Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson

something to help you laugh and think about life with Christ

Author: pickleheavenpress

I have served as a pastor in East Texas for 32 years and it is my delight to continue my ministry online
face it — March 6, 2024

face it

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I’m aged now , but my voice is stronger than ever before.  Oh, I know… my vibrato sounds like it’s wired to a yoyo, and I have a rasp now that could strip the paint off a desk. 

But strength, I got, and I have my patients to thank.  In my work as a hospice chaplain I care for mostly elderly folk.  My injections are not medicinal but verbal.  My goal is to encourage and comfort them as they journey on.  But it can be a challenge.

A typical visit goes like this.  I arrive and find the TV blaring.  The volume is cranked up because the person struggles with hearing.  If they also struggle with their memory, they won’t know where the remote is. 

So, I have to ratchet up the volume of my voice to be heard over the TV.  Everyone else in the facility can hear me except my patient.  I sometimes think of the biblical Proverb, “If someone blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted as a curse to him.” – Proverbs 27:14. I bet I get cursed a lot.

Some have profound hearing loss.  There was a sweet lady who was 102 years old.  Her vocabulary was small – mostly the word, “What?”   She loved to hear me sing hymns.  But to do so, I had to crowd my guitar and my face inches from her ear and sing at levels that would shatter glass.

After 5 years of that kind of vocal workout, I have developed a lot of strength.  That’s just what happens when we are forced to meet the challenges of life.

No one said it better than James in his epistle.  He wrote, “…consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” –  James 1:2-3

He tells us how we are to think about our challenges.  He used the word, “when” not, “If.” Testing is to be expected so we need to be prepared.  

He also used the word, “joy.”  We are to consider the challenges as a source of joy.  No one is happy about difficulty, but we can have transcending joy, knowing that God is in control and that our testing is being used by Him to improve us.

Then there is the word “endurance.”    In the Greek, this word is “hupomeno” which carries the idea of standing under – yet bearing up under a great weight.  Think of the competitive weightlifter who jerks the bar over his head.  He scores only if he keeps it elevated and stable.

James tells us that challenges build stamina in us.    

Now you might wonder, “Yes, but wouldn’t life be better without the drama?”   Well, do you remember Biosphere 2?  It was a massive glass enclosed ecosystem in Arizona, an artificial earth created to better understand the forces at work in our world. 

They discovered that the trees within the biosphere would grow far more quickly than those outside.  But – they seldom grew to maturity because they toppled over from their own weight. 

You see wind aggravates and stimulates a tree to grow broader, deeper, and firmer roots but there was no wind in that greenhouse, so the trees toppled. 

And so, it is with us.  Without experiencing opposing forces, we would grow weak and sickly and eventually collapse.

Meeting the demands of your snarky boss is good preparation for one day caring for your aging parent.  Waiting on your child to potty train helps prepare you for those days when they the child takes forever to move into adulthood.

I serve patients whose bodies wither while their spirits soar simply, because their faith has been tested and strengthened and proven through the years. 

So let the winds blow, knowing that you are getting better, and your roots are growing deeper.

And PS: Forgive me if this post is too loud.  It’s just a habit.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

A Prayer: Lord, help us endure your lessons in endurance!

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you always.

Scripture references are from the NETBible ®

word keeper — February 28, 2024

word keeper

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It was the last day of the week at graduate school, and my friend was about to drive to Texarkana, Texas to attend his father’s wedding.  “It’s no big deal,” he said.   “This will be his fifth marriage.” 

The groom (whom we will call John Doe) had a sad history of matrimonial messes. Where did he even find a woman who volunteered to be Mrs. Doe number 5?

And his friends – well this would be the fifth time that they would show up with fondue pots and bath towels and make a dive for the ceremonial garter.

But one prankster friend came up with a novel gift idea.  He had some bumper stickers pre-printed and then distributed them to each wedding goer.  The sticker read, “Honk if you’ve been married to John Doe.”

The story is both funny and sad.  There were five different occasions where John stood before his friends and family and gave his word – saying, “I John take you, Mary, Bridget, Sandy, Anna and/or Lisa to be my wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death; as God is my witness, I give you my promise.”

He promised! He gave his word, but he broke it at least 4 times at last count.

Is it important to be a word keeper?  It is – extremely important!   It’s a foundation upon which a functional society is established.   It’s tough to do government, or business or church or even family if we cannot trust what people say.

This obligation reaches down from heaven because God certainly expects us to keep our word – in marriage for sure, but in every other aspect of life as well.

In Psalm 15 King David asks a penetrating question.  He wrote in verse 1, “Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?” 

David was thinking of the tabernacle where the Lord was worshipped back in his day.  The ornate tent complex was set up on a hill in the city of David, just beyond David’s palace walls.  It was the place where the righteous would meet with God. 

So, David wondered, “Lord, what kind of person is most welcome at your house?”  Do you prefer a person who calls you, “Thee” when they pray?”  Or maybe you are partial to prolific personal evangelists. 

David, tutored by the Holy Spirit, offered several practical and truthful responses to the question.  Included in the short list is this, “(they) keep their promises even when it hurts.”  – Psalm 15:4

God throws out the welcome mat for those who do what they say.  They are word keepers.  If he promised to build the house; he will build the house.  If she told the kids that she would take them to the park; they go the park.  If he promised to stick with her till death; he sticks. 

But that last phrase is disturbing – “even when it hurts.”  This is to say that there are times we might make a promise, but circumstances change so that the promise is harder, even costly for us to keep.

The builder underbid the job, but he did it anyway for the amount that was agreed upon.   Mom was invited out to coffee, but she passed because she promised the kids a trip to the park.   She turned out to be less of a wife than he expected, but he kept his vows anyway.  

They kept their promises even when it hurt.  

What a wonderful world it would be if we could just rely on others to keep their word to us.  And what a wonderful start it would be if it began with you and me.  

A PRAYER: God Your Word calls us to be people of our word.  Help us to do that!

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Scripture passages are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

stay clear of the camo! — February 14, 2024

stay clear of the camo!

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I am fairly cheap so I bought the cheapest wallet I could find – one made of nylon and Velcro.  It was inexpensive cause it had a camouflage design to it.  Which is why I can’t find it when I need it. (Although neither can a pickpocket!)

The sight of it is somewhat embarrassing, but so is the sound.  When I go to remove my credit card to pay the waiter – the rip of the Velcro attracts a lot of unwanted attention.

I exaggerate a little, but I really do have such a wallet. (I wish I could find it.)

The point of camouflage is to disguise or to cause something or someone to blend into their surroundings. 

It brings to mind a guy who was a camo Christian.  He is mentioned in all four Gospels, but many don’t know of him because he was camouflaged.

Joseph of Arimathea was a good man who awaited God’s Messiah.  So, when he heard Jesus preach and saw His miracles – he believed.  He counted himself as a genuine disciple of Jesus. (Matthew 27:57)

However, he was also a member of the Sanhedrin, which was the ruling council of Israel.  Jesus was a controversial figure, and to publicly identify with him might jeopardize Joseph’s position.  

So, he said nothing and allowed others to assume he was loyal to the status quo.  The Scripture referred to him as a “secret” disciple. (John 19:38). 

The word secret is translated from the Greek word “krupto” which means to conceal or hide, which is what Joseph did with his faith.  It is the Greek word from where our English word “crypt” comes from.  A crypt is where the dead are placed.  Ironically, Joseph’s faith was a dead and unproductive faith. (James 2:26)

He evidently was absent the day that Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.  A city located on a hill cannot be hidden…let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.   (Matthew 5:14 & 16)

It was ironic that while I was writing this post, I learned of a very unsecret disciple.  Anthony is the father of a friend of mine and he deeply loves Jesus and enjoys every opportunity to speak of Him. 

He was employed by a car dealer in Wichita Falls, TX.  They had a problem with his faith and therefore told him, “From this moment forward, you are to cease and desist from uttering one word, spoken or in print, which is religious in nature.” 

He did his best to honor his employer while remaining loyal to Jesus.  But after 25 years of distinguished service, management terminated him.  They cited 3 instances where he mentioned the words, “King Solomon, Sunday School, and God.”

Before the meeting concluded he said, “As my last official act as an employee of this company, and as a longtime employee of this dealership, may I pray for you?”  After a couple of seconds of looking bewildered, one of them said, “I would love that.”  And so, I asked God to help them remember that Jesus is the safe harbor to whom they can run and in whom they can trust.”

Such courage – the kind that eventually gripped Joseph. 

Jesus was condemned by Joseph’s peers on the Sanhedrin – but without his consent. (Luke 23:51) Once Jesus had been crucified, Joseph brazenly asked Pilate for His body and had Him buried in his own tomb.  (Matthew 57:57-60)   The crucifixion of His Lord awakened and emboldened him. 

We remember him today not for his camo, but for his courage. 

Our culture wants to put the cuffs on we who believe.  But Jesus is the only way to heaven (John 14:6) and we must courageously proclaim it.  It was difficult for Joseph and costly to Anthony, but they did it anyway.  So shall we!  

A PRAYER: May those around us know that we love Jesus and that You, Lord are the only hope for this world. 

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Scripture references are from the NETBible ®

honor rolling — January 31, 2024

honor rolling

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General Rommel, also known as the Desert Fox, surrendered his famous German Afrika Corp in WWII.  150,000 men were taken prisoner at that time and transported to the U.S.

The Geneva Convention required that prisoners of war be moved to a climate similar to the one where they were captured.  Somebody figured that the Sahara and Texas have a lot in common – so they shipped them all to the Lone Star State.

There were 200 of them quartered at General Harmon Hospital in Longview, Texas (now the campus of LeTourneau University).  They served there as hospital orderlies.

With only minimal security the prisoners were able to sneak out of camp and wander into the surrounding neighborhood.  Fortunately, the community around the hospital was uncommonly hospitable. 

My friend Jim Armstrong was a child, living in Longview during the war.  This is what he remembers.

A prisoner politely knocked on the door.  The Mrs. appeared and was flabbergasted and intimidated.   The prison garb revealed who the man was and where he belonged. 

He didn’t know English, so he gestured, moving his hand to his mouth several times.  He seemed to be asking for food.   This was puzzling!  He was fed well at the hospital.  In fact, the locals called the place, “The Fritz Ritz.”   

But the man was evidently tired of – all the mess – at the mess hall.  He longed for a tasty, lovingly crafted, homemade meal.  Well, she was a Christian and felt it was her duty to provide it.

So, he was invited in to dine with the family.   After dinner he expressed his appreciation by clicking his heels, bowing, and saying Donke Shoen – and then he left to slip back into camp.

This happened multiple times with a number of Longview families. 

Ironically, most of those families had menfolk who at that very time were risking their lives in Europe to stop the Germans in their world conquest.  Yet the folks back home looked upon those German men with compassion and invited them in. They honored their enemies!  

This reminds me of the words the Lord gave us in 1 Peter 2:17. He said, “Honor all people…”  NET Bible ®

I initially read that, and my mind scrambled to explain it away – because – well, I didn’t like it.    It seemed to say that a Christian is obligated to honor and respect all people.

The problem must be in the translation.  Maybe I should look at the New American Standard.  Hmm it says, “Honor all people.”  What about the NIV, “Show proper respect to everyone.”   Well certainly, the old King James will get it right.  Oops – it says, “Honour all men.”  KJV

Surely this cannot include that guy whose vote cancels out mine on election day!  It must not apply to those whose moral values I question.  I just know it can’t be speaking of those who despise me because of my faith. 

Yes, the Scripture tells me that I am to honor even those.  There is no getting around it.  The believer ought to make every effort to respect and honor every person.

But why? Probably because we are all created in the image of God.  We bear His likeness.  We are interrelated as family – sharing the same divine DNA.

And you know, thinking in terms of family, makes it seem doable. Most of us have learned to tolerate and get along with sullen siblings and combative cousins and such who may challenge us. 

We may disagree on politics, or religion, or schooling philosophy or even our favorite singer on The Voice.  And yet we make a super extra effort to get along and to honor them simply because they are family.

Unfortunately – we dwell in a culture where civility has become a casualty and respect is disrespected!   It hasn’t always been and isn’t fated to always be.  And by God’s grace maybe we can do our part to get the honor rolling!

A PRAYER: Lord this is a tough one.  Help us get tough and do it.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

the awkward audition — January 29, 2024

the awkward audition

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I was about to graduate from college. I had a wife, two children, two clunky cars and lofty career expectations – but no job prospects. 

Then a church finally called! They needed an Associate, and they were interested in me. Fantastic! Over the phone, we set a date to visit and then planned our trek to Dorseyville, PA. It would be our formal audition. The pastor followed up with a letter to verify the details.

We arrived at the church building, but there was no welcoming committee.  I found the pastor in his office and introduced myself.  His smile vanished.

This did not instill me with confidence.   He sheepishly introduced himself, and then took my family to the parsonage where we would stay for the weekend.  He introduced us to his wife, and her smile vanished.

Wow!  Was it my breath?

They told us then, that we had arrived a day early and they were not prepared for us.  He had changed the arrival date in his follow-up letter to me, which I probably should have read. 

We felt like a great imposition – which we actually were.  It was a terrible start to the weekend, and yet it went downhill from there.

As I said, we were lodging at the elderly pastor’s home.  That weekend, our 18-month-old son discovered the word “no”!  “K.C we need to change your diaper” – “No!”  “Time for bed.” “No!” “Son, you need to leave all those fragile knick-knacks alone.”  “No!” 

He must have said it a thousand times.  The pastor was alarmed by the rebel in his home, and I was astonished by this new behavior and not quite sure what to do.

At breakfast the kids were served, “All Bran.”  Needless to say, how that went. 

In the evening, we joined them for family devotions.   The pastor read from, “The Upper Room” while my four-year old daughter sat on his wife’s lap tugging at the straggly hairs on the lady’s chin. 

Well, we made it back home, and eventually received a letter saying, “Sorry, we chose someone else.”  And I said to myself, “Duh!” 

I really wanted, even needed that job.  My self-esteem and my bank account were both running on empty even before our PA experience.  But I knew the Bible well enough to know that God is sovereign, that He controls all things and that He allowed the rejection because He was looking out for me and my family.

Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:11, “In Christ we too have been claimed as God’s own possession, since we were predestined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will.”  NETBible ®  There are several things to note here:

– First: We belong to God.  He has claimed us.  Hmm.  I value what I possess.  I have a great guitar and I spare no expense in keeping that thing in tip top shape.  God is even more meticulous and considerate about His precious possessions.  He wants only our best. 

– Second: He has a plan for us.  “We were predestined according to the purpose of His will.”  His plan is a good plan.  It is comprehensive and includes everyone and everything that might touch or affect us.

Third: He brings that plan to pass.   He is the Lord of the universe, Master of all things and people.  He makes sure that we experience His good and perfect plan. 

The Lord eventually opened a door to a ministry in Texas.  We were blessed to serve at a church where we could feel at ease – where our children could be children – and where we would be accepted and even cherished just as we were.

It was a very healthy place for us and our kids grew up loving Jesus and His church. 

This experience reminded me that sometimes things just don’t go my way, but as long as they’re going God’s way – it will be alright. 

A Prayer: Lord thank you for the frequent and sometimes uncomfortable reminders that You are sovereign.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.  

manipulated! — January 19, 2024

manipulated!

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Oh Wow! I have been manipulated by a video game. The app is called Royal Match, but it is one of many apps that are similarly designed.

It begins with an enticing drop-down ad featuring lots of happy users.  The download is free and there are no ad interruptions, plus you can play offline.  It’s ideal.  It appears that there are no strings attached. 

So, I download and play. The developer made it so easy that even someone over age 12 can succeed. The gains are lavish. Scores of coins and bonuses are collecting, and the rush of success feels good. No downside, so I play on.

At certain points, they pit me against other players.  Peer pressure pervades.  At other times I’m forced to play against the clock.  The frantic pace keeps me engaged. 

I eventually reach a point where I’m stuck.  I need to spend some actual cash to get that extra boost to beat the next level.  This was not disclosed in the promo.   If I don’t buy, I’m warned that I’ll lose what I already have.  Pressure prompts my purchase. 

When I lose successive times, I’m forced into a 30-minute time-out.  Like a junkie, I keep checking the clock – is it time yet?

When I first picked it up, I could play and set it aside.  But now every unscheduled moment I work the app.  Sometimes I wake up at 3 a.m. and seek my device. 

I have to play – I must.  I’m in too deep to stop.

______________________

Honestly, it’s as if the app developer was the devil himself.  No, there is nothing evil about the game, but the way it manipulates me is so like the devil.

His essential work is to tempt us, by that which draws us away from God.  He is so identified with temptation that Scripture dubs him, “the tempter.”  (Matthew 4:3) 

Those of us that are planted on the rocky soil tend to fall away when tempted.  (Luke 8:13) Those planted in the good soil don’t always fare so well either.

Satan is relentless in his quest.  Consider his attack on Jesus, “When the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until a more opportune time.”  (Luke 4:13)  Satan levied one unsuccessful attempt after another, until he punted and waited for a more opportune time.  

Honestly, it is uncanny how the manipulations of a video game, reflect the devil’s methods.

You have heard of William the Conqueror.  Time to meet William the Loser!   He also responded to a drop-down ad – one featuring an alluring young lady.   It wouldn’t hurt to click the image.  His wife didn’t know the password on his phone.  It’s ideal – no strings attached. 

He clicked and considered. She was lovely. He was stirred.  It made him feel good.   And it was so easy – no downside.   So, he chose to play on. 

But now they want money to see more.  If he doesn’t buy, he will lose the discount offer.  The pressure is on, so he makes his purchase. 

William’s wife enters the den.  He shutters the app.  It seems like an eternity as he waits on her exit.

When he saw that first image, he could look, and then set it aside.  But now every unscheduled moment he craves more.  Even at 3 a.m.  His life is unraveling, but he keeps on playing.  He’s in too deep to quit.

OK – with the gaming app, there really isn’t a terrible dark downside.  But with sin, the consequences are devastating. 

We may not struggle with William’s temptation, but the devil also knows our personal weaknesses and relentlessly seeks to exploit them.   So, here’s what we can do to counter his assaults.

1. “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”  (Luke 22:40)

2. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7)

3. Be careful with gaming apps that train us to give into temptation. 

A PRAYER: Lord it often feels like we are in over our heads.  Deliver us from evil. 

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Scripture references are from the NETBible

the longest bridge — January 17, 2024

the longest bridge

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The strait between New Brunswick Canada and Prince Edward Island is enormous and it was a big problem to folks in the Great White North.  The strait would freeze in the winter rendering travel by ferry impossible.  So, the Confederation Bridge was built.   

The span is more than 8 miles long and is the longest in the world.  It even has its own zone for the weather forecast.  The bridge is convenient to use but it’s costly.  In 2023 the toll was $50 Canadian per car.   

When it was first opened, they found that 1 out of every 10 drivers would seize up in fear when they tried to cross it because they couldn’t see the end of it.  It disappeared into the horizon.  

It was such a problem that the toll plaza had to provide bridge escorts who took the wheel for jittery motorists.   The driver would just scooch over and relax and let an expert take the wheel.

John Denver led us to believe that West Virginia is almost heaven, but I am thinking Prince Edward Island may be a better comparison.

The strait freezes in the winter and makes passage to the island by boat impossible.  The way to heaven, however, is more than impossible.  Forget trying to earn your way.  Jesus set a very high standard for us.  He said, “So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” – Matthew 5:48

A perfect balloon will hold air, but one teeny pinhole will explode it and make it useless.  Likewise, one single sin makes one less than perfect.  

But God gave us a bridge.  Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.” – John 14:6   Jesus claimed to be the way, the only way to heaven.   

The fare for the Confederation Bridge is hefty, but the fare to heaven is far greater.   Paul told us that the wages of sin is death. (Romans 3:23)   This is to say that anyone and everyone who has gotten crossways with the ways of God is a sinner and has chosen by default to spend an eternity in hell – to suffer a death that never ends. 

But the apostle John opened the book of Revelation with this tribute to Jesus.  He said, “To the one who loves us and has set us free from our sins at the cost of his own blood.” – Revelation 1:5

What wonderful news.  Jesus, motivated by His love for us, set us free from our sins.  It cost Him His lifeblood, shed on the cross of Calvary.  He died for us and by faith we receive His gift.

But we still need to cross that bridge.  Like the island, we are just not able to see heaven from where we stand.  Though we trust the Lord, some of us still get the jitters as we think about the journey.   

Fortunately, for people like us, an escort has been provided. Again, it is Jesus to the rescue.  He spoke these words of comfort, “I am going away to make ready a place for you. And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too.” John 14:2-3

He promised to return, and to join us.  He will be right there with us when it’s time to make that journey home.  We won’t go it alone.

It is quite amazing!  Jesus became our bridge, paid the toll, and plans to be with us to escort us across. 

It is not an optional journey by the way.  They say 100 out of every 100 people

die.  We either cross that bridge or perish in our sins.  The journey begins with a prayer like this…

A PRAYER: I want to cross over to the other side.  Jesus, please forgive me for my sins, cleanse me and give to me the priceless gift of eternal life.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you!

Scripture references are from the NETBible ®

no deductible — January 7, 2024

no deductible

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Sally grilled up some steaks for dinner.  She set a T-bone in front of her husband, but he wasn’t happy to find that a big chunk of it was missing.  “What happened to my steak?” he asked. She said, “Oh I started charging a 20% deductible.”

Don’t you just hate that word – “deductible?”   A deductible is the amount of money that we must pay towards a claim before the insurance company pays their part.

The hospital bill could be $50,000.  The insurer promises to pay $45,000 towards it but not until I kick in that first $5,000.  So, what if I wreck my car?  There’s a deductible again.  If I don’t pay it to the auto body shop when I pick up my car, then I don’t get my car back.

I wonder if heaven could be like that.  What if there is a hidden deductible? 

What if I tap on the gate of heaven one day and say, “I’m here!”   But the angelic gatekeeper says, “OK great, well let’s look at the ledger.  It says here that you gave your life to Christ in 1972 and He paid for your sins when He died for you on the cross.  So that’s all good.  But oh, there is that dreaded deductible.”  “What?” I cry.  “I don’t know anything about that!”

The angel says, “Oh sure, it’s in the fine print of your Bible.  Look up Acts 16:31 and read it for me please.”   “OK, it says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.” – NETBible®  “And I have done that.  I am trusting Christ and His work at the cross to save me.”

“Yeah, but check out the footnote.  It says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and tithe, and make it to church 3 out 4 Sundays a month and be nice to your dog and you will be saved.” 

“Well, I have done some of that, but not all.”  “Sorry,” says the angel.  Christ will not pay for your sins until the deductible has been met.”

What a grim day that would be if this were true – but it isn’t. 

With Jesus there is no deductible.  Peter put it this way in 1 Peter 3:18, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”   – NIV

“Once for all…” the apostle said.   Christ died for sins.  He did that one single time, and yet the coverage is comprehensive.  He died for all – all the sins – of all the people – for all of time.

This was how the Righteous One, brought we the unrighteous to God.

Sure, but we need to do something – don’t we?  No – not in order to earn it.  The apostle Paul wrote these words to us in Titus 3:5-7

“He saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy… and so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.” – NETBible ®

Salvation is a generous act of His mercy, and the things that we do or don’t do – do not enter into it.  Our efforts at being self-righteous are as filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6) It’s all about His mercy.  And yet because of what He has done, we have the “confident expectation of eternal life.”

Don’t you love those words?  The “confident expectation of eternal life.”

There is absolutely no deductible with Christ’s plan.  Jesus paid it all.

Now I am going to be straight up with you.  I do tithe, and I make it to church more like 4 out 4 Sundays, and fortunately I do not have a dog to be nice to.

But this is not me paying my deductible.  This is me expressing my gratitude to our merciful Lord for all He has done for me.  

What about your policy?  If it requires a deductible – you need a new one.

A PRAYER: Jesus thank you dying for all the sins of all the people for all of time.  

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you!

Solve It! — January 3, 2024

Solve It!

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Let’s take the principles in the book of Proverbs and organize them so that we have a broad and yet detailed approach to solving the problems that confront us.  We do this by working through a series of questions.

Q1: Do I see any problems developing (Prov 27:23-24)

Solomon tells the herder to be constantly aware of the condition of his flock because his future prosperity rests on this information.  Likewise, we need to diligently watch over the things and relationships that God has entrusted to us.   A small problem that is caught, doesn’t become a big one.

Q2: What is the problem? (Prov. 22:13a)

The person in the proverb discovered a lion outside.  He decided that it was a problem.   We need to recognize a problem for what it is.  Most problems seem to enjoy making an appearance and aggravating us.  But we tend to procrastinate – and postpone doing anything about them.

Q3: What may happen if the problem is not addressed? (Prov. 22:13)  

This is where you count the potential costs.  The sluggard knew that he would be eaten by the lion if nothing were done about it.   In the same way, we need to ask ourselves, “What could possibly happen if I don’t take care of this problem right now?”   When we count the potential costs – we are borrowing pain from the future which tends to motivate us into action today. (16:26)

Q4: To whom do I go for advice.?  (Prov. 11:14; 20:18)

                        a. Find an advisor who fears the Lord. (Prov. 9:10)

                        b. Find an advisor who is mature. (Prov. 20:29; 23:22)

                        c. Find an advisor who has a good reputation.  (Prov. 22:1)

                        d. Find an advisor who is objective.

                        e. Get more than one opinion (Prov. 11:14)

Q5: What does God’s Word say about it?   (Prov. 30:5)

When the Word does speak to an issue, we want to be very careful to drink up every bit of information we can.  Get yourself a good study Bible, maybe even a topical Bible.  And make sure you have a concordance so you can search out various themes from Proverbs.

Q6: What are the possible approaches to this problem? (Prov. 20:18)

Not every problem in life can be solved but there is a lot we can do with 95% of them.  You need to start with a plan.   Better yet is to create several possible solutions to your problem, which will enable you to compare and contrast and then choose the best one.   Get out a legal pad & create a chart like this & then brainstorm.

First Option  ____________________________________________________________

Strengths                                 Weaknesses

_________________________          ________________________

_________________________          ________________________

_________________________          ________________________

Provide a second and a third option as well, contrasting the strengths (pros) and weaknesses (cons) of each. 

Q7: Have I prayed for wisdom and help?  (Prov. 15:29; James 1:5-6)

Our choices matter to God.  Therefore, we should expect Him to give us the wisdom we need to make a wise one.  Seeking it in prayer is essential.

Q8: Which option do I choose?  (Prov. 19:21)

At some point, you will need to choose.  If we take the information we have gathered and bathe it in prayer –God will make it clear which option to choose. 

Q9: How and when do I start?  (Prov. 20:5)

So, you have a plan now.  You need to decide how and when you will start. Some of us can create a plan but fail to implement it.  The wise person will prioritize the steps and set a hard and fast date on which to tackle the project. 

Q10:  When do I plan to be finished?  (Prov. 26:15)

Some of us are starters, but not finishers.  Something that would help us to overcome this is to set a hard and fast date by which your project will be completed.

The wise person tackles problems as they come, knowing that to ignore them is to multiply the damage. 

CONCLUSION

So now you have a management plan for the problems that come your way.  But what if you implement your plan and you fail to solve the problem?   That’s the beauty of having created 3 original options.  You can go to option number two if you need and then even number three if necessary.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION

1. Which of the problem-solving steps tend to come to you naturally?

2. Which do you tend to ignore?

3. Which simple problem will you being to tackle with this problem solvers worksheet?

Oliver After Christmas — December 26, 2023

Oliver After Christmas

/pickleheavenpress

Here is a video to make you laugh and think featuring Oliver Oglethorpe and his post Christmas plans.