Author: Dave Burchett

There are some days that I really wonder if it is worth the time invested in these humble ramblings. And then you get what my wife calls “postcards” from God. Today was one of those days that I woke up and wondered if it was worth it. I had decided to take today off from blogging. Maybe several days.

Then I received a postcard from God. He sent it through a young lady named Hannah. She sent me an email in response to my post yesterday about My Christmas Gift List.

Mr. Burchett,
 
Mommy read your blog to us this morning.  We have been sponsoring a 10 year old boy in Mozambique since August through World Vision.  We are learning more and more every day about the ministry of World Vision.  Mommy is reading to us stories out of the World Vision magazine.  This morning as mommy was reading to us about the things we could be praying for, I got even more bothered about what people weren’t doing for all the millions and billions of needy and orphaned children around the world.  The huge numbers really bothered me.  I think when mommy was helping us to understand what it must be like to be an orphan is when I started thinking about what more we could do.  Yes, pray, but what could we do otherwise.  We had already been considering a World Vision gift–a goat, because Rebekah likes goats.  But then we began to talk about making more people aware of these children and their needs.  So, we are going to put together an information booth to educate and make the people of our church more aware. I wondered if you and Mrs Burchett would be willing to help us man the booth when the time comes.  We want to design posters, show children that need sponsorship and ask for donations towards two or three specific World Vision gifts.  What do you think? Would you help us?

Love,

Hannah

Wow. Even a “Bad Christian” wouldn’t think of turning that request down.

Dear Hannah,

Mr.Burchett will be honored to help you when his eyes have quit watering. Must be allergies. Or maybe it is being touched by the heart of a wonderful girl. Thanks for loving these children with the love of Jesus. If more people cared like you we could make a real difference.

Your humbled friend,

Mr.Burchett

Thanks Hannah. Thank you God for the reminder that you use our humble gifts that we offer to You. Would you pray about following Hannah’s lead and make more people aware of these children and their needs. Mark records this example of the heart of Jesus for children.

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.  Mark 10 NLT

We have a chance to be His arms and His hands to children around America and the world. We have a chance to bless these children of God. Will we?

When I was a kid the holidays seemed to politely wait their turn in line. Thanksgiving would take the baton from Halloween and then pass it along to Christmas.  Now the Holidays clamor for attention like a spoiled child at the mall. I have been receiving Christmas catalogs for weeks and the stores are already filled with Christmas displays. By the way, you will note that I am a proud user of the term Christmas for the December 25th event that is known on the federal calendar as Christmas Day.  That was a bonus mini-rant. No charge.

So as I bought Halloween candy today I thought about what I want for Christmas this year. I started with a list of things I really, really want.

1. Everything at the Bose store
   
2. A high definition television
   
3. The latest version of my Trio phone  (I don’t have the Windows version for heaven’s sake!)
   
4. Several pounds of books
   
5. Dozens of DVD’s

Then I listed everything I really, really need.

Yep. I don’t need a single thing for Christmas. I give bags of clothing I no longer wear to charities every year. We have more stuff in our house than we can figure out how to store. My television is in color and has a sharp picture. Not high def…but high enough for now. My phone does, unfortunately, still receive calls. I have more books than I can read and more DVD’s than I have time to watch. I still want the stuff from the Bose store but Jesus never said this journey would be easy.

So here is my request for this year to my Sons and the stunning Mrs.Burchett. Pool the money you would have spent on me and go the website of World Vision.  Then click on the Gift Catalog and give a gift to people who really, really do need things. There you can find a need for whatever stirs your heart, from animals to education to fresh water provision. Nothing would make me happier. Here is just a sampling from the catalog.

• For just $75 you can buy a goat for a family and provide year round milk and cheese
  
• How about building a fish pond stocked with tilapia to provide food and income opportunities for a village? The cost is $200.
  
• Like more exotic animals? Your Christmas money can provide an alpaca ($360) or a camel ($685) to a struggling family.
  
• For $50 you can contribute safe water to an African school or for $100 you can help dig a deep well
  
• Want to help out children in the United States? A gift of $25 will fill a backpack and $500 provides essentials to a needy child.
  
• You can contribute to rescue young girls from the sex trade industry or a little over $100 will give pre-natal care for women who have no hope of that basic need.
  
• Help build a health clinic or pay for eye surgery for a child that has no hope to learn without the procedure.
  
• Give the gift of musical education, sports, and other educational needs
  
• How about offering new hope to children with disabilities by giving a wheelchair or prosthetic limbs to war victims?
  
• Feed and care for widows and children affected by the HIV/AIDS plague in Africa.

Can you read that list and not feel just a little sheepish (not the type available for $105) about our lack of sacrificial giving as Christians in this country? Here is some research from a very annoying and convicting organization called empty tomb, inc. They are also a very important ministry that God has raised up to be a Nathan to our comfortable and consumer Christianity. Here is how America spends some of it’s resources.

In 2003 American consumers spent $53.6 billion buying jewelry and watches, a 5.1% increase over previous year.
U.S. Consumers spent more than $24.3 billion on candy (2002) and, on average, consumers made $84.34 worth of candy purchases.
We spent $64 billion on soft drinks in 2003. In 2000 Americans spent $13 billion a year on chocolate in all its forms (I know…it just got personal for many of you).
In 2000 American toy sales reached $23 billion.
How about $38 billion spent on state lotteries? 
Americans spend 600 million on teeth whitening each year.
We  spend over 300 million on Botox to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

God help us to see the world with His heart. The good news? We can make a real difference. And the time to start is now. Again, according to empty tomb, inc we have the potential to literally change the world in the name of Jesus. Here is the analysis of the empty tomb organization.

As described in our research, church member giving is declining as a portion of income, and is currently around 2.59%. 

If Americans who identify with the historically Christian church increased their giving to an average of 10% of income, there could be an additional $156 billion given to the church. If 60% of this amount were made available to expand overseas missions activity, that number would mean an additional $94 billion available for overseas missions.

One source estimates that $70-$80 billion would impact the worst of world poverty and $5 billion could end most of the 11 million under-5, global, annual child deaths. Also, $7 billion would be sufficient for global primary education for all children.

You should be aware, that there could also be $31.22 billion more a year for domestic outreach. And this all on top of our current church activates. 

In the gospel of Matthew Jesus talks about the final judgment.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?  When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

  “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

It takes so little sacrifice to make a difference. But it will take the whole body of Christ to really impact this globe. A few years ago I gave up a daily beverage at an omnipresent coffee franchise. That freed up enough money to sponsor a little girl in Guatemala. I hope my family decides to give me what I need for Christmas. Nothing. And I pray that money will be used in the name of Jesus by some family that desperately needs hope. As for me, I have decided on my gift this Christmas. I have spent a year producing a large amount of bovine byproduct at this blog site. So I have decided to purchase a producer of the real thing.  Today I committed to providing a bull for a village in Africa. I gave up the incredible audio speakers and the upgraded phone to make that happen. Somehow I think I will make it through the year.

P.S. World Vision is just one of many Christian charities that receive a top rating from independent ranking companies. You may have your own favorite. Would you pray about doing something this Christmas? Who knows what good you can do by giving up something you don’t really need.

Halloween is one of my least favorite times of the year. Don’t worry.  I am not going to launch into a tirade about how Christians need to protest this pagan holiday. I dislike Halloween because it is one of the times each year when I want to take my evangelical name tag off and hide it for a few days. One of the reasons I want to go incognito is the proliferation of Christian Halloween Hell Houses or Judgment Houses. Yes, in another sad attempt to mirror the popular culture we have taken the bad idea of the haunted house and made it into the infinitely worse idea of the Hell House. These actual descriptions are taken from a popular version of this odd approach to evangelism.

What is the Hell House concept? It is series of vignettes that show the results of sin in wretched excess. The idea is literally to frighten you so much that you will make a decision to embrace Christianity. I call it  Fear Christianity. I had to admit I enjoyed the play on former NBA star Daryl Dawkin’s slam dunk taunt rewritten to promote the Hell House.

Shake your city with the most “in-your-face, high-flyin’, no denyin’, death-defyin’, Satan-be-cryin’, keep-ya-from-fryin’, theatrical stylin’, no holds barred, cutting-edge” evangelism tool of the new millennium!

I think the “Satan-be-cryin’, keep-ya-from-fryin’” riffs are particularly catchy. Does anything promote the grace of our Lord Jesus any better than a good “keep-ya-from-fryin’” taunt? Promotional information from one such outreach proclaims that groups of twenty people will tour Hell House with their own personal demon acting as a tour guide. Timeout. Your own personal demon? A lot of us have been trying to get rid of a personal demon for years…not hire him as a tour guide. But let’s continue to the description of Hell.

“In Hell the tour meets Satan himself. Hell will be hot, smoky, loud, visually disturbing, and sensually confusing.”

To me that sounds like Las Vegas. But I digress. For the low price of $7 (unless you tip your personal demon) you will see the following:

• 
  
  A funeral scene of a homosexual teenaged boy who has died of AIDS
  
  
• 
  
  A riveting (?) reenactment of an abortion
  
  
• 
  
  A satanic ritual involving human sacrifice
  
  
• 
  
  A drunk driving accident in which a father realizes he has just killed his own family

The list of disturbing scenes goes on and on.

So if you are interested in scaring the hell out of your community you can order a Hell House Kit for only $299. You will receive a production manual, dvd, and special effects CD. But to do it right you might want to add some additional resources (apparently you can’t replicate hell for 300 bucks). You might order the Hell Screams Background CD ($20) which is described as seventy-three minutes of screaming, groaning and agonizing of what sounds like people in torment in Hell. (perhaps they recorded fans of my beloved Cleveland Browns watching their offense this season) The promo material notes that, “Your Hell House hell-dwellers will love you for helping them vocally”. I believe no one is more in need of a helping hand more than your hell dwellers.

I do not doubt the sincerity of those involved in the Hell House concept. The website uses Paul’s admonition to the Corinthians as a Biblical basis for the program.

“I have become all things to all men, so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the Gospel…”

I believe this is a bit of an exegetical stretch. Paul’s comments in context seem to send a very different message.

When I am with the Jews, I become one of them so that I can bring them to Christ. When I am with those who follow the Jewish laws, I do the same, even though I am not subject to the law, so that I can bring them to Christ.  When I am with the Gentiles who do not have the Jewish law, I fit in with them as much as I can. In this way, I gain their confidence and bring them to Christ. But I do not discard the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. When I am with those who are oppressed, I share their oppression so that I might bring them to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ. I do all this to spread the Good News, and in doing so I enjoy its blessings. 1st Cor 9  NLT

Isn’t Paul saying that he makes an attempt to empathise with those who don’t know Christ? That he tries to understand their needs and then develops a strategy about how the Good News of  Jesus can be communicated? I struggle a bit to see how this verse can be used as a basis for the disturbing Hell House program. In the interest of full disclosure, I was raised in a church where Fear Christianity was the primary evangelistic tactic. Over and over I heard the story of the man who resisted the call to come forward to accept faith in Christ and then was flattened by a steamroller on his way home. And of course that poor pancaked sinner went to hell because of  his stubbornness and incredible misfortune to encounter a steamroller on a Sunday.  I am grateful that I came to faith not out of fear of a vengeful God. And yes, I know that Scripture is very clear about ultimate judgment. 

One reader thoughtfully noted that “there are individuals who need a “sobering” presentation of the Gospel message before they will respond. I believe the church must have balance–we cannot overpreach hell or overpreach God’s love. Either one creates an unhealthy mentality–one feels like he can never please God and the other feels like God accepts him no matter what sin He might be wallering in (so why would he want to quit practicing that sin?) There must be balance. While many will respond to the message of love and hope, there are still those who will only respond to the message of judgment. I guess it takes all kinds.”

I guess it does. I have just seen so much damage from the “fear Christianity” approach and that is tragic to me. I guess it is the balance that was referenced above that was missing from my church upbringing. What made me realize my need for Christ was the realization that I had to live perfectly by the law or find another way to be reconciled to a Holy God. I was smart enough to know that I had not, could not, and would not follow the law perfectly. So I needed another way. That way was Jesus. For me I doubt that a faith based on fear would have been lasting. The Bible does talk about hell. We should not avoid that. But God’s Word also talks about heaven. And it talks about a personal relationship with Him and about faith that changes men and women. Evangelical means good news. We could use a little good news today. And I think Paul is saying we should communicate that good news with grace. When I was a kid the religious seeker asked “what must I do to be saved”? Now the religious seeker asks the question “does Christianity make my life, work, and marriage better?” After three decades of experience I can say from personal experience that the answer is yes. Without fear.

I may be a “Bad Christian” but I am loyal to my tens of readers. I have been hearing your overwhelming cry for the return of the iPod Devotional series. Okay, it was really just faithful reader Kathy who asked for it’s return with this question.

P.S. Will the iPod devotions return anytime soon? Love those!!

For new inductees to this site a brief update might be in order. The iPod Devotional Series is a periodic feature that involves, not surprisingly, my trusty iPod and the shuffle feature. I fire up the device, go to the shuffle button, hit play, and I write about whatever song is randomly selected from the 1,000 plus songs I have downloaded (all legally). My taste is quite eclectic so this is a bit risky. But we have already had a devotion based on Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar so how much further south can we go?

So Kathy…this one is for you. Today’s song is from a group called Five for Fighting and the selection is “Freedom Never Cries”. Wow. The shuffle could not have been more timely. Writer/singer John Ondrasik has become one of my favorites. Five for Fighting’s new CD (Two Lights) is incredible. Ondrasik writes personal and powerful songs that resonate with me. “Freedom Never Cries” is a song about how we take freedom for granted. Ondrasik talked about the song in an interview posted at liveDaily.

It was definitely a statement song that has a point of view. I think it kind of speaks to the fact that, I know at least for myself, we tend to only appreciate things when we need them. The chorus of that song says “I never loved the soldier until there was a war / Or thought about tomorrow ’til my baby hit the floor.” I know I never started thinking about my future until I had my children. I never talked to God until somebody was about to die. My grandmother passed away last year–she was 93. She had a great life. It’s funny that I tend to find religion when I need it. Or when somebody’s sick. My dad had heart surgery this year, and it’s amazing how religious I was that week. Freedom’s similar. Growing up here in the bubble of the United States, we are statistically lucky to be born into this country where freedom, to us, seems natural. We couldn’t imagine anything else. I think sometimes we don’t recognize that. Freedom never cries. Freedom doesn’t sit in the corner and whine and make us recognize it, per se. I think if you look at the world in general today, many countries don’t experience the same freedom of expression, freedom of religion, women’s rights, freedom of the press that we have. Obviously, that leads to a majority of the world’s conflicts today. I wanted to recognize that, “Hey, freedom has a price, it’s not a gift.” It’s a little reminder to ourselves, we’re some of the lucky ones here.

The song is powerful. And the timing is sobering as we face the opportunity to exercise one of  the most incredible freedoms we are granted. The freedom to vote. I am not going to tell you how to vote but I am going to ask how you can even consider not exercising this precious gift? I pray that you will take this responsibility seriously enough to dig past the pundits and the partisan blather. Freedom is like health. You don’t appreciate either one until they are gone.

H.L.Mencen once said, “We must be willing to pay a price for freedom, for no price that is ever asked for it is half the cost of doing without it.” Think about that.

And think about the lyrics of this song.

I never loved the soldier until there was a war
Or thought about tomorrow
’til my baby hit the floor
I Only talk to God when somebody’s about to die
I Never cherished Freedom

Freedom never cries…

Thank God today for the blessing of freedom. Be prepared to exercise that blessing in a few days. And I also thank God today for another kind of freedom.

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.  Galatians 5  NASB

Cherish both freedoms. And take neither for granted.

One of my favorite comedians is Steven Wright. He is the thinking man’s stand-up comedian. Here is one of his classics.

“I’m addicted to placebos. I’d give them up…but it wouldn’t make any difference.”

Think about it.

Dictionary.com defines a placebo drug as a substance having no pharmacological effect but given merely to satisfy a patient who supposes it to be a medicine. Some would suggest that all religion is a placebo. Friedrich Nietzsche said that “Faith means not wanting to know what is true.” I realize there are many people of faith who fit into that category. I can speak only for the Christian faith and myself. I have spent many years seeking what is true. I have tried to the best of my ability to be honest. I have read the arguments of thinkers on all sides. I have studied the life of Jesus. I have researched other religious figures. Why would I not want to know what is true? Why should I waste my time, money, and questionable talent on a faith that is false? The men who followed Jesus around for three years faced the same question about who He was.

When Jesus came to the region of Caesar ea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”  Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.”

I have looked at the evidence of the life of Jesus and the lives of those who followed Him. I have reached the same conclusion as Simon Peter. Others look at the same information and decide otherwise. As I get further into this journey I am less inclined to be offended by remarks like this one by former pro wrestler and governor Jesse Ventura.  “Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers.” Actually I agree that “organized religion” can be a sham. That is why I often choose to simply call myself a follower of Jesus. I might take mild umbrage at the weak-minded people comment but I try not to get offended by men who wear feather boas. That is one of my life rules.

Perhaps the larger question for those who believe that Jesus is the Son of the living God is this one.

If you gave your faith up….would it make a difference? Would people notice that your faith is gone? Have you allowed the Spirit of God to work in your life or have you substituted the placebo of church and churchy stuff instead? Have our lives as Christians suggested to observers that faith is just a placebo? Jesus should make a difference in my life. It is so easy to be a placebo parishioner in America. There is no real cost to being a Christian in this country. Perhaps a little ridicule but certainly not the freedom or even life threatening decisions that some must make to follow Jesus. So placebos are good enough to get by in America.

But if you take the real thing you should see a change in heart that is revealed in changed behavior. Daily doses of Jesus should be producing the fruit of the Spirit. You know…that annoying list from Galatians.

“love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law”

I once thought that list was a nice idea but living it was practically impossible. But I have seen men and women who display those traits when their circumstance would suggest far more bitter fruit. Just like the smart people ruined the classroom curve these authentic Christians (like the Amish in Pennsylvania) show me what it looks like to really love Jesus. Placebos only work when circumstances are good and when there is no real disease. When real problems come you need the real medicine. Tired of the placebo of playing church? Here is the prescription.

Try Jesus full strength daily. Take whenever needed and also take as a preventative dosage. Refills are good for life. Do not accept generics. Users should experience peace, forgiveness, and grace. If anger, bitterness, lust, or other sin symptoms occur contact Great Physician immediately.

I am a book-a-holic. Books are my high and you will regularly see me stumbling out of another book store clutching a bag of fresh verbiage. Recently I came across a  volume with an intriguing title.

Die Happy – 499 Things Every Guy’s Gotta Do While He Still Can

Since I would like to die happy I decided to check it out. Authors Tim and Michael Burke outlined the concept of the book at their website called, oddly enough, Die Happy. (Warning…there is offensive content at this site)

It’s pretty simple. You only have so many years, days or minutes left as a non-married, free-to-do-whatever-the-hell-you-want-to-do guy. Yes, someday you will get hitched. You will buy a house. You will spend Saturdays mowing your lawn, coaching pee wee soccer and shopping for little girly clothes at Old Navy.

Oh well. It is too late for me to die happy according to the Burkes. They did have some very funny reasons why you need to pause the video game and live a little before marriage. Here are some of those reasons why you should enjoy life now.

SOMEDAY YOU WILL:    

• Spend Friday night shopping at Target.
  
• Kill a Saturday at the petting zoo.
  
• Have a discussion about diaper changing techniques.
  
• Deliberate over what kind of comforter cover you’d like for your bed.
  
• Referee an 8-year old girls soccer game.
  
• Drive a minivan because you “find it very practical.”
  
• Hang out with guys who also drive minivans.
  
• Look at the guys on SportsCenter and not know who they are.
  
• Turn on Nickelodeon and know exactly who everybody is.

Isn’t it interesting that the prevailing mindset of many young men is that marriage and family pretty much end your chance to die happy? You must store up these memories now so you can live off them the rest of your life. That is a bit depressing. I am not going to throw down the grumpy old man gauntlet here. I still remember (distantly) my pre-marriage years and thought processes. I stored up some fun memories and probably finished only about 497 items short of accomplishing the checklist in their book.

But having logged three decades as a “married, not free-to-do-whatever-the-hell–I-want–to-do-guy” I decided to review what I have learned about how to die happy. My comments are directed at my species…the American male.

1. When you do decide to “get hitched” take that very seriously. View it as a life time appointment. Joni and I could have been marital casualties had we not made a total commitment to our vows. I wrote an article about the oxymoron known as “the good divorce”. I am not here to heap guilt on those who have made the choice to get divorced. But for those considering marriage or remarriage remember this simple principle. You will repeat wedding “vows” and not wedding “intentions”. A vow is defined as a solemn promise or pledge. Can you make that commitment to this person? If not, wait till you can
   
2. Love your wife. I have heard so many couples (many now divorced) describe marriage as a 50–50 proposition. You give and take. If I do this I can reasonably expect you will give me something in return. The marriages that we admire probably don’t use that philosophy. The kind of love that endures allows me to give without expecting return. That kind of love does not come naturally or quickly to a relationship. But it is so worth the effort. Bonus observation…the single most important thing you can do as a father to produce healthy and happy children is to love their Mom.
   
3. Value friendship and community. I worked too much. I regret that. But I cannot alter those years. Now the Lord is graciously allowing me to redeem some of those mistakes. I have made an effort to adjust my schedule and goals to include time for friends and fellowship. I cannot imagine going through this cancer trial without the support of our friends. We were created to be together in community. The Bible never tells us to go solo in this journey. Jesus, Paul, John, James, and Peter all mention the “one-anothers”. Love one another. Be kind to one another. Accept one another. There are dozens of such commands. Those require community to accomplish.
   
4. Your career does not define who you are. I love my career. But my job is not who I am. My job is television sports director. Who I am is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband of Joni, father of Matt, Scott, and Brett, and faithful friend (hopefully) to many. I am committed to doing my job to the best of my ability but, at the end of the day, that is not my identity.
   
5. Treasure those mundane family moments. When I quizzed my sons about their favorite memories with me I expected it would be awesome vacations or cool gifts. What they remembered was throwing the football in the front yard or practicing pitching or coaching their teams. Vacations and gifts showed interest. Time invested showed commitment. They can see the difference. Mary Crowley once said that if she had it to do over again she would respond to her kids on the first tug. An old coot used to tell me that your kids will be gone before you know. The old coot was right.
   
6. Embrace the uniqueness of your child’s gifts. Like most Dads who love sports I dreamed of siring an All-State quarterback or All-American basketball star. Now I look back and wonder where I thought those genes would come from? Instead I was blessed with fair to good athletes who became great men. Allow them to be the person God created them to be. Trying to clone yourself results in two unhappy people.
   
7. Learn to serve. When you no longer believe the world revolves around you then you are well on the way to joy. There is no greater joy than serving others.  When I think about the people I know who are loved and respected by everyone they are always giving and serving people. Coincidence?
   
8. Never stop learning. I am energized by learning. When I stop reading and thirsting for knowledge I will either need medication or a very small real estate lot to rest in.
   
9. Find significance. I believe that you have to find something larger than yourself to not live a life of narcissism and emptiness. For me that is Jesus. Most who read these humble ramblings are followers of Christ. If you are not then I encourage you to make a decision about who Jesus is. I pray that you will take the time to research and see who Jesus is and what His life means to you. I fear that too many people reject Christ because of Christians and that breaks my heart. Examine Jesus. Then decide. Please do not dismiss Him as a great teacher or rabbi or prophet. In fact, you cannot do that. He claimed He was the Son of God. He claimed He was the way. He did not say He was one of many ways. He claimed that He had risen from the dead and was returning to God the Father to prepare a place for us. He claimed he would send the Holy Spirit to comfort and direct our lives. If none that is true then Jesus was a liar and dangerous and should be dismissed. If it is true it is the most important message ever proclaimed. There is not an option to waffle on what Jesus claimed. I can not and would not attempt to force you to follow Jesus. Yet I believe I would be selfish and uncaring if I did not tell you what a difference He has made in my life, my marriage, and my family. So I do. I believe that Jesus is all of those things He claimed. You may decide otherwise but you still must decide. I hope you choose Jesus.

So there you have my 9 things that I have learned in my stumbling journey. I may not have a lot of raucous stories to regale a crowd. Those who know me well would testify that I really enjoy this life. But I can tell you that this list worked for me. If this post is the last thing that I accomplish on this planet I can assure that I will die happy. Loved by a wonderful wife and sons. Blessed with friends that are real. And secure in the loving arms of Jesus. I would encourage you to make the same preparations…while you still can.

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, we have been able to create a little cyber oasis of civil and graceful discourse. Thanks for joining me in that goal. Out of the 200 plus efforts (Some good, some bad, some really ugly) the following are the blogs that generated the most views and responses. Here are the Bad Christian Baker’s Dozen for the inaugural year of these humble ramblings. I have included a little snippet from each article.

13)  What Would Jesus Say?  – So what would Jesus say to me? I think He would say something very simple and yet profound enough to challenge me for the rest of my days. Here is a little medley of the message I think He would have for me (and you).

12) It’s Not Easy Being Green and Evangelical – It is okay to disagree about issues like global warming. Really. Global warning is not a part of the Apostolic Creed. I applaud the men and women who took the initiative to produce this document….My first reaction to the Evangelical Climate Initiative (ECI) yesterday was to start brainstorming ideas to help. For example, if Christian television preachers and hosts/hostesses voluntarily switched from hairspray to gel I think that would make a big difference in the size of the ozone hole.

11) How to be a Good Buddy for Cancer Patients – Don’t say that you could not deal with adversity as well as your friend is handling it. You could. Part of being a follower of Christ is knowing He is with you in times like this. You are given strength and comfort that is supernatural. It is there when you need it. You can’t store it for future trouble or put it in a to go box for later. God apportions that strength and comfort out as needed. The peace that surpasses all understanding is real.

10) Confessing my Agenda to Rosie O’Donnell – I am praying to be a “troublesome” Christian. It is easy to dismiss the hypocrite. No problem to ignore the angry and judgmental religious types. But I was troubled when I saw some Christians who displayed something different in their lives. I could not dismiss so readily the joy, peace, strength, courage, and love they modeled. They were “troublesome” Christians to me.  I could not ignore them because their lives were authentic and different (different good, not weird). I want to be that kind of Christian.

9)  You Have Been Warned – I think I am going to start posting a warning label so the Spiritual Hall Monitors will be alerted to the fact that my blog may contain humor or, according to some, attempted humor. With this warning they can avoid encountering humor, satire, and sarcasm that might trigger an allergic reaction for the sullen saints….I think that singer Chris Rice may understand my plan to post the humor/satire warning.

8)  Is Manliness Endangered? – Jesus was not like the hippie peace loving character from the TV show “The Book of Daniel”. That type of benign character won’t get you killed on a cross. And Jesus realized the importance of investing His life into the life of flawed men who, despite their weaknesses, understood the concept of manliness. And those twelve men changed the world. Send out twelve emasculated men with that mission and see what happens.

7)  Forgive…I Don’t Wanna! –  One of the joys of writing these daily ramblings is hearing from readers who are blessed or challenged by something I have written. Occasionally someone takes time out of their busy schedule to tell me I am an idiot. Isn’t it a waste of time to tell an idiot that he is an idiot? How can an idiot comprehend that? But I digress. The communications that are really hard for me are the ones from people who have been wounded by other people in the church or by church leaders. Those break my heart and such messages arrive far too often. Today was such a day.

6)  Won the Battle. Losing the War? – What is wrong with having a movie that you can take a unchurched friend to and then discuss the supernatural response from the people that this story portrays? Evangelism is planting a seed and then watering that seed. There is plenty in this movie to accomplish that task. A heavy handed gospel message would have made it much more difficult to get unchurched friends to the movie. If you can’t find enough in End of the Spear to generate a wonderful discussion of the power of the Holy Spirit and the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross then you are just not trying.

5). Hi, My Name is Dave and I am Stupid. – If you have been breathlessly following this daily blog you know that we have been addressing Pat Robertson and the whole Intelligent Design debate. The controversy has inflamed the bloggers (that sounds painful) to a category 4 or maybe 5 fury.

4)  Enroll now in the Canine School of Evangelism – Those illustrations were the inspiration for the Canine School of Evangelism idea. Think about it. If Christians could learn from dogs how to express our Christian beliefs we could probably ignite a revival. The CSE (Canine School of Evangelism) curriculum would include a catalog of courses like these. I have included a sample quote and verse from the syllabus.

3)  A Gentle Proposal to deal with Chad Allen, End of the Spear, Every Tribe Entertainment and One Another – I have been reading with my usual mix of amusement, sadness, and disbelief the growing debate over the movie End of the Spear. Some in the Christian community have decided to grab the pitchforks, light the torches, and storm the gates of Every Tribe Entertainment, the production company behind the movie.

2)  Sentences that change your life. – Most of life’s sentences are blissfully mundane. I can’t find my keys. Take out the garbage. Please feed the dog. I can’t find my keys. ADD readers will relate to that string of comments. But sometimes a single sentence will change your life. My bride of nearly thirty years dropped one of those sentences on me earlier this week.

“My spot was cancerous.”

1)  Time to Post and Run –  I am going to violate the principle espoused by humorist Will Rogers who said that “when you are in a hole, quit digging.” Today I am going to suggest that we all need to examine ourselves to see if we are getting trapped in victimhood. Some of the following thoughts were also explored in my book Bring’em Back Alive (look for it in fine bargain bins everywhere).

So there you have it. The baker’s dozen of articles that resonated with you. And I know what is going through your mind right now. What do you give a blogger for his anniversary? Sending this link (Confessions of a Bad Christian) to a few hundred of your closest friends would be a thoughtful gift.

I hope you have found something that has made you laugh or think in this year of ramblings.  I hope you have been challenged at times. And I pray that somehow you have stumbled onto something that has helped you in your personal journey with Jesus.