History is Important

by L. Sterling Burke IV

After just returning from one of the local South East Asian countries bordering Cambodia, I was amazed at the difference in culture and mindset. While there, we took a day to tour the local areas. We went several places, but the one place that caught my attention was the King's summer home. It was a small, quiet home in the mountains. When you first walked in, there was a sitting area for guests that would have been waiting to see the King. It consisted of two chairs and a couch sitting nicely next to the fire place and facing a large window that overlooked a magnificent garden and the valley below. It was simple but elegant. We then turned right into the King's office. His desk also sat looking out over the garden and valley. Behind the desk sat a large book case filled with English and French books along with some translated into the local language. The bookcase was filled with great works of literature from all around the world. The house was full of books and art, all just how he left it. This is a real contrast from the King’s palace in Cambodia and what I feel it represents.

Compared to the king’s summer home in the neighboring country, the Khmer palace of the King shows a huge class distinction. You can see the desire to display all the "pomp" possible, and yet many things are actually missing from where they were once displayed. While the palace is still there, it has been robbed and much has been destroyed. Many of the royal artifacts have been stolen. Angkor Watt is another one of Cambodia’s famous landmarks. It is mostly run down and covered by trees. All the wealth it once had is gone; much has been taken. Both these places say much about the country and they are examples of the contrast between Cambodia and the neighboring country.

Here you see two countries bordering each other; one taking time to preserve the past, the other taking what they can from it, stealing from themselves and thus destroying bits of their own history in the process. I do see Cambodia beginning to grow. My prayer is that where there were obvious years of war and self-destruction that the people are learning from that, and growing stronger to take ownership of their decisions and their country, desiring to leave for future generations what they have been robbed of. I sincerely hope that their leaders will "lead" the way in curbing the corruption that has been so devastating and move on to ensure that all Cambodians begin to have a chance at educated lives that are less about "appearances" and selfish gain, and more about becoming stronger as individuals to aid the "common good", looking to the future while desiring to learn from and preserve the values and lessons they might be learning from the “past”.

Heroes

by Benjamin Burke

A few weeks ago I emailed my all time hero Shaun Alexander, who was a famous running back for the Seattle Seahawks, and signed up for his newsletter. I check my email account a couple times a week to see if I have the newsletter from him yet, but I haven’t received one.

Now I didn’t think that he would write me personally, but I would enjoy receiving this newsletter they promised. Then I was sitting one day thinking about what I would do if I did receive a personal email, and it struck me how faithful God always is and will always be in relating to us.

We always turn to our heroes for inspiration and to set standards for who we respect or wish to be like. Earthly heroes, though, can let us down. Mr. Alexander hasn’t really let me down because I understand I probably won’t have a personal relationship with him. But One I can turn to, and trust to inspire me and relate with me, is Jesus.

I am by no means putting down Mr. Alexander. He is a strong Christian and has taken a faithful stand for God and I know that must be hard being in the spotlight. I respect him for that, and even though I still want to get that newsletter, truth is I can still daily go to the same hero he looks to, Jesus.

Lambs in Lambs Clothing

by Benjamin Burke

My brother and I were talking to Jonathan, one of our team members, and he was talking to Sterling about a book he’d read. The book was talking about lambs in lambs clothing. He said that, as Christians, we don’t need to act like Christians; we already are Christians. We don’t need to perform like we have to be something we are not.

We discussed how many Christians act on different issues like devotion time. Most Christians say to do your devotions in the morning, so you can start the day with God on your mind. And that’s great, but if you are too tired in the mornings or have to wake up extra early because you have to go to work, just don’t do it. If that is supposed to be your special time with the Lord and you can’t focus on Him because you’re “too tired”, it’s worse than not doing it at all. We have to give God everything. We can’t spend time with him with half of our minds on Him and the other half on sleep. We have to give it all we’ve got, even if that means being the odd one out. God doesn’t care when we spend time with Him, just as long as we do spend time with Him.

We don’t have to be “Christians” for God. As Christians, we simply are His beloved children. Don’t feel like you have to follow a pattern. Nothing could please God more than for us to be our-selves. Just relate and talk to Him. Say “God, I’ve been having a rough couple of days. Do you have some pointers on how to resolve this situation? Help me dig down deep to find forgiveness for this person, or help me with the hurt. I know that you can. Help me find ways to glorify Your name in this situation. Amen.”

If we are lambs, we will have a desire for God. He obviously wants our time. Give Him your best. Stop when you feel like you need Him the most and you are wanting to spend time with Him. There is nothing wrong with that. God doesn’t care when, just as long as we are our-selves and spending time with Him.

Work

by Sterling Burke

In the world we live in, work and work ethic is something we have strayed far from. We have become complaisant and lazy. We are self-centered and think others should be doing the work for us. We chose not to work when we have the chance. We chose not to work and stay diligent to the little things that take up no amount of time at all, all the while thinking someone else will do it later. When really the only thing we’re choosing not to do is build self discipline and order.

In choosing to put off even the little things were creating a pattern in our lives that will carry on. It’s never just enough to show up to work on time, or clean up after yourself just once after a long history of not doing these things and say its all ok. We have to be constant and steady in our work not matter what we are doing.

When we stay focused to the work God has placed in front of us; unwavering to the work He has for us, we will see so much more happen in our lives. He will open new doors with jobs and tasks for us that we never thought could be open.We will see new things happen and prayers come to pass if we just stay diligent to His work and call on our lives. Even if we’re stuck in a office behind a desk all day He has you there for a reason and if you stay attentive to the small-things He will be able to work though you more and more.

Whole Hearted Devotion

by Benjamin Burke

I’m a kid, so I hate nighttime. It’s a waste of twelve hours for me. My family and I were listing to a sermon by Mike Bickle and, as he was talking, I just thought that so many Christians want the day and not the night. What I mean by that is so many Christians want God’s blessing and not have to sacrifice for Him. We have to want the full day. We have to take the good things, and the bad things. God challenges us by allowing pain, physically and emotionally. For example, Job had a pretty good life. A wife, kids, livestock, all these good things and God takes it all away. Everything; and yet, through all the pain and the sorrow, Job stayed true to God and trusted God to help him. Not only did He restore it, but He restored it 100 fold, all because Job had faith and took the day and the night.

God also challenges us to do things that might hurt ourselves and other around us. Abraham had waited for years and years to have a son, and finally God had given him a child. Then God turned around and told Abraham to sacrifice his son. And Abraham did it. He obeyed God. And do you know what God said when Isaac was laying on the alter? “And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” And God blessed him. Both Job and Abraham took the day and night and were blessed because of it. Only the day doesn’t get you the blessing, take it all and you’ll be better off.

How to Handle Discouragement

by Benjamin Burke

Do you ever get discouraged? Maybe you’ve moved away somewhere and have to make new friends. Imagine what it’s like to live in another country where communicating with other people, about simple things even, can be hard.

It can be hard to go through periods of time when you feel down. It’s even harder to come to God with it. But the Lord challenges us to trust in Him and seek Him. Most people say, “It’s hard enough to follow God, but to give up everything, including friends and family, impossible!” But if you want to know God, you have to love Him and believe that He is enough, no matter what problems you face.

When I am feeling a little down, there are a few things I do. I pray, try to keep a clean heart and mind and not fixate on my troubles, and I choose to concentrate on God’s goodness. I remember to think about scriptures that I know will encourage and strengthen me. Two that I like are:

1.) For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear” (Hebrews 13: 5, 6). 2.) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James4:8).

I also remember to be thankful. It is easy to think about the things you don’t have, but it is more important to praise God for the things you do have. I try in everything I do to listen out for God. I am re-reading a book right now called the Door Within where the motto of the knights is, “You are not alone”. When I read this I remember that God wants to remind me of His love even when I am doing everyday things like reading. Finally, try to find someone to show kindness to and encourage them in what they are going through. Remember, you might not be the only one feeling down.

So whenever I am feeling down, I try to turn the spotlight off of me and onto God. When I do I always feel less discouraged.

Be On Guard

by Sterling Burke

“Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith,

be courageous, be strong, do everything in love.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

I have been taking a martial arts class with our teammate, Jonathan Trentham. The theme of the class is the verse above. I have read and re-read it many times through the years and it always challenges me.

This whole verse really stands out to me every time I read it. Paul was writing to the church in Corinth encouraging them to keep the faith and honor the Lord in all things, but also warning them as well not to fall into the hands of the enemy.

“Be on your guard” In the first 4 words Paul has already set a strong clear warning to the Church. Paul is telling them to be alert, not to let down their watch to continue to press in the Lord Jesus and his plan for their lives and not to allow room for anything that is not of God in their lives. He could have stopped the verse right there but he doesn’t. He continues to stress the point by saying “Stand firm in the faith”. His word of warning is growing louder and louder. Now it’s a cry to the people, "Follow the Savior, don’t give up, keep your ground, stand firm in the faith!”. He’s now pleading, begging the people not to give up hope.

The next part is letting them know not to back down, never to back down, and to keep up the fight! “Be courageous”, he says, as he encourages his brothers in the faith to maintain the fight, because God is on our side. That part really stuck out to me the most; “be courageous”. There's so many things that come to mind when you think of courageous but always one of the last is being courageous for the One that deserves our bravery the most.

Paul goes on to say “Be strong”. He’s not talking about physical strength but more mental and spiritual strength in God. Be strong in the Lord. That means keep his laws and commandments, His Word, 100% of the time. Again Paul’s prayerfully begging that they keep firm and stand in Jesus.

So, first “Be on your guard stand firm in the faith” he is warning his friends to keep the faith not to fall out. Then secondly “be courageous, be strong” he's telling them to keep up the fight in the spirit. What could Paul possibly say to wrap up such an amazing couple of verses? He ends with “do everything in love.” Be on your guard stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong; he chooses to end with, do everything in love. Do everything, not just half the time, not just when you feel like it, but do everything in love, all the time. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 “Be on your guard stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong, do everything in love.” with only a few remarkable words, Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ, managed to say so much.