Rick Burgess Honors His Father’s Legacy in New Book on Biblical Manhood
There is no doubt that Rick Burgess loved his dad. Burgess is known by many as the influential radio morning host of Rick and Bubba in the Morning. Although the show has ended, Burgess sees his new role in helping men discover a love for Jesus as his most important work yet. In wanting to help men achieve what they need in Christ, Burgess is clear in his new book Men Don't Run in the Rain that he learned about manhood mainly from his dad.
Crosswalk Headlines: Where did the desire to write the book come from?
Rick Burgess: I was sitting across from Andy Blanks, who works with Iron Hill Press. I have a relationship with Iron Hill Press through church.com. I was talking about putting this together and the call that God placed for men's discipleship. During the conversation, Andy said that I should write the book.
CWH: Where did the title come from?
RB: When I was a little boy, I remember noticing something odd and provocative, even though I didn't know what the word provocative meant, about my dad's response to rain. Every time I would see him, no matter how hard it was raining, he never ran. He always walked, and he always wore a cap from being a football coach. I remember even seeing the water dripping off his cap; his stride never changed. He was just determinedly walking in the rain. So, as a little kid, I just kind of let that go. I even had friends who would say, "Did you see your dad? Like, he doesn't run in the rain." I didn't know why he did that, because you know, as a little kid, you don't ask your dad things like that.
I was somewhere around 12 or 13, and I was old enough to play football; I was waiting on Dad, and one of those typical Alabama afternoon thunderstorms in the summer shows up with heavy rain, and it starts pouring. So, I started running to the truck, and my dad took his arm in those massive forearms, and he stopped me, and he said, no. He said men don't run in the rain, but he never explained it. And we methodically walked to the truck. Well, over time, when I understood all the things you read in the book about Dad, I realized what he was saying was very deep; my dad was saying that a man should be steadfast. A man should not be panicked. A man should not look fearful; he should not be frantic. If rain is going to cause you to be frantic, what's going to happen when you face the real things of life? Something difficult.
CWH: Your father has passed away. Were there some points of grievance in writing the book?
RB: It wasn't an easy thing to do, but it was an honor to do it. God had prompted me on this because one of the beautiful things about my father coaching football for 35 years was that people in the community came up to me and said how much he meant to them. I loved when it would happen when my children were younger.
CWH: What do men need to learn from your dad?
RB: Well, I think what they need to learn from my dad is what Jesus taught. One of the things is that God has given headship and influence to every man, whether you want it or not. I think a lot of times, men think, well, I'll just turn it off that way. I don't do any harm, but I don't really do any good, and that option doesn't exist. God has given us influence; God made us that way. Men and women are equal in value, but there is a beautiful distinction. So, a man is either a detriment and an obstacle to society, the church, or family, or you are a blessing and an attribute to the church, the home, and society.
Photo Credit: ©Facebook/The Rick Burgess Show
Originally published June 05, 2025.
