Sharing a recipe from X-Mas 2006

Here's a small Christmas present from us:

Buck's Brownies

2/3 cup all purpose flour (sifted)
1/3 cup Unsweetened Natural Cocoa 
3/4 teaspoon Baking powder 
1/2 teaspoon Salt 
2 Eggs; unbeaten 
1 cup Brown Sugar (for Hypoglycemics like Buck, mix 3/4 - 1 cup of fructose with 1 Tbs of maple flavoring) 
1 teaspoon Vanilla Sugar
1/3 cup Vegetable oil 
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts 

Sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, vanilla sugar and salt; set aside. In mixing bowl slightly beat the eggs. 
Gradually stir in sugar. Add oil and mix well. Stir in flour cocoa mixture, then nuts. 
Spread in butter-greased shallow 8X8 or 9 inch square pan. Bake at 350 degrees (210 C) for 22 to 25 minutes. 
Cool in pan, then cut in squares. Makes 16 2-inch great-tasting brownies.

Happy New Year! 

In His Love,

Les

Review of Lynn Austin's All Things New

In Lynn Austin’s most recent novel, All Things New, a young woman returns to what had been her antebellum home at White Oak Plantation in Virginia. The difficulties surrounding the reconstruction years of the Old South are brought to light as a family tries to cope with the bitterness of having enemies who so violently ravaged what the family had loved. The war of northern aggression had turned what was once beautiful and opulent into a tattered remembrance of its former glory. The land wasn’t the only casualty though; the family has to deal with a war that has claimed the lives of the father by pneumonia and one of the sons in battle. The other son, Daniel, has emotionally changed as well from what he has seen in the war. Lizzie, a freed slave, stays on with the family to help them rebuild the plantation.
The young woman, Josephine, feels bitterness against God who has seemed to ignore her prayers. Only when a young man, Alexander, enters into her life with his vibrant faith and commitment to the Word of God does she begin to heal.
Austin does a tremendous job in contrasting the old with the new just as Rev. 21:4-5 say in the opening pages of the book. The artistic description of the Old South beauty juxtaposed against the devastation of the current reality of having to rebuild into something new is interwoven with a faith journey that compels the reader to feel what Josephine felt, to cry with her in her loss, and to ultimately come to peace with her God.
I was given this book by Bethany House in order to provide a reader’s review. I received no compensation and all opinions are my own.

Happy Holidays '12 from the Burches!

Happy Holidays '12 from the Burches!

The World Behind Me is finally in print. I will have three books in the Cross Over Me Collection. In this first one, I share about our experiences during the first four years on the mission field. A transformation took place in me as I lived overseas. I lead you down my spiritual journey and share about various stages that I went through while serving in another culture. "To my surprise I experienced some vivid spiritual road blocks on this journey. I concluded that God places barriers, U-turns, or closed paths in our lives for reasons that we are incapable of understanding at times which may be for our own protection." (page 11)

"When I left my small South Georgia town for Russia, I knew little about other peoples and nations...The word diverse was not on my vocabulary list as a relevant term. Today it is though. The amount of various people groups living in America is rising...I am not sure if I could relate to others as comfortably today if I had not lived cross-culturally...My worldview once was limited, but now my eyes have been opened." (p. 87) I put these notes together as soon as possible in hopes to help others moving through similar stages share the Gospel more boldly.

Soon I will use the Cross Over Me Collection blog to post small group application questions that correspond with each section/chapter.   I hope that groups can use these as they venture on new mission work in their communities. Contact me at lesburch@gmail.com for speaking engagements. I would love to set up a time when we can sit down together and share. Blessings.

In His Love,
Les

Happy Reverse Visitation Night!

Have you ever thought about how we can engage our family and friends with the Gospel on Halloween? The Burches along with Rehoboth Baptist Church are participating in what we call reverse visitation. We can all shed light in the community by giving the Gospel message in tract form, and you never have to leave home. The Burches are adding a special treat to our candy again this year. We are placing a Gospel message tract in our neighborhood friends' bags, too.

You may remember the weekly "door-to-door" visitation program. Well, this is one event where people are knocking on our doors and coming to us. Let's be prepared this year to treat them with the Good News. Happy Reverse Visitation Night! 

In His Love,
Les
P.S.
Christian Book.com  has a selection of tracts for ideas.

Buck Burch: Personal Cross-cultural Insights from a Typical Urban Russian Family

Buck Burch: Personal Cross-cultural Insights from a Typical Urban Russian Family

Are you on the right mission track?

The time is drawing nigh...I am so excited! After the last seminar and response from a ladies' event, I knew that it was time to go public with my stories in book format. The nations are coming to us at a rapid pace. I hope that we take advantage of this opportunity to lead the nations to Christ from home. Are you on the right mission track? 

I realized that the greatest transformation in a cross-cultural experience is sometimes what happens inside the missionary herself. When Jesus sent out the 72 messengers in Luke 10, they returned having seen things that others would have treasured to see; therefore, I feel compelled to share my experiences. Many of you supported our efforts and prayed for us daily. Giving a full report is the best way I know how. I owe this much to you. Therefore I compiled these notes as soon as possible. We are at home with the nations now and need to be prepared for this new day, so I wanted to make things a little easier for you. -Cross Over Me, by Leslie Burch

Coming soon...this fall...Thanks for your interest...

In His Love, 

Les

Upcoming speaking engagement

Click on link for more info: Georgia Baptist Women Spring Event

I will be sharing about:

The Reality of Missions in Russia

Your missions journey requires the act of daily submitting with a raised hand that voluntarily and humbly signifies, “Lord, here I am; I will go”. Gleaning from personal experience as a missionary in Russia we will explore how God shows us we are on the right mission track.

Link for even more info: Conference Details