On Sunday night we completed our class on "Building Your Marriage to Last." There was a great group of couples who were with us to the very end. I believe that relationships were strengthened through the study of the book, and the communication that occurred in the classroom.
I asked the group, on the last night, to give me the best suggestions from the book and study. Here are their, "Top Ten Ways To Make Your Marriage Better."
1. God must be the center of your marriage
2. Deny your self interests
3. Live a Spirit filled life
4. A firm foundation in the Word of God
5. Effective communication
6. Spending quality time together
7. Praying together
8. Having patient understanding
9. Making your spouse the priority of your life
10. Understanding that marriage is a gift from God
Friday, August 13, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Trust in God
I am asked the same question on a regular basis. It is always a variation of the same thought, "Why does God allow bad things to happen?" I have yet to come up with a satisfactory answer for the individuals who ask me that question.
The Bible never seeks to answer the question of evil. It does not defend it, nor does it explain it. It simply gives us a context in which to understand evil as it exists in our world. The Bible says it a multitude of times, "Evil exists." While the Word does not take the time to explain evil, it does give us the tools to defend ourselves: "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)
Jim Caldwell is the rookie head coach of the Super Bowl-bound Indianapolis Colts. He spoke to Sports Illustrated about the difficulties and challenges of being a first year coach in the NFL. He quoted author Og Mandino, "I will try, and try, and try again. Each obstacle I will consider as a mere detour to my goal and a challenge to my profession. I will persist and develop my skills as the mariner develops his, by learning to ride out the wrath of each storm."
All of us face difficulties, and sometimes they pile up to troubling heights. We become fearful and nervous. When these times come, don't ask why, or when, or what. Simply trust in Who. Trust in God who is in you and who is the greatest.
The Bible never seeks to answer the question of evil. It does not defend it, nor does it explain it. It simply gives us a context in which to understand evil as it exists in our world. The Bible says it a multitude of times, "Evil exists." While the Word does not take the time to explain evil, it does give us the tools to defend ourselves: "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)
Jim Caldwell is the rookie head coach of the Super Bowl-bound Indianapolis Colts. He spoke to Sports Illustrated about the difficulties and challenges of being a first year coach in the NFL. He quoted author Og Mandino, "I will try, and try, and try again. Each obstacle I will consider as a mere detour to my goal and a challenge to my profession. I will persist and develop my skills as the mariner develops his, by learning to ride out the wrath of each storm."
All of us face difficulties, and sometimes they pile up to troubling heights. We become fearful and nervous. When these times come, don't ask why, or when, or what. Simply trust in Who. Trust in God who is in you and who is the greatest.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Children's Stories
There are compelling stories in the Bible about how God relates to man. We traditionally teach our children these stories in Sunday School: Daniel in the lion’s den, David and Goliath, Joseph and his coat of many colors. But there is a disturbing phenomena arising in families across society. Children are being raised without hearing these foundational truths from God’s Word. Families are busy chasing after other activities and are leaving the Bible out of their homes.
The Psalmist stated, “Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders (Psalm 119:27).” Remembering the experiences of Bible characters is a great way to think on God’s nature. These stories, written from the oral traditions, make it easy to relate them to children.
I want to compile a “top ten” list of essential Bible stories for children. Send me your favorite three or five or even ten Bible stories. We’ll make a list together to share with families. I’ll send another blog with our results.
The Psalmist stated, “Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders (Psalm 119:27).” Remembering the experiences of Bible characters is a great way to think on God’s nature. These stories, written from the oral traditions, make it easy to relate them to children.
I want to compile a “top ten” list of essential Bible stories for children. Send me your favorite three or five or even ten Bible stories. We’ll make a list together to share with families. I’ll send another blog with our results.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Is There Any Truth?
I get sick of reading and hearing editorialists interpret world events based on their political bias. Every national news network has its own slant on what is truth and they accuse all others of spreading propaganda. I would like to hear bipartisan truth. The Psalmist, looking for absolute truth wrote, “Show me how you work, God” (Psm 25:4).
Eugene Peterson, in Run With The Horses, “We get our interpretation of politics, economics and morals from journalists when we should be getting only information. The meaning of the world is most accurately given to us by God’s Word.” Our world is God’s creation. We are God’s creation. We live according to God’s design. Yet, we get our information from people who do not know God and do now want us knowing God as well.
As children we learned basic truths about life. As teenagers we learned everything that really mattered. As adults we came to realize that our knowledge was pretty limited. As we mature we come to know that our knowledge and abilities are limited, we are dependent on the world around us for the resources of life. This dependence is where God begins to teach us about his TRUTH - the ultimate and complete TRUTH. Not bent, or massaged, or spun, or slanted. Just basic truth that will last for all time. After you read your editorial page, open your Bible for a true interpretation of world events.
Eugene Peterson, in Run With The Horses, “We get our interpretation of politics, economics and morals from journalists when we should be getting only information. The meaning of the world is most accurately given to us by God’s Word.” Our world is God’s creation. We are God’s creation. We live according to God’s design. Yet, we get our information from people who do not know God and do now want us knowing God as well.
As children we learned basic truths about life. As teenagers we learned everything that really mattered. As adults we came to realize that our knowledge was pretty limited. As we mature we come to know that our knowledge and abilities are limited, we are dependent on the world around us for the resources of life. This dependence is where God begins to teach us about his TRUTH - the ultimate and complete TRUTH. Not bent, or massaged, or spun, or slanted. Just basic truth that will last for all time. After you read your editorial page, open your Bible for a true interpretation of world events.
Friday, August 28, 2009
It's Time To Go
“It’s Time To Go”
Passage: Psalm 103:17 – “But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children .”
For the last few years a couple of barn swallows have built their nest in our porch entry way. I am not a huge bird lover and didn’t like them dive-bombing my head when I went out to get the mail so I knocked down their nest. The persistent little creatures were not deterred by my efforts so they continued to bring their mud and rebuild their nest. One week while we were gone on vacation they completed the nest and we returned home to momma bird sitting on the completed nest. I’m not so heartless to knock down a nest with a momma and her eggs so we left it alone once again. Before long we heard the chirps from the fuzzy gray babies and knew they had arrived. Yesterday when I went out the door I was surprised to see three fully feathered birds perched on the edge of the nest. It looks like everything is going according to plan and any day now they will realize there is a much bigger world outside their sod home and even outside our porch and they will take that first scary downward dive toward a new life!
Our grandson Will starts kindergarten this next Friday at Oklahoma Christian School. I know how hard it was for my children to leave and go to school but it’s even harder for me to watch this firstborn grandchild leave the nest and enter the school world. It’s a big step and he is very excited and ready to learn but his mom and I know that he will face hurtful words and heartbreaking situations as he ventures out into the world and we would like to keep him from safe and protected a little longer. We have to trust his sweet young teacher Miss White will take care of him. We have to trust the school staff to ensure his education to be challenging and multifaceted. We have to trust ultimately in God’s Word parents and grandparents as we train him up in the Lord.
Our families are so much like the little barn swallows. We have our children for a while who are so dependent upon us for their very existence. They don’t know a lot about the world beyond what they can see but before long realize there is much more to see and learn. We are not as confident as a momma bird when they take their first dive into the world. We want to fly with them and keep them under our wing (so to speak) but soon realize we can’t follow them forever.
Amazingly God instilled in barn swallows the ability to return to the same nest each year so each year they build their nest in our porch alcove. I like to think they like the place and it brings fond memories of their growing up years (or in their case growing up weeks). I guess I will be a little more patient next year when the birds return and make a mess of our porch…it will seem a little like family coming home.
Passage: Psalm 103:17 – “But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children .”
For the last few years a couple of barn swallows have built their nest in our porch entry way. I am not a huge bird lover and didn’t like them dive-bombing my head when I went out to get the mail so I knocked down their nest. The persistent little creatures were not deterred by my efforts so they continued to bring their mud and rebuild their nest. One week while we were gone on vacation they completed the nest and we returned home to momma bird sitting on the completed nest. I’m not so heartless to knock down a nest with a momma and her eggs so we left it alone once again. Before long we heard the chirps from the fuzzy gray babies and knew they had arrived. Yesterday when I went out the door I was surprised to see three fully feathered birds perched on the edge of the nest. It looks like everything is going according to plan and any day now they will realize there is a much bigger world outside their sod home and even outside our porch and they will take that first scary downward dive toward a new life!
Our grandson Will starts kindergarten this next Friday at Oklahoma Christian School. I know how hard it was for my children to leave and go to school but it’s even harder for me to watch this firstborn grandchild leave the nest and enter the school world. It’s a big step and he is very excited and ready to learn but his mom and I know that he will face hurtful words and heartbreaking situations as he ventures out into the world and we would like to keep him from safe and protected a little longer. We have to trust his sweet young teacher Miss White will take care of him. We have to trust the school staff to ensure his education to be challenging and multifaceted. We have to trust ultimately in God’s Word parents and grandparents as we train him up in the Lord.
Our families are so much like the little barn swallows. We have our children for a while who are so dependent upon us for their very existence. They don’t know a lot about the world beyond what they can see but before long realize there is much more to see and learn. We are not as confident as a momma bird when they take their first dive into the world. We want to fly with them and keep them under our wing (so to speak) but soon realize we can’t follow them forever.
Amazingly God instilled in barn swallows the ability to return to the same nest each year so each year they build their nest in our porch alcove. I like to think they like the place and it brings fond memories of their growing up years (or in their case growing up weeks). I guess I will be a little more patient next year when the birds return and make a mess of our porch…it will seem a little like family coming home.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The Deadly Danger of Drifting
I mis-placed my grandson last week! I was coming out of Best Buy with Will, my five year old grandson, and when I turned around to say something to him, he was gone. I knew he was not far, but I could not see him. I walked back into the store but did not see him there, but when I walked back into the parking lot he was walking toward me with tears in his eyes. He had followed the wrong man out of the store and did not realize it until he ended up at the wrong pickup.
This is one of the ways we lose sight of God as Christians, we follow the wrong leader. Dr. John Allen calls this The Deadly Danger of Drifting - not rejecting salvation, but neglecting our salvation. It becomes easy to drift away from the things of God when we become distracted by the worldly culture around us. We drift away from God when we ignore the Bible, prayer, worship, and fellowship. We drift when we don’t take seriously the commands and warnings of God.
After Will’s little scare, he held tightly to my hand every time we were out of the truck: thus assuring he was not going to drift away again. Dr. Allen says, “you are as close to God right now as you want to be.” Are you holding tightly to God’s hand? Or are you dawdling along a few steps behind the Lord, watching all the things of a depraved society and not paying attention to God’s lead? Somewhere in life we all look up and realize that we are not standing next to our Lord, and we run crying to him for forgiveness - just read Psalm 51 for King David’s version of this concept.
This thought was inspired by Dr. David Allen who is teaching this week on the theme, "Engaging Our Culture." Dr. Allen is a dean at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas.
To reply go to fbcburk.com
This is one of the ways we lose sight of God as Christians, we follow the wrong leader. Dr. John Allen calls this The Deadly Danger of Drifting - not rejecting salvation, but neglecting our salvation. It becomes easy to drift away from the things of God when we become distracted by the worldly culture around us. We drift away from God when we ignore the Bible, prayer, worship, and fellowship. We drift when we don’t take seriously the commands and warnings of God.
After Will’s little scare, he held tightly to my hand every time we were out of the truck: thus assuring he was not going to drift away again. Dr. Allen says, “you are as close to God right now as you want to be.” Are you holding tightly to God’s hand? Or are you dawdling along a few steps behind the Lord, watching all the things of a depraved society and not paying attention to God’s lead? Somewhere in life we all look up and realize that we are not standing next to our Lord, and we run crying to him for forgiveness - just read Psalm 51 for King David’s version of this concept.
This thought was inspired by Dr. David Allen who is teaching this week on the theme, "Engaging Our Culture." Dr. Allen is a dean at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas.
To reply go to fbcburk.com
Monday, June 8, 2009
Punishment Follows Disobedience
When our girls were in elementary school we went to Holdenville Lake (eastern Oklahoma) for a family picnic with my parents. While we prepared to eat I told the girls to stay away from the water until I could be with them. Of course as soon as my back was turned the girls started to wade around in the lake and got their clothes wet.
After lunch, in spite of the girl’s tears and my mother’s plea for mercy, we went home - no swimming, no sitting by the lake, no enjoying the day. It was a long trip home.
Who paid the price for the girl’s disobedience? Everyone! The day was spoiled for the family because I made a rule, the girls broke the rule, and I applied the punishment. It was an important lesson for the girls at the time, though they don’t remember the experience today, I have never forgotten it.
The writer of Hebrews states that Jesus made “purification for sin” (Heb 1:3). Since someone had to be punished for the sin of mankind, Christ died. That punishment came at a horrific cost to the Father - because it was at his command that Jesus was crucified. Punishment must follow disobedience: in families, in society, and in eternity.
This thought was inspired by Dr. David Allen who is teaching this week on the theme, “Engaging Our Culture.” Dr. Allen is a dean at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas.
To comment go to bill@fbcburk.com
After lunch, in spite of the girl’s tears and my mother’s plea for mercy, we went home - no swimming, no sitting by the lake, no enjoying the day. It was a long trip home.
Who paid the price for the girl’s disobedience? Everyone! The day was spoiled for the family because I made a rule, the girls broke the rule, and I applied the punishment. It was an important lesson for the girls at the time, though they don’t remember the experience today, I have never forgotten it.
The writer of Hebrews states that Jesus made “purification for sin” (Heb 1:3). Since someone had to be punished for the sin of mankind, Christ died. That punishment came at a horrific cost to the Father - because it was at his command that Jesus was crucified. Punishment must follow disobedience: in families, in society, and in eternity.
This thought was inspired by Dr. David Allen who is teaching this week on the theme, “Engaging Our Culture.” Dr. Allen is a dean at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas.
To comment go to bill@fbcburk.com
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