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
direct my steps — May 3, 2023

direct my steps

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Another cop left the force – but – it’s astonishing how it happened! 

Brent Brantley always thought that he would be a police officer.  But at age 31 he suffered a critical gunshot wound to the head in the line of duty.  He was not expected to survive.  If he did, it would be in a vegetative state.

In his darkness he reached out to the Lord, remembering Bible verses he had learned as a child.  He tried to say them out loud.  Over 18 months he miraculously regained his speech and a good measure of functionality.   Of greater value, he had come into a deep personal relationship with the Lord.

He was required to seek a new line of work. This just wasn’t in his plans for his life.  He was clueless about his future.  Eventually he went back to school with the intention of becoming a counselor.

He was near to graduation day when at the school library, he noticed a pamphlet about Bible translation.  He picked it up and began reading but was interrupted by a fellow student.  He put it back in the rack and visited with him.

As they walked out together Brent stepped on something which stuck to his shoe. It was the very same pamphlet. There was no trash can handy, so he stuck it in his pocket and went home.

That evening he found the paper in his pocket and began to curiously read it.  It told of the need for every person to have the Bible in their own tongue.  He understood.  After all, it was the Scripture that turned his life around. 

He sensed that this was all God’s doing, so Brent signed up with the Wycliffe Bible Translators and served his Savior as a missionary in the South Pacific among a stone age people.   

This story is quite amazing.  It is an illustration of a truth that Solomon penned in the book of Proverbs.  He wrote, “A person plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps.” – Prov 16:9

Brent had a plan for his life, but God was sovereignly managing his situation and directing his actual steps.

The variables are mind boggling.  Brent took brief notice of a pamphlet in the library.  He put it back to talk to a friend. 

Someone else thought that the floor of the library was a good place to leave a pamphlet.  And Brent followed a divinely planned path that caused him to step precisely on the pamphlet which adhered to his shoe for some reason.   Everyone else managed to avoid stepping on it – except for Brent.

He ripped it off and wanted to discard it but could not find a convenient trash can so it was still there where in the stillness of his home he could really read it.

And it changed the course of his life. 

How cool and comforting to know that our amazing God is at work in the specific circumstances of our lives to take us to a good, good place.

But don’t hurt yourself trying to understand it.  Solomon also wrote, “The steps of a person are ordained by the Lord – so how can anyone understand his own way?” – Proverbs 20:24

Honestly there are so many things that happen that are beyond our control: the company merger that eliminated your job; the prognosis from the doctor; the plunge in the economy; the loss of the college scholarship and even the new boss. 

But – we can keep moving forward through all the uncertainty knowing that our loving God is guiding us along whether we can sense it or not.   

PS: Brent Brantley is now a retired missionary but quite active with a pen.  He has written an excellent Christian suspense thriller: “You Cannot Grasp the River” A second is due out the summer of 2023 “Summer of the Waxman” (available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble)

A PRAYER: Lead on O King Eternal. Your plan for me is so much better than my own.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture references are from the NETBible.org

the cover up — April 26, 2023

the cover up

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There is a flashing light on my dashboard that is making me crazy.  It tells me that my tire is flat.  Hey, I could use one of those for my personality too.  But here’s the problem: my tire is not flat. 

Evidently the tire pressure sensor is malfunctioning.  The estimate to replace it is $293.28.   What? That’s about what I paid for the first three cars I ever owned at $100 each.

No way was I going to pay that!  So, what did I do?   I cut up a small piece of black duct tape and I covered up the light with it.  The tape blended in perfectly with the background.  Nice!  Now I can’t see the light and I don’t ever think about it – well except for now as I write this. 

Please do not mock me because you may have your own cover ups. 

Bill’s marriage is on the rocks, but he keeps telling himself.  Everyone has problems – we’ll be OK.” 

Milly prefers to pay the minimal amount on her credit card bill.   At this point it will take her 27 years to pay it off.  But she still uses her card like it’s a wad full of cash.

The doctor suggested hospice for him, but his daughter Anne tells herself, “Well it’s just till he gets better.”   

Most of us are pretty good at putting duct tape over the things that we cringe to confront.  This may be why David drafted Psalm 15.

In this Psalm David begins by asking “Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill”  (15:1)  KJV David is essentially asking, “God what kind of person do you really enjoy?   What kind of character feels truly at home in your house? 

David answers that question with the remainder of the Psalm.  There is one phrase however, that gets me every time I read it.   Verse 2 says, “He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.”   Psalm 15:2 KJV

That last piece is what concerns me, “he speaks the truth in his heart.”   

Some of us have trouble speaking truth with our lips while others do not.   But not many of us have mastered the art of speaking the truth to ourselves.

This kind of person is not afraid to look at their sad circumstances and assess them correctly.  This person can look at and judge their own actions and attitudes.  He/she is not afraid of the truth but confronts it head on. 

Hiding from the truth doesn’t make it go away.  My sensor is still broken whether I can see it or not.  And should I ever unknowingly have a flat and continue to drive on it, it will cost me close to $300 to replace that tire.    

Facing the truth gives us a chance to alter our course or ease our circumstances.  We help ourselves and those around us and David says, that we delight the Lord.

However, it takes a measure of courage, and a good dose of humility to do it.

Bill feels like a failure when he thinks about his marriage.  But it won’t improve until he faces the facts and asks his wife if she might go with him for counseling.

If Milly were honest with herself and make some changes, she could be debt free in three years.

Because Anne denies the fact that her daddy is dying, she is wasting the valuable together time they still had.

But how can we identify the truth, when we have made a habit of denying it?”  

Those who are closet to me are usually very aware of the lies that I tell myself.  Knowing this, I have occassionally taken them aside and bravely asked, “What do you see in my life that I can’t?”  It’s been super helpful to me.  

Hey, why don’t you rip off that duct tape and wrestle with the truth.  It’s time

A PRAYER: Lord it is time!  Help us to see what you see, and to respond to it with your strength

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

waking up is hard to do — April 18, 2023

waking up is hard to do

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My mom was a big country music fan. As a teenager, I was not. Hence, she had a weapon to use against me.

Each weekday morning, mom, with a shrill voice, would cry. “Jimmy get up, time for school!”  I would shake it off and nod off again.  

So, one day, mom put a Tammy Wynette record on the turntable.  At 1,000 decibels Tammy began to wail in her Mississippi twang, “Our D-I-V-O-R-C-E becomes final today.”  I jumped up, rushed out and with fierce intolerance I shut it down.  Kudos mom.  Mission accomplished!

Waking up is hard to do – but it is so important!  Peter would agree!

Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem.  There He would be betrayed, crucified and entombed.

What would His disciples think?  Would they stumble in their belief.  Would their faith grow as cold as the tomb in which Jesus would lay?  They needed to be prepared, so Jesus led Peter, James, and John up a mountain.  This is what took place there.

“As he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became very bright, a brilliant white. Then two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with him. They appeared in glorious splendor and spoke about his departure that he was about to carry out at Jerusalem. Now Peter and those with him were quite sleepy…” – Luke 9:29-32a

As Jesus prayed, His glory as God, began to emanate beyond His flesh.  It was dazzling and blindingly bright – something that could not be manufactured by a charlatan.  Profound evidence of His Deity. 

Yes, He had performed many miracles that required a divine touch, but great and godly men of the past had also performed healings and miracles.  Who was to say that Jesus was not just another of God’s hand-picked prophets?

And yes, He seemed comfortable with those few who actually perceived Him to be God.   But there are crazies today who also pretend to be God.

But when His glory was revealed on that mount, it was inarguable.  He was clearly Deity wrapped in human flesh.

The disciples, however, missed it.  They had a case of the nods. They had seen Jesus pray before and it did not enthrall them.  But they woke up.  The passage says, “Now Peter and those with him were quite sleepy, but as they became fully awake, they saw his glory.”  – Luke 9:32

I imagine Peter’s eyes were closed, but the brilliance of Christ’s glory lit up the inside of his eyelids.   He and the others were startled so they opened wide to see the dazzling display of Christ’s deity before them.  

This was far more effective than Tammy Wynette.

This physical waking became a metaphor for the spiritual awakening that also took place.  It was only when they were fully awake, that they saw His glory and understood what it meant – that Jesus was truly all mighty, all powerful and all together God.

Hooray for them, but what about us?  Could it be that some Christians today are still in their spiritual sleep number bed?  Like Peter we may have had some exposure to Jesus through His word, maybe even some experience with Him as He has answered our prayers. 

But there is so much more of Him to know and understand.  After many years of serving Jesus, Paul wrote, “My aim is to know him…” – Philippians 3:10

I can relate.  In spite of 7 years of formal Bible education, 32 years of service as a pastor, and 50 years in the faith. I am humbled at how little I know.

Fortunately, our Lord wants us to more fully know and understand Him.  That’s why He took the trio up the mountain.  Maybe if I ask, He’ll take me there too. 

A PRAYER: Lord we want to know more of You.  Overwhelm us with Your glory. 

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture passages are from the NETBible®

egg hunt? why? — April 5, 2023

egg hunt? why?

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I recently realized that the Easter Egg hunts of my youth, were truly about finding eggs – hard boiled chicken eggs. 

We were excited about the hunt, but I can’t remember why?  There were no plastic eggs filled with cheezy arcade quality toys or mini-Reese cups.  In fact, the gaily adorned Easter baskets looked more appetizing.

And what did I do with a basket full of 12 hardboiled eggs?  Add them to my sibling’s haul and we had 5 dozen.  That is a lot of egg salad, which I happen to despise.    

I was recently surprised to find that they had been doing hunts like that for a long time.

Early Christians connected with the idea of an egg.  The shell spoke of Christ’s tomb, and broken, it became a picture of the resurrection and new life.    

In the days of the knights, egg consumption was forbidden during Lent but they egg-citedly ate them on Easter Sunday in celebration. 

In 1290 A.D. King Edward of England, had 450 eggs colored and trimmed with gold and then distributed to his household

But what about the hunt?  It is believed that the fun dates to the 16th century when Martin Luther organized egg hunts for his congregation.  This was his way of honoring the resurrection story.

The practice was picked up by the German born- Duchess of Kent who put on a hunt for her little girl – the future Queen Victoria.   The succession of royals continued the tradition which eventually filtered down to the humble folk, which then crossed the ocean with the English colonists, until it reached my house in the 1950’s   

Its’ 65 years too late, but now I understand.  And now I wonder if the kid with the Ikea bag, scooping up plastic goodie filled eggs has any idea of the connection to Jesus. 

Much like Christmas, our culture has done a lobotomy with Easter.  The significance was surgically removed leaving only the fun.

So maybe we need a reminder.  Paul wrote, “For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received—that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures.”  1 Cor 15:3-4 NETBible.com ®

Paul believed in the resurrection and so do I.  Here’s why.

-The Scripture is peerless.  

There is no written record that is more trustworthy, has been better authenticated or has greater level of integrity than the Scripture.   

Scores of Old Testament prophecies concerning Christ have been precisely fulfilled (Isaiah 53) And the unity of the Gospel accounts gives us confidence in the Bible.

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John gave great detail about the resurrection.  If it were a hoax, then you would expect to find huge discrepancies.  Yet, each Gospel account agrees on the fine details.

– The disciples were fearless

If the resurrection was a hoax, it would have been a very, very big lie – in a very tiny part of the world.  To perpetrate a lie of that sort – would have required a coordinated conspiracy by Christ’s disciples.   

But people will not die for something that they know is a lie.  What we find instead are the disciples moving out to every corner of the inhabited earth and all but John were martyred for their message. 

– I experience His nearness.

Those who question the resurrection, question the existence of someone I personally know.   I met Him when I was 19.   He is as real to me as is my wife.  If I were to doubt her existence, she might slap me.   Answered prayers remind me that my Jesus lives

Our current Easter celebration is not all that it’s cracked up to be.  So this year make sure to include a genuine grade A egg in your hunt, and before the kids unwrap the candy, use it to explain the resurrection. 

A PRAYER: Jesus in the words of Thomas we are compelled to say to you, “My Lord and my God.” 

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

*Egg hunt background is from https://www.english-heritage.org.uk

makin’ it simple — April 3, 2023

makin’ it simple

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It’s not often that I am thankful for speed limits.  Today I am – because they are simple and standardized.  I mean what if speed limits reflected regional values instead. 

The black and white sign in Texas may say, “Hold your horses, boy.” The speed posted in Pennsylvania Amish country might be, “Keep thine buggy under 15.” In Nevada it may say, “Roll the Dice.”

And what about the legislative loonies in New York?  They might regulate the speed to the decimal level.  “Speed Limit 27.26.”  Unless it’s open country – then it’s 36.79 which lowers one tenth a mph. every ¾ of a mile as it approaches a town. 

The variations and complexity of posted speeds could end up being enormous and impossible.   

What a fun time my wife and I would have as we made that drive. “Jim, you are going 2 one hundredths over the speed limit.  Just look at the speedometer.”    “Uh OK, could you hand me a magnifying glass?”  

Then a yellow sign says, “Men working-reduce your speed by 35%.”  “Uh, Siri what is 35% of 36.79?” 

And if I get pulled over?  “Sir do you know how fast you were going?  “No officer, I am bad with math.”

We need clarity and simplicity when it comes to what is expected of us.

I imagine that is why Jesus helped us out in Matthew 22.

He was being accosted by the religious experts of His day, who were trying to trip Him up with legal trivia.  That is when this happened, “And one of them, an expert in religious law, asked him a question to test him: “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”  (22:35-36)

A fair question, long debated by the Jewish people.  The specific Old Testament laws that they received from God numbered 613.  How could anyone hope to understand and do them all? 

So, the “experts” conveniently divided them up into “heavy” laws which they deemed most important, and “light” laws which were not.  Folks were expected to obey the heavy ones and not worry about the light. 

If Jesus were to cite one specific law from among the 613, the experts would indict Him for being dismissive of the rest. 

So, He replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  (22:37-38)

Brilliant!  He cited the “great Shema” of Israel, from Deuteronomy 6:4-5.  This statement of faith was recited daily by every orthodox Jew.  It was simple and comprehensive.  Love the Lord your God with everything you got.  One law that called for complete surrender and devotion to the Lord.    

But then He added something unexpected from Leviticus 19:18 – words that were not recited by the Jews every day.  He said, “The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  (22:39)   

The common denominator in both is the word “love.”  It calls for a heart obedience to the law.  To love God and to love those created in His image.  Both are necessary.  Even the apostle John echoed the same truth (1 John 4:20)

Jesus wrapped it up by saying, “All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”  (22:40) This is to say that the entire 613 laws and the rest of the Old Testament are all more specific expressions of these two comprehensive commandments.

This two-part summary covers the ten commandments to be sure.  The first of the 3 relate to our duty to God and the last 7 to our fellow man. 

So, when we drive down the road of life, and we are not completely clear about the speed limit – we should default to love.  “How can I best demonstrate love for my Lord in this situation?”  and “How can I love the person beside me in a way that will bring the greatest benefit to them?”

A PRAYER: Thank’s Lord for such a sweet summary of your expectations for us.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. 

Scripture references are from the NETBible ®

P.O.W.s & Prayer — March 29, 2023

P.O.W.s & Prayer

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Obligatory prayers!  That’s what they were – so I prayed them each night with frightening speed. There was the Our Father and so on followed by, “God bless Mommy, Daddy, Jimmy, Sandy, Dougie, Carol, Mark, Grandmas and Grandpas and everyone I love.”  Oh, and then the grand finale, “and God make me a good boy – Amen.”  

OK – He is still working on that last request.

I’m not sure I really understood the practice of prayer back then, but I recently read a story from the book, “The Greatest Generation” by Tom Brokaw, that has helped me out.

At the height of WWII, American P.O.W.s were loaded into boxcars in northern Germany.  American fighter planes unexpectedly pierced the sky and began to strafe what they believed to be a German supply train.

One courageous G.I. pried open the doors of the boxcars.  The soldiers scrambled out looking for cover but found none.  One ingenious soldier rapidly organized and positioned the men to form a large human billboard that could be read from above.  It said, “USA POWS.” The pilots broke off the attack and then waggled their wings to indicate that they got the message.

Perfect! They banded together in their crisis to send a message to the heavens.  Message received.  Sounds like prayer to me!

It was Jesus who said, “Again, I tell you the truth, if two of you on earth agree about whatever you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.” – Matthew 18:19

The context for this is laid out in Matthew 18:15-18 where Jesus instructed the church on how to deal with congregants who choose sin.  A church needs wisdom from above for such matters for sure.  But then Jesus went on to broaden the context when He used the words, “whatever you ask.”    

He prefaced His message by saying, “Hey I am speaking truth here.”  And the truth is this, when two or more gather for the purpose of prayer, and are in agreement as to what they pray, then the Father in heaven obligates Himself to answer that prayer. 

So, does this mean that the prayers of an individual are not as important to God?  Not at all.    But there are benefits in praying together that help to conform our prayers so that they better reflect the will of God.

The key is in “agreeing” on what is prayed.  When I pray alone, I can be shortsighted or ignorant of necessary information.  I may even be selfish or blinded by a personal agenda.  Such things compromise my prayer.

But when my wife prays with me it tends to expose the imperfections in my prayer and brings a sound balance.  When my friends join in, the refining is even greater.

When I pray with others in unity, we collectively end up with a plea having the characteristics of true and effective prayer – a prayer marked by humility, sincerity and submitted to the will of God.  The very kind of prayer God is eager to answer. 

Elsewhere Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. – Matthew 7:7

Each verb – ask, seek, knock – all are plural.  These are activities that the group was to do. The word “you” is also plural in the Greek.  Jesus had a group in mind when He gave these instructions on prayer.

Certainly, personal prayer is important, but banding together for prayer is essential. Like the POWs together we spell out the message, “God help us.”  

Famous evangelist C. H. Spurgeon was taking visitors through the meeting hall where tens of thousands had been converted.  He said, “Come, and I’ll show you the heating apparatus.” They were quite surprised when he opened the door to a room where four hundred were gathered to pray. 

We need a full-fledged revival in this land.  Agreed?  Let’s band together and lift our message to heaven.

A PRAYER: Lord Jesus I pray – I mean – we pray for such a revival.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Scripture passages from the NETBible ®

taxi — March 22, 2023

taxi

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In the beginning – there was just the taxi until Uber and Lyft came along.   The taxi took its name from an invention by Wilhelm Bruhn in 1891.  He called his device a taximeter and it was designed to measure and record the distance traveled.

In my youth, I aspired to be a taxi driver.  I got my license and a job and was ready to go.  I assumed I would be paid by the hour, so I was surprised to find that I had to lease the cab each day, and pay a per mile fee, and cover tolls and airport fees and then purchase the gasoline from the overpriced company pump. 

On Monday and Tuesday, I took home about $20 each day.  Wednesday, I barely broke even.  Thursday, I owed the company money after working a 12-hour shift.  Friday, I quit!  I am not the brightest, but I believe a person is supposed to earn money when they work. 

But my week was not a total waste.  The people I met were amazing.  I transported a brainy nuclear physicist with a Ph.D. to his workplace.  Then there was the lady who would not get out of my cab until she got me to trust Jesus (even though I was already saved). 

I picked up a fare at 6 a.m. – a man in an expensive business suit.  He was headed to a downtown office tower, but not until I dropped him off at a downtown bar where he sipped his liquid courage.  And then there was the prostitute who wanted to trade her services for the ride.  No deal!  

I transported about 40 surprisingly different people in those four days – and yet they all had one thing in common.  They all needed a ride.  The rich, the poor, the pious and the reprobate.  Some were highly educated, others just barely. Men and women of every color, speaking multiple tongues and they all needed me to give them a ride. 

That so much reminds me of the Gospel. 

Wasn’t it Paul who wrote, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  –  Romans 10:9   Our desired destination is to be with the saved in heaven.

To get there we need to hitch a ride with Jesus.  His words are more obvious than a yellow cab.  He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  – John 14:6

To “confess,” is to agree with God concerning the person and the work of Jesus and to take your stand there.  To “believe in your heart” is to fully embrace the jarring truth that Jesus was crucified, died, was buried and then rose again.   

And who is welcome to come aboard?  Any and everyone according to Paul.  Later in that Romans passage he wrote, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  – Romans 10:13.   The door is open to all – the physicist, the moral soulwinner, the imbibing businessman, the prostitute and even you and me.  

We enter as broken sinners and emerge as new people with powerful spiritual potential.  But the best part about this deal is that Jesus pays the fare. 

Revelation 1:5 says, He “has set us free from our sins at the cost of his own blood.”   “At the cost of His own blood!”  Jesus shed His blood on a cross so that we would not have to.

So, keep your cash, put away that debit card, and don’t even try to barter or trade your services for His gift.  Because Jesus paid it all!  Confess Him as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and you too will be saved.

A PRAYER: Lord this is a very old message, but it blows like a fresh breeze on my soul every time I hear it. 

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture references are from the NETBible ®

*Taxi Picture by Peter Milosevic from Wikipedia.com

the punching bag — March 15, 2023

the punching bag

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Some people enjoy working out with a punching bag.  I don’t – because sometimes I am that punching bag – emotionally speaking that is.

The punching bag at the gym is filled with grain, sand, or maybe a collection of old unmatched socks.  It is durable, able to take repeated and constant use without breaking.   The best ones are covered with a thick leather skin. It also brings enormous health benefits to the user.

But most importantly it does not punch back.

So how does this translate to life? 

There was a friend whose expectations for me were greater than what I could deliver.  It frustrated her and she let me know.  Ouch I just got hit with an emotional uppercut.

She was a friend that I loved –someone that I just could not walk away from. So, I tried to take responsibility for any failure on my part.  But the discussion itself generated more offense.  Whoa!  I did not see that hook coming. 

From then on, she would leverage a jab of criticism whenever she could.  She wanted a punching bag more than a relationship.

I found great support in 1 Peter where he described how Jesus responded to such people. “He committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth. When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened no retaliation.”  (2:22-23a)

Jesus unjustly suffered at the hands of many.  He did not cry out in protest.  He quietly took whatever they dished out with a leather like skin and a commitment to not strike back. 

So, what was He thinking that enabled Him to endure such injustice?  Peter said, “but (He) committed himself to God who judges justly.”  (2:23b)

He knew that God, the righteous judge, would one day mete out justice.  He would address every undeserved hurt delivered by His foes.  Jesus believed that truth and therefore placed Himself in the hands of the Father.  (Luke 23:46)

Ironically, much like the bag at the gym, Jesus brought benefit to those who abused Him.  Peter went on to say, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed.”    (2:24)

His abusers eventually came to see that Jesus suffered by them, but also for them. He faced their wrath so that they would not have to face God’s. Their anger at Him was dissipated by His willingness to suffer for them. They came to Jesus and by His wounds they were healed.

Jesus endured what His erring ones inflicted to win their hearts.   He calls us to do the same.   

Peter prefaced his teaching by saying, “For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps.”  (2:21)

Paul put it another way, “Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse.” – Romans 12:14

Both apostles echoed the words of Jesus who said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”  Luke 6:27-28

BUT “wait” you say! “My spouse literally punches me!”   Well, there were times when Jesus was physically threatened, and He did what was appropriate to protect Himself. (John 10:39) until the day He faced the cross.

So, if you are in physical danger, the Lord would encourage you to seek out the help and advice of your pastor or a counselor. 

As for me, I plan to enjoy the many wonderful relationships I have in my life, but for those that are not so wonderful, I will hang tough until my steadfast love and God’s grace melts their hearts.

A PRAYER: Lord, if I must, help me endure the worst to be able to see the best in others.

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

Scripture references are from the NET Bible ®

Tetelestai: New Man Now! — March 8, 2023

Tetelestai: New Man Now!

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Here is some of the original fruit of the Jesus Revolution. This is the band Tetelestai. The name is taken from the Greek rendering of John 19:30 which translators rendered, “It is Finished.” The words of Jesus as He made the final payment for our sins on the cross. Great significance to the name. Unfortunately few could pronounce it.

The band was formed in 1973 and did ministry throughout the greater Central Ohio region. Pictured are Star McClendon (to the left) Les Zartman (in the middle) and Jim Johnson (to the right) Unfortunately our excellent bass player Gary Morrow is not pictured here. The song link is called “New Man Now” and was written by Les Zartman as a testimony of what Christ had done in each of our lives.

Sadly Jim Johnson is the only remaining member of the band. The rest are happily united with Jesus.

an angel did it — February 22, 2023

an angel did it

/pickleheavenpress

An angel did it!  I was sure of it.  I was about 5 years old at the time, and it was my habit to lay at the foot of my bed at night, next to the open window to let the breeze cool the heat of summer.  

One morning, I awoke to find that I somehow ended up at the head of the bed.

I wondered, “How did this happen?”  The next night the very same thing took place.  I marveled over it, and I could only offer one solution – an angel must have come in the night and moved me.

This happened night after night all summer long.  I fell asleep at the foot, but always woke at the head of the bed.  I wondered what God was trying to tell me through all of it.

But then in late August the nightly blessing suddenly ceased, and I was so sad.  

I was even more sad when I eventually learned that my dad was the one who moved me because he didn’t want me to catch a cold.  How disappointing!

But – when I was older and became familiar with the Bible, I learned that an angel just might do that kind of thing.

The author of the book of Hebrews wrote about angels.  He asked, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to serve those who will inherit salvation?” – Hebrews 1:14

He was in the middle of proving that Christ was preeminent over all even the angels.  This is important to keep in mind, but angels do serve their purpose – quite literally. 

The text says that angels are “ministering” spirits.  The word could also be translated as “serving.”   They are tasked with serving you and me.

They begin by running interference and arranging things so that we come to a saving faith in Jesus. (Acts 8:26; 10:3)

Once we belong to the Lord, He dispatches angels to rescue His people. Daniel said, “My God sent his angel and closed the lions’ mouths so that they have not harmed me.”  (Daniel 6:22) It was a supernatural intervention to be sure.   

Was Daniel’s an exceptional situation?  No! The Scripture says, “The angel of the Lord camps around the Lord’s loyal followers and delivers them.” – Psalm 34: 7

The Lord also employs angels to provide for His people.  When Elijah was down and out, it was an angel that provided his most basic survival needs.  – 1 Kings 19:5-6

Paul’s shipmates needed some encouragement.  They were on a sinking ship in the middle of a fierce storm when Paul gave this report, “For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve came to me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! You must stand before Caesar, and God has graciously granted you the safety of all who are sailing with you.’ (Acts 27:23-24)

And of course, angels are there to escort us home when we die.  When Jesus spoke of the rich man and Lazarus he said, “Now the poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side.” – Luke 16:22.

Now you may be saying, “Well the only angel I have ever seen had a Christmas tree stuck up his robe.”   

So, has anyone ever seen an angel these days?  It’s likely but we just didn’t recognize them.  Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not neglect hospitality because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it.” 

Angels are fundamentally servants, avoiding the limelight to do the will of God and care for us.

Billy Graham once said, “Angels are watching; they mark your path.  They superintend all the events of your life and protect the interests of the Lord God, always working to promote his plans and bring about His highest will for you.” 

So – did an angel move me in my bed?  No. But if my dad had not been there, maybe an angel would have!  

A PRAYER:  Lord God thanks for sending the angelic help.   We need it!

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture passages are from the NETBible.com