God of this City

When you work in Pittsburgh, it’s easy to hear all the crazy rumors flying around the G-20 Financial Summit. Protesters are supposed to crawl out of the woodwork to make various points known – some of the more radical ones are rumored to be using violent or just disgusting means of grabbing the media’s attention. I’ve even heard something about water guns filled with human urine.

Buses and other public transportation are shutting down for the next two days and so are many public schools. Main roads are being blocked, bridges rerouted, and security deployed. There is no end, it seems, to mankind’s desperate attempt to maintain peace. And I am grateful for that!

Some trust in the worldly system of precaution alone, or in the strength of men. Who will dare to trust in the Lord?

I suppose it could seem weak to some  – daring to pray in moments of upheaval simply because I’m not strong enough to handle the situation. But… who created the world with the spoken word? Who healed the sick and raised the dead? Who defeated death? Who is still on the throne even when the media is stuffing our minds with earthly anxieties like so many canned goods crammed into a basement in preparation for Y2K? [Remember that?]

I’m not encouraging stupidity here at all. But I am challenging you – whoever you may be reading this blog – to stop and pray to God this week. I dare you to remember His position in the cosmos; His supremacy and wisdom and faithfulness. Above all, remember that true peace is only found in His name. And His name is also God with Us. Immanuel. Jesus.

If our hope is in Him, then what can man do to us? Even crazy radical protesters are no match for Him. God knows where you are this week and He’s crazy in love with you. Ask Him for His peace and He will give it – even when it makes no sense to you. He is a good God.

I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
       my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
       He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
       and I am saved from my enemies.

Psalm 18 : 1-3

Where ever you are this week, God bless and protect you! Pray for the leaders of this nation and those around the world at G-2o and for your neighbors in Pittsburgh who may be slaves to fear. The perfect love of Christ casts out all fear! May you know how deep is His love for you and may you rest in His peace.

Heart in Motion

Had a bit of an epiphany today while I was at work. It’s hard to say what stirred the thought, so it must have just been God’s voice deep in my heart. In the middle of a transaction, I  was reminded of Abram’s call and Abram’s sheer unknowing of it all.

Many people have told me and continue to tell me that faith is best exercised by motion. As you move with what God has shown you, more is revealed.

I am blessed to be surrounded with some very wise and faith-filled spiritual parents who are willing to tell me this again and again – and usually when I don’t understand or don’t want to hear it.

But the point is, it’s good advice. And God decided to remind me of that today. Abram didn’t know where he was going when God called him but he did know his God. He trusted Him and wasted no time in moving in obedience. That’s the kind of adventure I think most people are already on [including me!]. Because God doesn’t ususally reveal the whole story; He too much  enjoys implementing the element of surprise, I think. And we as His children have the choice to either move with the adventure or not.

So, for your own meditation, check out Genesis 12:1. It just might rock your world a little bit.

“The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.”

I think I’m going to spend a little time on this myself…

Peace and Starlight

When things are getting crazy, I need time to be still. Especially when my emotions are raging or my heart is broken or there is so much screaming for my attention that I can’t even think – these are the times to be still.

The word still brings to mind peace, of course, and, for me, also the reminder of Psalm 46:11 which is frequently quoted in times of chaos:

Be still and know that I am God.

Of course this concept of stillness usually seems unattainable. How do you shut off your own mind to contemplate God and His goodness? It is a choice of the will, but not an easy one. Somehow the dramatic flair of anger, despair, depression and confusion seem to win out over peace. Everyone wants peace, right? So why is the temptation to flirt with chaos always so appealing?

I was driving back to Pittsburgh from an emotionally draining weekend at home. It was late, dark, lots of cars on the turnpike. At some point, though, I noticed the stars. Tired of driving and aching for the chance to look at something besides asphalt and headlights, I pulled into the next available roadside parking area. Then, for a few moments I watched the stars sparkling up there in the far-far-away patch of galaxy they call home. On my level, trucks and sedans zoomed past, continuing on in the never ending terrestrial race of life. In that moment, the stars stood in contrast to the earthly noise, and so seemed a sort of metaphor for peace - a picture of beauty and peace outside of known reality. Something really far away and yet tangibly present for right now – if only we take time to stop and find it.

It’s the stopping that is the difficult and/or awkward part. It takes a certain initiative and courage to still oneself long enough to hear your own fears and emotions. And it is quite another step of faith to remain in that stillness until the voice of God can be picked out from somewhere behind the static of your mind.

I am by no means an expert at this stillness thing, but that night with the stars was enough to reposition my heart to hear God a bit clearer. I did hear Him whispering His sonnets of peace and redemption that always characterize His goodness. The reminder that I am not alone, that He is here with me, that my hope and rest are found in Him.

The beginning of Psalm 46 opens with an ode to this kind of sanctuary – the kind that is only found in God. From there it continues on in praise to this God who never ceases to exist, who always stays when everything else is falling apart:

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,  though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 

… Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress…

 ”Be still, and know that I am God;
       I will be exalted among the nations,
       I will be exalted in the earth.”

 Therefore I will not fear, because I have stilled myself and have known that God is God. His presence overrides my other concerns, should only I dare to seek it.

Out of My Mind

I was reading today in John about the disciples that deserted Jesus. It’s not a story I usually spend a lot of time on, but today I found myself really thinking about it. I am not referring to the more well known passage of abandonment that occurs just prior to the crucifixion, but rather a much earlier event.

At the opening of chapter six, Jesus has just completed some pretty significant Son-of-God-identifying miracles. He has healed an official’s son with mere words, sparked a revival in a Samaritan village, healed a lame man, fed 5,000 people with one lunch box, and walked on water. Even though it is early in His ministry, now is surely not the time to begin doubting this man’s identity.

Yet immediately after Jesus’ water-walking feat, He suffers a huge loss of  support when He begins a controversial message regarding the bread of life.

Apparently the people who had experienced the miracle of a free lunch are hoping for breakfast. Jesus immediately calls them out on this and tells them to search for eternal food from the Son of Man, instead of another meal.  The conversation about heavenly and earthly breads (or Old Testament manna versus New Testament ‘bread of life’) soon lapses into a declaration of Jesus’ roots. He explains:

For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. (v.33)

And like the Samaritan woman before them, the people want to taste this bread; and who can blame them - who wouldn’t want to never hunger again? But when Jesus starts defining this bread further, stomachs begin to turn, and the praise directed toward Jesus begins to sour:

At this the Jews began to grumble about Him because He said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” (v. 41-42)

Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat? (v. 52)

But Jesus continues on this thought, saying that unless the people “eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood,” (v. 53) they will not find eternal life. Of course this is a metaphor for the new covenant which Christians today can much better understand thanks to the commentary of Paul, but people of Jesus’ day may have suspected Jesus was promoting a holy form of cannibalism. And according to this scripture, Jesus never fully explains His teaching. Even His disciples are confused. “This is a hard teaching, ” they say. “Who can accept it? (v. 60).

The only explanation Jesus provides is the fact that no one can come to God unless enabled by God.

But I find myself wondering how I would have reacted to such a teaching had I been there? It is this teaching which turns many away – even those who had seen the miracles of Jesus. What is it that would have kept me in the sheepfold if I were there?

From this time many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him. (v. 66)

No matter what sufficient answer I might drum up from this side of the New Testament, there is really no way I can know what I might have done. Perhaps I too would have deserted Him, writing Him off as a backyard Nazarite who coerced a following with spellbinding words and magic tricks. Or perhaps I would have been one of the chosen ones who refused to leave Him, having seen too much of God and fulfilled prophecy in this man to turn back for my parents’ house.

I have no way of knowing, but I am thankful that I do not question Jesus’ deity and identity today. I have seen too much of His crazy love and power in my life to go anywhere else. I may seem out of my mind to others who desire sign after miraculous sign from the God who must prove His existence before earning allegiance. And that is how the disciples (who stayed) were probably perceived.

From my twentieth century perspective, I believe the cross is enough. Creation is enough. His daily present love, grace, and provision is enough – even when circumstances scream otherwise. Enough to prove Jesus is who He says He is.

This must have been something like what the others concluded. And I think Peter says it best:

Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God. (v. 68)

Even when they didn’t understand Jesus, they stayed with Him because they knew He was truth. That He was who He claimed to be. I pray that we all can walk in this same faith – even when we don’t understand, when we miss the metaphor because of our shortsighted mortal perspective of this life, when we crumple in confusion and flirt with doubt. When we are tempted to desert Him, may we remember all that He has proven Himself already to be: miracle worker, provider, redeemer and crazy-unabandoning lover.

Happiness in a Paper Cup

This probably sounds really dumb, but I just have to say that going into Starbucks for a cup of calorie-filled, double whip mocha frappucino is something that just makes me feel cool. I can’t explain it, and I hate to admit my love for the franchise, world domination that is Starbucks, but I can’t help it. Maybe it’s the music, maybe it’s the decor, maybe it’s the dozens of twenty-somethings cool enough to have nothing better to do with their evenings than sit inside with a laptop and warm to-go cup. Maybe it’s just the luxury of saying, “You know, yes, I really do want to spend five dollars on a cup of coffee.” Or, in my case, the new Apple Chai, which, although cheaper, is absolutely fabulous.

Sure, the coffee and baked goods are excellent, but I’m thinking that there’s really something to this idea of a Starbucks “experience.” To quote them exactly: “[Starbucks] stores become a haven, a break from the worries outside, a place where you can meet with friends. It’s about enjoyment at the speed of life—sometimes slow and savored, sometimes faster. Always full of humanity.” [More flavorful mission statements here].

Humanity. Hmm. Maybe that’s the drawing card.

Even the recycled cups seem to carry a breath of personality all their own. I personally am a sucker for “The Way I See It’s” decorating each cup. One in particular struck me so much, that I still have the cup at home. Here, look for yourself:

“I used to feel so alone in the city. All those gazillions of people and then me, on the outside. Because how do you meet a new person? I was very stumped by this for many years. And then I realized, you just say ‘Hi.’  They may ignore you. Or you may marry them. And that possibility is worth that one word.”

–Augusten Burroughs

I know that quote really has nothing at all to do with Starbucks, but the idea that a franchise coffeehouse would pause to print snippets of literature on their cups appeals to me. Even if I sometimes hate “The Way I See It” that I get. All the more reason, I guess, to make a second visit and try again.

Whatever the real reason, I love this place. And I’m not alone. Starbucks, right up there with PNC Bank, is taking over the world. But this espresso truffle romantic doesn’t seem to mind. Besides that, I received two Starbucks giftcards for Christmas this year, so I will probably be there more now than ever before [yay!].