In the Midst of Chaos | Peace in Chaos

“Everything's in chaos”. It’s a phrase I seem to be hearing more lately. In my lifetime I’ve witnessed a lot of social change, disasters large and small, and frightening events in our country and across the world. But these events seem to come and go. Is that social change now coming harder and faster, and are we witnessing more extreme loss and misery these days? Or maybe we’re just hyper-sensitive.

Perhaps the question is beside the point.

Our scriptures tell us that we will experience trouble, but Jesus has come to help us overcome (the negative effects of it). For me right now, that overcoming has to do with understanding the collateral damage of horrible events in other places. I say that with the risk of sounding shallow, because it’s not ME it’s happening to. But our God asks us to care for others. And I feel, at the same time, deeply saddened by what is happening and incapable of really helping.

And that is frustrating!

Maybe there is something to be said for not letting ourselves be sucked into a worldview of last days pessimism and despair - something that would rob us of a promised personal peace. Chaos is a very powerful word, and let’s not hide our eyes from misery around us and feel something - then at least pray! Can we set aside the news hyperbole and achieve an authentic empathy?

Peace seems to be the opposite of chaos, and I was once told of a great definition for it. Our natural minds envision peace as an absence of turbulence, like a slow moving and meandering stream. But instead, swap that image for a tiny and beautiful bush firmly attached to a rock - in the middle of raging whitewater. 

Strength in the midst of danger.

So today, how do our tender hearts not only survive, but thrive? I’m wondering if compartmentalizing our worries and fears can be a good thing. I absolutely don’t believe we are to be detached and isolated in our fantasies. But maybe part of taking care of our emotional health involves really focusing on our own challenging moments. 

What am I feeling right now in my own conflict? What might the Lord be trying to communicate to me? How am I to respond best to others in this situation right now? It may be hard to do, but there are delicious fruits of the spirit to follow!

We cannot be positive agents of change if we let ourselves go down with the ship. Pessimism is certainly a part of that, but so is fear, insecurity and anger. Our Lord is the perfect physician of our troubled hearts. 

Let’s try to:

• Focus on what we can control and do

• Stay in our essential moments

• Take special care of ourselves

• Practice kindness with others

Peace to you all!

John 16:33 MSG
(Jesus answered them,) “Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it - saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”

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About the Author

Terry is a man in constant motion to explore new horizons. He has a thirst for new places and faces, and a deep love for the natural world - with a weakness for waterfalls and sunsets. All of this venturing out helps to both ground and inspire him, because it opens him up to people, with their vast, collective array of experiences, outlooks and responses.

He finds all of this fascinating and sees that it has encouraged the growth of something crucial in his Christian development: empathy and compassion toward his brothers and sisters on this planet.

Fruits of the Spirit | Peace that Disrupts

Most, if not all, humans want peace. But there are different ways we imagine peace in our lives, and some of the ways that we imagine it are not necessarily aligned with the kind of peace that the Spirit wants to create. What is the nature of the peace that the Spirit generates and desires to work out in our lives and in the world?

1. It is Disruptive

We often think of disruptions in our lives as those things that take away or invade our peace. We especially feel this way when life is going well for us, and things seem to be functioning as we have planned. I’m quite happy sitting by a pool and reading a book. Please don’t interrupt my peace and quiet!

But, when I read the Bible, I notice a pattern that the peacemaking work of the Spirit in the world is often initially experienced by those involved as a disruption. It is usually more chaotic or uncomfortable than it is calm or easy. 

Advent season is an especially good time for us to reflect on the fact that the various stories leading up to the birth of Jesus include promises of peace in the midst of significant disruptions. 

With the birth of Jesus come announcements of peace:

• Zachariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesies that his son will prepare the way for the Messiah and in doing so will “guide our feet into the path of peace (Luke 1:79).”

• The angels declare to the shepherds that this child will bring “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace (Luke 2:14).”

• Matthew notes that Jesus’s birth fulfills the Messianic prophecies of Isaiah 9 where among the titles given to this child is “prince of peace (Matthew 4:14-16; Isaiah 9:6).”

But these announcements of peace do not immediately result in tranquil or calm or easy situations for those involved. They are quite disruptive and inconvenient:

• Zachariah’s prophecy came as a result of his wife’s unexpected pregnancy that rattled him to the core (Luke 1:18-20).

• The angelic birth announcement interrupted the work of rural shepherds and sent them traveling in search of this child (Luke 2:15-16).

• Isaiah’s vision of the prince of peace is introduced with visions of a leader who breaks, shatters, and burns various tools of oppression (Isaiah 9:4-5).

And when this child of peace finally arrives, it is anything but easy or tranquil for his parents entrusted with his care. Bethlehem is so overcrowded that the only bed they can find for their newborn is a feeding trough. After his birth, they are forced to travel to Egypt to escape Herod’s murderous edict. The only story we have of Jesus as a young boy includes his parents frantically searching and afraid for him.

Perhaps all the uneasy disruptions that take place in the narratives of his birth and childhood foreshadow the kind of peace that Jesus brings to the world. It is a disruptive peace. Simeon, who longed for the “consolation/comfort of Israel” understood through the Spirit that Jesus was “destined to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel (Luke 2:25-35).” Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, described peace as that which comes to the Gentiles through Jesus “tearing down the dividing wall of hostility (Eph. 2:14).” And the greatest example of peace coming through uncomfortable disruption is Jesus’ own death on the cross (Col. 1:20).

These passages lead me to conclude that God’s peace breaking into my world will often feel anything but peaceful. I should not expect the peace that the Spirit generates in my life to correlate directly with calm, relaxing and/or tranquil circumstances. It does lead toward those things on a cosmic scale, but in its generative form, the peace that the Spirit brings is often initially disruptive, unsettling, and uneasy.

2. It is Collective

One reason the peace that the Spirit brings is a disruptive peace is because the peace that God wants is collective, not individual. God’s vision of peace on earth is ever widening. God is not interested in maintaining peace for the powerful at the expense of those who are weak and poor, but that is often the kind of peace that we are attracted to, move toward, and settle for without even thinking about it. 

In order for a new kind of peace to be experienced, old arrangements that leave people out must be disrupted, and those disruptions are often uncomfortable. As the great Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann says,

“The prophetic vision of shalom stands against all private arrangements, all ‘private peaces,’ all ghettos that pretend the others are not there… Shalom is never the private property of the few.”(1)

3. It is Restorative

Another reason the peace that the Spirit works out in our lives is disruptive is because it is restorative in nature. It is not a peace that seeks to simply maintain relationships as they are. It is a peace that restores relationships (with God, others, self, and the creation) that have been damaged or lost. This restorative work is often initially uncomfortable. In order to fix something, you have to know what’s wrong. But sometimes we would prefer to live in a state of denial or distraction.

In his description of the biblical visions of peace as shalom in the Bible, indigenous theologian Randy Woodley says,

“Shalom always restores dignity to the most marginalized of society.”(2)

Even as a baby, Jesus was beginning to change things and upset norms by bringing dignity and honor to people (shepherds, Mary, David’s family) and places (Nazareth, Bethlehem, a manger/stable) that had been forgotten or left out. This ministry of restoring dignity continued throughout Jesus’ public ministry, and it continues now in our midst through the Spirit.

So, are disciples of Jesus doomed to a life of change, unsettledness, and discomfort? I think the answer to that question is yes. But that reality does not necessarily lead us to be people of anxiety, fear, and worry as the world wants us to think. In fact, with the help of the Spirit, it leads us in the opposite direction. True joy, true peace, true hope can only come as we participate in God’s cosmic project of reconciliation (Col. 1:15-20). This is what the Spirit bears witness to in our spirits even as God is disrupting things (2 Cor. 1) in our lives. This is “the peace of God that transcends all understanding (Phil. 4:7).”

This is an area where my view of God’s work in my life has radically changed over the years. For much of my life, I assumed that a good test of the Spirit’s work was how peaceful or calm or tranquil it made me feel. Because of that, I think there have been many times that I have ignored genuine stirrings of the Spirit just because they made me feel uncomfortable or uneasy. Rather than quickly running from things that make me uncomfortable, I now realize the importance of asking questions about those feelings: Why do I feel uncomfortable? Is it possible this discomfort is something God wants me to feel? Is there something that God is wanting to disrupt in me or around me in order to make room for a greater, broader, and more enduring peace to reign? 

I think these are the kinds of questions that Mary was willing to ask herself when the angel visited her with the startling news that she would give birth to the Messiah. I think her willingness to answer these questions gave her the clarity in the face of such a great disruption to say, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled (Luke 1:38).”

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1. Water Brueggemann, Peace (St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2001), 19-20.

2. Randy S. Woodley, Shalom and the Community of Creation: An Indigenous Vision (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2012), 25-26.

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About the Author

Aaron is a passionate seeker of God and truth, and he enjoys encouraging others in their own pursuits of the same. He especially likes to think about how God is at work in the most ordinary and mundane aspects of our existence. He loves going on adventures to new places with his wife, Heather, and four kids and his perfect day would involve an excellent cup of coffee (or two!), a hike to somewhere beautiful and serene, and some good conversation over a pint at a warm pub. He currently serves as an adjunct instructor at Portland Seminary and co-leads the CitySalt Kids’ Ministry along with his wife, Heather.

Advent: He is Our Peace | Memories

When I think about Peace, I think of the times when I was a kid on Christmas vacation. I could sleep in and enjoy the morning, play with the dogs outside in the snow, then do some chores like chopping wood and bringing it inside for the fire. After that, I could warm up, change into some comfy clothes and sip a cup of hot chocolate—freshly made from scratch by my mom. I’d curl up on the couch by the fire and read a good sci-fi novel like something by Isaac Asimov.

It feels significant that these times happened during Christmas vacations. My family would stay home and enjoy each other’s company. I could enjoy being with my family, my loving parents and brother, in our dwelling place, with few burdens and the joy of not worrying about things.

Now that I am older, I realize that I was privileged to have a home where such times of peace could occur. It was a gift that models living in the new Kingdom, with a loving Father who cares for us and the ability to feel His Presence in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Knowing him as a Peace that can dwell inside of us in times of trouble. These special times were a reflection of the promise of the Peace that Jesus brings to us.

John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

If 2020 has given us anything, it has given us trouble. But I take heart that, even though I might be isolated, I can shelter with my wife in our home and with the comfort of the Peace that Jesus has given us. I pray that in these times of trouble and dissent, you may also find the Peace that surpasses understanding, which is a gift from our Father in Heaven, His Son, Jesus and in His Holy Spirit.

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About the Author

Mark lives in Oregon with his lovely wife, Darla and enjoys reading, writing, playing games and working to make the world a better place. He currently serves CitySalt church as a sound engineer and on the church council.

Guarding Your Soul

Introduction:

This blog post was originally posted in the summer of 2016.

This morning I woke up so thankful for the rain. I did a search on our CitySalt website for ‘thanksgiving’ and ran across this 2016 post. It is so relevant for today, I am reposting it.

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Enjoy! ~Darla Beardsley

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John’s post…

From time to time over the course of the last 15 years I’ve dealt with low back issues. When I’ve done too much of the wrong thing my back will “go out”. To me that means I’ll feel spasms like electric shocks whenever I move just slightly the wrong way. It means I can’t stay in one position for very long, I can’t do my normal work routine, I can barely get in and out of a car, I have to be very careful when sitting down, laying down or getting up from either of those positions. I can’t go out and play. I get grumpy and self-focused and depressed. I absolutely hate it. In so many ways and for so many reasons, I hate it. Did I say “I hate it”? Well, I really do hate it. 

I have learned over the years that with the help of good chiropractors, physical therapists and exercise trainers, there are a number of things I can do to help myself out of this bad place. I can ice, I can stretch, I can do certain exercises, I can get laser treatments, I can walk and walk and walk. I can learn to guard my low back by better engaging my transverse abdominals (muscles that wrap around your body below the navel which act like a belt supporting your back). I can also protect my back by keeping good posture, holding my head in line with my back, and using my glutes instead of my low back muscles for stability. I have to be very aware of how I’m moving, but if I’m careful, I can still function fairly well until my back muscles finally relax and get back to normal. I am so thankful for what I’ve learned over the years and especially for the knowledgable people who have helped me so much. 

So I was reading in Philippians this morning and I was reminded of how God, as a good and perfect Father (and as The Great Physician, as well) gives us such wonderful instruction and advice for living well. In Philippians He tells us not how we can guard our backs, but how we can guard our souls:

The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Wow! He tells us that His peace is what guards our hearts and minds, our souls, and He even tells us what part we have to play in getting that peace. He gives us strategies for guarding and protecting our souls. I love that! There is something we can do. We need to realize first and foremost that He is near us. He has promised never to leave us. Then, rather than worrying and being anxious about things, which we are all inclined to do, He tells us to talk to Him instead.

Bring to Him our concerns and troubles, pray about them, ask Him for what we need and above all, bathe all of these prayers and requests in a pool of gratitude. To me it’s interesting and significant that the little phrase “with thanksgiving” sits right in the middle of this whole section, set off by commas, as if to say this is the key. The key to peace and the key to being free from anxiety.

I read this quote somewhere once which is inspired by Matthew 11:28-30:

 Rest is not the absence of labor, hardship or suffering...
 It is the absence of guilt, worry, anxiety and lack of meaning.

 Fortunately we are not just victims of our mental, physical and emotional states, being passively carried down a stream in which we don’t want to float. God dignifies us with an invitation to participate with Him in such way that we can, at least in some ways, influence the course and outcome of our journey.

Living in a world where there are so many things to worry and be anxious about, it is reassuring that God knows our human tendencies and rather than judge us for our ignorance, foolishness or sin, invites us to let Him take the heavy load and gives us in its place a light load, easy to carry, full of gratitude, peace and grace. 

Philippians 4:6-7
The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Joshua 1:5
I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Emotional Well-Being | Moments of Happiness

What an uncertain and unprecedented time we currently live in! When it comes to fighting against the disorienting sense of limbo that can come with a pandemic quarantine, I could talk about the importance of structure in our days, and a routine set of self-care goals. But my thoughts are now turned to the theme of dwelling in God’s love and absorbing the assurance and contentment we can experience in His presence, no matter the circumstances.

Psalm 103:8 NLT
“The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.”

Before the arrival of Covid-19, I read the biography of a British actress whose work I admire. I had no idea that she was widowed when she was thirty-nine with two sons under the age of nine. And she was five months pregnant with their third son, when her surgeon husband died suddenly of a heart attack at age forty-three. In an interview after her husband’s death, she said “Now I’m the sole breadwinner. I have to try and work non-stop, to make things work.” In that context she also said “I think the difference between finding happiness, or moments of happiness, is how you choose to interpret things. That’s a rather shocking responsibility: that we’re responsible for our own happiness. It’s not those around us.”

2 Corinthians 4:16 NLT
“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.”

Moments of happiness. I inhaled at the sudden sense of freedom I felt from that thought! This concept helps me accept temporary happiness as something to look forward to. I freed myself from the subconscious pressure of working at achieving happiness as a full-time occupation. I try to focus on recognizing moments of happiness sooner, and to savor them more fully. I prefer to see happiness and contentment as a beautiful monarch butterfly that occasionally lands on my shoulder.

James 1:17 NLT
“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”

In times of self-review, I discovered I spent too much time in a subconscious guilt from what I perceived as me falling short of standard adult life goals. I examined which missed expectations were causing all this low-grade guilt, and I almost laughed out loud. My self-expectations were unreasonable, no longer valid, and were certainly not from God. Once I stopped feeling that guilt, I felt so relieved. This helped me slip off the straps of a very heavy backpack from my mental shoulders. I let go of the subconscious practice of trying to earn contentment, and embraced the idea that contentment is a state of being that I choose.

A sense of peace is my new normal and is a much more enjoyable way to spend my time. I realized that feeling happy and content, and feeling emotionally safe and secure, is what I become when I am in the presence of God’s love. His love heals me as I experience His assuring presence. I can let go of all guilt when I feel frustrated and anxious. Feeling discontent or even just “blah” is not a condemnation for having missed the mark. It’s a sign I need to enter God’s presence and receive His healing love.

Romans 8:6 NLT
“So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.”

During a recent time of prayer and worship I saw a mental image of a hallway with an inviting golden light at the far end. It reminded me of childhood bedtimes when I couldn’t fall asleep right away. Sometimes I would tiptoe down the hallway toward the living room, and sit against the wall, just out of my parents’ sight line.

I would sit there and see the warm living room light just around the corner and enjoy hearing the hum of my parents’ conversation. I wasn’t close enough to hear what they said. I didn’t need to. I simply wanted their company and it comforted me to be near them. Soon I was sleepy enough to slip back into my bed and fall asleep.

During this same prayer time, I was surprised to internally hear God’s still small voice say “Enter the room!” I understood this invitation and immediately jumped at the opportunity to be in God’s presence. I imagined myself finally turning the corner and entering the room where I wanted to be, in the company of His infinite love. I felt it all around me, warm and comforting on my skin like a warm bath. I sensed God say “You don’t ever have to leave.”

I understood this to be a reminder that I’m never without His love, which accompanies me everywhere. His love never fails and it never ends. As I enjoyed God’s presence, I noticed the walls of this imaginary room faded away and a large open meadow came into my internal sight. I then heard God say “Stay in my love forever.” I’m so very thankful for this Holy Spirit reminder of how rich and secure I am in God’s unconditional love.

In what areas of your life would you like to experience a greater sense of peace and God’s healing love? Walk into God’s living room. He’s waiting for you there.

Psalm 103:12-14 NLT
“He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him. For He knows how weak we are; He remembers we are only dust.

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About the Author

Sara has attended CitySalt Church since 2004, the year it was founded. She studied Journalism, wrote for her college newspaper, and is a member of Oregon Christian Writers. Sara also enjoys singing hymns with friends: “there is a sermon in every hymn waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.”

Emotional Well-Being | Peace Found in Perspective

We were winding our way up and over the mountain and back down to the west side of the island, which we are currently calling home. My husband and I were engaging in a gratitude conversation, sharing how blessed we feel. Life could have easily taken a different turn at many points in our journeys, both together and as we were growing up. Why were we spared from a more tragic experience? Why did God guide us and bless us? Who are we to be so fortunate, with so much suffering in this world?

One answer is that we will never know and our goal is to follow God’s guidance so that He can use our journey in intentional ways that we may never understand.

Another answer is perspective. I’m sure there are many out there that would not look at our journey as incredibly fortunate. While you can’t deny the great privilege we have with access to clean water, loving friends and family and so much opportunity, we have had our fair share of struggle.

As we made our way back to a comfortable home where our three healthy and incredibly capable children waited, I realized my perspective could be different.

Now I was pondering this; why am I so blessed to be able to feel blessed in moments of struggle? Even through seasons of sadness, stress, frustration and desperation, somehow we continue to feel so incredibly blessed.

I know that depression has visited so many different walks of life and the specific situation we are in doesn’t always dictate how we feel about ourselves, our current state and the world around us. Sometimes when light is shining right on us, we feel darkness. Sometimes when friends are reaching out, we feel alone.

So all I can really share, in hopes that it will help those struggling emotionally, is what has helped me: Being grounded in faith, surrender and gratitude.

• Stay grounded in the Lord through prayer

• Surrender yourself, your world, your relationships and especially worldly things

• Rejoice that God has a plan and each step has a purpose

• Serve others and pray for them

• Take action - small and easy steps forward build momentum

• Find things to be grateful for - simple and small can build momentum here as well

“I continue to be grateful and always aware that I am in charge of my faith and my perspective,
but not my life.”

In today’s “you can have it all” culture, this belief may not be popular, but I believe in putting God’s plan before any worldly desires. In fact, I aim to cut out worldly desires and let go of dependency on my own dreams to embrace the journey set in front of me. This has filled me with gratitude and joy, even through hard times. Be careful not to just pretend, but to really dig deep and decide what desires can be released and what to pull into focus. In Ephesians chapter 4, starting at verse 17, Paul “insists” we no longer live as Gentiles “darkened in understanding and separated from the life of God” (Ephesians 4:18). Our hope and joy and gratitude comes from our connection to our God.

Ephesians 4:21-24
“Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in the true righteousness and holiness”

This isn’t at all to say we are sad because we’re not living for God. Rather, through sadness we can remain or at least regain our sense of gratitude and joy through a shift “in the attitude of your minds” and rejoice in the truth that we were “created to be like God in the true righteousness and holiness” and that God is in control of the this beautiful creation around us. I surrender my own worldly desires to an all powerful and loving God who created the incredible life that surrounds us, for which I am so grateful.

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About the Author

Leona is a wife, mother and traveler who is intrigued by how different people live. Her latest project is exploring ways that different walks of life can simplify, in order to live a fulfilling journey.

Emotional Well-Being | Putting it into Practice

“Jesus did not promise to change the circumstances around us. He promised great peace and pure joy to those who would learn to believe that God actually controls all things.” ~ Corrie ten Boom

That quote was in this week’s readings from an old daily devotional by one of my favorite heroes. How fitting for these times! Even if the state of this pandemic is better by the time this gets published, I’m sure the world’s circumstances will still be far from perfect. And even without pandemics, our lives are often difficult no matter how much we try to make them easier or drama-free.

I’ll be honest; I do ask Jesus to change this or that circumstance for me sometimes. I don’t think that’s wrong. He wants us to take our needs to Him. But we also need to trust Him to give us what we truly need, even when He doesn’t change our circumstances.

Philippians 4:6-7 RSV
“Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Living this out is not easy, though. Once we’ve prayed about something and done our best to trust Him with the outcome of it, how do we train our minds and hearts to recognize and feel this promised peace and joy? Especially during difficult trials, like the one the whole world is facing right now?

I think that can look different for different people. For me, it looks like doing exercises to train my eyes to see gifts that He’s given me that help me with whatever I’m going through at the time. And to take the time to deal with the hard things and negative emotions so they don’t fester and make me cynical or depressed. For me, I’m writing daily gratitudes in a 2020 planner that a friend designed, and writing about my concerns in a journal. But I’m also doing some lists in a notebook that are helping me to process things more visually.

If you’re willing, you can join me for one of these exercises. Grab a pen and piece of paper (or a spot in your journal or even your computer), and make an old-fashioned T-chart of some sort. I’ll make one here, too, and fill it in with some examples from my life. On the left side, title it something like “Concerns” or “Difficult Things.” On the right side, title it something like “Things I’m Thankful For” (or more accurately for me during this pandemic: “Things helping me stay somewhat sane!”). Then, try to fill it in with at least three things in each column. You don’t have to think of things for the right side that answer or counterbalance the left side, but you could.

Things Weighing Me Down Lately

1. Isolation

2. Loss of freedom to travel

3. Worrying about the world (including my friends and family): division, disease and deaths, the economy, etc. Confession: I have been guilty during this pandemic of compulsively needing to check world news on my phone before I go to bed and again when I wake up, just to make sure the world isn’t completely falling apart.

Things I’m So, So Thankful For Right Now

1. My cat, neighbors, and technology that keep me from feeling too alone

2. The freedom to go for walks in my neighborhood (and my county now), and the fact that the area I live in is chock full of woodsy trails

3. My guitar so I can practice playing worship songs, which helps me refocus on Who is almighty, all-powerful, and loves me (Oh, and this sounds trivial next to that, but I’m also grateful for free online guitar lessons)

Now take your lists and talk to God about them. Really talk to Him about them. Tell Him how you feel about the things weighing you down. He loves you and wants to hear it. Then thank Him for the ways He’s blessed you.

Admittedly, doing this once will probably not change your life. It may change your perspective a little. It may not (I speak from experience). But doing this regularly, whether on paper or even just in your mind as you go for a walk, can add up over time. My hope is that you (and I) will gradually experience more and more peace and joy in our daily lives as we turn our concerns and our gratitudes over to Him.

Philippians 4:6-7 RSV
“Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Please feel free to leave comments with what creative ways you are employing to keep your mind and heart healthy these days. I would love to hear them!

Post note: I wrote this post last night. Before I went to bed, I read a devastating story about the plight of a Rohingya refugee woman. This morning I woke up to see the news that protests about race issues are exploding in U.S. cities. I had to take my own advice and journal and pray and ask God to heal this world, and to guide me. I feel helpless as I sit in my cozy little apartment in a relatively safe city while around the world there is reason to fear. So I hold fast to the verses from Philippians. Thank you, Lord, for my safety. Please heal my country and world of the divides that are causing devastation. Guide me to any way that I can help.

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About the Author

Jessie is an educator, she currently teaches teens and has taught overseas. She is also a novice writer, with several books in various stages and a (long-neglected) blog about the journeys of women. She is very excited to be a part of the CitySalt blog team. She has been blessed by a few communities of Christian writers that have encouraged her dream. She lives with her trusty sidekick cat, Arwen in the foothills of South Eugene, where she can go hiking within minutes of the sun coming out from behind the clouds.

The Advent of Revolution | Royalty and Hope

Matthew 1:21
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

When I was a kid, the advent season meant two things to me: candles and chocolate. The candles were at church, and we lit one for each Sunday leading up to Christmas. Each had a different spiritual meaning about the coming of Christ. At home, my brother and I each got a paper calendar with 25 little windows to open, and each one hid a small piece of chocolate behind it. Each piece of chocolate meant we were one day closer to International Day of Presents. I mean Christmas. Yeah, as a kid I was probably more excited about presents than the fact that Jesus came to Earth to save the world, but at least I learned the concept of hope and expectant waiting from it!

I found out on the internet that traditionally the advent season was represented by two colors: purple, which symbolized royalty, and blue, which symbolized hope. This made me think of Lord of the Rings. Hear me out, if you have time (this one’s a long one, and yes, I know; I’m nerdy!).

In the story, Aragorn was the heir to the throne of Gondor, the strongest kingdom in the mythical world of Middle Earth. He had spent his very long life in a faraway land, in the very not-royal profession of ranger. Middle Earth was in grave danger of being overrun by the Dark Lord Sauron, and the people held out hope that the missing heir of Isildur, whoever he was, could defeat him. When he finally goes to Gondor, he doesn’t claim his throne by subduing the people or expecting them to revere him just because of his birthright. Instead, he risks his life to protect the ringbearer (a hobbit, not exactly an impressive person in Middle Earth peoples’ eyes) and to save the people. His coming united them and brought them hope that evil would be vanquished so all the people of Middle Earth, not just the citizens of Gondor, could live in peace. Because of this, all the peoples (including humans, elves, dwarves, and of course, hobbits!) recognized his lordship, and rejoicing, crowned him king of the land. And they lived in peace after that. Well, at least they did after the hobbits returned to the Shire and defeated Saruman, but that’s a topic for another day.

I’ve never really thought of Lord of the Rings as a Christmas story before, but let’s reflect on the parallels. Jesus was (and is!) the Son of God, having lived in the spiritual realm forever, and then was born on earth, grew up in Nazareth, far from the royal city of Jerusalem. He was a carpenter, which was a respectable occupation, but not one a prince would normally have. This being said, His earthly parents were well aware of His destiny: “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus [which means ‘The Lord Saves’], because he will save his people from their sins.” When He finally started His public ministry, He didn’t do so by declaring Himself the Messiah the Jewish people had been waiting for (according to the prophecies in the Old Testament) and taking his throne by force like they expected. Instead, He went around the land teaching and healing everyday people, even the “lowliest” of them, showing them compassion and love and validating their worth. He preached a message of hope so people would change their hearts in expectation of the true kingdom “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 4:17). He acted as an example of a servant leader, washing the feet of His disciples. Then He not only risked His life; He sacrificed it so anyone can be saved! And He rose from the dead, showing that death had been conquered! (Yeah, Christmas doesn’t really mean much without Easter.) His coming brought hope and peace, not just for the people of Israel, but for the whole world. And this hope changed lives. People’s hearts were changed, filled with love and peace. The kingdom of heaven gained new citizens every day. What a revolutionary leader! Definitely not the typical royal coming to power.

The best news is, this is still happening! Advent represents commemorating the coming of Christ to Earth the first time, as well as the hope in His coming again to save the world completely. But it also represents the coming of His light and love into our hearts anytime we will it. The idea of “Peace on Earth” is difficult to believe sometimes, especially when we look at the news around the world. But if we place Jesus on the throne of our own lives, allow His loving sacrifice to vanquish death inside our hearts, and look to Him for hope, He will cause a revolution that brings peace to our hearts. This hope is offered to all: people of every gender, ethnicity, ability, and race (even hobbits! Okay, they’re not real, but if they were, I’m quite sure that the kingdom of heaven would include them, too).

So the next time you see the colors purple and blue together, or read/watch The Lord of the Rings story, think of royalty and hope. Jesus, the Soon and Coming King, brings the hope of Heaven to our hearts. Amen!

P.S. I believe that Tolkien wrote his character of Aragorn as a loosely-based symbol of Christ, kind of like the semi-allegorical Aslan in C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia. (Yes, the two authors were friends, and yes, Tolkien was a Christian, a devout member of the Catholic church). Lest anyone think I’m brilliant in making this parallel, I was definitely influenced in my thinking of him this way thanks to a book I read many years ago, Finding God in the Lord of the Rings by Kurt Bruner and Jim Ware. Feel free to check it out. It’s been years, so I did not necessarily draw the same parallels as the authors did, but the main idea is inspired by them.

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About the Author

Jessie is an educator, she currently teaches teens and has taught overseas. She is also a novice writer, with several books in various stages and a (long-neglected) blog about the journeys of women. She is very excited to join the CitySalt blog team. She has been blessed by a few communities of Christian writers that have encouraged her dream. She lives with her trusty sidekick cat, Arwen in the foothills of South Eugene, where she can go hiking within minutes of the sun coming out from behind the clouds.

Perpetual Creativity | Creative Considerations

Today I had a creative encounter! Doesn’t that sound fun and exciting? It wasn’t at first. Rather dull and mundane, actually. But then, Jesus asked me to consider doing things differently.

I was leaving the pharmacy, where there was a problem with my refill yet again. I left frustrated! Now for me, as a 7 on the Enneagram*, I usually don’t deal with my negative emotions. My normal operation would be to brush off my feelings, change the channel in my head, and try to just go about my day. This doesn’t actually work, though. So to learn how to do this differently, I have been practicing the PAUSE. I have been practicing pausing and paying attention to how I’m actually reacting and feeling. For me, I find this easiest to do within a conversation with Jesus.

As I walked from the back of the store, where the pharmacy is located, I talked through the layers of my frustration with Him. First, I admitted the easy pickings. I told Him how frustrated I felt that they didn’t have the refill ready that I had made time to stop for. Also, they couldn’t fix the problem, and I would need to stop again later. Grr! And I shared that I was frustrated that this was actually the second month in a row this had happened at this pharmacy.

Ok, those were pretty obvious issues, and I had all these surface frustrations verbalized in my head after a few steps. However, as I kept walking, I felt Jesus’ invitation to share more. Would I consider looking a little deeper?

Not surprisingly, I realized that under those surface feelings there were some deeper things. Dare I say, even some anger? Yes! I realized I was mad! Mad that I have a medical issue, which makes me have to get medicine in the first place. I was mad at my body, for being weak and not responding to the medicine I had been taking forever. And honestly, I was mad at Jesus. I have prayed and have been prayed for over the years, believing for my healing – and haven’t seen it yet. I told Him about all that mad! Phew!

By the time I hit the front of the store, and stepped out into the sun, I was really at the core and the truth of how I was feeling. It was uncomfortable, as I usually try to stay away from negative feelings, but also oddly freeing.

Right then, I felt another question drop into my mind. Would I consider doing things a new way? I realized that my normal routine would be to shove down and ignore my negative feelings and try to will-power my way back to a positive mindset. This never ended in peace. It usually ended in me managing to keep the negative feelings tamped down until an unsuspecting husband or kid tapped into them!

But this time I observed something different. Something new. As I was honest and processed my real feelings with Jesus, even though they were negative and not fun, I realized I received peace. Not peace because anything had changed. I still didn’t have my prescription, I would still have to come back, and the pharmacy still might mess up the next time. I still have to take the medication, my body still wasn’t reacting great, and I may still pray and not see the healing that I believe God has for me. But right then, I experienced peace. A peace that surpasses understanding took over. It was a huge shift.

I realized that in pausing and taking just a few minutes to acknowledge all these feelings and talk to Jesus about them, I was doing a new thing. Instead of stuffing negative feelings down, ignoring them and hoping they’d just go away, I was able to process them. I was able to exchange them for peace. Wow!

So, what is creative about this? It didn’t end with a beautiful painting or a poem. It wasn’t exciting or loud or colorful. It didn’t even solve the initial things I was frustrated about. But the cool part, the creative part, is that I have a new way of thinking! That as I talk things over with Jesus, and consider what He brings up, my mind is renewed. I start to think differently. I develop new patterns. And I live in a new level of freedom. These simple shifts are incredible. They are life-changing!

God is the Creator. He created us, and He loves to create with us. As we are living life by rote, the way we always have, following the patterns we’ve always done, we get the same old results. But as we live life processing with Jesus, taking time to consider His perspective and thoughts, we get invited to create new ways of doing things.

Ephesians 3:20 says to never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you, that He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! Now that’s what we are talking about. He will do this in big, ah-ha moments but He will also do this in the day-to-day trips to the pharmacy. He’s that GOOD!

Jesus, thank You that You were here on earth and that You did mundane things. And thank You that You are still here, doing the day-to-day with us. We ask you to highlight areas where You want to create more freedom for us. Show us the patterns and habits we walk in. Remind us to pause and consider what You say. Thank You that we will discover new creative ways to be with you, that bring infinitely more than we could request, dream, or imagine!

Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

*Enneagram: Interested in learning more about the Enneagram? Check out www.enneagraminstitute.com or listen to the Typology Podcast to learn more!

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About the Author

Pam is a fun and encouraging team-builder that brings the best to those around her. She loves people and is committed to serving and mentoring kids, women and families with opportunities to grow closer to God and each other.

Pam is currently serving as Children and Family Pastor at Valley Christian Center in Albany. Pam and her husband, Jared, have been married since 2005 and have three boys. Their family will always be a much loved part of our CitySalt family.

4th Sunday of Advent | Love: Mini Advents: Spreading LOVE & Making Space for God

1 John 4:7-8 NIV
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

• Because God is love.

• For love comes from God.

• Dear friends, let us love one another.

I was not raised by religious parents. Celebrating traditions in Christianity were not part of my childhood. Yet I am so incredibly grateful – every, single, day, - for the life that the Lord has given me; hardships included.

As I search for guidance on what to write for the fourth advent week, I can’t help but pause at the pattern of the four weeks. It is a familiar pattern that I believe is meant to be a model for our lives.

This pattern begins by wishing, wanting, hoping for something. Still, we don’t get overwhelmed in our desire, rather we find peace in our faith that our hope will one day be realized. This knowing brings joy to our hearts and as joy helps to open our hearts, Love can flow freely from above, to around us, and back up in gratitude.

I am humbled by our lack of understanding when faced with God’s greatness. I cannot pretend to comprehend His great design, but God must have not designed this process lightly. There must have been much care and attention put on this process; both in the worldly structure (hope for provisions, success, relationships) and within us as His creations (hope for His guidance, His gift of eternal life). Regardless of what we are hoping for, with peace and joy, Love can spread and grow within us.

Are we constantly living mini advents year-round? Do you hope for things? Believe in them and live in faith for those things? Does this bring you joy? Do you spread Love when you are experiencing joy?

“Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God”

Could this be a recipe for making space for God in our lives? For God’s pattern was this - Jesus came, gave us hope in salvation and left us with peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Max Lucado seems to have said something similar. In the article, “Max Lucado Launches John 3:16 Movement” his take on John 3:16 is discussed:

Max Lucado, author of 3:16: The Numbers of Hope, calls the well-known verse “a 26-word parade of hope: beginning with God, ending with life, and urging us to do the same.”

“John 3:16 has always been that one verse that I thought summarizes, encapsulates, [and] carries the heart of the Gospel like no other verse,” Lucado said Monday on Christian Broadcasting Network's The 700 Club.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life, John 3:16 states. (Christianpost.com)

For God so LOVED the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Because God loved the world, He sent us hope, the Prince of Peace, that whoever believes and holds this hope, will have eternal life.

The last key step in bringing God and love to our lives, to this world; we must now choose to make space in our lives for the Holy Spirit to thrive and spread Love.

For no cake was ever baked without the action of making it. While God is all powerful, He wants our participation in the kitchen.

This month (and beyond) I will look for His presence and make space for it in my life by having hope and living in the peace and joy of that hope.

This way I can both honor God’s gift of Jesus and prepare for His return, by living in Love, by living with God here and now.

Peter 1:22-23
“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”

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About the Author

Leona is a wife, mother and traveler who is intrigued by how different people live. Her latest project is exploring ways that different walks of life can simplify, in order to live a fulfilling journey.

2nd Sunday of Advent | Peace: Oh Come, Thou Dayspring

Isaiah 11:1-9
“On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom...
Not by appearance shall he judge,
nor by hearsay shall he decide,
but he shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide aright for the land’s afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist,
and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.
Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
the calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra’s den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
as water covers the sea.”

I’ve loved singing hymns since I was a child, sitting next to my parents in church, listening to my dad harmonize and to my mom’s beautiful soprano lilt. Eventually, I learned to read the alto line, and would concentrate on being able to follow the often-unintuitive harmonic changes. I didn’t pay very close attention to the words, preferring to admire how the sound of my voice mixed with others to create beautiful noise, instead of pondering the archaic language and outdated turns-of-phrase tumbling out of my mouth.

And, I confess, there are times I read the promises of scripture much like I sang the prose of songs: without much thought as to what they really mean. Or, more specifically, what they mean I am being called to do. “Isaiah 11, yeah, the wolf and the lamb and no more hurting and killing.”

During Advent, many of us will sing the familiar refrain of Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel. Here’s a version I love.

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“Oh come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer / us to thine Advent here / disperse the gloomy clouds of night / and death’s dark shadows put to flight.”

Come thou Dayspring.

A “dayspring” is the dawn of a new day, or the beginning of a new era, a new order, a new way of doing business. Far from just another sunrise on just another day, the particular dayspring of Jesus’ birth would mark a profound shift in what it meant to be alive on this earth. This Dayspring would bridge social, economic, gender, religious, health, legal, and all other divides. This Dayspring would bring hope to a people suffering under the tyrannical rule of a violent empire and to those within the empire, too. This Dayspring would turn notions of forgiveness, hospitality, and faithfulness on their heads. This Dayspring would conquer death, and show us that we can, too.

From Isaiah’s prophecy (“There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain”) to Mary’s Magnificat (“[H]e has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate”) to an 18th-century German hymnal (“death’s dark shadows put to flight”), we see that the incarnation, the enfleshing, of God signals a profound change in the same old death-dealing order of things.

And yet, I find myself thinking in ways and taking actions that give death victory. “I’m just one person, my actions won’t make a difference.” “There are so many things going wrong, I can’t think about them all.” “This is just one of the compromises I’m making to this imperfect world.” These are not the thoughts that fuel the dogged pursuit of peace, they are complacency and surrender to the lies of the Enemy.

How can we pursue peace? What choices can we make that help foster the flourishing of God’s whole creation? How can we contribute to life, and not death, to healing, and not violence? How can we love, and not fear?

A prayer, because we won’t be able to do this alone:

God for whom we wait,
Lord of night and the solemn beauty of darkness:
you have grieved over your creation,
over our swords and all the terrible weapons we fashion.
Nations and peoples live in fear: how can we make tools of our swords
or take the wages of our weapons to feed the hungry?
Give us, Lord, a love that is greater than our fear.
We wait for the Messiah,
keeping watch and praying in his name,
Jesus, who is Lord for ever and ever. Amen.

– Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, 1988

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About the Author

Sarah is the author of Vegangelical: How Caring for Animals Can Shape Your Faith (Zondervan, 2016) and Animals Are Not Ours (No, Really, They’re Not): An Evangelical Animal Liberation Theology (Cascade Books, 2016). She spends her days working for CreatureKind, helping Christians put their faith into action. She lives in Eugene with her husband, son, and animal companions and enjoys action movies, black coffee, the daily crossword, and dreaming of her next international journey.

"Guarding Your Soul" by John Rice

From time to time over the course of the last 15 years I’ve dealt with low back issues. When I’ve done too much of the wrong thing my back will “go out”. To me that means I’ll feel spasms like electric shocks whenever I move just slightly the wrong way. It means I can’t stay in one position for very long, I can’t do my normal work routine, I can barely get in and out of a car, I have to be very careful when sitting down, laying down or getting up from either of those positions. I can’t go out and play. I get grumpy and self-focused and depressed. I absolutely hate it. In so many ways and for so many reasons, I hate it. Did I say “I hate it”? Well, I really do hate it. 

I have learned over the years that with the help of good chiropractors, physical therapists and exercise trainers, there are a number of things I can do to help myself out of this bad place. I can ice, I can stretch, I can do certain exercises, I can get laser treatments, I can walk and walk and walk. I can learn to guard my low back by better engaging my transverse abdominals (muscles that wrap around your body below the navel which act like a belt supporting your back). I can also protect my back by keeping good posture, holding my head in line with my back, and using my glutes instead of my low back muscles for stability. I have to be very aware of how I’m moving, but if I’m careful, I can still function fairly well until my back muscles finally relax and get back to normal. I am so thankful for what I’ve learned over the years and especially for the knowledgable people who have helped me so much. 

So I was reading in Philippians this morningand I was reminded of how God, as a good and perfect Father (and as The Great Physician, as well) gives us such wonderful instruction and advice for living well. In Philippians He tells us not how we can guard our backs, but how we can guard our souls:

The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Wow! He tells us that His peace is what guards our hearts and minds, our souls, and He even tells us what part we have to play in getting that peace. He gives us strategies for guarding and protecting our souls. I love that! There is something we can do. We need to realize first and foremost that He is near us. He has promised never to leave us. Then, rather than worrying and being anxious about things, which we are all inclined to do, He tells us to talk to Him instead.

Bring to Him our concerns and troubles, pray about them, ask Him for what we need and above all, bathe all of these prayers and requests in a pool of gratitude. To me it’s interesting and significant that the little phrase “with thanksgiving” sits right in the middle of this whole section, set off by commas, as if to say this is the key. The key to peace and the key to being free from anxiety.

I read this quote somewhere once which is inspired by Matthew 11:28-30:

 Rest is not the absence of labor, hardship or suffering...                                                                                                                      It is the absence of guilt, worry, anxiety and lack of meaning.

 Fortunately we are not just victims of our mental, physical and emotional states, being passively carried down a stream in which we don’t want to float. God dignifies us with an invitation to participate with Him in such way that we can, at least in some ways, influence the course and outcome of our journey.

Living in a world where there are so many things to worry and be anxious about, it is reassuring that God knows our human tendencies and rather than judge us for our ignorance, foolishness or sin, invites us to let Him take the heavy load and gives us in its place a light load, easy to carry, full of gratitude, peace and grace. 

Phil 4:6-7

The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Joshua 1:5

I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Mat 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

"Peace" by Sharon Irving (unplugged)

This song/video was played on July 12, 2015 as part of Pastor Dusty's message on peace. We wanted you to have access to the YouTube clip of the song and the lyrics below. Enjoy!

Sharon Irving - Peace (unplugged) - click to view YouTube video
Intro
Indeed you have called my essence forth
Complacency no--more

And as you pour out your fragrant oil
I offer my filthy rags of righteousness
Placing them on the floor
Before you I am renewed

In boiling darkness
In frozen rain
When I am wired, rattled, pressured
Squeezed in on both sides

Ripped at the seams
Your hands unafraid 
Reach down into the sludge of my humanity
The promise of your presence peals from heaven
and I am made new

Verse 1
No more hide and seek of the soul
May it find its rest in you
Here take all my anxious thoughts, all the fears consuming me
I’m letting go
I’m letting go

Verse 2
No more hide and seek of the soul
May it find its rest in you
For you’re drawing me I know
This old fear laid down
I’m letting go
I’m letting go

Chorus
Rending my shame
All of me open
It’s where I find peace
It’s where I find peace

From brokenness into your presence
It’s where I find peace
It’s where I find peace

Bridge
You’ll guard my heart
and I’ll rest soul
Peace is here
Peace is here

Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.