Final Four.

It is more than three months away until the NCAA basketball season culminates with the 2009 Final Four to be held in Detroit, MI.  But tomorrow the “final four” will officially be a reality for me—the fourth and final ankle surgery this year.

The road to the “final four” has not always been easy, but it has been good. I would not trade it for anything. Only God could have scripted this year.   “Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?” (Lamentations 3:37-38)

He has been abundantly faithful in so many ways: insurance coverage for all the surgeries (the first one went through an appeals process and was ultimately paid); progressive healing; safety through driving with a left foot accelerator for six months; protection navigating on crutches since March and through the recent ice and snow here in Chicago; competent doctors, medical staff and physical therapists, but, most importantly the opportunity to encourage and share the love of Christ with others through the gospel. “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24).

With surgeries done in March, June, and September I am “ready to roll” with the last one tomorrow, December 30.

This post is dedicated to Erik and Bryan Apinis. Erik had the nickname, “Four”, during college. Not sure how he got it? Both of these guys were a part of my church’s college ministry when they were students at Wheaton College. They impacted me in my walk with the Lord.  “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverb 27:17).  Both their mom, first, and then their dad battled cancer and are now at home with the Lord. I had the honor to know their dad, but I never met their mom. I look forward to seeing them in Heaven.

Through these trials Erik and Bryan resolved to trust in their Heavenly Father. They model Paul’s closing words to the church in Corinth, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14). Erik, his wife, Jen, and kids reside in the Baltimore, MD area and Bryan, his wife, Kathryn, and kids live in the Atlanta, GA suburbs. I am thankful to be a part of the road they walked during their time at Wheaton.

Ready for the “Final Four”!

Bryan, me, Erik along with our good friend, Steve Hobbs.

Pre-Winter Classic.

Hockey is back in Chicago!  Not that it ever left, but there has been a drought of a quality hockey team that could reach the playoffs with the potential to contend for the Stanley Cup in awhile.

On Friday night, December 26, my dad and I saw the Chicago Blackhawks handily defeat the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-1. The victory, before a franchise record 22,712 fans in attendance, tied a Blackhawks franchise record of eight straight wins.

Now the big talk and hottest ticket around Chicago is the upcoming Winter Classic slated for January 1 at Wrigley Field (Home of the Chicago Cubs) between the Blackhawks and their archrival Detroit Red Wings. The game will be broadcast on New Year’s Day (12 noon, central time) on NBC.

Only a week ago we had 20”+ of snow on the ground with -20 to -30 wind chills (Fahrenheit). Workers preparing the rink in Wrigley Field took some days off because it was so cold. Then over the weekend we were close to record high temperatures of 60 degrees with more than 2” inches of rain.  All the snow is gone!

When we arrived in the United Center on Saturday, the temperature in the building was colder than the 47 degrees outside.  Now we’re back to more seasonable weather.  Game time highs for the Winter Classic on New Year’s are forecasted in the 20’s.

Who is He in Yonder Stall?

Do you have a favorite Christmas hymn or song? Maybe it is Joy to the World, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night, or The Hallelujah chorus.  One hymn that captures my heart at Christmas is “Who is He in Yonder Stall?”  This hymn by Benjamin Hanby poignantly captures the person and deity of Jesus Christ—His birth, miraculous earthly ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and eternal reign.

Who is He in yonder stall 


At whose feet the shepherds fall? 


Who is He in deep distress 


Fasting in the wilderness?

Who is He the people bless 


For His words of gentleness? 


Who is He to Whom they bring 

All the sick and sorrowing?

(Refrain)

Refrain

'Tis the Lord, O wondrous story!

'Tis the Lord, the King of glory;

At his feet we humbly fall,

Crown him, crown him Lord of all!

Who is He that stands and weeps 

At the grave where Lazarus sleeps?

Who is He the gathering throng 


Greet with loud triumphant song?

(Refrain)

Lo! at midnight, who is He 


Prays in dark Gethsemane?

Who is He on yonder tree 


Dies in grief and agony?

(Refrain)

Who is He that from the grave 


Comes to heal and help and save? 


Who is He that from His throne 


Rules through all the world alone?

(Refrain)

Playing Every Game Like It's My Last.

Over a month ago, nine-time NBA All-Star Allen Iverson was traded from the Denver Nuggets to the Detroit Pistons for Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess.  An article about the trade and his debut with his new team playing against the New Jersey Nets was reported in the Saturday, November 8 issue of The New York Times.

I am not a big fan of Iverson's character, age 33, with a career average of 27.7 points per game and third all-time in average points per game only behind Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.  Iverson has a storied history of run-ins with the law, not being a team player nor a role model for kids to follow.  But what caught my attention at the end of the article was what he said about how he plays the game of basketball.  Iverson said, “They (referring to his Detroit Pistons teammates) know what I’m about.  I’ve played against those guys for years.  They know what I bring to the table and vice versa.  But my whole thing is to go out on the court and do what I’ve been doing my whole career, and that’s playing every game like it’s my last.”

I think Iverson's got an important aspect about life that is easy to forget.  He recognizes time is fleeting.  Life is short.  He is not going to be here forever.  Each game could be the last one he plays in his professional NBA career.  

Do I live with the mindset that today could be my last?  If I do, would I live it any differently than I do now?

How would you live today if it were your last?

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16

National Champions.

A little over a week ago, 12/6/08, Messiah College Men and Women’s Soccer Teams won the Division III Soccer National Championship in Greensboro, NC. Combined with the men’s championship, the Falcons’ women’s title gives the school its second dual-championship in soccer.  Messiah is the only NCAA institution – regardless of level – to accomplish the feat.

This was the sixth national championship in the last nine years for the men’s team as they posted championships in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006 seasons.  They have now won more national championships in division III soccer than any other school.  The road to this year’s championship was anything but easy.  Two post-season games were decided in double overtime and the championship game was won on penalty kicks, 3-0.

Messiah women’s soccer team convincingly ran the table through their 2008 regular season going undefeated. They carried that streak through post-season play.  The championship game with Wheaton College was a re-match of the 2007 championship game that Wheaton won when they beat Messiah 1-0.  This year it was a different story.  Messiah provided a 5-0 pounding of Wheaton, the largest margin of victory in the 23-year history of the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer National Championship game.

I had the opportunity to see my alma mater play in the annual Wheaton College Men’s Bob Baptista Soccer Tournament last August.  Little did I know that their season would end in another national championship!

More Than Enough.

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him” (Lamentations 3:24).

As I reflect on a year of God’s goodness, I am grateful that Jesus Christ is enough. He is all I need—"my portion."  With Him there is unswerving, unshakable and undeniable hope.  Period.

In his book, Grief & Pain in the Plan of God, Walter Kaiser comments on Lamentations 3, “Therefore, we can say with full assurance: ‘I will hope in Him.’  This chapter is indeed about hope, but not hope as a wish with a slight degree of certainty that we will ever obtain or receive anything; this hope carries solid confidence and the highest degree of certainty because it is well-grounded in the God of all grace, mercy, and faithfulness.  His love and mercy to us are unending.”

Yet, my heart wanders.  Pulled by my own flesh, I daily battle pursuing the desires of the flesh that do not satisfy versus the thirst quenching, all-satisfying communion with Christ.  “Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13-14).

God, as always, is faithful.  "God who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful" (1 Corinthians 1:9).  Here are some of the things that I am praising Him for:

Salvation in Jesus Christ.  “If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared” (Psalm 130:3-4).

Sweet times of fellowship with the Lord in His Word.  “You are my portion, O Lord; I have promised to obey your words. I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise” (Psalm 119:57-58).

God’s all sufficient grace and healing during surgery, recovery, and rehab. “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Financial and physical provision.  God has provided the means to cover a myriad of medical bills to loving parents that have allowed me to recover in their home amidst being on crutches for the year. “Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die: keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God”  (Proverbs 30:7-9).

My first surgery in March was not immediately covered by insurance.  It went through an appeals process.  Through it God answered prayer and the surgery was finally covered.  If this did not happen, the subsequent surgeries in June, September and here in December may not have been covered either. 

In a very small way, the fellowship in the sharing of His sufferings. “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Philippians 3:8-10).

Opportunities to share and show the love of Christ through the Gospel.  “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24).

Gifted physicians, medical staff, and physical therapists. Their assistance in my life this year has been significant as I look forward to walking again free of pain.

Prayer.  I have seen God work this year through prayer like never before in my life.  I am grateful for so many who have, are and will be praying for me.  From extra strength after surgery during recovery to quick healing to opportunities to share the Gospel and encourage others in their walk with the Lord.  "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16b)

A Movement of God.

“One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wonderful works, I will meditate. Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts, and I will tell of Your greatness” 

(Psalm 145:4-6).

Over a week ago I attended a "vision night" to learn how God has been at work in the lives of thousands of youth in Eastern Europe through Josiah Venture (JV).  In the summer of ‘96, a team from my church joined with another team of Czech Christians from Havirov, Czech Republic.  We partnered together to serve for a week as we led an English camp for Czech youth who ranged in age from high school to early twenties.  Throughout the week we taught English to students with varied degrees of aptitude in speaking and writing the language.  Not only did they come to learn English, but were keenly curious to interact with Americans and learn more about our culture.

Each evening we met to worship the Lord and hear a message that focused on an aspect of the gospel:  Who is man?  What is sin?  Why am I created?  Who is God?  What prevents man from knowing God?  Why was it necessary for Jesus to die?  Where will I go when I die?

After the session was over, we discussed the message and what the students were learning.  For many this was the first time they had heard the gospel message.  Up until the Velvet Revolution in 1989, Czech was ruled by Communist ideology that included that God does not exist.

As the week went on, relationships with these new Czech friends blossomed.  Opportunities to share and show the love of Christ with them through athletic games, hiking mountains, and going for night walks to marvel at God’s creation under the stars.  Many of the youth began to see their sin and their need for the Savior, Jesus Christ.  For some, their time at camp changed their lives for eternity.  For others it was the start of knowing more about their need for a Savior.

Since the summer of ’96, when I think there only 4-7 camps occurred, now over 12,000 young people have been impacted with the gospel in 11 European countries.  God, for His glory and the furtherance of His kingdom, is working in great ways through JV!

I am especially encouraged and excited by JV’s focus to work with nationals through the local church to equip and strengthen them for the ministry of the gospel.  I stay in touch with some of the dear Czech Christians that I met and served with in summer of '96.

JV now plans to double the kingdom fruit in the next three years. Thus, the 2x3 campaign logo at the beginning of this post.  I am excited and supportive of what God will do in the next three years as He works through evangelistic events, disciplemaking, leadership training and healthy reproducing churches for His glory!

Brothers that I met a few weeks ago like Lukasz serving with his wife in Poland, Tarmo in Estonia, and the rest of the JV Team along with us that prayerfully and financially support them have a great opportunity to invest in and see a movement of God in the next three years like never before as the next generation of youth in Eastern Europe are reached for His glory!  “One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.” (Psalm 145:4)

Number Our Days.

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” 

(Psalm 90:12)

This week marks five months since a prosthesis went into my right ankle on June 17 (see x-rays under “New Wheels” post), eight weeks since the first surgery on my left ankle, and six weeks until the final surgery on my left ankle on December 30. Physical therapy, twice a week, on my right foot and ankle continue with steady progress being made.

Number Your Days.
All of these surgeries, follow-up visits, and physical therapy appointments bring Psalm 90:12 to mind. I first came across this verse and was challenged by its implications during a spiritual life class when I attended Moody Bible Institute. During a class, Dr. Thrasher challenged us to take our age and multiply it by 365 days. Then take 70 years and multiply it by 365 (“The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty, if we have the strength”, Psalm 90:10). Subtract the number of days lived by the number of days left, Lord willing, He gives you to live. So for example, if you are 25 years old you have 16,425 days to live; 35 years gives you 12,775 days; 45 years, 9,125 days left; and 55 years, 5,525 days to go. This little exercise puts the brevity of life into perspective pretty quick. Bottom line: it is short!

These shots are from my a six week post-op check-up on my left ankle. The ankle gets x-rayed three-dimensionally via CT Scan and one dimensionally via regular x-rays. “Construction Orange” is the cast color choice.

Since the first surgery in March, God’s faithfulness has been on display in many ways from strength in recovery, financial provision for all surgeries, post-op care, and physical therapy to parents that have allowed me to stay with them as I recover. Praise Him!

“He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful!” (1 Corinthians 1:8-9) 

Encourage One Another.

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, 

so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” 

Hebrews 3:13

Everyone needs encouragement. A few weeks ago I was in Starbucks working on a study on the attributes of God.  A gal sitting next to my table saw I was reading the Bible and asked what I was doing?  I told her I was studying the word and recovering from ankle surgery.  I her asked, “What she was doing?”  She said she was writing devotionals for a 30 second radio spot to be aired later in the week.

This gal I was talking to is Virginia Hill, a Christian singer, who serves the Lord signing at women’s conferences, crisis pregnancy events, and concerts.  Her first CD, “LOL” (text/instant message lingo for “Laugh Out Loud”) recently debuted in 2007 and another CD is coming in November.

I never heard of Virginia Hill until I met her.   I asked Virginia if she could send me her CD.  She said she would.  I gave her one of my postcards that includes this blog address and wrote her a short note of encouragement.

A Special Package.  Later that week I received two copies of Virginia’s CD.  What I was not expecting was a note of encouragement along with this devotional she wrote: Perseverance.

“I recently met a man named Jeff at a coffee house where I was working on writing this devotional.  When I entered I noticed he had limited mobility and it took him a long time to get to his seat.

I was curious when I noticed he was studying the Bible and I leaned over and asked what he was studying.  He smiled and began to tell me about his struggles with bone on bone arthritis and how he wants to share the message of hope he has found in the strength of the Lord. He’s even developed his own ministry to encourage and strengthen others.  As he spoke my eyes looked at his left leg propped up on a chair and the crutches lying on the floor. He said when he was twenty-three he had surgeries replacing his hips and recently had a cast removed from his right ankle replacement surgery and now was recovering from his left ankle replacement. He even smiled as he said that there were more surgeries scheduled. His honesty and sweet spirit amazed me.

I was challenged by his example and thought of how many times I let small irritations distract me from being who I am called to be in Christ. Jeff has committed his life to serve and encourage others who are faced with difficult questions and choices.  We may not have to withstand the struggles with living with a disability but we all have things in our lives that we need to overcome. Each of us are handcrafted to fulfill His purpose.  By allowing the Lord to be our strength we press on beyond the circumstances and trials of our lives.”

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”  James 1:2-3

I praise the Lord and am humbled that He could use me to encourage Virginia and that she encouraged me too.  

2 Corinthians 4:7-10 come to mind, "But we have his treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." 

Run with Perseverance.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat downat the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Last Tuesday marked two weeks since surgery on my ankle. This is a “milestone” on the road to recovery. My cast came off, sutures were removed from my foot, and a new cast was put on. Everything is looking good – praise the Lord!



These last few weeks also mark the first time to put a sneaker on my right foot. The only thing I have worn on the right foot for the last six months have been casts and a cam boot.  Going into a sneaker has been like putting my foot into a dress shoe after wearing sandals for the summer. It’s tight!

On Thursday I returned to work putting in a little more than a half day and building up stamina.

Living the Christian life is metaphorically described as running a race; it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. A great part of the race is one of progressive sanctification, becoming more like Christ.  Someone once said, “Adversity introduces a person to himself.”

Trials are one way the Lord reveals more about me and my sinful heart. At times, it is pretty ugly. There is an independent spirit rather than one that is dependent on God and others, impatience, and not responding in a manner that pleases the Lord to the events and people He sovereignly brings my way are some of the sins (2 Corinthians 5:9). Praise the Lord there is hope! The gift of repentance, forgiveness, and cleansing from sin is available (Psalm 51:1-12).

If you could script my life any differently than what God has already done and will do, even with the trials, I would not trade it for anything. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its works so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).

With the cast coming off and the new one being put on, these verses from Hebrews came to mind that challenge and encourage my heart.

Surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses. 

These “witnesses” referred to are the ones listed and noted in Hebrews 11.   They went through great suffering, severe persecution and even death, but remained faithful because they were looking forward to their future reward—eternity with Christ in heaven.  A.W. Pink notes, “If all the saints of God lived, suffered, endured, and conquered by faith, shall not we also?”

Throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so entangles.
Similarly, you must throw off “everything that hinders” you from running the Christian race. “Hinders” refers to “a weight” that keeps one from running as fast as he can.  The weights that “hinder” you may not necessarily always be a bad thing.  But, there may be things that keep you from an undistracted devotion to pursuing Christ and living for His glory.  For example, when a runner trains for a race he eliminates specific food from his diet, possibly an activity he enjoys or even a relationship so that his single focus is to win the race.  He does everything possible to win it!  A.W. Pink provides a great definition for us to consider in those things that hinder a believer, “It is anything which retards our progress, anything which unfits us for discharge of our God-assigned duties, anything which dulls the conscience, blunts the edge or our spiritual appetite, or chokes the spirit of prayer.”

Take a minute and ask the Lord, “Heavenly Father, are there any weights—even good things, in my life that keep me from an running wholly for you and for your glory?”  If He has showed you something, give it up, and lay it aside so that you can have an unhindered and undivided devotion to Him.

The sin that so easily entangles.
The “sin that so easily entangles” refers to the sin that resides in one’s heart. Putting to death personal sin, with the help of the Holy Spirit, is what we are commanded to do. Sin is deadly. It either kills you or you are killing it. The Puritans called this mortifying sin. “For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:13).

Since a believer is dead to sin and a live to God in Christ Jesus he has the ability, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to mortify sin (Romans 6:11-12; 8:13).  This is a conscientious and aggressive pursuit to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that easily entangles. This known as radical amputation of sin. On the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught the multitudes, figuratively speaking, that if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out, and throw it away. If you right hand causes you to sin, cut it off, and throw it away (Matthew 5:28-30). A person’s right hand and right eye are the most prominent parts of the body. If one’s right eye or right hand contributed to one sinning, Jesus instructed him to get rid of it. Dr. Stuart Scott commented about the radical amputation of sin stating, “We should see a lot of maimed Christians entering heaven.”

Run with Perseverance.
As sin is mortified and the things that encumber a runner are laid aside, the runners is called to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Heb 12:1c).  Perseverance means to “be steadfast”, “to endure”, or “patient suffering.”  This is the same word used in the book of James as it relates to trials. James encourages believers to persevere and stay under the trial, “knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (James 1:3).  

Remember, the Christian race run for the glory of God is not a sprint.  It is a marathon! God is in control.  “Who can speak and have it not happen if the Lord has not decreed it?” (Lamentations 3:37)  This a great assurance, comfort, and hope for the believer who is in physical affliction or trial to keep pressing on!  Through this life you must endure, be steadfast in faith, and rely on the unchanging character of God and the promises of his Word, and keep on running! If one stops running, he is no longer a runner.  You are to keep running hard for Jesus Christ. Even through the dark, hard, and discouraging days.  Jesus is able to sympathize with your weakness because He was tempted in every way—yet was without sin (Hebrews 4:15).  As the Son of God, He learned obedience from what He suffered (Hebrews 5:8).

 
The Greek Word for “race” ἀγών (agon) is the root for agony and means “conflict or struggle”. The Christian race can be difficult, but whatever you face it can be overcome through living by faith and abiding in Jesus Christ. “I (Jesus) am the vine; you are the branches.  “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you an do nothing” (John 15:5). “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). The believers addressed in Hebrews were encouraged to have their hearts focused on Jesus Christ. They remained confident in God as they held “unswervingly to the hope” they professed knowing that “he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

Your faith in Christ must be active in order to persevere.  “For my righteous one will live by faith” (Hebrews 10:38).  This was a permeating mark in the lives of believers in Hebrews 11. Is it a characteristic of your life?  If it is not, ask the Lord to help you to grow in faith.  These brothers and sisters in Christ mentioned in Hebrews are an encouragement to us to press on no matter what.  “All these people were still living by faith when they died” (Hebrews 11:13).

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus.
The focus for the Christian running the race, amidst the distractions of the world and the temptations, must always be on Jesus Christ. Jesus is the example to follow as He said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15).  Jesus is the “author and perfecter” of your faith.  He orchestrated and initiated your salvation and with your cooperation, through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, He is the one who will bring it to completion (Ephesians 1:4; Colossians 1:13-14; Romans 8:28-30; Philippians 1:6).  

As a runner enters the starting blocks, before the gun goes off to start the race, he focuses his eyes on the finish tape. When the gun goes off, his goal is to be the first one to break the tape. Although Jesus Christ did not literally break a tape at the finish line, He remained faithful throughout His thirty-three years of life to do His Father’s will. He knew, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed…” (Luke 19:22).  Jesus suffered a brutal death on the cross for your sins. Crucifixion by death was developed by the Romans to brutally and shamefully punish the most heinous of criminals.  The torture involved in death by crucifixion was so severe, that no matter how terrible the crime, a Roman citizen could never be crucified. How ironic. The Romans did not subject their own people to crucifixion because death on the cross was so shamefully humiliating and painful.

Jesus, however, embraced death on the cross. “…For the joy set before him (he) endured the cross, scorning its shame” (Hebrews 12:2).  He looked beyond the cross with joy knowing that His death provided salvation for sinners.  “In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering” (Hebrews 2:10).

So too we, who run the Christian race, must daily and consistently look to Jesus Christ for strength, encouragement, and hope.  This is a conscientious decision.  “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13).  

The psalmist is a biblical example of one who relied on the Lord.  His hope was in the Lord, “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you” (Psalm 39:7).  His strength was in the Lord, “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always” (Ps 105:4).  His joy was in the Lord, “you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Ps 16:11b).

Where is your hope, strength, and joy?

Run with perseverance.

Sunflowers for Sunday.

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass.”  (Isaiah 40:7)

Flowers, I like ‘em. They reflect the glory, beauty, and creativity of an awesome God. 

This summer my dad planted a bunch of sunflower seeds behind their home. It took awhile for them to grow, but by the end of the summer they were 6-8’ high.

From scripture, one can see God valued flowers. In the Old Testament, flowers were a part of The Tabernacle (Exodus 25:31) and included in the Temple (1 Kings 6:32; 2 Chronicles 4:20-22).  Flowers like the rose of Sharon and the lilies of the valley are referenced in the Song of Solomon (Song of Solomon 2:1, 16).  

God created a variety of flowers, like the rose of Sharon and the lilies of the valley referenced in the Song of Solomon, for our enjoyment.  “Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land” (Song of Songs 2:12, 2:1, 16).

At times, flowers referenced in the Word demonstrate the brevity of life and the eternality of God.  “The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8).  “For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away” (James 1:11).

Grateful to God for flowers.

Abide.

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” 

(John 15:5).

ABIDE.  A week has passed since surgery on my left ankle. Praise the Lord it went well! As I reflect one week, one word comes to mind, abide. Abide was critical for a successful recovery and it is critical to live the Christian life.

WIRED.  Last week, as I counted, at least eight things I had to abide in for recovery.  First, as seen in the photo, an IV; it was the first thing that went into my body and the last thing to come out of it. It supplied me with everything from pain medication to antibiotics.  Second, an ice water boot was placed on my foot to keep the swelling down. Third, a oxygen monitor was placed on my finger to ensure there was enough oxygen in my blood. Fourth, a catheter to relieve me of nature’s liquids. Fifth and sixth, two drains that caught the blood/fluid from the wound area in my ankle and from the bone graph from my pelvis. Seventh, an oxygen line was inserted into my nose to keep my oxygen level satisfactory.  Eighth, a heart monitor, consisting of six pads was affixed to my chest, to monitor my heart rate.  All of this stuff reminded me of an astronaut preparing for a rocket trip to the moon.

Thankfully, as I made progress in my recovery during the week, each piece of equipment was removed.  Finally, on Sunday when I was ready to come home, the IV came out. There were times when I did not want to be wired to all of this stuff, especially the oxygen in the nose. A couple of times I took it out to give my nose a rest, but a nurse's aid kindly reminded me to get it back in.

APPLICATION.

Do I really make it a focus each day to abide in Christ? I needed to abide in everything I was connected to for successful recovery. I am dependent on abiding in Christ not only to live for His glory, but to bear spiritual fruit. Apart from Him I can do nothing. I am reminded of Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  Apart from Him, I can do nothing.

Even for life I am dependent on God. “And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else” (Acts 17:25).

Ready.

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14).

It is hard to believe today, Sept. 23, is the day--surgery on my left ankle. Everything that has taken place on my right ankle will now be done on the left. A fusion of the subtalar and calcaneus bones with reconstruction of the ankle will happen. Plus, there will be a bone graft taken from my pelvis bone used in the ankle reconstruction. And after a quick visit with my surgeon this morning I may need my big toe broken and realigned.

Here in the last chapter of 1 Corinthians Paul gives a charge with five commands. These verses of scripture challenge and encourage me in my walk with the Lord and as I prepare for surgery today.

Be on your guard. Be ready for the spiritual battle that is at hand. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:10).

Stand firm in the faith. Standing firm in the faith is in Christ alone. 

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:21).

Be men of courage. May I be found as a man of courage. This too is through Christ!
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

Be strong. Praise the Lord that I can be strong even in weakness.
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians12:9-10).

Do everything in love. May my life be marked as a life of love.

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”
(John 13:34-35).

This x-ray provides a good picture of what the final product will be after surgery today. Thankfully, it's not as painful as it looks.  The screws you see will be removed in three months when the ankle prosthesis is put in.  You can see an x-ray of the prothesis under the post, "New Wheels."

New Wheels.

Today was my 12 week post-op check since I got my “new wheel” installed on June 17. It is not easy to explain to people what takes place with ankle replacement surgery.  Thankfully, this picture provides graphical assistance.

As you can see, there is a nice prosthestic below the tibia (bigger bone) and fibula (smaller bone) and above the talus bone.  This new joint, the Agility Total Ankle Replacement System, gives me a greater range of motion with no pain--sweet!   I will not realize the full benefit of this surgery until I begin to walk again without a boot or crutches in March 2009.  This will be after the left ankle has gone through two rounds of surgery with the first one on September 23.

Dr. Haddad liked what he saw in the films today.  I am now off crutches and walking with only the aircast boot—Praise the Lord!  I have been on crutches for six months since my first surgery on March 11.  There have been days when I have wanted to chuck the crutches and walk. Thankfully that day arrived today!

Although I will not be running, with this new ankle replacement I am reminded of friend of mine whose nickname growing up was “Wheels”.  He got the nickname for how he motored around the bases on the baseball diamond.  I doubt I will be able to motor like Wheels, but I am optimistic I will keep up with him in a fast walk.  Stay tuned for the results in 2009!

Better Than Olympic Gold.

But He knows the way I take; 

When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Job 23:10

Last week in Chicago over 170 U.S. Olympic athletes, who recently competed in the summer games in Beijing, gathered in Chicago’s Millennium Park for the taping of the season premiere of the Oprah Show. The show will be aired on Monday, September 8. Basketball stars Kobe Bryant and Dwayne Wade, gymnast Shawn Johnson, five-time Olympic swimmer Dara Torres, decathlon gold medalist, Bryan Clay, and the man of the Olympics—eight-time gold medal swimmer Michael Phelps—were there.

Winfrey planned to ask the Olympians questions like what does it feel like to achieve their Olympic dreams? What does it take to be the best in the world? What’s next for these world-class athletes?

All of the Olympic athletes who participated in this summer’s games gave it their all not only to compete in the games, but to win. Many of the athletes, however, did not win gold or medal at all.

Better than Gold.
Gold and medals reminded me of what Job reminded himself about God.  “But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).  Job, a man who was “blameless, upright, feared God and shunned evil”, was not competing in the Olympics, but he did face tests in his life (Job 1:1, 8). He lost family (seven sons and three daughters), home, and livelihood (7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants), but he still did not deny faith in God.

 
As I look at how Job responded to the trials that came into his life, I am encouraged.  He knew God and trusted Him. That’s why he could say, “But He (God) knows the way I take.”  Job was confident in the end result that through the trials that he faced he would “come forth as gold.”

For the life of a Christian, trials and suffering should be expected.  “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him” (Philippians 1:29). But trials are for our good. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).

Trials cause us to see our dependence on the Lord, grow us in our faith in Him, and conform us to be more like Christ.  Peter writes that our faith in Christ is more valuable than gold.  “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)

Even though we will most likely not compete in the Olympics or win a medal, if we are a believer in Jesus Christ we have something better than a gold—faith in the Lord Jesus Christ which is a gift from God.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and 1that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

One Thing.

Balance.  Since the beginning of July, I have been in physical therapy (PT), twice a week, to regain range of motion in my right ankle. In foot terms, I am working on plantar flexion – extension of the ankle resulting in the forefoot moving away from the body and dorsal flexion – flexion of the ankle resulting in the top of the foot moving toward the body.  Toe crunches, stretching the big toe and achilles tendon are also part of every PT session.

During the last couple of weeks I have been working on balancing all of my weight on my right foot/ankle.  In three weeks, Sept. 23, the right ankle needs to “step-up” and carry the load as the left ankle goes under the surgical knife.

Balancing on the new ankle is not easy.  Initially I could only balance for 2-3 seconds. The left foot/ankle, on the other hand, has no problem supporting my body 30+ seconds.  Gradually with a lot of work I am able to balance on the right foot/ankle for 20+ seconds.

Mr. Miyagi.  All of this balancing reminded me of movie, The Karate Kid, starring Mr. Miyagi and Daniel La Russo.  Mr. Miyagi plays the role of surrogate father and karate coach to Daniel. Daniel pursues Mr. Miyagi after he is beaten-up by a bunch of older guys (i.e., thugs). Daniel wants to know karate and how to defend himself.  Miyagi imparts not only karate techniques, but life values to him.  Daniel ultimately battles these thugs in a karate tournament and it comes down to facing the best one in the championship match.

Daniel fights injured throughout a number of the matches in the tournament.  He does not have full use of one leg.  As he fights through the championship round, it comes down to a move he learned on one leg.  The stance for the move is captured in the photo above.  Daniel uses this move to win the final point that captures the karate tournament championship!  This scene is a bit anti-climatic since it is at the end of the movie.  It is best if you watch the movie from start to finish to get the entire impact of this scene.

I am not Daniel by any stretch in terms of athletic ability or balancing yet.  But his balancing reminded me of the one thing that was important to him: being able to defend himself and win the karate tournament.

One Thing.  The Word is clear in the one thing I need to pursue:  Seek the Lord Jesus Christ, abide in Him, and live for His glory daily.  This theme is found in both the Old and New Testaments.

“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple” (Psalm 27:4).

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).

What is the One Thing you are pursuing?

Live the Journey of Joy.

Joy. It may not an attribute of God you have recently thought about. But it should be! It is one of the communicable attributes that the Heavenly Father graciously gives to Christians. “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:17).  G.K. Chesteron wrote, “Joy which was the small publicity of the pagan is the gigantic secret of the Christian.”

What has your joy be in over the past 24 hours, the last week, the last month or the last year? Is it in Jesus Christ?  C.S. Lewis wrote, “If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far to easily pleased.”

The Journey of Joy. . .

Joy: It Begins at Salvation.   Joy begins for the believer in Jesus Christ at salvation. It is in the person of Jesus Christ.  “Though you have not seen him (Jesus), you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9).

Joy: It is the Fruit of the Holy Spirit.  It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22). If you are Christian, joy in Jesus is what we must demonstrate to a world. It is command. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Joy: It is in God and Jesus Christ.  “You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever” (Psalm 16:11).

“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full” (John 15:11)

Joy: God Gives It.   “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You wth the oil of joy above Your fellows” (Psalm 45:7)

Joy: Jesus Christ is our Example.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-3).

Joy: It Culminates in Heaven.  Live as a stranger and pilgrim in this life focused on seeing Jesus face to face in Heaven.

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.” (Psalm 73:25).

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20)

“Joy is the serious business of Heaven.” C.S. Lewis

What is the chief end of man? 

Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.  

Westminster Shorter Catechism

Live The Journey of Joy!

Maximize The Mist.

“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” (James 4:13-14)

I just returned from a great week of vacation with my family in Wisconsin. We stayed on a lake. During a number of the mornings mist would rise from it. The mist did not last long as the warm sun burned it away. It reminded me of these verses in the book of James.

Our life is not our own, it is in God’s hands. He gives life and He takes it away. Moses knew this when he wrote Psalm 90, the oldest psalm in the Psalter.“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”(Psalm 90:12).

May we be wise to live our lives to the fullest for the glory of God—Maximizing the Mist!

Hope

Last Friday, July 25, 47 year old Dr. Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon Professor and author of the current NY Times Best Seller, The Last Lecture, died of pancreatic cancer.  After being diagnosed with cancer in September 2006, Dr. Pausch maximized his time and lived it to the fullest.

As of writing this post millions of people have viewed his last lecture on YouTube, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams", that he gave in the fall of 2007.   The purpose for doing the lecture was to leave something for his young children to remember him by and to know the values in life he lived and pursued. 

Pausch liked to have fun in whatever he did. He liked to dream and pursue those dreams. He achieved almost every dream he had except for playing professional football in the NFL.  He was committed to his family.  He valiantly pursued maximizing the life God gave him to live until his last breath.  He has impacted millions of lives by the way he handled a terminal illness. This is an encouragement to me.  But it seems there was one thing missing in Dr. Randy Pausch's life--eternal hope of Heaven!  

My heart goes out to Randy Pausch and his family.  From what I read in his book and viewing the Last Lecture video on YouTube, I do not know if he knew Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord? Where is his eternal hope?  Maybe before he died God saved Randy from his sins?  Only the Lord knows.

For the believer in Jesus Christ there is Eternal Hope.

 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-6)

Grateful for Eternal Hope in Jesus Christ!

Progress

Yesterday was an important milestone.  It has been almost six weeks since my right ankle was replaced on June 17.  The CT scan of my ankle and x-rays indicate everything is going well-praise the Lord!  I hope to post an x-ray of my "new wheels" (prosthetic) that was inserted during surgery.  An x-ray (picture) is as they say,  "worth a thousand words." It will help to explain what took place during surgery.

Each time I am in for a visit to my orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Haddad, he always takes pictures of my feet and ankles.

What do you think about these cute legs? :)  They are definitely not going to win any beauty contests. The right ankle is nicely aligned and healing well.  The left ankle needs some help!  It is on the way when it undergoes the same procedures, Lord willing, on September 23.

Dr. Haddad's medical giftedness is a blessing. I am grateful to the Lord that He led me to him. He is one of the top ankle doctor's in the country. 

I am thankful for the healing progress in my ankle and foot. When I reflect on the physical progress God has allowed to take place, I think about what spiritual progress is happening in my life?  Either we are moving forward, progressing, in our walk with the Lord or moving backward, regressing. 

The word "progress" is used found only four times in  the New Testament: Philippians 1:12; Philippians 1:25; 1 Timothy 4:15; and 2 Timothy 3:9.  Three of the four references refer to either progress of the Gospel or one's faith. 

In 1 Timothy 4, Paul exhorts his young protégé, Timothy, to not neglect the spiritual gift he received.   

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1Timothy 4:12-16)

Couple quick observations as I reflect on these verses:

1. Be an Example that Glorifies Jesus Christ. No matter how young or old you are in your walk with the Lord we are living for one purpose to glorify the Jesus Christ (1 Cor 10:31). As Paul instructs what we say, how we live, loving others, walking in faith and living a holy life is important.

2. Be in the Word of God and Proclaim the Word of God.  Know it, teach it, and preach it. God's Word is the compass for everything a believer does in life!

3. Be Faithful to Use the Spiritual Gifts God Gave You to Glorify Him and Serve Others (1 Corinthians 12).

4.  Be Diligent Apply 1 Timothy 4:12-16 So That You May Progress in the Faith! 

"Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress." (1 Timothy 4:15)  In other words, these commands are important to live out each day. Be absorbed and focused on living them!

5. Warning: Watch Your Life. "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers" (1 Timothy 4:16).

How are you progressing in your walk with Jesus Christ today?

Training

“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 

1 Timothy 4:7-8

The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing are in two weeks. World-class athletes from around the globe have sacrificed it all: sleep, time with family and friends to represent their country in China for one purpose—to win a gold medal!

As enter into the third week of physical therapy on my ankle, my training has not been as intense as an Olympic athlete. But it has been focused. Not only have we worked on my ankle, but also on my hip, and shoulder. The right hip has been tight because of having to keep most of the weight off of my right foot. The right shoulder has been in pain due to arthritis which has been further aggravated by walking with crutches.

As I think about training and the physical therapy I will be in for 1o more weeks, I am reminded of these verses from 1 Timothy 4:7-8. The elder apostle Paul reminds his young protégé, Timothy, what’s important in life: godliness over physical training. This is not to say you should not exercise, eat right, and take care of your body. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). But it does emphasize the importance of pursuing godliness not only for this life, but also for the future when a believer will see Jesus face-to-face in “the life to come”—Heaven.

“Training yourself to be godly” takes work.  The Puritans called it "holy sweat"! In the context here it is likened to working out in a gym, but the focus is not on the physical but on the spiritual--your own heart.  Are you pursuing Jesus Christ through spending time with Him in His Word, in prayer, turning from sin, confessing it and forsake it? Have you praise the Lord in song today? Praise the Lord that we can do it with His help. In Paul’s second letter to Timothy he writes, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).

Training with perseverance through His strength and grace.

My physical therapists. 

Jen getting after it on my ankle.

Dr. Linda