A Meatball Sandwich, A Conversation and A Change of Heart

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We love our food here in Philly, which is why (according to apartmentguide.com) the city has about 422 pizza businesses. That's 26.6 pizza businesses per 100,000 people, placing us second among large cities according to Apartment Guide's list. And as BillyPenn.com points out, the number of pizza places could be much higher depending on how you calculate. Along with all those pizza businesses Philly has over 150 food trucks (according to roaminghunger.com) and a number of award winning restaurants. With plenty available at every price point, Philly is definitely a city that loves food.

From time to time, especially on Fridays, I find myself in front of one of the city's 150+ food trucks. Last week I chose the one on the corner just down the street from the day job, where I ordered a meatball sandwich with Parmesan cheese. As the owner of the truck prepared my sandwich, another customer commented on how good the sandwich looked. She said she didn't need to eat any more beef, having had her fill the night before, but seeing my sandwich changed her mind and her order.

If not for my sandwich the next customer would have stayed on course with whatever it was she had planned to order. I did nothing other than being there and paying for my meal. The sandwich spoke for itself without me interfering or making any changes. I believe the Gospel works in much the same way. God has given us a treasure that is attractive enough to change hearts and minds without our interference. We need only live it and be ready to teach it as the opportunity arises. People will be drawn to it simply because it is good. Such is the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Have You Ever Told God A Lie?

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Be honest! Have you ever told God a lie? The Gospels share with us a time when one of the apostles did just that. He declared one thing publicly only to do just the opposite later. He did not keep his word. To this, Jesus responds with forgiveness and restoration.

Jesus warned His disciples that they were about to fail, telling them that they would stumble because of Him (Matthew 26:31). In response Peter looks Jesus in the eye and declares publicly that he would never be made to stumble (v. 33). After hearing the truth that he was going to deny Jesus three times before sunup, Peter declares that he would die rather than deny Jesus (verses 34-35). He did not intend to lie to Jesus. Peter said what he honestly thought of himself but his actions later on turned his great boast  into a lie (verses 69-75).

How does Jesus respond after the truth is revealed? Jesus responds by restoring Peter, telling him it is time to get back to work (John 21:15-17). In so doing he puts Peter back into a very prominent ministry role, implying that He had forgiven Peter for stumbling. Jesus didn't carry a grudge nor did He say to Peter, "I told you so!" He didn't move Peter to the back of the line with instructions to work his way back into Jesus' inner circle. Plane and simply, Jesus forgives.

In the Gospels we see God's nature in the flesh and in action. Here we see Jesus forgiving Peter for denying Him and for lying to Him. God continues to forgive us of our sins today. Trust in His nature and receive His forgiveness. Don't hold onto what Jesus' blood has already washed away.

Car Repairs That Took Care of Themselves

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It happened twice over the last two years. First was a power steering fluid leak leaving drops under my wife's car. Then came the check engine light flashing one morning as I prepared to drive to the train station to go to work. Both serve as stark reminders of the costs of owning a car. And as we have in the past, we prayed trusting God to provide. But in each of these cases He did something different.

The mechanic warned that the leak in the power steering system was, "major." I checked and the fluid level was very low. But at the time we did not have the money for repairs, so I filled the reservoir and we prayed for help from God. I checked a couple of weeks later and the reservoir was once again low. I refilled and we continued to pray. Since that second refill the level has remained constant: no sign of a leak. I'm not sure how but the problem has gone away.

Then there was the flashing 'check engine' light that greeted me one morning as I attempted to go to work: not the jolt I wanted first thing. We prayed and then called for a tow truck. Later that day the mechanic called to ask why the car was in the shop. By the time he started work on it, the light was no longer flashing. He scanned for engine codes and found none. The car was in perfect working order and has run just fine ever since. This was a head scratcher. Perhaps one day I'll find out what was really going on. Until then I thank God for the outcome.

In the past when faced with car repairs, God has always provided. Actually I should say He provided when I stayed out of His way. There have been way too many times when I tried to deal with repairs in a way that made me comfortable, which usually ended with debt. There have also been times when I prayed before making a move and somehow the money to make repairs became available. Last year, when we prayed and surrendered, God did things a little different than in the past. He somehow fixed both problems without us spending a dime. His message in doing so seems clear: pray first.

“Be still and know that I am God”

Psalm 46:10