Tag Archives: Faith

Barbershop Theology

Barbershop Theology – God the Father

A Father’s Words at Quittin’ Time

As we locked the front entrance to the barber shop, a half hour an hour have normal quittin’ time, I would say something like, “Wow, that was a really long day.” Dad opened the shop at 7am and closed at 6pm. When we didn’t leave until 6:30 or near 7:00 I could see my father’s exhaustion.

I must have heard Dad say it twenty times. It was distinct when he said it, and he meant it.  “I’m just thankful I can work and take care of my family.”

As he turned the key on his work day his response was authentic to his soul. He remembered being a young man with a wife and two little boys. He remembers lying in a hospital bed, down in his back and wondering if he would ever be able to work. Continue reading Barbershop Theology – God the Father →

Faith

A Line in the Sand

A LINE IN THE SAND . . .  I BELIEVE

One of my favorite movies as a child was The Alamo.  I remember this Hollywood version of Texas history very well. I don’t think historical accuracy was a major goal of the director, John Wayne, who also starred as Col. Davy Crockett.  I remember watching Santa Anna’s Mexican army sweep into the Alamo and there was big John Wayne, swinging his Kentucky long-rifle, gallantly fighting to the last.

Before the final and climatic battle there was a romantic scene. I’m talking about girls and kissing and yucky stuff that eight year boys can’t stand. I’m talking about ‘kid romantic’; I’m referring to a kid who loved Daniel Boone, Superman,  and six-shooters.

The Most Romantic Scene:  The ‘Texacans’ and other Americans were gathered inside the walls of the Alamo. Col. William Travis (Laurence Harvey) stood before them and explained the situation looked bad, real bad. They were tremendously outnumbered (7,000 to 185) and no help was on the way.   Colonel William Travis is hoping to give Houston the time he needs to pull his forces together.

Travis speaks to the men who have been defending the Alamo. He tells them there will be no shame if anybody wants to leave.

Richard Widmark, a real Hollywood tough guy plays the role of Sam Bowie. For some reason lies on a blanket unable to stand. In the most remarkable and indelibly imprinted movie scene of this eight year old had ever seen, Col. Travis draws a line in the sand.  If you cross that line in the sand, you are saying you’ll stay no matter what. Nobody moved.

Then, Sam Bowie, laid out on a blanket says, “Carry me over boys,” or something like that. Then all the other Alamo defenders step over the line. I’ll never forget the image of that line in the sand.

WHAT’S YOUR LINE IN THE SAND?

I looked it up.  Continue reading A Line in the Sand →

Barbershop Theology

Barbershop Theology – Pass the Salt

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Pass the Salt

Salt. What an amazing additive. Salt. Never set the table without it. Most of us handle a salt shaker each and every day. For me, it always made food taste better. In the right amounts salt will accentuate the natural flavor of an otherwise bland food.

The Salt of the Earth

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth.” What a brilliant description of His children— they bring the flavor of God’s Kingdom into the earth.

A playful paraphrase would be, “My children are in the world to accentuate the real purposes of creation.”  What if society declared, It’s so great that we have so many Christians living in our city, they are such great fun, lively, gracious people; they just make everything a little better!  Continue reading Barbershop Theology – Pass the Salt →

Barbershop Theology

Barbershop Theology: My Faith Hero

An Honest Faith

I first heard a small diatribe on the subject of faith while visiting Dad’s barber shop.  I was a college student and had grown very interested in my parents’ renewed passion for Christ.  I tuned in a bit more than usual when a fella that I barely knew started to deliver his discourse on faith.

As I recall his talk, I remember it as just that—a lot of talk.  It sounded something like this…

“It’s all about faith, you know.  When we get sick, God’s just testing us to see if we can get rid of all our questions and just believe in Him and his power.  Why, just the other day I believed really hard that God could heal my aching back, and he did!  I was tempted to doubt, but I didn’t let it get to me.  My faith healed me!”

I listened as this customer in my dad’s shop proclaimed his conviction that “most of the world’s problems are really just because people don’t have enough faith,” and that poverty, sickness, and pain could be effectively wiped out if people would just extinguish their doubts with a fire hose of super-powerful trust in God.

His talk concerned me.  Maybe he knew how to muster up that kind of super-strong faith, but I’m here to confess, I’ve never really been a person who’s been able to get rid of all his doubts or questions. In fact, I would give myself a C- if I had to submit a report card on myself. Continue reading Barbershop Theology: My Faith Hero →

Barbershop Theology

Barbershop Theology: Faith at the Razor’s Edge

A straight razor is an imposing instrument. I have watched my dad use one a thousand times, my mom too for that matter.

I loved to watch Dad extend the razor strap and whisk the blade back and forth on it. He would hone that blade to a pristine cutting edge before giving a shave or neatly trimming around a fresh haircut.

Customers who asked for a shave relaxed and wholly trusted Dad to set that blade to their face and throat. The steps were simple. First the customer was laid back in the barber’s chair, then Dad jerked the side lever and gently pulled the back to a vertical position. Next a steaming towel, bearably hot, was put on the face. A nice lather followed and as the whiskers were pacified, Dad prepared the blade for the task.

This memory shifts to my Mom’s barber chair. Late one Saturday evening she was asked to give a shave. That didn’t happen often with the lady barber. Continue reading Barbershop Theology: Faith at the Razor’s Edge →