tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post1580422329957517628..comments2023-10-24T07:03:42.942-05:00Comments on vtmbottomline: PERSONAL REFLECTIONSPaul Burlesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17021178307705707423noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-83154638933064987072009-05-01T11:32:00.000-05:002009-05-01T11:32:00.000-05:00Bryan,
I wised up to the need of the gals, who ha...Bryan,<br /><br />I wised up to the need of the gals, who have much wisdom, having their say in things. It IS the best way, I believe, for any ministry board to function. <br /><br />[Church too if the scriptural truth were known and practiced. :)]<br /><br /><br />Ken,<br /><br />I've got a feeling one of these days the door is going to open wide for me to be in Montana with you guys in some kind of ministry. That will be a whale of a good tme for me.Paul Burlesonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17021178307705707423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-80423190296761834652009-04-30T21:19:00.000-05:002009-04-30T21:19:00.000-05:00Paul, as another of your "Men's Seminar" graduates...Paul, as another of your "Men's Seminar" graduates, I am so thankful for your ministry in my life and Mary's ministry in my Wife, Rhonda's life. We continue to learn and grow, looking forward as we look back to your teaching, preaching and sharing in our lives. Thank you for being available to God as we moved through our Seminary years at Southcliff BC. We treasure them.<br />Ken and Rhonda Colson<br />MontanaKen Colsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08739158716313688133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-80749317011832837322009-04-30T11:15:00.000-05:002009-04-30T11:15:00.000-05:00I like your reflections and I didn't realize that ...I like your reflections and I didn't realize that we had similar boards in that ours is composed of married couples as well.Bryan Rileyhttp://charisshalom.fjministries.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-68274666564212089602009-04-30T05:26:00.000-05:002009-04-30T05:26:00.000-05:00Chuck,
Talk about reflections, you, Stella, Mary ...Chuck,<br /><br />Talk about reflections, you, Stella, Mary and I have a ton of such we could do together don't we.<br /><br />Ministry where I was the Senior teaching Elder, health Of both of us with your's more significant at present, [Awaiting a heart transplant], working together as Elders in a fellowship with seven other couples, VTM ministry, ministry where YOU were the Senior teaching pastor and Mary and I were members, facing family issues and learning about Grace in it all, are all things I could reflect on with you. We've been together through a lot of good and tough stuff haven't we. <br /><br />Is that not unbelievably cool!!Paul Burlesonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17021178307705707423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-28220835117427160812009-04-29T21:50:00.000-05:002009-04-29T21:50:00.000-05:00Paul
It was on one of your itinerate ministry tri...Paul<br /><br />It was on one of your itinerate ministry trips that Estela and I met you for the first time. From the morning we had breakfast together at the Village Inn there has been a special connection. I can probably brag on being the first who served on staff with you and later became yours and Mary’s pastor. In both instances it was an absolute joy. Your counsel has been most significant, to say the least, in my life. Yours and Mary’s friendship is treasured by Estela and me. Hopefully, we can all get together soon.<br /><br />Thanks for the reflection. It caused me to have some pleasant reflections of my own. And now days reflections of enjoyment and fun times are a welcomed reprieve to my normal daily mental state. Of course, it could be a lot worse if I hadn’t been taught and observed in practice, from you and Mary, the true grace of our sovereign Lord.<br /><br />ChuckChuck Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11303211354773227743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-71199620431701725892009-04-29T20:38:00.000-05:002009-04-29T20:38:00.000-05:00Aussie John,
Now that's funny. :)Aussie John,<br /><br />Now that's funny. :)Paul Burlesonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17021178307705707423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-39864218221663688812009-04-29T19:41:00.000-05:002009-04-29T19:41:00.000-05:00Paul,
"you ARE my brother." Amen to that. Same So...Paul,<br /><br />"you ARE my brother." Amen to that. Same Sovereign God! Same Family! Hmmn! Are you insinuating that I'm not THAT unique :) Another blow to my pride!Aussie Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-11722643243812350422009-04-29T15:04:00.000-05:002009-04-29T15:04:00.000-05:00B@M,
You guys are treasure to Mary and me. Treasu...B@M,<br /><br />You guys are treasure to Mary and me. Treasure beyond measure.Paul Burlesonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17021178307705707423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-10164418237207034982009-04-29T14:21:00.000-05:002009-04-29T14:21:00.000-05:00It has been a pleasure sharing these years with yo...It has been a pleasure sharing these years with you and Mary. I don't even want to know where our lives would be if we had not met. Margie and I are eternally grateful for the grace God has bestowed on us by enabling us to be friends through His providence.Bobby & Margie Brownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-83779464257996068952009-04-29T05:27:00.000-05:002009-04-29T05:27:00.000-05:00Traveller,
I have had a "What meaneth these stone...Traveller,<br /><br />I have had a "What meaneth these stones" moment fairly regularly across the years. It DOES keep things in pespective.<br /><br />I think you are right on with this....."One of the reasons there is very limited transformation in our lives is because one way we cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work is to reflect."Paul Burlesonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17021178307705707423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-72827911515497720552009-04-28T22:45:00.000-05:002009-04-28T22:45:00.000-05:00Paul,
It is interesting to me how most people spe...Paul,<br /><br />It is interesting to me how most people spend so little time reflecting. Of course, some of it is because of the fast pace of life but I am not sure that is all of it. Reflection tends to take us places that are uncomfortable. I think we are often afraid of those places so we look for ways to avoid reflection. One of the reasons there is very limited transformation in our lives is because one way we cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work is to reflect. No reflection limited transformation.<br /><br />It is also interesting to me that when we read or discuss the reflections of others the result, if we allow it, is to bring forth our own personal reflections. These are not always about ourselves but about larger issues as well.<br /><br />So, that is the long way to say thanks for the reflections they brought forth some good reflecting in my own heart and mind.travellernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-6210994758000986542009-04-28T17:00:00.000-05:002009-04-28T17:00:00.000-05:00Wayne,
It is a thing of six degrees of separatio...Wayne, <br /><br />It is a thing of six degrees of separation isn't it. [You probably know that's six people away from anyone.]<br /><br />Jerry was one of "ours." We had a couple a hundred seminarians and their families each year in our fellowship at Southcliff. That church is STILL having a great impact under the pastoral leadership of Dr. Carroll Marr.<br /><br />It IS a small world.<br /><br /><br /><br />Aussie John,<br /><br />I'm telling you, I may need to come to Australia just so we can sit and talk. There's something strange going on here. Both my parents are with the Lord or I'd ask them if my younger brother Jim and my sister Betty and I could possibly have another brother we don't know anything about. :)<br /><br />Biological or not...you ARE my brother.Paul Burlesonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17021178307705707423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-89141128021994617082009-04-28T15:41:00.000-05:002009-04-28T15:41:00.000-05:00Paul,
Thankyou for opening your reflections to th...Paul,<br /><br />Thankyou for opening your reflections to those who read your blog. I can say that I was blessed!<br /><br />You said,regarding the problems pastors have,"Some of those problems are created by the people they have been called to pastor and some are created by the pastors themselves. [Both kinds of problems have been present in my own life and ministry.]"<br /><br />To that I have to say,"Me too!" to the whole paragraph.<br /><br />I'm sure you would agree with me, also, that the problems in your own journey (including the self caused ones) cover the whole range of human weakness, "the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life".<br /><br />I also, began preaching to youth at age seventeen,and expected to have an itinerant ministry. I know it sounds strange to some, I wanted to preach, but I had such a strong compulsion to preach that I knew I would have personal regrets if I did not.<br /><br />My pastoral ministry ended in 2003 because of physical health problems, but was precipitated by two much earlier visits to a large Baptist Church in the USA, whose structure and operation, would have caused great success in the commercial world. This caused me much inner turmoil, and to question much of the philosophy of ministry I had learned.<br /><br />I would love to find such openheartedness in this place.Aussie Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-6746980395703333842009-04-28T14:08:00.000-05:002009-04-28T14:08:00.000-05:00Jerry,
Great to see you have joined in on these B...Jerry,<br /><br />Great to see you have joined in on these Blogs. We are in San Diego, one of our stops on a 2 month motor trip to visit our 3 Sons and My 2 Sisters. Pray all is well in Bonham.<br />I know and join you in Prayer for the Churches in your organization. Say hello to Brother J.D. for us.<br /><br />Love Wayne and IreneWayne Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14218244632682134340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-67592394111400913392009-04-28T14:02:00.000-05:002009-04-28T14:02:00.000-05:00Paul,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your M...Paul,<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your Ministry for the Lord. You and Mary have been Blessed with your Children and Your work for the Lord. It is a small world to see that you also touched the Life of Jerry Christopher of whom we know from Bonham,TX.<br /><br />WayneWayne Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14218244632682134340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-47437385551438534332009-04-28T12:53:00.000-05:002009-04-28T12:53:00.000-05:00Jerry,
What a delight to hear from you. You're on...Jerry,<br /><br />What a delight to hear from you. You're one of those always ready to hear and learn in order to be a better person and servant. Thanks for stopping by. Do it often.Paul Burlesonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17021178307705707423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-40488510909054203632009-04-28T11:52:00.000-05:002009-04-28T11:52:00.000-05:00Bro. Paul,
Thank you for your personal reflection...Bro. Paul,<br /><br />Thank you for your personal reflections. Your thoughts caused me to be reflective regarding the impact your influence has had on my life and ministry. <br /><br />As a Director of Missions, I still teach and communicate to ministers the implications I learned from you many years ago of what it means to develop your potential as a person, partner, parent, and pastor. I still have in my files and use from time to time the Men's Seminar materials you taught to us seminary students.<br /><br />Thank you for having a heart for pastors! <br /><br />I am serving as a Director of Missions today because I have a heart and passion for pastors. I contribute much of my calling and commitment to be "a pastor to pastors" to be the result of your influence and impact on me as a young minister. <br /><br />It was during those years when I was in Southwestern Seminary and you were my pastor at Southcliff Baptist Church in Fort Worth that I laid some foundations from your example and inspirations. I am continually building on those foundations today.<br /><br />I will be always be grateful for your ministry. <br /><br />Jerry Christopher<br />Director of Missions<br />Fannin Baptist Association<br />Bonham, TexasJerry Christopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03798417971588607156noreply@blogger.com