What a week it has been! With the family, we’ve seen Father’s Day, a birthday and a landmark occasion take place. In the church world, we’ve seen the Southern Baptist Convention hold their annual meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. And in American pop culture, we’ve seen the loss of three icons from a generation–Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson.
We start with family. I’ve written on Rebekah’s birthday here in my blog yesterday. Today, my other daughter Sarah, who lives in Surrey, Canada (a suburb of Vancouver) sees her first newspaper article in print! 
She’s freelancing as a journalist this summer and pitched a story to the SurreyNow newspaper in her city and they bought it! We are so proud of her (as any parent would rightly be) for her confidence, initiative and talent! The article, entitled “Blessed Brutality,” is all about MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) being held in a church sanctuary there in Surrey: all at a time when the legality of the sport by that jurisdiction is being question. Her story is the headline, front-page story; you can read it here. Way to go, Sarah.
Jonathan, my son, decided to give me a unique gift on Father’s Day. Not a tie this year, Dad! Instead, he wrote me a song and put it together in digital form for me to enjoy. As is typical with my son, it’s quite entertaining. You can watch and listen to it here.
In the denominational world, the Southern Baptist Convention was held in Louisville, Kentucky, during the first half of this week. This annual meeting 
saw approximately a thousand more messengers this year than in the previous one, including a larger representation of “younger SBCers” (I know, this is very subjective, but mentioned by many who were there). A lot happened: inspiring messages, important reports and obligatory business sessions, but the heart of its impact was the adoption of the resolution toward a Great Commission Resurgence within our convention. You can read the document that was overwhelming approved here. In addition, several respected bloggers has reflected on the convention’s import and activity and you can read them here.
- Alvin Reid
- iMonk (Michael Spencer)
- W. David Phillips
- Ed Stetzer
Finally, much has changed in our American and world scene this week, at least in the realm of (pop) cultural impact. Ed McMahon, longtime sidekick of Johnny Carson and host of Star Search, passed on earlier this week. His congenial laugh and calm demeanor, provided the perfect counter-balance to the zany and delightful late night host Carson for many, many years. Farrah Fawcett, the television star of Charlie’s Angels, she with the feathered hair and brilliant smile who later won critical acclaim for her acting as it impacted “real life” issues of violence and morality, died after a arduous struggle with cancer. To top it all off, Michael Jackson, musician and artist extraordinaire, died suddenly yesterday at the young age of 50. The cause of death is still pending. Much loved and much reviled at the same time, his music shaped an entire generation as we watched him grow up in the public eye.
The passing of all three signal a shift in American culture…a completion of the passing of the baton that most had already acknowledged in days gone
by. But the sudden finality of their impact on a generation fell with a heavy thud yesterday. Many of us will reflect upon these people and the personal impact of their lives on our own. Yet, in the final analysis, it is a poignant reminder that life is very short and we need to be ready for what comes next. I believe with all my heart that the way to be ready is found in Jesus Christ. I hope you do, too.
