Day After Thanksgiving

Ray II and Gretchen

Give thanks for all things and in all things, the Bible reminds us, and not just on “Turkey Day.”

What hinders my giving thanks (in and for)? Adversity. We live in a fallen world where “manure happens.” Sorrows are natural but can be couched in a foundation of gratitude.

I’d prefer not having Parkinson’s. Among many things, it keeps me from participating in the game I love – basketball. “Burwick,” you say, “you’re 70 years old. Grow up. At your age not being able to compete in basketball shouldn’t be a consideration.”

“I know. I know. But I enjoy the game. And it is a lot more enjoyable to work out with a ball in my hands then walking on the treadmill. Besides, there are memories of the success experiences – the latest being on the Alabama Seniors Over 60 3 on 3 State Championship team.” (Ten years ago.)

So what does this have to do with gratitude. I can live in the past memories and be sorrowful for what I can’t do now: or, I can focus on what I can’t do now and be frustrated. The third option is much healthier: “God, thanks for all you have provided for me through basketball.” My focus is gratitude for what I’ve had and not sorrow for what I don’t have because of the Parkinson’s. I’m successf at this mindset or gratitude 95 % of the time. A thankful spirit leads to a joyful outlook on life.

However, stuttering has taken a nose dive and I’m struggling with giving thanks for that. It hit a low the other day when giving a devotional to the NNU basketball team, I was blocking so severely that I had the coach read the material to the players. A grateful response? NYET. NO. Frustration and a smidgen of self pity. Ugly! I’m asking God for the grace to go deeper in my intimacy with Him so that I can more positively accept, “All things work for good…”

Dear reader, you may speak fluently, but what is your “stutter?” Is it met with a growing attitude of gratitude? Great! A joyful outlook on life is the result. And that is available to us as we walk more and more intimately with the sovereign, powerful Creator of the earth - and of you and of me. “

Anyone for a freethrow shooting contest?”

Have a Happy Thanksgiving

I'm thankful for friends.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Though the recession has hit some very deeply, there is still much for which to be grateful.

In the past several years, I’ve been challenged , especially by the Bible and then the prompting of the Holy Spirit to, “Give thanks for all things. Give thanks in all things. Always be joyful.” (Ephesians 5:20, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Philippians 4:4)

J.H.Jewett suggests, "Life without thankfulness is devoid of love and passion. Hope without thankfulness is lacking in fine perception. Faith without thankfulness lacks strength and fortitude. Every virtue divorced from thankfulness is maimed and limps along the spiritual road."

Developing a grateful spirit reaps so many positive results, one of which is spiritual formation (becoming more like Christ, as directed in Romans 8:9) Michael Zigarelli tells in Regent Business Review of his study of 5000 Christians worldwide, studying their beliefs, behaviors and, character. He used a methodology applied regularly in the social sciences: comparing the "gold medalists" to the "silver medalists" seeing what really distinguishes the champions. In other words, he compared a group of what he called "high-virtue Christians" (i.e., people who consistently display "fruit of the Spirit" virtues) to a group of "average-virtue Christians" to see what makes the high-virtue Christian different. He found that one explanation—one characteristic—clearly stood out above the rest: gratitude.

He found that a mindset of gratitude dwarfed the practice of any or all the disciplines of the Christian life as an explanation for how Christians go from average in virtue to consistently high in virtue.

From his study, Zigarelli labeled gratitude as a powerful disposition that provides us with a very efficient, very effective mechanism for developing myriad character traits. Our view of the entire world is different and we are suddenly empowered to be the people God calls us to be—to more deeply love God, to love neighbor, and to love our own lives.

How is a grateful spirit developed? Zigarelli found that the mind of the high-virtue Christian is a disciplined mind, a pure and godly mind. A mind that is adept at immediately clearing away sinful thoughts. It is a mind that is focused on what one has rather than what one does not have. A mind that refuses to think in terms of what's missing from life—in terms of how much better life could be "if only … " Instead, the high-virtue Christians want what they have. They are fully content with what's been conferred upon them, and they frequently thank God for their blessings.

The most fertile ground for growing gratitude is a thought life that purges sinful thoughts before they fester, that eradicates envy, and that replaces these thoughts with reminders of how richly blessed one really is. The Apostle Paul apparently had the same answer, but stated it more succinctly and more powerfully: "take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). Indeed, perpetual gratitude begins with a renewed mind.

Another method in the development of a thankful spirit is keeping a "gratitude journal." This is a daily diary that focuses exclusively on the blessings in your life thereby re-centering you on God's providence. Beyond that, a journal permits you to look back over several days, weeks, and months to review the numerous blessings that you might have forgotten had you not written them down. The standard journaling recommendation is to log five blessings per day, more or less.

There also appears to be a link between fasting, confession of sin and praying for the poor in the growth of a grateful attitude. In my opinion there is one major development factor in the growth and sustaining of gratitude – that being knowing God. AS we spend time with God, in prayer, Bible reading, memorizing Scripture, viewing God work in our lives and in others, our focus becomes “You fathers being evil love to give good gifts to your children, how much more your heavenly Father wants to do for you.”

A final thought from Albert Schwietzer: At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."

What will be your focus – not only on this special day, but the rest of the days of the week – the month – the year? Thanks Abba Papa.

FOR A THANKFUL THANKSGIVING

Thankful for Bella Rose and Barron Olaf Burwick, 2 of our 17 grandkids.

Thanksgiving. The time of year that we focus on how much for which we have to be thankful. The book “Jesus Calling” suggests to the follower of Jesus:

"As you sit quietly in My presence, let me fill your heart and mind with thankfulness. This is the most direct way to acieve a thankful stance. If your mind needs a focal point, gaze at My love poured out for you on the cross. Remember that nothing in heaven or on earth can separate you from that Love. This remembrance builds a foundation of gratitude in you, a foundation that circumstances cannot shake.

“Thankfulness takes the sting out of adversity. That is why I have instructed you to give thanks for everything. There is an element of mystery in this transaction: You give Me thanks (regardless of your feelings), and I give you joy (regardless of the circumstances). This is a spiritual act of obedience – at times, blind obedience. To people who don’t know Me intimately, it can seem irrational and even impossibe to thank Me for heartrending hardships. Nonetheless, those who obey Me in this way are invariably blessed, even though difficlties may remain.

“Thankfulness opens your heart to My Presence and your mind to My thoughts. You may still be in the same place, with the same set of circumstances, but it is as if a light has been switched on, enabling you to see from my perspective. It is this Light of My Presence that removes the sting from adversity.

Our challenge: deepen our attitude of gratitude.

Valued and Cherished #3

Our Denver grandchildren, the Keister young women

“I don’t seem to be able to get away from the issue of Value, where it comes from, where we seek it. Is value, whether we call it significance or security, something innate or something cultural? Is it God-given or something we seek from others?” writes Montana Gary.

He continues,
“I submit we have innate value first by God’s design, then by His creation and lastly by relationship to Him. But because we are fallen, we do everything about value away from God; we seek it from others, try to create it for ourselves, or seek it from the creation. When we seek significance apart from God, we seek to produce it by our efforts, win it from others by our actions, or take it by our determination. Security can either be accepted from God or we can seek it in relationship, in belongings, or our paradigm of our value apart from others.

“In both cases, apart from God, it is either what we create on our terms or seek from others in response to our actions. With God, either significance or security is not something we create or earn but something given before we ever had physical being. Our struggle is that we tend to not be willing to accept value from God—culture has taught us that we must deserve anything of value (earn) to be able to possess it. We cannot come to grips with the concept of value as a gift.

“Is not the significance or security we seek from others when out of sync with God a form of self-fulfillment, trying to achieve outside of God. Only when we are fulfilled and secure, valued before God, can we then appropriately receive those gifts from other sources without it being idolatry or codependency. Wholeness must first come from God or we will never be able to turn to Him after we have found it elsewhere.

“Correct me—where am I diverting from your intent? Yes, we are to have value and security in our relationships but does it not first have to be accepted from God before we can fully, wholly, openly receive it from our mates?”

I like and enjoy Gary’s creative, analytical and God centered thinking. I agree whole-heartedly with him. Our personal value must be sought from God. Any other source is at best fragile and temporary, at worst, idolatry. However, I surmise that I’m not getting my point across, that being “husbands – cherish your wives” and “wives – value your husbands.”

This is not to say that I’m to seek my value from my wife. In her desire to speak my “love language” she will best do that by valuing me by word and deed. My value isn’t determined by her and I don’t look to her for my sense of value. My real value is in whom God created me to be. That value is also affected by my performance. If I’m lazy or for some reason not living up to my performance potential, I will feel of less value (and probably experience some depression!). Also, if I’m not acquainting myself with Scripture that describes who I am as part of God’s creation, then my ignorance will affect my sense of value.

Likewise, a woman’s deepest need is security. A sense of security doesn’t come through performance like a man, it comes through relationship. The ultimate security is found in an intimate fellowship with the Creator. Anything I can do to make her feel cherished as my wife, adds to her feeling of security. Her security resource is God. I can add to that sense by demonstrating a cherishing attitude and behavior.

For building a strong marriage relationship, husbands cherish, wives value.
What do you all think? What is your response to this thinking? rburwick@mindspring.com .

Valued and Cherished

Had a great flight from Boise to Birmingham. Relationships! What a blessing. Connected with three families in Birmingham last night. What a joy to renew fellowship. Salmers, Kims and hosted by Chuck Morgan. Reminds me of Philippians 4:1 where Paul calls the people of Philippi his beloved friends - his joy and crown. What a joy to connect again with dear friends of over 10 years ago.

A thought that has become pregnant lately is this. If a man's deepest need is to experience significance and a woman's is security, then the wife's role in part is to value her husband. A husband: to cherish his wife. How would each of these challenges look in shoe leather? Ponder that with me. Send me your thoughts, if you would. rburwick@mindspring.com

Back at you

Roger and LInda REdding (my sister) and us.

I've been negligent in writing. Reasons? Or Excuses. Busy! BAsketball has started. I have the privilege of being the chaplain for the Northwest Nazarene University basketball team. That involves giving a devotional to the team once a week and meeting with some of the guys one on one.

I'm reworking that Philippians Four study - examining more thoroughly what appears to me as 13 keys to successful living. I'm using it for the Lighthouse Mission gang that I teach once a week. Mentoring, some counseling and small groups involvement consume a lot of time. The opportunities are a real blessing. Just having been diagnosed with diabetes means I must be more consistent with exercise.

Am I complaining? No. Just making excuses. I've got a great one for this next week. Some friends from Birmingham are flying Theresa and I to Alabama and then on to Orlando to be with my daughter, Gretchen. What a special gift, to see friends who while Ann (first wife) and I lived there, had a ministry to adult singles. About 30 of us became like a close knit family. I'm really looking forward to reconnecting with "you'all."

What I've been learning lately? A quicker response time from natural reactions to adversity transitioning to supernatural (Godly). For example, in the last couple weeks, I've been confronted with the challenges of diabetes and basal cell carcinoma on my schnoz. Diabetes and Parkinson's don't mix real well. Natural response? Fear. Godly response? Trusting God. Giving thanks in and for all things. Rejoicing evermore. I'm working on that transition.

It's important not to spiritualize which can repress the human feelings. So, to help avoid that, I'm getting back into journaling to I can articulate on paper what I'm feeling and the growth I want to make. That helps me avoid repressing.

Being 70 years old and having walked with God for 63 years, observing in retrospect how He has worked adversity in the past for my good, HIs glory and for the good of others - makes the transition to a Godly response much easier.

Well, I'll check back with you all in a little over a week. Blessings to you.

Aids to Memorization

It must be understood that memorization of scripture is not an easy task. Those who think it should be simple give up quickly, deciding they can't memorize. Instead, it requires diligence. If hearing about the power of God's Word has encouraged you to memorize, but you don't know how, here are some things that have helped me.

It takes time. Set aside time to memorize, about 15 minutes, at least five times a week. Allow yourself at least six weeks to learn a passage of 20 - 30 verses.

Choose a version. Choose one Bible from which to memorize. You can use any version with which you are comfortable. I like the NIV or NLT because they have a nice flow, but I still have many KJV verses in my brain from childhood.

Choose longer passages. I would encourage you to try a longer passage rather than just one or two verses. Not only does it broaden your understanding by giving you the context of the verses, but it is also easier to remember an entire chapter, than many individual references.

Begin by reading. Before starting to memorize, I like to spend a week just reading over the passage. Reading it out loud three times each day helps you remember because both your ears and eyes are taking in the information.

Next is the actual memorizing. When you are ready to memorize read the whole chapter. Next review a smaller section again and again, until you can say it without looking. Then, finish off by reading the whole passage through again. Hopefully, you will find that by the time you near the end of the chapter, the flow of the words will be so familiar that it is easier to remember.

Index cards are useful here. Just pick the verse or short passage you want to memorize, write it down on an index card, and read it aloud several times. Then try reciting it aloud without looking at it, until you get it right. Do it from memory several times, checking your performance against what you have written down after each time. Then, as you have opportunity, test your memory of the verse over the next several days and continue to test it periodically. If you write the verse on one side and the chapter and verse reference on the other, you can use the index card as a sort of flash card to quiz yourself.

Keep on repeating. To retain a passage once it is memorized, say it often. Use quiet times of highway driving, “shoveling snow,” or before you drift off to sleep at night, to say the verses quietly in your head.

Meditate on the Word. Do what it says. You will be successful and will prosper. (Joshua 1:8)

Memorize for spiritual formation

Another profitable purpose for memorizing Scripture is for spiritual formation.

Dallas Willard, professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern California, wrote, “Bible memorization is absolutely fundamental to spiritual formation. If I had to choose between all the disciplines of the spiritual life, I would choose Bible memorization, because it is a fundamental way of filling our minds with what it needs.

Chuck Swindoll, prolific author and pastor, wrote, “I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture... No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified.”

These two men are among the highest respected spiritual growth people living. Do you want to grow in your character of God? Memorize Scripture as part of the game plan.

Tomorrow we'll look at aids to memorize

Scripture Memory - 2

I'm on the band wagon again encouraging Christians to memorize passages of the Bible. Today it is: Memorize for brain and body healing

Dr. Frank Minirth, world renown Christian psychiatrist, gives insight into transformation as he writes in Christian Counseling Today,

"Simple behavioral Scriptural techniques are so powerful. I think they have the ability to change the brain's chemistry. What we see comes into the eyes, into the frontal lobe. It will rearrange the neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters rearrange secondary messenger systems that store memory. So who we are to some degree is controlled by what we take in. Therefore, the more Scripture we take in, especially loving it and enjoying it, really changes the very essence of who we are. "

Dr. Minirth goes on to say, “So the emphasis, I hope, in the future will be to get people to memorize more Scripture so it can change them. The more Christ-like we become, the more He can remove symptoms." Symptoms like: anxiety, fear, unhealthy anger, depression, poor self esteem, etc. that are often caused by wrong mindsets. Mindsets not corresponding to the mind of Christ. The mind is the ruling member of our whole person. What we do with our minds affects the whole body.

Many of my good friends at the Lighthouse Mission are finding that memorization of Scripture brings about a healing of their drug-fractured / muddled brains.

Significance of Scripture Memorization

Montana Gary responded to “Bible Bored” with this comment: “It always amazes me just how much more I see in a passage when I write it out longhand. It is so easy to take computer shortcuts but I find so much more when I am forced to write each word. It may not be quick or easy but it is worthwhile if we really want to know the Word.”

I’ve mentioned the Significance of Scripture Memorization previously; however, as my capacity to memorize is dwindling, I’d like to challenge you all to consider memorizing the Bible (if that is not a part of your regimen.)

We are told in Psalm 119:11 to treasure God’s Word by hiding it in our hearts so that we will not sin against God. In memorizing Scripture, we are cultivating a biblical sense of the presence of God and developing a resource that will be used by the Holy Spirit to bring relevant thoughts or insight, to mind (for ourselves and for others.)

The Bible is the spiritual nutrients that energizes and empowers us. “I have not strayed from God’s commands. I have treasured His words – they are more essential than my basic need for food.” (Job 23:12) The words of Scripture are used by God to penetrate and transform the hearts of His people.

In tomorrow’s post, we’ll discuss again the healing impact of memorizing Scripture.