HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

God blessed me in a great way this week end.  Coletta and I went to Bear Creek Farms in Indiana for a nice dinner out on Friday night.  Our church music leader, Fabian Canales and his wife Dolores took us out to Bob Evans Saturday night for our 35th Anniversary, and our church surprised us with a nice card and love offering at church today.   The Lord brought us 137 today at church, with many visitors in our worship service.  20 of our regulars were either in the hospital or out of town for Father's Day, so when they are back, we are  really looking to see "growth" at Liberty this summer!   The spirit of our church last Sunday and today has been excellent.  We have a renewed joy and freedom in the services that we have not seen in years!

Plus, I had a great Father's Day also. My granddaughter, Miley and her mom, Jenny in Kansas called us Thursday.  My son, Matt called me Saturday and Sunday, and I got a wonderful E-card and a "Skype" phone call from our youngest son, Aaron in China.  Great Father's Day gifts and a wonderful wife, Coletta, who has put up with me for 35 years as of yesterday.

I don't believe in luck or chance, but if I did I could say with Lou Gehrig, "I'm the luckiest man alive!"   Thanks everyone for making our Anniversary and my Father's Day so very special.

A SURPRISE VISIT FROM THE SMITHS!

Pictured above are: Eldon and Martha Smith (far left and far right), me, my wife, Coletta, and our granddaughter, Miley showing off! This photo was taken in front of the present church building of the Liberty Baptist Church, where Coletta and I have now ministered for 12 years.

The Smiths have been on the staff of the Westside Baptist Church in Hutchinson, Kansas for over 30 years. Eldon and I worked side by side as assistant pastors for 4 years there, then I became the Sr. Pastor and got to "boss" Eldon around for nine years before our coming to Ohio. I had just started my Father's Day sermon a few weeks ago, and here walks in Eldon and Martha into our sanctuary. They were out here on a vacation, and slipped in on us! Eldon has been an assistant pastor and music pastor all these years. While we worked together in Kansas, he led a 60 voice adult choir, and today, he sings in a Southern Gospel Quartet, leads the music and still serves full time at Westside.

Coletta and I could not have been more surprised, pleased, or happier than to be "reunited" with our old "co-workers!" After morning church, we went to the nearby China Town Express and brought back a bunch of old memories over lunch. When I told Coletta, "If I would have known they were coming, I would have had Eldon teach Sunday School, sing a mini-concert, preach the Father's Day sermon, and had a choir clinic Sunday night!" Her response to me was, "And that's why they didn't tell us they were coming! They were on VACATION!" I hate it when she's right!

Eldon and Martha, you made me speechless that Sunday! Thank you for making our Father's Day so complete! I was truly surprised more than you will ever know, and it sure was fun preaching to you again!

That's something to think about! jimmycburns@aol.com

My Two Sons - Father's Day 2008

Pictured: Matt Burns, 7, Aaron 5, and their cousin, K. C. 8 months
I wanted to do my first "Father's Day Blog" on my two sons. Matthew James Burns, our oldest son was born on March 24, 1977. Aaron Jay Burns, our youngest was born on August 24, 1979. Both born at the Raleigh General Hospital, Beckley, West Virginia. Coletta and I had Matt the old fashioned way with an old fashioned Doctor where I just sat in the hospital waiting room waiting for my name to be called so they could tell me, "It was a boy!" Dr. Bliss was easily in his 60's, when he delivered both of our sons. But, by the time Aaron was born, he had a change of heart, and let me "in" for the event. I put on the garb and got to see my second child born. Bliss had delivered literally hundreds of West Virginia babies, but, when Aaron popped out, I said to the Doc, "Wow wee, I haven't even seen a cat born before!" The Doc's reply was simple and quiet. "Me neither!"

Give or take a few years, Matt and Aaron spent 18 years of their lives being raised in a "pastor's home." Matt's 31 now and Aaron will be 29 the end of this summer, so, I guess I can say, "I've raised my boys!" I said "good bye" to Matt when we moved to Ohio as he stayed back in Kansas for a while. We then said "good bye" to Aaron when he left for college in Northern Wisconsin.

Coletta and I love both of our sons equally and always have. Neither of them always behaved perfectly (or like how all the church folks thought they should have), but they were both much better than I was growing up, especially during my teen years. They are both smart, practical, handsome, funny, fun to be with, and hard workers. They are thoughtful too. I can't remember a birthday, a Father's Day, or a Christmas that both of my boys didn't either, call, write, or come visit to assure me of their love for their old gray haired dad. So, if you have kids, cherish the baby and toddler years. Cherish the times of taking your kids to drop them off at school. Don't miss a ball game or music performance your kids play in. Take them on day trips, fishing, skiing, and neat vacations camping and going to parks. Go canoeing with them. (We did all of this and had a blast)! And then, when your kids grow up and move away, you won't have to hear them say, "Dad never had any time for me!"


From Left to Right: Aaron and Matt Burns with neighbor girl at Hutchinson, Kansas

Thanks Matt and Aaron for making your old man feel so loved. I'm proud of both of you, and love you very much. Even with all the ups and downs, laughter and tears, I can honestly say, "It's good to be a Father."

That's something to think about. jimmycburns@aol.com