Richard Burson: a life of guidance (Part 2)

     Pastor Richard Burson had accepted the Lord and completed his studies to become a pastor, but he still had obstacles to overcome in his Christian walk.

     Though briefly mentioned in part one of the interview, Burson believes the fact that he was an introvert was a major obstacle to overcome. It had caused him to grow up with a lack of self-confidence. In fact, he still admits to having less confidence than he would like: giving God the credit for getting him through many situations he lacked the human confidence to endure.

     Burson admits to realizing what made the difference was God calling him into the ministry: that there was a message God had given him to share with the world --- the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

     The message became such an important part of his life, after all it was his chosen profession, that he felt it gave him a sense of freedom to proclaim it --- and God has continued to bless him as a result.

     Burson contends he found a way to express himself through God's word.

     Anger was another obstacle he had to overcome. It was a character trait that paved the way for Burson to engage in various sinful acts that he had been a party to throughout his life.

     "I had a temper, and did a lot of fighting growing up," said Burson. "I wasn't happy just to whip someone in a fight, I had to hurt them."

     He recalled times when he tried to drown a boy, beat another boy in the head with a rock, and stomped a man's head on concrete during a bar fight.

     Psychologists inform us that such angry outbursts are often signs of individuals with low self-esteem, or a lack of self-confidence. It gives them a brief, although false, sense of power.

     That same insecurity manifested itself into an exaggerated "fear of God," said Burson. An unrealistic fear that had him believing God would punish him for every infraction. And he recalls the feeling of "walking on eggshells," where God was concerned.

     That fear and dread vanished when Burson finally realized the extent of God's love for him: for all mankind. He remembers the transformation occurred when John 3:16 became a personal revelation, and not just some nice sounding words on a piece of paper.

     When he acquired the proper perspective and attained a much deeper relationship with God, he was able to master the anger and violence issues in his life.

     "I realized true Christians don't act that way," said Burson, "and I've had a different view of people, and myself, from that point on."

     God had kept the problematic areas of his life continuously in the forefront until Burson finally dealt with them properly. A lesson for anyone who seems to keep running into the same obstacles over-and-over.

     Pastor Burson admits that the subsequent four decades of ministry have not been without additional hurdles to overcome, but the blessings have far outweighed the problems and his past.

     He readily acknowledges the blessing of his "wonderful wife" Josie, three "great kids" (Susan, Rick, and Rose), and six "equally great" grandchildren.

     "Josie is a story unto herself," Burson said. And he confesses his continued amazement at how she remained with him during those early years when he was not a true Christian, and still had the anger issues.

     "I treated her horribly," he said. Yet she remained because of a Christian heart, and her love for him, the children, and especially for Jesus.

     Burson credits the success of their 46 year marriage initially to his wife's focus on Christ... and now, their continued focus on Christ as a couple.

     When you view your mate's actions through godly eyes, instead of your own, it's amazing how much you can forgive: a principle Burson believes whole-heartedly.

     Though Burson admits to being blessed materialistically as well, it is clear that relationships are what he views as his "biggest blessings." And those relationships extend far beyond the immediate family.

     Additional blessed events during Burson's ministerial walk have been the unexplainable or miraculous incidents, which continually surprise him no matter how often they may occur.

     During his years as a minister he has spent time at the VA hospitals, along with being a hospice chaplain at a community hospital. In other words, Burson has become somewhat of a specialist in dealing with the spiritual needs of the sick, dying, and the families of the dearly departed.

     Having been a witness to so many transitional events has given Burson a unique perspective that most individuals could not understand. It has also allowed him to observe various unusual situations that can only be described as miraculous.

     On more than one occasion Burson was invited to pray over comatose patients, and yet, upon his arrival the patient was already awake and waiting for him (because a mysterious person informed them he was coming), or they awoke while he began to explain the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

     Similarly, family members of those he prayed for would later reveal how they had received a vision or dream that he would be the one to help their loved ones find salvation before passing on.

     One patient awakening from a coma at the moment Burson arrives or begins to testify about Christ might be accepted as a coincidence, but multiple comatose patients over various years --- that is no coincidence.

     Sadly, all the patients he offered the good news to did not accept. Even in situations when Burson believes God allowed them to recieve one last chance to escape dying in their sins, some still refused.

     God will not overrule their free will, and their hearts were hardened to the point of rejecting salvation even on their death beds.

     Burson recalls a few of these individuals dying within minutes after his conversation with them.

     Thankfully, Burson contends that a majority under those circumstances realized the uniqueness of the situation and accepted Christ.

     He recalls one lady, who had been on hospice watch for six-months, and constantly claimed to already be a Christian (having attended church for many years), became hysterical as her time approached. Her family sent for him because she kept screaming, "I'm going to die, and I'm going to hell!" Over and over she yelled the phrase as she thrashed about her bed.

     Not until Pastor Burson arrived and honestly led her to the Lord did she finally calm down. And she remained calm for the next three days until she passed away.

     "You cannot simply pay God lip service and expect to be saved," said Burson. "It has to be a heart felt repentance." And the fore mentioned lady realized that just in time: she had attended church for years, but she had never truly repented of her sins.

     If God had not showed such a wonderful example of loving and compassionate guidance toward Pastor Burson throughout his life, he would never have been able to show the same style of guidance to the many needy souls that have crossed his path throughout the many years he's been in the ministry.

     As he and his wife say, "good-bye" to FBC, on the way to a new ministerial endeavor, they will continue to rely on God's guidance.

     "We've let God down," Burson said, "but He has never let us down."

Richard Burson: a life of guidance (PART 1)

     At a time when only 50% of the students exiting Bible colleges honestly believe in the supernatural characteristics of an Almighty God, it is refreshing to speak with a pastor like Richard Burson, who believes in divine intervention and guidance from an omnipotent and loving Creator.

     Pastor Burson has been the spiritual leader at the First Baptist Church in Madras, Oregon, for the past 8 1/2 years. However, today was his last sermon at FBC. He and his wife, Josie, are heading to Estacada, where he will take over senior pastoral duties at Clackamas Valley Baptist Church.

     Burson views these transition periods as a continuation of God's ongoing guidance in the lives of His children. In fact, his life could be summed up in the periods when he needed to be guided (or led) to the Lord, receiving a more in-depth guidance during his Chrsitian walk, and then taking what he learned to guide others through the ministry in which God has placed him.

     While growing up, and as the third child out of eight (along with two step-sisters), it was easy for Burson to lose sight of his true identity. He admits to struggling as an introvert for most of his life, especially during the early years.

     His family was poor. For the first ten years of his life they resided in a canyon seven-miles up a back country road near the town of Dillard, Oregon.

     "We were pretty self-sufficient," said Burson. A pioneer style existence: they grew their own vegetables, and the main course would often be rabbit, gray squirrel, or venison. In fact, it wasn't until he was ten years old, and the family moved to Roseburg, that they got electricity.

     Spiritually speaking, up until that point, they only attended church on the important days, like Easter or Christmas.

     The close proximity to civilization increased attendance a little, including events like Vacation Bible School. However, it was also at ten years of age that Burson first recalls standing out on the street corner and having serious thoughts that he "needed to be in church." And yet, without the proper mentoring or encouragement, little was done about it.

     Three years would pass before Burson pinpoints another instance of spiritual guidance. He was exiting junior high, and across the street was a church, and he both felt and heard confirmation that he would attend that church: and he eventually did. And he continued there for quite some time.

     Two years later, while attending a Christian concert at an Assembly of God church --- the same church his brother would be married at in a couple years --- he discerned the Holy Spirit telling him that he would someday preach at that pulpit. It would take 45 years, but that prophetic word came to pass when he preached there at his brother-in-law's funeral.

     Unfortunately, during those early years of church attendance, he wasn't truly a Christian, since he had no personal relationship with God. And Burson admits that during that time he definitely had no plans on becoming a pastor. In fact, when he met Josie, his future wife, she was the professing Christian, not him.

     They got married fairly quick, in July of 1966: the same year they met. However, he soon received his draft notice, and entered the Army in September of that year: though Josie was able to accompany him when he was stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington.

     They rented a place above a garage, and Burson attributes their destination to part of that ongoing divine guidance. If living with a Christian wife wasn't influence enough, both the tenant's in front and behind them were sons of preachers. Therefore, between the three, they were more than enough influence to get him back into church.

     They were attending a little Baptist church at the time he recieved his orders to go to Vietnam. And one day, while the preacher was giving the invitation following his sermon, he said, "If you die today, do you know for sure that you'll go to heaven?"

     "I realized if I went to Vietnam and got killed," said Burson, "I'd go to hell." So he lifted his hand and went forward. After many years of sporadic church attendance he finally accepted the Lord.

     Unfortunately, upon returning from his tour of duty and discharging from the Army, they returned to Roseburg where Burson went to work at the mills, and he likewise returned to his old sinful ways.

     Since he worked hard he felt he was entitled to play hard as well, which included barhopping.

     "Josie always had a Christian heart, and loved the Lord," Burson said. "I was leading her away from that."

     However, she wasn't led too far before deciding it was time for her and the kids to get back to church.

     She had extended the invitation to him, but he chose to "go to the bars, drink, and play pool."

     That's when God decided it was time to increase the volume, and instead of the easily dismissed still small voice, the urging within him became so continuous that he put down the pool cue, left the tops on the bottles, and sat himself down with his family in church.

     This time the Lord provided some wonderful friendships, additional discipling, and eventually a new pastor, named Doyle Collins, who emphasized ministering and ministry.

     Burson wasn't sure how to respond to the unction of the Spirit at that point. He had already tried to become a deacon in the church, a position he really wanted, but lost the nomination by one vote.

     He wrestled with the decision of going into ministry for over a year and a half after receiving the calling. That is, until one day while laying on his bed, he asked for God's guidance on beginning the ministry. This time he heard a clear voice tell him, "You'd be a fool if you didn't."

     Those words, along with an identical confirmation, was all he needed. Burson, and his family, headed to Texas where he and Josie attended a Bible College.

     As you can see, the road to becoming a pastor is not always clear and easy. It required a lot of inner struggle and external guidance for Pastor Burson to reach this point. Stay tuned for part 2 of the interview, and see that there are often as many obstacles to overcome after becoming a pastor as there were prior to entering the ministry. However, there were many more blessings after he made the choice to follow God's will for his life.

Food Is A Way To The Heart

     A few Central Oregon Community College culinary students made a delicious difference at an annual Valentine's event.

     Daniel Taylor was the driving force behind changing the ordinary community potluck into a culinary delight for the Valentine's dinner Saturday the 13th, 6:00 pm, Madras Baptist Church.

     After being approached by Pastor Richard Burson to take over cooking duties for the annual community dinner, Taylor decided it was time for a change. As a culinary student at COCC he took his idea to the instructors, and put out a request for volunteers.

     "Eighty-hours of a 300 - hour cooking requirement can be made up of volunteer work," said Taylor. He said the requirement gives students valuable experience through practical application.

     The dinner, along with entertainment and door prizes, was held in the Fireside Room at the church. The event was free and open to everyone, though donations were gratefully accepted. And over half the attendees were not members of the congregation, including some homeless individuals who were more than welcomed.

     With the help of volunteers, led by Ellen Courtney, the dining hall was transformed into a one-night Bistro. The mosaic of tables were slanted, adorned with linen covers, topped with floating candles, and sprinkled with rose petals. The overhead lighting was turned off, and softer floor lamps were spaced along the walls. Multiple plant and floral arrangements were brought in, along with lighted trees, and two soothing waterfalls to add to the ambiance.

     Kyle Price and Chelsea Anttila, both COCC culinary students, assisted Taylor with the multiple courses, including two entrees: braised chicken breast and seafood risotto.

     "We get class credit," said Price, "but I would've done it anyway."

     All three students confessed and interest in community service and charity work.

     "I would also eventually like to teach," Anttila said, though it is the delicate sugary concoctions that look more like art than food that fascinate her the most.

     Other than a 15-minute delay on the serving time, three broken dishes, and some comedy relief when Pastor Burson knocked over a large flower vase, the event was a success.

     "It gave a lot of us a chance to experience what it would be like at a fancy restaurant," said Pat Beno, a guest, who was not shy about going for seconds.

     Touching lives with good food was a desire mentioned, in a variety of ways, by each culinary student volunteering at the event.

     "Doing this on the heart-centered holiday," said Taylor, "is the proverbial icing on the cake."