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."