Chris Burkmenn's Blog

As I look behind with 26 years behind me and 9,497 days that have passed by. Today is a day that I reflect on the many things that I have in my life, and passed circumstances. This is my life as I have lived it. A view from the journey. My life has been a great ride, and it has been a difficult ride at the same time. I have learned so many valuable life lessons along the way. Live every minute as it was the last one that you have. No one can ever stop you, only you can stop yourself. If it's worth it chase it. Work was not made for the faint at heart. Every time you get knocked down you get back up. When going gets tough the tough get going. When life gets tough remember you are tougher. My life has been a chase, the chasing of my dreams. When I was a young boy I had dreams placed on my heart and I have been going after them ever since. When I turned 21 years old I was able to move to Nashville in the beginning of my ventures. My past has prepared me for this time....

In March of 2009 I felt called to move to Nashville, TN from St. Louis, MO. God had placed on my heart that I needed a fresh start. I felt called to the city for several reasons, one major reason being my church The Oasis Church. I left with no agenda, and only the direction of the church. Many skeptics came my way with questions of, "What are you going to do?" and "You won't know anyone!" Stepping out in faith I began my journey. With very little money in my pocket, and little to know furniture in my car. I had a job at Well Fargo bank because I was able to transfer from St. Louis. I am so grateful to Wells Fargo for the ability to get to the city in which I felt called. I worked for them for 3 years and wouldn't change a thing. I learned so many things through the struggles of that job. I met more people than I can count on several fingers. In June of this year(2012) I left Wells Fargo with a fresh start. Again not sure of the direction I was going t...

One of the most encouraging verses to me is Jeremiah 29:11. At my lowest points I always refer to this verse. It gives me hope. I calms my soul. Most importantly it changes my perspective. I think in all times we must remember that it is not in God's plan to harm us. He loves us unconditionally and nothing we could ever do will change that plan. It's the enemy who comes to seek, kill, and destroy. Not our heavenly Father. Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 I love that our God is so good!! Know that today whatever you are going through God has you in the palm of his hand! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. Isaiah 49:16 Even though I may not know everyone who reads this blog, I believe in the greatness in every single one of you. @chrisburkmenn

My family to me represents strength, endurance, love, and compassion. Our solid rock Jesus Christ has done a work in us and continues daily. This picture to me represents a many number of things, but when I look at it I see that we are unbroken. The enemy may have tried to shake us, but at the end of the day we are stronger than ever. The heart of my father inspires me daily. It motivates and drives me. My Dad has worked so hard to provide for my family and it is truly a testament. This photo was taken on Thanksgiving at the St. Louis Thanksgiving Day Parade.  The smiles in this photo are genuine and authentic together as a family giving thanks for all that we have and all that we will have. As our family grows and one day when we marry and bring childeren into this world I will have learned everything I know from these times. The Holiday represent so many things to me and I am thankful that I share life with the amazing people in this photo. I love you with all of my heart...

As we begin our celebration of Thanksgiving, the travels to our cities or by staying where you are. The eager anticipation of being with loved ones. The feeling of gratefulness for what we have as it floods your soul. Soon coming together at the table and sharing the blessed meal, turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, and gravy. Let us not forget the amazing pies that will be consumed. We should be in a life of Thanksgiving. Counting the wonderful blessings in our life. The air I breathe, the eyes I see with. Thank you Lord for the ability of speech. Let the thankfulness go through the year and not ended after one day. We have so much to be thankful for! As the Christmas season approaches and we all begin to spend remember the best present of that we can give is time. Time is something that we can not use it again whether it is with a loved one or serving. Whatever you decide to do with it spend it wisely.  Remember, you can earn more money, but when time is spent it's gone fore...

Through life I have come to realize this truth. Friends and Mentors have helped me to come to this realization. I hope it helps you today!

Often times I look at life in the way of what's in it for me?? How can I get something out of this, how can I get an incentive? Whether it be banking, serving, helping coaching. My heart is right, but my motive isn't always. I find myself looking at God that way. How can this make me look good?  The bible says: But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” ~James 4:6 What's in it for me? No longer do I want to be bound by that spirit. I want freedom from that! Everything I do I want to glorify God in all ways. He knows my heart. I am not perfect, but I don't want that to be a crutch or an excuse, of why I can't or why I won't. So remove the flesh and put into it that God loves me so much that I want to show him how much I love him in return. That is done using all love languages. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love a...

Has anyone else been as fascinated as I am with reading the story of the beginning, especially Adam and Eve. Discovering where we came from and what it means. He created everything, The light, water, land, fish, birds, trees, humans, and so much more. It's such a beautiful thing to comprehend.  One of my favorite verses in the entire Bible is Genesis 1:1-2 In the beginning  God created  the heavens  and the earth.   2  Now the earth was formless  and empty,  darkness was over the surface of the deep,  and the Spirit of God  was hovering  over the waters.       Reading that and seeing how dark the world was how empty it was without God. That is so symbolic because are lives are like that without Christ, empty, dark, and formless.       When God comes in he transforms us makes us new. No matter how empty we are he comes and transforms us into an amazing masterpi...

Did you know that in the Bible, the NIV translation specifically the word hope is mention 159 times, must be pretty important to God if it is mentioned so many times.    Hope- the   feeling   that   what   is   wanted   can   be   had   or   that   events will  turn   out   for   the   best. So what does hope mean to you? What would you say hope is? Now there is such a difference in the Worldly sense of hope compared to the Godly Hope. How many of you enjoy hitting piñatas? We hit it several times before anything comes out of the piñata don’t we? How many of us know for certain there was going to be candy inside of it? Most of us aren’t able to see the person filling it, you all HOPE that it will be filled with candy but we really don’t know for certain. We aren’t certain how many hits it will take or even if we will hit it every time we swing, but the expectation is that th...

How many of you have ever had something valuable? What is something you’ve had that was/is valuable? How many of you have made sure that you took really good care of it so that no one would harm it or damage it. But you also wanted to make sure you showed your friends and family so they knew that you had it. When they were looking at it, you said be careful because I don’t want to damage the gift. When you were showing this gift did you want to make sure that the person knew how thankful you were for it and you made sure to let the people admiring know how much you VALUED the gift. Has anyone ever read the Parable of the Talents? 14  “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants [ a ]  and entrusted to them his property.  15  To one he gave five talents, [ b ]  to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.  16  He who had received the fi...

Well let me tell you, I thought I knew everything about the world a year ago....What I realized is that I was wrong. This past year has been difficult and yet exciting at the same time. Life has thrown obstacles in front of me, and miracles as well. God has done some awesome things in my life...things that I never thought were possible. There have been sleepless nights and there have been overslept mornings as well. I feel as though I am in the right place even though sometimes I feel like it is taking forever to make my dreams happen. I have made some friends and I have lost some friends. What inspires me is that anything worth doing is worth the struggle. Although many of my friends are dear to my heart I cannot say it enough seasons come and go just like friends. I have learned that no matter what I want or how I feel; God knows all. Why am I writing this thought for you to read today? Well I guess because I want you to know that it can be done. You can live y...

I am a born again Christian. Let me tell you what it's amazing! I live life to the fulliest because I know that I have a purpose in life. People I admire God of course, Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen, Rick Hufton, Margie Hufton, Danny Chambers, Jillian Chambers, and last but not least Sarah Palin. Why should we care about anyone elses Judgement? The only person we should care about is God. I really truly believe that in no way should I have the right to judge and tell people how to live their life when I don't even know how to live my own. Gossip....If you couldn't say it to the persons face then you shouldn't say it at all. Time with God I started devoting time with God, it's actually crazy because I never did that before....never. Now its as if I can't even get through the day without him. I believe so passionatly that we all have purposes in life, given tasks that God wants us to accomplish.....not goals that you want but what he wants. I don't ...