April 25, 2021 By Norris Burkes What might you think of a chaplain who told you to put yourselves before others? Well, I think there’s someone out there who just might need to hear this advice. Today, I want you to put yourself first. My self-care counsel is very similar to the instructions given by
Seven years ago, I planned a special cruise-ship dinner during which I’d tell my wife I was retiring from the USAF. I enlisted a photographer to record her tears of joy when I surprised her with my retirement orders. I wrote about that touching moment in 2014, but I left out the sweetest part
By Norris Burkes April 11 2021 Think about that moment in childhood when a scary noise sends you diving under your bed cover. Then, with trembling hands, you shine a flashlight into the room and find renewed confidence to venture out. That’s how I feel as my wife Becky and I board a plane to
By Norris Burkes April 4 2021 I’m grateful to have such helpful neighbors as Ysanne Edwards and her husband Mike. Nevertheless, neighbors like Ysanne fill me with a healthy fear of April Fool’s Day. As the famed prank day neared, she texted to ask, “Can we borrow your patio heater?” “Sure, but since we’re in
By Norris Burkes March 28, 2021 Before the quarantine, I often traveled the country, speaking to churches and civic groups. Afterward, I hosted Q&As for audience members. I’ve not yet booked post-Covid speaking engagements, so I thought today’s column a good place to share the answers to some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Q. Dear Chaplin
By Norris Burkes, March 21, 2021 Beth Moore made big news in the religion world this month by announcing she’s leaving the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Moore is the most famous SBC preacher who’s never pastored a church. SBC doesn’t ordain women. Moore began her “preaching” career in the 1980s, sharing devotional lessons in a
By Norris Burkes March 14 2021 The literary world erupted last week over the decision to discontinue five Dr. Seuss books because of potentially offensive racial depictions. In a statement released on the author's birthday, Dr. Seuss Enterprises defended their decision saying, "These books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong.'' Whether
By Norris Burkes March 7, 2021 I stood before my brother’s grave this week, holding my mother while my wife held me. “I should have given him more time,” I whispered to my wife. “Pardon,” she said, unable to understand my quivering words. I cleared my throat to rephrase. “I should have
By Norris Burkes, Feb 28, 2021 As a retired Air Force chaplain, I say this without exaggeration – NASA's Mars Perseverance rover made its final descent to the Red Planet last week cushioned by a chaplain’s prayer. I know that because during the opening years of this century, I was privileged to serve as the
By Norris Burkes Feb 21 2021 (Pictured is Chaplain Norris talking with Panamanian children at a school festival) People don’t always get my sense of humor. Unfortunately, my years as a hospital chaplain infected me with a touch of gallows humor, an ironic wit handy for hopeless situations. Nevertheless, ten years ago, I took that
By Norris Burkes Feb 13 2021 Let’s play a trivia game today called, “Does the Bible really say that?” I suggest this game because last week’s column stirred some good reactions when I listed Bible verses that we unknowingly use in everyday conversation. Today, at the risk of going full Sunday-school teacher on you, I’ll
By Norris Burkes Feb 7 2021 As a kid, if I ever dared to bring church gossip to our family dinner table, my mom was quick to challenge my sources: “How do you know that? Did a little bird tell you?” Her question has its roots in Ecclesiastes 10:20 "Don’t make fun of the powerful,
