Yesterday, I felt overwhelmed with life. I had one of those days when I felt like life was demanding too much and I was unable to provide. As a guy with a type A personality, I've struggled with this feeling my entire life. It is not until I take a step back and put everything in perspective that I'm able to work through the issue by placing my complete reliance and trust in Christ.
Last night, the Lord used a friend of mine who encouraged me to stop, take a few steps back, reflect, then move forward and continue to hold the course. His encouragement, "it's more about the journey than the result." What a powerful statement. What a powerful testimony to the numerous friends and my phenomenal family who are walking through this journey with me.
I need to stop more often and make sure I'm keeping the journey in focus and goal in perspective. If not, I'm going to continue to carry unneccessary burdens that the Lord wants to carry for me.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Waiting
This weekend my parents and grandparents came up to celebrate my aunt's birthday and grandparents' 55th wedding anniversary. Yes, you read that correctly -- 55. I had a great time hanging out with the fam. Last night after dinner, we sat down for a family movie -- Fireproof. If you have not seen it, I highly recommend it.
But that's not what this post is about. It's about the discipline of waiting.
John Waller recorded a song played in the movie called "Waiting" (my new theme song). It struck a chord with me because the Lord taught me that very same message early in the week and brought it home with this song. Here are the lyrics to the song if you have not heard it before.
The last line of the second verse states, "I'll be running the race even while I wait" (how fitting for this blog). No longer will I sit around idle wondering when the Lord is going to give me what I'm asking for. Instead, I'm going to keep running the race each and every day, seeking and serving Him with everything I've got.
What is the Lord asking you to wait on? Do you have the patience and perseverence to continue running the race while you wait?
But that's not what this post is about. It's about the discipline of waiting.
John Waller recorded a song played in the movie called "Waiting" (my new theme song). It struck a chord with me because the Lord taught me that very same message early in the week and brought it home with this song. Here are the lyrics to the song if you have not heard it before.
I'm waiting.
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait
I will move ahead, bold and confident.
Taking every step in obedience.
While I'm waiting I will serve You.
While I'm waiting I will worship.
While I'm waiting I will not faint.
I'll be running the race even while I wait.
I'm waiting.
I'm waiting on You, Lord.
And I am peaceful.
I'm waiting on You, Lord.
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord
I'm confident that there are areas in all of our lives where we are waiting on the Lord to work. We want him to move us to a new place, we need a new job, we want Him to introduce us to our future spouse, we want Him to heal a broken relationship or any number of other things. But sometimes He wants us to WAIT -- to patiently wait for His good and perfect timing.
The last line of the second verse states, "I'll be running the race even while I wait" (how fitting for this blog). No longer will I sit around idle wondering when the Lord is going to give me what I'm asking for. Instead, I'm going to keep running the race each and every day, seeking and serving Him with everything I've got.
What is the Lord asking you to wait on? Do you have the patience and perseverence to continue running the race while you wait?
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Memories
Last night, I made a flying trip to Houston for an informational session at BCM for PA school. While I was in town, I attended a Westside High School Freshman YoungLife club. Just being in the area and being around the kids brought back so many wonderful memories of my time in Houston, TX. Last night, many of the kids Will, Heather, Julie, and I took to Frontier Ranch in 2007 were up in front of the freshman as leaders. It was cool to watch!!
I think a lot of times we fail to stop for a minute and remember or think on all of the wonderful things the Lord is doing in our lives on a daily basis. It is not until we are away from those things or they are taken away that we truly realize how precious they really were.
Over the course of three years, I was able to meet and get to know a lot of kids who walked the halls of Westside High School. I got the chance to watch them struggle and succeed; experience life -- good and bad; mature and grow up; and finally, graduate and head off to college. It was a special time in their lives and, little did they know, it was a special time in mine as well.
I'll never be able to replace the memories of chaufering car loads of guys all over Houston, traveling to watch them play baseball or wrestle, the countless dinners with my "extreme brothers" at Raising Canes, talking about life over the grill with my campaigner guys, or being with a high school senior as he shared that he had accepted Christ. I could list countless other memories of my time serving with YoungLife in Houston, but I'll probably need to think about writing a book.
Last night reminded me "stop" more often and remember the countless ways the Lord has faithfully worked and continues to work in my life.
(Funny side note: The kids were quick to remind me about "Coach Kilwalsky" and "Java Joe" and his fellow Starbucks' Superhero, "Mocha Choca Latte." I guess you never grow out of your YoungLife skit characters.)
I think a lot of times we fail to stop for a minute and remember or think on all of the wonderful things the Lord is doing in our lives on a daily basis. It is not until we are away from those things or they are taken away that we truly realize how precious they really were.
Over the course of three years, I was able to meet and get to know a lot of kids who walked the halls of Westside High School. I got the chance to watch them struggle and succeed; experience life -- good and bad; mature and grow up; and finally, graduate and head off to college. It was a special time in their lives and, little did they know, it was a special time in mine as well.
I'll never be able to replace the memories of chaufering car loads of guys all over Houston, traveling to watch them play baseball or wrestle, the countless dinners with my "extreme brothers" at Raising Canes, talking about life over the grill with my campaigner guys, or being with a high school senior as he shared that he had accepted Christ. I could list countless other memories of my time serving with YoungLife in Houston, but I'll probably need to think about writing a book.
Last night reminded me "stop" more often and remember the countless ways the Lord has faithfully worked and continues to work in my life.
(Funny side note: The kids were quick to remind me about "Coach Kilwalsky" and "Java Joe" and his fellow Starbucks' Superhero, "Mocha Choca Latte." I guess you never grow out of your YoungLife skit characters.)
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Now Boarding KLM Flight #662...
....with service from Houston Intercontinental Airport to Amsterdam, Netherlands.
That will be the public address announcement that I will hear in less than 100 days. And after my "short" flight to Amsterdam, I'll be boarding another KLM bird headed to Nairobi, Kenya to visit my best friend, Chad, and the love of his life, Jill.
That will be the public address announcement that I will hear in less than 100 days. And after my "short" flight to Amsterdam, I'll be boarding another KLM bird headed to Nairobi, Kenya to visit my best friend, Chad, and the love of his life, Jill.
I cannot tell you how excited I am about my trip in late May -- it's uncontainable at times. I've come a long way from seeing the realization of traveling to Kenya slip away to having a flight book and plans beginning to fall into place. This will be my first time to travel abroad and I'm so excited about visiting a country that has been on my heart for a long, long time.
Chad and Jill are busy planning a blockbuster schedule for my time over in Kenya. I can't wait til the final copy shows up in my inbox, but until then, Chad gave me a little preview. The preliminary agenda includes a possible safari, Kenyan beaches, volunteering, hiking, and possibly some inter-country travel. Right now, I don't foresee any marathon training runs with the Kenyan athletes, but if I do get the chance, you better believe I will be up for the challenge. My blog will definitely be heating up prior to, during, and after my trip so stay tuned. I will be sharing as much as my Internet connection will allow me.
Hopefully, this will be the first of many trips over to Africa. While I'm over there, I hope to scout out the area a little bit, so that I can potentially return in the future on a medical mission trip.
Running the Race in Kenya!!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Integrity Weekend Retreat
This past weekend, I headed south to Glen Rose, Texas and Riverbend Retreat Center for an Integrity Men's Retreat. Over the weekend, we look at 3 areas of integrity: our professional lives, our relationships, and our spiritual lives. It was a great time to connect with other guys in the church, learn from and take in some wisdom from older men in my church, and just escape life for a couple of days.
I think we all need those times when we can escape "life" and enjoy some time away to reflect and recharge our batteries.
One of the points that stuck out to me on the retreat was our discussion on John 15 and striving for fruitfulness. The Lord's entire purpose for our lives is to produce fruit for His kingdom and His glory. This is where we will find fulfillment in life.
So....
Do you wake up every morning with this mindset?
-or -
Are you similar to me, in that, you see your days as a never ending to do list?
Are you asking the Lord to prune you so that you can produce more fruit?
-or-
Are you asking Him to remove you from situations because it's uncomfortable or causing pain?
I don't believe there is a "quick fix" or "easy answer" to any of these questions, nor do I see myself perfecting this area of my life anytime soon. However, I can start heading down that path and ask the Lord to change my mindset and heart along the way.
I think we all need those times when we can escape "life" and enjoy some time away to reflect and recharge our batteries.
One of the points that stuck out to me on the retreat was our discussion on John 15 and striving for fruitfulness. The Lord's entire purpose for our lives is to produce fruit for His kingdom and His glory. This is where we will find fulfillment in life.
So....
Do you wake up every morning with this mindset?
-or -
Are you similar to me, in that, you see your days as a never ending to do list?
Are you asking the Lord to prune you so that you can produce more fruit?
-or-
Are you asking Him to remove you from situations because it's uncomfortable or causing pain?
I don't believe there is a "quick fix" or "easy answer" to any of these questions, nor do I see myself perfecting this area of my life anytime soon. However, I can start heading down that path and ask the Lord to change my mindset and heart along the way.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Running the Race's "Top 20"
There is a "viral" post floating around Facebook where if you are one of 25 people tagged, you must reply back and post 25 things that people might not know about you. Personally, I have learned some very interesting things about my friends through these posts; however, I have not responded myself. So the wait is over and I'm caving into peer pressure, but my list has a little twist.
Without further ado, here are the top 20 things (I like to be unique) you may or may not know about me.
1. My family means the world to me. Between both sets of grandparents and my parents, I have more than 100 years of marriage experience to draw from.
2. My first half marathon entry was a Christmas present from a friend. He asked me to run in the Austin half marathon in February 2003 to celebrate our last semester at Texas A&M. Now, six half marathons and six full marathons later, I'm still hooked and still running.
3. I was born on Memorial Day 1981. Every so often (like this year), my birthday will fall on Memorial Day.
4. My 16th birthday gift was a trip to the College World Series in Omaha, NE with my dad. I will never forget that trip for as long as I live....and if you are wondering, I did get a car too.
5. I was 5'0 tall when I graduated from high school. And even though I've grown 10 inches since then, some of my friends still call me "Little Guy."
6. I have several nicknames. I guess Burke is really hard to pronounce. Here are a couple: Bucky, Burkle, Burkey (only reserved for my momma), Little Guy, Puppy, Stoney, White Kenyan, PB, and B Dub, and Extreme Brother (reserved for a couple of my YoungLife kids).
7. I've escaped a bus fire returning from a YoungLife trip to Windy Gap, NC in the summer of 2005.
8. I love to travel and visit my friends. I'm preparing for my first overseas trip this coming May. I'll share more on this blog soon!!
9. Birthdays and anniversaries are a big deal to me. I really like celebrating my friends and family's big days and marriage milestones.
10. I like doing things that other people think are absolutely crazy like flying from New York to Arizona to interview for a job the day after a marathon, like traveling to Galveston from College Station just to see the sunrise and then making it back for my first class.
11. My running playlist on my iPod consists mostly of cheesy love ballads because it helps keep my heart rate down while I run. I only have a few fast songs on my iPod for that last kick home.
12. Photography is a hobby that I'd like to pursue as I get older. I've got the camera -- now I just need to invest in learning how to use it effectively.
13. Thirteen is my favorite number. It's also the favorite number of one of my good friends. Rock and Stone shout out.
14. I don't watch much TV, but my DVR is always set to record The Office and Grey's Anatomy. I love when I can watch those shows without the commercials.
15. I'm a new uncle and I'm on a quest to assert myself as the Best Uncle in the World. I even make my 8 year old niece tell me that before she gets off the phone with me.
16. I coached two Little League baseball teams while I was out in Scottsdale. By far, some of the greastest memories of my time in Arizona. I can't wait to coach again after I get out of school.
17. During one YoungLife skit, I ate sardines, turkey and dressing baby food, and washed it down with prune juice. Can you say Fear Factor?
18. I was voted "Most Spirited" in my high school graduating class. Does this title fit me?
19. When I was growing up, I dreamed about being the pilot of Air Force One. Some kids dream of being fire fighters or police officers or sports stars, not me.
20. I'm extremely OCD about my closet. My clothes are evenly spaced and arranged in ROYGBIV order and also broken up into categories -- short sleeves, polos, button downs, slacks and blue jeans. I also use white plastic hangers and wooden hangers for my nicer shirts and suits.
Without further ado, here are the top 20 things (I like to be unique) you may or may not know about me.
1. My family means the world to me. Between both sets of grandparents and my parents, I have more than 100 years of marriage experience to draw from.
2. My first half marathon entry was a Christmas present from a friend. He asked me to run in the Austin half marathon in February 2003 to celebrate our last semester at Texas A&M. Now, six half marathons and six full marathons later, I'm still hooked and still running.
3. I was born on Memorial Day 1981. Every so often (like this year), my birthday will fall on Memorial Day.
4. My 16th birthday gift was a trip to the College World Series in Omaha, NE with my dad. I will never forget that trip for as long as I live....and if you are wondering, I did get a car too.
5. I was 5'0 tall when I graduated from high school. And even though I've grown 10 inches since then, some of my friends still call me "Little Guy."
6. I have several nicknames. I guess Burke is really hard to pronounce. Here are a couple: Bucky, Burkle, Burkey (only reserved for my momma), Little Guy, Puppy, Stoney, White Kenyan, PB, and B Dub, and Extreme Brother (reserved for a couple of my YoungLife kids).
7. I've escaped a bus fire returning from a YoungLife trip to Windy Gap, NC in the summer of 2005.
8. I love to travel and visit my friends. I'm preparing for my first overseas trip this coming May. I'll share more on this blog soon!!
9. Birthdays and anniversaries are a big deal to me. I really like celebrating my friends and family's big days and marriage milestones.
10. I like doing things that other people think are absolutely crazy like flying from New York to Arizona to interview for a job the day after a marathon, like traveling to Galveston from College Station just to see the sunrise and then making it back for my first class.
11. My running playlist on my iPod consists mostly of cheesy love ballads because it helps keep my heart rate down while I run. I only have a few fast songs on my iPod for that last kick home.
12. Photography is a hobby that I'd like to pursue as I get older. I've got the camera -- now I just need to invest in learning how to use it effectively.
13. Thirteen is my favorite number. It's also the favorite number of one of my good friends. Rock and Stone shout out.
14. I don't watch much TV, but my DVR is always set to record The Office and Grey's Anatomy. I love when I can watch those shows without the commercials.
15. I'm a new uncle and I'm on a quest to assert myself as the Best Uncle in the World. I even make my 8 year old niece tell me that before she gets off the phone with me.
16. I coached two Little League baseball teams while I was out in Scottsdale. By far, some of the greastest memories of my time in Arizona. I can't wait to coach again after I get out of school.
17. During one YoungLife skit, I ate sardines, turkey and dressing baby food, and washed it down with prune juice. Can you say Fear Factor?
18. I was voted "Most Spirited" in my high school graduating class. Does this title fit me?
19. When I was growing up, I dreamed about being the pilot of Air Force One. Some kids dream of being fire fighters or police officers or sports stars, not me.
20. I'm extremely OCD about my closet. My clothes are evenly spaced and arranged in ROYGBIV order and also broken up into categories -- short sleeves, polos, button downs, slacks and blue jeans. I also use white plastic hangers and wooden hangers for my nicer shirts and suits.
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