The Cross & Crutches.

New.

With the start of a new year and time to reflect, I am reminded of how often “new” appears in the Word of God. It occurs some 214x in the Bible. This brings encouragement to my heart and praise to God! Why? Check this out...

God’s Mercies are New Every Morning.

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:23-24).

Sing to the LORD a new song.

“Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth” (Psalm 96:1).

“He has put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD" (Psalm 40:3).

For the Believer in Christ who has Born Again, You Have New Heart & New Spirit.

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Eziekel 36:26).

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Walk in the newness of life.

“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

Know the New Covenant in Christ’s Blood.

“In the same way, after super he (Jesus) to the cup saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:25).

Daily put off the old self and put on the new.

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desire; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24-25)

Look forward to the New Jerusalem – Heaven.

“And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2).

All Things New, By Steven Curtis Chapman

You spoke and made the sunrise, to light up the very first day
You breathed across the water, and started the very first wave
It was You
You introduced Your glory, to every living creature on earth
And they started singing, the first song to ever be heard
They sang for You

You make all things new
You make all things new

Then the world was broken, fallen and battered and scarred
You took the hopeless, the life, wasted, ruined and marred
And made it new

You make all things new
You make all things new

You redeem and You transform
You renew and You restore
You make all things new
You make all things new
And forever we will watch and worship You

You turn winter into spring
You take every living thing
And You breathe Your breath of life into it over and over again
You made the sunrise, day after day after day
But there's a morning coming, when old things will all pass away
And everyone will see

You make all things new
You make all things new
Come redeem and come transform
Come renew and come restore
You make all things new
You make all things new
And forever we will watch and worship You

Now and forever You are making all things new
You're making all things new

Hallelujah...

Age: Is It Just A Number?

Today the USA Swimming National Championships in Indianapolis, IN ended.  Those that placed in their respective events punched a ticket to the world championships that will be held in Rome, Italy beginning July 17.

Dara Torres has been on the international scene competitively swimming, with great success, and has won 12 Olympic medals (four gold, four silver, four bronze) over 24 years. During last summer’s Olympics, while Michael Phelps caught most of the prime time headlines in route to winning an Olympic record 8 gold medals, Torres caught my attention.  Here is a gal that many thought was past her prime, swimming in her fifth Olympic games.  She caught my attention not because of her age, but because of her disciplined determination to be the best she can be.

A Rise & Walk.

“Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesdaa and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; 

he picked up his mat and walked.” (John 5:1-9)

Imagine not being able to walk for 38 years.  As you read this post that period of time could be all or most of your life!  As I have been on crutches for the last year, I can relate to that man who could not walk that Jesus miraculously healed in John 5.  What was his life like before he was healed? We do not know from the text but can assume it was not easy.  Yet on that day the man’s physical condition was radically changed forever—for the good!

As I have been on this journey during the last 12+ plus of surgeries, recovery, and rehab the Lord has graciously been with me through it all.  Recently, I began to wear both shoes on my feet. I have not done been able to do this, due to surgeries, swollen feet, and rehab, since March 11, 2008. I am walking longer distances.  At first ¼ mile was the limit and now I am up to 1 mile.

The Newberry.

I am getting into going to libraries. I think some of it stems from the need to read, study, and write for the thesis I am working on, “A Practical Theology of Living with a Physical Affliction to the Glory of God”. But it is also a place for quiet and solitude as I seek the Lord through His Word.

Earlier this year I discovered The Newberry Library in Chicago. I wish I would have known about it sooner. When I was a student at the Moody Bible Institute the Newberry would have been a great option for studying.

This place is loaded with books, a lot of them rare, plus a many volumes written by the Puritans including John Owen, John Bunyan, and John Flavel.

A Man. A Mission: 360/365.

"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).

Some people impact your life more than others. Dr. Calenberg, one of my professors when I attended Moody Grad School, is one of them. Dr. C, as he was fondly known, has a contagious passion to know the Lord and make Him known God through sharing the gospel—the good news of Jesus Christ—especially through missions.  Before returning to Moody Grad School with his family, Dr. C served on the faculty of the Jos ECWA (Evangelical Church of West Africa) Theological Seminary (JETS) in Jos, Nigeria from 1984-91.  While ministering at JETS, he was involved in outreach with students and started a basketball evangelistic ministry.

During my time at Moody, I always came away challenged and my heart encouraged through the time in the Word with Dr. C.  The first semester he instructed and challenged me in the importance of making sure I knew how to rightly divide God’s word (2 Timothy 2:15) through the art and science of biblical interpretation, also known hermeneutics. The “Church and Mission” class and a semester long book study of Daniel and Revelation quickened my heart to see God’s work accomplished through His church and the fulfillment Scripture when Christ will reign for eternity (Revelation 22:7-21).

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to see and hear Dr. Calenberg preach as he was in town for a mission’s conference in Wheaton, IL. The theme of the conference was 360/365. Be an intentional, global (360) Christian with the gospel every day (365)!  I have heard it said for the follower of Jesus Christ in regards to missions, “You are either sending (financial/prayer support), going, or you are disobedient.” (See Matthew 28:18-20) Dr. C preached that “God has call on every moment and on every area of our lives.”  This is not just for missionaries.  It is for all followers of Jesus Christ.  All of us should be involved proclaiming the Gospel where He has placed us!

"By Prayer".  Dr. C reminded us on the importance of prayer in ministering the Gospel.  God accomplishes great things through prayer through those who are completely dependent on Him for the work that He will do.  "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.  This is my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples" (John 15:7-8).

Better Than Playoff Hockey...

Hockey is back in Chicago! I mentioned that in a December 27, 2008 post, but it really is back! Hockey is to Chicago as deep dish it to pizza, Michael Jordan is to basketball, and sub-zero windchills are to a Chicago winter. Without them, you don’t have Chicago!

After a few pitiful seasons of hockey, the Chicago Blackhawks made a great run through the playoffs this year. In fact, they made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals before getting knocked out in a 4-1 series by their perennial nemesis—the Detroit Red Wings.

 I had the opportunity to attend two playoff games with my dad. The first game was a 5-1 rout over the Calgary Flames and the second one was a 7-5 win over the Vancouver Cannucks to win the series.  The later was one of the most exciting and loudest sporting events I have attended in my life.  There were five lead changes.   In the 3rd period the Blackhawks were down 4 goals to 5. It did not look good for the team get the W (win), but they did not give up.  They worked hard not only to tie the game, but to win!  In the 3rd period Jonathan Toews scored the go ahead goal.  Then   the youthful star, Patrick Kane, scored his third goal of the game and his first “hat trick” in his NHL career. (A “hat trick” occurs when a player scores three goals in one game.  It’s not easy to do.)

But you know something?  As I cheered for the Blackhawks, and experienced the excitement of “an electric atmosphere” of 20,000+ frenzied fans going nuts for their team, (1 million plus for the season) I began to reflect on the fact that there is something better—so much better and satisfying—than a hockey win, even if it is for your favorite team.  That something better is worshipping Jesus Christ throughout the week and corporately with the body of Christ, His church, through music and the preaching of His Word on Sunday morning!

“Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.  Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.  For the LORD is a great God, the great King above all gods” (Psalm 95:1-3).