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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.

 

 

 

 

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,” said Kent Best, director of media and communications, in a prepared statement. “Any student’s decision to participate is strictly between that student individually and the publication.”
Playboy “will not be on campus,” Mr. Best added. “It’s an individual student’s decision” whether to pose.
Not so at Baylor.
When Playboy ran a photo of four bikini-clad coeds and much of the membership of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity four years ago for a “Girls of the Big 12” spread, Baylor’s administration quickly responded. School officials suspended the fraternity for a year and required the 50 or so students to perform community service. One student, who posed individually, was suspended.
Not again.
Playboy returned to Waco this spring for another Big 12 shoot. This time, Baylor made a pre-emptive strike.

Dr. Dub Oliver, vice president for student life, sent out a universitywide e-mail warning that posing for “a magazine that is clearly antithetical to Baylor’s mission” would violate the school’s code of conduct and be penalized accordingly. 

Regular readers of these humble ramblings know that I rarely use the all-caps blog weapon. But in this case it is merited.

HOORAY FOR BAYLOR!

Before I proceed I must issue a couple of disclaimers.

1. I have three sons and two daughter-in-laws who are Baylor Bears. Two sons have graduated and one is currently enrolled at Baylor.
   
2. I am friends with Dr.Dub Oliver.

I support Baylor on this issue for a number of reasons. But allow me to offer a few counterbalances to the disclaimers.

1. I am not Baptist. So don’t think I am merely drinking the “Convention Kool-Aid”.
   
2. I am not a pastor or professional Christian. I am a television sports director so I am all too well aware of “progressive” attitudes toward sexual issues.
   
3. I regret to inform you that I was once a regular reader of this magazine so I am not speaking out of “self-righteous” ignorance.

I am so proud of Baylor University for having the courage to stand for their convictions and principles. I have sat with three sons during the student indoctrination sessions for Freshmen at Baylor. The leadership makes it extraordinarily clear what Baylor is and what the university expects from students. If you leave those sessions not understanding what Baylor stands for then you are likely not ready for college. The Student Handbook also makes it clear that Baylor has standards that make it unique. In the Student Handbook it straightforwardly states that  students must conduct themselves “in accordance with Christian principles as commonly perceived by Texas Baptists. Personal misconduct either on or off the campus by anyone connected with Baylor detracts from the Christian witness Baylor strives to present to the world and hinders full accomplishment of the mission of the university.”

Such a strong stand may not make this university right for everyone. Baylor does not hide the light of it’s mission under a basket and why should that not be admired? I am a huge fan of accountability. There is no hidden agenda if you choose this university. When you enroll at Baylor you have not agreed to be a Christian but you have agreed to certain standards of conduct. I for one do not want a picture of a scantily clad young woman next to a Baylor pennant. There are over 1250 NCAA member schools. There are only a handful that would take the stand that Baylor has decided to take on this issue. Students who wish to appear in this magazine have 11 other choices in the Big 12 and several private school options in the North Texas area.
Columnist Aaron Turney presented this argument in the school newspaper (The Lariat).

Our university is taking on an in loco parentis role by threatening to punish students who choose to pose in Playboy’s Women of the Big 12 issue. The Student Policies and Procedures Web site states: “The provisions of the Student Policies and Procedures do not constitute a contract, express or implied, between Baylor University and any applicant, student, student’s family, or faculty or staff member.”

If these are merely guidelines and not a contract, how can they be enforced? Under this definition, they are merely suggestions. Christian students may decide against posing for moral reasons, but everyone has the right to make this decision personally.

I think the primary issue (and my main problem) here is that Playboy shamelessly markets the Big 12 conference and it’s member schools. A Baylor student who made a personal decision to appear in a photo shoot not related to the conference or university would be a different debate. This issue of the magazine clearly reflects on the conference and on Baylor. The columnist then proceeds with the obligatory disclaimer and then tips over the sacred cow of personal freedom.

I am not advocating pornography. I am simply advocating the right of a student to choose to participate in activities if they are of age. Some may feel these comments promote the objectification of women. This is not the case as I’m not saying Baylor women should jump at the chance to appear in the magazine. But they should make their own decision and not feel threatened by administrative action.

A student posing for Playboy has made a personal decision. The policy is only in place so students don’t sully the university’s reputation, and this isn’t reason enough to infringe upon each of our personal freedoms.

Bully for you for not advocating pornography. Hope you are against meth amphetamines as well. Here are some counter arguments from a “loco” parent.

1. You may certainly make your own decision about posing in this photo shoot. But then you will face the consequences of those actions. That is life.
   
2. Students are not being threatened. They are being fairly warned about the consequences for their actions. You have total freedom to do what you want. You also have to deal with the implications of those decisions. Again, that is life.
   
3. I would argue that posing in Playboy with the school logo displayed does, in fact, sully the university’s mission.

A Playboy Magazine blog made these comments about another editorial in the school paper written by Columnist Lauren Burris.

Some Baylor students believe the university overstepped its authority. But at least one, Lauren Burris, disagreed, claiming in the student newspaper that “there is no appreciation for women in the people who read this magazine. Actually, there is appreciation, but only in the most disturbing and sick manner. The men who look at these magazines don’t look at your body and appreciate your mind or hard work ethic. They view you as a sex object.”

Ouch. Lauren appears to have the uncanny ability to form an opinion about something without actually having read it. That’s a great skill to have at college.

So allow me to defend Lauren. I have “read” the magazine. I do know why men read such magazines. And Lauren is exactly right. Incredibly, it is not for the articles! Any many who tries to rationalize that is disingenous at best and a liar at worst. Christian men should have no part of it. I am stunned by men who make threatening comments to young men that come to date their daughters and then go out and ogle and lust after the daughters of others. In New Man Magazine author Matthew Paul Turner writes that “pornography alters your view of humanity by objectifying people. And, it’s almost impossible for a porn habit “not to affect the relationships you hold most dear.”

That is truth. You can believe it now or find out, to your dismay, later.

I work in a secular and testosterone driven world. There may be a small percentage of men who can view these types of magazines and not lust. I have not met any of them yet. If you are that man would you join me for lunch (and bring along a lie detector)?

Our only daughter was born with a terminal birth defect. She would have been twenty-one this past March had she lived. She would have been, as the earlier writer flippantly stated, of age. Had she lived I would have encouraged her to attend Baylor University as one shining example of principle and integrity. A place that still believes in the quite outdated idea of virtue.
Baylor is not perfect. You will find all of the problems that you find at other universities and in life. But I believe you will find these problems in smaller percentages because of the clear vision, mission, and leadership at the school.

I am proud that my sons are Baylor men. That still means something special because Baylor University still stands for Christian values. Sic’em Bears! And don’t back down.

 

P.S. My son Matt has written an excellent piece about Homecoming Weekend. I invite you to scroll down and read his thoughts.

 

 

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 and friendships, and catch the Baylor spirit again?” 

 

I love Homecoming.  It has become particularly sweet for my wife and me because we moved to Tennessee 5 years ago and rarely return to campus.  Homecoming is a time when we all come back to a place that is comfortable, loving, and full of memories.  We reconnect with great friends that know us well.  We swing by the offices of professors and administrators that shaped our perspectives, challenging us to become something greater than we could ever imagine.  We walk in buildings, sit on benches, and reminisce of significant moments that happened in these places with these people.  It is about relationships…and memories. 

 

I am renewed at Homecoming.  I get energy from having all of my friends, now scattered across the country, together to catch up, challenge, and encourage our journeys.  We get and give advice.  We hug a struggling friend and laugh with old ones.  This weekend feels good.  I feel the presence of Jesus with all the care and joy that surround the weekend (pending a Baylor football victory).  I wouldn’t miss it for anything. 

 

I am blessed.  This Sunday when I go to church…I will feel this way again.  I am renewed.  Friends are there to challenge, encourage, and walk alongside me in the journey.  Yet, I know this is not the case with everyone.  Shouldn’t church feel this way?  Church is a weekly Homecoming.  Can we imagine a church where we could lay aside the usual cares of life and return to a place where relationships, memories, and renewal all take place?  My Homecoming this weekend had very little to do with magnificent science buildings, new residence halls, or old student unions.  It was about relationships…and memories.  Renewal.  Comfort.  Being known, cared for, encouraged, and challenged.  This is what Homecoming is about, relationships…and memories. 

 

Thus, to paraphrase S.P. Brooks…Will you not, as followers of Jesus Christ, lay aside the daily cares of life, return to His church once again, renew former associations and friendships, and catch His spirit once again?  My hope for you is to experience it with me.  Blessings.

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, yeah
I just want to celebrate, yeah, yeah
Another 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 most authentic followers of Jesus I have ever met. How do I know that? Because I have seen how his faith stands up to the storm. I could see his face as I meditated on the words of Jesus in Matthew.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

Ed’s foundation is the rock. And his example has helped me to keep doing my own foundation work.

I have written a lot about Christians who do damage as they proclaim Jesus with their lips and then deny Him completely with their lives. I have tried to be honest about my own struggles in this journey with Jesus. But I have to tell you there is no greater inspiration than seeing a man or woman of God demonstrate His abiding presence. I have seen many examples of that recently. I have watched my wife Joni face her difficult journey (cancer and chemotherapy) with amazing strength, courage, faith, and trust. I watched the Amish saints in Pennsylvania show a stunned nation what it really means to follow the teachings of Jesus about forgiveness and love. And I have observed from afar as my friend Ed navigates his battle with a brutal form of lymphoma. And now we circle back to the lyrics above. Ed wrote a word of encouragement to Joni last June as she was growing weary in her chemotherapy ordeal.

I don’t know if I told you, but they took me off the cancer meds after six years! Our prayer has been, “Please let Ed live and serve.” Now it has changed, “Please let Ed live and serve without the meds.”

I say this to encourage Joni. The dailyness of this makes it so hard to see past the weakness and the disappointment. Here is a sentence the Lord gave me when I was dying and struggling through each day: I am as alive today as anyone. He helped me realize that until I take my last breath, He still has plans for me (Ephesians 2:10) and I could not conclude that this was it. So, I got up, and asked Him for strength for the next minute, sometimes for every minute for a couple of days. Then for the next hour, the next day, the next week etc.

Sure enough, at last count, seven men I know pretty well, about my age, guys I fought fires with, men I served with in ministry, men who stood at my bedside with panic in their eyes at my malaise, are dead. Think of it, Joni, people who are praying for you now are only as alive as you. It is not the meds or the care, it is the Lord who determines when death comes and the quality of life.

I knew the Lord wanted me to do two things: Pray for healing, and I still do. Find the best doctors and do what they say, which I still do…mostly.

So, dear Joni, know that our prayers are prayers of faith and bold. We’re not mealy-mouthing the evangelical jive, “Only your will be done.” Of course His will is going to be done, He’s God! He loves you; He loves us; He cares more than we can know; and HE ANSWERS PRAYER. So, we’re going to pray our heart: Let Joni live to see her grandchildren grow up and please give her relief.

The idea of celebrating another day of living brought that note from my friend to mind. We just really suck at that. We forget that everyday is a gift. A treasure to be opened and savored. Cancer makes you realize that in a very stark way. I am praying for Ed because his lymphoma may have flared up again. A recent knee operation triggered the terrible skin rash and agony again. It may be just a reaction to the meds. That is my prayer. But Ed and his beautiful wife Judy have again shown their mettle in the storm. Here is the email I received yesterday.

Judy and I appreciate your prayers that carried us through a long, dark night. As you know by now, the main source of discomfort for me and concern is the “skin issue” once again. Last night was the first night off meds–pain meds, sleeping meds, antibiotic meds.–every hour filled with itching, skin falling off, twinges of pain in the knee, and, as you might imagine, anxiety.

With decades of studying about, relating to, walking with, and telling others about “Our Father” in my life, I was able to focus my thoughts on a comforting phrase from the New Testament–Abba Father (Romans 8:15).

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”  NLT

This is an endearing and intimate title for God the Father that could be translated, “Father, my  own dear Father.” It is the title a child uses to relate to a father when the child knows that he or she is dear to Him, the one He delights in. 

So, last night was so much more than a night of malaise, it was a night I spent on my Father’s lap, talking with Him about my fears, feelings, and hurts. It is the upside of suffering for the child of God–deepening intimacy with Abba Father.  Please continue to pray that the knee will continue to improve, the rash will stop, and that I can return to my life with these lessons of faith in my heart.

Once again I am humbled in my puny walk with Jesus. That is an amazing line. “The upside of suffering for the child of God is deepening intimacy with Abba Father.”

Would you join me in prayer for Ed and Judy? I am so blessed, proud, and honored to be their friend.