15 candles!

I can remember as if it were yesterday. "D" day - January 29, 1992. Lori was "great with children". The twins would make their great entry into the world and turn their mommy and daddy's world upside down. We're still trying to recover! My dad asked me a penetrating question. "Son, are you ready for a 20 year marathon?" I had no idea.

Well, Dad, we're 3/4 of the way through the race and turning the corner for the last 5 years. I'm not sure what I was thinking but I bought both Father of the Bride - Part 1 and Part 2 - the other day. Just thinking about walking my daughters down the aisle sent me into an emotional tail-spin. Ok, Ok. That's enough of that. This is turning into an on-line therapy session!

We had fun celebrating by going bowling! Daniel had his first experience bowling and actually beat some of his sisters. I won't embarrass them by mentioning their names!!

Cheese! Cheese!

Ice Cream! Ice Cream!

Queso!

What Daniel lacks in form, he makes up with body english!

Modern Day Apostles

As I was reading Acts 9 this morning, I was struck by the way Jesus invaded Saul’s life. There were no negotiations. No offers made. No contracts signed. Jesus simply but profoundly intercepted Paul’s life and took over. That’s what Kings do. They rule. They reign. They establish and advance their kingdoms. And to demonstrate that His kingdom was established in Saul, King Jesus gave him a new name and a new life purpose. The rest is history. Or is it?

Paul’s apostolic purpose – taking the good news to unreached peoples – continues to live on. The same Spirit that invaded and redirected Saul, is still invading, still redirecting, still expanding His kingdom here on earth in our day.

This week, I have been in the presence of two men who have embraced Paul's purpose as much as anyone I know: Kevin Phillips and Eric Guthrie.

Kevin Phillips and I came to Dubai together about a year ago. We were both sensing God's leading to work in this city. On the last night of our trip, we visited Sonapur Labor Camp - an area of 8 square miles housing 200,000 men from India, Pakistan, Egypt, China, etc. All in all, there are nearly 20 nationalities represented in this labor camp.




Kevin felt led to initiate a discipleship initiative among the nearly 200 Telagu speaking Indian brothers who make up the Christian Evangelical Church of Sonapur Camp. Over the next year, Kevin's goal is to mobilize teams from the US and from Dubai to teach these men 72 Bible stories that they can, in turn, teach others. To read more about this exciting ministry, visit: http://www.dubaicampsforchrist.blogspot.com/. Please pray for the success of this project and for the ripple affects to be felt all over the world. Kevin is a man of great faith and great vision. KP - thanks for coming this week and for believing God to do the impossible! What an encouragement you have been!!!


Eric Guthrie of Every Nation Ministries mobilizes short term volunteer teams to partner with church planting teams in the 10/40 window. In fact, on my first trip to the 10/40 window to do tsunami relief work, Eric was our team leader. Eric came to Dubai this week to find out where God was at work and was looking for a potential partnership opportunity. He wants to send teams to help us prayer walk different parts of Dubai but, after meeting Kevin and seeing first hand the labor camp ministry, he wants a piece of that action too! The fact that Kevin's and Eric's trips overlapped each other is a sovereign act of God. You can check out Eric's amazing faith ministry at: http://www.untilallhaveheard.org/. Eric, you are my hero. Thank you too for coming and for not being afraid to "get out of the boat."


I count it a real joy to know these modern day Apostle Paul's who are following the simple, impossible commands of Christ as they trust King Jesus to do the impossible through them!

Christmas in the AP!

The Burns Bunch Babe singers! Lori and the girls sang in a Christmas cantata performed by our church choir at the Crown Plaza Hotel!

Daniel's favorite gifts were his Burj Al Arab t-shirt...

...and his new train set, of course!

With a little creative work on the computer the girls received an I.O.U. of sorts from Lori... a shopping trip for some native UAE dresses!

Embracing the Culture

We've enjoyed experiencing some of the sights, sounds, and yes, even smells of our new home and thought we'd share some of them with you.

Betsy at the Gold Souk (Market)! There must have been at least a hundred gold shops lined up one after another!

Since we did the Gold, we also checked out the Frankincense and Myrrh while we were at it...in addition to all the other spices at the Spice Souk!

We then caught an abra (water taxi) across Dubai Creek and enjoyed dinner at this Arabic Restaurant!

Matt and Camel Boy!

It took a while but we finally convinced even Lori to climb aboard!

The tricky part is the dismount!

Co-workers Uncle Gerry and Aunt Arylis led us to the top of Jebel Hafeet - the highest point in the UAE near Al Ain.

"Look Mom, I'm on top of the world!"

Lori and Daniel doing their "7-Star" Pose in front of the Burj Al Arab.

My "7 star" wife on our 17th anniversary in front of The Burj and Souk Medina.

A visit from some good friends

Albert and Wanda - some good friends we met this summer - came to Dubai recently. They ended up staying for Christmas and it was wonderful having them here. It was nice to rekindle our friendship and it gave us many excuses to get ice cream! The mosque photo was taken on the porch of where they stayed while they were here. We love you Albert and Wanda and miss you already!

Merry Christmas...From Our Tent To Yours

It's a "smile" world afterall

We met a few weeks ago in a Food Court. He was on a lunch break sitting by himself. I greeted him in Arabic. He greeted me in English. We smiled. I introduced him to Lori and Daniel and told him in my broken Arabic that, in addition to Daniel, we had three daughters. He smiled. He said he also had three daughters and one son. I smiled. I praised his English and asked where he learned to speak it so well. He said he studied Engineering in Texas. I smiled. He asked me where I was from. I told him I was born in Texas. He smiled.

After I received some complimentary Arabic tips, we exchanged mobile numbers. We agreed that we should meet sometime over coffee when we had more time to continue my free lesson. We smiled.

“Sometime” was Sunday evening. We met at Starbucks. The conversation was natural, effortless, and most enjoyable. The Arabic “tutorial” only lasted about 20 minutes as we began to talk about life – family, sports, work, beliefs. He said sports was a big part of his life. I told him that there was a time when sports was my life. I shared my story. I told him how I started following Jesus at a sports camp. I explained that I am still following Him today, and that He led us to this city.

We shook hands at about 11:00 p.m. Before we parted, we agreed that we should get our families together – perhaps for a little BBQ in the desert under the stars. We smiled again.

How do two people – separated by thousands of miles all these years – “find” each other and discover we have so much in common? Only God knows. How is it possible to form an instant friendship with someone whose beliefs are so different? Only God knows. Smile!

Falconry anyone?

When my local friend began talking to me about his hobby of falconry a couple of months ago, I knew I wanted to go with him some time. I took an interest - it wasn't hard. He said when the weather cooled off, we would do it.

A few weeks ago, I got the call. I was pumped. What a great opportunity to experience the desert outdoors, see some incredible birds in action, and spend time with my friend away from his work.

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These birds are amazing. One by one they would take turns going after pigeons or - in one case a duck - that had been released before they were turned loose to go after their prey. They did not mess around - as you can see below.

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I had a blast. More importantly, I feel like my friend and I had some great "male bonding." I must admit, when I was the only "gringo" in the group of about 10 locals all training their falcons, I had one of those "I can't believe I'm out here" kind of moments.

I couldn't help but smile. Jesus said, "Follow me, and I'll make you fishers of men." I'm starting to get the picture.

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Save The Day

I was reading a few weeks ago the familiar story of Jesus turning water into wine. I was struck by the parallells and application points for our team. Today, as I sit at the local coffee shop, typing this journal entry, men from my target people group are all around me. Lord, they need your wine. Do it again...save the day.

I know the blog posting below is long. It was written originally as more of a journal entry. But in case you have time to read it, I pray it gives you some insight on how to pray for our team and our people group.

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Jesus and his new followers were invited to a wedding. Just a few days before this special occasion, Jesus began the process of calling those who would follow him over the next few years. But they weren’t the only people who knew Jesus that were invited to the wedding. His beloved mother Mary was there too.

At some point during the wedding, the Wedding Party came to what was probably an embarrassing realization that they had run out of wine. Uh-oh. Now what? Evidently, Mary had some emotional vested interest because she felt the need to come to the rescue. She did the only thing she knew to do. She asked her son to save the day.

Jesus’ response was anything but sympathetic. “Woman, what do I have to do with you?”

What? You’ve got to be kidding me! Did Jesus REALLY say that? Yes, He said it. That’s not up for debate. But HOW did he say it? Was it a firm rebuke --- said with a frown? Or was it more of a “come on mom, you’re not REALLY asking me to make wine are you” --- said with a smile?

It is not clear to me HOW Jesus responded but the next words of Jesus do shed some light on WHY He responded this way: “My hour has not yet come.” Isn’t it interesting that even to the One who transcends time, timing is everything.

End of story, right? Not hardly. Jesus’ mother Mary had the audacity to not take “no” for an answer. She persistently, stubbornly (maybe even presumptuously?) said to the servants standing by, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

And “do it” --- He did! Not in a flashy, televangelist – kind of way. Jesus did it in a quiet, subtle way. He simply asked the nearby attendants to perform an ordinary, routine activity by filling six stone waterpots - used by the Jews for purification. And He asked them to fill them to the brim with water! The rest is history.

He did it. Jesus saved the day. He “manifested His glory” and “His disciples believed in Him.” He took a hopeless, embarrassing situation and not only provided MORE wine but DIFFERENT AND BETTER wine. In fact, it was so much better that the headwaiter – evidently unaware of the miracle – could hardly believe what the “bridegroom” had done. The headwaiter got it right – sort of. It was a bridegroom, all right. It just wasn’t the bridegroom of that wedding. It was another bridegroom – the One on whom we await His return.

The application of the above story to our current context is stunning. Can you see it? Let me try to paint the picture…

This is a culture, believe it or not, that is not void of Jesus. Jesus is esteemed in the Muslim holy book. But in their daily lives, He is just in the backdrop – just another guest at the wedding so to speak. He certainly is NOT the main attraction.

Muslims believe Isa (Jesus’ name in Arabic) was a great prophet. They believe He was sent from God and they even believe He is coming again some day. They just don’t believe He is the Son of God. They are unaware of His power and relevance to their life. Meanwhile, Jesus - the Bridegroom of the ultimate heavenly wedding – waits, patiently for his hour – the time He will be revealed for who He really is to these dear people.

The wine they are currently drinking (religious tradition) is going to run out to be sure. Many know this already deep down in their hearts. Religious wine never satisfies and it never lasts – regardless of culture. Only a relationship with the Bridegroom satisfies our deepest longings.

Our team has been praying that those that we meet in our people group will see that Jesus offers a different and better wine. It is the wine of His presence – His precious Holy Spirit. We, the attendants, are standing by. We believe He has asked us – through our team leader – to do six rather basic activities – to fill up six waterpots with water, if you will. They are as follows:

1) To know our testimony so well that we can present it in under 3 minutes and to always be looking for opportunties to share it. (The long term goal is to know our stories in Arabic – but that is a ways down the road for Lori and me!)

2) To become really familiar with a key passage in the Qur'an that talks specifically about Jesus. (I know this is going to be a stretch for some of you but bare with me.) Next time your out at your local Barnes and Nobles, pick up a copy of the Qur'an and read for yourself Surrah Al Imron 3:42-55. You won’t believe it. It is a perfect passage to raise Jesus above “prophet” status in the minds of our Muslim friends and build a bridge to the Bible. That is our goal.

3) To learn and share the “Creation to Christ” presentation of the Gospel in under 10 minutes.

4) To learn and share short powerful stories from both the Old and New Testaments to be used as the Spirit directs. The Qu’ran says a good muslim will read the “before books” – the Taurat (Gen. through Deut), the Wisdom books (Psalms and Proverbs) and the Injeel (Gospels).

5) To identify and locate men and women of peace that we can invest in and disciple – for some, even before they become believers!

6) To pray… for divine appointments and for discernment to identify the persons of peace and gatekeepers who will be instrumental in facilitating a church planting movement in this country.

Six basic methods. Six “stone waterpots.” But out of obedience, we are going to fill them up (carry them out as diligently as we can). Our prayer is for Jesus to hasten the day that He “manifests His glory” to our people group. We know they will stand before the throne some day. Why couldn’t these days be their time? Only He can provide the Wine they are really looking for.

Still I come back to this basic question: Why did Jesus ultimately carry out his mother's request? He was asked.

So we too plead. Lord, “they have no wine”. Do it again in our time. SAVE THE DAY!

GQ Spidyman

Daniel is enjoying his brief stint at potty training so far - or should I say he is enjoying the fruit of his labor - SKITTLES!!! Anyway, he is very proud of himself and loves his spiderman big-boy underwear!

Anybody need a GQ underwear model? Gotta be that dapper 3 dollar Indian haircut!

Spanning the globe in a single stride, it's spiderman, no it's skittle-boy, no its...its...Daniel Walker... my son, wherever His call and your feet take you in this world, from your homeland in Central America to the Middle East or to any remote island on the globe, remember our King makes ALL nations his footstool. Your feet are beautiful...take them the Good News son!

Holidays, Training, and Skittles

I just checked weather.com for the temperature in Paron, Arkansas. I shouldn’t have. Thirrrrteeeeee-fiiiiive degrees. My neck is starting to swell. (If you are not a hunter, you probably don’t get that so just keep moving!)

We're still topping 100 degrees just about every day. To make matters worse, my good friend Warren sent me a photo of a nice 9 point buck he bagged this weekend. (It’s OK Warren, I know I asked for it.) To the rest of the hunting community out there, keep the hunting and scouting reports coming! It helps in a weird sort of way.

We’re doing a little better with the culture shock but still struggling from time to time with missing home. The girls are fine. Lori and I seem to be struggling the most. I keep telling myself that in light of eternity, this little and momentary sacrifice pales in comparison. I know that is true. But it hasn’t taken away the special place we have in our hearts for Little Rock.

Today the country is celebrating a special holiday that follows Ramadan every year known as Eid al Fitr. What is Eid al Fitr? Click here for a good summary of Ramadan and Eid al Fitr: www.factmonster.com/spot/ramadan1.html. (As I type, I hear fireworks outside!)

So what does that mean for us? School is out for the week! Yippeee!!!

Today…. Lori and the girls are in the “shop til you drop” mode hitting all the big sales. Yes, materialism is alive and well. It is like America on steroids. Daniel and I GLADLY dropped the girls off at the mall earlier and will pick them up I’m sure MUCH later.

Tomorrow…we have our weekly strategy group meeting in the morning. Then we have friends coming over to have lunch to hang out and watch the Cowboys vs. Giants on Monday Night Football game (re-aired). After that, we may hit the beach, which is only 10 minutes from our apartment. Our family will be minus two since Hannah and Katelyn will be going on a five hour road trip to Muscat, Oman. They will be attending a regional youth praise event with some other high school girls in their small group. After the event, they will spend the night in Oman, swim an shop the next morning, and return late Wednesday afternoon.

Wednesday… we will attend our weekly small group meeting. It just got started but it promises to be one of our weekly highlights. Talk about a diverse group! Eight adults and six children from 4 different countries! Yet the unity we have because of Christ is amazing.

Thursday… my Arabic class resumes. We only have about 6 more classes until this first semester is over. Then Beginners 2 starts mid-November. Neither Lori or I feel ready to advance to Beginners 2 but I guess you have to take off the training wheels at some point.

Speaking of training, a notable highlight of this week to pass along, is that Daniel is starting to wear big-boy spiderman underoos. He is highly motivated for the reward of choice – SKITTLES! So about every 15 minutes, whether he has to go or not (usually he does) he lets us know that it is time to go potty. NEVER a dull moment.

And, in keeping with the training theme, next week I go to Bahrain for a training conference. It should be a good time of equipping and vision casting for workers in the Arabian Peninsula.
Thanks for remembering to pray for us! The battle is starting to heat up and we NEED your prayers.

Eagles Soar Over ASD

All three of the Burns Bunch girls play on the AAG (American Academy for Girls) JV Volleyball team (yes, even Betsy in 6th Grade made the team!). The season started two weeks ago against last year's champion, Dubai American Academy (DAA). DAA won easily but the AAG Eagles (American Academy for Girls) played well. They were to be commended for their sportsmanship, hustle, and teamwork. Considering this is only AAG's second year and is about one-sixth the size of DAA, they did REAL well.

Last Monday, we hosted the 2nd place team from last year - The American School of Dubai. ASD is the oldest and most established American school in Dubai. After a very competitive, very spirited game, the AAG Eagles prevailed: 25-22; 18-25; 25-23. Needless to say, all the girls on our team were bubbling over with confidence and Eagle Pride! It was just what the team needed to head into the rest of the season with optimism.

Hannah, Alex (new friend and teammate from Poland), Betsy, and Katelyn

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Hannah (#4) at the net! Yep, their numbers are in Arabic!

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Not sure what was going on in Betsy's head as this photo was taken but I think it was something like this..."Dad, should I be concerned?"

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Katelyn practicing a set before the game. "If Coach Krista could see me now!"

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Gooooooo....Eagles!

Play Day

When Lori attends Arabic classes on Monday and Wednesday mornings, Dad and Daniel head off to some nearby beach or park for a good ol' "play day". It has been a real blessing to have this time to cultivate our father/son relationship. Although we have had Daniel in our family for nearly a year and a half now, we are still getting to know each other! Needless to say, we have had lots of fun playing in the sand and the sun!

Daniel venturing into the Persian Gulf!

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Not sure if we left any sand on the beach!

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Just monkeying around!

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Daniel and Dad do the Dubai Zoo! "Did you say b-b-bear?"

October 1st Blues

I woke up this morning
In the usual way
Had breakfast with my family
And we rushed into our day

But this day seemed peculiar
By joe, what could it be?
If I was not mistaken
Something was calling me

Then it hit me on our way to school
It sounded like the call of the wild
Autumn visions of Arkansas
Were enough to make me smile

Today, you see, is October 1st
And if I were still back in Dodge
I would be out in the woods, sitting high in a tree
Wearing scent and full camoflauge

I can see myself standing high in the pines
Above my ladder stand's top rung
Drawing back by bow and arrow
On a monster “Pope and Young”

Alas, October Blues have come
I admit that I have a bad case
But the center of God’s will is where I want to be still
Being content in the desert place

School Days, School Days

Thanks for praying for our girls' transition. They are off to a good start this school year and have made many new friends.

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The Burns Bunch Babes (Katelyn, Betsy, and Hannah) sporting their new school uniforms on the first day of school!

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Betsy is taking Math, Science, English, Social Studies, Arabic, P.E. (including swimming!) and is playing volleyball for the Developmental Squad.

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Katelyn is taking Geometry, English, Spanish, Arabic, P.E., World History, Physical Science and is on the J.V. volleyball squad!

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Ditto for Hannah! There are two 9th grade classes but H&K are in all the same classes except P.E. There is one other set of twins in the 9th grade!

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Daniel trying on Betsy's swim cap and goggles! And proud mom of course!

1st Burns Bunch B-Day in the Middle East!

Betsy turned 11 on September 1 and we had a weeklong celebration. First we bought and assembled her new loft bed from the IKEA store that she had been saving her pennies for. Then we surprised her and told her it was our gift to her! Then we went skating with a new friend Betsy has made and their family. Then we had pancake breakfast in bed on her actual birthday. Fun was had by all and we made some good family memories in the Middle East!

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Outside the ice skating rink with the Burns and Burtch Bunch - and a few feathered (or wooden) friends!

Betsy and Rebecca demonstrating amazing doubles form as they stand still - on ice!

Hannah and Uncle Mark working on Daniel's form. He's aiming for the 2014 winter games.

Breakfast in... a LOFT bed?

Lori decorated Betsy's cake perfectly since she loves rubber ducks, chocolate, and playing Scrabble!

No pain, no gain?

Vince Lombardi must have been a little sick to make that “no pain, no gain” statement that has become a quotable quote over the years. It’s the “pain” part that I don’t like. In fact, you might say that I have a love/hate relationship with working out – mostly hate. I only love it when I’m done!

But working out here isn’t much of an option. Our company places a high value on maintaining good health and getting in shape and staying in shape on the field. So I knew when we arrived that getting into an exercise routine of some kind was something I had to do.

But where? There are really no viable options near our apartment. Traffic makes cycling or even running not a safe option. And swimming in our apartment’s little “kiddy” pool, really wouldn’t qualify as “exercise”.

Before we moved from Little Rock, I had begun to swim for a few months, so swimming was my first choice for exercise here. I began to look for a real pool. For a while, all I could find close by was a new gym near the school. But the fees of about $100/month, I determined, would be a budget buster. So I kept looking.

Then I found it! A park - just five minutes down the road from the girls’ school. It has two separate 25 meter pools (one for men and one for women – both pools completely fenced in and separated from the other) a nice place to jog, lots of playground areas and equipment for Daniel, more doves than I’ve ever seen in a Texas sunflower patch in September, and a nice little burger shop. The next to best part was the membership price: under $8/month!!! Yep, you read it right. Less than 8 dollars a month and yes, I said it was the “next to best” part! So, what is the best part?

Without a doubt, the best part has been the three friends that I’ve made there so far. Two young men - both great athletes from another middle eastern country – work at the park as lifeguards. The other friend I’ve made works in the office. I have experienced favor with each of these men.

One of the lifeguards wants to help me with my Arabic in exchange for help with his English – he has a huge head start!

The other lifeguard has competed as swimmer for his country on a world level, and wants to help me with my swimming – just because he’s a nice guy. (Honestly, I think he feels sorry for me because my technique needs A LOT of help!) This morning was my first workout with him "TRAINing" me. I thought I was a decent swimmer until he got through with me.

And finally, the office guy wants to take me hunting! I was telling him that I love to hunt and will certainly miss hunting back in the states. He said he will take me when it gets cooler in the fall. But this kind of hunting sounds different than any other kind of hunting I’ve ever done. He wants to take me “falcon” hunting. No, we won’t hunt FOR falcons, we will hunt WITH them! Falconry is really big here in the UAE and I can’t wait to experience it.

Please pray for my three new friends. They have been very good to me. I would like for God to bless them and reveal Himself to them. And pray for me as I joyfully participate in the process.

“No pain, no gain.” I don’t know how much physical gain I will experience while I’m here. But I do hope the “pain” serves the purpose of producing some eternal gain. In fact, I’m so stoked about that, I’m ALMOST enjoying the pain! Almost.

The Secret

“I never made a sacrifice.”

So said Hudson Taylor, looking back over his life of service in China in which that element was certainly not lacking. But if you have purposed to surrender all to follow Christ, you have undoubtedly experienced this truth. The benefits of walking with the Lord are so real and lasting “that giving up is inevitably receiving, when one is dealing with the heart of God.” (Quotes were taken from Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret by Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor.)

This has fueled some recent discussion in our home about what it means to be content. What is the secret? Hudson Taylor learned it. The Apostle Paul learned it too. Paul wrote, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.” Philippians 4:11b-12

The secret? It is stated or at least implied in the next verse.

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

When I was saved and began to follow Christ in high school, the first verse I memorized was this verse – Philippians 4:13. However, I’m ashamed to say that I tried to apply this verse out of context to serve my own agenda. Back then, even as a new believer, football was my passion. I claimed this verse over and over again that I could become (through Christ) the best college football quarterback since Doug Flutie. (I know, I’m dating myself.) But Paul was not stating this conviction in the context of becoming the best teacher in Rome or the greatest gospel ambassador in Asia but it was in the context of being content. He had learned the secret of the exchanged life – trading his life for the life Christ offered Him – the life of Christ Himself.

You see, when you and I agree by faith with the truth of Scripture, we really believe that we are dead men and women, crucified with Christ. And we take that progression all the way by faith and truly believe that we no longer live but Christ lives in us. Then, and only then, are we able to say with Paul that we can be content in ALL circumstances BECAUSE we CAN do all things THROUGH Christ who strengthens us. Isn’t that remarkable? And it is such a remarkable secret that it is worth not only whispering to everyone we meet but shouting it from the mountaintops (or, in this case, posting it on our blog!)

I hope this “secret” blesses you and challenges you as it is blessing us. Please pray for us – as we continue to transition into a new culture – that we will be content in all of our circumstances.