March Keynotes

For those who have been far from Chris, allow me (Rebecca) to paint three pictures for you of what he’s been up to since Christmas. . .

Westminster Days

The first is of Chris in the Westminster Library. This is where he spends many of his week-day hours along with his trusty thermos full of coffee and his notoriously heavy black rolling book bag at his side. To my delight, he is not sitting in the library alone all afternoon with just the books to keep him company. He is often studying with a group of guys who also happen to be part of our church. This is actually an answer to prayer, as we had been praying for ways to build friendships in the midst of our busy schedules.

There are three classes he is taking this semester: Old Testament Introduction, Medieval Church, and Old Testament History and Theology II. The Old Testament History and Theology II class has been taking his knowledge of ancient Hebrew to a new level in the rigorous translations required.

Internship

The second picture is of Chris leaning over his guitar, a pen stuck behind one ear and a very content and thoughtful look on his face. He is sitting on his guitar stool or on the floor surrounded by papers. This picture is of Chris’ current project: to compile spiral-ring hymnbooks containing the words and music for our small group to use (as well as compiling a CD to accompany the hymnbook). A large part of the project has been writing down the guitar chords of hymns which aren’t usually accompanied by the guitar, as well as creating sheets with the lyrics and music to praise/worship songs which are more easily available with the lyrics and chords only. It has been time consuming, but we are hoping to be able to use this in the future as well, even when worshipping with family. Last Christmas at the Knaebel home, we found ourselves making copies of one song or another so the whole family could have a copy in their hand.

The small group is made up of five core families, three of those families with small children. We are the youngest couple so it has been a bit intimidating to me. Leading this small group is a part of Christopher’s internship at Calvary Presbyterian. Chris also occasionally leads the service and goes on weekly visitations. I have gotten to join Chris in building friendships with quite a few of those he visits, and it has been such a blessing to get to know these dear people!

At Home

The third and last picture of Chris that I’ll leave you with is of him in the kitchen washing dishes. He stands in our tiny periwinkle kitchen in front of the sink with a blue and white striped towel over one shoulder. This part of his life I’ll call “loving his wife.” Most days I work 7-7 and my ability to keep up with housework and getting meals on the table has been quite insufficient. It is not unusual for me after a day of work to walk into a tidy apartment, candles burning, relaxing music flowing out our speakers, and the table set for dinner. Chris has been preparing more than half the meals these past two months. My favorite so far is his broiled salmon with basil/dill sauce. It’s hard to believe it took me a while to fully appreciate this. Every time he did something that I considered “my job” I felt guilty. I’m learning that the roles in marriage will change depending on the season of marriage.

For those who have been far from Rebecca, allow me (Chris) to paint two pictures for you of what she’s been up to since Christmas. . .

At Work

The first picture, of Rebecca’s work world, is made up of filling many different roles for the Johnson family. To the children, she is primarily caretaker. She is always in the process of either feeding, bathing, watching, playing with, or cleaning up after them. To the parents (Todd and Bindi), not only is Rebecca the primary caretaker of their children, she is also their entertainer, butt-wiper, dishwasher, laundry-washer, house-cleaner, organizer, food-preparer (though with all of the activities of a normal day, she hardly ever gets to eat much of what she makes them; I remedy this by packing her a daily regimen of well-balanced goodness, though finding the time to sit and eat it usually still remains a challenge—as most mothers will agree), errand-runner and occasional grocery-shopper.

Maya just turned 3 years old this week and is a bundle of energy, wanting Rebecca to either play Princess with her (in which, of course, Rebecca is given the role of “Prince”), cook pasta for her (she’d have it every meal if allowed, and often she is given such freedom), go outside to collect bugs (she has a whole china cabinet to display them) or do some other activity. With one arm in Maya’s world, Priya (1 year) is often seen in Rebecca’s other arm. Although she is now walking, she quite often forsakes her newly found skill for the comfort of continually being held.

Rebecca’s work schedule is quite full (plus she has a 45 minute commute each way): Monday evenings from 5-11 she gives Todd and Bindi a date night while doing our laundry; Tuesday thru Thursday she’s there from 7am-7pm; Fridays are from 8am-3pm. Working around the house comes pretty naturally to her but having the majority of her world and energy spent so separately from mine does not (especially when compared to how much time we got to spend together at home during the first year plus of our marriage).

In the Real World

The second picture is of Rebecca trying to unwind after a hard day’s work. The demands of life (food prep, showering, and sometimes sleeping) generally eliminate this category from her normal weekday evening. She enjoys classic movies, a good book, bubble baths, a cup of tea, or a gym visit whenever possible. The weekends are usually spent recovering from the stresses of work, but we often find time for a date, a coffee shop rendezvous, or a get together with my sister and brother-in-law in the midst of normal shopping and living.

We Ask For Your Prayers. . .

§ For Rebecca’s perspective and energy level during these long days to be continually fed by the truth and strength of God.

§ For the Johnson’s, the family Rebecca works for. Pray that Christ would shine through Rebecca as she becomes an integral member of this family. Pray, ultimately, that they would come to know Christ.

§ For Chris’ health to continue showing improvement, and for his discernment as to when to push himself and when to rest.

§ For the Lord to continue growing us as a couple in the midst of such different daily schedules.

§ For the Holy Spirit to be present in every aspect of our small group, and for God to shape and grow us as we learn to minister together in this new context.

For our 2nd anniversary we celebrated once again at The West Avenue Grill, capturing the memory with this picture.

February Keynotes

School

This past semester, Chris drove stick shift everyday while taking a full load of classes at seminary. Admittedly, it was mostly out of pride to prove to himself that he could be “normal.” Nevertheless, the Lord graciously continues to teach us contentedness with where He has us. Through the strength of the Lord, the prayers of family and friends, and a couple of cups of coffee each morning Christopher was able to finish out the semester. A highlight was getting to write his first church history paper on John Nelson Darby and the rise of Dispensational Theology in North America. In January, Chris took a Leadership course and currently is taking 3 spring courses: Medieval Church, Old Testament History and Theology 2, & Old Testament Introduction (8 credits). He will also be continuing an internship at church consisting of monthly worship leading, weekly shut-in visitation, and bi-monthly small group leadership. He’s excited about the opportunities this semester holds.

Job
Rebecca’s job transition from the fall is finally complete. Many thanks to all who prayed/sent monetary gifts to us during the time we were without income. The Lord continues to provide for our needs, and this job is no exception. Please pray for stamina for Rebecca as she keeps a horrendous work schedule in order to pay Chris’ way through these seminary years.

Ebenezer Raised
We were very blessed to celebrate our second anniversary last month. In many ways, it has felt like far longer than that, but in other ways it is hard to believe that the Lord has brought us this far. We continue to strive to learn how to love better: each other, the Lord and those around us. Thus here we raise an Ebenezer, a reminder of God’s faithfulness to us over thru last two years of struggle and hardship. The more we get to know ourselves, the more we realize God’s faithfulness will remain a paradigm for the rest of our lives!

Health
Chris’ CK (muscle breakdown level) doubled with the stress of the last semester to the mid 2800s, though it has since come down to 1903 in early February. He’s trying to cut back on classes to better take care of himself and Rebecca, while resuming regular work outs at the gym.

Quiet Time
We are learning that we are forgetful human beings. If we don’t daily spend time with God reminding ourselves of the truth of the gospel, then our entire lives will be consumed with the selfishness of Christopher-ness or Rebecca-ness. It is because of this reality that our daily time in the Scriptures with God together has become an essential part of our lives and marriage. Pray for us as we strive to faithfully maintain this discipline.

Family Time
Christmas in Maryland was filled with many joyous times including singing with the family, as the pictures above illustrate. It was so nice to enjoy a week with Gramps and Nana Knaebel from Michigan, Grandma Ruby Pribble, both Chris’ sisters, parents, as well as Bethany’s husband Alex. What a blessing to be able to have all the Knaebels together for the holiday. Dad & Mom Knaebel seem to have both recovered from their broken feet. Thanks to all for their prayers. Pray for Grandma Pribble who currently suffers from a very painful crushed vertebra in her back.
As for the Hall family (Rebecca’s side), there will be a week-long summer get together at Hilton Head Beach from July 12-19.

God’s timing was perfect with Jesus – so it is with us!

1. At the wedding in Cana, when His mom came to Him after the wine had run out:
“Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come” (Jn.2:4).
2. During the Passover preparations when His disciples asked where He wanted them to make the preparations:
[He said,] “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’”
3. When the Feast of Booths in Judea was at hand and He went about in Galilee having refused to go because the Jews were seeking to kill him, His own brothers counseled Him go that He might “show [himself] to the world”:
[Jesus said to them,] “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here . . . you go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come” (Jn. 7:6 & 8).
4. After going to the Mount of Olives, Jesus early in the morning taught once again in the temple:
“These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come” (Jn. 8:20).
5. During the feast before the Passover, after His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, after Philip and Andrew informed Jesus of the Greeks who were seeking Him:
[And Jesus answered them.] “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (Jn. 12:23).
6. “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (Jn. 13:1).
7. After instructing His disciples during the Last Supper in the upper room:
[When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said,] “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, [since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him]” (Jn. 17:1 [&2]).

Latest Musings

Through my neurological immune-system disease Dermatomyositis the Lord is rooting out my heart idols of materialism, hedonism, Pharisaism, procrastination, and ministryism. Instead, God is teaching me to love the eternal pleasure in being heart-connected to Himself and others while being faithful every moment with what He’s given me to do. I’m understanding that less is more in everything except my relationship with God: better stuff but not as much of it, less relationships but emphasizing more intimacy and quality with those I have, doing less so as to do my best at all, giving more often than taking, sharing rather than hording, loving rather than lusting, enjoying rather than stressing, thanking over wanting, honoring over disrespecting, serving over expecting, communication over assuming, learning over lethargy.

The Gospel is becoming more central to my everyday thinking as I’m learning to value realness in life, personality, and faith. Becoming more like Jesus is solely the bi-product of daily struggle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan within my soul. As I become more aware of my own capacity for evil, the simple truth that Jesus loves even me becomes my lifeline and comfort-giving joy. I can serve God out of thankfulness because I’m an utterly sinful wreak apart from Jesus’ love for me! All glory to the infinite God Almighty for entering finite time and solving mankind’s rebellious heart condition. He loves us in spite of ourselves and we can love each other only because He has shown us how through the example of Jesus. I realize my need for God as my personal Lord more today than when I first believed in Jesus: praise Him for this continued proof of His work on me!

Are you fearful or confident, my friend, in where you’ll spend your existence after death? Jesus is the only way to knowing God. Scripture reminds us that: “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.” Do you adore the light that God has given to humanity in Jesus? Or are you afraid of God’s light and won’t come to Jesus because He exposes the darkness in your heart? The Gospel means that Jesus redeems dreadful sinners like you and me. This will either energize your life with purpose and significance or paralyze it in fear or indifference. Ultimately, whether you believe the truth in the end does not matter, for God will judge according to it on the last day regardless. As the hymn writer said so well: “Jesus, I am resting, resting in the joy of what Thou art! I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart!”

Knaebel Keynotes - Aug. '07

Marriage is fun

Rebecca and Chris have been going on monthly planned dates with spontaneous outings in between. We are growing in our weekly marriage counseling and learning how to communicate. Together, we painted and organized the apartment in the month of June. The above picture is from one of our many fun times with Chris’ sister Bethany and her husband Alex.

Internship

Since Chris finished Greek and Hebrew last year, the summers are now free for doing what seminary calls “mentored ministry” projects. This entails being supervised doing hands-on pastoral ministry at your local church. He has been helping out at church while our associate pastor has been on sabbatical. He has thoroughly enjoyed his responsibilities of visiting elderly church members who are often prevented by their health from getting out to church. This ministry of encouraging the physically weak of church has been a great encouragement to Chris’ soul. Feeling out their faith and seeking to encourage them in an appropriate manner has challenged and brought joy to him. By the end, he will have led two services, attended committee meetings, a session meeting, and a deacon’s meeting, served as a leader at Vacation Bible School, presented Sunday morning announcements, as well as attended weekly staff meetings and participated in their service planning and prayer.

We are thankful for God’s providing this perfect avenue for Chris to be involved in ministry, get a little extra money to use on paint and apartment decor, and to grow in his faith by encouraging the elderly with the truth of Jesus’ walking with them through their trials. What other comfort gives a tired soul real peace as they wait for the death of their bodies than that they will soon see Jesus in heaven because of His perfect life (not theirs) and death and resurrection on their behalf? We know of no other better hope in this life! The old song we sang as kids is true AND comforting: “Jesus loves me . . .for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me—the Bible tells me so!”

New Job

In our weakness, the Lord provides. Last night we confirmed the next step for Rebecca’s work: we ate dinner with the perfect new family for her to nanny! We are excited about this and know the Lord led us to the right family, as we were in contact with over 30 of them between Craig’s List and an agency. There will only be two weeks of no income between jobs, which will be a stretch but we are so thankful for the way God has graciously provided once again for our needs. The family has two daughters, a two and a half year old and a 5 month old. We are excited as it is closer to home, and will start out being only part time (though we’ll be paid for full-time) which will give Rebecca a more relaxed transition to her new family.

Health

Currently Chris still receives IVIG treatment for two days of 7 hours each in his home every month. In addition, he takes 30mg prednisone and a month ago recently added 150mg of Azathiaprine (aka Imuran) to his daily regime. Imuran is a cancer-treatment drug safer than the previously being considered alternative Methotrexate. It will take 2-5 more months before we know if it will help his strength return at an increased rate. Currently, he is going to the gym about 3 days/week and able to do about 6 laps in the pool (with breaks) and some weights or 25 minutes on the bike. He’s scheduled to try to take four classes in September, though his actual strength will be impossible to know until classes begin.

Vacation

Rebecca’s parents are sending us off for two days to the Pocono’s for some R & R before they join us for the rest of the first week of September. We are excited to spend some time doing nothing. Thanks Halls for such a sweet birthday gift to Rebecca!

Prayer

Chris’ dad had surgery on a broken collar bone and four toes last week to insert pins after a judgment-induced motorcycle mishap. Pray for patience for him in the midst of this next three months of trial and for Chris’ mom as she cares for him while working.

Diner Dating

I wish everyday could be a diner day. Last Saturday while looking for a local vanishing arboretum, Rebecca and I stumbled upon this cozy little diner off of Philly's Broad Street. It had been an often passed landmark on our way to and from the hospital a year and a half ago, but never before had been explored. Since our picnic destination had eluded us, we thought we'd eat our favorite meal of the day for dinner: breakfast.

The warm comfort of scrambled eggs on the tongue while the mind is being stimulated by diner coffee with milk in it-- soothes the body like few things I know. The spectacular view of my beloved's eyes and the dancing laughter that they silently communicated to me were what made me wish every day was a diner day.

While waiting for our food we quizzically guessed the other's responses to different situations. It proved an enjoyable exercise for getting to know each other a little better.

Picnics can wait; there's nothing like breakfast at the diner :)

My new job

Since I'm now off from seminary for the summer, I thought I'd pick up an extra job. A friend knew I was already doing a part-time internship at my church while one of my pastors is on sabbatical, so he recommended I apply at our mall's nearby Casual Male XL. It turns out they like me so much that they published my first photo in their early May catalogue! Sadly, they made me give back the shirt :( If anyone can spare $80, I'd love it back. For those of you who remember my salmon colored shirt from high school: I'll bet you never thought it would take me this far! Go big salmon!