Victory!
I have reported enough of my defeats, so it is refreshing to be able to finally report a major victory. I passed my motorcycle test! After trying twice last summer, I renewed my temporary permit for another year. But that year was soon coming to a close. I borrowed Ray Bennett’s 650 which is much lighter than my bike. I still had a little trouble with sharp right and left turns - putting my foot down a couple of times. But I went through the treacherous cone course unblemished. At that point, I knew I was on my way. Now I can drive at night (legally) and carry a rider. Jeanne doesn’t seem too excited.
We had a wonderful July 4th weekend. Family, cook-out, swimming and the highlight - Fireworks! The ensemble did a great job at the “Freedom” musical and Col. Jim Roberts did a wonderful job reminding us of our Christian heritage as a nation.
Jeanne’s daughter, Kelli is having a baby boy, so we are in Kenosha Wisconsin for a few days. Jeanne officially qualifies for Young at Heart by turning 50 today, July 7th. So when you see a Honda Shadow 1100 and two young motorcycle riders going by with our helmets on, of course, it is a good chance it could be your pastor and wife. Victory at last!
A Strange Father’s Day
4 Generations of Burgbachers
This is the first Father’s Day I haven’t had a father to call, or take out to eat or buy a gift for. Instead I took my Mom and my Sister to the cemetery. It is not like dad is really there, for I know he is in the presence of the Lord, but somehow it brings a small measure of comfort to visit the spot we last said goodbye and shared some wonderful memories. It is hard to believe dad has been gone two months now. Some of you may disagree, but I have to say that I had the best father in the world. He was a kind, gentle man who was a powerful example of what a man, a father, and a husband should be. I am so grateful for a wonderful dad.
The weekend started Saturday at the Santee National Country Club with high expectations. It was time for our Men’s Missions Golf Tournament, but my team’s inability to make any putts left us off of the Leader Board. We still had some great fun. Next year I’ll reload my team and try again. I was definitely the weakest link!
Sunday we had some great services as men answered the call to be better fathers, and we prayed for our children. The highlight was my daughter’s call from Nepal and Chad’s call from Panama. All is well with my kids. We also have had the privilege to watch Jason and Jessica’s boys while they are in Nicaragua on a missions trip. They are a lot of fun and a lot of work. My strategy is to wear them out in the neighbor’s pool. They go to bed a lot easier and earlier that way!
I am so blessed to have had a godly father who passed his Christian heritage to me, which I passed on to my kids, and now they are passing on to their children. God’s blessings are incredible.
Psalm 103:17
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children…
Wonderful Memories
There are some days that live in infamy in America’s History. We remember December 7th, the attack on Pearl Harbor that brought us to World War II. We remember September 11th, which launched a completely different war on terror. On an individual basis, June 10th was a day that will live in infamy for me. It is hard to believe that last week marked the two year anniversary of Tania’ s death. While the memories are still very vivid, the pain has become a whole lot better.
A friend of mine called on that day to check on me and remind me that Tania is having a ball right now, and that she wouldn’t come back if she could. The thought of Tania in the presence of her Lord with perfect joy and peace definitely brings comfort.
A lot has happened in the last two years and God has brought some wonderful new people into my life. The Lord has been faithful to bless our church, and all that Tania began with her teaching and mentoring of ladies continues to bear fruit. Now when we think of her, instead of tears, her memory bring a smile to our faces.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Goodbyes
It’s hard to watch your little girl walk down the corridor at the airport knowing that she will be gone to Nepal for the next four years. It seems like the last year Josh and Lindy were home for itineration has gone by so fast. Much of their time here was spent in Oklahoma (Josh’s home district) and other parts of the country, raising their needed support. They have a unique ministry of going from village to village in Nepal sharing the good news of Jesus to people who have never heard His name before.
The last month they spent in South Carolina. They were wonderful help in taking care of my dad with his last few weeks on this earth. The timing of Lindy’s furlough and dad’s passing was orchestrated by the Lord, but with all that has transpired in the last year, I didn’t get to spend as much time with Lindy as I would have liked. She is very much like her mother, so I often got a little nostalgic when we were together.
God’s highest call is to spread His good news. I am very proud of all my kids, but when they answer the call of God, sometimes it “separates.”
Acts 13:2
As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
This has been a difficult month of goodbyes; Dad a couple of weeks ago and Lindy this past Thursday. I know I will see both of them again, but when that will be is in the Lord’s hands. A great thanks to all who sent cards, flowers, letters, food, and especially for your prayers during the loss of my father. The whole time I have felt the incredible peace of the Lord.
Pastor Larry
Heaven
As I write this Tuesday, AM I am sitting beside my dad’s hospital bed in his house. There is no place right now I would rather be. “Amazing Grace” is playing in the background and I can feel the presence of the Lord in a supernatural way. Dad is struggling to breath and his pain is increasing. His home going could be any day now. Chad is flying in today from Panama, his brother is driving in today from Louisiana, and Josh and Lindy should arrive tomorrow from Oklahoma, for one last time to tell dad how much we love him.
It is hard to believe that two months ago he was getting off a cruise ship, and pushing mom in a wheel chair. She had fallen and broken the bone in the socket of her hip. Four days later, he was walking to his mailbox and was short of breath. A few days after that they were draining five liters of fluid off of his chest. A mass was discovered in his chest behind the sternum bone. When they broke the bone to remove the mass, the cancer had already spread to the exterior of the left lung. Since then he has experienced a very rapid decline.
Last week my dad asked me a couple of questions. The first had to do with why does all this bad stuff happen, and he also mentioned Tania. I don’t know if we have any good answers when these times come. We are called upon to trust in the sovereignty of the Lord and His never failing love for us. I think the answer to these questions can’t ever be fully understood until we reach Heaven. And then we shall know that every tear will be wiped away.
The second question dad asked is where I can read about Heaven. I knew his reading days were over, but it struck me that the closer we get to the end of this life, the more our thoughts turn homeward. When we are doing fine our focus is on the present. But “God has set eternity in our hearts”, and this thought of our eternal future would impact every decision we make. We do know Heaven is about to get a lot sweeter, because a great man of God is getting ready to go to his Heavenly home.
For now I have a great privilege of opening God’s Word and reading to dad, Rev. 21 and 22.
Revelation 21:3-7
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
Thank you of all your prayers for dad, mom and my entire family. God’s presence is incredible.
Safe in His arms,
Pastor Larry
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Update
Don Burgbacher passed away Thursday morning, April 29th at approximately 4am. Please continue to hold the Burgbacher family in your prayers.
Spring Get-Away
It’s been awhile since my last blog. We went on a cruise with three other South Carolina ministers and their wives. We sailed out of Charleston on March 8th on the Celebrity Mercury. We were on the Sailing in which 343 passengers out of 1800 came down with the Noro-virus, some kind of stomach flu. At every dining area, hallway, and show, ship crew members were standing by with hand wipes and sanitizer. My hands have never been so clean. Of our group of eight, two ladies got sick, but Jeanne and I missed the plague.
As always, we had great food and a lot of fun. I only put on four pounds, but it would have been worse had I not worked out on the ship. It seemed like there were a lot of older people on the boat - maybe that is why I fit in. I did get to win a couple of ping-pong tournaments and a bean-bag toss, but my teams lost all of the trivia competitions. A lot of smart guys on our boat!
We stopped at four different ports in the Eastern Caribbean. We did some snorkeling and I got to scuba dive on a great wreck in St. Kitts. Cruising is a great value when you consider all the food, entertainment and islands you get to visit. We went out for about $90.00 a day per person.
It is good to be home. I am getting excited about Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Should be some exciting days. It always is when you think about all the Jesus Christ has done for us!
Pastor Larry
Ski Trip
I’m pretty happy today, because as I sit in my office I currently have no broken legs or arms. Last weekend I went skiing in Snowshoe, WV with three friends. I am such a bad skier that every time I make it down the slope without any major injuries, it is a blessing.
I can navigate the green runs (easy) and blue runs (moderate) with very little difficulty, but a couple of skiers I went with are very good (Steve and Nick), so they wanted to spend most of the time on the black diamonds (Difficult), which is way beyond my skill level. I would start out on the first steep drop, turning and digging my skis in sideways in an attempt to control my speed. I can go fast, but never really like the feeling of being totally out of control. Often I would wipe out. The good news is that by the time I stopped going down the hill on my back side, most of the steep stuff was behind me. On the occasions I did make it down without falling, my legs would be burning.
The weather was very cold and the wind blowing. Friday the blizzard kept some of the slopes closed, but the 10 - 16 inches of snow gave us fresh powder, which was a lot of fun. Now I have more of a feel for what West Coast skiing is like. At the end of a long day, the jacuzzi really felt good. Coming out of the mountain we sat in traffic because a beer truck slid off of the road. We got home about 3:00am, Saturday morning.
We had a great time on our guys only trip! Next year I should really be good, as once again I will pray, “Lord, get me down off of the ‘Widow Maker’” one more time.
Psalms 91:11
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
Pastor Larry
Snow Day
If you can’t figure it out, I’m the one on the left. What a beautiful weekend. It seems like once every decade we have an accumulation of snow. Last Friday evening was that special day. Jeannie and I sat in front of the fireplace in the warmth watching the snow come down. The next morning was a bright snowy day with a white-out all around. Of course we had to build a snowman. Fortunately he turned out to be an Ohio State fan. Now all that remains of him is a little snow ball. That is definitely not a metaphor for the way the upcoming Ohio State basketball and football season is going to go!
Psalms 19:1
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.
The Family Works
It is always exciting to see the church moving together in the same direction. To start the year, I felt the Lord lead me to focus on strengthening families. Along with our Sunday morning series, our home groups have been doing a series, “Marriage Built to Last”. We are also launching four, “Two Equals One” intensive study groups as well. This weekend we will be having our first Marriage Enhancement Weekend in several years with Tim and Linda Buttrey entitled, “True Intimacy”. Kinetic Youth has also been doing a family series for our teenagers. We are believing that God is going to use these days to strengthen marriages & families in our church. Testimonies are already coming in, many remarking that “This is just what we needed!”
The divorce rate in the church is comparable statistically with the national divorce rate, but through the grace of God, that doesn’t have to be the case at Faith Assembly of God. By following God’s blueprint for the family, we can change the trend of risking divorce and be a light to the world.
Matthew 19:4-6
4 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Pastor Larry
Christian Unity
Last week our Summerville Minister’s Association put together the celebration of Christian Unity Week. Each day at noon, services were held at various churches. The host church would put together the liturgy (music and prayers) and a minister from the area would bring a word. This was followed by a light lunch. I thoroughly enjoyed all the different expressions of worship.
We have a wonderful community of believers who worship at different churches across the low country. Every church has a different tradition of worship which makes each congregation unique. And yet, we are all one body in Christ Jesus.
I had the privilege too, of preaching the Monday noon service at Canaan United Methodist Church. I preached on the resurrection of Jesus Christ and had a wonderful time.
Ephesians 4:4-6
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
We must choose not to focus on our differences, but the Lord Jesus Christ who makes us one.
In His Service Together,
Pastor Larry
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Pastor Larry Burgbacher is the senior pastor at Faith Assembly of God in Summerville, South Carolina. -
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