On the seventh day of Christmas . . . in the Burke Home

On the seventh day of Christmas God has blessed us with . . .

seven Burkes ready for New Year's Eve

six packages of mail order injera

five ships sunk

four omlettes made

three new Harry Potter books

two bracelets created

and one loving Savior in a manger!

On the sixth day of Christmas . . . in the Burke Home

On the sixth day of Christmas God has blessed us with . . .

six potatoes peeled

five hours braiding

four happy girls

three laughing ladies

two shopping trips

and one loving Savior in a manger!

On the fifth day of Christmas . . . in the Burke Home

On the fifth day of Christmas God has blessed us with . . .

five folks playing Uno

four hands now painted

three rounds of cards

two sleeping furballs

and one loving Savior in a manger!

On the fourth day of Christmas . . . in the Burke Home

On the fourth day of Christmas God has blessed us with . . .

four Packer quarters

three cups of coffee

(like the amazing Ethiopian kind that my precious "M^" made during a coffee ceremony!)

two batches of popcorn

and one loving Savior in a manger!

On the third day of Christmas . . . in the Burke Home

On the third day of Christmas God has blessed us with . . .

three games of Sorry!

two chapters read

and one loving Savior in a manger!

On the second day of Christmas . . . in the Burke Home

On the second day of Christmas God has blessed us with . . .

two furry felines

and one loving Savior in a manger!

On the first day of Christmas . . . in the Burke Home

On the first day of Christmas God has blessed us with . . .

One loving Savior in a manger!

Christmas Must Be Easter Too

At this, the fourth Sunday of Advent, most folks are chomping at the bit to get to Christmas Day.  Children are counting down to the night their stockings will be brimming full.  Kitchens are buzzing with baking and decorating scrumptious morsels.  Evergreens glisten with tinsel and lights warming the corner of living rooms. Frantic travelers take to the roads and the skies.  The time for celebration is drawing near.  Working in a church means that there is a bit extra to do in the office and with the congregation.  The next few days will bring me to preparing a few sermons.  For one in particular, we'll be considering a favorite hymn.

What child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The babe, the son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and donkeys are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spears shall pierce him through,
the cross he bore for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
the Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king, to own him.
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The babe, the Son of Mary.

The beautiful melody makes this one of my favorite carols of the season.  However, it's the words that are truly inspiring.  It has all of the elements to tell the story of Christ's birth . . . Mary, baby, shepherds, angels and gift bearing visitors.  Nestled with all of those iconic images of the perfect nativity scene are striking words.

Nails, spears shall pierce him through,
the cross he bore for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
the Babe, the Son of Mary.

If you're just singing along and not truly absorbing the lyrics it's easy to simply skim over those words.  In the midst of creating a peaceful atmosphere of infant Jesus, we're abruptly reminded of nails, death and the cross.  We're abruptly reminded that as we are joyful for the birth of Christ we are also simultaneously bound to him in his death. 

We can never simply celebrate the birth of Jesus.  To reduce the incarnation of God into this world as simply an arrival trivializes the redemption he came to offer.  Christmas must be Easter too.  To celebrate Christ's birth into this world is to celebrate the hand of God reaching out to offer sanctification through the suffering of the blameless.  With the manger we must acknowledge the cross.  We must tell the whole story of God's work in the world.  As we rejoice at stable door, may we also weep at the foot of the cross and wonder at the stoned rolled away. 

Prayers for you as you celebrate God's incarnation into the world and, in addition, his death and resurrection for the sake of all creation.  Happy fourth Sunday in Advent.  Amen.

Go, baptize, teach and remember . . . in Advent too!

We mark the third Sunday in Advent today.  Three candles lit and we're that much closer to Christmas day.

With five children in our home we are doing so much of the waiting game.  Waiting for school to be out for the holiday.  Waiting for the day the Christmas decorations go up.  Waiting for the three grandparents to arrive.  It feels like I'm constantly telling one child or another, "No, we have to wait."  Then, follows the heavy sigh and sluggish tromp off to the other room.  The waiting game is hard.  It's hard when we're five and it's hard when we're thirty-five.  I can imagine it's probably hard when we're fifty-five as well.

However, there is something to be said for moving from the passiveness of waiting into the activeness of preparation.  We have more of a place in preparation.  We are called to be people of preparation.  We are called to be people moved into action.  This idea reminds me of the topic I led for our youth worship last Wednesday night.  We talked about the commission Jesus gave His followers before His ascension.  

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.  And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:16-20

Jesus was telling his disciples what He expected them to do after He rose into heaven.  Did He ask them to wait patiently on the mountain top for His return?  No.  What He did was give the disciples very direct instructions.  Go make disciples all across the globe.  Baptize in God's name.  Teach others about faith.  Remember that Jesus is always with you. We are no different than those first disciples.  This time of Advent is no different than any other time of year. 


We are called to GO:

• Go to church.  
• Go visit friends and family.  
• Go to work.
• Go to Christmas parties.
• Go sledding.
• Go . . . and when you go take your faith along with you.  Walk in discipleship no matter where you are or who you are with.   

We are called to BAPTIZE:

• While baptism is a sacrament performed by clergy.  We are still called to live out our baptism in our daily lives.  
• Live in your baptism through daily renewal.
• Live in your baptism knowing you are forgiven of your sins.
• Live in your baptism as the beloved child of God that you are.

We are called to TEACH:

• At random moments, and some not so random moments, we are given opportunities to teach others about faith.  
• Teach others about God.
• Teach others about compassion.
• Teach others about mercy.
• Teach others about grace.

We are called to REMEMBER:

• Remember that God came into the world as a tiny baby, vulnerable and weak.
• Remember that Jesus was both fully human and fully God.
• Remember that the ministry of Jesus Christ turned the world of faith upside down.
• Remember that maybe, just maybe, that is still what Jesus is up to today. 
• Remember what Christmas is really about.

As followers of Christ, this is our commission no matter what time of year we are celebrating.  This story of God becoming incarnate, being born to a poor family in an animal shelter and then growing into a man that was destined to die for the sins of all of creation . . . this story is what we're called to share now and always.  Let's us go, live in our baptism, teach and remember.  Happy third week of Advent.

The Santa Conundrum

We're now into the second week of Advent.  Two candles are lit on the Advent wreath and preparations continue.  I have to be honest though, this can be a tough time of year for my family.  In particular the kids and how they interact with other people.  Anywhere you go with children during the month of December it seems like the subject of Santa Clause comes up.  In the weeks before the big day, children are constantly asked . . .

                    "Are you looking forward to Santa coming?" 

                                                                       "What did you ask for from Santa this year?" 

People ask children these questions . . . all.  the.  time!  Once again this point was proven when "K" and "M*" were with me at Walmart this past week.  We get to the checkout.  The young lady behind the register was so sweet, and out came those questions toward my two girls.  "K" and "M*" both looked at me.  Their expression said it all.  "Really?  Again?"  To prevent my daughters from explaining this again I fielded the question.  I said very nicely.  "In our family we choose to celebrate Jesus.  We don't do the whole Santa thing."  Very nicely.  Very matter-of-factly.  You would have thought I had just ran over a baby deer with a monster truck right in front of the store.  The young cashier looked at me wide eyed, not knowing what to say.  She shook her head quickly and just started ringing up our groceries once again.  Not another word.  In the car I asked the girls how they felt about that exchange.  They are comfortable with the way our family chooses to celebrate Christmas, but it's hard for them to answer questions about it. 

Here's my feeble attempt to ease that for them:

We do not use Santa in any of our celebrations of Christmas.  We never have and we never will.  I promise, my children are not missing out on anything.  For us, Christmas is strictly a celebration of God becoming incarnate in Jesus Christ.  Jesus being fully human and fully God.  This being said, we do not judge others for celebrating with Santa.  Truly . . . I believe that every family should make their own choices in how they want to celebrate.  Our choice just happens to exclude Santa.  We have several reasons for why we came to this decision years ago. 

1.  Santa Claus is fiction.  Jesus is non-fiction.  I don't ever want my children to confuse the two.  Celebrating with Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, the Easter bunny, etc. has parents playing up a fictitious being as real.  I do not want my children thinking Jesus and God are just one more of the long list of things that ended up just being fairy tales. 

2.  Santa has a naughty and nice list.  Those on the nice list are showered with gifts.  The naughty ones receive a lump of coal.  That's not how Jesus works.  Each and everyone of us sin and are on the naughty list.  Guess what!?!?! . . . Jesus loves us anyway.  He died on the cross to save us from our sins.  God loves each of us no matter what!

3.  Santa is a stranger that comes into your home in the middle of the night.  Really . . . don't you find that creepy?!?! 

4.  The commercialization of Christmas and the play up of Santa creates an atmosphere of the "haves" and "have-nots".  With Santa there are expectations that children will receive gifts regardless of a family's ability to provide such gifts.  Some horrible segregation can happen when children return to school and talk on the playground about what they received from Santa (and from their parents).  Christmas is Jesus' birthday . . . not ours.  I never want gifts to be the focus of our celebration. 

So there you have it folks.  There are other reasons as well, but these are the highlights.  If you choose to celebrate Christmas with Santa I wish you the best.  There is no judgement towards how you want to celebrate.  However, I hope this may dispel some of the judgement we receive from people when they hear that we omit Santa from our Christmas celebrations. 

Have a happy second week of Advent!

Yes . . . really, another couple birthdays . . . Celebrating "M*" and "S"!

I know . . . the Burke family has MANY birthdays in the fall!  This previous week we celebrated 2 special young ladies!

 

 "M*" and "S" came into this world so tiny.  It took several weeks until they grew into their preemie clothes.

They were quick to walk and quick to talk.  Both of them had some places to go and things to say!

"M*" has always been curious about how things work.  At 2 years old she tried to take my mixer apart!

"S" is eager to smile.  She might be shy at times, but get her going and she'll never stop!

The girls love school.  From their first day of preschool until now they are eager to learn.

"M*" looks for wonder in the world.  She loves exploring what's around her.

"S" is a deep thinker.  She ponders things and will blow me away with the conversations we have.

They work together . . . on projects, on ideas, on helping their younger sister escape from her crib. 

They are both awesome sisters.  They love all of their siblings very much (even if they don't always show it!)

Both girls are goofy!  There are a lot of laughs and smiles in our house.

Kevin and I are both so proud of the young ladies "M*" and "S" are growing up to be.  They are kind, compassionate, happy, curious, eager and faithful.  We are infinitely blessed by them and I pray that they will be blessings to others as well.  Happy Birthday "M*" and "S"!

So what are we preparing for?

And it rolls around again . . . in case you weren't aware, it's the first Sunday in Advent.  To be quite honest it sneaked up on me this year.  In the midst of celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend I was almost caught unaware that the annual time of preparation was upon us. 

That brings me to the basic idea of preparation.  What exactly are we preparing for?  That question can be answered as many different ways as there are different people to ask.  In the Burke house we're preparing for Christmas.  However, we choose to prepare differently than the way some others might choose.  As of right now there is no tree in our house.  We do plan to get one at some point, but there is definitely no rush.  There are no gifts to speak of.  There will be a few, but very modest ones.  There are no decorations up in the house.  However, the outside of the house does sport some lovely pink lights on the ornamental bushes.  I must admit though, the only reason those are out is because they never came in from last year.  We have no special goodies and treats in the house.  I would lay wages that those will enter our house when the Berg grandparents arrive for Christmas festivities.  You may ask, what are our preparations this year? 

We are preparing to celebrate the incarnation of God.  We are preparing to celebrate God in our midst, walking the earth and ultimately dying for our sins.  I know, it's kind of dark to be bringing the whole Jesus' death piece into the Christmas story.  I should save that for Lent and Holy Week.  However, it's true.  This season is all about the incarnation of God.  God became flesh.  Jesus was fully human while at the same time being fully God.  God came to be with us, to teach us and to die for us.  That's what we're preparing for.

How are we doing this?  We reading the nativity stories piece by piece from each Gospel over the course of Advent . . . and we're reading them twice.  Once in "M^"s Oromifa Bible and then again out of our English Bible.  We doing this as part of our FAITH5 bedtime rituals.  Here is how this works. 

1.  SHARE.  We share our high (best part of the day) and our low (worst part of the day).

2.  READ.  We read first the Bible verses from the Oromifa Bible and then from the English Bible.

3.  TALK.  We talk about what the verses mean and how it helps prepare our hearts for Christmas. 

4.  PRAY.  Each family member chooses people to pray for and we pray together.

5.  BLESS.  Every night Kevin and I each bless all 5 girls while tucking them into bed.  Often times the girls bless us as well.

This has been an amazing tradition that we started when the girls were very small.  I can't take credit for coming up with it.  All credit is due to my friend Rich Melheim.  You can check out more of his great ideas at http://www.faithink.com/. 

Who knows where these preparations will take us this Advent season.  However, we know that we're excited to celebrate the incarnation of God together as a new family of 7.  May your family be blessed as you prepare for the Christ child as well.

Being Thankful verses Living Thankful

It's now the day after Thanksgiving.  Reflecting on our holiday I wonder about those traditions and how they are being lived out in our lives.  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  It started with worshiping on Wednesday night.  It was a pleasure for me to give the sermon for our little community's ecumenical worship.  A true blessing to worship together!  Thursday brought friends over to our house and a table full of food.  Yes, filled . . . absolutely filled.  The 12 of us ate and laughed, played cards and laughed some more.  It was a day of being thankful for friends and family.

However, there was a friend missing.  We had invited a dear friend of our over to join us for the holiday.  She told me that she had to work from 10 am - 6 pm that day.  Yup folks, Thanksgiving day.  I was very excited though she would plan to join us that evening for some Thanksgiving fun.  I totally understood when I received the text message at 6 pm saying thanks so much, but she was just so tired and 1 am would come very early.  My friend had spaghetti-Os for dinner that night.  So . . . to recap, she missed Thanksgiving dinner with her own family, she missed Thanksgiving leftovers with her friends and, to top it all off, she would go back to work in the middle of the night.  All for what?  Retail.  I completely understand that there are certain people who must work holidays.  Our family has lived that life.  Nursers, doctors, prison guards, police officers, firemen . . . the list goes on and I know I am missing many that should be included.  However, retail . . . really?  Our society just devoted a day to being thankful.  Then the very next day (or depending on your shopping preference, Thanksgiving night) our society spends time in a frenzy buying on Black Friday.

Black Friday.  Try explaining that concept to two children from Ethiopia that are experiencing American Thanksgiving for the first time or two.  On Thanksgiving, people are thankful to God.  On Black Friday, people go in the middle of the night and buy things just because they are on sale.  There are people who do not have the opportunity to be with their families on a holiday because other people want to be able to shop and still other people that own those companies want to make money. 

To me this is the difference between merely being thankful and truly living thankfully.  When we settle for just being thankful, we say thank you when it's obvious to do so.  We celebrate what we have.  We think of ourselves being the recipients of blessings.  When we live thankfully we look at things a bit differently.  We notice the world around us with gratitude.  We manage our resources in a more responsible way looking out for others as well.  We are thankful for what God can do for others through us. 

Under no circumstances do I believe that I have this all figured out.  Nor do I pretend that I always live thankfully verses just being thankful.  I can be really bad at this . . . often.  I am both guilty of merely being thankful (and at times forgetting even that) but at times I do manage to live thankfully.  It is something that we each need to strive daily to remember.

May God bless you and keep you. May He make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.  May He look upon you with favor and give you peace.  In response may we live lives of thankfulness and gratitude in this season and each day.  Amen.

Another birthday at the Burke house . . . celebrating Kevin!

This week our family has the blessing of celebrating Kevin's birthday.  God has blessed us with the most amazing husband and father that anyone could ever dream up!

He is patient beyond measure.  Well . . . he is patient beyond measure most of the time :)

Kevin is one of the most creative people I know.  He actively encourages this creativity with all of his children as well :)

He is compassionate beyond belief.  I have watched him engage in the most deep levels with people to accompany them on their journey in life.

Kevin seeks out the wonder in life.  He enjoys watching our children and joining them to explore the world around us. 

He is up for any adventure that life brings our way.  (and . . . any adventure that will continue to be in our path!)

One of Kevin's most favorite things is to share a cup of coffee and conversation.

It is with great honor and pleasure that we celebrate Kevin's birthday today.  Please pray with me . . . Gracious God, thank you for blessing us with Kevin.  Please watch over him today and each day of his journey.  Help him to continue being a man of great faith, love and compassion.  Walk alongside him to strengthen him.  Carry him when he is weary.  Bless him and keep him all of his days.  Give Kevin your peace and comfort for the future ahead.  In your holy and gracious name we pray.  Amen.