SCOOPING SNOW IS BETTER THAN MOWING GRASS!

My wife, Coletta and I along with our youngest son home from China just returned from a New Year's vacation last night.  Monday, we left sunny Daytona Beach, Florida with 75 degrees, flew in one of the  "two" planes out of Daytona Beach Monday, changed planes at Charlotte, NC. After our second plane was "de-iced," we took off and landed at Nashville where our mini-van waited on us.  (All other Daytona Beach flights were canceled due to the ice and snow in Atlanta).

After battling the ice and snow driving from Nashville, TN to Ohio last night, we were welcomed by over 4 inches of snow!  I just got in from scooping snow for about an hour and loved it!  One of the blessings of colder temperatures and living in N. W. Ohio is the snow and cold temperatures keep the grass from growing.  I hate mowing grass (with a push mower) but love the snow!  The colder temperatures also kill the mosquitoes and bugs, plus as far north as we are, we really don't have hardly any snakes!  (No poisonous ones at all and none at all in winter)!

It's good to be home.  Can't wait to see everyone at church tonight!

That's Something to Think About!   Email:  jimmycburns@aol.com

A CHRISTMAS I HOPE TO REMEMBER, 2010

(Pictured above: Aaron, Jim, (Cabbie Dog), Miley, Jenny, Matt, Coletta)
"And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;  Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage."
(Deut. 6:11 - 12)

The picture above was taken yesterday just before our Sunday dinner on Dec. 26th.  I pray that I will not soon forget not just the picture, but the people and the event of this wonderful weekend.  It seems like the older I get the more worrisome I become about some things, and the more grateful I am for life and for my family.  The reason this picture is priceless to me is that this past week end, Coletta and I were able to celebrate our Christmas with both of our sons, our daughter in law and our granddaughter at our home and church. 

Aaron, our youngest son had not been back to U. S. for two years. Thus he had not seen his brother and family for two years.   His only "niece" Miley was one when he last saw her.  She is now three.  I'm the one that insisted on this picture because I know that with Aaron's time back in the states being only one month long, we might not be together again as we were yesterday for years to come.  It's likely that the next time Aaron sees Miley she will be in Kindergarten.  

The thing that makes me feel that God blessed me with such a great Christmas this year is the dark velvet back drop in this year's Christmas scene here in Van Wert, Ohio.  Within just the past two weeks, one young man in a nearby town lost his 50 year old mother, his 25 year old wife and his 3 year old son in a car wreck.  Another young father we know along with his 3 and 5 year old children lost his 34 year old wife to cancer, and several families here in Ohio lost their children in house fires.  I'm also thinking tonight of a little three year old girl who's mother was sent to prison a few days ago.  A pastor friend of mine in Kansas died on Christmas morning and another Pastor friend had to resign his church just a few Sundays before Christmas. 

So now you see why I say, "God has been so good to me, our family and our church this Christmas."  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everybody!   Thank you Lord for not giving me what I deserve but by showering me with such blessings in having a great family and church this Christmas Season!"

I'm Jim Burns and that's something to think about!    Email:  jimmycburns@aol.com

COLETTA'S B. D. YESTERDAY, BLIZZARD TOMORROW!

(Pictured:  My wife, Coletta with our granddaughter, Miley Burns)

In spite of My wife's horrible pain, I think she had a great birthday yesterday.  Her parents drove up from Marion, Ohio and surprised her for lunch and cake.  We sang the B. D. song, and she blew out her candles.  I won't say how many candles!  Since she has been pretty much bed fast due to her pinched sciatic nerve, some of the women from the church have been bringing over food for lunch each day this week.  What a blessing!  With my "lack of" cooking skills and almost daily trips to Wendy's and Balyeat's, the home cooked meals have hit the spot.  Other than my in-laws coming for the afternoon, Coletta's birthday was pretty low key this year since she was not able to leave the house. 

Today, Dave and Shelly Miller, a couple who attend our church got married at a nearby country church and their reception was at Liberty (our church).   As I type this,  we are getting    T. V. and Internet reports that a possible blizzard like snow will be starting in about 3 hours.  Temperatures will be dropping like crazy soon and it presently raining pretty hard.  So, Sunday morning church could be a little challenging.  We have several folks who drive as far as 25 and 30 miles in to fellowship and serve at our church, and I must accept the fact that with ice on the roads topped with drifting snow, many won't be able to come. As dangerous as it could be, I certainly don't want them to take a risk. These are "Sundays" Pastors never order, but get from the Lord to humble us (I guess).

So why don't you come and worship with us tomorrow?   If you can't, then send money.  HA!

This is Jim C. Burns, and that's something to think about!   Email:  jimmycburns@aol.com

PS.  Please pray for our son, Aaron Burns who is flying home from China Dec. 29th.  He has not been home for two years.

BURNS' SNOW SKIING AT 57

I'm the guy on the right in the "black and blue."  I met this Ohio "Buckeye" from Toledo skiing alone like me, so we spent the afternoon going the slopes together.  This was the last time I skied at Winter Park, CO.  For the first time in my life, I skied above the timber line.  JUST SNOW EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK!  It was a blast.  But, I kinda feel like the "Pillsbury Dough Boy" in this picture.  I'm hoping to get a new ski jacket for Christmas this year.  Bright GREEN so the Ski Patrol can see me better in the Avalanche!

I'm Jim Burns and this is "Something to Think About!"       Email:  jimmycburns@aol.com

PLEASE PRAY FOR MY WIFE

Coletta,  has a pinched sciatic nerve. We would covet your prayers for her.

Thank you.  Jim C. Burns, Van Wert, Ohio

Email: jimmycburns@aol.com

MILEY THE HORSE RIDER, FALL 2010

This is something to think about. Email: jimmycburns@aol.com

STEVE CURINGTON DIED AT AGE 45

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (James 4:14)

We are sad to learn of the death of the founder and president of Reformers Unanimous, Steven Curington from Rockford, Illinois. Steve walked in the presence of His Savior for the first time around 4:30 pm on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010. He had an apparent heart attack.

Steve was just 45 and was being mightily used of God in helping thousands of men, women, and young people come to Christ and find victory over their addictions. Steve developed a ten principle plan that was implemented for local Baptist Churches to use in a two hour Friday night recovery program to help people who struggle with drugs, alcohol, pornography and any other addictions.

Our church started Reformer's Unanimous 5 years ago. Our former Director, Dennis Dull and I drove up to Saginaw, Michigan in Sept. 2006 to an R. U. training conference and had the privilege of hearing Steve Curington preach at that rally. I shook his hand and briefly greeted him as he passed down our aisle after one of the services.

He leaves behind a young wife, Lori, and five young children. I'm having a difficult time understanding this death. On this side of heaven, we would call this an "untimely death." A young, great leader, moving mountains for God, changing lives by the thousands around the world, author of some of the most practical Christian books to help people be liberated from not only addictions but church legalism, and now, he's gone.

But, there is a reason for this. And, as much as we will miss Steve and his family and close friends and his ministry will miss him, the bottom line is it "was his divine appointment" which God already had settled long before the world was ever created.

His work will follow him and the ministry will continue and probably grow even more now. Please pray for his wife and children as well as his parents and brothers. He died doing what he loved doing. He was busy preaching and serving the Lord. No doubt when Steve Curington entered Heaven, His lord said unto him, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (Matt. 25:21).

Learn more about the ministry Steve founded at: reformu.com