Father’s Day is here again and that day is always bittersweet. I am so grateful to be the father of three wonderful sons. I am grateful as I watch my sons being great dads to our grandchildren. But the day also reminds me how much I miss my Dad. I thought of him as I watched the news today. The current climate in Washington and the selfish agendas of our “representatives” would have driven him nuts. I could almost hear him ranting about the politicians and how we just need someone with common sense in our Nation’s Capital. He earned the right to rant. He was one of the incredible men and women who served our country during World War II. The flag from his military funeral is one of my proudest possessions. I find myself becoming more like my Dad every day. I dialed up a couple of his favorite songs that I have on iTunes as a musical version of
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I remember reading this headline at Yahoo News. Swearing at work boosts ‘team spirit, morale’ Wouldn’t it be interesting to be at that corporate pep rally? The story outlined the study. Regular swearing at work can help boost team spirit among staff, allowing them to express better their feelings as well as develop social relationships, according to a study by researchers. Yehuda Baruch, a professor of management at the University of East Anglia, and graduate Stuart Jenkins studied the use of profanity in the workplace and assessed its implications for managers. They assessed that swearing would become more common as traditional taboos are broken down, but the key appeared to be knowing when such language was appropriate and when to turn to blind eye. The pair said swearing in front of senior staff or customers should be seriously discouraged or banned, but in other circumstances it helped foster solidarity among employees and express frustration, stress or other feelings. I live in
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I used to be quick to jump on Christians who failed morally. How could they claim to be a Christian and do something like that? I wondered how they got to such a low point in their journey. Perhaps a bit of insight came from a Texas storm. Strong winds toppled a 50-foot-tall tree in a friend’s backyard. But strong winds are a part of every spring in Texas. Why did this particular storm fell a mature tree? The answer came as my friend cut up the fallen tree—it had completely rotted inside. There was no way to tell when you looked at the tree. The bark covered the decay and the leaves were still green and pretty. But inside the tree was dying. It finally reached a point where there was not enough strength left in its core to withstand another storm. The example from nature is a metaphor for how we can topple as Christians and completely surprise
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Twitter makes cowards courageous. The anonymity of cyberspace makes the mean spirited downright evil. I have watched with sadness as Twitter trolls have destroyed or severely damaged people and institutions. Sometimes the venom is directed at those who simply have a sincere difference of opinion on moral issues. Nothing seems to generate more glee than a Christian leader or institution failing. Without fail the hypocrite word is used with smug satisfaction. And it is true. Let me make this personal since I can only speak honestly for me. I am a hypocrite. I do not consistently live up to the teachings of Jesus. I fail. I sin. That is why I need a Savior and not a self-help course. I am confident not in my holiness but in the holiness of Jesus. I remember hearing a pastor say that “we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. But that doesn’t keep us from comparing distances.” That is
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Real and honest relationships are messy. If you take the chance to be known and get hurt it is easy to build a wall. If you take another chance and get the same result it is easy to build an impenetrable fortress around your heart. And that is tragic. Sara Groves is a powerful lyricist with a great voice. That’s a very appealing combo plate. Her song entitled “It’s Me” is amazing. She captures the insecurities, old stories about our past and selfishness that leads to relationship meltdowns. And those moments seem to come out of nowhere. weather came and caught us off our guard we were just laughing and feelin’ alright had such a great time just last night we walked into a minefield undetected you took a tone and I took offense anger replacing all common sense oh run for you life all tenderness is gone in the blink of an eye all good will has withdrawn I am sobered
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Father’s Day is just around the corner. Some of you have told me you plan to give a copy of Stay: Lessons My Dogs Taught Me about Life, Loss, and Grace to your Dad or Grandfather. In my very biased world that is MUCH better than a tie! I have Autograph plates ready to send out that you can place inside the book before you give it. Just send your address and how you want the plate inscribed to dave@daveburchett.com or send me a personal message with the info on Facebook. I will sign the autograph plate and return it to you. I pay the postage as my small thank you to you! You can get Stay at Barnes and Noble, Booksamillion, Mardels and online at Amazon, Christianbook.com, and Barnes and Noble.You link to the online booksellers from the “Order Now” link at the top right of this page. I would love to help you celebrate your Dad or Granddad
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Regular readers of these humble ramblings know that I love music and the power of lyrics to implant truth in my heart. The group Tenth Avenue North is especially good at doing that for me. A new song resonated from the moment I heard it. What You Want is a powerful plea to give up my personal agenda and my need to be in control. You can check it out here.  Here is a sample of the lyrics. Everyday I’ve been feeling the pressure I always gotta know the plan It’s a weight that I’ve tried to shoulder I thought I could, but I can’t And I’m so tired of chasing dreams When I am wired to let you lead But I resist that innate wiring to follow God and I try to control my path. James wrote about our attempts to “control” our future. Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town
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