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
suffering and string trimmers — August 11, 2021

suffering and string trimmers

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I have a string trimmer to tidy up my lawn.  It taunts me!  When it was new, it was ridiculously stingy in feeding out the line.  Frequently the line would break off so that I had to manually take the trimmer apart and pull out more.

Recently it has felt the need to atone for its sins.  It now feeds out the line with insane generosity – 3 times more than what I need.  Now it gets all tangled and I must frequently stop and stuff it all back in.   

When I get to heaven, I may need to apologize for the things I have said about person who engineered that thing.

Now before you start a GoFundMe page for poor Jim, please know that I have sufficient funds to replace it. I’m just cheap.

But I will say this.  Most every time I trim, I begin with a prayer, “Lord please let this be the day this thing bites the dust so that I’m forced to buy a new one.”

______________________

Sadly, I have a few friends that pray that same type of prayer. 

Their bodies are old and frail and their minds sluggish.  Some endure diseases they can’t pronounce.  Most feel useless – a burden to their families. 

In their beds, they lay and pray, “Lord take me home. Take this old body and give me a new one.”  They understand heaven and are frustrated that they must suffer and wait.

Because I am a chaplain, they sometimes ask, “Why does God keep me here?”  I tell them, “It may not be about you.”  

Your kids need an example: 

When you were younger, they watched you and learned how to work hard, and manage their money and how to treat their mate.  By example you taught them how to live well. 

Now they need to be taught how to die well.  They need to understand how your faith sustains you though your body is failing.  It was Paul that said, “Show yourself to be an example of good works in every way.”  (Titus 1:7)

The unconvinced need proof: 

The unsaved in your circle of friends and family need to see the divine spark in your faith.  I think of the thief, who watched Jesus on the cross.  The man began the episode as a mocker but was quickly gripped by the way that Jesus suffered. 

Peter described Jesus in this way, “When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly.”   (1 Peter 2:23.)  The thief was divinely drawn to this person who handled His suffering with such grace.  You have prayed for your family and friends for years.  It may be the way you handle your final days that finally wins them to Jesus.

Through suffering we draw nearer to Jesus: 

Paul coveted something he called “the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings.”  He wrote in Philippians 3:10, “My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death.”  

Shared experiences, especially difficult ones, bind people together.  To suffer is to join Jesus’ unique fraternity of faith.  It is there that we find Jesus to be sweeter and more precious than ever before. 

You kids need to grow up: 

A good parent teaches their kids to take responsibility – for their room, their car, their job and so on.  It’s time that they learn to take responsibility for an aging parent.   The Lord was clear on this matter.  1 Timothy 5:8 says, “But if someone does not provide for his own, especially his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”   It’s true.  As we age, we certainly do become burdens – but burdens that God expects our children to shoulder.

BUT are you useless?  Far from it!  God is using you and your circumstances to accomplish rich things in the lives of others. 

“Why is God keeping you around?”  It’s not about you.  So, trust Him as you have in the past and endure with patience and grace until He calls you home.  

A PRAYER: Lord help me to suffer with grace and use me to extend grace to others who suffer.

Scripture references are from the NET Bible ®

makin’ it count — August 4, 2021

makin’ it count

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It’s a universal experience.   We key in a critical document only to find out later that it did not get saved – don’t know why!

Wasted effort; striving in vain; pointless labor.  There are few things that frustrate me more.  

At times I have been tempted to pray, “Lord I don’t know what happened to that resume, but I need it.  Could you do a divine undo and restore it to the hard drive?”

So far, He has ignored that request, but I wonder if God ever redeems a wasted effort.

She has prayed that God would save her alcoholic of a husband – she feels like she is wasting her breath.   He prepares diligently each week to provide a good class for the junior highers at church.  They could care less.   She has to correct her children on the same things over and over.  She’s convinced that they will never get it.   

________________

My wife and I were invited to participate in Gospel Sing hosted by a local church in southern Ohio.  We said yes but came to rue the decision.  The event took place on a bitter cold January night. 

We found the little country church perched high on an icy hill about a 30-yard climb.  We hauled a guitar, a 3-year-old and 4-month-old.  Oh fun!

We reached the peak after much slipping and sliding, entered the building and were surprised to find that it was a one room affair.  It was even serviced by an outhouse which was an icehouse that night.  This did not sit well with my wife.  (if you know what I mean)

KC was an infant that had to be continually jostled or he would wail.  So, while other groups were singing, I would jostle my son.   Just before our turn, I handed KC to a friend and gave him jostling lessons.  Someone needed to do it while we sang.  

Sharie and I began to perform our collection of original songs.  Soon after, KC began to scream.  My friend had failed his jostling exam.  The wailing reverberated off the walls of that small church building.  (and the congregation snickered.)

The boy’s howling was louder than our singing.  We needed to reduce the distraction so Sharie reclaimed him and resumed the proper jostling technique while she sang.  It gave her voice a new level of vibrato.  (And the congregation laughed.)

At this point our 3- year-old felt left out.  So, she climbed up the platform and began to cling to and circle us while we sang.  She passed through our legs and occasionally stopped to face her fans and pick her nose (and the congregation roared) 

We finished our set and sat – sure that had been the biggest wasted effort ever.  There were so many things that distracted from our musical message. 

However, months later, the pastor of that church found me and expressed his gratitude for our ministry.  On that icy night, we had taught the church a song that we had written based on Philippians 4:13. He told me that the church had sung that song nearly every Sunday since. 

Wow!  What we had regarded as a massive waste, turned out to be a meaningful investment in the Kingdom of God. 

The apostle Paul put it in perspective for us in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”   NETBible ®

“Stick it out” he said.  “Keep praying and singing and teaching and parenting “knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”    God has an amazing ability to somehow take our waste and turn it to gold. 

I had a friend in high school who was studying Mandarin.  I was perplexed and asked him why.   He said he wanted to be a missionary to China.  At that time there were zero missionaries in China.  It was isolated and all westerners were unwelcome. 

“A wasted effort” I thought.  But several years later we met again at the very time he was leaving for China.   The nation had finally opened up to outsiders and he was already equipped with Mandarin.   Isn’t God’ amazing!

SO, “Be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 

A PRAYER: Lord help me stick it out when I’m tempted to sit it out.

on the march — August 2, 2021

on the march

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In our family, “marching” was a season.  Each of our kids were part of the school marching band that entertained us at the football games.   From the oldest to the youngest, we spent about ten consecutive years in the stands watching them gyrate back and forth and weave in and out with precision.  It was fun but sometimes tedious.   A few of the routines were rehashed all 10 seasons. 

Theirs was a military style band which required them to wear enormous hats with a brim that came down over their eyes.  Add a trumpet or sax to their lip and you could never be sure who it was.   In fact, we have a lengthy VHS video of a kid marching that we thought was ours but wasn’t. 

Our son K.C. continued to march out of the high school band and into the U.S. Air Force.

My wife and I were present when he graduated from basic training.  When his unit entered the parade grounds, we were proud to see him marching in the very first row of the unit.   We thought two things, “Wow, we can see his face!” and “I wonder what he did to merit that?” 

We later learned the answer was simply – he grew tall. He is 6’ 5”.  He and every other towering airman were deliberately placed at the head of the marching unit. 

He told us that this was a tradition that dated back to the Romans.  They did it for psychological intimidation.  By placing the biggest, meanest, broadest men at the head the column, it gave the impression to the enemy that the entire army were all bruisers.   This also helped to obstruct the view of the soldiers behind them so that the enemy had no idea of their number.

__________________

The apostle Paul tells us that God ordered His ranks in a similar way.  In Colossians 1:15-16 he wrote of Jesus, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. for all things in heaven and on earth were created in him—all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers—all things were created through him and for him.”  

Christ was called the “firstborn!”   Firstborn refers not to a birth order but to the preeminent rank that belongs to one who was first born. 

For instance, David was called the “firstborn” though we know he was the youngest of his brothers.  (Psalm 28:20 & 27) Jacob was called the “firstborn” though we know that Esau preceded him.  (Exodus 4:22) The title has nothing to do with actual birth order and everything to do with the rights, privileges, honor and authority that were given to the first born. 

Paul tells us Christ is the firstborn, in that He was prior to, distinct from and highly exalted above every other creature.  He stands at the head of God’s marching column.

Paul continued in verse 18. “He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things.”

Jesus bears the title firstborn again – firstborn from the dead.  This reminds us that He was the first and most important in rank to ever be raised and have His body transformed with immortality.

Because of His saving work on the cross, many more of us will one day be raised from the dead, but none more important than Jesus who faced the devil at the cross and prevailed at the empty tomb. 

Take comfort my brethren.  Jesus marches at the head of our ranks.  He towers over all others.  He even hides us from the view of the enemy.   He shields us with the power of His might and leads us onto certain victory.  Praise His name!

A PRAYER: Lord, thank you for leading us and shielding us from our foes.

Scripture references are from the NETBible®

for the birds — July 27, 2021

for the birds

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There was chaos in the children’s church!  Was a pigtail pulled? A flannelgraph mishap? 

I was delivering a scintillating sermon when parents began to walk out on me to locate the chorus of sobbing preschoolers.

The kids had been making birdfeeders by dabbing peanut butter on a pinecone and then sprinkling it with birdseed. 

Aha!  A parent discovered that the seed was laced with cayenne pepper to repel squirrels. 

The little ones handled the seed and then rubbed their eyes – hence, the blood curdling screams. 

___________

I guess some things are harmless unless we touch them. 

Sin is a lot like that.  It burns, but only if we touch it.

Of course, temptation abounds today.   It shouts to us like a carnival barker who uses every trick to draw us in. 

There’s little we can do to insulate ourselves from temptation.  In fact, James argued that the inclination to sin is already within us.  He said, “But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires.”  (James 1:14)

My nature is to be a people pleaser – that’s my desire.  Which is why I am sometimes tempted to compromise to keep people happy.  I am a man – like any other man – who is tempted to browse in all the wrong places.  I like things and am occasionally tempted to twist my ethics to get what I want.

The devil’s mission is to identify these inclinations and to tease them out – to turn my thoughts into evil deeds.  James went on to say, “Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death.” (1:15)

It is when we touch sin that we suffer.  It gives birth to death.  For the Christian this results in a profound deadness in our relationship with God – a relational black hole that persists until we face it and confess it as sin.  As always, He is faithful and just to forgive us.  (1 John 1:9) 

But unfortunately, we are unaware that there is heat in the seed.  Like the preschoolers we unknowingly touch and feel pain.   Therefore, James ended with the words, “Do not be led astray…” (1:16)

Temptation is beyond our control, but we can choose – we can choose – whether to touch it to not.  Martin Luther said, “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.”

So how do we do this?   Two words – NO and GO. 

Joseph was a virile young man whose ego had been crushed beneath the feet of his 10 vile brothers who had sold him into slavery.   Despite his anger and wounded self-esteem, he became a successful estate manager in the home of Potiphar. 

However, the man’s wife was drawn to him.   Genesis says, “His master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me.” (39:7)

His bruised ego must have surged.  The slave with little control over his life, was offered the driver’s seat.  How intoxicating it was to be wanted.   She may have been as purty as a toad, and bigger than a house, but I bet she looked appealing to Joseph. 

But he saidNO!  “How could I do such a great evil and sin against God?” (39:10)

Well she kept it up, day after day, until “NO” had to become “GO.” Genesis says, “One day he went into the house to do his work when none of the household servants were there.  She grabbed him by his outer garment, saying, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his outer garment in her hand and ran outside.”  (39:11-12)

There was no one else in the house.  If he were to take the bait, this would be the right time.  The pressure was intense, so, he knew he had to run.

NO and GO.  It’s as simple as that. 

When temptation comes, “Just say NO.”  I often have said it out loud which chokes the temptation immediately.  And if it’s possible, GO.  Leave the situation.  The temptation will abate as soon as you get through the door.   

When Satan tempted Eve in the garden, she responded, “God said, ‘You must not eat from it, and you must not touch it, or else you will die.’”   She understood. Don’t even touch it – and yet she did.  May we be wiser.

A PRAYER: “Lord my prayer is the one that you taught me to pray, “Deliver me from evil.” 

Scripture passages are from the NET Bible ®

giftless — July 21, 2021

giftless

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It was Father’s Day and my grandchildren honored me with handmade cards and gifts.  My little grandson wanted to join in, but he wasn’t prepared, so he slipped away and used a king-sized marker to scratch out a sweetly illustrated card. 

He even enclosed a five-dollar bill.  When I opened it, I was amazed, but his brother was angry – because it was his money that was given.   I handed the five back to brother over the protests of my precious gift giver.  Then the sad little guy wrapped himself up and cried because he had nothing to give his granddad. 

His tears broke my heart and also alerted me to my own condition.  For there is a day coming when I will eagerly want to give a gift to someone that I love.  Let me explain if I may.

When we enter the Kingdom of God, we do so only by the merit of Jesus. Paul said, “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works…“  (Ephesians 2:8-9)We cannot work to be saved.

But, once we have been saved, we are expected to work.  Paul went on to say that we have “been created in Christ Jesus for good works….” (v. 10)

God expects the saved to work – to love Jesus and to practice His teachings.

A worker is usually compensated with a paycheck, and the Christian is rewarded in a similar way.  Scripture speaks of “crowns” that can be earned.   

There is the crown of rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19) which consists of the people we have led to Christ.  The crown of glory (1 Peter 5:1-4) is given to those who have labored to care for and disciple other Christians.  The crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:6-8) will be given to those who love Christ and live in the light of His return.   The crown of life is given to those who lose their life for the cause of Christ (Revelation. 2:10)                         

Jesus will one day review the life of each Christian and award these crowns accordingly.  Some of us will be receive one or more; the less faithful will be denied a crown.  (1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10)

In Jesus’ day, a crown represented authority.  It is thought that those with crowns will be awarded responsibility in ruling along side Jesus in His Kingdom.  (Revelation 2:26)

Now fast forward to heaven where this scene takes place.  “Seated on those thrones were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white clothing and had golden crowns on their heads.”  (Revelation 4:4)  

The white robes of redemption suggest that the Elders represent us, the church of the redeemed with their heads adorned by the crowns they had earned.

But then something unexpected happens as they prepare to worship. “The twenty-four elders throw themselves to the ground before the one who sits on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever, and they offer their crowns before his throne…”    (Revelation 4:10-11)

They wanted something to give to Jesus who had given everything for them, so they took the only thing of value that they possessed – the crowns that they had earned in this life.   

You and I will be among that group someday, there in the presence of Jesus, awed by his majesty and overwhelmed with gratitude for what He had done for us.

We will fumble around, searching the pockets of our white robes looking for a gift to give. Nothing there, however, but righteous lint. 

But what about the crowns?  Those could be offered.  Some of us will reach up, find the gift, and then gladly lay it as His feet.

Others will reach up and find only air.

I wonder if they will wrap themselves up and cry because they had nothing to give to the one they love?

A PRAYER: Lord help me to serve you well this day, so that I have something to offer You then.

Scripture references are from the NETBible ®

what the devil? — July 7, 2021

what the devil?

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I took a course called Angelogy, which is the study of good and bad angels (also known as demons).  It was a requirement for those headed for the ministry. 

The angel portion was awesome and comforting.  The demon portion was eerie and disturbing.

One dreary night I needed to borrow a book for my research project.  So, I ambled over to the school library, which was housed in an old converted home.  The building was locked and empty except for a fellow classmate who I hoped would let me in.

I knocked and then watched for him through the window.  He didn’t show.  So, I tried hitting the doorbell in machine gun fashion.  The chime was one of those that had 3 gong-like tubes that sounded like something from the Adams Family.  

He heard me this time.  I watched him cautiously creep into the hall, but he wasn’t looking toward the door where I stood.  His tense face was nervously searching for the source of the sound. 

Now this amused me greatly – so I did the machine gun with the doorbell again.  And he jumped like a snake had bit him on the heel.  He then pointed down the hall with a trembling hand and screamed, “Satan, I bind you in the name of Jesus Christ.” 

Thank goodness he cast the demon out of that doorbell!  

________

Some people suspect there’s a demon behind every tree, while others have banished such notions to the myth pile.  Are demons real and if so, what do we do about them?

Real they are!  Jesus interacted with or spoke of demonic entities over a dozen times in the Gospel of Matthew.   His adversaries are as real as Jesus Himself.  They aggressively opposed the agenda of God then, and still do today. 

In Haiti, where demons are celebrated, their presence is overt and eerie and scary.  In my neighborhood, however, their subtle presence is mostly experienced as they tease that broken part of us, until it gives birth to sin. (James 1:15)

So how do we protect ourselves?

– Deny them your attention!

A band of misdirected angels arrogantly coveted the place of God.   They rebelled and God cast them to earth in judgment as demons.  But they still crave attention.  Some of us are happy to offer it to them.  We go demon hunting and often give them more credit than they deserve. 

In truth, Satan and his minions are like dogs.  They sense our fear and will use it to their advantage.  Treat them like the bullies they are and just ignore them and they will look elsewhere for the attention they crave.

– Draw closer to Jesus! 

When Jesus encountered demons, they responded in fear.”  Luke 4:33-34 says, “Now in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Ha! Leave us alone, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us?”  

          That demon wanted nothing to do with Jesus.  The same was true of the demon in Luke 8:28. He said, “Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of the Most High God! I beg you, do not torment me!”  Demons are not comfortable in the presence of Jesus.  They would rather be elsewhere. 

          Fortunately, Christ indwells the believer and the apostle John said, “…the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”  (1 John 4:4) Christ within us, is far greater in power than the evil ones around us.

And His powerful presence still repels the demons.   So, dig deep, and cultivate an intimate relationship with Jesus and you’ll do well. 

Scripture tells us to “flee immorality” but never the devil.  James on the other hand wrote, “resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) He and his disabled diabolical forces are toothless and pose no threat to the person who is “strong in the strength of the Lord’s might (Ephesians 6:10)

Beware, however, of pranksters with doorbells!

A PRAYER: Lord help us to strike a balance in this area of spiritual warfare.

Scripture references are from the NET Bible ®

loose vowels — June 30, 2021

loose vowels

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My little grandson wanted me to know about his health.  He said, “Mom gave me an enema to loosen up my vowels.”   “Vowels?”  Hmm I guess she must be a speech pathologist or maybe a proctologist. 

Life sometimes feels to me like a bowel loosening event.  You see – I tend to worry.  I think I’ve got enough worry to wrap around the world twice.   So, I worry – and it worries me that I worry.

Because – I am certain that the Lord wants me to be free of it. He said, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34) In John 14:1 He said, “Let not your heart be troubled.”

I think it’s good to be concerned about the things over which I have control and for which I have responsibility – such as in providing for my family (1 Corinthians 5:8); or being a good husband (Ephesians 5:25) 

But, for that which is beyond the realm of my responsibility or control, there is no point in worrying.  And yet I do.

My son recently preached an excellent message at church and he referenced a verse that got me to thinking. At the time, Moses was tired and troubled. He had led the children of Israel along a desolate path through the wilderness. And the people had done things that stretched the meaning of dumb.

Moses was frantic, fearing that God was ready to abandon them.  That’s when the Lord said to him, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”  (Exodus 33:14)

Moses and his followers all desperately needed rest.  They would eventually find it in the promised land, but it was also a rest that was available to them immediately because God would go with them.

It triggered a memory for me.  My dad took the family on a road trip when I was young.  He loaded mom and the five of us kids into a ‘56 Chevy wagon. 

We were cruising along through Florida farmland when the engine failed.  This was a problem. We were marooned beside a pasture full of cows and it was a far piece back to town. 

Dad, however, was a skilled mechanic.  He flipped up the hood and did some analysis, then walked to town.  He was gone for hours.

The rest of the family stayed.  The Florida sun beat down and the humidity was stifling.   My brother and I pelted each other with cow pies to pass the time.

I can remember thinking one thing, “How long is this going to take?”

I also remember what I did not think.  I didn’t worry that the engine was a goner.  I didn’t fret that we had lost so much time.  I didn’t despair over the cost of repair.  I didn’t worry that we would be stuck there forever.  I didn’t wonder if dad would come back.

Those worries never crossed my mind– because my dad was on the job.  I knew that he would take care of the problem – and he did. 

So, why can’t I carry that kind of faith into my adult life?  My Father in heaven is infinitely more knowledgeable and powerful than my earthly dad.  And He has never given me reason to question His love and commitment to me.   So why should I fret?   His presence is with me.  Why not rest in that?

I need to find a way to disrupt the sneaky undercurrent of worry that slithers through my mind. 

This is what I’ll do.  Whenever I find myself going down the secretive alley of worry, I will meet that fret by saying out loud, “No – my Father has this!”

Vocalizing it will serve as a cold shower.  It will disrupt the repetitive loop of worry in my mind.  The affirmation of my faith in Him will set me on the right path and invite Him to help me with my unbelief.

I am going to give it a try.  Will you join me?

A PRAYER: Lord, teach us to trust you with the simplicity of a child that we might win the war over worry.    

Scripture references are from the NET Bible ®

lighten up — June 23, 2021

lighten up

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lighten up – audio version

I lifted the hood of the car to find the compartment jammed packed with wire and steel.  The problem that needed fixed was inevitably in the hardest, darkest most awkward place to reach.  

I needed a flashlight and someone to focus the beam.  “Son, shine the light on this spot – this one right here – so I can see what I am doing.” 

He did okay – for the first three seconds, and then the beam started to bounce, and then it wandered some, then it moved to spotlight the beetle on the ground and then he dropped the flashlight and broke it while I was thinking words that I dare not say.   

With a new lightbulb, we resumed, and he did okay – for the first three seconds.  I finished the job in the dark while he projected shadow puppets on the wall. 

But I learned my lesson.  I bought one of those lamps that you strap to your head with an elastic band.  I could direct the beam to exactly where I was looking. 

Now when I work on the car, I do okay – for the first three seconds.

_______________________________

I am glad that God has provided a better source of light for me.  It is celebrated in Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” KJV

There the Psalmist compared our life’s journey to that of following a path, and the Scripture to a lamp that lights our way. 

In Bible days they lit up a home with an oil lamp made of baked clay.  A wick dropped through an opening, which would draw the olive oil that was pooled in the bottom.   It created a small, cozy source of light. 

But traveling was another matter.  Israel is a land of winding, hilly paths, strewn with lots of loose stones.  Travel was tough during the day and treacherous at night.

The light cast by an oil lamp was too small to be helpful.  So, the night traveler would modify it by hanging the lamp with three strands of cord and then holding it out before him, so that it was suspended near to the ground, right before his feet.   

It would cast the light directly onto the path before him – where he needed it most.  Just enough for a step or two at a time. 

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

The path before us these days feels a little dusky and we need illumination to get to our destination.

God’s Word is still that light.   It is a resource that helps us to properly understand our world and clues us in as to how we should respond to it.  It gives us the big picture, but it also provides the precise practical wisdom needed for the next few steps before us. 

We just got to know and understand what is written there.  We need to read it, study it and marinate our minds with it. 

I have digested the book of Proverbs many times, even created my own topical index.   I’m encouraged when I find myself instinctively operating by the sound principles there – and occasionally grieved when they have been violated.   Without a doubt the book has been a lamp to my feet. 

The problem is, it is easier for us to assume what is written in the Bible than to really study it out for ourselves.  The Word of God is clear, whereas our assumptions about it are sometimes muddied.  There are things that creep into our assumptions like our personal preferences and the cultural messages which bombard us. 

In fact, some of our “biblical” beliefs are not biblical at all.  As it was in the days of Isaiah, some are calling evil good, and good evil.  (Isaiah 5:20) We are wandering in the dark, stumbling over stones and walking off cliffs.

Hey I would not tell you what you ought to believe, but I will tell you where your beliefs can be safely sourced.  Take God’s Word and apply to it to your next few steps.  The journey will become so much easier.

A PRAYER: God help me to mine your Word for wisdom then shine that truth on my path.

This has been Jim Johnson with pickleheavenpress.   The Lord be with you

cowlick consternation — June 15, 2021

cowlick consternation

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I desperately wanted to be like everyone else – but it was tough cause I had red hair – bright red hair – stick out in a crowd red hair.   All the mommas said I was cute, but their offspring were cutthroat.

Kids prey on those who are different.  If they can’t find a kid of another race, or with a disability – they pick on the red head. 

As if to make matters worse, my red hair formed a cowlick above my forehead.  Straight up it went.  My dad was also my “DYI” barber (oh joy).  He would buzz everything but the cowlick.  I looked like I ran into a wall – face first, with the cowlick reaching for the sky. 

I complained about it, but dad responded with a lecture.  “Why do you want to look like everyone else?”

I ignored him.  I was determined to lick that cowlick.  It just needed some training.  I figured I would mash it down by wearing a toboggan cap – even though it was July.  I used Brillcream but a little dab did not do me.  

This merited another lecture, “Son, why not dare to be different?  Who knows maybe people will even imitate you?”

“Right dad! – I’ll just try something else.”  I got one of my mom’s nylon stockings and pulled it over my head.   I wonder what the other kids would say if they saw that?    The stocking was so tight, my ears turned blue, but my red hair still stood straight and tall. 

I was a mess.  And it wasn’t until I was, much older that I realized that my Heavenly Father had similar counsel for me. 

King David was speaking to God when he said this in Psalm 139:14-15 “I will give you thanks because your deeds are awesome and amazing.  You knew me thoroughly; my bones were not hidden from you, when I was made in secret and sewed together in the depths of the earth. –  NET Bible ®

According to Scripture, God is responsible for making the person called me – my body, soul and mind – all His doing.  

The word “sewed” was used to describe the creative process.   I like that.  Elsewhere the same Hebrew word was translated as “embroidered.”   (Exodus 35:35) I like that even better.

To embroider is to take plain cloth and uniquely adorn it with multicolored thread.  In the past it was always done by hand which meant that no two embroidered pieces were exactly alike.

To embroider something requires a detailed plan.  This suggests that there is nothing about me or you for that matter that is accidental or random. 

According to David the finished product is awesome.  Who me? 

It was frustrating trying to be someone else, so I caved in and tried to follow dad’s advice.  I dared to be different – to do and to be who God created me to be.   

When the rest of the kids wrote their stories using the third person, I used the first person and the teacher proudly read my creative paper to the class.  

When the band wanted to do the same old cover tunes, I would slip in a funny and original song and bored people began to listen again.

The frustration in me began to fade, and an exhilarating freedom was taking root.  It was fun, really fun to be me.

The cowlick, however, was still a sore spot.   But – one day, dad and I were driving through our neighborhood, and he pointed out Steve K, the cool kid who lived down the street.    

I couldn’t believe it!  Steve had pasted a bunch of goop on his hair, to force it to stand up into a cow lick – just like mine.

Oh – poor Steve!  He should dare to be different! 

As Father’s Day approaches, I want to say that I am grateful for the one in heaven for having uniquely crafted me, and the one that was at my house who helped me to find me. 

A PRAYER: Father I am uniquely and wonderfully made. Help me to embrace this when I’m tempted to erase it. 

shaping their reality — June 14, 2021

shaping their reality

/pickleheavenpress

As a hospice chaplain I visit folks in health care facilities where I am still required to wear a face mask. 

Mine is bright orange, patterned with small tongues of fire.  It is noticed, especially in the unit where my friends are memory impaired.

One resident throws a fit whenever she sees me, “Take that off! Why do you wear that thing?” I tell her, “My boss makes me wear it, cause I’m so ugly.”

The other day, however, I encountered a resident who was impressed.  She looked at my mask and said, “I really like your beard.”   I said, “Oh – well OK – thank you!”

They both looked at the same masked face. One was repulsed and the other delighted.  

Beauty really is in the eyes of the beholder.   But what we see in others, is often controlled by our own skewed perception rather than what is actually true.  I mean if we are looking through a pair of green sun-glasses – everybody is going to look green. 

And though our perceptions of others may not be true to reality, they can reshape their reality. 

There was once a baby boy who was dubbed Barnabas, which means son of encouragement.   His parents gave him a name that would shape his character.

He lived up to their expectations.  According to Acts 4 the man was saddened by the needs of the poor.  So, he sold his land and donated the money to help (Acts 4:36)   The rich guy elevated and encouraged those poor folk! 

Saul, the reviled persecutor of the church, needed the acceptance of the church.  The new convert was already preaching his heart out.  The apostles were understandably skeptical.  Barnabas, on the other hand, refused to let the past petrify his perception.  He believed in the new Saul and used his influence with the church.  (Acts 9:27-28)

Barnabas even decided that Paul (formerly Saul) had great ministry potential and personally mentored him for over a year.  Acts 11:22-26)

Soon after, Barnabas and Paul were sent out on the first ever missionary journey.  They took along a third man to mentor.  But the work was tough, and Mark was young.  He deserted the team to go home to momma.

A second mission trip was scheduled but there was trouble according to Acts 15:36-40, “After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord to see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to bring John called Mark along with them too, 38 but Paul insisted that they should not take along this one who had left them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. 39 They had a sharp disagreement, so much so, that they parted company. Barnabas took along Mark and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and set out, commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers and sisters.”

Paul had been mentored by the son of encouragement, but he evidently missed the encouragement lesson.  He perceived Mark as an untrustworthy loser – not worth the risk.  Barnabas saw him as a kid who made a mistake but had great potential and needed a second chance. 

The two titans argued.  If Mark was present for the clash, his ego must have bobbed like a cork on an angry lake.

The rock band disbanded over the issue.  Paul went one way with Silas, and Barnabas took Mark, just as he had once done with Paul.

Barnabas evidently did his thing because Mark grew into the man that Barnabas perceived him to be.   Even Paul eventually appreciated the change.  Ten years later he wrote, “Get Mark and bring him with you because he is a great help to me in ministry.”  (2 Tim 4:11)

And then that former loser Mark, went on to pen the earliest of the four Gospels.  Thank you, Barnabas, for seeing what Paul could not. 

So, when you look at your kid, do you see the promised land or a waste land?  Do you treat your spouse as a winner or a wiener?  Does your boss sense your respect or your revulsion?  Do you cause your elderly parents to feel like burdens or blessings? 

Whether we like it or not we are actively shaping the people around us.

A PRAYER: Lord help me to see what You see when I look at others – and to treat them accordingly.

Scripture references are from the NETBible ®