Chris Burkmenn's Blog

In a time where social media is at the tip of our fingers. A culture that has been groomed to broadcast their successes, dreams, and experiences; we are given a glimpse into the lives of our peers.  So easily scrolling through someone meeting their favorite celebrity, reaching the finish line(race, cancer, graduation,) achieving a dream(music, acting, modeling.) As friends we share in each others achievements and grieve in their setbacks. We are the first to wish a congratulations, liking a photo, sharing a post. We respond, "That is incredible." Supporting them as a good friend should.  What we don't realize is that while we are seeing our friends broadcast their lives, we don't know the full story. We don't understand what went into those achievements, and sometimes we gain resentment for them. We don't know what people go through in their walk of life. We can't take everything posted on Facebook as their complete success. Perception is everyt...

So often we go through life and have ourselves almost convinced that God has somehow forgotten about us. We confuse our finances with the notion that God is neglecting us. As if we had done something wrong to deserve a setback. I was at McDonalds this evening drinking a Diet Dr. Pepper and watching the people around me. I saw this woman sobbing and apologizing to her husband for how sorry she was. How she wished she could have changed their current situation. She had major dental work done today and was still in shock with the bill. She was standing at the Coke station and telling her husband that this was not what she had wanted, and that she would have rather gone on a trip. She seemed so convinced that this situation was bigger than God and that he had forgotten about her. That she was alone with no one looking out for her. I wanted to touch her hand and let her know that God had not forgotten about her. I overheard her apologizing to the cashier saying, "I am sorry I am so...

A wise man once said, Martin Luther King Jr. Reading this quote, it helps me quite a bit. When I visualize what is being said, I feel it was reminiscent of what Jesus told us. Love your neighbor as I have loved you. John 13:34 In a world where there seems to be not enough love at times. Where hatred fills the media painting a picture that makes it seem as though all hope is lost. As though we are on a deserted island away from Jesus. When we think about it, we should never feel as though all hope is gone because we are the hope. Jesus did not say that love cannot exist without him on the Earth, He said love your neighbor as I have loved you. Which means that we must live by the example that he set forth. To be the love of the world  through Him. This quote speaks to me so much because at times I can feel as though injustice can over take me or that someone is being rude to me for no reason at all. My first instinct is to throw rudeness right back at them(lets be hones...

How many of us tend to not be grateful what we have been blessed with? How about take for granted what we have been given? Today we have been given one of the greatest gifts of all, another day. For in a day the world can change. We often rush through not life and do not even realize how blessed we are. Passing through life without taking a moment to pause and be grateful for the life that we have. The family that we love, the friends that are ride or die, and the ability to be free. If we pass by life and don't take a moment to smell the roses we are not living for the moment. I know that I rush, rush, rush and don't ever really just take the day as it is and soak up God. For He created everything, and we are all living on his clock not our own. If we spend our whole life working what are really accomplishing, but work. We get so caught up in doing we often forget about being. Look at Martha and Mary: As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a vil...

photo courtesy of www.brainsonfire.com Welcome back for another Encouragement Wednesday today I hope you enjoy what I feel will help you be encouraged! When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up--one on one side, one on the other--so that his hands remained steady till sunset. -Exodus 17:12

It's no secret,   The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy we read in John 10:10. The enemy is trained he has studied us. He thinks he know how to hurt us. In the process we can end up feeling pretty hurt. The enemy can dress something to appeal us, he can make sin look pretty darn good. We are tricked in our weakness.  The bible say,  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 So it's no surprised that we are considered a threat. The enemy knows that if we are fully devoted to the life of Christ and spreading the Gospel he will not be able to win this fight. He laughs as we are taken down by sins of addictions, religion, and sexual immorality.  Religion I use as an example is because we can be so far away from God when we are steeming on Religion, Jesus came so that we migh...

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...

She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Matthew 9:21 I love this verse, I love that the woman's faith led her to be obedient and touch Jesus' clothing. To the world around her it was a crazy thought. Why would you want to touch Jesus' clothing?  If we read the whole story we see that she had been bleeding for 12 years. Now that is a lot of pain, 12 years of bleeding. I know that in my own life 1 day of feeling under the weather is enough for me, but to even imagine being sick for 12 years is beyond anything I can comprehend.  The woman was desperate, she was seeking the only thing that could make her better and that was Jesus. In our lives for things to get better it often takes Boldness, and Obedience in our faith. Think of how much guts it took for that woman to have touched this Man.  Jesus, who she had heard so much about and all of these miracles being performed. At the sight every knee shall bow and here this woman wants...

When I was young my mom and dad use to say, Christopher you are in such a rush to grow up. To be honest I was. I felt I was missing out on the action. I wanted the independence because I thought I knew it all. At a young age knowing it all is so far from the truth, if anything I knew nothing. Mom and Dad would always try and help and I would blow them off and shake it off as if I knew the answer. I would argue until I was blue in the face.  Today I stand here and fully admitt that I wish I would have savored more. Cherished the days of my youth because those care free days are over and grown up life has hit me. I have bills, a job, and adult responsibilities. I firmly believe that all of our decisions effect our reality. We cannot change the past all we can do is learn from our previous decisions. I am very thankful for where I am today and know that God's grace covers my life. The responsibilities of life can try and consume you. They can try and take over the freedom th...