Today is an important announcement for my tens of readers as we unveil a new name for the humble ramblings. There is no need to be concerned. My ministry of making judgemental Christians feel superior will continue intact. The reason for the new name was a gentle challenge from dear friend Angie. She has joined her hubby in going through the TrueFaced DVD with the charming Mrs. Burchett and me. My walk with Jesus has been transformed by this book and study. I have learned to really trust and believe who I am in Christ. One key lesson from the study is simple yet profound. When I put my trust and faith in Jesus that transaction changed who I am. I am no longer a sinner trying to be a saint. I am a saint who occasionally sins. That truth prompted Angie to ask this question. “If that is your identity can you  really call yourself a bad Christian?” Hmmmm. After some debate I have
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(This is an update of an earlier post) Today I voted in the Texas primary. At least for awhile we Texans should get a break from political ads. You would think with so many candidates possessing integrity that we should be in good shape for the future. Most of the candidates promised change. It has been well documented that Barak Obama has been riding the hope train right into the lead in the Democrat race. His rallies look like the Beatles performing at Shea Stadium. I was thinking that God must have a real sense of déjà vu as He watches the people clamor for a human leader to give them hope and change. Then I got sidetracked as I wondered if an omnipotent God can even experience déjà vu? That gave me tired head. Would God look at these rallies and think of another group who had hope at their disposal but then chose to reject it? God wanted to bless His nation
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I recently wrote an article challenging the idea that some Christians might choose to sit out the upcoming Presidential election.   Several of you offered your thoughts. Over the weekend I received a message from a man who deserves to be heard. I give my space proudly and humbly to one of our heroes protecting me and you. I recently read Dr. Dobson’s comments about sitting this election out. While I have always appreciated his leadership in matters of family, I beg him to recant his statement. If people who look up to him are to follow suit, I fear we may end up with the worse of two evils in charge of the executive branch. I risk my life daily in the skies of Iraq so you all may have the privilege of voting. Please don’t throw that away. I am not a fan of any of the candidates either, but I will vote and my vote will go to the one whose values are
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I continue to have my comfortable “bad” Christian apple cart overturned by a group of troublemakers from Phoenix. I have mentioned several times that my faith world is being rocked by the book TrueFaced and the TrueFaced Romans Bible study. A recent romp through the high definition television channels triggered today’s grace episode. I stumbled on a concert by an artist named Lee Ann Womack. She was beginning a new tune so I lingered. The song made me laugh and then made me think. A bit of set up for the lyrics. Apparently Lee Ann’s ex-boyfriend has met another and the upcoming wedding announcement is in the paper. A picture of the new love triggers a wave of jealous, immature and childish behavior. She thinks the new woman doesn’t take a very good picture and blacks out a couple of teeth for good measure. Yep, she responds like most of us have at one time or another. Here is the chorus. It may be my
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Everyone at Casa Burchett has been ill recently. Joni brought home the first cold bug. Then dog friend Hannah had a little stomach virus and that was not pretty. I will spare you the details. Now it is my turn to be sick. I thought of how really crappy I have felt this week. And then I realized how much I take for granted the fifty weeks or so out of every year when I feel good or even great. Sure I have the usual little aches and pains that a 50 year old plus body will accumulate. But for five decades I have been blessed with the ability to run slowly, jump barely, dance awkwardly and laugh often. I am so blessed. I thought about how I never got sick once during Joni’s chemotherapy when her immune system was so fragile. Praise God for that. I thought about people who feel far worse than I have felt this week every single day
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This writin’ bidness can be dangerous. My greeting from an old buddy in Nashville this week went something like this. “Thanks a lot for your blog about the SI swimsuit issue. You didn’t leave me with too many options.” I smiled tentatively and hoped he was kidding. Thankfully he was graceful in his objections. But the reality is that my friend did have options. He could choose to sin. I have made that choice in the past regarding the SI swimsuit issue. Christians often choose to be a bit more nuanced when we describe our own personal sin. We prefer words like shortcomings and mistakes. I have decided to quit playing word games with a God who is not fooled. I am a saint because of Jesus. But I still sin because the old nature still craves attention like a spoiled child at the supermarket. I am definitely getting better as I understand my identity in Christ. But my sin nature is
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 Because the presidential nominees are still in doubt we Texans get a rare “treat” this primary season. We get political commercials from now until March 4th.  Whoopee. And we get political rallies as a part of our new status as a key state in the delegate process. This week a packed arena in Dallas hosted Barak Obama. The atmosphere was more like a revival than a rally. A lot of people are into the Obama “Hope and Change” tour. I always hesitate when I write about politics because nothing brings out the thin-skinned loonies quicker than a perceived slight of their man or woman. So please understand that this post is not about critiquing a candidate. These thoughts are about our culture in America and, in particular, the Christian demographic. The electric atmosphere at the Dallas Barak Obama rally and hearing his recurrent message got me to thinking and that is always a dangerous thing. I was thinking that God must have a real
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