The Jesus Collection
Actually, this collection was not intentional. I received my first Jesus statue when I was in Georgia. A friend of mine with whom I used to work in Houston learned I was preparing to become an ordained minister. So, she sent me a hand-painted ceramic Jesus-white, light brown hair, full vestments, visible bleeding heart surrounded with a crown of thorns-the works. Although I am not particularly a fan of these particular depictions of Jesus, this washer way of seeing Jesus; and since she made it herself, it meant-and still means-a great deal to me. So, "White Ceramic Jesus" has traveled with me from Atlanta to Corpus Christi to Brookfield, and now resides on the lamp table in my office at church.
Then, last Christmas, a congregant presented me with a PINK, flocked Jesus bank with a funny note. I love "Pink Flocked Jesus" so much, he now resides next to "White Ceramic Jesus" on the table in my office. Both statues have been great conversation pieces throughout the last year.
This year, Richard and I opened our Christmas presents late Christmas evening. There was a package I had brought home from church with just my name on it with no indication as to the giver. I opened the package to find a SILVER GLITTER Jesus bank-and another humorous note. So, if you drop by my office in the New Year, expect to see all three Jesus statues on the table.
"OK', some of you may be thinking, 'are you just TRYING to get struck by lightning?" Not at all. For me, these three very different statues of Jesus Christ remind me that there are different aspects to Christ, and it is important for us to hold those aspects in creative tension.
"White Ceramic Jesus" reminds me that there is a very serious side to Jesus. It wasn't easy being Jesus-preaching peace, equitable distribution of wealth, and challenging the oppressive status quo (religious and societal)--even when it meant rejection and crucifixion. "White Ceramic Jesus" reminds me that we who call ourselves followers of Jesus are called to continue his work-and that being a follower of Jesus will sometimes involve a certain amount of rejection and challenge.
"Pink Flocked Jesus" and "Silver Glitter Jesus" bring smiles to my face, as I remember that the life of Jesus was also full of colorful people and included parties and celebrations, as Jesus fully lived and loved life. "Pink Flocked and Silver Glitter Jesus" remind me that we who call ourselves followers of Jesus are also called to live, laugh, and love fully as the people God created us to be.
So, as we enter a new year and continue to move through the "white ceramic," "pink flocked," and "silver glitter" times of our lives, may we also rest in the assurance that God is with us in each of those times, just as God was with Jesus.
May we learn to live, laugh, and love fully.
Happy New Year,
Pastor Dan
Biographic Information for Rev. Danny Spears and Richard Lofstrand
Born and raised in Madisonville, a small town in western Kentucky, Rev. Danny is the younger of two children. He is the proud uncle of three nephews: Marc, Ryan, and Ross, as well as the proud great uncle of Marc and Valerie’s two children: Brittain and Ireland.
Rev. Danny considers himself to be extremely blessed of God to have Richard Lofstrand as his life partner. Richard was born and raised in Malden, Massachusetts, just outside of the Boston area, and is the older of two children. Rev. Danny and Richard met in Atlanta, Georgia, and will be celebrating their 11th anniversary on June 28th.
Richard was married for 24 years, and that union produced three wonderful children: Rochelle, Kimberly, and Andrew. Both Rochelle and Kimberly identify as lesbian, and Andrew identifies as straight. Kimberly and her partner, Dana, are raising Richard and Rev. Danny’s grandson, Preston, who will be 6 years old in August 2007. Rev. Danny and Richard are also the “proud parents” of three cats: Powder, Tony, and Cleo. In their spare time, they like taking walks together. Richard also enjoys quilting, and Rev. Danny enjoys reading and trying his hand at cooking when time permits.
Academically, Rev. Danny holds an Associates Degree in Industrial Supervision, as well as a Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Administration from Clayton College and State University in Morrow, Georgia. He also holds a Master of Divinity from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin, Texas, and is currently studying for his Doctor of Ministry at the same seminary. Richard holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University, as well as a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Spiritually, Rev. Danny was raised in the Apostolic Oneness (Pentecostal) tradition. He left that tradition around the age of 18, after a long period of questioning some of the teachings of that tradition, as well as after coming out as a gay man. After a time of spiritual wandering, he found Resurrection MCC in Houston, Texas in 1981, and has been active in MCC’s in Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta. Richard’s spiritual background includes both a Lutheran upbringing, as well as membership in the Methodist Church as an adult, before joining First MCC Atlanta in 1997.
It was in 1999 that Rev. Danny answered what he believes to be God’s call to a life of ordained service. He completed student clergy training under Rev. Ike Parker at All Saints MCC in Atlanta, Georgia, and was ordained as MCC clergy on November 8th, 2001 in Nashville, Tennessee at the final Gulf Lower Atlantic District Conference, before UFMCC’s change to the current regional structure of governance.
For the past 5 and 1/2 years, Rev. Danny has served as the pastor of MCC of Corpus Christi, located in the beautiful Coastal Bend of Southeast Texas. Camber Corporation, a government contractor, employs Richard as a Journeyman Engineer. During their time in Corpus Christi, God has blessed the church with spiritual, numerical, and financial growth, while blessing Rev. Danny and Richard with a wealth of new experiences and new friends.