How Silly Did That Look?

Still fillin’ the gap in the religion section…

How Silly Did That Look? 

I recently ran across a story originally published in the Des Moines Register. Truck driver Ryan Albright arrived early in the morning at Trinity Medical Hospital in Rock Island, Illinois, to make his one of his 45 deliveries that morning. He left the truck running as he ran in his delivery.

Police say that Frank Alvarado, a patient at the hospital, was waiting in the bushes. As Albright went in the building, Alvarado jumped into the delivery van and sped off to the west.

Eventually, nine officers from four jurisdictions in two states would join the chase. At speeds up to 100 mph, they eventually apprehended Alvarado 135 miles later, in Toledo, Iowa.

Police theorize that Alvarado might have wanted to get out of the hospital…that he was unstable…or that he was just hungry for what was in the truck.

Law enforcement officers made out good…the owner of the company running the truck gave the remaining product to the police and deputies…they ate all the doughnuts they wanted!

Imagine the sight of all those officers chasing after the doughnut delivery truck. Really, how silly did that look?

 Imagine, too, the sight of folks who claim to have committed themselves to the Lordship of Christ…committed themselves to the sufficiency of Christ…committed themselves to the Lordship of Christ…then go chasing…running…after what the world offers!  “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world cause by evil desires”. (2^nd Peter 1:3, 4 NIV) 

Everything we need…great and precious promises…so we can participate in the divine nature…so we can escape the corruption of the world.

 God has given us everything we need for life…what else could there be? What else could there be that we would possibly want? Why in the world then do we, as followers of  Jesus, risk the Eternal in order to jump into the Temporary. 

Imagine the sight of folks who claim to have committed themselves to the Lordship of Christ…committed themselves to the sufficiency of Christ…committed themselves to the Lordship of Christ…then go chasing…running…after what the world offers!

How silly does that look?

A “One Thing” View of the Ressurection

I’m the fill-in religion writer for our area newspaper for a few weeks…my first week was the edition coming out right before Easter…

 A “One Thing” View of the Resurrection 

I know, they’re usually cheesy, but I love any movie in which someone from the city gets thrown into a rural setting. Sure, it’s been done tons of times, but it’s usually funny and the situations are nearly always on the mark. I know, I know, it can be funny the other way—when someone from a rural area gets thrown into the big city…but…you have to admit, when city folks are thrown into a rural setting, it’s hysterical…usually because of two words: farm animals.

One of my all-time favorites of this pseudo-genre is the 1991 movie City Slickers. Throughout the story, Billy Crystal’s “typical New Yorker” character is at odds with Jack Palance’s “typical southwestern cowboy” character. They find, however, that they need each other in their present situation. As Billy Crystal’s world is spinning out of control, Jack Palance tries to get him focus on “one thing…just one thing…that’s all there is…just one thing.” When Billy Crystal’s character tries to pin him down on just what would be that one thing, Palance’s character tells him he’ll know it when he sees it. Good advice…yet kind of frustrating for the one whose world is spinning out of control!

One thing. The Apostle Paul, writing to some struggling folks in a city called Corinth, said that the one thing he taught them “of first importance: that Christ died for our sins…that he was buried…that he was raised on the third day…” and that he appeared to numerous individuals and large groups after he rose from the dead. In fact, he says that it is so important, that if there was no such thing as the Resurrection, then there is no point, really, in believing, in living, in loving, in serving…that any kind of faith is futile and meaningless. In fact, if there is no Resurrection of Christ, then why would we hope for any life after this either?

Yes, that one thing is important. While there have been many attempts throughout the centuries to disprove the Resurrection, here we are…wrapping up another Season of Lent, heading towards another Easter Sunday…a special day in which most of the Western world spends time with family and friends all the while thinking of something bigger than themselves: that Christ came, that he lived here, he died, and he rose from the dead.

Easter is a special Sunday among every Sunday in which we celebrate the living Savior. While we do travel a bit more, eat a bit more, visit a bit more than the typical Sunday, remembering the Resurrection of Lord…the one thing…is vital for a couple of reasons:

1.      The “one thing” view of the Resurrection gives up power for every day. Paul will write to believers in Ephesus—a city whose culture is so much like ours it’s ridiculous—Paul will write to those folks that the power of God that raised Jesus from the dead…that raised him to life…that gave him all power…that put the world at his feet…that Resurrection power, however much power that is, that power is available to people today…for everyday living. This means that God is vitally interested in your everyday life…the Creator of the universe is vitally interested in you being able to get through your day. While I can’t quantify the power the resurrection, I know this: it’s available to you, today!

2.      The “one thing” view of the Resurrection gives us assurance for the future. Again, Paul will write to some folks that lived near the present-day city of Thessolonikki, Greece, that because Jesus rose from the dead…we have assurance as well. He wanted them to know that there will come a day that will be like any other day…except…that at some point, the sky will rip open, there will be a loud trumpet sound, an the archangel will scream out. After all of that gets our attention, we will see Jesus, the resurrected Jesus, in the air…then he says that those who’ve died before will raise…resurrect…and meet him in the air…as we then too  meet them all  in the air…and we’ll all be with the Lord for Eternity. He will go on to say that should affect how we live our everyday life…and that we should encourage one another…which assumes that we sometimes need encouragement…that we should encourage each other with this one fact: He’s coming back!

The “one thing” view of the Resurrection is so big that it demands to encompass more than one day. While Easter is a special time…I love the relaxing with friends and family part myself…Easter is, in a sense, needs to become an every day event! Every day when I need encouragement…every day when I need to catch my breath…every day when I need to check on someone…every day when I need someone to check on me…every day in which there are blessings, people, my work, my recreation, my entire existence…all that I have is only because of, well, “one thing”…and that one thing is the Resurrection of the Lord.

 If you get a chance, read the background scriptures in this article: 1^st Corinthians 15:1-10, Ephesians 1:15-23 and 1^st Thessalonians 4:13-18. I’d love to hear what you think about them as well have you help me dig more out of them. You can reach me at kinnaird@poka.com. 

Have a blessed Easter weekend…be safe…enjoy family and friends…and remember the one thing: Jesus. He came, he lived, he died, and he rose…just for you.

J’s Take on Leadership

The other day I had one of those in fond memory appear kind of memories…you know…the precious kind!

About a year and a half ago, I was taking J to preK. The way the morning schedule worked then, it was just me and him for a few minutes..it was awesome! J is a morning person…to the max…the only one in our family, really. He’s always coming up with something to get our day started right.

Around that same time, I was in a couple-of-week funk, for want of a better word. I didn’t know if I wanted to continue how we’re doing what we’re doing…did I need to do something else? Did we need to just be members and not in a leadership role? The questions were beginning to consume me.

The building where our Church family meets is about a block from preK…as we crossed the intersection, and drove directly in front of our building, J gets my attention in the rearview mirror:

Daddy, somebody’s got to be unafraid…to lead the freak parade!

My first thought: more SpongeBob, less Big-n-Rich.

Second thought: Acts 18. Paul had been in Athens, on his own…he had gone to Corinth where he’d met Priscilla and Aquila…and eventually Silas and Timothy caught up with him there.

He’d been to folks from his own heritage, spent some time in the synagogue, but that didn’t work out…unless you count that the synagogue ruler became a disciple of Jesus. All in all, it was a great start…folks from all kinds of backgrounds were following Jesus.

One night, the Lord spok to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” (Acts 18:9-10 NIV)

It took me years to understand why the Lord told Paul not to be afraid. Not to sound too theological…but it might be because Paul was afraid.

The guy was being chased all over the place…folks he used to rely on, work with, and probably spent a large chunk of his life with were now trying to kill him. Brothers and sisters had been afraid of him and now some were following him around re-teaching everything he’s taught and causing trouble for him. And just recently, he’s been by himself and/or having to get to know new people as he takes his ministry from town to town.

Paul…type A personality…afraid. I guess it’s okay to be afraid.

And when I am, and I have to admit: I’m afraid alot…God says to me, today: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”

He has many people…which means: Opportunities. Comfort. Encouragement. Challenge. What’s God going to provide…and…how will he provide it? (And, therein lies the fun…seeing him work!)

People…God works through people…he gives us gifts, through the gift of people.

God is preparing people to bless me…God is preparing me to bless people.

Thank you J! Thank you Paul! Thank you Father!

He’s hurtin…

Timothy has had a great 2007. He was baptized into Christ this past June…has had a great school year friend-wise, teacher-wise, trying new things-wise, even discovered a new love for photography at Kiera’s recent non-pagaent pagaent in Austin–although I’m a little suspect of the timing of that new found hobby!

He’s in 7th grade, and was asked to play in the percussion section of the Varsity Band (he’s a true Kinnaird male for only one of “us” could get a B in Junior High Band…and at the same time be asked to play in the Varsity Band!) I now repent of all those times I told him to “quit tapping” over the years. He did great at center and defensive end in football, and basketball–his sport of choice–is going well for him and all his friends…they thoroughly enjoy each other…and the game…

He just texted me. All region band contest. He said he didn’t do well at all…in fact, I won’t type what he said…just suffice it to say he’s very dissapointed in his performance.

Right now…he won’t think about the good year he’s had…he won’t think about being in Area Contest on a Varsity level…he won’t think about all the good he does, much of it not meaning to…it’s just that the good he does comes from who he is.

He’ll be thinking about what he didn’t do…he’ll be thinking about the missed notes and cues…what will I tell him?

Maybe not so much a quote…he is 13 you know…but maybe I’ll begin with this simple thought: Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. they will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:3-5 NIV)

These things will blow over…that of which I’m sure. But, I want to be able to be what I need to be for him during these times…because they add up.

I was told once that, “a child’s initial view of God is determined by his view of his parents, primarily, the father.” That statement has haunted as well as blessed me every day since…ironically enough, I heard it about a week before Timothy was born.

I want him to understand and “get”…that he’s a blessing…a gift from God…a wonderful creation in and of himself with a special place in this world, and, the Kingdom. I hope I can bless him in that way.

I’m rambling…in therapy for myself blog mode instead of blessings for others blog mode.

Father, thanks for listening to my heart…help me be a Dad like Dad…a father like you…

Never Could Handle Peer Pressure

I never could handle peer pressure…

…so, here I am…in the blogosphere. As the old timers say, I’m a “johnny-come-lately” to this whole thing. I read some research the other day that says that there are 200,000,000 inactive blogs…over twice as many as are active. I figured it was a good time to jump in and buy low.

Even though blog-less as I was, a few weeks ago my brother-in-law Ray tagged me. It’s always fun to read about other folks….but to read about me? Well, maybe not so much…

“Here are the rules. 1)Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves. (2) People who are tagged need to write a post on their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules. (3) At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. (4) Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.”

1. I’m the one kid in school that liked Social Studies…which means I grew up into a political junkie. I love that the primaries and caucuses are kicking off in a couple of months. I’m ready…

2. Speaking of which, I grew up in a family with all kinds of views–not only politically, but religiously and socially as well…maybe that’s why I’m a progressive-libertarian-conservative-liberal…it’s kinda cool to be raised to accept folks even when you disagree. That trait served me well in full time ministry…and…not so well in Church politics. (The only politics I don’t like!)

3. I love to shop. I’m a spender. You know the kind…the kind that grows up and marries a saver and thus balance each other? Well, I married a spender…we had a ton of fun in our early to mid twenties…and we just about got it paid off!

4. I love what I do. I’ve been jokingly called a permanent interim minister at the Church of which we’re a part. We also own a restaurant…a kind of Cheers! kind of place where everyone knows your name…minus the adult beverages. Although, we do have a few Cliffs and Norms that come through. That, along with a couple of other side things and three kids ages 6-13, means we keep pretty busy. I’ve cooked in suits and have preached in shorts…which means I’m really glad we’ve ditched the suits the last few years at Church.

5. I’ve never finished my degree…so I’m excited that I’m going back to school in the Spring! I’m getting it for me…and I just received my Texas Tech transcript review in the mail. When I’m finished, I’ll have a General Studies Degree with concentrations in English, History and Psychology…and a cumulative total of 216 hours of higher education. That’s what I call a tribute to good scheduling…or…a lot fun learning different things the last 19 years! (I’m already looking at grad programs!)

6. I love rock, southern rock, country, scripture set to music, “praise” music, BUT…I love true southern gospel music. I chuckle when someone from my religious tribe (we discovered it 30-40 years after other tribes had embraced it!) debunks southern gospel music…sure…you need to have musical styles that reflect the times and geography you’re in. But I still have a soft spot for southern gospel…its main influences  being african-american spirituals…coming down to and culminating in the experiences of the Depression and World War II. Maybe that’s why I love it…it’s the music of hope when in slavery…assurance when you realize you have nothing…and courage when in battle…kinda like our journey here. (Sorry to sound preachy!)

7. You know what the best assignment in school I ever received? Richard Rogers assigned a group of us to memorize the theme to the show Cheers! (See #4) He said that was what we should be shooting for as we go and make disciples who go and make disciples. That simple assignment affected me then, and I think about it every day. Check it out…(www.garyportnoy.com/)

8. I believe God has chosen to work through real people to bless people…and he’s blessed me with a ton of real people, namely: My Dad (you’ll read a lot about him in the future here…). Tony Coffey in Dublin. I was an apprentice to Tony a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. He impressed upon me a love for loving people as opposed to Church work. There is a difference. He’s been in Dublin for 35 years. You’ll meet folks in Eternity becaused Tony loved them. Everything I have today is because I met Rex Boyles 18 years ago this week. He helped me take my upbringing, my few talents, victories, defeats, desires, as well as my inherent slacker-ness and bring them all together for such a time as this. I thank God for him. Tim Rush was my best friend in the AIM program 18 years ago, and we still stay in each other’s business to this day. Three things come to mind about Tim: 1) in school, he was always willing to give me the center of his cinnamon roll…now that’s a friend. 2) We prayed for extraordinary wives…God was good to answer both of us in that prayer. 3) When our Church here decided to get back into the “Support-Missionaries-in-a-real-way” business, Tim and Kim were the first family we took on…five years later, our missions is at 65% of weekly giving…and we’ve taken on our first “oversight” of a missionary family. Thanks Tim for helping kick that off…you guys mean the world to us!

Thanks Ray for the challenge…you’re a good brother-in-law as well as preacher and car dealer. (Insert your own plethora of jokes at this point!) Now if you could just do insurance…

Everyone I know has a blog…and has been tagged. Write me if you want addresses for 8 interesting people!