Our God Is An Awesome God

QUARTERBACKS ARE CHRISTIAN EXAMPLE FOR TEAM


When the whistle blows on the final Brandon High School football game
and the statistics have recorded the efforts of players, there will be
one stat not written in a book. The leadership, ministry and devotion by quarterbacks Joe Barnes and Caleb Jett will instead leave indelible marks in the lives of those

they influenced both on and off the field.

Both Barnes and Jett said they could never have imagined what God did
this year because they began the year as rivals vying for the starting
quarterback position. The two said they believe God did great work when He broke down the
walls between them and forged them together as best friends and
partners in ministry.

Jett had just moved to Brandon in March because his father David was
appointed senior pastor at Crossgates Baptist Church. Barnes and his
family had attended the church for many years. Both men had heard
rumors of the other but neither wanted a friendship. The transformation happened April 30 while attending a Sunday school cookout."God showed up that day and people were being set free from bondages and sin, and I felt God was pulling at me. I finally broke down in
tears and I knew it was time for me to follow God completely," said Barnes.

"I wasn't supposed to be there that day but I got invited. We were
praying for someone else and I kept getting these looks from Thomas,
the leader. It was like God was looking at me through him. God spoke
to me and it was like I let go of everything," said Jett.

Following the prayer time, the two rivals were left alone to talk it out.

"We both knew that God put us together that day and we agreed to
follow whatever God said. That was the day I met my best friend," said
Barnes.

Jett said the two began praying and ministering at church, at school
and in the locker room."When God brings Joe and I together to minister it's like we just
don't even care what happens or what people think, because we just
want people to step up and be warriors for Christ," said Jett.

On the football field, the two friends share the job as quarterback.
Coach Dan Davis said both Barnes and Jett are great competitors who
always put the team first."I am just so impressed with the way they have their priorities lined
up. It has been an honor and privilege to coach them. They have both
talent and character. I believe when you put those traits together
with a strong faith in God, then there is not any obstacle they have
to fear. I love and respect both of them," said Davis.

Fellow player Seth Power admires Barnes and Jett for taking a stand in
a difficult setting like a high school locker room."I think it took a lot of leadership and guts to talk about God in the locker room and at school. It has made a difference in the lives of
several people," said Power. Senior player Kody Johnson noticed the change in Joe's life."It was time for me to change the way I was living. I just neverrealized how many lives we would impact by the way we live," Johnson said.

Barnes and Jett said their friendship has helped weather the losses on
the field. "After we lost a game I wanted to hang my head, but Caleb was there to
encourage me to keep my eyes on Christ and to remember that I have
God's approval and I don't have to have the approval of others," said
Barnes.

The friends lead a Bible study for the football team, but they want to
give words of encouragement to all students."Don't waste your high school years, but get up each day and be ready to do God's will for your life," said Jett. "Being a Christian is about giving up your life to God and then living to seek His will. It is really about dying to self," said Barnes.

God is Good

              Please forgive me if my last post was a little bit sappy and out of place. I was going through a bad moment and heard that it’s sometimes good to write someone you are missing a letter. I tried that and for a little while it worked. I wanted to take a minute and clarify a couple of things that maybe got misunderstood in my letter to Buggs. 

  I am not mad about the situation our family is in with the passing of Katie. I do not understand our Lords plan in all of this but that really doesn’t matter. My issue is that I miss my daughter and if I knew Gods plan it would not make me miss her any less. Everything we go through right now reminds us of her and what she would be doing during her senior year. The things the two of us shared during this time of year like football and holidays were very special to KK and I. 

  Our Heavenly Father is not punishing us for things we have done. He is not taking payment for sin or anything else in her life. From a spiritual standpoint God is rewarding Katie for a job well done here on earth. I know my baby heard “well done my good and faithful servant “on July 20, 2008 sometime around 10:35 am. While her stay here on earth was short in our eyes, comparatively to what God has planned for us, all of our stays on earth are short. She made a lifetime in her short 17 years. She never walked away from a challenge or never met someone she didn’t know. She laughed, cried, walked, ran, won beauty pageants, lost beauty pageants, stripe fished, Hunted, and did many more things. 

  God’s blessings have rained down on this family since that day. We have found new friends, grown closer to old ones, gotten a new perspective on the importance of worldly things and most importantly learned to take every moment God gives us. I am quick to read a book or play a game with Jackson or Andrew when before I might look for reasons not to. My boss is going to hate me but the after hours meetings and giving time to customers after work has ended. They are important to my livelihood but not my family life. 

  I would like to encourage all of you that think we have been let down or how God could let something like this happen to someone like Katie, to read what the Bible says about heaven. Katie was not punished by God. He was not asleep at the wheel. This was not a punishment. It didn’t just happen from Bad luck. God knew before KK took her first breath when she would take her last one. He knew that the vehicle she was riding in was going to flip and land on her side no matter what side of the car she was sitting on. The only thing he didn’t have a hand in was that when she was a teenager she was going to make a choice that Jesus was her Lord and Savior. That she was going to live for him and the Glory of his kingdom. That her ultimate goal was to somehow glorify God. I think she got acknowledgement that she reached that Goal on July 20^th when he said those seven little words to her in heaven. 

  Daddy loves you baby. Congratulations on a job well done.

update

               It has been three months since you left. I find I am missing you more each and every day. People have told me that time would make it easier, but that just hasn’t been true. There have been many things going on since the worst day of my life. Your Rockets are 3-4. Bama is on an incredible tear. Blakely got Homecoming Queen. We are all making it through the day any way we can. 

   You would be so proud of the GHS football team. They have taken the fight to everyone they have played. There has been no evidence of backing down or being intimidated by anyone. Conner has played well and Trey has been amazing. Timothy, Bobby, and Lawson are making plays all over the field. When we won our first game against Oak Mountain, the players and cheerleaders all ran over to the band. They were dancing and singing and they all pointed to the sky for you. Baby, you are not forgotten 

   Saban has gotten the Tide off to a 6-0 start. We beat Clemson in Atlanta  and then tore Georgia up a few weeks later at their place. Right now we are ranked 2^nd in the polls. If we keep winning we will possibly play in the National Championship in Miami. Carli, Katie, Mollie, and Josh have been going to the games with your tickets. Shelley and I have been to a couple but it just don’t feel the same. It seems like all I can think about when they win is how happy you would be. 

  Homecoming 2008 was almost like you picked the Homecoming court. Blakely won and the senior Reps were Katie, Mollie, Carli, and Natalie. They all looked very pretty. Cassie got to crown the winner. We all took pictures before they left and I even got some with Andrew and the girls. 

   Shelley is going to have you a little sister. We found out last week. I know you always said you wanted to be the only girl but I know Buggs, that you would have spoiled a little sister to death. We are going to name her Jamison. I hope she has your spirit and determination. I hope she is not as pretty though because I don’t want to have to worry about the boys….Just kidding. 

   Andrew is doing well in school. He has had a super year in football. He has your competitiveness after all. Seems like every week he has the biggest kid on the other team on him. Jack is learning well and after he got into trouble the first two days things have settled down. He misses you but thinks its really cool that you are in Heaven with Jesus. Giggy and Pop call and come by all the time. They are worried about us and they miss you terribly. You have had an article in the Birmingham news and your marker has been put in. It has all the people you love on it. Josh is down at Montevallo and his room is one big Katie collage. 

   That leaves me. I never knew anything could hurt so bad. I regret every moment of your life that I didn’t spend with you. I wish I could get on you about a shirt or phone bill or coming in late. I think back to every special moment, the ballgames, stripe fishing, beauty pageants, tryouts, and just wish we could have one more. There is not 1 minute in a day that I don’t think about you. You taught me what love was. I never knew until you were born how much a man could love. I am so sorry that I couldn’t help you that day. I will never ever be able to get over that. I always promised I would protect you and in that, I let you down. I promise you this KK, no daddy ever loved a daughter more and one day we will be together again. I love you baby. 

Daddy

Finally Over

  It’s finally over. 337 to 363 were the final numbers in the Ward 2 runoff. What does all this mean? Where do I go from here? Guys, as I am now 1 day out from the end of the election, I think I have a good answer for both questions. 

  Gary Morris beating me in the election tells me that this was Gods plan all along. Gary really is the better choice for this position. The times that are coming up are critical to our city and his knowledge and experience will be needed. Someone will soon be made council President and he would be a safe choice for that position. He did many things in our campaign that were very respectful of my family and our situation and to him I will always be grateful for that. I believe we will see the best possible Gary Morris in the four years to come and I believe this campaign has assured that. Congratulations Gary and Gardendale for making the right choice. 

  My future now is much clearer. I believe my heavenly Father put me in this election to keep my mind of Katie as much as possible. Her friends and their families were very important in my campaign efforts and this gave us time to be together to grieve and focus our energies to something positive. I still sit at home or in my truck and cry three to four times a day but now, 10 weeks later, I know I will get through this because I can not because I have to. I am going to continue to go to council meetings. I am going to be a cheerleader as opposed to a problem maker. I encourage everyone to do the same in the comings months. There will be hard decisions that have to be made so lets trust the people we have elected to make the right ones. They are very capable and gifted people. 

  There are so many people I need to thank: Greg Maxwell, Jeff Powell, Janet Mitchell, Dianne Ragland, Cindy Mars, The 2009 Cheerleaders especially the Super6, Erika England, Jeff Dennis, McGruder, Oscar Mann, Othell Phillips, Dennis Gamble, Jerome Cantrell, Tammy Sutton. That’s just the tip of the Iceberg, and please if I left someone out its not because I am not appreciative. These people did not necessarily support me against my opponent, they were just supportive of me in a very trying time in my life. Last but not least my dear family who took every step with me. 

Mike “Buckett” Burkett

Thanks Gardendale

  It is now less than a week until the 2008 runoff elections. I have no idea how things will turn out but I do know that I have learned many things about Gardendale and the people that live here. Many of you now know me on a more personnel level. Many topics that have been on our minds and in our hearts have been brought out and discussed. Last but not least there will be change in our city government for the first time in many years. 

  The people that live in our little paradise are mostly wonderful people. Gardendale still has a “Mayberry” feel to it. When things go wrong for people our neighbors rally for each other in a remarkable way. There is a comradarie between people here. We are loyal to our friends through thick and thin. Many people rally to the defense of their friends with a passion and go after the other guy with the same zeal. It seems we have that I can talk about my friend but you better leave him alone attitude that has made the south great for many years. 

  Our family has become very transparent due to the accident and my bid for council. We have developed new friendships and renewed many old ones. The way you guys have loved on us and prayed for us has been remarkable through a time of great sadness. I will forever appreciate the way you guys have rallied to our needs. I know now why Katie always had that smile on her face. She loved hard and received that same love in return. 

  For the first time in a long time, we actually have an election. Normally it has been whichever good ole boy got picked to follow whichever good ole boy was leaving. A select few picked a select few. This year we have many different people from many backgrounds running for office. This will bring diversity to the council and will also let the councilman know they can no longer get by on their names alone. The city is in a state of crisis financially and it will take a tremendous amount of teamwork to pull us out of our dilemma. 

  I ask each one of you to do as I am going to do after Tuesday’s election. I am going to back the elected winners and offer them my services whenever needed. I will not sit behind a computer and bad mouth any of them because frankly, I am not any better than any of them. I am going to respect the electorial process and give these guys an opportunity to do the jobs we have elected them to do. Most of all I am going to be thankful that I live in such a great place with so many wonderful people. 

  I would like to thank Gary Morris, Tim Clayton, and Joe Jones for the way our election has gone. They have been very respectful to me and my family and have all stepped up to help us in our grief. They campaigned with class and dignity. I am lucky to now have Tim and Gary as friends. I feel like Gardendale is getting a winner whether I win or lose and I thank Gary for all he has done for our city. 

  I am going to say one more time folks, Thank you so very much for the love and prayers through the last weeks. You will never know how much you have meant to me and my family. I pray none of you ever go through what we have went through, but if you do feel free to call and I will do anything I can. Please continue to remember us this week with it being homecoming. It will be tough but with the help of the lord and prayers we will make it through it 

God Bless You, 

Mike Burkett

My Incredible Journey

  The last 3 months have been an incredible Journey. The time I spent with my family making decisions about whether to run or not and how best to do it. The fateful vacation that ended before it even started. Deciding how best to handle Katie’s passing, and whether or not to run for council. The Election Day and the preparation for the runoff. Most importantly realizing how very blessed I have been. 

  I have mentioned on my blog that my main reason for running has been my children. I grew up in Gardendale. I frequently refer to it as the south end of the rainbow. I had a wonderful childhood, and the main reasons were the love of my parents and the wonderful community in which I lived. I want my children to feel the same way when they get my age. Katie began the process for our family by continuing to make me believe I could help make Gardendale a better place. That is one reason I stayed in the race after the wreck. 

  As many of you well know, July 20, 2008 will be a day I will never forget. I kissed my baby for the last time here on this earth. Everything about me changed in that moment. I became humbled, broken, confused, sick, scared, tired, tormented, guilty, and dirty all at the same time. I stood up, walked back a few steps, and began praying. I prayed to my Father that he would take Kate, hold her, love her, protect her, and do all the things that I wasn’t able to do. I thanked Him for the times we had together and for the special relationship we had developed over our 17 years. The very next moment I had the most incredible thing happen to me. God told me that it was okay to let Katie come to her Father. The fear, chaos, and confusion all left me. I knew that Kate was okay and that she was in the presence of the Holy Spirit. 

  It may seem like I am going through the worst possible time in my life. While I cry everyday because I miss my Buggs, I realize how lucky I am to have the many blessings I do have. This community, our friends and family, my dear wife, my sons… all have become so very special to me each and every moment. The appreciation of every minute that I always took for granted. Knowing that so many people genuinely care about our family and our well being has really blown me away. Last but not least, the promise of how very much God loves each one of us has become so evident to me. Every time I get kicked to the ground and feel as though I can’t get up again, He sends someone or something to pick me up. He does this because He promises to never give me anything I can’t handle. Why I am not sure why  any of this happened, I know my Katie is as happy as ever. That knowledge is what gives me the strength to get out of bed every morning 

  I have constantly used this blog to express my council Ideas. Today however, I am going to say something that makes any council talk pale by comparison. I have been given an incredible blessing. I now know how much God loves me. He sent his only son to die a terrible death on the cross for me. He did this so I and each one of you may be washed clean of all of our sins and have an eternity with him in heaven. I no longer have to wonder about the pain God had that day at Calvary. The Bible says the sky grew dark and God wept for three hours. He wept  because Jesus paid the ultimate price for all of us. Having learned about the pain he went through for me makes me more aware of what I owe him. I have always been a rather convenient Christian. I would help people that asked or witness when convenient. That day has come to an end. While I cannot be perfect, I am going to do all I can to show everyone how much God loves us. I am going to praise him through this storm and know that not only will he walk with me but he will carry me when I can’t go any farther. I know this because his word promises that and he has been faithful to me. I will always be available to discuss my heavenly father with anyone that would like. If you do not know what would happen to you if you passed away tonight, there is an answer. All you have to do is reach out to God and ask Jesus to come into your life. Life will not always be easy once you do this but trust me, you will never be alone again.

 

Yours in Christ,

Mike “Buckett” Burkett

238-1272

Preparing for the Run-off....

My worst election nightmare has come true. The thing I dreaded most was a runoff with Gary Morris. Let me start by saying that I think he is a very good person and has been a tremendous benefit for our city the last twelve years. He handles himself with class, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for him and his family. Now let the bashing begin. I am only kidding folks, but I am going to point out a few differences between him and myself.

   I believe the key to making our city thrive again is continued improvements in quality and quantity of services and entertainment in our city. I believe we must have a proactive (I hate that word) approach toward business recruitment in our city, but at the same time we must be fiscally responsible. I believe your councilman must be open to your ideas and available to hear them. Last but not least, I believe we must be passionate about the job of being YOUR councilman.

   We must be able to bring in new businesses to make up for the ones that have left and the lack of revenue we are currently bringing in. I stated six weeks ago that the key to this is hiring a city recruiter/planner that gets paid by the job he does. We currently have a part time person doing this and we have lost 13 % of our businesses in the last 18 months. Businesses are not going to knock our door down to come here. We have the reputation of not being a friendly city to work with. The Inspection department is considered to be the wicked witch of the south. These things cannot be fixed overnight, but at the same time we cant wait four years to fix them either

   Fiscally responsible. Think about this for a moment. What would happen to Gardendale if Wal-mart left tomorrow? How would we survive? Would the stores that are now in that area survive without it? Could we find someone to replace it? I will not try to answer this for you, but this is the position we as a city are in right now. My worry is that we would have to use all of our reserves just to maintain current services with a growing population. We have not been successful in recent months in recruitment of businesses so there is no reason to think this will change. That would bring us to the dreaded tax that we all despise.

   We have hampered ourselves by having a horrible attitude within the Inspections Department. The city is following trucks around to see where they are going, trying to stop teenagers from cutting grass, badgering builders with every kind of permit known to man to pick up $35.00. The question that I have is this: how many small businesses have we run off by doing this? How many companies turn a deaf ear to the city because of our reputation of being hard to work with? This began under our current councilman and it must stop. I will do everything in my power to help the inspection department start improving our reputation in the city and beyond.

   In my opinion, the biggest weakness that Mr. Morris has is that he has made decisions without getting input from the people he represents. I saw him several times during the last election and not once since. I called him on the phone and told him about a situation with the sewage overflowing at the baseball field and was put off to the mayor. This will not be the case if I am elected. I will handle all I can, explain what I cannot and be available to you at all times.

   I have repeatedly talked about passion in my blog posts and during campaigning. This is one of the reasons I believe term limits are good. A new candidate is going to hit the ground running and work hard to make things work, especially if he has a vested interest. I am a type-A personality and I cannot stand the thought of failure. I will give Gardendale my all for at most two terms and then step aside and let someone else carry the fire. Mr. Morris would be starting his fourth term as a councilman and in my opinion some of that fire has dwindled. That would be only natural after 12 years.

   This race will decide if we are going to have a majority of new faces or if the old regime stays intact. I ask you, the residents of ward 2, to give me the opportunity to work with the new council to return our city to its past glory. Teamwork is going to be very important. New ideas and the fire to accomplish goals will be my priority. Thank you very much for your support in the election

 Mike “Buckett” Burkett