What is it about 2 AM? For the past week, I have been awakened at this unthinkable time of the night with a stirring and prompting to just be still (what else am I to do at 2 AM) and quiet (as though I'd have a desire to awaken Vickie and ask her to play a game of Uno). It is during these times that I've sensed God's prompting to spend time with Him. It is during these times that I have heard His voice and sensed His direction in things that are needed so that I can fulfill my assignment. These promptings are somewhat unnerving. They are beyond my ability. I guess that it has to be this way so that I won't attempt to do these alone and, true to human nature, mess up things.
What is it about 2 AM? I guess that God knows that if we won't give Him sufficient time in the day, He will creatively find a time where there are no appointments, no phone calls to make, no distractions to pull us away from Him.
What is it about 2 AM? I know that the voice is His for there are no other voices speaking to me. I know that the urgency is His for at that time of the night I have no other causes longing for my attention. I know that the desire for intimacy is His for He is seeking me when He knows that He alone will have my focus.
What is it about 2 AM? It is God's gentle reminder that I am His and He is mine and that He longs to share His heart and focus with me and in turn see my heart and focus long for Him. Thank you Lord for this "wake up call" for me to be with You.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Are Your Kids "Already Gone"?
I'm in the process of reading Ken Ham and Britt Beemer's book Already Gone. For years, I've shared the statistics showing some 70% to 80% percent of our youth abanding the church after high school graduation. But, Already Gone gives some fresh insight to this mass exodus.
These authors and pollsters surveyed some 1,000 20-somethings that had abandoned the church seeking to discover the when and why of their departure. Without going into a lengthy overview of their study, the one fact that absolutely startled me was that some 40% of those leaving the church left after moving up from the children's and middle school ministries. Did you get that? Four hundred of the thousand who left the church did so after leaving the ministries that are under our supervision and oversight.
I know that there are numerous factors involved ... peer pressure, home life, media influence, etc. along with perhaps the "disability" that our ministries face with our inability to "compete" with the decor and high tech of Disney. With all of these factors not in our favor, should we just resign to the fact that we are powerless to reverse the trend? Should we continue to allow the back door to remain open and watch the kids flee?
NO!!! If anything, these factors should cause us to walk into the service with the same resolve written by the apostle Paul. With our present methods not producing the desired results, we need to walk into our classes and services with IRREFUTABLE evidence that what we preach and teach is UNDENIABLY true.
What was Paul's resolve? "My teaching and preaching were not with words of human wisdom that persuade people but with proof of the power that the Spirit gives. This was so that your faith would be in God's power and not in human wisdom." 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (New Century Version).
Let's make it hard for our kids to leave our ministry and go into the world. Let's allow our children to know that they know that they know that God is real. Let's allow the boys and girls to be able to voice Simeon's words found in Luke 2:30 "With my own eyes I have seen your salvation." (New Century Version)
These authors and pollsters surveyed some 1,000 20-somethings that had abandoned the church seeking to discover the when and why of their departure. Without going into a lengthy overview of their study, the one fact that absolutely startled me was that some 40% of those leaving the church left after moving up from the children's and middle school ministries. Did you get that? Four hundred of the thousand who left the church did so after leaving the ministries that are under our supervision and oversight.
I know that there are numerous factors involved ... peer pressure, home life, media influence, etc. along with perhaps the "disability" that our ministries face with our inability to "compete" with the decor and high tech of Disney. With all of these factors not in our favor, should we just resign to the fact that we are powerless to reverse the trend? Should we continue to allow the back door to remain open and watch the kids flee?
NO!!! If anything, these factors should cause us to walk into the service with the same resolve written by the apostle Paul. With our present methods not producing the desired results, we need to walk into our classes and services with IRREFUTABLE evidence that what we preach and teach is UNDENIABLY true.
What was Paul's resolve? "My teaching and preaching were not with words of human wisdom that persuade people but with proof of the power that the Spirit gives. This was so that your faith would be in God's power and not in human wisdom." 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (New Century Version).
Let's make it hard for our kids to leave our ministry and go into the world. Let's allow our children to know that they know that they know that God is real. Let's allow the boys and girls to be able to voice Simeon's words found in Luke 2:30 "With my own eyes I have seen your salvation." (New Century Version)
Monday, January 25, 2010
Got Any Dice?
In reading through the Book of Acts again this week, I noticed this interesting fact that applies to all of us in the children's ministry.
In Acts 1, the upper room was filled with so many great people, many of whom had actually walked daily with Jesus. As per Jesus' command, they were in this place awaiting the promised Holy Spirit. In this time, the apostles decided to have a business meeting. (What else can a church leader do when there's nothing else to do?) In Judas' absence, the apostles knew that someone had to fill the missing position. So, what was their method for selecting this person? After praying, they rolled some dice. We all know that their lot fell upon Matthias of whom we never hear anything again.
Here is this week's thought for those of us in leadership positions in the children's ministry. Have you considered the fact that after being filled with the Holy Spirit, the leaders of the church never had to roll dice again? With decisions constantly being made in the formation of this new Church, never again do we read of them casting lots. Why? Because they now had Someone who could communicate with them and guide them.
How are your decisions being made? When selecting what you will teach the children, is it a matter of which curriculum looks the most user-friendly? When deciding which music to sing, is it a matter of what is fresh and new or what has the most colorful DVD presentation? When deciding how much to pack into a service, is it a matter of which games haven't played in a while and which DVD is new and unseen? While we don't physically roll dice in our decision making, would it be safe to say that we are mentally casting lots?
Let's not have services whose results are as lasting as the decision to select Matthias. Let's hear the voice of the One sent to lead and guide us. It is amazing what He might say about what happens in next week's service. Selah!
In Acts 1, the upper room was filled with so many great people, many of whom had actually walked daily with Jesus. As per Jesus' command, they were in this place awaiting the promised Holy Spirit. In this time, the apostles decided to have a business meeting. (What else can a church leader do when there's nothing else to do?) In Judas' absence, the apostles knew that someone had to fill the missing position. So, what was their method for selecting this person? After praying, they rolled some dice. We all know that their lot fell upon Matthias of whom we never hear anything again.
Here is this week's thought for those of us in leadership positions in the children's ministry. Have you considered the fact that after being filled with the Holy Spirit, the leaders of the church never had to roll dice again? With decisions constantly being made in the formation of this new Church, never again do we read of them casting lots. Why? Because they now had Someone who could communicate with them and guide them.
How are your decisions being made? When selecting what you will teach the children, is it a matter of which curriculum looks the most user-friendly? When deciding which music to sing, is it a matter of what is fresh and new or what has the most colorful DVD presentation? When deciding how much to pack into a service, is it a matter of which games haven't played in a while and which DVD is new and unseen? While we don't physically roll dice in our decision making, would it be safe to say that we are mentally casting lots?
Let's not have services whose results are as lasting as the decision to select Matthias. Let's hear the voice of the One sent to lead and guide us. It is amazing what He might say about what happens in next week's service. Selah!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Three Thieves of Intimacy with the Holy Spirit
For those wanting to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit, they must learn to create opportunities to be with Him. You see, relationships are birthed out of being together with the Holy Spirit. It is a time investment. Sadly, we often are just too busy. There are too many other priorities. Because of the lopsided priorities, the longing to be in His presence and to have communion with Him is pushed further and further down our list of priorities.
This week, allow me to share three ideologies in which many have subscribed that rob them of their time with the Holy Spirit.
1. You can have it all. We race through life, working and maneuvering to try to acquire everything on our "have-to-have-it" list. This pursuit to accumulate everything is a thief that will eventually leave you empty. King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 2:10, 17 showed the futility of this ideology.
2. You can do it all. While we know that we really can't do it all, our crowded, hectic schedules would prove that we think otherwise. And sadly, we push this ideology on to our children by engaging them in multiple activities (piano lessons AND soccer leagues AND junior Bible quiz) in addition to the eight-hour school day and the enormous amounts of homework. No wonder there isn’t any room for an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit.
3. You deserve it all. This mentality will push a person to the limits (or rather, beyond the limits) to gain goals. While goal setting and having dreams are both important and biblical, the attitude of the heart reflected in these goals and dreams should always be Holy Spirit approved. This will prevent self-centered attitudes and behavior and promote a life-style of dependency upon the Holy Spirit and thus causing the longing to fellowship and commune with Him.
This week, allow me to share three ideologies in which many have subscribed that rob them of their time with the Holy Spirit.
1. You can have it all. We race through life, working and maneuvering to try to acquire everything on our "have-to-have-it" list. This pursuit to accumulate everything is a thief that will eventually leave you empty. King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 2:10, 17 showed the futility of this ideology.
2. You can do it all. While we know that we really can't do it all, our crowded, hectic schedules would prove that we think otherwise. And sadly, we push this ideology on to our children by engaging them in multiple activities (piano lessons AND soccer leagues AND junior Bible quiz) in addition to the eight-hour school day and the enormous amounts of homework. No wonder there isn’t any room for an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit.
3. You deserve it all. This mentality will push a person to the limits (or rather, beyond the limits) to gain goals. While goal setting and having dreams are both important and biblical, the attitude of the heart reflected in these goals and dreams should always be Holy Spirit approved. This will prevent self-centered attitudes and behavior and promote a life-style of dependency upon the Holy Spirit and thus causing the longing to fellowship and commune with Him.
Monday, January 11, 2010
It's Your Move!
Here's a little known fact about Billy Burns. I am hopelessly addicted to playing word games. (If there is a support group for this addiction, I don't want to be a part of it.) I absolutely LOVE any kind of word game. To show you my passion for this addiction, I have on my iPhone 14 different word games. I could (and do) spend as much time as possible playing these games. And, to feed this addiction, the iPhone has a Scrabble-type app called Words With Friends. Several of Trinity's pastoral staff have this game on their iPhones and are involved in a Words With Friends tournament. Right now, I am involved in 12 different Words With Friends games and loving each and every minute of it!
There's one thing about the Words With Friends game that makes it so appealing. It is a self-paced game. With that I mean, when your opponent makes their move, their word appears on the Words With Friends game board. Now, it is my move. Because of schedules, once I receive notice of it being my turn, I can immediately take my turn and create my decimating, intelligent word. There are times however that it might be an hour or two before I can find the time to escape to Words With Friends world and make my play. The other player has to wait until I make my move before they can make their next move.
This is true with revival in this new year. In the Word, we can easily see that God has made His move for a mighty outpouring of His Spirit in our children and children's ministries. He has shown us His desire for our children to prophesy and powerfully inact His will in the earth. He has given us His Holy Spirit to enable His will to manifest. Throughout the Gospels, He has revealed His Spirit to us so that we can have an intimate relationship with Him. Throughout the Book of Acts and letters to the Church, God demonstrated how His Spirit operates.
Just as in Words With Friends, before God can make His next move, He will wait and wait until we make our move. Our move of desperation, our longing to do whatever it takes to facilitate the fulfillment of His promise will cause God to pour out a supernatural rain from heaven that will forever change you, your children, and your children's ministry.
This week's blog is your official notice (no iPhone app needed) that it is time for your move.
There's one thing about the Words With Friends game that makes it so appealing. It is a self-paced game. With that I mean, when your opponent makes their move, their word appears on the Words With Friends game board. Now, it is my move. Because of schedules, once I receive notice of it being my turn, I can immediately take my turn and create my decimating, intelligent word. There are times however that it might be an hour or two before I can find the time to escape to Words With Friends world and make my play. The other player has to wait until I make my move before they can make their next move.
This is true with revival in this new year. In the Word, we can easily see that God has made His move for a mighty outpouring of His Spirit in our children and children's ministries. He has shown us His desire for our children to prophesy and powerfully inact His will in the earth. He has given us His Holy Spirit to enable His will to manifest. Throughout the Gospels, He has revealed His Spirit to us so that we can have an intimate relationship with Him. Throughout the Book of Acts and letters to the Church, God demonstrated how His Spirit operates.
Just as in Words With Friends, before God can make His next move, He will wait and wait until we make our move. Our move of desperation, our longing to do whatever it takes to facilitate the fulfillment of His promise will cause God to pour out a supernatural rain from heaven that will forever change you, your children, and your children's ministry.
This week's blog is your official notice (no iPhone app needed) that it is time for your move.
Monday, January 4, 2010
TODAY is the Day of the Holy Ghost!
Let me start off this blog by doing two things. First of all, I am wishing myself a happy 53rd birthday. On this day, January 4, in 1957, Bill and Elizabeth Burns became the parents of a stunningly handsome, incredibly intelligent, unquestionably funny, and undeniably modest little boy. (I'm the founder and president of my own fan club ... and its only member!)
Secondly, I want to restate the final few words that I posted in the final post of 2009 .... TODAY is the day of the Holy Ghost.
Many reading this blog have never been in our conferences and have never heard why I write and say "TODAY is the day of the Holy Ghost" so often. Let me tell you the story behind the saying.
One Sunday morning, we had a tremendous time of praise and worship. So many of our children were going after God. God's presence was so tangible. After this time of praise and worship, I told my wife Vickie from the platform that I could see the day that it would be difficult to stop our children from praising God in the service so that we could move on to the next portion of the service. That was a great spiritual statement, or so I thought. Shortly after leaving the platform, God's Spirit spoke to me and corrected me. He said for me to quit saying that I see the day coming and instead begin to state that today was that day. He continued by emphasizing that we can cause ourselves to miss out on what God wants to do today by living in the past where God had visited or by constantly looking at the future. He again emphasized that TODAY is the day of the Holy Ghost. By saying the word "today" we are opening the door for the Holy Spirit to begin to move among our children right now.
Join with me. Begin today to announce aloud that TODAY is His day. Begin today to announce boldly that TODAY is His day. Begin today to announce often that TODAY is His day. Thank God for what He has done in the past. I’m thrilled about what He will do in the days to come. But I am ecstatic about what He wants to do TODAY! TODAY is the day of the Holy Ghost!!!!
Secondly, I want to restate the final few words that I posted in the final post of 2009 .... TODAY is the day of the Holy Ghost.
Many reading this blog have never been in our conferences and have never heard why I write and say "TODAY is the day of the Holy Ghost" so often. Let me tell you the story behind the saying.
One Sunday morning, we had a tremendous time of praise and worship. So many of our children were going after God. God's presence was so tangible. After this time of praise and worship, I told my wife Vickie from the platform that I could see the day that it would be difficult to stop our children from praising God in the service so that we could move on to the next portion of the service. That was a great spiritual statement, or so I thought. Shortly after leaving the platform, God's Spirit spoke to me and corrected me. He said for me to quit saying that I see the day coming and instead begin to state that today was that day. He continued by emphasizing that we can cause ourselves to miss out on what God wants to do today by living in the past where God had visited or by constantly looking at the future. He again emphasized that TODAY is the day of the Holy Ghost. By saying the word "today" we are opening the door for the Holy Spirit to begin to move among our children right now.
Join with me. Begin today to announce aloud that TODAY is His day. Begin today to announce boldly that TODAY is His day. Begin today to announce often that TODAY is His day. Thank God for what He has done in the past. I’m thrilled about what He will do in the days to come. But I am ecstatic about what He wants to do TODAY! TODAY is the day of the Holy Ghost!!!!
Monday, December 28, 2009
A Personal Note from Billy
Is this year really almost over? Wasn't it just yesterday that we were beginning 2009? What happened? How could 365 days disappear so quickly?
What a year. God has opened up so many doors. In addition to our conferences here in the United States, we also had the opportunity to minister in Trinidad and Austria. The readership to the Billy Burns Ministries blog that you are reading right now is soaring. In the last 30 days, individuals from 39 states in the United States and from 39 nations have hit on the blog. There is truly a hunger for a move of God among children's ministries and their leaders. Vickie and I are thrilled to have the privilege of being a voice in ushering in this move of the Spirit.
As I close out 2009, I want to thank you for your love and support. From time to time, I receive emails telling what the weekly blog means to the readers. I'm also honored to have individuals write asking for information about the possibilities of having a regional Ignite the Supernatural Conference at their church.
I can't wait for 2010. The Bible tells me that God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above anything that I can ask or think. If that is true (and it is) God has a mighty big job on His hands because my heart is so filled with expectation. I am convinced that we will see a cloud of God's glory cover auditoriums of boys and girls. I see leaders coming from around the globe to connect with fellow Holy Ghost Seismologists (see the October 26, 2009 blog) who are sensing a movement in the realm of the unseen and are seeking guidance on how to announce the upcoming shaking, the same type of shaking that was experienced throughout the Book of Acts.
As always, I am an email away. Contact me at billy@billyburnsministries.com for suggestions, conference information, or to just connect with a fellow Holy Ghost Seismologist.
One last time for 2009 allow me to announce what has been forever imprinted on my heart by the Holy Ghost ... TODAY is the day of the Holy Ghost!
What a year. God has opened up so many doors. In addition to our conferences here in the United States, we also had the opportunity to minister in Trinidad and Austria. The readership to the Billy Burns Ministries blog that you are reading right now is soaring. In the last 30 days, individuals from 39 states in the United States and from 39 nations have hit on the blog. There is truly a hunger for a move of God among children's ministries and their leaders. Vickie and I are thrilled to have the privilege of being a voice in ushering in this move of the Spirit.
As I close out 2009, I want to thank you for your love and support. From time to time, I receive emails telling what the weekly blog means to the readers. I'm also honored to have individuals write asking for information about the possibilities of having a regional Ignite the Supernatural Conference at their church.
I can't wait for 2010. The Bible tells me that God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above anything that I can ask or think. If that is true (and it is) God has a mighty big job on His hands because my heart is so filled with expectation. I am convinced that we will see a cloud of God's glory cover auditoriums of boys and girls. I see leaders coming from around the globe to connect with fellow Holy Ghost Seismologists (see the October 26, 2009 blog) who are sensing a movement in the realm of the unseen and are seeking guidance on how to announce the upcoming shaking, the same type of shaking that was experienced throughout the Book of Acts.
As always, I am an email away. Contact me at billy@billyburnsministries.com for suggestions, conference information, or to just connect with a fellow Holy Ghost Seismologist.
One last time for 2009 allow me to announce what has been forever imprinted on my heart by the Holy Ghost ... TODAY is the day of the Holy Ghost!
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