Monday, September 14, 2009 @ 1:34 pm by Josh Burcham

As Christians we love to pray for safety. But I want to challenage you with a thought, did Jesus promise safety anywhere in scripture? I can’t find it. Actually, it seems that in a lot of ways if you choose to follow Christ there is a strong chance they your life will be the opposite of safety. I think us american allow the this idea of “American safety” to blur our Christianity, giving us the false idea that we don’t have to take risks for Jesus.

The Jesus-life is an easy one. Now that statement isn’t something we would ever say and on a surface level we don’t believe, but if we step back and examin our lives it is something we understand to be true in our actions.

We don’t seek God out for our God-size dreams on our lives.

We don’t reach out to those that don’t know Jesus, because we love ourselves too much and them not enough.

We don’t believe Jesus to when He said, Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

We want control of our lives and hord God’s money. Let me let you in on a little secert: GOD DOESN’T NEED YOUR MONEY! He wants your heart. And giving gauges your heart.

We give lip service to Jesus on the weekends, but Mondays our hearts are far from Him. Let me let you in on another little secert: being a Christian is not about doing things. It’s about being Christ-like.

The list could go on and on, but my point is, I want you to start living the life Jesus calls us to live and go make disciples and fulfill that God-size dream!

Friday, July 17, 2009 @ 12:23 pm by Josh Burcham

Throughout your life as a Christ-follower, God moves in a way that sets a mark on our timeline that we look back to for encouragement and courage for those God-size dreams he places before us to accomplish. One of my mile-markers happened in Douglas, Arizona on a mission trip to Agua Prieta, Mexico back in 2002. God called me to “shepherd His sheep.” He called me to full-time ministry. As clear as day, not verbal, but God was speaking to my soul. He ‘asked’ me to give something up and called me to something great. It was a break in my routine, my focuses were refocused, for just that week and it gave me the ability to hear God’s voice.

Side note: I was sitting right where it says ‘E 4th St,’ late at night, all by myself, with a PDA in hand (I know, have issues). I remember it like it was yesterday.

I tell you all this, to tell you this: I’m going back! It is a mile-marker that I want to revisit and preserve. I’m looking to head down sometime in August, take some pictures and film a message to post here on my blog about breaking your routine and seeking God’s God-size dream for you.

I’m stoked! Want to go on a overnight trip?

Saturday, June 13, 2009 @ 9:18 pm by Josh Burcham

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and conversation-ing (think I made that word up) on the topic of calling over the last couple of months. My heart is for Christ-followers to live the John 10:10 life, when Jesus says “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” God has given each of us a God-size dream. A dream that can not be accomplished without Him. A dream that is too big for us to complete on our own. A dream that seems so stupid and so dumb. A dream that God desires to fulfill with us.

So as I continue to have “conversation-ings” I’m going to stop using the word calling. I think calling freaks people out. I’m going to start using the words…God-given Dream. Though everything I’ve said about calling in the last couple of posts apply to this dream as well.

What dream has God laid on your heart to complete, so you can live the John 10:10
life and love God and love people?

Let me add this: the John 10:10 life has nothing to do with your glory and everything to do with God’s glory. Don’t forget that.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 @ 10:42 am by Josh Burcham

I’ve been reading through a chronological Bible (Fred and Jenn gave me when I graduated high school, Fred wrote a great note in the front of it) over the last couple of weeks, starting in the Gospels. Today I read the accounts of John the Baptist in all four Gospels and since I’m on this calling kick I pulled the following out:

• God was at work way before I got on scene. Luke 1:57-80
• I am used for a bigger plan. My part might be small in the grand scheme of things, but still important.
• My calling isn’t easy and will pull me out of my comfort zone. Mark 1:5-8, John 1:19-28
• I don’t have to fulfill my calling, but I miss out on my blessings and living a full life.
• There will be times that I will fail. But they get me ready for something great.
• True joys are just around the corner (I don’t read this section until tomorrow, but it is too good to not share now). Matthew 3:13-17
• I serve a great and good God. Who doesn’t need me to fulfill His plan, but chooses to use me anyways. A broken sinner… used to advance the Gospel.

John the baptist in the grand scheme of things role was to fulfill prophecy and because he listen and obeyed he had the chance to baptize Jesus. Seriously, how cool is that?

Can’t wait till tomorrow. I’ve talked about it before here on the blog, but I get to talk about it again. I’m stoked. See you back here tomorrow.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009 @ 8:53 pm by Josh Burcham

Recently posted about Calling and the need to know what God is calling you to do to fully live the Christ-follower life. It’s been a topic of conversation in my circles over the last couple of months. So when people’s stories play out right before my eyes, I can only praise God! He is at work! He is setting into place His plan for your life as you read this.  He is going before you and will go behind you putting His plan into place!

I’ve been waiting for my buddy, John Popovich, to share his story over at his blog for a week now and I’m so stoked that he just did:

I have been struggling with wanting to know what I have been called to do on this earth. One thing for sure is that I am called to live a life with Christ in His love, to Love God and to Love others, and to go and make disciples of men.

I think I have always known what it was that God has called me to do, but it’s almost as if I kept avoiding the subject. I have never thought I was good enough, talented enough, or anywhere near what I think is the standard by which most people judge this calling. The truth is, I am right, but, God can use the least of us to do amazing things.

It is a must, to read the rest of his story and find out John’s calling. Read it here.
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Sunday, June 7, 2009 @ 3:03 pm by Josh Burcham

I do believe that every Christ-follower, actually, I believe every person, has a calling from God on their life. And the ball is in their court to follow or not follow that call. God-size callings are big, and I don’t mean like Shaq is big, I mean big, big, moving mountains big! “‘…I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you’” Matthew 17:20.

God called Noah to build a 450 foot Ark, because the Earth was going to Flood. Noah had the faith in his God-size calling and built that ark. (more…)

Monday, May 25, 2009 @ 10:42 am by Josh Burcham

I was talking through some stuff that I was trying to work through, with Andrew a couple of nights ago. God used him to speak from truth into my life, that really rattled my cage (in a good way) and it was too good to not share with you all. It might not mean anything to you, but it’s my blog and I can share whatever I want.

“Where will you persevere the most serving God and spreading his beautiful love story?”

I got too bogged down in my current situation that I lost focus or better said, I aloud my circumstances to consume each other when they were two separate situations. I aloud something to overpower and take a higher priority than my calling. Andrew brought my focus back and reminded me that I’m called to love God and love people with that simple question.

Life isn’t easy. Things get us down, but we can’t lose focus of what God has called us to do. Don’t let anything or anyone come in between you and that calling. Sometimes God calls us to give up something we really care about, but He always has a plan that will blows our mind. Don’t let life stop you from getting to the place where you will persevere the most serving God and speading his beautiful love story.

Thanks Andrew. Love you, bro and can’t wait till you get back. Enjoy your last month.