Dave Burchett's Blog

One of my contributions with these modest weekly musings is to ask tough questions. While listening to the Christmas carol “Away in a Manger” my inquiring mind kicked in. You likely know verse three of the song. The cattle are lowingThe poor Baby wakesBut little Lord JesusNo crying He makes As I listened an important series of difficult and probing inquiries popped into my head.  I can’t answer the last question but I can help with the others. Lowing is defined at dictionary.com as “the characteristic sound uttered by cattle; a moo”. So little baby Jesus was awakened by the characteristic sound uttered by a cow. That would not have flowed well in the lyric so I understand using lowing. The next part of the song is disturbing to those of us who are or have been parents. If any of the babies who grew up in our household were awakened by cattle lowing they would be squalling (defined as “the characteristic sound uttered by a ticked off baby;

The post The Miracle Revealed In A Manger first appeared on Charisa Stories.

I encourage you to turn off the news Thanksgiving Day and concentrate on what you have to be thankful for this holiday. I think you might be surprised at how many good things you take for granted everyday. I love the concept of Thanksgiving. The idea that we collectively take a day to concentrate on the abundant blessings we have in this country. Thanksgiving Song by Mary Chapin Carpenter captures the intimacy of this wonderful holiday. Grateful for each hand we holdGathered round this table.From far and near we travel home,Blessed that we are able. I have so much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. I am grateful for another year with my wonderful wife Joni. I am grateful for three wonderful sons, three amazing daughter-in-laws, and eight heart stealing grandchildren. I am blessed that our family is able to be together this Thanksgiving. I am grateful for good friends. I am grateful to be an American. Grateful for this sheltered placeWith light

The post A Sacred Plan To Make Thanksgiving Day Special first appeared on Charisa Stories.

My Dad passed away twenty-one years ago but I still often think of him when I watch or read the news. The current division in Washington and the selfish agendas of our “representatives” would have driven him nuts. I can imagine him ranting about the politicians and how we just need someone with “some uneducated good old common sense” in our Nation’s Capital. He earned the right to rant. He was one of the incredible men and women who served our country during World War II. Sometimes I dial up his favorite music as emotional comfort food. It is the Gospel songs that really make me think about my wonderful heavenly reunion someday. Today I listened to one of my Dad’s favorite Gospel songs and felt comfort wash over my soul. The song is called “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” and it was written in 1950 by a traveling preacher named Ara Stanphill. This is a song of trust written during a

The post I Am So Grateful That I Know Who Holds Tomorrow first appeared on Charisa Stories.

When I feel a bit discouraged or sad I like to cue up songs that remind me that my hope was, is, and will always be in Jesus. Today I listened to one of my favorite Christian artists, Lauren Daigle, sing a hymn that was written in 1922. That makes this week’s song even older than me. Helen Lemmel, an accomplished hymn writer and soloist, titled the song“The Heavenly Vision”. But most of us know it by the first line of the refrain, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus”. Turn your eyes upon JesusLook full in his wonderful faceAnd the things of earth will grow strangely dimIn the light of his glory and grace I love the concept of turning my eyes toward Jesus but I am all about application. How can that action cause my struggles to dim in the light of His glory and grace? I think there are two foundational steps to get me to that place of

The post Finding Light In The Darkness Of This World first appeared on Charisa Stories.

Bob Dylan wrote some powerful songs about his faith journey in the late 70’s. One song he composed popped up on the music feed recently. “Gotta Serve Somebody” simply says that no matter how independent or in control we might try to be we still serve something or somebody. But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeedYou’re gonna have to serve somebodyWell, it may be the devil or it may be the LordBut you’re gonna have to serve somebody I used to think I was self-sufficient but I was fooling myself. My self-image centered on my job or my social or political beliefs. Those weren’t bad things in my estimation. That lyric struck a spiritual chord because it reminded me of a thought provoking definition of idolatry from author Tim Keller that we can substitute even good things for God. “Sin is building your life and meaning on anything, even a very good thing, more than on God. Whatever we build

The post Don’t Fool Yourself About Being Self-Sufficient. We All Serve Somebody. first appeared on Charisa Stories.

Some attributes in our age of technology are great. You can buy all kinds of things online while relaxing on your sofa. Book trips through an app. Secure a checklist of items that once required multiple errand runs and they will be delivered to your door within hours. But there is another aspect to this modern system that is incredibly frustrating. What do you do when you need to talk to a human being? This past week I spent hours on hold when I needed to talk to a person. I was informed every couple of minutes that my call was important and they would answer my call as soon as a representative was available. That was followed by annoying hold music that repeated over and over and over. I finally gave up. I appreciate that so much can be handled through technology but sometimes you need the assistance of an actual person. You need to hear a voice. God

The post One Of The Most Overlooked Gifts Of God Is So Valuable first appeared on Charisa Stories.

One of the songs that I default to when I am walking through dark valleys is from singer/composer Rich Mullins. The song is from his album called Songs and it is simply titled “Hold Me Jesus”.  Well, sometimes my lifeJust don’t make sense at allWhen the mountains look so bigAnd my faith just seems so small Right now I am in a pretty good place in my life and journey with Jesus. But then I started thinking about the many friends and loved ones who could relate completely to those lyrics in their current situation. And I can certainly recall seasons of my life when those words accurately reflected the condition of my soul. I remember how I used to respond. I would deduce it was my fault and I would decide that I had to do something to bolster my faith. I had to read more verses or do a study or pray more or believe more. But the answer was far more simple and the chorus by

The post When I Need Comfort I Thank Jesus For His Love first appeared on Charisa Stories.

The Epistles written by Paul are as impactful for today’s church as they were for his multiple church plants. Paul was dealt some pretty bad hands during his missionary journeys. I suspect it would have been easy for him to question God about his challenging journey. After all, it was God who very aggressively recruited Paul onto the team while he was traveling to Damascus. But Paul knew that difficulties are a vital part of the ­spiritual growth program. Here is what he wrote from prison. I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in

The post Another Spiritual Insight From A Dog Disciple first appeared on Charisa Stories.

I made a conscious decision a few years ago to focus on communicating the message of grace and identity in Christ. With that I decided to avoid the polarizing path of politics. Some have told me that is cowardly but I can honestly say there is no message more important to me than the liberating freedom of grace. I want to share the joy of living out of what Jesus has already accomplished and what God says is true about me.  That I am a saint. A new creation. A beloved child of God. I relate to the mission statement of Paul when he wrote these words. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. (Acts 20:24, NLT) I feel called to be a messenger of hope and grace. Plus I feel like

The post Time To Implement The Grace Rules of Engagement first appeared on Charisa Stories.

I love the message Paul wrote to the Ephesian church. Paul had spent over two years teaching and discipling the new believers in Ephesus. Not long after leaving he received reports that those new hearts had reverted to old habits. Things were a bit of a mess and the word came back that the old behaviors of rage, immorality, lying, stealing and gossip were resurfacing. Paul wrote a letter to address this sad turn of events. The amazing thing to me is that the first three chapters never address those sins. Paul even greets them as saints for crying out loud! “From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints [in Ephesus], the faithful in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬ ‭NET‬‬) If I was writing that letter it would have had an entirely different tone. Something more along these lines. “What are you thinking? I am so disappointed in you. What is wrong with you?

The post I Must Remember I Have A New Identity first appeared on Charisa Stories.