My Dad

One year ago this morning I was sitting in my house dealing with the news that my dad had just passed away to be with Jesus. The news hit me like a rock ... needless to say, my role model, my friend, my dad and — tied with my mom— my biggest fan was no longer going to be with me here on this earth. I sat still for what seemed to be like hours.

I had no idea what this year would bring. I had no idea that so many emotions would come my way. I had no idea I could miss someone like I miss my dad.

As I write, I wonder ... what is he doing right now? What is eternal life in heaven like? How much time does He spend with Jesus? What is he doing in heaven? I found myself earlier today writing a prayer to Jesus and asking Him to let my dad know I am thinking about him today ... I felt strange asking for that ... I just wanted my dad to know I still miss him. I really wish I could hear his voice again. Just one time.

I don't ever want to forget my dad. I want to remember his love, his face, the days at the lake, the times in the mountains, the trips, the prayers, the mornings at the lake, the days in the snow with the jeep, little league baseball games, learning to drive at the terminal, sitting on his couch, getting gum on the way to church, watching him work, hunting, cutting wood, learning to shoot a shotgun, walking along the creek at Uncle Kens, the day he preached at the church, the talks, the drives, the days getting ready for all the fun we had, and spending time with him. The memories go on and on and on.

I hope to be remembered this way. I hope to be half the man he was. I miss him so much!!!

As year two begins, let me pay tribute to a man of God.
James Eldon Burks ... a man of God ... may the things he lived for live forever!

Surfing

In Flight

I love to fly. I think it so cool to be able to drive my Jeep to the airport, park at the Parking Spot, ride a little shuttle bus to my terminal, wait a little while with the rest of the people on my flight and the get on a plane. It still amazes me that this huge creation ever gets off the ground.

Today I am on my way to San Diego.

I love looking out the window. It’s boring to sit on an aisle and miss everything we are flying over. I love looking out the window.

Flying from Texas to Southern California is such an intriguing experience to me. You leave Dallas with its flat terrain. Move out over west Texas with its brown colors. You quickly and slowly cross over into the mountains of New Mexico (the mountains start small and spread apart, then they grow and seem to join ach other right before my eyes). You then travel across the desert and after about a 2 hours and 55 minute flight, you see the Pacific Ocean. The Ocean! For a Texas boy who didn’t see the ocean until I was 18, the Ocean is a big deal. It was when I saw it the first time and it still is today.

As I fly, I like to think about all the life that is below the plane.

I look at the highways and wonder what the people in the cars are like. What are they talking about? What do they look like? Where are they going? Are they looking at my plane and thinking the same thing about me?

I look at the cities passing below and imagine what’s happening in the buildings. Most of the cities seem small from so high in the sky. Some seem large. Chicago always seems big to me. New York seems massive.

I wonder what animals are sitting in fields, climbing on rocks. When I fly over the mountains, I think about bears! I’m flying over New Mexico right now. I wonder how many bears are down there?

As I look out my window, I wonder what people are thinking right now … about … what God is doing right now. Do they know? Do they care? I wonder how we get the word out and how we can effectively do what God wants us to do with the people living life below.

I also think about the creative nature of God when I fly. Right now, there is a thin layer of clouds out my window. Each cloud is just thin enough for me to get a sneak peak at the ground below. Trees, dirt, roads and a city are below me right now. I think its El Paso. God made all of that! He formed it. He put it all together. Through His words he spoke it into existence and it’s all in His control. He is not spinning around wondering how to hold it all together … He’s in control. He is so creative! Now the clouds are thick, with a hole exposing the blue earth below.

I also think about my life when I fly. Not because I’m scared or anything, I just think about whether or not I am doing what I’m supposed to be doing and whether or not I am fulfilling my life’s mission. I want to. I mean I really want to finish the job God put me here to do. I think about my travels when I fly. I remember trips. God seems to bring back the big moments in my life. I find myself often thinking about salvation and my family when I fly.

I also wonder a lot about where I’m going. No, not where my plane is going to land, but where my life is going. Is it good???? Is my life making a difference? What is my final stopping point? When we buried my dad last summer, I remember thinking — he stopped. He is no longer doing what he did for 82 years. He stopped. I spent a long time at his grave thinking about him the day we buried him. This is random, but on flights, I think about my dad … I think about him a lot.

As I think about my life and where I am going, it makes reflect on things I don’t understand and questions come that I can’t answer.

So … there you go … thought I needed to write some of this down today as I traveled to San Diego. I’ll land in about an hour and a half. I’ve got a couple of days in meetings. I’ll be back on the plane Wednesday night. I’m sure I’ll have these same thoughts again as I return home.

More From John Piper

5.20-21

5 encounters mentioned in John 20-21.

Jesus spoke Mary's name at the tomb as she searched for Him
Jesus brought peace to the disciples as they were wondering what to do after His death
Jesus helped Thomas believe and challenged him to "stop doubting and believe"
Jesus proved to the disciples that He was still with them and going to help them meet their needs
Jesus showed patience, forgiveness and grace to Peter


These five encounters are teaching me so much about Jesus right now.

Jesse's Story

i got this message from lanny a couple of days ago .... really wanted to help get the word out .... watch it and spread it!!!!

Facebook message from Lanny .... you got to watch this

lanny sent this message to his Facebook

full circle

in 1982 i went to Camp Ozark with my youth group. the story is long as to why i was able to go, but the bottom line is that i almost wasn't allowed — needless to say, i was a bit of a mess back then. i had a youth minister who took a bit of a risk and it turned out that God has been using his risk for over 25 years now.

that week at camp was incredible. God taught me how to spend daily time with Him — a practice that changed everything for me. i met a guy named Jeff Lake who hired me to the next summer to work as a counselor at Camp Ozark — an experience God used to inject me into full-time ministry. i met another guy named Billy Beacham — a man God used in my life then, and a man he still uses with me today!! God did something in me that week that changed me. He put me there and made me different. i will be forever thankful for what God did and how Camp Ozark played a role in my life.

tomorrow marks the beginning of another Burks encounter with God at Camp Ozark. however, this time its for my girls. through a set of very cool circumstances Bailey and Kori Kate are headed for a two week session at that great camp!! i don't know who is more excited, them or me — Camp Ozark has intersected my life once more!!!

i worked at Camp Ozark for one entire summer and part of two others. the first summer, one of the guys in my cabin was a 12 year old named Scott Torn who's dad happened to own the camp — at least i think he was 12 — anyway, God used our relationship in a lot of ways. now, after all those years I am helping Scott with graphic design and marketing for the Camp. we have spent the last several months working on a few ideas and publications hat are all designed to help the Camp move to a new level. through this re-kindled relationship and experience, my girls are getting a full on dose of what happens through the blessing of God at Camp Ozark.

its about to be full cirlce. God use the camp in my life. He used it in a really big way and i sense He is about to use it again. i am confident in my God. i have seen what He does and the way He moves. i am so ready to see how He uses this experience with my family.

i am so thankful for Camp Ozark and the faithful commitment to God and children those who lead that camp have. i am thankful God allows things to come full circle.

John 20 and 21

i finished another read through the book of John this week ... i am amazed at the great things i'm learning.

for me to say Jesus did amazing things is the understatement of the century ... but ... amazing is the word i want to use as i share with you a snapshot of what i'm learning right now.

amazing ... the way He appeared to people after His death ... amazing, the way He spoke to people who were so close to Him ... amazing, the way He demonstrated His power ... amazing, the way He showed His grace ... amazing, the way He inspired me with this revelation! i'm having so much fun with His Word right now.

the journey

well ... where do i start??? its been a roller coaster of a ride the last few months. today i feel like i'm coming down off the final loop and i can see the end of a really crazy ride in front of me. the end is near. and the cool thing — my stomach feels great.

as most of you know, i left the student life staff a few months ago and ventured out into the world of ministry in ymnow and back on staff at a church. its all really — really — good. i feel so blessed. i am amazed! once again, our loving God has proven himself to be the great God that He is.

as i sit here in from of my macbook, i sing His great praise! i want to say as loud as i can that He is the great God. He is the one worthy of our praise and worthy of our worship. He is truly God. He is the One. He is the Only. As Chris Tomlin wrote so well, He is is the Uncreated One.

i am sure other days will come and my tone will be different. i am sure there are doubt-filled days again. but let it be said that i love God. i truly worship Him and want to live the rest of my life following Him more than anything else.

praise be to the One True God.

check out my church at connectchurch.com .... and if you don't know about ymnow ... take a look at it as well ... ymnow.com

little by little ... part 2

I drove by my neighbor's house today and grabbed this picture. this entire story amazes me. for a lot of reasons, this story gets my attention. so ... it gets another blog entry.

as i said, i drove by today and there it was. an old antique car in the middle of a total model t makeover ... the ty pennington for this old car was not visible but his car was. he must have gone in for a drink, a break, more paint, another piece of sand paper or maybe even a chance to go in and look out the window as people drove by and admire his car. i have no idea what he was doing, but he had to be close. his project was out in the driveway with the doors open and was in full view of us all. his project appears to be moving slower again ... now he's working in the interior.

this story would have been perfect if he had fixed the inside first and then moved to the outside. then it would have been a true biblical lesson ... but ... he's writing this story and he's in charge. he decided to make the outside look new first. hey wait. maybe this is biblical. the Bible says God is in heaven and He does what He wants. could it be that God fixes some of on the outside first??? i know. its probably a bad question.

all theology aside, the man is making bringing this old car back to life ... little by little. i'll keep you updated.

Kobe, Tiger, Phil

what a weekend ... kobe and the lakers blow a 20 point lead friday, tiger makes 2 eagles on the 2nd 9 today, and phil makes a 9 on the 13th hole on saturday.

kobe — after the game kobe says he's going to go drink a lot of beer, wine and maybe 20 shots (not talking about bball shots either). i'm not a kobe fan, and i rarely write anything like this, but this really bugged me for some reason. i guess i just wish things in life were different and that people like him would lead better than they do. i know it was an interview and it was a raw moment talking with a very competitive person — but — come on ... oh and the nba sure didn't need a game like this in the middle of the swirling issues about fixing games. how is it kobe didn't even score in the first half? if the lakers come back to force a game 7, it won't be good for the nba

tiger — wow ... he shoots a 30 yesterday on the second 9. he makes 2 eagles on the back 9 to take the lead today. the shots he hit on 13 and 17 were amazing. i'm not a big tiger fan, but this was amazing/inspiring/unbelievable/on and on. "tiger woods will do something that will make you jump out of your lazy-boy, spill your beer and scare your dog" said one analyst today. i didn't do any of the above today, but i did sit up and shake my head. wow! how cool would it be to be able to do what tiger does??

phil — sigh. i'm a phil fan. for some reason i always want him to win. i like the way he plays. i hurt when he fails. but today was painful. it made me sick. it took 9 strokes for him to finally sink a put on the 13th. 9 strokes. i made a 9 last week at the broadmoor, but i haven't played golf all-year-long! phil has been targeting this tourny for 5 years and it all went down the drain today on one hole. nope. i don't get it.

not really sure why i'm blogging about kobe, tiger and phil. just felt like it.

maybe we can learn how not to handle ourselves as leaders from kobe, to be our best from tiger and how to fail from phil. kobe is sure showing how not to lead both on and off the court, tiger continues to display what it means to compete, and phil is telling us how he blew it yet again.

as a fan ... this has been a good weekend. as a man ... i'm trying to be my best. as a blogger ... i'm wondering if anyone ever reads these things :) i'm having fun.

Got this from Lanny earlier today

after you watch the video visit the official lanny donoho blog ... http://www.lannydonoho.com/

little by little

there's this man in my neighborhood. he's older. he's retired. for close to two years i've run by his house and watched him work on his antique car. its a model t. he stands in his driveway with sand-paper in one one hand a water-hose in the other. he uses the water hose to rinse off the dust he creates on the car with the sand-paper.

when you look at him you can barely see him moving. and as for the car ... you can hardly tell he's doing anything to it. i literally look at him every time i run by his house and think to myself that he's not making any progress. i'm serious, he's been doing this for two years! the car is faded ... covered in old paint ... covered in rust. you never see him make any progress.

then one day there was a change ... i was cooling down from a run, walking by his house, and i saw something different. there was paint on the car! i mean beautiful paint. the old car that was rusty and ugly for two years had paint on it. it was shining! a dark, rich, smooth paint job. i mean this car looks like new. the weird thing about it, the change just happened over night.

no wait ... the change took two years, it didn't happen over night. the change took two — long — years. this older man, living the last stage of his life, standing in his drive-way slowly brought this old car back to life. little steps, taken slowly made the difference.

as soon as i saw the change i felt God whisper in my ear that he wanted me to learn from this man. He had a great lesson for me. one of my takeaways was simple — God is working on me and He's in no hurry. time is in His hands and not in mind. the man in the drive-way never appears to be in a hurry, and please understand, he's living the last stage of his life. it seems like he would hurry up. maybe pay someone to do it for him. instead, he walks at a slow pace. he takes time and meditates on tiny little parts of the car he wants to improve. this cool old man is in control. i think God does the same thing with me.

i am extremely visual. i need God to draw me a picture sometimes and i think he did just that for me with this man and his car. i am learning so much about God and so much about me.

little by little he's making me like Him. i love the way He moves!

: Worship of Technology

Our God is in heaven
doing whatever he wants to do.
Their gods are metal and wood,
handmade in a basement shop:
Carved mouths that can’t talk,
painted eyes that can’t see,
Tin ears that can’t hear,
molded noses that can’t smell,
Hands that can’t grasp, feet that can’t walk or run,
throats that never utter a sound.
Those who make them have become just like them,
have become just like the gods they trust.
Psalm 115: 3-8, The Message

… the success of twentieth-century technology in providing Americans with convenience, comfort, speed, hygiene, and abundance was so obvious and promising that there seemed no reason to look for any other sources of fulfillment or creativity or purpose. To every Old World belief, habit, or tradition, there was and still is a technological alternative. To prayer, the alternative is penicillin; to family roots, the alternative is mobility; to reading, the alternative is television; to restraint, the alternative is immediate gratification; to sin, the alternative is psychotherapy; to political ideology, the alternative is popular appeal established though scientific polling. There is even an alternative to the painful riddle of death, as Freud called it. The riddle may be postponed through longer life, and then perhaps solved altogether by cryogenics. At least, no one can easily think of a reason why not.

Apple is my friend

ok ... so i get out of my jeep yesterday and i feel my phone, that happened to be in the side pocket of my shorts, bump against the door. i didn't think anything of it. i didn't think anything of it until i reached into my pocket and pulled it out to make a call. (i was on my way to the airport, headed to atlanta for an all-day meeting with youth specialties) i took it out and much to my disappointment the screen on my precious iPhone was shattered. it looked like someone had hit with a rock. needless to say, i was sick.

so ... i took my wounded phone and tried to make a call ... it worked! i talked to a friend, who happens to be an iPhone fan, and he told me he thought it would cost me a cool 250.00 to get it fixed. now remember, i'm on my way to the airport for a very important all-day meeting. i had to have a phone.

as i drove up 360 on my way to the airport for a 5:45 flight ... it was 4:06 ... i made a decision to try and stop by the apple store to see if i could get another phone. i was ready to spend the money to get another phone. but there was a problem. i did not know how to get to the southlake apple store. so, i took my broken phone and clicked on the google maps icon. and ... it also worked! i managed to see through the shattered screen and navigate my way to the store. that's right, the phone was working just like new. the screen was shattered!!!

i rushed into the parking lot, jogged into the store, and they put me on the waiting list for the genius bar. then they told me it would be 30 minutes. as i waited, i thought, there is no way i make my flight. yet another surprise was just around the corner. they called my name out after a short 5 minute wait. i went to the counter and an apple genius took my phone, switched my sim card and handed me a replacement phone ... i was ready to pay until i was handed a sheet of paper that had all zeros where the charges should have been ... the guy at the store, handed me my phone, smiled and told me about a shortcut to the airport.

i rushed back to the jeep, drove to the airport and had 20 minutes to spare before my 5:45 flight.

i had time to sync my phone and fly to atlanta!

amazing ... apple knows how to roll

John 13

So I read John 13 this morning ...this study in John has been so much fun
i loved this chapter!

the chapter begins with a simple announcement that Jesus knew His time on earth was done and that He was about to go back to His father in heaven. he knew!!!! nothing caught Him off guard or surprised Him. the chapter goes on to say that judas was led by satan to do his evil deed and then it says that Jesus had all power. i loved that little part — it was a slam on satan and testimony to Jesus' commitment to do His Father's will. Jesus knew he had all power ... as andy stanley says ... he was the most powerful person in the room!

after He tells us about his knowledge and His power, he displays the way he wants us to live. He washed His followers feet!!!!
he was truly showing us the full extent of His great love.

the passage shares a discussion with peter and we get to see Jesus teach peter a great lesson ... i pray i will learn the lesson he is trying teach me through this discussion with peter ...

in verse 12, He asks His followers if they are understanding what He is telling them. then ... He explains in verses 13 and 14. "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."

my prayer is that i can get this ... i lived a long life and its a harder to do the things i know i should than it used to be. i know, if its God's plan, i have a long life ahead of me and i want to live it serving God by living like Jesus.

i finished my time in God's Word with these words from Jesus .... "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

may i do what He says!!!!!!

Thoughts on John

still reading John ... amazing stuff ... humbling, exciting ... one of my recent takeaways is what i'm learning about the way Jesus taught us about Him and about God ... i'll try and write more later ...

Catching up

had a great weekend. spent some good time with my mom. but ... we all really miss my dad. i think the thing that is so weird is that she is alone and i never got to say goodbye to the most important man in my life. i mean i know it was his time and it was the way God wanted it ... i just wish i could have talked to him. i miss him so much. i think i'm going to go visit the cemetery sometime soon.

i remember him. he was a great man!

i know lots of people feel like me and can relate to what i'm about to write — i wish we would all tell the people we love how much we love them while they are still here. that would be a good thing.

my last memory of my dad was in arkansas. he thanked me for taking him with me to see bailey and kori kate at camp. we had a nice visit next to lake quachita. i used to teach water skiing there. i took a cool picture of him with kori during the closing day ceremony.

thanks for letting me share and allowing me to catch up ... tell your parents you love them

John 12: 23-28

I'm captured by these words ...

Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.

Father, glorify your name!"