Elections are just around the corner and it is nearly time for each of us to go to the polls (unless you have early voting and then you can go when you please.) We are blessed to have the right each voting season to be able to go and vote without fear and to have a part in deciding who runs this country.
No one is more disgusted than I am with our Congress and yet, we cannot just sit back and do nothing because we are angry. As my husband says, we at least need to go vote for the lesser of two evils. I encourage you to be active this political season and do your duty. Go Vote!
Perhaps where you live there is an amendment on the table to clarify that marriage is a union between a man and a woman. I believe, as Christians, for us to just stay home and neglect the opportunity for our voices to be heard on this controversial subject would be a sin--Silence is consent. Jesus said if we do not confess Him, He will not confess us. How blessed we are to live in a country where we can express our convictions and stand up for the word of God.
Please, Go VOTE!
Dana Burk
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Sin and Marshmallows
We had 15 to 20 people over the other evening for a wiener roast and s'mores. As I watched the marshmallows being roasted over the open flames, I thought of how sin affects each of us. Some of our guests preferred their marshmallows to simply get a little warm while others shoved theirs straight into the flames until they became black.
Isn't that a good comparison of how we are in relation to sin. Some of us "play" on the edges of sin allowing it to taint us only a little. But then, there are others who just jump in head first and and before long their lives become black from it's influence.
But one thing I noticed about ALL of the marshmallows. They were ALL changed--they were no longer fresh and firm. Each of the marshmallows had begun to soften and melt to one degree or another because of the heat from the fire. There was no returning the marshmallow back to it's original form. Every marshmallow had even changed color. Not one was still snowy white. Not all were black, but each had turned dingy. Each had been tainted.
When we allow sin to come near us, we choose to become tainted--stained. And the truth is, we will never be unaffected by it again. The sin has permantly changed us. The closer and longer we play with the fire of sin, the blacker and more severely we are changed, but each of us have become stained to one degree or another.
Praise God, there is one drastic difference between us and the marshmallows in our analogy--Jesus can and will wash us so that we can be white as snow again. However, he warns us to stay away from the fire lest it consume us completely.
Dana Burk
Isn't that a good comparison of how we are in relation to sin. Some of us "play" on the edges of sin allowing it to taint us only a little. But then, there are others who just jump in head first and and before long their lives become black from it's influence.
But one thing I noticed about ALL of the marshmallows. They were ALL changed--they were no longer fresh and firm. Each of the marshmallows had begun to soften and melt to one degree or another because of the heat from the fire. There was no returning the marshmallow back to it's original form. Every marshmallow had even changed color. Not one was still snowy white. Not all were black, but each had turned dingy. Each had been tainted.
When we allow sin to come near us, we choose to become tainted--stained. And the truth is, we will never be unaffected by it again. The sin has permantly changed us. The closer and longer we play with the fire of sin, the blacker and more severely we are changed, but each of us have become stained to one degree or another.
Praise God, there is one drastic difference between us and the marshmallows in our analogy--Jesus can and will wash us so that we can be white as snow again. However, he warns us to stay away from the fire lest it consume us completely.
Dana Burk
Thursday, October 12, 2006
I Know Who She Is
It was approximately 8:30 a.m. on a busy morning at the doctor's office when an elderly gentleman in his 80s arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He stated that he was in a hurry to make an appointment at 9:00 a.m.
I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it might be an hour before he would be seen. Seeing him look at his watch, I decided since I was not busy with another patient I would evaluate his wound. On exam, I saw it was well healed, so I talked to the doctor and got the supplies to remove his sutures.
While redressing his wound, we engaged in conversation. I asked him if he was in a hurry to meet another doctor's appointment. He said no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health. He said that she was a long-time victim of Alzheimer's Disease.
I asked if she would be worried if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was; in fact, she had not recognized him in five years. I was surprised and asked, "And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?" He smiled, patted my hand, and said, "She doesn't know who I am, but I still know who she is."
I had to hold back tears as he left. Goose bumps covered my arm as I thought, "That is the kind of love I want in my life!"
True love is neither physical nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be. (via HouseToHouse.com)
I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it might be an hour before he would be seen. Seeing him look at his watch, I decided since I was not busy with another patient I would evaluate his wound. On exam, I saw it was well healed, so I talked to the doctor and got the supplies to remove his sutures.
While redressing his wound, we engaged in conversation. I asked him if he was in a hurry to meet another doctor's appointment. He said no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health. He said that she was a long-time victim of Alzheimer's Disease.
I asked if she would be worried if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was; in fact, she had not recognized him in five years. I was surprised and asked, "And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?" He smiled, patted my hand, and said, "She doesn't know who I am, but I still know who she is."
I had to hold back tears as he left. Goose bumps covered my arm as I thought, "That is the kind of love I want in my life!"
True love is neither physical nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be. (via HouseToHouse.com)
Saturday, October 07, 2006
The Stranger
A few months before I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small Tennessee town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around to welcome me into the world a few months later.
As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me the word of God, and Dad taught me to obey it. But the stranger He was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies.
If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.
Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to her room and read her books (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)
Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home...nor for us, our friends or any visitors. Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my Dad squirm and my Mother blush.
My Dad was a teetotaler who didn't permit alcohol in the home, not even for cooking. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing.
I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked...and NEVER asked to leave.
More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you were to walk into my parent's den today, you would still find him sitting over in the corner, waiting for someone to listen to him and talk and watch him draw his pictures.
His name?...We just call him, "TV"
(Author Unknown)
Certainly, these are some things we each need to think about when listening to the guest in our homes that so freely influences our families and even ourselves.
Dana Burk
As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me the word of God, and Dad taught me to obey it. But the stranger He was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies.
If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.
Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to her room and read her books (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)
Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home...nor for us, our friends or any visitors. Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my Dad squirm and my Mother blush.
My Dad was a teetotaler who didn't permit alcohol in the home, not even for cooking. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing.
I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked...and NEVER asked to leave.
More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you were to walk into my parent's den today, you would still find him sitting over in the corner, waiting for someone to listen to him and talk and watch him draw his pictures.
His name?...We just call him, "TV"
(Author Unknown)
Certainly, these are some things we each need to think about when listening to the guest in our homes that so freely influences our families and even ourselves.
Dana Burk
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Selflessness and Appreciation
Today I saw a righteous demonstration of complete selflessness and deep appreciation. One of the young fathers who recently moved to our congregation donated a kidney to another young man he had attended church with in the past.
This young father has risked his life to help save the life of a friend. "Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." John 15:13. What a graphic example of practicing what you preach.
When talking with the donor's wife the other day, she confessed there was a lot more involved in this whole ordeal than they first realized and yet, her conclusion was--it is what needs to be done nonetheless and he was ready to go through with the surgery and donation. I am humbled by their sacrifice.
But I saw another side of this whole saga as well. While waiting with the families during these long and arduous surgeries this morning, I repeatedly witnessed the wife, parents, family members and friends of the criticaly ill recipient of the kidney come to the donor's family, in tears, and express their deep appreciation for what was being done for their loved one. How moving to see such love and appreciation being exchanged from friend to friend.
As I thought on the things I saw today, I was reminded of the sacrifice God and Christ made to save our lives. There was no question that those I saw today knew very well what was being done for their son, husband and friend and they couldn't do enough to express their gratitude. Are we fully aware, do we realize exactly what has been done for us. If we do, then are we living our lives in such a way that shows we can't do enough to express our gratitude to Him.
Dana Burk
This young father has risked his life to help save the life of a friend. "Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." John 15:13. What a graphic example of practicing what you preach.
When talking with the donor's wife the other day, she confessed there was a lot more involved in this whole ordeal than they first realized and yet, her conclusion was--it is what needs to be done nonetheless and he was ready to go through with the surgery and donation. I am humbled by their sacrifice.
But I saw another side of this whole saga as well. While waiting with the families during these long and arduous surgeries this morning, I repeatedly witnessed the wife, parents, family members and friends of the criticaly ill recipient of the kidney come to the donor's family, in tears, and express their deep appreciation for what was being done for their loved one. How moving to see such love and appreciation being exchanged from friend to friend.
As I thought on the things I saw today, I was reminded of the sacrifice God and Christ made to save our lives. There was no question that those I saw today knew very well what was being done for their son, husband and friend and they couldn't do enough to express their gratitude. Are we fully aware, do we realize exactly what has been done for us. If we do, then are we living our lives in such a way that shows we can't do enough to express our gratitude to Him.
Dana Burk
Monday, October 02, 2006
O'Reilly Got It Wrong
I was watching Bill O'Reilly on Fox News tonight and was appalled at his reaction to a "pastor" of a Bible church who was being sued for making known to the church the sin of one of the members who was having an affair. The pastor claims that he was doing what the Bible commanded in Matthew 18:15-17 where we are told to go to the person about their sin, if they will not hear us take two or three with you and if they will not hear them then take it to the church.
O'Reilly, in his usual overly confident manner, told the pastor's lawyer that he was a good Catholic and he had never heard of that before. He really didn't think that is what the Bible said because he had never heard of it. He asked the lawyer to quote Matt. 18 and the lawyer paraphrased what it said and so O'Reilly dismissed the truth of what he said. He went on to say that in his church (the Catholic church) this would never happen. The lawyer commented that that was the beauty of our law, that we have the right to practice our religion as we see fit and that this was a matter of religious freedom not a matter for the courts.
O'Reilly went on to contend that the pastor would lose in court because he had humiliated the woman and had defamed her and that was against the law. How sad that someone with O'Reilly's influence will so openly and publicly refute God's word when he obviously doesn't even know what it says and did not bother to check and see whether the pastor was correct or not.
With this kind of display, I would question whether O'Reilly is only committed to what his church teaches and not what our Lord Jesus Christ teaches. "...let God be true but every man a liar." Romans 3:4 We must each be careful that God's word is ALWAYS our supreme authority--not "our church", not our church leaders, not our friends, not any man.
Frequently I agree with O'Reilly, but this is one time he really got it wrong. I intend on writing and telling him so and I will quote Matt. 18:15-17 to him since he obviously won't bother to look it up himself.
Dana Burk
Dana Burk
O'Reilly, in his usual overly confident manner, told the pastor's lawyer that he was a good Catholic and he had never heard of that before. He really didn't think that is what the Bible said because he had never heard of it. He asked the lawyer to quote Matt. 18 and the lawyer paraphrased what it said and so O'Reilly dismissed the truth of what he said. He went on to say that in his church (the Catholic church) this would never happen. The lawyer commented that that was the beauty of our law, that we have the right to practice our religion as we see fit and that this was a matter of religious freedom not a matter for the courts.
O'Reilly went on to contend that the pastor would lose in court because he had humiliated the woman and had defamed her and that was against the law. How sad that someone with O'Reilly's influence will so openly and publicly refute God's word when he obviously doesn't even know what it says and did not bother to check and see whether the pastor was correct or not.
With this kind of display, I would question whether O'Reilly is only committed to what his church teaches and not what our Lord Jesus Christ teaches. "...let God be true but every man a liar." Romans 3:4 We must each be careful that God's word is ALWAYS our supreme authority--not "our church", not our church leaders, not our friends, not any man.
Frequently I agree with O'Reilly, but this is one time he really got it wrong. I intend on writing and telling him so and I will quote Matt. 18:15-17 to him since he obviously won't bother to look it up himself.
Dana Burk
Dana Burk
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