February in Pittsburgh - Part 4: Biting Cold

This morning after worship at the church I serve, I was talking to a woman in our foyer about the cold. She said that she did not mind the cold, but she hated it swinging back and forth on temperatures. I had to agree with her. If if just stays cold your body seems to adapt doesn't it? But when it changes you keep getting the "autumn cold feel." You know what I mean don't you? 40 degrees in October cuts through you. But 40 degrees in February and you say, "It is nice out today."

I have been sitting here thinking. We are like that in our spiritual discussions too aren't we? We are terribly excited about something, something good probably, but we get used to it and it is not so cold any longer. We acclimate ourselves to it.

I have done just that on many good issues. Tonight I reminded myself anew, that my experience last fall in Africa is not going to "cool" or "warm"or whatever. I am not going to allow myself to forget God stirring in my heart to make a difference in the lives of some. I need to use my influence, to aid some who are less fortunate than me. I may think I have it rough some times . . . but come on Terry! You are at the top 1% of the world's income level! Get a life! Realize how incredibly blessed you are!

February in Pittsburgh – Part 3: The Daytona 500

I admit it. I am a redneck. For years I have tried to deny it. I have tried to ignore it. I have tried denial, i.e. to pretend it is not true. I have tried everything, including earning a doctoral degree from a seminary in Chicago! If there is a town that would despise being called redneck it would be Chicago. It ranks right up there with New York and LA in that regard.

But once in a great while, I am just quite simply reminded of the fact that I lived the first 40 of my 51 years in the southern United States. We all know that makes me both dumb and dumber. If you still have any doubts please allow me to remove them. I am a NASCAR fan. I have been my entire life.

To give that some context: I love football (pulled for the Steelers in the Super Bowl, but really like the Colts and the Panthers). I love baseball (watch the Pirates at PNC Park but I do love the Braves the best). I play golf (badly). I watch some tennis (although not as much as when Connors and McEnroe dueled). I watch the NBA (well, the playoffs anyway). I have even attended several Hockey games (does that count?) In fact the closest sport I am fanatic about to NASCAR is college basketball. I am (literally) a life long Duke fan, even in the early 70s when they sucked! I am rabid about my Duke basketball.

But I digress.

As I stated earlier, I am also a lifelong NASCAR fan. I attended junior high school with Dale Earnhardt and therefore am a full fledged hard nosed dumb southern red neck. I even own the flag posted at the top. Please remember that when posting comments. Please use short easy to follow words when talking to me and speak slowly in monosyllabic speech if at all possible.

If you have even a passing knowledge about NASCAR you are aware that February is the annual running of the Daytona 500. It has the largest TV audience for a motor sports event in the U.S. Just for the record, I do not care if there is ever an accident. I like the racing, the challenge and the excitement. If you ever get to attend an event you will understand what I mean.

What has this got to do with February in Pittsburgh? Racing means good weather. Good weather means spring. Spring means summer and sunshine! Although we are experiencing out of the ordinary good weather in Pittsburgh this February, I am excited to see cars run around in circles for it reminds me of what is ahead.

Oh yeah. I love to think about what God may have ahead for me in many areas too!

Gentlemen (and ladies). Start your engines!

February in Pittsburgh – Part 2: A Landscape Without Foliage

Wednesday is my study day. I am pretty jealous about protecting it. Somehow I just do not think it would fly at Sunday worship to say, “It has been a tough week and I am sorry but I have no message. So let’s just sing 6-8 more songs.” I know. I know. There is more to worship than a talking head or singing, but you know what I am talking about. If not, it is okay to simply hit the “next blog” button.

In any event, today as I was driving to my designated study location (Read: Panera or Starbucks here!) I was once again looking at the landscape where I live. If you have never been in Pittsburgh, there is a reason why it is called the “North Hills.” In the summer it is very easy to miss that. The leaves on the trees obstruct the view. I am not complaining, I love the summer, it is just a comment. In the winter you see things you do not see in the summer. This is especially true when we have had one of the soft wet snows that stick to the branches of trees such as we had last night and into today. You can see every hill and valley as you drive. The snow on a landscape without foliage, sort of expands your vision and clears the view.

Life is like that sometimes. The winter can have a harshness about it, even the winter moments of life. But just as the winter landscape helps you see things that you do not see in the summer, so the winter landscape events in life clear vision. How often do we hit the valley moments in life only to be reminded of what is vitally important to us as we begin our ascent out.

As I continue talking about the valley of depression this month at Fountain Park, we should likewise allow those events to clear our vision. Let the “lack of foliage experience” in your life do as the winter landscape did to me. Let it clear your vision and allow you to see highs and lows in a way you have not seen before.

February in Pittsburgh – Part 1: Depression Month

It arrived today. We have been looking for it for several months now. I originally began dreading it in October when a chill first creased the air. I am not talking about the end of the football season, but the hardest time in the depression season in Pittsburgh, the month of February.

Pittsburgh is not unlike many cities in that there are cycles as to when folks have a tougher time dealing with issues in their life. In my years of ministry I have begun to see some patterns. The first such time is the fall. This could happen any time from September and school starting to the leaves dropping in October to the first snowfall. But sometime after the end of August it seems that many folks just cannot deal with it any more. It can totally vary as to what “IT” is. In reality “it” is just their particular life issue. What was bearable in August is unbearable in October. What seemed temporary in the sunshine seems permanent as the leaves start to fall. What could be held in one hand in the warmth cannot be contained in the entire universe in the cold.

Now, move that to February and it is increased exponentially. I am told there are more cases of depression diagnosed in February in Pittsburgh than any other month by far. I am told that we have far fewer hours of sunshine in February than any other month, and it is not because it is the shortest month. Add Seasonal Affective Disorder to the life issue equation and things can get out of hand.

I am attempting to address this from a Biblical vantage point this month. I have decided to take the four Sundays in February and talk about depression. Here is my intention. I am going to look at four Biblical personalities who had a time in their life when they were severely depressed and examine how God met them at that moment.

I am calling the series In Dire Need of Encouragement. Here are the four talks and the four individuals with varying circumstances for God to meet them in.

Doubting Vulnerability – John the Baptist
Victorious Vulnerability – Elijah
Life Shattering Vulnerability – Naomi
Impenetrable Vulnerability – Paul

I will have these talks on line each week. I hope to peel away some of the theological junk being taught that if you are in a relationship with God everything is wonderful all the time.

Be very careful, “theological junk” is a highly technical term reserved for seasoned professionals.