New Year’s Resolution Time. I’ve been Thinking that I Should…
It’s past time to start thinking now about next year, resolutions, and having an impact for the kingdom of God.
We’ll begin with some sermon excerpts from Charles Spurgeon, then the song of Deborah and Barak in Judges 5, and finish with a challenge.
“Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Note the words “be done,” for they touch a vital point of the text. God’s will is done in heaven. How very practical! …
My brethren, I am afraid that Christ’s will on earth is very much more discussed than done. I have heard of brethren spending days in disputing upon a precept which their dispute was breaking. In heaven they have no disputes, but they do the will of God without discord. We are best employed when we are actually doing something for this fallen world, and for the glory of our Lord. “Your will be done”: we must come to actual works of faith and labours of love. Too often we are satisfied with having approved of that will, or with having spoken of it in words of commendation. But we must not stay in thought, resolve, or word; the prayer is practical and business-like, “Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
Now for Deborah and Barak in Judges 5. God’s people are in a pickle and it’s time for war. Spoiler alert: they win and Deborah leads/gets the credit. Then she and Barak reflect in song on the call to battle and the battle itself.
5:2 – the leaders led and the people served willingly – good form all around – praise the Lord!
5:9 – the leaders offered themselves willingly – it wasn’t just the people who served – blessed be the Lord!
5:14-15a, 18 – many tribes of valiant warriors risked their lives – good for them!
5:15-17a – there were three tribes of talkers, thinkers, and contemplators – at the beach no less (I love pondering things at the beach!), but they never did anything – a lot of hmmmmm-ing, and wows, and good ideas, and soul searching, and sitting. What a legacy for thousands of years of Bible students to read. Tribal committees at their best. Let’s have a meeting at the beach and we can discuss the problem!
5:24-27 – Jael. Now this is a serious woman. Most blessed! May all the mothers of the church have her courage.
The New Year’s resolution time. The guy on the right is not on his way to the beach. He’s on his way to die for what he believes to be true. Sure he contemplated, but he didn’t stop there.
So here’s the plan:
Pray. Pray desperately. Pray hard. Pray that the amazing realities revealed to us in the Bible would grab your heart.
Read the Bible and read some more until you are properly amazed at our God.
Get serious about living for the Lord. Read Luke 14:25-35.
Talk to your leaders at church and offer yourself willingly. Here are some suggested words, “Tell me what to do.”
Prepare to do anything, be a servant. No grumbling, complaining, humphing, or arguing. Just do it. It’ll make you happy if you are a true believer.
Make some decisions and then valiantly do something.
Get ready to die for what you believe is true, Matthew 10:38-39.
Set your hope on heaven.
Isaiah 32:8, “But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands.”
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, “To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
My Hope is built
It good to go to a house of mourning.
It makes you long for home.
Civil War in Ethiopia, Update on Liberia
Training Leaders International has three training sites in Ethiopia. The current unrest means that even when Covid restrictions are lifted we will not be able to go. I was in Ethiopia 3 times in 2019 and the believers there are near and dear to me. The city of Ambo, where we have a great training site, is at the center of the conflict in the west. Pray for their safety. Pray for peace. Pray that the gospel would advance in the suffering. Thank you.
![A member of Tigray police is pictured at a checkpoint in the region [File: AFP]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/000_8PM4L9-1.jpg?resize=770%2C513)
My preparation for Liberia is going well. I’ve immersed myself in 1 and 2 Samuel and it’s been a huge blessing for me. I still pinch myself that I get to do this and it’s my job! I will be teaching some other classes at the Bible College – yet to be determined. The funding for the trip is almost complete. The plane tickets have been purchased. Huge thanks to all who contributed extra funds. God is good. More later.
A couple of links below to the conflict in Ethiopia. Sadly, the news media here will probably not mention it.
3 MONTHS IN LIBERIA!
October 22, 2020
Dear family and friends,
Vickie and I thank you for your prayers, your interest and your faithful giving to our Training Leaders International (TLI) ministry. We consider ourselves blessed to have such a faithful team.
I am writing to let you know our plans for 2021 and to ask for your continued financial support. Although short term travel has been suspended because of COVID 19, TLI is providing their teachers other opportunities to serve the global church. Therefore, I have committed to helping TLI’s Diaspora ministry in Southern California, as well as continue to work with our partners in Tanzania to open a non-formal educational site. Finally, I have accepted an assignment to spend 3 months (considered extended travel) in Liberia this coming January- March, at Grace Life College and Seminary. Vickie will not be traveling to Africa with me.
TLI’s last trip to Liberia was in March ’20, and was abruptly ended because of the pandemic. Since then, TLI has conducted some Zoom teaching meetings, but lessons are difficult due to the nature of online teaching and technology that can be troublesome. This is not the instructional environment that we prefer as the norm.
Therefore, here is an anticipated summary of my ministry in Liberia: I will be teaching 2 classes for the seminary – Exegesis of 1 Samuel and Introduction to the Gospels and Acts.
I will train a group of students who have excelled in our training and have graduated from our non-formal courses, who will in turn be able to teach our non-formal curriculum. I will be training these future trainers.
Grace College and Seminary buildings in construction are pictured on the right. Soon to be finished!
I will participate with the elder team at Grace Life Church and meet with a cohort of leaders weekly to prepare, discuss and give feedback to Sunday morning preaching assignments.
I will speak at local churches on Sundays.
I will be meeting one-to-one with college and seminary students, answering their questions and assisting them with their school assignments. The TLI online curricula is excellent, but it is even more effective when teachers and trainees are face to face. I have a well-established relationship with the leaders of the school and many of its students because I have had reoccurring trips to this area.
Diaspora training in the Western United States TLI has a division devoted to training church leaders who have immigrated to the U.S., but they have little or no theological training. There are thousands of immigrant [diaspora] churches in the United States. TLI does not currently have a director for the West (California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Nevada) even though the greater metropolitan Los Angeles area has at least twice as many immigrant churches as anywhere else in the U.S.. When I return home from Liberia, I will be working to establish relationships with immigrant pastors in the area so that churches, denominations and para-church ministries know of TLI’s work. My goal is to set up several training partners at local churches who will begin establishing training centers. Our Diaspora curriculum is almost identical to the non-formal courses that we teach in Africa, India, and other nations, but it is tailored to U.S. immigrant churches.
Tanzania
TLI has received full funding for the translation of our materials into Swahili which will greatly enhance our outreach in Tanzania! No small feat!! I am working so that when the travel restrictions are lifted, TLI teachers can quickly travel and train smoothly. Please pray! This video is from my trip to Tanzania in March, 2020. They sang for us after lunch break!
Vickie and I continue to be active at Christ Community Church in Laguna Hills. We love both teaching the pre-school class and attending our community group. I have had frequent opportunities to teach and preach at church also. I also have recently joined our missions team and will have the opportunity to encourage other missionaries who have been sent out by our church.
This is a long letter. Thanks for reading and praying!
Bob and Vickie Burris
This three-month trip to Liberia will be expensive: food and lodging, health insurance, and we are paying for the students travel, books, and lodging. COVID has devastated the country, and their financial resources which were already compromised, are scarce. If you are so inclined, you can contribute at https://trainingleadersinternational.org/give. The ministry area is ‘staff members’.
Training Pastors Worldwide 