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
Continue reading...

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
Continue reading...

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
Continue reading...

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
Continue reading...

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
Continue reading...

The Four Freshmen recorded a song in 1956 that was later covered by the Beach Boys. The song was called “Graduation Day” and the lyrics went something like this…actually they went exactly like this. Theres a time for joyA time for tearsA time we’ll treasure through the yearsWell remember alwaysGraduation day That song came to mind as I remembered a day with far more impact for me than graduation day. That day was March 20, 2006. Theres a time for joyA time for tearsA time when we felt numb with fearsWe’ll remember alwaysDiagnosis Day. Every cancer patient will remember always that dreaded diagnosis day. I will never forget that call from my wife telling me (between sobs) that her tests were positive for breast cancer. Now we are nearly eight months down the road. Joni completed her chemotherapy 10 days ago. We are in a blessed recess between treatments. Up next is a six week regimen of radiation. A lot has happened since Diagnosis
Continue reading...

Cynicism is not missing from the Bible texts. For example, Job’s response to his buddy Zophar smacks of cynicism.   “You people really know everything, don’t you?      And when you die, wisdom will die with you!  NLT  Job 12   Job throws down a “you people” to Zophar and his two compadres. I don’t think that Job really thought wisdom would die with the passing of his three friends. I would classify that as a cynical remark. What I struggle with is that cynicism is never listed (even in the apocryphal books) as a spiritual gift. My one chance to move to the head of the class! Denied. Recently I spotted a T-Shirt that conveys a sad truth.   I’m not cynical. I’m just experienced.   I receive a pretty steady stream of correspondence from “experienced” Christians who are fighting cynicism. This recent email is typical. I’m a cynic by nature. I recognize human failings (especially the stupidity in myself) and I am amazed by the concept of
Continue reading...