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In the Land of Burning Rivers & Lake Effect Snow

Have you heard all the jokes? The river catching fire? (it's happened more than once) Yes, we've had a body of water on fire. The sun comes out 5 or 6 times a year. The city went into default in the 1970's. Heck, our mayor's hair caught on fire once. We have four seasons (near winter, almost winter, winter, and orange barrel).
Don't talk about our sports teams either. The Drive. The Fumble. The Shot. Game 7 of the 1997 World Series. The Browns leaving for Baltimore in 1995, LeBron James leaving for Miami. That's just off the top of my head. Ask any old-timers here and I'm sure they can name other excruciating sports memories.
Cleveland has often been referred as the Mistake by the Lake. Is it any wonder that people here have a depressed mindset? Gloomy weather, lake effect snow, disappointing sports teams, and other of the above memories can lead one to the thought "OIC" (Only in Cleveland). There are some people that have said that God hates Cleveland. I've heard that, but I don't believe that.
Why am I still here? I was born here and have lived here my entire life. My entire family lives here and I've made many long lasting friendships here. I'm still a big fan of our sports teams and I enjoy having different seasons. We have the Cleveland Clinic (world famous), the Cleveland Orchestra (theyre pretty good), Playhouse Square(also pretty good), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the West Side Market. Most of all why I am here is that I have not been called to go anywhere else. So, here I live - so what does that mean for me and other Clevelanders?
First of all, God doesn't hate Cleveland and we are not a mistake. God loves this city just as much as He loves anyone else. So, let's get that depressing attitude out of the way.
John 3:16 says "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"
See, it doesn't say the world except for Cleveland, or people in Asia, or any other particular group of people.God loved the world (also not the planet). That's who He is.
Our job wherever we might live is to be witnesses to all the ends of the Earth. This includes whatever city you live in. Any city. We aren't living here because we are stuck, or couldn't find better - God places us where He wants us to be. To bless those around us and to be blessed as well.
I read a verse Jeremiah 29:7 which says "Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper". This applies to us as well.
If we believe ourselves that our true home is to come and that we are merely travelers here in this world, this is powerful stuff. The Lord has carried us to wherever we currently are. As such, we should be seeking for peace and prosperity for our city. How do we do this? By praying for our city. It is easy to complain or just accept the city as being "just the way things are" or just accepting when bad things happen in our hometowns.
What if all of us followers prayed earnestly for our cities? If we asked God for His help? If we asked Him to help our city prosper? What if we asked God that we would be used to make a positive impact on each of our hometowns? Not because we want any fame or glory, but that we would want God to be glorified in our cities. What if followers in every city and town did that? What would that look like? How would the world be changed by that?
Let's focus on the fact that there are people in each of our cities with great needs. Needs which are only satisified by God. We already live here, we know the city - who better to reach these people? Let's love these people. Let's love our cities.
I love Cleveland. It's not a mistake. It never was and never will be. Your city and it's people are not a mistake either. We live where we live for a reason. To spread the Gospel, to love your neighbors as yourself.
I challenge myself (and you) to love your city and the people in it as God loves them. Pray for them. Support and love your neighbors. Be a positive impact and be involved in your local community. Let's start knowing our neighbors like we did when we were younger (when everyone looked out for each other). Let's see together what loving our communities like that will do to this world. I, for one, am excited at that thought.
Cue Ian Hunter (if you don't know what song he sang and you live in Cleveland - look it up on ITunes)

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