My Joy Journey

Happy New Year!  Today is the first day of a brand new year that will be filled with many firsts.  Don't you just love the beginning of something new?  There are so many examples of firsts in our lives.  New year, new relationships, the birth of a baby, the first time that special someone says "I love you!"  I could go on and on.  Each has it's own special meaning.

Today marks a special day for me.  Not only is it a new year, but today begins a journey.  For these 365 days I will be sharing Joy through stories of real life experiences and giving biblical perspectives from God's word as well.

 I know, I know!  I overuse the word and some of you are probably tired of hearing it from me.  But joy is so much more than just a simple adjective or adverb describing how one feels.  I love the definition that Kay Warren gives in her book I Choose Joy, Because Happiness is not Enough, "Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things." 

Joy is a choice.  Joy is also a matter of the heart.  To have true joy in your life, you must first be in right relationship with Christ.  Joy is not something we create.  It only comes through a total surrender of our life to God so He can fill us to overflowing with His joy and peace.  Romans 15:13 says, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Throughout this year, I hope to share with you what I feel true joy really is.  I also want to invite you to come along on this journey with me. This blog is not about me.  It's about the love of God permeating the lives of His people.  It's about seeing God move in our lives creating in us that true joy.

Each of us experience tests, trials and triumphs.  They come in the form of disappointments, heartaches, victories, love and loss.  If there is breath in our lungs, we have and will continue to experience these things.  Paul tells us in Romans 5:2-5, "And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." 

I invite you to share your story of how the Lord has given joy to your life.  Maybe through an experience or circumstance God's joy has given you peace that surpasses all understanding or maybe someone you know has exuded that kind of joy and it touched your life in a special way.  Email me your stories of Joy at: aburkeen@windstream.net  or Facebook message me, or simply mail your story to P.O. Box 561, Cumberland, KY  40823 and I will try and share your story on this blog.

Yes, joy is much more than a little word!  My prayer is that through the words and testimony shared, others will seek and find true joy through the only source - Jesus Christ!

Much Joy,

Angie Burkeen

JOY

Oh, I am so excited to share this Blog!  If you know me well, then you know that my favorite word is JOY!  I get almost giddy when I or someone else says the word.  That sounds a little goofy, right?  But I know where joy comes from.  You see, true joy comes from having a right relationship with Jesus Christ.  It is that peace that surpasses all understanding.  No matter what I face, I know God is right there by my side.  He will never leave me nor forsake me.  It's knowing that the God of the Universe loves me unconditionally.  In fact, He loves me so much that He sent His only Son to pay the ultimate debt and become the atoning sacrifice for my sins.  Wow!  Just thinking about what my Savior did for me, I get overwhelmed. 

This past week a friend gave me a magnet that had the word JOY on it used in an acrostic. J-Jesus, O-Others, Y-Yourself (In that order!).  She knows that's my favorite word.  I love it and love that it came from her heart.  I put it on my refrigerator, where of course, I go alot.  I look at it as a constant reminder of how my relationship with Jesus should be.  If He is Lord of my life, then He needs to be number one.  He needs to be my first priority.  My first love.  Mark 12:36 says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."  This love encompasses all of me. My heart, soul, mind, and strength.  That puts all of my focus on Him.  In the world we live in, this is easier said than done.  With so many distractions during my day, it's easy to lose focus and to put somone or something before God.  Father, please forgive me when I do this!  Next, we should put others second.  1 John 3:16-18 says, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."  When we show compassion for others and help those in need, we are showing the love of Christ.  We are being a true Christ follower.  Father, please help me show agape love, unconditional love, to others.  I never want to miss an opportunity to be your hands and feet!  Finally, we are to put ourselves last.  Does that mean that we are not as important?  No!  That means that if we keep God first, others second - God will bless our lives beyond anything we could ever dream or imagine.  Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."  What a great promise from God!  Always seek Him and His ways and He will bless you.  Psalms 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Father, I pray I always seek you and your will and that the desires of my heart reflect your desires. 

I have the privilege of mentoring a mom of one of our students and in conversation with her today, she asked, "How do I help my kids understand what really matters in this life?  How do I help them seek after God?"  My response was, "JOY!"  Teach them to put Jesus first, others second, and themselves third.  Not only in word, but by your actions.  The story that unfolds in front of them, is how they learn the most.

JOY!  What an incredible word with incredible meaning!  Where do you find your joy?  Is it Jesus, Others, Yourself (in that order)?  Or, do you let the things of this world bring you happiness that will fade and leave you looking and longing for more and more.  Only true joy comes from God!  And that's through having that right relationship with Him.  It's all in our priorities.  Seek that lasting JOY!

His Humble Servant,

Angie Burkeen

 

                                                                      Thanks Julie!

Our Identity in Christ

Well, I haven't Blogged in a while.  Almost two years to be exact!  But I have found this topic very blog worthy.  Over the past month or so, there has been so much emphasis and attention on the "Dove" commercial showing sketches of women who have described themselves and then a sketch of that same woman described by someone else.   While this is a great tool to use to show how hard we are on ourselves, we should never lose sight of the fact that we don't find our identity in how others see us.  Nor do we find our beauty that same way as well.  I had a discussion with someone about this just yesterday and it really got me thinking about how others see us and how we take so much stock in how others percieve us.  I did this exercise on my own, just to see if what I thought would be said of me would be.  If you have seen me, you know that my nose is a very noticable part of my face.  I am proud of my nose.  My mom and every one of her siblings has this very beautiful nose.  I also have freckles and they tend to come out more after I've been in the sun.  I also have hazel eyes that are very distinct because they change colors depending on what I wear. I asked a couple of people to describe my face, and guess what they said?  After both said I had pretty eyes, the very next statement by both people was that I have a ball on the end of my nose.  Really?!!! That's what you see!!!  They weren't being mean.  That's what they saw.  They even made light of it.

Here's my point.  I know my nose is distinct.  But it wouldn't be me if I had a different nose.  So their comment didn't really bother me.  But my identity is not found in how others see me.  Yes, I see physical things on myself.  Others, even with good intentions may see those same things.  We all have a physical mark of our identity.  If nothing else, our finger print is unique to us.  But what about our personal identity?  What defines who we are?

Imagine if the cross of Jesus Christ was the most dominant marking of your self-image?  You'd know that you are so loved!  You'd be so stable and confident!  You'd be enthusiastically sharing the grace of the Lord with everyone you meet!

That's the key!  In Christ is our true identity.  That is our freedom to be who God designed us to be.

There are 160 verses in the Bible that shows our identity in Christ.  It must be really important if God's word gives that much claim to our identity.  It's not just a matter of claiming Bible verses for ourself though.  To have identity in Christ means that I'm placing confidence for my life and eternity in the Lord Jesus Christ.  It means I am living my life in such a way that honors and pleases my Lord.  It means that I want others to see Jesus in me! 

So the next time you look in the mirror, try to see yourself the way God sees you, "fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalms 139:14)    You are created in the image of God.  "You are somebody special, because God does not make junk!"  (I used to have a poster on my wall that said this.)  Here are some of the great blessings of having our identity in Christ:

There is no condemnation for us (Romans 8:1)
We can never be separated from God's love (Romans 8:39)
We who are many form one body (Romans 12:5)
We have wisdom from God (1 Corinthians 1:30)
Our labor is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58)
We are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
We become God's children (Galatians 3:26)
We have every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3)
We have the forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7)
We were also chosen (Ephesians 1:11)
We are for the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1:12)
We have been seated in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6)
We've been given the incomparable riches of God's grace (Ephesians 2:7)
We may approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12)
We are light (Ephesians 5:8)
Our joy overflows (Philippians 1:26)
All our needs are met according to his glorious riches (Philippians 4:19)
We are holy and faithful (Colossians 1:2)
We have our hope of glory (Colossians 1:127)
We are rooted and built up (Colossians 2:7)
We will rise from the dead (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
We can give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
We have faith, hope and love (1 Timothy 1:1,14)
We have the promise of life (2 Timothy 1:1)

I think the writer of Proverbs sums it up best, "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30  Our identity is in Christ.  No one else sees us the way He does.  Let others see Him in you!

His Humble Servant,

Angie Burkeen

Peace and Quiet!

Well, it's been a few weeks since my last blog.  It has been crazy trying to complete the details of Niki's impending wedding and our Summer Day Camp that began this past week.  My mind has no shut off mode right now.  But that's ok.  I like it that way.  But I find myself getting up in the mornings only to, rush to get ready, rush to get to our facility, rush to make sure everything is ready before the campers get there, then it seems like I rush through the rest of my day.  Only to wake up the next morning and do it all over again.  I believe I'm not the only one like that.  I know others do the same thing everyday.  But here's what I learned this week.

One of our Day Camper's taught me a valuable lesson.  During our camp we feed the kids a wholesome lunch and for some of these kids it's the only meal they get the whole day during the summer.  Christopher, a 10 year old, bright eyed, buck tooth, adorable boy was sitting at a booth enjoying his meal along with a couple of girls.   These girls were having a great time talking and giggling like young girls will do.  But Christopher, who is ADHD and Autistic was not appreciating the noise they were making.  So with his arms stretched out, and a very serious look on his face, looked over at them and said, "Can I get just five minutes of peace and quiet!"  "Just five minutes!"  As you can imagine, I was rolling in my seat.  I'm sure he heard a teacher or one of his parents say that, but coming from a 10 year old it was hysterical.  It also shut those girls up.  But this morning was the first morning this week that I have had the chance to get up, get my coffee, go out and sit on my front porch, open God's Word and just take in His presence.  What a sweet calmness it gave me.  As I pondered on the events over the past week, I kept picturing Christopher saying those words.  Then it hit me.  God was trying to get my attention!  "Just five minutes of peace and quiet!"  If you know me well, then you know relaxing for me is working.  It is so hard for me to sit still and do nothing.  Even when I sit, my foot is stomping or I'm humming.  I can't just sit and relax.  Especially my mind.  It is always churning. 

Psalms 46:10 reads, "Be still and know that I am God."  That one little passage of scripture packs a huge message.  See, to be still literally means to be at rest; free from noise or sound.  In order for us to hear God and truly commune with Him, we must make still our mind and body.  Free ourselves from the noise of the world and our mind so we can hear His gentle voice as He leads us beside quiet waters, and restores our soul.  As He guides us in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.  As His Spirit renews us with His love and peace.

It's amazing what I can learn from the innocence of a child.  But God knows our heart and He knows what captures our attention and will use it to make His point everytime.  We just have to be seeking Him in order for Him to reveal it to us.  God desires for us to rest.  He desires for us to clear our minds so we can take in His word, understand it, absorb it, and then apply it to our daily lives.  The only way we can do that is if we make it a habit to take, as in the words of sweet little Christopher, "just five minutes of peace and quiet."  Obviously, five minutes is not a long time.  But take time each day and dedicate it to being still to hear from God.  Oh, how He longs for us to just be quiet! 

His Humble Servant,

Angie Burkeen
Club 180 Ministry
503 Main Street
Cumberland, KY  40823
http://www.club180ministry.com/

We're Still Here!

O.K. So is everyone as tired as I am of hearing all the jokes and conversations surrounding the "impending end of the world" that did not happen .  However, I would be remiss if I didn't at least touch on it a bit.  So here goes.  First of all, for whatever reason this man had for going public with his prediction and setting a whole bunch of people into a tailspin of selling off personal belongings and running their credit cards to the max and even spending their life savings, I'm sure he had no idea he would cause such a ruccus.  After all, this is a well educated man who has lived a life claiming to be a Christian.   So how did he come to the conclusion that he knows more than anyone on this subject?  How is it that he thought he could determine the demise on the earth?  Just like a fish to a hook, it is for sure that Satan dangled the bait, hooked him, and reeled him right in.  I am no theologian, but here are some things I know for sure:

First, it is clear in God's Word that we do not know the time or the day in which He will come.  (1 Th. 5:1-2, Rev. 19:15).  We clearly could not handle that information.  Case in point, all of those who went wild spending all of their savings because of one man's prediction.  God created us.  He knows us better than anyone.  He knows how we will react to everything.  He is omnipitant, all knowing, we are not! 

Secondly, God's Word is very clear about our purpose on this earth.  We are to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Being a living testimony of the grace and mercy God has shown to us that while we were sinners, He demonstrated His love for us by dying on the cross, then being resurrected from death, and now is seated at the right hand of the Father waiting for that moment when God tells him to go get His bride, which is the church. 

We are not put here to predict our future.  We are not put here to scare people into believing something man has conjured up.  We are not here to spread false doctrine by taking the Bible, God's Holy Word, and making people believe something it's not.  We are on this earth to love others with the love of Christ.  We are here to serve others with the love of Christ.  We are here to share the gospel of Christ with those who do not have a relationship with Him, so they will have the opportunity to receive the gift of His salvation. 

This past month, there have been casatrophic events that have taken place that, to many who are seeking, could easily believe someone giving in detail, information that this could be it for the world.  So here's my thought on the matter.  If so many people can believe a false doctrine so easily, why is it so hard for true believers, that put their faith and trust in God alone, to share the true gospel of Christ with the lost.  The field is ripe for harvest!  This past weekend proved that.  People will grab hold of anything.  We, as Christians should step up and be as bold as we ever have.  The time is drawing near.  Although we don't know the date and time, we do know Christ is coming to take us to our heavenly home.  One of my favorite passages of Scripture is found in Acts 4 when Peter and John appeared before the Sanhedrin and were questioned about why they were spreading the gospel.  After sharing the gospel boldly with the Sanhedrin, they saw the courage Peter and John had and the miracle of the crippled man that had just been performed, and knew these men had been with Jesus during His ministry on earth.  They ordered them to stop speaking or teaching in the name of Jesus.   But Peter and John again were bold and in verse 19-20 told them, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God.  For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."  Wow!  Could I be that bold?  Could you be that bold if confronted with what you believe?  Then it gets better!  After Peter and John were released, they went back to their own people and reported what had happened.  This is what true faith looks like.  They didn't try to come up with a plan on their own.  They didn't form a committee to plan a strategy.  They immediately raised their voices together in prayer to God.  Wow!  Their prayer was simply to ask God to enable His servants to speak His word with great boldness. (vs. 29)   After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.  What an incredible example of true faith in action!

Maybe we need to, as believers, come together and agree and raise our voices to God and ask Him to enable us to speak boldly the gospel.  What would happen?  I would love to find out wouldn't you?  Yes, the time will come, soon, when Christ appears to gather the church and take us to our eternal home.  How are you preparing?  Are you spending your life savings?  Are you focused on what you can do for yourself before that day comes?  Are you putting things above serving God?  Or are you boldly speaking about Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made for us, so those who don't know him may know the truth.  Just like Peter, John and the number of believers that day, I want my life to reflect true faith, so the ground under my feet will shake.

His Humble Servant,

Angie Burkeen
Club 180 Ministry
503 Main Street
Cumberland,  KY  40823
http://www.club180ministry.com/

A Royal Wedding

Well, it has been over a month since my last blog.  It has been very busy here in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky.  Our ministry has seen alot of changes over the past month with mission teams pouring themselves into Club 180 and the community here in Cumberland, KY.  We have seen God do amazing things and have been witness to 16 young people giving their life to Christ.  Wow!  That just sets my soul on fire! 

Today as I am writing, it is the observance of Good Friday.  As a Christian, this day in history signifies what my Lord and Savior did for me.  Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, then took the sins of the world upon Him, was scorned, beaten, and mocked, then crucified on a cross.  The thought of what he went through for me, rips at my soul.  Just to know that He loves me so much that He would endure such pain and then die for me.  Isaiah 53:5 says, "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."  Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  It doesn't matter what I've done, the sins I've commited, Christ still loved me enough to die for me.  Wow! 

Now, I'm not getting on a soapbox here, but as I got up this morning, read my Bible, drank my coffee, then turned on the t.v. to catch a glimpse of the news before I get my day going.  I noticed as the national news show I watch was telling each other, "Happy Good Friday", there was no mention of Jesus, or the significance of what this day is really about.  Instead all that was talked about was the royal wedding of Kate and William.  Don't get me wrong, I am a hopeless romantic and love the story of their fairytale romance and upcoming wedding.  But today, one of the most important days in history, shouldn't they be talking about what Jesus Christ did for us?  That He gave His life for us? That He was crucified on a cross for our sins?  I turned the t.v. off and began thinking about what I had just witnessed.  It was like watching the soldiers at the foot of the cross casting lots.  It was heartbreaking.  How can this world be so blinded by its own desires and self-centeredness that it doesn't recognize on this most important day the greatest man in history, Jesus Christ. 

Then my mind started thinking about the royal wedding.  Why are we so wrapped up in this story.  We can't get away from it.  It's on the t.v..  It's on all the magazines at the check-out lines.  It's even on the radio.  We don't even know them.  Yes, most of us have watched Prince William grow up, in the news, but we don't have any ties to either of them.  So, what is the fascination?  I believe it's the fairytale.  I believe it's a real live Cinderella story unfolding before our eyes.  Not that Kate lived in an attic and cleaned for a wicked stepmother and two stepsisters.  But I can remember as a little girl, my friends and I used to dream of being married to a prince.  The thought of living in a castle and wearing beautiful flowing gowns just captured the heart of every little girl after reading fairytales like Cinderella.

But here's the thing.  We are living out a real fairytale.  If you have a relationship with Christ, He is your Prince.  In the Bible, John tells us in Revelation 19:11, "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.  With justice he judges and makes war.  His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns.  He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.  He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.  The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.  Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down nations. He will rule with an iron sceptor.  He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.  On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

That's my King!  One day He is coming to get me and all who call Him Lord and Savior.  That's a true story that we can anticipate.  Why aren't we out telling this story to those who don't know Christ?  Why aren't we getting ready for this Royal Wedding?  We are a part of it.  We know the people involved in this story.  We are in this Wedding.  Here's what the rest of the story says, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'  He said to me: 'It is done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.'" Revelation 21:1-4,6  That's how our story ends!  I will gladly exchange a castle for the new heaven.  One where there is no pain, no death, no tears.  I can't wait for that day when I can bow at my Savior's feet and praise Him in all His glory.  What a Royal Wedding that will be!

I don't think it's coincidence that this Easter as we reflect on what the cross means, then celebrate our Lord and Savior's resurrection, and the promise of eternal life with Him, that the world is getting ready for the celebration of a royal wedding.  I think this is the perfect opportunity for Christians to spread the gospel message and tell the good news of our own Royal Wedding soon to come. 

May you have a glorious Easter!

His Humble Servant,

Angie Burkeen
Club 180 Ministry
503 Main Street
Cumberland,  KY  40823
http://www.club180ministry.com/

Freedom Represented

My husband and I just got back from a much needed weekend getaway with some friends of ours at a lake house just outside of Tuscaloosa, AL.  Terry loves to fish and that's exactly what he, along with two of his friends did all weekend.  We haven't seen these friends in about a year, so it was good to share what God has been up to in each of our lives.  It was an incredible time!

In order for us to get to Tuscaloosa from where we are, we travel through Knoxville, Chattanooga, then into Alabama via Interstate 59.  When we get to Birmingham, we take 459 toward Tuscaloosa.  It is a very long drive!  Eight hours to be exact!  But when you hit 459 just outside of Birmingham there stands a replica of The Statue of Liberty.  I don't know if you have ever driven this route, but if you have, chances are you have seen this statue.  It is eye catching and stands 31 feet in the air.  I have often wondered as we have driven past why it is there.  The obvious, would be it represents "freedom."  As it is a replica of the original on Ellis Island, New York, that was given as a gift to us from the people of France and is an iconic symbol of independence and freedom.  This time, when we got home, I finally remembered to look it up and research this particular statue to find out it's significance.  It turns out the founder of Liberty Insurance had it made to represent his insurance company as an advertising gimic.  But as I drive past this enormous statue, I can't help but to automatically see it as a symbol of the freedom that we have living in the United States.  I even feel a since of patriotism that wells up inside as I pass it, knowing I am a citizen of this great nation.  It almost makes me want to start singing the national anthem.  Especially in this day and time when there is such turmoil in the world, I praise God everyday for the blessings He has placed on this country and the freedoms we have.

But along that same stretch of interstate about an hour away from that statue there stands another.  It's a cross that is three dimensional and stands about 100 feet atop a hill leading to a Baptist Church.  Again, you can't miss this cross.  It is huge!  As we drive past it, I realize how much bigger this cross is compared to the replica of the Statue of Liberty and the even greater significance it has.  You see, I am reminded that while I am blessed to be a citizen of the United States of America and I am able to enjoy the freedom within this great nation because of those who have fought to sustain the freedom that this country was built upon, I am still a foreigner here.  This is not my true home.  That cross, a symbol of scorn and shame,  represents the freedom I have to live in eternity with my Savior and King, bought and paid for by His blood for my sins.  One of my favorite passages of scripture reminds me of  that.  "But our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." Philippians 3:20-21. 

My freedom comes through faith.  Faith in knowing one day that the things of this world will pass away and I will live in heaven for eternity with my Heavenly Father.  2 Timothy 4:8 says, "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."  Although those of us who are fortunate enough to live in a nation that allows us to vote, worship our Lord and Savior, enjoy a quality of life that many other countries do not have, this is all just temporary.  The freedom given to us through the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ, who is now seated at the right hand of the Father, is for eternity.  For those who have accepted and confess Him as their Savior and believe in His promises will live with Him in heaven forever.  Yes, I am patriotic when it comes to the United States.  But I am passionate about Jesus Christ.  That passion wells up in my spirit and I can't help but give Him all the praise and honor for loving me that much to sacrifice His life in order that I may live with Him forever!

There is a praise song that I love to sing and has become an anthem to living a Christian life and the hope that comes from knowing that one day Jesus Christ, when His Father says it's time, will come and take me home.  The words are, "Through you the blind will see.  Through you the mute will sing.  Through you the dead will rise.  Through you our hearts will praise.  Through you the darkness flees.  Through you my heart screams I am free.  I am Free to Run, I am Free to Dance, I am Free to Live for You, I am Free.  Through you the kingdom comes.  Through you the battle's won.  Through you I'm not afraid.  Through you the price is paid.  Through you there's victory.  Because of you my heart screams, I AM FREE!"  Yes, it's only through Him we are truly free.

His Humble Servant,

Angie Burkeen
Club 180 Ministry
503 Main Street
Cumberland, KY  40823
http://www.club180ministry.com/