Give Thanks
Like many of you, my parents and grandparents taught me to use words like “m’am,” “sir,” “please,” “may I,” and “thank you.” And if I didn’t, I was usually reprimanded with the phrase, “Danny Adrion! Where are your manners?” Now, I knew this was a major infraction, because I heard my middle name—NEVER a good sign!
Of course, there are good reasons to “mind our manners.” For me, among the best of those reasons is that sincerely using words like “m’am,” “sir,” “please,” “may I,” and “thank you” convey a certain amount of respect and gratitude to other human beings.
The challenge, however, with using words like “thank you” sometimes is that we often tend to treat them as a debt paid. You were kind to me in some way; I said, “Thank you;” we’re done.
Consider this. When we see a homeless person, or a person sick with a debilitating or terminal illness, or a person facing some other major life challenge, what do many of us do? Well, many of us tend to thank God for the blessings of a roof over our heads, reasonable health, etc. We give thanks.
And that is an excellent start.
I say “start,” because I believe it is important to put some “muscle behind our manners” whenever we are able to do so. So, whenever we say “thanks” to God for some blessing in our lives, why not think of ways we can do just that?
When we say “thanks” for the gift of shelter, for example, why not consider taking our bodies and our compassion, and walk into the challenge of homelessness by volunteering at agencies like Beds Plus or the Night Ministries?
When we say “thanks” for the gift of food, why not consider taking our bodies and our compassion, and walk into the challenge of hunger by bringing some extra food to either local food pantries, or to our churches to share with those who are hungry? Or, how about getting a group together to cook a meal for the Night Ministries?
When we say “thanks” for the gift of partners, spouses, families, and friends, why not consider taking our bodies and our compassion, and walk into the challenge of loneliness and depression by visiting folks who are alone and lonely? Better yet, why not bring them to church, and introduce them to our loving communities of faith?
So remember, while saying “thanks” is great, “doing thanks” is even better.
And “doing thanks” is in season year-round.
Grace, Peace and Thanks,
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.