Washington, D.C.

It is good to be back in DC today. One thing I loved about being here was the variety of license plates. Of course you have those from DC, MD, & VA. You also have diplomat plates & plates from all the states and beyond. I never licensed my leased vehicle in DC when I was here. I did when I picked up another vehicle and moved to MD. DC at that time had some Clergy plates that would have been cool to get.

The tag-line on the plates are interesting to read. MD has their website mentioned. I was reminded that the slogan on the new DC plates is a political statement - a slap in the face - "Taxation Without Representation". They have been trying to get statehood and were even willing to settle for the status of a U.S. Territory for awhile. Wisconsin's is and has been for a long time, "America's Dairyland". When they redesigned the plates they asked for submissions of designs and tag-lines. The all-time classic which didn't win - Wisconsin: "Come Smell Our Dairy Air".

You think red light cameras are bad? They have the equivalent for speeding here. I guess some zones have warning signs warning of the cameras and some don't. YIKES!

CBN Story.

You can watch it here (click on the downloads tab and search for: "The 700 Club: November 21, 2008") or download it here.

CBN News story to air tomorrow.

On November 4 I mentioned that a CBN News crew was at the church to do a story on hunger. Here's the information I've been given today.

"The story airs tomorrow on the 700 Club. Locally, look for it on your ABC family channel--or view it at CBNNews.com. It will also air on Newswatch and possibly Christian World News--two of our others newscasts."

Samuel Nehemiah Smith

This weekend I will be returning to Washington, DC and will be attending a Homecoming/Homegoing of sorts to celebrate the life of a Pastor, Friend and Mentor. Rev. Sam Smith was my pastor when we lived in Danville, IL. My Dad was on his staff as the church's Minister of Music.

Years later he invited me to do my college internship with him in Washington, DC. My parents would visit the church, return and try to explain to me what a wonderful place it was. I was somewhat hesitant; maybe a fear of the unknown, a new city, considering obstacles I would face in picking my internship destination and getting that approved. A college choir field trip to DC First, directed by George Dunbar, during my senior year (my first senior year :) ) again was providential and helped to remove the mystery and mystique surrounding the situation. I fell in love with the place immediately and now had faces and names to put with my prayers about returning there for the internship. My request was approved! The director was leery at first, but upon learning that Sam Smith was behind it, soon acquiesced.

The tradition in March was for candidates to attend a lunch, with bags packed, ready to go out to parts unknown. They and their new pastor would dine and dash to a church in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, or Wisconsin. Only then did they find out where they were going for the next two months. Instead, I dined and drove the 700 miles alone to my new assignment. When I arrived though, I was really made to feel at home. I was in seventh heaven. I could not have found a better learning lab myself. The Lord was gracious.

Washington, DC First Church of the Nazarene (since then National C.O.T.N. and now "Mosaic: A C.O.T.N.") was "the church home for 450 people from some 45 different nationalities. Incomes range from those barely subsisting on welfare to a few earning more than $200,000 a year." It was a pleasure to watch Rev. Smith thrive in this setting. It's not always easy in such a context or an urban setting. Rev. Smith could "honestly say that the benefits of ministering in the city far outweigh the frustrations: 'I love the diversity. Within minutes of each other, I might be in a millionaire's mansion and a welfare home. I enjoy helping those people learn to love each other.'"

Regarding his preaching: "He learned that 'the farmer who's been alone on his tractor all day wants to know you're preaching to him personally. If you use notes, he'll tune you right out. He needs intimacy. In the same way, city people are starving for intimacy and love. Their real needs are the same.'

So Sam has kept his country preaching style - using few notes, lots of self-deprecating humor and colorful stories, and avoiding literate phrases that some may not understand. He firmly believes that 'the best sermons are preached where the pain of the people and the truth intersect.'"* It was fun to sit behind him each Sunday and watch the sermon unfold in this way.

Rev. Smith took his chances again and hired me to return after graduation. Following his retirement, Ed Felter was given the nod. He allowed me to stay on during his tenure. 3 1/2 years spent in ministry in the Nation's Capital was a dream come true.

So it will be bittersweet to make the trek but trek I must. One more trip to DC alone and back Home.

For more on Rev. Smith see - http://www.ncnnews.com/nphweb/html/ncn/article.jsp?sid=10000023&id=10006599

"The Church Without Walls"

*excerpts & photos from "The Pastor in the Big City", Lyndee Breeding, Worldwide Challenge, Campus Crusade for Christ, Inc., March/April 1990, pp. 26-31.

National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day

Today is an important National Holiday. The banks remained open. Most employers didn't give workers the day off but many stayed home sick to clean their nasty ice box. How did you celebrate the day? There wasn't much to clean out of mine but I took time to give it the once over nonetheless and give it a fresh box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda. The idea is too purge your appliance of all the unnecessary entrées and accoutrements, making way for the inevitable Turkey Day leftovers.

Bon Appétit!

Hi Mom!!

I was blessed to have grandmothers who could cook and who passed those skills on. Both of my parents know their way around the kitchen. When Mom was completing her degree, Dad often took over for her. When Mom was sick, which as I remember it was rare, he wouldn't resort to ordering pizza but came up with a full-course meal.

I'll pit my Mom against your Mom any day in a cooking contest. She can cook things in short order, go southern, international or gourmet. She can acommodate your allergies or hers. Catch a cold or the flu and you'll receive some comfort food and room service to boot. Sunday dinners and holidays were the most memorable. She has entertained everyone in Nazarenedom from the top dogs to the rank and file. She can easily follow a recipe or taste something she likes in a restaurant and mimic it to a 't'. Forget the tableware for tailgating at a ballgame? Nevermind, she'll make her own out of whatever she has on hand.

You've probably heard of the Ritz Mock Apple Pie. Well, my mom is so good, she can make pumpkin pie without the pumpkin and pass it off as the original. :) We like to give her a hard time around Thanksgiving and Christmas every year because she forgot the main ingredient in a pie served at a potluck and people might not have known if my dad hadn't told them. For a minister as with anyone, confession is good for the soul.

Here's to you Mom!

Today the church received these large cans of pumpkin and a pallet of pie shells. Wish you were here!!