By Norris Burkes Nov 10 2024 This Veterans Day, I want you to do more than just thank a veteran for his or her service. As a veteran of 28 years, I want to challenge you to go beyond patriotic rhetoric by asking some specific questions of the veterans you encounter. First, ask us what
By Norris Burkes Nov 3 2024 Tell me, did you have a frightening Halloween? Were you visited by a slew of goblins and ghosts? If you thought that day was frightening, brace yourselves. Election Day comes this Tuesday and a good many of us are absolutely terrified by how our new president may exert their
By Norris Burkes Oct 27 2024 During the past 23 years of writing this syndicated column, I’ve occasionally used my platform to cast a negative spotlight on scoundrels, rascals and scallywags. I’ve even gone so far to name the names of the political pundits, candidates and officials who’ve used their offices to spew hateful rhetoric
By Norris Burkes Oct 20, 2024 Long before the 1986 movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off, I too imagined a day off work of fun and frivolity. After all, who hasn’t feigned illness to take a day off from work? This was my self-justifying question as I called the Baylor University Bookstore one Friday morning in
By Norris Burkes October 13 2024 Earlier this month, I celebrated my 67th birthday with a couple of pieces of German chocolate cake. Fortunately, experience told me not to go for a third. That’s because I still remember my seventh birthday when I sneaked a half-dozen cupcakes from my mom’s cake carrier, devoured them
By Norris Burkes Oct 6, 2024 Last Sunday, I admitted to my Nevada City congregation that I sometimes, feel like the man who had had enough with life’s difficulties, so he went to live in a monastery. The abbot restricted the man’s spoken words to only two words every year. After his first year, he
By Norris Burkes Sept 29 2024 For the past 23 years, I’ve written this syndicated column about my adventures, misadventures and philanthropic ventures. During that time, you’ve responded to my commentary with hundreds of emails. Since I’ve not always answered those emails, I’m taking a moment today to give a summarized response to several concerns.
By Norris Burkes Sept 22, 2024 During the two years I was stationed in Izmir, Turkey, I made several visits to the nearby ancient ruins in the seaport of Ephesus. In the Christian world, this city is famous for the letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the fledgling church. However, in all the years I’ve
By Norris Burkes Sept 15 2024 “Why did God have to make his Ten Commandments so negative?” I asked my wife as I drove her to the airport for her flight to St. Louis. “Pardon me?” she replied. My non sequiturs confuse most people, but Becky plays along. “When we were raising kids, you taught
By Norris Burkes Sept 8 2024 Last year I wrote a book called, “Tell It to the Chaplain.” If you’ve seen it, then you’re likely wondering why this headline makes the opposite request. My title refers to certain phrases people use that cause me to jokingly reply, “Don’t ever say that to a chaplain.” When
By Norris Burkes, Sept 1, 2024 Labor Day weekend is the time I share my annual book recommendations as well as shamelessly plug my own four books. So if you read only one book this year, read all four of mine. But after that, please read "The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals
By Davalynn Spencer Aug 25 2024 Davalynn Spencer has edited my columns for 15 years. She is the author of the award-winning, inspirational Western series, “The Cañon City Chronicles,” 14 additional novels and one devotional book for women. Connect with her via her website at www.davalynnspencer.com. Characters Real and Imaginary Back when flip phones were on
