to be chaste or modest and we need to "think" about how we appear to men. But not only is our dress to be chaste, so is our conduct to be chaste. (1 Pet. 3:2) The very way that we behave must be one of modesty--how we sit, how we walk, how we bend over. Sisters, each of us has a responsibility and obligation to our brothers that we not be guilty of causing them to lust after us. We cannot control their actions, but we better not be guilty of tempting them.

Dana Burk

Off to the Caribbean

I leave, along with seven others, very early in the morning for the tiny island of Dominica where we will be helping a church there with VBS. We are expecting anywhere from 40-60 children each day. I would ask for your prayers on our behalf for a safe trip as well as success in teaching and influencing others for Christ.

We will be in a remote village of about 400-500 people and, needless to say, there will be no access to a computer, much less the internet, so I won't be blogging until I return. We should be back in the states, if all goes as planned, late on the 23rd of July. So hang in there and check back here around the 24th.

God Bless, Dana Burk

Open Letter to My Christian Sisters

Here is a letter passed on to me recently by a friend. It is quite lengthy, but worth the read and some thought. Dana


Dear beloved teenagers, mothers, and grandmothers:

I love you so much, and this very difficult for me to write. I am so very tired. For so many years you haven’t listened to what I’ve been trying to tell you. How many more years can I keep going? How much longer can I keep hiding things from my children and the other Christians?

I’m talking about my husband. He is looked up to by members of the church. He teaches a Bible class and attends all services and gospel meetings. He holds home Bible studies to convert people. He is hospitable and a very liberal giver. He has a respected job in the community. We have what I consider a beautiful home and fine children. He is handsome and has an outgoing personality. He is admired by many. He also commits adultery once every year or two. Wait before you pass judgment on this “hypocrite” until you finish reading my appeal.
We could be any one of perhaps 50% of the families in your congregation. I have talked with so many of these women and some of the men, and the problem is more prevalent than you may want to think. A lot of this problem – though not all of it – is kindled by something you just won’t believe.

Why won’t you believe me when I bring it up in Ladies Bible Class or in private comments? Why do you tell me I have a dirty mind or I’m a prude? I love you all, and I do as many good works as possible to show you this love, without taking precious time away from my family.
What I am getting at is this: Please, please stay away from my husband! I don’t mean you physically should stay away, for we love your company. But I mean you sensually. He has enough of a problem without you fanning the fire.

When we are at services or in each other’s home, you wouldn’t think of dressing indecently; you each teach against immodesty yourself sometimes. Yet you wear skirts above your knee, and I see his eyes move up. When he teaches a class, you sit immodestly, and he burns inside. You wear round-neck blouses that may be decent while standing up straight, but when you lean slightly, it gapes open for a fleeting moment for him to fill his eyes. You wear slacks that hug around your hips and abdomen, and his mind races.

Who are you? Sometimes I see you in Bible class. I see you when we worship our Father together. Sometimes you are even a deacon’s or minister’s wife. Once in a great while you are even an elder’s wife. It hurts me to see what you are doing to yourself in the name of style and how I cry when I see what it does to my husband. If I try to say something to you tactfully, you are filled with righteous indignation or laugh and call me old-fashioned.

So I go home and cry alone. The likelihood of his committing adultery with you is very slim, for you would be horrified at the suggestion. But you keep his mind in such a sexual turmoil because you are some of our closest friends sometimes, I know he will eventually give up trying to fight it off and will go to a woman not known to the church in order to hide his shame.
No, I am not an “old bag.” I try to make myself as nice looking as possible at home as well as in public. I fix good meals. I try to keep cheerful. I feel I have always done most of the things mentioned in such books as Fascinating Womanhood. I am a good wife and dedicated mother; I work at it.

I also know for a fact that my husband is not the only one fighting this epidemic. The church at Corinth suffered from it. I have asked other Christian men to help him, and once they see that I understand, they often admit that they have the same problem, sometimes under control, sometimes not. I’ve had preachers, elders, deacons, young men, old men admit this – and seem relieved that at least one woman understands their burden. Often they can’t tell their wives and daughters not to wear the revealing styles because they are ridiculed by them and other wives. So they keep it to themselves, and, as one preacher put it, “burn inside” because of the sinful passions they are so desperately fighting, with no sympathy from the women who bait them unwittingly.

Please, please listen to me! I have begged and pleaded in every way I know how. Our minister has, too; and every time he does, you feel like starting a movement to get rid of him, or you say, “Those terrible women!” without realizing it is you, too. You become frustrated and bitter at his false accusations that you are creating lustful thoughts in men.

Keep reading, please. Don’t cut me off. I understand why you don’t believe the men. I really do. Remember, I’m a woman too. You dress in the latest styles, with some of the characteristics mentioned earlier – maybe not all of them – simply because you like the styles. They are pretty. You enjoy the looks of approval from everyone – not just the men. Some fashion designers say that women actually dress for approval and admiration from other women. You think adultery is terrible. You think that only men with base morals would look at you lustfully.

Some of you think, “Not me! There’s nothing sexy about me – only my husband could think so. I’m overweight, I can’t ever go to the beauty salon,” and on and on. The reason you get so angry at such suggestions about you is that you know deep in your heart that you are not creating lust. You know this beyond a shadow of a doubt. You feel you are being falsely accused, and it hurts you for anyone to think of you as less than pure. I know this is the way you feel, because that is the way I feel.

But the men do not believe it! Please get it through your head that men do not think like we do. Jesus never said a woman committed adultery in her heart (mind) when she looked at a man who looked sensual. Women just don’t get aroused through the eyes. Usually we get aroused through our ears – a man opening up his heart to us, and telling us how special we are. Men are not that impressed by “sweet nothings” – in fact, they often laugh at it. Their key is in what they see, or are enticed to see by form-fitting suggestions.

Jesus said a man commits adultery every time he looks at a woman who looks sensual to him, and he can’t control those thoughts. It seems like every time I say something to you about your hemline or neckline, you don’t believe me. And every time I tell men that most women do not dress purposely to be a “tease,” they don’t believe me either. Men really do believe we women know exactly what we’re doing and exactly what we’re after. These are Christian men, too, remember. Why do you think our preachers get so hot under the collar when they preach on this subject?
These men know something women don’t know or understand. And since you don’t feel that way, you refuse to believe men feel that way. Years ago when we were first married and very young, my husband told me that the way a woman dresses tells men around her how she wants to be treated and whether she wants to be touched. If she is a tease, such as a Christian woman who lures and then shames men for having such dirty minds, he just stores those thoughts and goes to another woman eventually if he can’t overcome those natural reactions. Men want women to look like women, to look feminine; but not to entice them. The comments are not reprintable that I’ve heard from men in restaurants watching waitresses with short skirts clean tables. But here are some comments I’ve heard from Christian men:
“How can you keep your mind on your lesson when those girls sit like they do in your class?”
“My daughter has really created some problems for me when she runs around in her shortie pajamas.”
“Her dress hardly has a back in it. How could she come to church like that?”
“Did you see that woman in the fourth row?”
“Some of these women are plain vicious! They know exactly what they’re doing!”
“I have to say a silent prayer or a scripture in order to get my mind off those temptations when I see women dressed like that.”
“I look away as quickly as I can or I wouldn’t be able to get control of my thoughts before they become sinful.”

Dear sisters, obviously you are not completely at fault when you dress questionably, not any more than a bottle of liquor offered to an alcoholic is completely at fault. I have learned in choosing clothing that does not look like I am “making an offer,” “When in doubt, don’t.”
Do you understand a little better? Run a test if you like and watch the men when a woman with immodest apparel walks into a room. Watch them closely, and you’ll see what I’ve seen. We women will never understand completely how men feel, because we are not men and never will be; just as men will never really understand that most of us women don’t intentionally entice them. We have to take each other’s word for it, and take Jesus’ word for it.

My last request is that you not try to guess who I am, or who my husband is. We are any one of several couples in your own congregation. Do not embarrass me or one of the others by asking, or even guessing to someone else. It is hard enough for us to hold our heads up without others knowing of our shame. When you see me a little depressed or moody, just smile, and I won’t cry as much when I get home. If you suspect who I am, encourage me and talk to me about faith. And encourage my husband by making sure you are covered around him – be kind to him in this way. He will then think of you as a lady – a Christian lady, and we will both thank you for your godly influence.With my love to you, from a struggling sister in Christ.
(Anonymous)

Friendly Indy

We drug our nephew all over Indiapolis with us yesterday--we went to Bible class and worship in the morning at a congregation where Tol is preaching in a lectureship this week--some in Spanish and some in English so we had several acquaintances there. We ate lunch with a couple of famlies after church. We then attended another congregation in the evening where we know two or three people, but have a lot of connections to a number of others because of the evangelistic work Tol does, so we met and talked with a lot of people at that congregation.

About ten minutes after the services were over, a family came in looking for Tol and me who were from Columbus, Indiana (45 minutes or so away). They were an hour late to church because they had been told they met at 6 instead of 5, but, anyway, their son is going with us to Dominica at the end of this week and they wanted to meet us since we were in the area. (I don't blame them. I would want to know who was taking my kid off to who knows where also.) We spent 30 minutes or so visiting with them. When we finally were about to leave, a couple invited us home with them for supper.

Our nephew said as we got in the car, "I believe being a preacher is more popular than playing football." (He plays for the Colts) We all had a good laugh. But you know, the people in Indiana are really friendly. We have thoroughly enjoyed our visit hear and felt extremely welcome. If you ever get a chance, visit our brethren in the Indy area. I think you'll find the same welcome we have.

Dana Burk

A Lotta' Church

We got to do dinner with our nephew last night and invited him to go with us to church this morning and again this evening. He questioned us and said, "You're going in the morning and again at night? That's a lotta' church for one day!" We teased him about it, but he went with us this morning and is coming again tonight.

My nephew was not "raised" going to church and so he may go to a church here or there occasionally on Sunday morning, but that's about it. I understand how that's "a lotta' church" for him in one day. However, it's sad to me when people claim to be committed to the Lord and call themselves Christians and yet, think it too much church in one day to go to worship twice on the Lord's day. They have too many other things they feel they need to do. All too often we think it's quite acceptable that we give God one hour out of our week while we spend 50-60 hrs. a week amassing money to buy stuff and 10-20 hrs. a week pursuing entertainment. I realize we all must work and provide for the necessities of life, but many of us work overtime so we can simply have more stuff and neglect the worshipping of our God. Have we stopped to think, "Is He pleased?"

I hope and pray over time my nephew can come to know the Lord and begin to worship Him often as He has commanded. Do you really know the Lord? Are you worshipping as He has commanded or is that a lotta' church in one day?

Dana Burk

Off to Indy

Well, I'm off to Indiana this morning. My husband is preaching at a lecturship there next week. I have a nephew that has just moved there (he has just signed with the Indianapolis Colts) so we will get to visit with him. I'm really looking forward to that--its been 3 years since we've seen him. I also plan to meet new friends. I always look forward to that.

Truly, one of the blessings of Christianity is having new friends all over the world yet to meet. Pray for us as we pray for you. Hopefully I can find an internet connection somewhere so I can blog while in Indy.

Dana Burk

Just Thinking

• If we put the blame where it really belongs, the other fellow sometimes gets less of it.
• Those who hope for no other life are dead even in this one.
• Let's not park our brains at the door when we enter the church building, nor our hearts at the door as we leave.
• Common sense is seeing things as they are, and doing things as they should be done.
• A successful man is usually an average man who either had a chance or took a chance.
• The most pointed remarks come from blunt people. They usually can't take the barbs as well as they give them.

(borrowed)

State-Endorsed Death

I was reading an article today on physician-assisted suicide and realized how near we are to that becoming a common fact of life. The state of Oregon is the only state that has presently legalized such, but others are considering it. Oregon passed the "Death With Dignity Act" in 1997 and since that time 263 people have used legally prescribed lethal drugs to commit suicide. (Those are the reported deaths though it is believed that the number is much higher.)

The proponents of the law assured voters that the doctors would only prescibe these medications for patients who were mentally competent and who were terminally ill with only six months or less to live. The article, however, made reference to a number of people who had been prescibed these medications (and obviously not yet taken them) who were still alive anywhere from 17 months to even 2 years later, thus proving we cannot, for certainty, predict ones life expectancy. Furthermore, there have been a number of cases reported where elderly who suffered with dementia and have been declared "cognitively impaired" by their physicians, have been given these medication at the insistence of their own children.

Wesley Smith wrote an article for the Weekly Standard (Nov. 8, 1999), titled "The Deadly Ethics of the Futile Care Theory" in which he said, "Once the legal view of killing is shifted from automatically bad to possibly good, it becomes virtually impossible to restrict physician-assisted suicide to the very narrow range of patients for whom proponents claim it is reserved. The 'protective guidelines' allegedly designed to guard the lives of vulnerable people soon become scorned as obstacles to be circumvented. And so, eligibility for physician assisted suicide steadily expands to permit the killing of increasing categories of ill and disabled patients. Thus, an act that is supposed to be 'rare' is likely to become more common. And what was seen as a last resort, something that might be considered if palliative treatment failed, becomes an alternative to treatment." That is scary, but very real, stuff.

The awful atrocities of Hitler included the killing of mentally ill, retarded and physically disabled because they were seen as expendable and as a burden to society. These are things the world was shocked and horrified over and yet, they are, in our lifetime, happening once again under the guise of "mercy" and "death with dignity". A rose by any other name is still a rose and this still constitutes murder in God's book!

We as Christians must not allow ourselves to be lulled into believing that this "mercy killing" is OK--it is not. We have never had the right to play God and determine when it is appropriate and when it is not for someone else to live. For years now, America has legally allowed the killing of innocent babies through abortion and now we are extending that to the other helpless members of our society. Shame on us and we will be judged by God for it.

But you know, the most ironic part of all of this is that, in America, we loathe and bemoan the fact that so many animals are euthanized each year. We see that as some terrible thing, yet it is becoming a desirable thing to "get rid of" unwanted humans. Truly we are becoming like those spoken of in Romans 1:25; "Who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator..." May God help us all!!!

Dana Burk

Article referenced--Blocher, Mark B. "State-Endorsed Death: Physician-Assisted Suicide and the Future of Medicine." Christian HealthCare Newsletter July 2006

Worry

When I look back on all these worries I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened.
--Winston Churchill

Isn't this true of most of the things we worry about? We worry until we literally make ourselves sick and most of the things we worry about never even come to pass. Our God is big enough to take care of all of our troubles, perceived and real and He is willing to take them from us. Jesus said, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Give your worries to God and then you'll have more time for enjoying life.

Dana Burk

Distinguished Teacher Award

Jesus wins the World's All-Time Most Distinguished Teacher award. It is not a plaque someone presented to Him, but simply the recognition by millions who have sat at His fee for nearly 2000 years.

• He had no classroom, except the one the moment provided. It might be a hillside, a boat, or a garden.
• He received no salary, and when John's disciples asked for His credentials, He responded, "the poor have the gospel preached to them." (Matt. 11:5)
• He set no age limit for His students. Little children were admitted as well as the aged. (Matt. 19:13-14)
• He had no textbook but His Father's Word (John 12:49). He held no college degree, yet He instructed scholars and wise men.

(borrowed)

"Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God."--John 3:2

Tell Me Why!

• If a lawyer finds a flaw in a title to property, and does not warn about it, he has not done his duty!
• If a sanitary engineer discovers conditions dangerous to health and fails to report them, he has failed his job!
• If a doctor learns of a dangerous condition in our bodies, and does not properly diagnose it, we think he is a quack!
• If a bank examiner knows of discrepancies in the accounts of a bank and does not report them, he loses his position!
• But if the preacher or the elders see a flaw in our title to a home in heaven, and warn against it; if they discover conditions dangerous to our spiritual welfare; if they find a diseased condition in our spiritual body and tell of their diagnosis; if they find discepancy in our spiritual account and report it; many think they are just meddling and trying to find fault. (borrowed)

Temple to Who?

Whew! We just got back from a quick trip to Kansas--1870 miles--so I'm behind on my blog. But man, was it beautiful! Hay bales in the fields and corn ready to harvest--it was gorgeous.

We stayed two nights in Independence, Missouri and just outside our door was the view of the most unusual building I have ever seen. After we shot this picture, we drove to the next block and saw it was the World Headquarters and Temple of the "Community of Christ". As we drove around, we noticed that they owned what looked to be about 10-12 city blocks with all types of auditoriums, annexes, community centers, etc. They even had a visitors center and visitors were welcome to come to the temple each day at 12:30 noon to pray for world peace.

I knew that they "Mormons" or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints had been in Independence in the 1800's and that there was a remnant of them that had remained and named themselves the "Reorganized" church, but I had never heard of the "Community of Christ". When I got home, I "Googled" the "Community of Christ" and surprise, surprise, they are the "re-named" Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The article I was reading said that they were having to make some drastic cut-backs in June of this year to their staff and churches because of financial strain and were reducing the number of ministers and staff all over the world.

It is no wonder to me that they would have to "cut-back" when you see what they are spending for their elaborate facilities--first things first! I know that is rather sarcastic, but I think it is indicative of where "Christianity" has gone today. It has become more important to build million dollar cathedrals for our prestige and spend equal amounts for "family life centers" and recreational facilities for our own pleasure than to take those same funds and spend them according to the authority of the scriptures to preach the pure word of the gospel.

The above "temple" was dedicated in 1994--after just twelve years this "church" now appears to be buckling under its own excess. If we were content to do God's work (preach the gospel) according to His word instead of doing our own "works" we would have more than enough to accomplish His will. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Tim. 3:16)

Dana Burk