October 2006

3) On the Missouri ballot will be

Amendment 2, the embryonic stem cell
research issue. As I have traveled around a
little, giving talks on this, I am discovering
that even Christians are divided on the issue.
I have very strong opinions about it, but I
urge you to prayerfully consider these facts:
1) Though the Amendment appears to ban
human cloning, it actually permits it by
OCTOBER 29 GATHERING
redefining cloning as only occurring if the
This will be the only notice for our upcoming
cloned embryo is placed in a human womb.
“Gathering of People Who Pray”. We invite
2) It permits the extraction of stem cells
UP Team and community members to come
from the embryo within the first 14 days of
together and pray a few times a year. This is
existence, and the extraction always kills the
a very important Gathering (of course, they
embryo. 3) it could lead to serious health
all are when people come together to pray!)
issues for women, as there will be have to be
for a few reasons: 1) It is a little over a week
many donated eggs and that will require
before the November national and State
medical stimulation – proven to create
election. It is critical for Christians to pray
possibilities of serious health issues and even
that God’s perfect will be done in our States
death. 5) It will require that tax payer
and our nation and that the Holy Spirit
dollars be spent on unproven medical
guide voters in their decisions, that they be
research and it will be protected as a
pleasing to God. 2) October 29 is World
Constitutional Amendment. 6) There are
Intercessor Day. As many as a billion
proven treatments of diseases with adult
Christians around the world will be seeking
stem cells -–none with embryonic stem cells.
God that day. There are so many needs in
Just the facts of the misleading language and
our world and in all nations of the world, so
of it being proposed as a Constitutional
many lost, so much terrorism, so many wars,
Amendment should give us pause.
so much human injustice. So, please try to
come, and invite family, friends, etc. It will
be on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29, FROM 6
P.M. TO 8 P.M., AT BRANSON HILLS
ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH, JUST
OFF BEE CREEK ROAD, NEAR
CORPORATE PLACE AND BROOKSIDE SANCTITY OF LIFE: A STORY AND
CHURCH. If you need a ride or more REFLECTION
directions, call me at 331-1028. Again, this is
the only announcement you will receive.

REMINDER ABOUT AMENDMENT 2

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Last month I asked you to pray for our son
John and our daughter-in-law Amy, as
she was preparing to have labor
in at 6 lbs., 10 oz, and with a length of 19
inches. A week or so after the birth,
some folks, including Barb and I,
received a card announcing his birth.
The card included a picture, a Scripture
verse (“For this child I prayed”, 1
Samuel 1: 27), and the following true life
story written by Amy. It is so powerful
and such a testimony to the sanctity of
life from conception, that I am
providing it for you here: “The birth of
Jet embodies a grand commencement, a
time to hope, anticipate and pray for his
future. However, at the same time, his
delivery signifies a conclusion of sorts, a
finish, or, at least, a redirection to a
three-year-long journey. Most of you
have heard pieces of our story. At the
start, we were relatively open about our
heartbreak and subsequent struggling.
Over time, we became more closed,
choosing to navigate through our
circumstances primarily on our own.
Allow me to take this opportunity to
share the rest of the account, a voyage
through tragedy and disillusionment,
ending with a miracle. When, in early
September 2003, John and I discovered
that we were expecting our third child,
we anticipated her arrival with blissful
ignorance. On Christmas Eve, we
discovered that her life had been cut
short due to a presumed cord accident.
We were jolted, but optimistic for our
future, even naming our daughter
Elizabeth Hope, based on Jeremiah
29:11, ‘For I know the thoughts that I
think toward you, says the Lord,
thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give
you a future and a hope.’ August 2004
brought further tragedy. We said good-
bye to another baby girl, who died at 11
weeks gestation due to a combination of
chromosomal abnormalities. After the
loss of Abigail Grace, I found myself
confused and doubtful, asking what I
had done wrong, what I hadn’t done
right and why God would allow this to
happen again. Months passed and I
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induced. Well, on September 20, at 1:00
p.m. Jerrett Samuel (“Jet”) Burton was
born, weighing
longed for another child, yet in spite of
our efforts, God had not blessed us with
another pregnancy. I felt frustrated and
uncertain that I would ever again hold
my own living baby in my arms. On
March 26, 2005, I penned the following
journal entry to my Heavenly Father:
‘Today, I read the story of Hannah in 1
Samuel. Oh, how she longed for a child!
Your Word says that her heart was
grieved, she wept and would not eat.
This almost seems a contradiction to me.
Shouldn’t she have rejoiced in the midst
of her circumstances? Shouldn’t Your
love have been enough? Yet she is
revered as one of the greatest women of
faith. I must admit that I am relieved,
for I see much of Hannah in myself.
Wherein, then, lies the secret? How is it
that she possessed both overwhelming
anguish at her inability to conceive and
unswerving faith in You and Your
ways?’ After we lost a third baby,
another little girl, whom we named
Rebecca Faith, in late May, 2005, I
found myself at a crossroads. I knew it
was time to relinquish the many
questions with which I had been
grappling and to which I had been
demanding answers. I chose to set aside
my queries for this lifetime and simply
trust in the character and faithfulness of
God. At that decision, I felt His peace
envelope me and found a renewed sense
of hope and purpose. I continued to
believe that God would one day give us
an additional living child. However,
following the miscarriage of another
baby, Gabriel Promise, in October, we
found ourselves facing a new challenge.
John was done trying. According to
him, we had been through enough. I
took this to the Lord in prayer, asking
that, somehow, John and I would be
unified in this matter. During a time of
prayer about church issues and
challenges, John felt God gently speak to
him regarding ministry, ‘Are you going
to give up just because things get
 tough?’ John answered, ‘No.’ God then
inquired the same concerning a future
child. John announced that day that he
was willing to try again. I am writing
this story 10 months later. I wish I
could tell you that I discovered a secret
formula, a way to ensure a successful
pregnancy and a miracle ending, but I
can’t. I simply want to relate my
experience, the
tale of an
imperfect
person, who
learned to trust
God despite my
circumstances.
Yes, Jet’s birth
is an amazing miracle. His life is a
wonder. But, most importantly, I hope
to impart the faithfulness of God,
because that, perhaps, is the greatest
miracle of all.” I realized that I have
been saying I have two grandchildren,
now three. but Barb and I really have 7
grandchildren – Elizabeth Hope, Abigail
Grace, Rebecca Faith and Gabriel
Promise are in heaven and very much
alive. That also reminds me that I have
an unborn sister in heaven, as does
Barb, and we have another child in
heaven. Perhaps all of this helps explain
my passionate feelings about this whole
stem cell issue.
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
A Priest, a Pentecostal preacher and a Rabbi
all served as chaplains to the students of
Northern Michigan University in Marquette.
They would get together two or three times a
week for coffee and to talk shop. One day,
someone made the comment that preaching
to people isn’t really all that hard. A real
challenge would be to preach to a bear. One
thing led to another and they decided to do
an experiment. They would all go into the
woods separately, find a bear, preach to it,
and attempt to convert it. Seven days later,
they’re all together, in a hospital, to discuss
the experience. Father Flannery, who has
his arm in a sling, is on crutches, and has
various bandages, goes first. “Well,” he
3
says, “I went into the woods to find me a
bear. And when I found him I began to read
to him from the Catechism. Well, that bear
wanted nothing to do with me and began to
slap me around. So I quickly grabbed my
holy water, sprinkled him, and I do proclaim
that he became as gentle as a lamb. The
Bishop is coming out next week to confirm
him.” Reverend Billy Bob spoke next. He
was in a wheelchair, with an arm and both
legs in casts, and an IV drip. In his best fire
and brimstone oratory he proclaimed,
“Well, brothers, I went out a found me a
bear. And I began to read to my bear from
God’s holy Word. But that bear wanted
nothing to do with me. So, I took hold of
him and we began to wrestle. You know
that we do not sprinkle, so as we wrestled I
kind of guided us down a hill to a creek.
When we hit the water I dunked him and
baptized him. And suddenly he became as
gentle as a lamb. We spent the rest of the
evening praising the Lord.” They then both
looked down at the Rabbi, who was lying in
a hospital bed. He was in a body cast, in
traction, and had IV’s running in and out of
him. He was in bad
shape. He looked
up and said,
“Well, I, too, went
out and found a
bear. But, looking
back on it, it may
not have been the
best decision to
start with
circumcision.”
MORE ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
The following is a real groaner, so be
prepared: There was a farmer named Ken
Kellog. Ken raised sheep, and he had this
surly, unpredictable ram which boldly tried
to escape the pasture at any opportunity. He
also had quite a temper (the ram, not Ken).
A bunch of ravens had their nest near by –
about twenty ravens in all. Ten ravens make
up a swoop – in case you didn’t know that –
just more than four sheep are a flock, etc.
Anyway, these ravens loved to harass the
ram. They’d fly down into the field and caw
at him until he charged them. Then they’d
all fly upward and the ram would crash into
the fence. One, though, one of the ravens
didn’t get out of the way in time, and he was
crushed against the fence post. The others
decided to get revenge. When Farmer
Kellog came out to check on his sheep one
day, he forgot to lock the gate properly. The
ravens, working together, pushed it open
and lured the ram out into the hayfield.
They flew towards the bailing machine, the
ram bleating furiously all the way. At the
last minute, the ravens pulled up, and the
ram ran straight into the bailer. He came
out the other end, as a big package. Twenty
big black birds perched on him, satisfied,
leaving the farmer with …”two swoops of
ravens on a package of Kellog’s brazen ram.”
PRAYER MOBILIZATION
Please pray for the
following: Joshua, in the
Coast Guard, with a
health issue…S. for health
and financial relief…
Catherine Evers, and the
requests she makes on
behalf of others, and
for direction…Angels
of Courage Retreats in
NJ…Greg Thompson and all the folks
working diligently in Asleep kNOw More…
Hiram and Nani Galvez…The November
election…Elaine’s son, Bobby, with a serious
health issue…UP Team members, the
Winfreys, who are moving, and their
daughter with some serious needs…UP
Team members, the Garvers, who have
moved…T. and D., for health and
direction…Emma, continued healing…
Larry Moffitt, President of Businessmen’s
Fellowship, and UP Team member – his
birthday…Betty, health…McKinley baby,
health (Dollywood)…Stan, for alcohol rehab
and for salvation…Jay R., for health…
Brenda M., health…Randy and Gail Baar,
for health and direction…Brandon, health…
Ken G.’s new business…All UP Team
members and families…the stem cell issue…
Don and Dorothy Gabriel, for health and
finances and for his vision for a prayer
center here…Lexi Mease, new UP Team
member, and her son in prison and on death
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row (who became a Christian there)…Tom
Rice, birthday…Danny Webb, health…
Mark Blackwell, loss of Father and Step-
father at almost the same time and serious
injuries Mom sustained, and for their
Marina in Rockaway Beach…Jack Urbec,
UP Team member, his birthday, and for
Jan, his wife… J. for direction…Mark and
Pam Taft, and their ministry to the poor in
NY…Loy and Carolyn Loften and their
ROC (Reflection of Christ) ministry…
Elaine Herron, UP Team member, who
found out she has cancer…Christian Senior
Ministries…The Caring People… …Joshua,
for a heart problem…Susan, who has MS…
Judy, in a coma…Sue, finances…For
Torchbearers and Cameroon (they put out a
monthly prayer bulletin, with a specific
prayer request for each day of the month;
Jerry and Carolyn Lilley can get you on the
mailing list)…for Church Army Branson…
and all others who need prayer.
A VALUABLE PRAYER HINT
Doug Gabriel is the leader for the Thursday
lunch meeting of Christian Businessmen’s
Committee (CBMC). He always shares a
Scripture for discussion. In a September
meeting, he read the account in Mark 9 of
the boy with the evil spirit. The father, when
asked by Jesus if he believed his son could be
healed, said “I do believe; help me overcome
my unbelief.” This should be an important
part of our prayer life, because, let’s face it,
none of us has perfect faith. I believe it is
highly pleasing to the Lord when we pray
this way, especially when we pray for really
big things because we feel led by the Holy
Spirit to do so. Thanks, Doug. Men are
welcome to participate on
Thursdays at 12:30 at
Playtime Pizza on
Gretna Road. Also,
there is a CBMC
meeting at 6:30 a.m.
at Denny’s in Branson,
lead by Doug’s father,
Don. Also, there is a
Businessmen’s Fellowship International
meeting on Saturdays at 7 a.m. at Denny’s.
At a recent BMFI meeting someone shared
the analogy of a sewer line going out of our
house, from bathrooms, sinks, laundry
rooms, etc. Well, if we do not stay in prayer
at all times, we can have sewer lines coming
into our minds and hearts from the world
around us. If people knew my mind and
thoughts, my heart, would they still be able
to call me a Christian? I can mask with
others, but not with God. Thank you, guys!
PRESIDENTIAL PRAYER TEAM
September 18 marked the fifth anniversary
of the Presidential Prayer Team. There are
now more than three million people praying
regularly for the President, our government
leaders and our nation. Each week the
Team puts out an excellent e-mail
suggesting prayer
needs and specific
individuals to pray
for. If you are not
familiar with this
and have e-mail
access, go to
www.presidentialprayerteam.org and ask to be
placed on the mailing list. There is no
charge to belong and it serves as a great
prayer reminder and prayer focus.
STORY AND REFLECTION
If you are familiar with Church Army, you
are aware that this is a powerful
international ministry to people with drug
and alcohol addiction. Steve Baughan is the
Director of Church Army Branson, and
under his leadership and that of his
dedicated staff the ministry is growing
rapidly. To get on their mailing list, write to
P.O. Box 6224, Branson 65615 or call 339-
3804. The following is from their September
Newsletter: “I am thrilled to be able to
share with you stories of lives transformed
by the Lord through Church Army. I want
to tell you about Erica…By the time Erica
met Church Army Branson, everyone else
had given up on her. Her life was deeply
ensnared in the trap of alcohol and drugs,
and she desperately needed a way out. She
says, ‘I was an 80 pound zombie in the pits
of hell. I was so strung out on meth that I
heard voices in my head. I couldn’t keep a
job, didn’t know where I’d sleep. My family
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was done with me. I didn’t know how to
stop. This tidal wave of guilt and misery was
crushing me when I checked into treatment.
I needed a safe place to go to get a fresh
start. If it weren’t for Church Army, I
would have gone back home to the same old
friends who drink and use drugs. I would
have fooled myself into thinking I could just
hang out, just drink a little, maybe use drugs
only once in awhile. I would never have
gotten over the obsession of drugs and
alcohol if I hadn’t stuck with Church Army.
Here, I am with people who are growing
with God’s help. I’ve learned to use
spiritual tools, the tools of sobriety and
responsibility. My heart is to pass on these
gifts, to help hurting people find their way
out of drugs and alcohol and their way into a
life in Christ. I want to see Church Army
expand around the world.” Miracles like
this are happening right here in SW
Missouri, because of the dedication of the
Church Army staff. There are so many
hurting people – and of course, MO is the
meth capital of the nation. People turn to
drugs because they are looking for
something. The enemy steers many this way,
to get them hooked. But through our
support, our love and our prayer people like
Erica can get hooked on Jesus! A further
thought: Anything that turns our minds and
hearts from
the Lord
may
become an
addiction –
not just
drugs and
alcohol, but
our jobs,
power trips,
keeping up
with the
neighbors, over commitment to TV and
other recreations, etc., etc. It is always
timely for us to search our hearts and let the
Holy Spirit point out to us what we need to
turn away from and Who we need to turn to
more passionately.
GOING HOME POEMS
A good friend sent me a poem when a loved
one died, and I shared another poem at a
funeral I presided at. These will hopefully
serve as reminders that eternity is coming
for us all and as comfort for those who have
lost loved ones.
1)
”Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free. I am
following the path God laid for me. I took
His hand when I heard Him call. I turned
my back and left it all. I could not stay
another day, to laugh, to love, to work or
play. Tasks undone must stay that way. I
found that place at the close of day. If my
parting has left a void, then fill it with
remembered joy. A friendship shared, a
laugh, a kiss; ah, yes, these things, too, I will
miss. Be not burdened with time or sorrow;
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow. My
life’s been full, I savored so much – good
friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.
perhaps my time seemed all too brief; don’t
lengthen it now with undo grief. Lift up
your hearts and share with me; God wanted
me now, He has set me free.” (In memory of
Leonard Kiesling)
2)
“I never made a fortune, and it didn’t bother
me at all; I didn’t worry about that much,
‘cause I was happy anyhow. And as I went
along life’s way, I reaped better than I
sowed; I was drinking from my saucer,
‘cause my cup had overflowed. Didn’t have
a lot of riches, and sometimes the going was
tough; but I had loving ones around me, and
that made me rich enough. Oh, I remember
times when things went wrong and my faith
wore somewhat thin; but all at once the dark
clouds broke and the sun peeped through
again. The Lord helped me not to gripe
about the tough rows that I hoed; I just kept
drinking from my saucer ‘cause my cup had
overflowed. God gave me strength and
courage when the way grew steep and
rough; I didn’t ask for other blessings ‘cause
I was already blessed enough. And I never
was too busy to help others bear their loads;
I kept drinking from my saucer ‘cause my
cup had overflowed. I thank God for His
blessings and the mercies He’s bestowed;
I’m still drinking from my saucer ‘cause my
cup has overflowed!”
CONCLUDING THOUGHT ON THE
GATHERING
Please remember the Gathering on October
29, 6-8 p.m. at Branson Hills Assembly of
God Church just off Bee Creek Road. As we
pray for our area, we also
join others around the world
in prayer. The following is
from “Pray!” Magazine:
“Millions of intercessors
worldwide will be coming
together in churches and through phone
connections for corporate fasting,
repentance and prayer on October 29.
Worldwide Intercessor Day, launched by the
Hope for All Nations ministry in Kenya in
2003, has grown into a movement that now
involves 40 nations. Its ultimate goal is to
unite one billion intercessors internationally
for the purpose of interceding for worldwide
revival, the spread of the gospel, and the
coming of Jesus Christ…Suggested topics
include: Repentance of all nations and
revival in the church; prayer for specific
continents, nations, cities, and national
leaders; prayer for institutions, such as
schools and media; intercession for families,
children, and the sick and suffering; and
intercession for the salvation of people
throughout the earth.” I hope to see you on
the 29th! If you can’t be there, please be in
prayer wherever you are.
Peace to you and yours.
Bob Burton