One year ago today I sent out an email to a few hundred of my closest friends announcing a new blog. The most common response? What’s a blog? In that initial missive I said this… I will be posting often about issues that affect the body of Christ. The topics will range from politics to embarrassing Christians. We will discuss faith in our culture and what it means to be an authentic follower of Christ. It will be honest, edgy, and it should be fun. Now 232 posts later I hope I have hit that target a few times. Often the embarrassing Christian has been me. Regular readers know my oft stated spiritual goal. Making other Christians feel superior since 1969 (my Spiritual birthday). The feedback from readers has been amazing. I have been deeply touched by your love and prayers as Joni and I have shared our journey through her breast cancer battle. And I have been very pleased that, for the most part,
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This past weekend I downed some coffee and perused the Dallas Morning News before heading to Waco for Homecoming football action at Baylor University. A headline in the Metro Section caught my eye. SMU, Baylor bare souls over ‘Playboy’ Dallas school won’t fight photo shoot; Bears clothes-minded The headline writers obviously had some fun with their jobs but the story was serious. Here is an excerpt from the piece written by DMN writer Michael E.Young. Separated by 100 miles of interstate, the Southern Baptists’ Baylor University and the United Methodists’ SMU seem even farther apart when it comes to students posing in states of undress in a men’s magazine. Southern Methodist University’s approach is decidedly hands-off. When Playboy magazine photographers set up temporary shop next week near SMU for a “Girls of Conference USA” pictorial, they’ll do so without university opposition. “SMU is not a participant in or a proponent of this project, which is sponsored by an off-campus publication,”
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Eldest son Matt wrote a well received article that I posted a few weeks ago at this site. Today I opened the cyber mailbox and found another effort from Matt. Today you get a father/son combo of Baylor University posts. Matt gets to tee off first. My father, in his vernacular, is the writer of these “humble ramblings” that grace this blog daily. Last Friday he wrote about Baylor Homecoming, an event my wife and I have been attending for the past 9 years. Dad wrote about Baylor Homecoming, “Why is this homecoming special for me despite my lack of a Baylor degree? It is about relationships. And memories.” Samuel Palmer Brooks, one the most beloved of Baylor Presidents (1903-1931), said of Homecoming, “Will you not, as a loyal student of dear old Baylor, lay aside for a few days the usual cares of life, come back to your alma mater, renew former associations
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Veterans of the early 70’s might remember a song from Rare Earth called “I Just Want to Celebrate”. Real veterans of the early 70’s might have spotty memories so I will help you out with the lyrics. I just want to celebrate, yeah, yeahI just want to celebrate, yeah, yeahAnother day of living,I just want to celebrate another day of life Those words came to mind as I prayed for my friend Ed. Perhaps the biggest compliment a guy can give to a masculine friend is that you both love and respect them. Respect is big guy thing. I suspect you only get a handful of true friends in a lifetime. Ed is one of those friends. He is loyal. Ed is a real guy who is strong enough to be tender. He is funny. Edgy. He is a guy who hates playing church (and who has a colorful way to describe those who do). And Ed is one of the
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It is another Doctor date with the bride today. Here is a very gently read post that applies to this upcoming weekend…another Homecoming Weekend. It is Homecoming this weekend at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Thousands of alumni will make their way to Central Texas for the event. Thanks to the great work of Coach Guy Morriss some will even go to the football game with anticipation. It seems odd to me that I am looking forward so much to this homecoming. The celebration is at a college that I did not attend. I’m not even Baptist, dadgummit! (that is Baptist cussing). But my heart has become a part of the Baylor tradition. Why? I am the very proud father of two Baylor grads and the youngest is a junior at the school. I have invested time and more treasure than I care to think about in Baylor University. It is a very special place for me. Each son has made relationships that have
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A few days ago I wrote an article entitled “Three Questions”. One of the three questions was addressed to those who do not share my views about faith. Today I got a thoughtful response from “Bear”. He or she (Bear is gender neutral, isn’t it?) seemed surprised by one of the questions I asked. Q: I am genuinely interested if you (atheists/agnostics) think that all believers are delusional or intellectually inferior? … Are you at all unsettled by the successful and intelligent people who endorse faith in God completely? A: The short answer to the first question is “no.” Certainly not intellectually inferior. There are too many believers, and I’ve met too many brilliant ones, to take that statement seriously for even a moment. Not everyone agrees with you based on many of the responses I had received prior to asking this question. Those responders clearly thought that I am intellectually inferior. I have been called a knuckle-dragging, flat-earth moron by some who clearly have some hot sports opinions about
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I checked the feedback section of these humble ramblings last week and found a question plus request from old friend Dave Naidl. PS Have you seen the movie Facing the Giants? Your comments please. Oddly enough that request arrived on the same day that the lovely Mrs.Burchett and I were going to see “Facing the Giants”. Hmmm. Coincidence? I think not! So we randomly joined two Pee-Wee football teams in a small theater to watch the film. I felt odd not having my name on the back of my shirt but it worked out anyway. Allow me to take a brief detour before I comment on the film. In late June I had written a post called Warn the women and children…this post is PG rated. That article dealt with the controversy surrounding the assignment of a PG rating to this film. The objection seemed to be the strong presentation of the Christian message during the film. After seeing the movie there
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