Dr. Larry Baker Gives Charge to Hardin-Simmons University Graduates
ABILENE, TX (05/24/2011)(readMedia)-- Larry Baker, of Abilene, TX, and formally of Sun City West, AZ, gave the charge at spring 2011 commencement ceremonies at Hardin-Simmons University.
Dr. Baker joined the Logsdon faculty in 2009, and most recently served as senior pastor at First Baptist Church, Sun City West in Phoenix, Ariz.
In addition to more than 25 years of pastoral ministry experience in Texas, Arizona, Arkansas and Louisiana, Baker's academic experience includes his service as a professor of Christian ethics and pastoral ministry at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.
He also taught Christian ethics at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., and served as vice president of academic affairs and dean of the faculty. Baker's experience further extends into denominational leadership, having also served as the executive director of the Christian Life Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Baker challenged students to build a life of learning, connectivity, and generosity.
"If I could give gifts to each member of this class, I would choose three – a box of Legos, some poetry from Dr. Seuss, and a new-to-you translation of the Bible," Baker told the graduates.
"The box of Legos has the pieces to produce amazing creations. With mind and heart, hands and basic skills, and creativity and imagination a person with a box of Legos has unlimited possibilities," says Baker.
"Hardin-Simmons has equipped you with an extraordinary and invaluable tool. It has taught you how to learn, a remarkable skill that never wears out. Use it all the time. Build a learning life.
"Build a connected life. The business world talks much about the strategic importance of networking. But, a connected life is more than networking.
"Build a life in which you are not alone. Develop friendships that will sustain and enrich you across a lifetime. Find people you love, and who love you. And remember that love requires work. Make a phone call. Send an e-mail. Write a letter. Mail a card. Scribble a note. Kiss your mother and hug your father.
"Build a generous life. You have received – gifts from God, given lavishly; gifts from faith communities who have put you in touch with the power of faith, hope, and love.
"You have also received gifts from family and, especially parents who have often given at the neglect of themselves; gifts from dreamers and builders who envisioned this university and the day you would be here; gifts from people who invested their money, their hearts; gifts from faculty members who brought the results of their labor and understandings and shared them with you; gifts from administrators and staff who have done the often-thankless work that has permitted you freedom to study, explore, and learn.
"You have received gifts given freely; now be a person with heart and hands open to God and open to others. Give to advance God's purposes in the world; respond to the needs of others. Give time; give money; give effort; give yourself.
"My second gift would be some poetry from Dr. Seuss. You have grown up with Dr. Seuss, but you have not outgrown him. Dr. Seuss had a way with words and an uncanny knack for framing solid insight and wisdom in memorable lines," says Baker.
"I would give you a copy of Dr. Seuss' poem, My Uncle Terwilliger on the Art of Eating Popovers, Bakers reads...
"My uncle ordered popovers from the restaurant's bill of fare.
And, when we were served, he regarded them with a penetrating stare.
Then he spoke great Words of Wisdom as he sat there on that chair:
'To eat these things,' said my uncle, 'you must exercise great care.
You may swallow down what's solid, but you must spit out the air!'
And as you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow.
Do a lot of spitting out the hot air, and be careful what you swallow."
"The good doctor's words offer sound practical sense and have the ring of Bible in them," says Baker. Be wise and discerning. Test the voices. Don't swallow everything this world hands out as truth.
"My third gift would be a new-to-you translation of the Bible. Why new-to-you? Because the ones you use may have become too familiar. Because a new-to-you translation might let you see its words through fresh lenses. Because a new-to-you translation might let you hear the Bible's message as you have not heard it before."