Enigmatic Meanderings | Archive

Archive - June, 2009

1 and 1,000,000

June 15, 2009 in Compassion, For Real, God, Ministry, Student Life 1

So any reader of this blog or friend of mine knows that I’m an advocate for Compassion. The company I work for has a partnership with them, but my advocacy goes beyond that. However, most of my talk about Compassion here has centered around my experience with them or those of my close friends and are most often filtered through the lens of our limited perspective since we’re only a small few of those who have the privilege of joining Compassion in the work they’re doing to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name.

Shaun Groves is a guy I’ve only met a couple of times, but who is a great voice for millions of children around the world who have none. He’s a musician but also works with the Compassion Bloggers. Last week he had the great opportunity to be up in Colorado Springs at Compassion’s home office to lead worship for their chapel service celebrating the sponsorship of their millionth child. You can read a little bit about it at his shlog. There he has a video they played at that service. I’ve only ever put Compassion videos on here that we had something to do with producing (we being those of us here at Student Life). But this one’s worth it.

Enjoy.

By the way, you, too, can be a part of releasing a child from poverty through sponsorship with Compassion International by clicking here.

Thanks.

Virtual Sip and See

June 12, 2009 in Family, Random, Sarcasm 2

So, I’m going to a bit out of a pocket today. “Why?” you might ask. I’m glad you did.

You see… Liza, Story and I are headed to Jackson today because tomorrow there is a Sip and See being thrown in Story’s honor. “What’s a Sip and See?” I’m sure you’re wondering.

Well, friends, a Sip and See is kinda like a reception. Evidently, you dress your baby up in a frilly dress and invite people to come look at her. I guess tea or punch is normally served (hence the “sip” to go along with the “see”).

Now, I know what you’re all thinking. “But, Kins, I want to go to the Sip and See and stare at your beautiful daughter while drinking tea and/or punch, but I wasn’t invited. Plus, I avoid going to Mississippi at all costs.” Have no fear. I didn’t want all of you to be left out. So, I’ve developed a Virtual Sip and See just for all of you.

In order to fully enjoy the full Virtual Sip and See experience, simply follow these easy steps:

Step 1. Get up from your computer or mobile device.

Step 2. Grab your favorite beverage. Hot tea would be most apropos. However, coffee would work. You could even go with a soda or a nice, tall glass of ice water. No hard stuff, though, please. This is for a baby.

Step 3. Sit back down at your computer or mobile device.

Step 4. Press play on the video below. It’s some footage of Story being super-cute set to her favorite Rockabye Baby! song.

Step 5. Sip your beverage and see (watch) the video. Please watch all the way to the end (or you could just skip to about 3:30 in). I assure you, you won’t be disappointed.

Enjoy!

Virtual Sip and See from Chris Kinsley on Vimeo.

Wasn’t that fun?

*EDITOR’S NOTE* I give you my solemn vow that this will not turn into a baby blog.

Hypothetical Theological Musings

June 11, 2009 in Christianity, Conviction, Faith, God 2

Let’s say I told you I was a runner, had been one for years, and this seemed like it could be plausible to you. You began noticing that I wore a lot of Under Armor. I bought some new Nike Shox. I had a iPod Shuffle with a neoprene arm band and wrap-around sports gear headphones loaded with the “Rockout & Workout” iMix from iTunes. I began reading Runner’s World and measuring distances in kilometers. I even signed up for a marathon and said things like, “I bet I could beat you to the end of the parking lot.” I drank a lot of Vitamin Water.

The only problem was that I was obviously carrying around a lot of extra weight and would get winded just walking up to the second floor. You would invite me to go running with you, but I had the convenient excuse of having always promised someone else I’d go running with them. Finally you convince me, and when I show up we barely make it around the block before I’m wheezing and complaining and call it quits to go home and play Mirror’s Edge on my Xbox.

You shrug your shoulders and figure out that I wasn’t really a runner at all. I put up a good front, but my heart just wasn’t in it.

Now, let’s say the more we spend time together you begin noticing that I talk an awful lot about the threat that Malaria poses to those living in Sub-Saharan Africa. I throw around tons of statistics and speak with informed authority about the transmission process from mosquitoes and the latest treatment and prevention options. I decry how uninformed the majority of the world is about this issue and implore anyone who will listen to help eradicate this disease by “Biting Back.”

You figure this must be something I really care about, and my impassioned speeches have convinced you to do something. So one day you ask me what you can do to help? I stare back at you blankly and say, “I don’t know.” You ask, “well what do you do?” I shrug and say, “nothing, I guess.” I then go into WalMart to buy a can of Off.

Again, you shrug your shoulders and realize that despite all my talk, I can’t really care about it that much. If I did, then wouldn’t I be doing at least something.

Later you’re reading your Bible (because you’re a good Christian, did I not mention that), and you stumble across James 2:14-26. After perusing it for a moment, you stop, think, and something occurs to you. “Aha!” you say.