Someone stop the pain!

“This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you!”: a sentiment passed on from one generation of parents to another, almost as a right of passage into the adult world of semi-senseless cliches. The statement is filled with emptiness and ranks right up there with other parental verbal anomalies like, “Because I said so!” Parents who utter sayings like this, train another generation to accept them as children and then use them as adults (whether they ever understood them or not). From the viewpoint of many children, the aforementioned statement is a lie! This is because the “gonna hurt me more than you” quip is usually followed by a spanking! Whether your parent’s instrument of discipline was a hand, a belt, a switch, a logging chain, rubber hose, wet banana peel, or a ribbed dryer vent, it ALWAYS hurt the kid more . . . physically anyway.

Have no fear, children! Your legislative champion has arrived to insure that your generation and those to come will no longer have to endure parents who care enough to establish boundaries for, and consequences to, your actions. Kathleen Wolf, a Massachusetts nurse, and Mass. Democrat Rep. Jay Kaufman, are presenting legislation that would ban spanking and enforce punishment to parents who use corporal punishment. The Mass. State House is debating the issue today and I have yet to read the results of their discussion.

The point behind Wolf and Kaufman’s action is that parents, in their opinion, too often overstep their boundaries when instituting the discipline of spanking; therefore, no parent should have the right to abuse the parental privilege. In other words, they want to set the limits according to extreme abuse and then govern to the same abusive extreme! They apparently assume that because some parents do go too far with their physical punishment, that all parents will always go too far. Sounds ridiculous but that’s what they’re submitting.

Also, Wolf and Kaufman (and their many supporters, I’m sure), assume that all parents have the same criteria for what behavior deserves a spanking. Different parents have different standards, yet, not so in Wolf’s world.

I suppose if either of these individuals has any children, they have always been on their best behavior and never needed much discipline. Or, perhaps, their kids always responded well to simple, deductive reasoning–a calm chat over an ice cream cone must have quelled the savage beast! Unfortunately, in the real world, children are not cerebral enough between the ages of two and twelve to understand adult reasoning and, at times, need to be reigned in by the swift hand (or belt) of parental justice. Children often act like . . . well, children! And children don’t need child psychiatrists or adult buddies who happen to live with them; they need parents! Children need parents to set parameters and uphold rules, not meant to squelch personality but to build character.

Interestingly enough, in the state of Massachusetts, where sexual orientation is defined by “alternate lifestyles” and abortion is based on a woman’s choice, this legislation, if passed, will establish a foundation for an unprecedented right of government to dictate how a parent chooses to discipline a child–the state government telling the people what to do in a state whose residents are infamous for not wanting government to tell them what to do!

Yeah, kids, don’t you worry! Uncle Kaufman and Aunt Wolf are going to come in and collectively save the day! You won’t have to consider punishment anymore; no consequences to any action; you are officially your own parent! All your Mom & Dad are responsible for is feeding you, clothing you, and providing shelter, while you determine everything else that takes place in your life! And I wouldn’t worry too much about being grounded, having the car keys taken away, or for you younger children, the infamous time-out. I’m sure if Wolf and Kaufman have their way, those forms of discipline will soon be wiped out as well. So, do what you want and plan on doing even more . . . the pain of those mean ol’ spankings is about to stop and the freedom will begin! God help us all!

Kathy Griffin’s “New God”

Not that Hollywood has done any favors for Christianity in recent memory–in fact, Hollywood has seemed more like an a national audition for the anti-Christ than anything else–but recent comments by Kathy Griffin seem to have Tinsel-Town plumming new lows. Host of her own reality series, My Life on the D-List, Griffin won a creative-arts Emmy and, perhaps, got a little too creative with her acceptance speech. Griffin remarked that, “a lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus.” Griffin, not satisfied with merely one religious slur, continued with her rancor by claiming, “This award is my god now!” (To read the full comment, if you can stomach it, go to kathygriffin.net.)

The sad truth here is that Griffin rightfully railed against the questionable comments from celebs that seem to be more about gravitas than gratitude. I mean, it is difficult to take any actor/actress seriously when their public careers have little to do with their private convictions; yet he/she sounds deeply spiritual when on stage at an awards show. (Eeeeerily familiar to certain presidential candidates suddenly attributing personal strength from a relationship with Jesus that seems to have surfaced ever since the “religious right” actually made a difference at the polls in 2000 & 2004–go figure!)

However, even though Griffin may have shed some light on “thankless thesbians,” that does not give her the right to share her less-than-spiritual opinion of Jesus and the Emmy–I’m all for free speech but not, to borrow a phrase from the far left, ”hate speech.” Griffin is right that Jesus had nothing to do with her award; I have never seen her show and I can surmise this truth pretty easily. Unfortunately, she is probably right that the award has some diety status in her life as well. In a culture driven by performance and achievement, the Emmy is an ultimate goal for any television personality. Performance and achievement are not evil by themselves; they are simply better slaves than masters. Griffin’s comments are telling of a world that glorifies personal aggrandizement and belittles true spiritual sentiment (especially when it’s Christian).

I suppose I have two primary questions regarding this “celebrity faux pas”: Why is this not a story that warrants any more than the minor press attention it has received? (Is it because Hollywood wants to create “distance” between itself and Griffin’s inflammatory remarks or because she’s just not worth it?) What would the reaction have been if remarks had been made by a Christian entertainer about Mohammed? (Remember the press that the questionable cartoons received.)

Mike Vick found Jesus?

Unless you have been hiding under a “proverbial rock”, were recently thawed from your 100 year slumber in a carbon-freezing chamber, or you are new to this planet, then you’ve probably heard about Mike Vick. To be sure, Vick is not going to run for either town dog-catcher or chairman of the local chapter of the ASPCA. The events that have unfolded in recent days concerning his dog-fighting ring have been both confusing and disappointing.

Freakishly talented, Vick has shown flashes of both brilliance and frustration on the football field. His athleticism has allowed him to make “oh, my goodness, did you just see that?” moves to illude would-be tacklers, yet he could never evade the constant critiscism of failing to be the quintessential pocket quarterback. Regardless of people’s take on his maturity as an NFL qb, before his involvement with dogfighting, Vick was one of the main reasons for putting “meat in the seat” each Sunday afternoon in pro football stadiums across the nation.

While I was saddened by his recent legal troubles–which seem to be the culmination of poor choices that have surfaced in the last couple of seasons; i.e. one-finger salute to fans while leaving the playing field, etc.–I was intrguied by one phrase he uttered in his four-minute, twenty-five second public apology Monday. Vick’s intersting words were, “I’m upset with myself and through this situation I’ve found Jesus and asked him for forgiveness and turned my life over to God, and I think that’s the right thing to do as of right now.”

Now, I realize that Jesus is THE Judge of mankind and, according to Scripture, is the only One able to judge the hearts of men, which involves the sincerity of their salvation. In fact, in one of the most misquoted passages in all of the Bible, Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, lest you be judged,” Christ is referring to someone’s salvation–He is not saying that we cannot identify sin, merely that we cannot make the call on a person’s eternity.

Having typed all that, two points to ponder from Vick’s mea culpa: 1) He found Jesus is biblically incorrect–Jesus was never lost; never even misplaced or misdirected. I know, I know, that sounds pedantic and pompous (look ‘em up, they are real words), but Scripture says that no one seeks after God, because of the stain of sin in our lives (Romans 3:10). Scripture also states, in Luke 19:10, that Jesus came to “seek and to save that which was lost.” We don’t find Him, He finds us.

Maybe that’s being a bit nit-picky, but it leads me to the second interesting piece of verbage (that’s a word, too): 2) “I think [giving my life over to God] is the right thing to do as of right now.” Right thing as of right now? What?! Again, I want to avoid the kind of theological snobbery that can accompany many detailed examinations of the faith-based statements of others, but what in the world does Vick mean here? The reason I ask is that, as a pastor, I run into people all the time who run to God when it’s convenient–in other words, when life pulls the rug out from under them and they have nowhere else to turn. Unfortunately, in many of these cases, the sincerity wanes when circumstances loosen their apparent strangle-hold from around the person’s life. Perhaps it’s the cynic in me, but I pray that Vick is real in his remorse and his new-found faith. I hope it’s not a convenient confession for a confusing and crippling circumstance. I hope what seems the right thing to do “right now” will still seem right when he’s no longer behind bars and the money, fame, and positive recognition potentially begin anew.

Only time will tell. Jesus, THE Judge of mankind, said that the world will know Christians by their “fruit”–the difference made in their lives after asking Christ to be their Savior. Vick’s life will either produce Christian fruit or it won’t. That’s not to say that somehow he has to return from his prison sentence and become a priest or pastor–or even an altar boy, for that matter. But it is to say that, at some point, the Christian life that he claims to have “found” will either come out in the kind of person he will become or it will fade into the abyss of forgotten potential (as, at least, the next season of Vick’s career as an NFL quarterback). I pray he is sincere; I will pray for him as he faces an uncertain future. I will pray that he returns, not only to play in the National Football League–he has too much talent and star appeal to wish him away for good–but to publicly make good on his claim to have “found” Someone who had been looking for Vick for some time.

Cool Music, Awesome Story

If you have a hankerin’ (not “hankering”) for some really cool music, then I’ve got a name you need to know . . . Mike Farris. Mike is a musician who plays what has been called “gospel funky soul.” His music has a decidedly New Orleans jazz flare. The horns resonate, the guitars buzz, and the vocals wail over every track of his latest album, “Salvation In Lights.” The cd takes me back to days growing up in the “Big Easy” –that’s New Orleans, for those of you Yanks unfamiliar with the term. These songs could be heard on a lazy afternoon at the annual Jazz Fest or in a local hell-fire and brimstone tent meeting where humidity-saturated calls for sinners to come to Christ permeated the heavy, South Louisiana air.

The coolest thing about Mike and his music goes beyond his killer vocals and his amazing band/singers; it has to do with his testimony. God has made a change in Mike and is continuing to do so–which, as I understand Scripture, is what God desires to do in all of our lives. Mike had success in the secular industry, touring with the likes of Cheryl Crow, Dave Matthews Band, Neil Young, etc., but changed his venue when the Lord delivered him from addiction and vice. Now Mike’s music is a resounding, fun-filled, energetic celebration of hope and redemption. You can check out his testimony and a lot more at www.mikefarrismusic.net.  Also, if you like what you hear and read there, Mike will be performing here in Lexington, at the Kentucky Theater, Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour, Monday, September 10. You can reserve tickets at www.kentuckytheater.com ($10/ticket). Check out Mike’s music; enjoy his immense talent; praise God for his obvious change.

Death: Undesirable but Unavoidable

What a morbid title for a blog! But face the facts, it’s true. I mean, who wants to die? No one I’ve ever met desires death. Now, I realize there may be some who are terminally ill or in tremendous physical pain and they have thought long and hard about leaving this world.  Granted, this may be true of some, but they make up the minority of the global population. We are fixed on living, not dying. As humans, we think of any way possible to extend life, not ways to cut it short. Death is, to say the least, undesirable.

But death is also unavoidable–we’ll all die at some point in time. From the moment we’re born, our bodies are growing towards death. Even our peak levels of youthful fitness are fleeting; ask the retired professional athlete who’s added an extra fifty pounds because his body can no longer hold up under the strain of high-level physical activity. I’m not being defeatest or pessimistic; it’s simply a proven medical fact that everybody dies. Rich, poor, tall, short, young, old–people of all ways and walks of life die everyday.

Why the downer? What’s up with such a negative bog? I’ve simply stood by more caskets than I’ve wanted to lately. I preached the funeral of a good friend a month ago; Aaron’s (one of the youth at church) dad passed away two weeks ago; one of my daughter’s softball teammates’ father died Sunday and on the way into funeral home for his visitation yesterday, I received a call that my cousin died in a motorcycle accident. Along with that, I got an email from a good friend from high school who is concerned about death as he serves in the military. Needless to say, death has been on my mind.

 I’ve come to two concrete conclusions: one, death is undesirable and unavoidable; two, there is only one answer to death. Hebrews 9:27 states, “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” The judgment is that of all mankind by Jesus Christ. He will judge each individual who has ever lived according to all that we have ever said or done. He will judge whether or not we have accepted Him as Savior of our lives. Those who have trusted in Him by faith will spend eternity with Him in heaven, while those who have rejected Him will spend eternity in hell. I don’t write this with any joy or glee–it’s a stark reality but a reality nonetheless. But Scripture describes how the Christian can approach death, as undesirable and unavoidable as it may be, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

You may say something like, “I don’t believe in Jesus, so death is no big deal to me.” or “When I die, that’s it.” These are not unusual responses, but that doesn’t make them right. Let me give you an old wager (Pascal’s to be exact) and then be done: If you’re right and Jesus isn’t the answer to death, then by rejecting Him, you’ve lost nothing. But if I’m right, and Jesus is the answer to death and you reject Him, you’ve lost everything. Think about it a little and remember to pray for people all over this country today who’ve been effected by the undesirable, unavoidable pain of death.

Stick and Move!

Understand, before you begin reading this blog . . . it is written by a father (ME). This means that, while objectivity is a goal in most writing, it does not apply to any blogs written about the children of said father (ME). In fact, as objectivity is thrown out the window, clarity is the next target of parental omission. So, this blog may be one-sided and incoherent, but it’s written by a father (ME), so be forewarned! Check out Legends Boxing at: http://legendsboxing.phastcat.com/

http://media.heraldleader.com/static/pagepdfs/a1.pdf

http://kentucky.com/141/story/132614.html

Check out the above links to the Lexington Herald-Leader that contains an article with pictures featuring Thomas Alexander Kinchen, III (MY SON; aka “Rocky”).  Thomas and Jevon are shown boxing in their first match. Thomas just turned 7 while Jevon (aka “TNT”) just turned 9; thus the obvious height differential–although, being a Kinchen, Thomas may be plagued by this affliction for life!

(Editor’s note: If you read the full article, know that Thomas, Rocky, is not a “troubled” youth. He has however, created trouble, at times, for his mother and me, various law enforcement agencies, the Ice Cream Man in our neighborhood . . . and, now, for his opponents in the ring. One-sided, biased . . . told-ya’-so.) 

Both kids did awesome for their first fight. The picture itself is pretty cool, simply for the “Rocky” (as in Balboa) officianados in the group. Thomas is called “Rocky” after Rocky Marciano (for Thomas’ deadly left hook–every preacher’s kid should have one!), yet the pic of Rocky & TNT is classic Balboa & Creed. Remember the end of Rocky III, where Balboa and Creed shared this same pose at the end of the movie (a “favor” owed to Creed by Balboa as payment for Creed training Balboa to fight Clubber Lang; which he did . . . and won!)? The pose was captured on canvas and was seen in the recently released ”Rocky Balboa”–a picture on the “wall of fame” in the back of Rocky’s Italian restaurant, “Adrian’s.”

The first round all Thomas threw left hooks (literally; but it’s his “signature punch”, he just signed one-too-many autographs in the first three minutes). Yet, by the second and third rounds he was actually boxing! (Combinations; stick and move; slip and jab) Which was impressive considering the fact that it was his first time out–heavy bags and boxing mits don’t hit back nearly as effectively as live opponents. He took a couple of stiff jabs but he has no “reverse” gear in his stocky little fear-inspiring frame (bias, I warned you).  In fact, at one point during the fight, he actually climbed out of the ring and went after a heckler in the front row! Not really, but wouldn’t that be cool; I’ll put that on my “things to teach” list for next time. 

Anyway, the Mayor’s Cup, Thomas’ (and probably Jevon’s) next bout, is this Saturday at 4pm at Legends Boxing in Lexington. Rocky trained for 10 rounds today, another 10 tomorrow, and perhaps another 5 Friday (we’ll be travelling back from Florida). He loves it and has, what his coach says, is a natural ability in the ring! PAY PER VIEW!! PAY PER VIEW!! (again, forewarned . . . bias; incredible bias)

The cool thing about the gym where Thomas trains is that the coach is also a pastor: William “Sarge” Farris. Sarge does an awesome job with the kids. He teaches them boxing (a boxer himself while in the military) but also teaches them about the love of Jesus. (See first link listed for the gym where Sarge trains: Legends Boxing) Sarge pastors Maranatha Baptist Church, here in Lexington, Ky.

I suppose that’s enough for now; only because I’m going to watch a movie with the family. I think it’s Masters of Pugilism or Kings of the Ring, or something like that . . . or maybe Dunston Checks In.

Down on the Farm

Vacation time is here! Being with my folks has been a blast; the kids have loved it and Gretchen and I welcome the time away. Not that there’s anything wrong with Lexington, but every now and again ya’ just gotta get away!

It’s been cool to put up sheet rock with my dad, swim with the family, watch the kids drive through the fields in Mom & Dad’s mule–Kawasaki mule, that is! While we plan on going to the beach today, this part of Florida (NW/panhandle) is as much farm country as it is beachfront property.  Having a place to get away like this is a blessing and, to a degree, a luxury. Reasonably-priced land is nearly impossible to find anywhwere, much less the Bluegrass (just ask our church trustees and finance team; they have done great work but it has been tough). Mom & Dad bought their land years ago and have been developing it ever since. Now they live here and can enjoy the ponds, trees, barn, and the solitude of living a few acres off the main road.

Drinking a morning cup of coffee without seeing everyone speeding by on their morning commute is nice. The hustle seems to have less bustle in this environment. To be sure, people in the panhandle still work hard and are hip-deep in the “daily grind” of life; yet, being here seems like a true get-away.

The cool thing about “getting away” spiritually is that I (or you) can do that whether we have a farm in the country or an apartment in dowtown Chicago. Scripture teaches that we can, and should, spend time with God, set apart from everything else that tries to catch our attention. Jesus spent time over and over again alone with His heavenly Father. Christ was constantly followed by incredible crowds (today, His disciples would probably file for a restraining order to keep the paparazi away); but He knew He needed to find a place (a hillside, a boat on the sea, a garden outside of town) to be alone; to get away; to clear His mind and focus on the Father in Heaven.

FInd that place in your world–it might be your breakfast table early in the morning or your bedroom late at night; or even your office during a mid-day break. Spend time getting away from the hustle & bustle, busyiness and barrage of expectations, demands, and obligations that may seem to flood your life. Spend time letting God have your undivided attention; let Him grant you renewed focus and strength. And throw in a banana smoothie just for good measure–health and relaxation all in one glass-full!

“Firmly Planted” up and running

My blog, much to the suprise of my colleagues at Master’s Church, is up and running. Thanks, Andrew, Marc, Tom, and (maybe) Jordan. “Why the banana smoothie theme?”,  you may ask. Quite simply, it’s an awesome way to start the day. Small meals several times a day, right Lori Dawn? Take one banana, six packets of Splenda (come on, you gotta have some sweet factor), one cap full of vanilla extract, and 3/4 cup of 1%milk. Once you’ve got that blended, add one cup of ice (ice that has been sitting out a few minutes actually can make a “smoother” smoothie), blend, pour, and enjoy!

Well, that answers the “pressing” smoothie question; now, what about this “firmly planted’ business? Simply, the title comes from Psalm 1, where a wise Christian is compared to a tree “planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit in its season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” (Psalm 1:3, NASB) The Bible speaks of the wisdom that can be found in following God, specifically through a relationship with Jesus Christ. This kind of wisdom comes from being “firmly planted” in the knowledge and application of Scripture in everyday life. While my faults and humanity often come through more than I care to mention in my attempts at living according to God’s Word, my desire is to uphold His truth in all I do.

Enough blogging for today–Marc, I know you’re suprised I’ve kept it this short. It’s time for low fat, microwave popcorn. Not as complicated as smoothies, but just as good. If you need a recipe for microwave popcorn, follow this link and eat happy: imadorkandshouldnotbeallowedinakitchen.com.