David J. Smith

Many moons ago I picked up a compliation of Calvin & Hobbs comic strip titled - The Lazy Sunday Book.  I liked the humor of growing up and I love tigers so much - my favorite cat.  Actually the truth is that my favorite is 'Tigger' of Pooh fame.  Anyway - today is the first lazy Sunday in a while.  Meaning I have tons of ministry to do but it is 60 degrees outside with the sun shining and not much wind.  Granted the ground is still frozen - but in the sun it is great.  So there is nothing more I would like to do but sit in the sun and journey the afternoon peering at the back of my eyelids.

Yet I find myself on a journey - especially after the gospel from John 9:1-41 today about Jesus healing the man born blind.  My eyes have been opened to Jesus - how could I close them?  I heard about the religious interrogation of the healed man and have suffered much of the same questioning lately.  I met Jesus again as did the healed man.  Jesus returned to console and make clear to the healed man what was going on.  It was a kingdom building moment.

So I hear the call today to remain dedicated to the kingdom and not my easy chair.  I hear the call to renew my advocacy efforts on behalf of the poor -so I will write and email public officials regarding immigration and gambling.  I will prepare for the new journey tonite - Spiritual Explorations - with Ron Martoia.  )Incidently I now have a new appreciation of 'reckless trust' thanks to Ron at the Velocity Learning Conversation - thanks Ron.) 

I will someday have a chance to be with the little adventurer and his tiger friend - but for now -it is to be in solidarity and to be a change agent for the marginalized.

May the week ahead be a blessing to all of you! 

So it is snowing lightly - then some sun - now clouds.  Still unseasonably cold - so what to do?  Hey it's the night of the Oscar.  In Minnesota - that meant going to dinner at the place called 'Little Oscars' south of Minneapolis.  But no, tonight is a big time for the 13 inch high OSCAR.  Right now I am awaiting the opening of Spiritual Explorartions and then probably I will recline into decline and actually watch some of the Academy Awards.  Afterall - can Jon Stewart from A/The Daily Show be all that bad?

 

The path through life sometimes gets narrow, overgrown, and disappears altogether.  I had this moment during the week and now find myself still wandering.  Perhaps you took a risk with the full knowledge that things may not turn out the way you perceived they might.  For me, this was manifest in trying to reach out and minister with a neighboring congregation that is in decline.  What if we (me and them) could journey together on the road seeking God's preferred future for their small, confused group. 

Well to make a long story short (as they say) - the result of the initial conversation about the prospect of ministering together was  absolutely NO!  We don't need any 'help' or 'leadership'.  We can't afford it, we are fine with 20+ in worship and deteriorating building and aging congregation.  Tough words to hear, disturbing, enlightening, telling.  I perceived wrong and this time got the message.  It was indeed one of those 'shake the dust off' and move on moments.  What amazed me is the fact that now I'm being persecuted for even investing time and energy into this process by the very institution that took a 'hands off' approach to this little, confused and ill-guided band of followers.  Go figure?

On the road there is risk in assertive, faithful leading; there is failure and humbling moments.  We've all been there - I was there this week.  I have had to search some more for the path into the future.  It is now and continues to be God, me and our merry band of followers at Abundant Grace and the whole Church of Jesus Christ together - going on - to the cross of Good Friday...then to wait - only to be greeted by the bright, refreshing, glory of Easter morning.  Life and ministry is a resurrection expereince.  Thanks be to God. 

At Northern Illinois University - another violent, tragic episode of life.  We pray for the students, faculty, staff, parents, and the rescue/law enforcement personnel.  May they be strengthened by the presence and prayers of each other and a nation. 

Why? questions abound, festering in the souls and on the voices of those intimately victimized by this tragic event.   

We may never find the answers we need or desire.  But we will find each other - the students will, the faculty & staff, the parents - all involved.  They will embrace, talk, pray, walk and cry together.  Through their journey let us encourage the Spirit in our midst to send the angels of grace to attend to them in their grief and sorrow.

Again, there will be invesitgations, political posturing, increased security, pointing blame.   I pray that a different conversation begin; one that involves listening and struggling with the question - What does this tragedy lead me (us) to do as a person (people) of faith?

The Mennonite church suggests: Pray for peace...Act for peace.  May we be led to prayer and action as we seek answers that lead us into forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration of shalom to the NIU community. 

 

Issac Newton gave us the concept that something must be holding us on this firmament.  Not the first, but most famous person to recognize gravity.  During these Sunday's in Lent we will follow the outline of our partners in disciple-making communities of faith.  The gravity of our human condition does create a barrier to moving deeper into the Great Commission and also the commandment to love our neighbor.  Being self-centered beings we often allow the gravity of our broken lives to become a deterrent to achieving the purpose God has for our lives.  It is not as if we can really help being who we are, but as baptized children we are called to daily die and rise to new life in the way of Jesus.  Powered by the Holy Spirit, forgiven and sent by God into the world for the sake of others we journey to Easter morning.  Tonight I am huddled by the fireplace watching the Grammy Awards - we are at the part of the program where Rhapsody in Blue is being performed. My favorite of Gershwin's.  Just awesome, especially Herbie Hancock.  I digress...but isn't our life of faith like a wonderful rhapsody?  Despite all that weighs us down and keeps us from the song of our life written on our heart by God - the melody comes through.  The melody of life is heard around the world - that is what Easter is all about.  Light overcoming darkness, darkness - the absence of light is no more.  Light prevails.  God's composition of love is written in Jesus - thanks be to God!  As the folks at changingchurch.org put it - we experience the 'zero gravity' of Easter.  May you have a blessed journey.  Don't let gravity get you down.

Today is the start of something new.  It seems strange to begin with ash because it is a remnant of what once was.  In our case a leafy green palm branch.  Ashes are also elemental.  They are what's left after the refiners fire.  They are light, able to be carried in the slightest of wind.  They are black and able to mark anything almost indelibly.  They are symbol when placed on our forehead and these ashes are a reminder of who and whose we are.  So today I will bear the outward sign of my sinfulness and also my redemption in order to begin the journey of my Savior, Jesus - the only renewer of life from the jaws of most certain death.  May this mark of the forehead cross remaind us all of God's grace in the person of Jesus.  Thanks be to God!

Wow!  Giants win!  Okay the old NY'er can gloat a bit.  But this is still Monday. 

We enter the journey of an eternal life time this week beginning on Ash Wednesday.  We journey as sinners in need of a Savior and God does not disappoint.  Our community will again return to our roots of catholic tradition as we observe Lent.  In this journey we will encounter the stuff of life that continues to separate us from God's true purpose for our lives: temptation, shame, grief, fear, prejudice.  As always there will be a weekly podcast on www.abundant-grace.org and our worship on Sunday at 10:15 a.m. and Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

Our Scripture for this coming Sunday - Feb 10th is Matthew 4:1-11.

As we approach Sunday Feb 3rd - we prepare for the Souper Bowl of Caring.  This ministry stared years ago in Columbia, SC.  In my ministry there I got to know Brad Smith the creator of this Spirit-led event.  This was grass-roots community building at its best.  All was focused on where Jesus is in the world - with those in need and what we were doing to clothe the naked, feed the hungery and give drink to the thirsty.  So we will fill the soup kettles this coming Sunday to assist our food ministries in Johnson County.  More importantly we will be staking claim to our core mission to love our neighbor.

The Lent journey with Joan's book will be:  Feb 13 - Preface & Chapters 1-3; Feb 20 - Chapters 4-11; Feb 27 - Chapters 12-19; March 5 - Chapters 20-21; March 12 - Chapters 22-24.

See you on Wednesday's - if you worship with us at Abundant Grace - pick up a book on Sunday!

 

Our community is joining with St. Thomas Episcopal for the Wednesday experience during Lent.  Here is what is happening....

Joan Chittister’s book, Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope, provides the content for our study this Lent.  Beginning on the 13^th of February, we will gather to eat a simple meal of soup and

 salad at around 5:45.  Worship will begin at 6:30.  The study will begin around 7:15 and the evening will conclude no later than 8:15.  On the 13^th and 27^th of February and the 12^th of

March we will be at St. Thomas. On the 20^th of February and 5^th of March, we will be at

Abundant Grace.