By Norris Burkes May 21 2023 After working 30 years as a hospital and military chaplain, I was surprised more than anyone by my return to parish ministry last year. And the word “surprise” has become a regular part of my strategy with my unsuspecting little congregation. Each Sunday, I try to keep them guessing.
By Norris Burkes May 14, 2023 My wife, Becky, and I made a recent trip to see my elderly mother whereupon she revealed a surprising something about my beginnings. “You were a high-risk baby,” Mom said. “And he still is!” Becky added, puffing at a strand of hair. “No,” I protested, “She said, ‘high risk’
By Norris Burkes May 7 2023 Last Sunday, I began my sermon with these profound and eloquent words: “Dear brothers and sisters. Today, we will reflect on the parable Jesus told of the lost sheep….” Only one problem, though. I didn’t write the sermon starter – not even the 400 words that followed it. I
By Norris Burkes April 30, 2023 Most of you likely recall the 1986 book, “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.” The book contains short essays by American minister and author Robert Fulghum. I’m not aware the author ever taught kindergarten, so I checked in with the renown, Mrs. Rebecca Burkes, a
By Norris Burkes April 24 2023 “Our new pastor has a tattoo,” observed one my parishioners to another as we were trimming back the shrubbery along the church parking lot. The man seemed happy his pastor was “tatted” like him, so I told them both how I’d got it seven years ago to celebrate running
By Norris Burkes April 16, 2023 There’s an old joke about a pastor who shared a dressing mirror with his wife every Sunday morning. Checking his tie, he asked, “Honey. How many great preachers do you think there really are in the world?” “I’m not sure,” she said, reaching to straighten his mismatched tie. “But
By Norris Burkes April 9 2023 Readers: This column attempts a creative interpretation of Easter as if it happened today. I found the inspiration from this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjT7OvQMlQg&t=13s Editors everywhere are getting the same electrifying text message: “He’s gone!” Disheveled and breathless reporters from the “most trusted source in news” seem unable to believe
By Norris Burkes April 2 2022 Last week, just as the airplane door shut on my United Airlines flight home from Honduras, a woman stood and began speaking to us in Spanish. I didn’t understand her words, but my keen “Chappy sense” made quick interpretation of her intent. Of course, the translation offered by my
By Norris Burkes June 26 2023 Have you ever witnessed a reluctant child standing outside an open kindergarten door? The child’s arms are wrapped around the legs of a parent, not wanting to cross the threshold of learning. If so, you’ll know the point of view I enjoyed last week from inside Chispa Project’s newly
By Norris Burkes March 19, 2023 Have you ever been tempted to respond to unwanted advice with your best Rhett Butler’s impression and say, “Frankly my dear….” I’m sure you have. It’s a common response when we are the victim of hit-and-run advice giving. It’s a way of telling the opinionated busybody that they’ve not
March 10 2023 By Norris Burkes “Is it true you can’t pray in Jesus’ name or even share your faith?” These are questions I’ve answered many times from “concerned Christians” during my 28 years as an Air Force chaplain. The first one is not true. The second, well, that depends on where and how you
Life is Not a Drill By Norris Burkes March 5 2023 With all the news about politicians who’ve mishandled classified material, I feel left out. I retired as a lieutenant colonel but was never given the opportunity to mishandle secrets Well, I change that today. In the Spring of 2009, I participated in a classified
