Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson

something to help you laugh and think about life with Christ

an IV insertion  — October 19, 2022

an IV insertion 

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For Jackie the IV was worse than the surgery! 

She gripped my hand, her pastor’s hand, while the beads of sweat rolled off her brow.  For nearly ten minutes the sweet nurse had tried to puncture Jackie’s rolling veins, hoping to insert the IV. 

But it wasn’t happening.  Now Jackie could stand up to an angry bear, but she cowered before the needle and the bag.  She was in pain, and her arm was starting to look like Swiss Cheese.

The nurse eventually excused herself and went to find some help.  At least that’s what we hoped. 

Jackie and I decided to convene a prayer meeting. Together we passionately pounded on the door of heaven asking God to guide the nurse’s needle.

Eight minutes later she returned and geared up for another stab at it. (oops that may be a pun).  Praise be to God – she found her target on the first try and all three of us breathed a huge sigh of relief. 

I thought I should tell the nurse that while she was away, Jackie and I prayed for her.  She replied, “Well I just came from the bathroom where I was also desperately praying!”

She fumbled with failure until she sought the Lord for success. 

I was reminded of the words that Paul penned in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Paul was relating to the church how he was able to get along financially.  Whether his account had plenty or was a pittance – he was able to manage because Christ strengthened him.

But he did use the word “all.”  My Seminary professor taught me that, “All means all, and that’s all that all means.”   So, Paul took that strengthening concept and applied it broadly to all of life – even to the insertion of an IV needle. 

The word “strengthen” is worth exploring.  The New Testament was written in Greek, and the word for strengthen is, “endunamao.” 

It is a compound word.   “En” is much like our English word “in.”   This tells us that the power that we get is poured “into” us from outside of us.

“Dunamao,” of course means, “to strengthen.”  Look closely and you can see the root of our English word “dyna-mite.” 

So, this is kind of like God inserting into us a spiritual IV line to empower us to do what we cannot do on our own. 

That’s good because there are so many things that we cannot adequately do. 

An essential part of my job as a hospice chaplain is to help a person prepare to die.  Oh, how I need the wisdom and strength of God as I sit with them and have those conversations. 

I watch my daughter as she juggles her duties as a wife and mother and co-manager of a thriving startup business.  She makes it a point to go to the Lord often seeking sanity and strength to help her cope. 

I pray often for my son who is a minister to teens.  He daily faces the adversity of the devil and the apathy of the culture.  He needs more than his natural gifting to reach those kids.   

Then there is my son the CEO.  He regularly faces tremendous challenges.  But the job has caused him to see that he can’t succeed without the Lord. 

As for my wife – she has to put up with me.  What more can I say?

As I have aged, I have come to realize that I must have misplaced my physical strength.  Maybe I left it with my bell bottoms!  I now need Him to put power in my muscles and bones.   He does that every time I mow the lawn.  

Well, there is a point to my IV story.  (oops another pun) 

We need God’s strength for success

A PRAYER: Lord, please fill our weakness with Your strength.

This has been Jim Johnson with pickleheavenpress.com

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

five-star Savior — October 18, 2022

five-star Savior

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The most elusive endeavor: to find an item on a web retailer’s site, with solid five-star reviews. 

Looking for a guitar?  One person will give it a 5 because it’s pretty while another dings it cause it doesn’t have a cupholder.

There may be 69,000 great reviews but there is always a couple of 1- bombs that stops you from hitting the “add to your cart” button.

Where does one find consistent 5-stars?  Jesus!  He made that clear at Cana where He was a wedding guest.  Back then, wedding festivities lasted a week, so it was no surprise that they ran short of wine.

He spied 6 stone waterpots that would have held about 25 gallons each.  He asked that they be filled with water and then a sample taken to the boss.  The headwaiter was dumbfounded. 

He said to the bridegroom, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the cheaper wine when the guests are drunk. You have kept the good wine until now!” – John 2:10 NETBible.com

So typical!  The host of the party wants to impress so they serve the high dollar wine first.  When the senses of the guests had been dulled, he would dilute the wine to make it last for the duration of the feast. 

But the bridegroom, was praised for hiding the deluxe $200 a bottle stuff until the last.  Of course, they didn’t know that Jesus was responsible.

Please note that the emphasis here is that Jesus turned water into 5-star wine.  He had miraculously created about 2,400 servings of fresh and vibrant wine of the highest quality.

Jesus does not do average work.  He produces the highest quality.  But today He does it in the lives of those who trust Him. 

For instance, Jesus produces quality politicians.  Alabama Governor George Wallace was known as a bigoted, narrow-minded politician.  In 1963 he proclaimed, “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.”   In 1983 Billy Graham shared a verse with the man. “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his soul.”  Wallace gave his life to Christ shortly thereafter.  And in 1994 Mr. Wallace said to the world, “I was wrong.  I’m sorry!”

Jesus produces quality parents: Pastor Warren Wiersbe told the story of a drunken coal miner who was converted and began to share his new-found faith. A friend tried to trap him by asking, “Do you really believe that Jesus turned the water into wine?”  He said, “Yes I do.”  But He has done even greater miracles than that.  In my home he has turned the wine into furniture and decent clothes and food for my children.” 

Jesus produces quality professionals.  A friend told me, that when he began his law practice, he was not a pleasant person.  But he later allowed Jesus to take control of that part of his life, and he became one of the most sought after and well-loved people in his profession.

Jesus produces quality entertainers.  Comedian Jeff Foxworthy had his TV show canceled.  It caused him to rediscover his faith in Christ.  He said, “Money and success did not make me happy, but since I have decided to walk with God, it has changed my entire life.” 

Jesus produces quality athletes.  Mike Vinatieri was a kicker for the Patriots.  Ask him what he has on his mind when there’s six seconds in a tied game, and it’s up to him to make the winning field goal.  He says, “Trusting the Lord gives me a sound state of mind in those types of situations.” 

When water was offered, it was returned as wine.  When our lives are offered to Him, He infuses them with quality from heaven. 

His work has been reviewed by hundreds of millions of people for over 2,000 years.  He still gets 5-stars.

A PRAYER: God thanks for taking the water of my life and making it something special.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

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

the hidden well — October 12, 2022

the hidden well

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Psst!  I have some dirt to share!  It’s in a big pile in the land of Israel.

It is what remains of a once thriving town called Meggido.  It was a hugely important place in OT history because of its strategic location.  If an invader possessed Meggido, they could control all Israel. 

However, the city was extremely easy to defend.  It towered over the plain, and the sides leading up to the city were smoothed stone so that a soldier couldn’t get a foothold.  It was topped off with formidable walls – a nightmare to an invading force. 

The primary way to take Meggido was through siege.  An invading force would surround the town and seal it off.  Eventually the residents would have to either surrender or die from the lack of water.

Megiddo was blessed with a bountiful spring, but unfortunately it was located outside of the city walls.   This was a boon to the invaders, but the bane of the invadees who could not access it during battle.

So, the shrewd citizens carved an enormous tunnel down, through solid rock with an entry point within the city.  It went down 120 feet, then out 250 feet more to get to the source of the spring. 

They finished by piling tons of rock over the outside access to the well, thus hiding it and denying it’s life-giving flow to their enemies.  Meggido had a hidden, yet inexhaustible source of water to sustain them through the battle. 

—–

There was a woman in the New Testament who was also under siege.  She attempted to slake her thirst by turning to a man – a guy who would love away her emptiness.

She married mister right but found him to be mighty wrong.  Her second marriage promised to be better, but it also went down in flames. 

Then there was a third and fourth and even a fifth.  Each marriage lured her with the façade of happiness but failed to deliver.  She became the woman that everyone seemed to want, but no one wanted to keep.  

She was living with a sixth man when she encountered Jesus.   He found her drawing water from the well that Jacob the patriarch had once unearthed.

Jesus pointed it out and said, “Everyone who drinks some of this water will be thirsty again.”  – John 4:13.   His words had a sickly reverberation to them. “Thirsty again,” He said.  Six times she had swallowed the fickle affections of men, but she was still parched.  

Jesus went on, “But whoever drinks some of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again, but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.” – John 4:14 

Jesus looked her in the eye and promised to satisfy her in such a way that she would never thirst again.  He presented Himself as a Megiddo of sorts – a spiritual life source hidden within her from which she could draw continually.  His was a water that would satisfy and see her through the sieges of life.   It would sustain her for eternity.

She believed Him!  She believed in Him!  She gave Him her faith, and He filled her emptiness and profoundly satisfied her thirst. 

It was about 50 years ago that I took that drink.  I have found Jesus to be true to His Word.  He filled my emptiness with His love.  He gave me a solid purpose and a comforting sense of security. 

Every year, its more of the same.  He became in me a spiritual life source, that continues to nourish and water my soul.  He is my hidden well of Megiddo that sustains me in the battle. 

I can truly say that I am satisfied.  What about you?

A PRAYER: Water of Life, I thank you!

This has been Jim Johnson with pickleheavenpress.com

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

Scripture references are from the NETBible.com

tornado shelter — October 5, 2022

tornado shelter

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Richard and Angela were fast asleep when a roar shattered the silence.  A twister was outside the door.  Before they could crawl into the closet, the windows exploded, and deadly debris was peppering the room like a machine gun. 

Richard held onto the closet door with adrenalin infused strength while the chaos continued.  When the roar was finally reduced to a whimper, they left the closet to survey the damage.  Half of their old farmhouse was destroyed. 

The massive oak just outside their door was leveled, but it wasn’t the only tree lost.  They had 25 acres of mature timber which was completely knocked down and destroyed by the awful wind.  Several out-buildings were plowed over as well.   The evidence of the ferocity of the storm was the 2 x 6 that had been driven through the house.

The destruction all around them was thorough, but the house, though severely battered and bruised was still standing.  Why?

The massive oak tree outside their house, dropped in such a way that the branches fell over and covered up the house.  The house was held down and in place by the immense canopy of the tree. 

Richard and Angela love Jesus and they believe that the Lord protected them.  I believe it too. 

In Psalm 139:4-5, the Psalmist described the Lord saying, “Thou hast beset me behind and before and laid thine hand upon me.”

He understood God as one who fully understood him and cared for him – a God who extended His mighty hand and covered him up with it, to protect him from the assaults of life.  

I visualize God’s hand in the canopy of that tree, covering and protecting the couple.

In Exodus 33:20-22, God intended to protect Moses from exposure to His own holiness and greatness.  What interests me is in how the Lord accomplished it. 

He said to Moses, “You cannot see my face, for no one can see me and live.” The Lord said, “Here is a place by me; you will station yourself on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and will cover you with my hand.”  – NETBible.com

The Lord directed Moses to stand in a cavity in the rock.  God would then pass by, while using His hand to shield Moses so that he would not be slain by God’s glorious but terrifying holiness.

Again, God’s hand was extended to provide protection.  And again, I can see that hand reaching down from heaven and covering that little East Texas farmhouse, in the form of that tree canopy. 

Their story excites me and reminds me that our God is an active participant in our lives.  He uses His hand to shelter us from that which would destroy us. 

OK I know that He doesn’t shelter us from everything.  I worked hard to protect my own children from danger, but I also allowed them to occassionally face difficult challenges in order to strengthen and mature them.  God does no less for us.

And of course, there are those who do not survive tornados.  How do we explain this?  Well – I do not pretend to fully understand God and I tremble to try to explain Him. 

But I also know that what we regard as tragedy, God regards as blessing.  The Psalmist wrote, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” – Psalm 116:15  

The Lord is eager to shower the joys and blessings of heaven on His children.  It is precious to Him to see them come home. 

But for now, we can be comforted knowing that God is at work, sheltering us from dangers of which we are not even aware.

A PRAYER: Lord, how good it is to know that Your hand is big enough to cover us. 

This has been Jim Johnson with pickleheavenpress.com

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

getting used to nice — September 28, 2022

getting used to nice

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I have trouble enjoying nice.  Weird right?

I grew up in a home where we were not poor, but we were the next-door neighbors.   So, I trained myself to lower my expectations of life.  I never anticipated having stylish clothes, or a new bike, or to feast on a steak dinner, or to enjoy a family vacation in the mountains.   It just wasn’t in the budget.

Even as an adult I have seldom allowed myself to enjoy the best.  I have never owned a brand new car.  My wife has cut my hair for the last 46 years (at least once a year whether I need it or not)  She and I shop at thrift stores for furniture, clothing and lots more.  Vacations have usually had a camping component – cause tents are cheaper than hotels. 

But, recently I was invited to buy a house that was way out of my league, but still within my frugal budget.  It is a really, really nice house – nicer than any we have ever owned.  It would have been foolish to pass on it.

We have enjoyed it for sure – but I sometimes find myself torn, “This is too much.  It’s too nice for me. I don’t deserve this!” 

I know, I probably need counseling, but that’s just the way I have learned to process life. 

One day, as I wrestled with my guilt, the Lord dropped a thought.  “Jim one day you will be experiencing much more than nice.”   

I began to process what I knew about heaven. 

Paul wrote, “But just as it is written, “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.”  – 1 Corinthians 2:9

Paul also spoke of being transported to heaven either in his body or by vision.   He said that “he was caught up into paradise and heard things too sacred to be put into words, things that a person is not permitted to speak.” – 2 Corinthians 12:3-4

I thought through the book of Revelation, chapters 21 and 22, where heaven is described by using the extreme best in terms of human comforts and experiences.   For instance, in heaven, there is nothing to make you sad – sweet and pleasant all the time.  It’s a place of utterly perfect health and life without end.  

The spaciousness of my current house boggles my mind and yet heaven is described as being vast – and it’s a great neighborhood too.  No bad guys there.

The materials we deem precious here – they abound in heaven.  Things like jasper; sapphire; emeralds; pearls, gold and tons more.  The water is pure and crystal clear and there is a fruit tree that bears 12 varieties of fruit all year long.  Eden version 2.0.

It’s a place where the residents have perfect and unbroken peace with God and one another.  There is also round-the-clock live music and feast-worthy food in heaven.  (Revelation 19:9)

Now, if I should enter heaven with my current menial mentality, I may move into the shed instead of the mansion that Jesus has prepared for me.  I might look for the alley to trod behind the streets of gold.  I may even pass up the marriage feast of the Lamb and Google the nearest McDonalds.  By habit, I would probably choose to live more like an impoverished outcast rather than a welcome guest. 

So, God why did you give me this nice house this side of heaven?    Maybe to stretch my thinking that I might be able to enjoy the wonderful things ahead.  Nice for eternity. 

The Lord is so good to us!  We haven’t done anything to deserve it.  His kindness certainly hasn’t been earned – but it is ours to enjoy because of God’s lavish mercy and grace. 

So, enjoy your blessings here today, and let them prime you for the amazing things that lie ahead!  

A PRAYER: Oh God stretch our minds so that we might truly appreciate what you have for us in the future.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

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

Scriptures references are from the NETBible.com

timekeeper — September 14, 2022

timekeeper

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The timekeeper gave the go ahead to the Toledo Express train, to head east toward Cleveland.  But they had to hurry.  The train needed to pull off on a siding near Kipton, Ohio to allow a westbound mail train to pass. 

Due to the timekeeper’s faulty watch, the train left the station 4 minutes late.  This resulted in both trains violently meeting in a head-on collision.  Nine men died in that tragedy on April 18, 1891. 

The disaster became the catalyst to create watch standards.  The General Timepiece Standards Commission mandated that all standard watches had to keep time accurately with no gain or loss of more than 30 seconds a week.

Railroads also installed clock stations by which train crews would daily set their watches.  Train wrecks became rare as a result.   

Now it wasn’t too long after the Kipton calamity, that my Grandfather, Fred Lodge, was hired on as a timekeeper for the Penn Central line.  For decades he used his own finely tuned “standard pocket watch” to precisely manage the comings and goings of the trains.  There were no head-ons on his watch (which sounds like a pun but it’s not)

I was given his watch after he passed. (the one pictured above) Knowing the history of it, I have treasured it. 

_____

My Grandpa managed time so to speak, but God does a much better job of it.

Solomon penned these words in Ecclesiastes 3:1 “For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth.” 

These are familiar words to many of us, but I wonder if we grasp the meaning?  Solomon tells us that everything that takes place, has a pre-determined time that governs when it starts, how long it lasts, and when it ends. 

Who is in charge?  God of course, who not only predetermines the timing of things, but makes sure the timing is appropriate. 

We might wonder, “Well what things?”  Solomon tells us in the verses that follow, but the standouts are the times of our birth and of our death.   Who could argue with that?  It is God who sovereignly predetermines these things.

My Grandpa kept trains from colliding whereas God keeps time itself from colliding.   He keeps the present from lagging into the past or bumping into the future.  He makes sure that spring always follows winter.  He set the sun in the sky as the standard bearer of time.  He is the timekeeper of the universe.

He said as much through the prophet Isaiah, “Remember what I accomplished in antiquity.  Truly I am God, I have no peer; I am God, and there is none like me, who announces the end from the beginning and reveals beforehand what has not yet occurred; who says, ‘My plan will be realized, I will accomplish what I desire.”  – Isaiah 46:9-10 

And yet, we still struggle with the issues of time.

“Oh no, if I don’t get the rent together this week, I’ll be on the street.”   We worry that God will be late!   He won’t because He is the sovereign timekeeper.   He will provide what we need, precisely when we need it.  How could He do any less for the child He loves.

Oh, but sometimes God seems too early for us as in, “The boss wants me to take charge of the project, but I am not ready for it.”  God prearranged this challenge.  He knows what He is doing.  Maybe you aren’t fully ready, but you may need the challenge in order to get there.

And there are those times, we wonder if God has lost His watch.  “Lord, it’s been five weeks and I still haven’t heard from the realtor?”   He knows you need to sell your house.  It will happen when He deems it appropriate.

So I am thinking that we ought to trust God with time, to avoid a trainwreck of our own. 

A PRAYER: Lord forgive us for believing that we have control over time and help us to trust You with it.

This has been Jim Johnson with pickleheaven.press.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Scripture references are from the NETBible.com

weighing in — September 7, 2022

weighing in

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The couple were both receiving home health care.  The visiting nurse insisted they be weighed.   They lined up and he stepped on – one foot and then the other.  The nurse dutifully recorded his weight. 

His wife stepped on – one foot and then the other and another number went into the chart.  Then Bambi, their Chihuahua followed – one foot and then the other.    

______

Jehoshaphat like Bambi was looking for an example to follow.

He became King of Judah about 873 BC.  At 35 years of age, he needed a few pointers on being a king.  So, he looked for an example from the past.

He grew up watching his father Asa rule the nation.  Asa chased immorality and idolatry out of the land.  But in his older years he was afflicted with a diseased body that also diseased his faith.  He sought the help of doctors while ignoring the Lord.   

Jehoshaphat’s granddaddy was Abijah. He was mighty in battle but mediocre in his faith.   His epitaph is written in 1 Kings 15:3, “He followed all the sinful practices of his father before him. He was not wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his God, as his ancestor David had been.”  Abijah followed the poor example of his daddy Rehoboam and paid dearly for it.   

As for Rehoboam, he was famous for carelessly splitting his Kingdom.  He fought off an Egyptian invasion but ignored the insurgence of paganism.  His epitaph was written in 2 Chronicles 12:14, “He did evil because he was not determined to follow the Lord.” 

His daddy was Solomon who was revered for his wisdom and yet was foolish enough to marry a stadium full of wives and serve their gods.  “Solomon did evil in the Lord’s sight; he did not remain loyal to the Lord, as his father David had.”  – 1 Kings 11:6

This brings us to the head of the dynasty – King David.  David followed the Lord with the deepest devotion and ruled the Kingdom by the truth of the Scripture. 

His reign was summed up in this way, “David had done what he (God) approved and had not disregarded any of his commandments his entire lifetime, except for the incident involving Uriah the Hittite.” – 1 King 15:5.

So, Jehoshaphat climbed up 5 generations of his family tree to find an example worthy of emulation   Of him it was said, “The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed in his ancestor David’s footsteps at the beginning of his reign. He did not seek the Baals, but instead sought the God of his ancestors and obeyed his commands, unlike the Israelites.  The Lord made his kingdom secure; all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he became very wealthy and greatly respected. He was committed to following the Lord.” (2 Chronicles 17:3-6)

Like David, Jehoshaphat tore down the idols and elevated the Lord.   As a result, “The Lord was with him.”  “The Lord made his kingdom secure” and “He became very wealthy and greatly respected.” 

Ironically, Jehoshaphat’s predecessors were indicted for ignoring David’s example?  Neither did they prosper as Jehoshaphat did. 

Jehoshaphat imitated David but he was smart enough to also learn from and avoid his mistakes.  There was no Bathsheba scandal to mar his reign.

Now to bring this home:  The apostle Paul was referring to the OT stories of Jehoshaphat and others when he wrote, “These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction…” – 1 Corinthians 10:11.

So…. basically, Jehoshaphat is an example of a man who followed the example of a man to teach us to find a man to be our example. (could be a woman though)

Think of life as Youtube and look for the how-to video that God posted.  Find an older person who did life God’s way.  What did they think and do, and what kind of results did they experience?   You might even ask him/her to mentor you. 

Watch and learn.  Make Bambi proud!

A PRAYER: Lord I am grateful for the folks that have taught me how to live.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

All Scripture references are from the NET Bible ®

wiping off a kiss — September 6, 2022

wiping off a kiss

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She gave her granddaughter a kiss on the cheek as she was about to leave, and it seemed to make the girl a little uncomfortable.  Grandma asked, “Are you wiping off my kiss?”  With a bit of guilt, she sheepishly replied, “No ma’am, I am just rubbing it in.”

She didn’t fully appreciate the blessing she had in her grandma.

It could be worse though.  Some fail to appreciate what they have in Jesus.  

When Jesus launched his ministry, it was from a small city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.  It was called Capernaum.

I have visited the ruins of this place.  I made it a point to walk upon the same synagogue foundation on which Jesus stood and taught.  An amazing privilege. 

He spent 18 months of His public ministry in that city, which amounts to about half of his 3 ½ years.  It was called his, “own city” – Matthew 9:1. 

Why Capernaum?  It was a stop on the international road that reached from empire to empire.   If something happened in Capernaum, news of it would reach far and wide.  It was a perfect place from which to preach His message.

When Jesus first came on the scene, John the Baptist asked if He was the truly promised Messiah.  This is how Jesus answered, “Go tell John what you hear and see:  The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news proclaimed to them.” – Matthew 11:4-5

He quoted the prophet Isaiah who predicted that the coming Messiah would perform those specific miracles as evidence that He was the one sent from God.  (Isaiah 35:5-6)

So, guess what happened in Capernaum?   Jesus performed more miracles there than in any other one place.   It was there that He hugely fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy. 

There in Capernaum he healed a lame man – a paralytic (Matthew 9:1); raised up from the dead the daughter of a synagogue official.  (Matthew 9:18-23)   He healed two blind men there (Matthew 9:27-29) and later restored a mute man. (Matthew 9:32)  Along with the miracles, He preached the good news in Capernaum. (Matthew 9:35)   

In that modest little city, He worked through Isaiah’s list of the miraculous to validate Himself as the Messiah.  The ancient prophecy was fulfilled in Capernaum.

All the proof needed was manifested there.  No other one place in Israel could say the same thing. 

AND YET, it wasn’t enough! The people of Capernaum were hardhearted.  In fact, Matthew 11:20 says, “Then Jesus began to criticize openly the cities in which he had done many of his miracles because they did not repent.”

Among those cities, was Capernaum.  “And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be thrown down to Hades! For if the miracles done among you had been done in Sodom, it would have continued to this day. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you!” – Matthew 11:23-24

Capernaum saw Christ authenticated in every way, and yet failed to believe.  She saw a lot but responded with little.

May I say that Jesus is the real deal.  He lived and died and was raised from the grave.   He continues to provide ample evidence that He is true God, and He works His miraculous proof in the changed lives of people that you know.  They live down the street, or work with you or maybe even dwell in your home.

You have seen Him at work.  You have sensed His power.  You have longed for what He offers.  Maybe it’s time to respond to His call.

A PRAYER: Lord, gather us, your wandering sheep, to your side. 

This has been Jim Johnson with pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Scripture references are from the NETBible.com

3Q BIBLE STUDY — September 5, 2022

3Q BIBLE STUDY

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a simple but extremely meaningful way to read the Scripture

For my East Texas friends.  Sharie and I are starting a 3Q Bible Study in our home the first Thursday in October.   This is not nor will it ever be a church plant, just an effort to equip each participant with a simple but extremely meaningful way to read the Scripture.  We will meet in our new home in White Oak.  Read on for more details….

___________________

You have probably seen all the videos and worked through lots of book studies, but how often have you had a firsthand discovery experience in the Word of God?   

WHAT IS A 3Q STUDY?

The 3Q Study is a Bible study experience designed to equip each participant with a simple but extremely meaningful way to study the Scripture, and even to prepare them to lead a 3Q group of their own.  The 3Q represents 3 Questions that that should guide the study of Scripture.

1. What do I see?                      – Observation

2. What does it mean?               – Interpretation

3. What do I do with it?              – Application

HOW? – The class would begin with some basic instructions on how to study the Bible.  Students would then be emailed a weekly worksheet to help guide them through the Bible book that is studied.   When the class comes together, Jim will lead mostly by facilitating the discussion that the students generate through their own study.  

WHO IS LEADING?  – Jim Johnson is the primary facilitator.   Jim led Fellowship Bible Church of Longview for 32 years.  His ministry as a pastor is complete.  He has no ambition to plant a church or pastor one, but he does have an ongoing burden to equip the church. 

DOES IT HELP? 

Jim has brought this study to Fellowship Bible of Longview, Hillview Baptist church (Henderson) and White Oak Community Church (White Oak).  This is what the students have had to say, “Great way to dive into the Scriptures whether you are a beginner or lifelong Bible reader.”  “I highly recommend taking this class.”  “A must do if you are serious about your Scripture study.”  “It was fun and informative.”    “The 3Q approach to studying scripture has really enhanced my understanding of God’s word in such a powerful way. It has taught me to break down scripture verse by verse and word by word to get the who, why, where and when of what the Author is trying to convey. I’m 63 years old and have found this to be the most effective method for the comprehensive study of scripture that I have ever used.”   “This has the most rewarding time in God’s Word I have ever had and I attribute my growth in The Lord to now having a great learning tool at my disposal. I highly recommend this study.”

WHO IS WELCOME? – Everyone couples and singles!  No childcare however!

WHERE? – We will meet in the home of Jim and Sharie Johnson – 113 Wood Creek Court (In White Oak) 

WHEN? – Thursday evenings, 7 – 8:30 or so.   Our first meeting will be Thursday October 6th.

The class will run through the end of the school year 2023, and at that point we will disband.  Why so long?  Most classes are, “show them how to do it and expect them to do it on their own.”  This is a “Do it with them” experience.   By the time we are done with this class you should get it and carry it on. 

HOW MUCH?  – No charge!

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF EACH STUDENT?

            – To be committed to and involved in a local church.

            – To attend the 3Q study on a regular basis.

– To print off the worksheet each week and use it to explore the Scripture.

– To participate in the discussion. 

WHAT 3Q IS NOT?  This is not nor will it ever be a church plant, nor an effort to replace the local church.  This is a study with a terminal date, designed to equip you so that you go can and bless your local church with what you have learned.

SO HOW DO I SIGN UP?   Go to the contact tab on this web site.  Send me your name and email and let me know you’ll be coming.  I can also answer any questions you might have there.

shivering showers — August 24, 2022

shivering showers

/pickleheavenpress

When our son K.C. reached High School, he learned to appreciate a long, luxurious, hot shower. 

He would disappear into the steam for 30 minutes and eventually emerge with more wrinkles than a prune. 

We would knock and shout and coax and scold, but he was deaf to our pleas. 

His siblings were annoyed but the city water department was elated.  I was nominated for customer of the year. 

So…this is what I began to do.  After allowing him ten minutes to lather and rinse, I would slowly begin to close the valve on the hot water tank. 

Slow was the way to go, otherwise he would catch on.  Of course, the shower soon became cold, and he would hop out thinking that he had exhausted the hot water supply.

I shamefully admit that I did that several times – but – it was kinda fun – and with the money I saved I was able to help him go to college. 

___________

Could faith be like that?  We start off with a red-hot passion and eventually end up in a cold uncomfortable place – but we aren’t sure how we arrived.

There was a parable where Jesus compared the Word of God to seed and the various hearts that received it to soils. 

There was the seed that fell beside the road, which was snatched up and eaten by the birds, and then the seed that fell on the rocky soil which sprouted but died because it couldn’t develop roots. 

But the soil that concerns me is this one, “Other seed fell among the thorns, and they grew up with it and choked it.”  – Luke 8:7

The soil was close to being right and the seed sprouted and was doing well.  It was experiencing genuine growth.  But the plant had competition.

Jesus explained, “As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.”  – Luke 8:14

Jesus suggested that the some of us are choked by worries.  About what?  I don’t know.  For what do you worry?  Is it the economy? Or perhaps you fret about your health.  Worry is the antithesis of faith.  Worry competes with faith and usually wins.

Then there are riches.  God and gold.  We want them both.  But it was Jesus who said, “You cannot serve God and money.” – Matthew 6:24

The third class of competitors are the pleasures of this life.  Like what?  Like sleeping in on Sunday and skipping church or like giving our worship and money to our hobbies and our leftovers to God.

So do these soils represent the saved or the unsaved?  The Lord really didn’t say, mostly because it is important for all of us to be receptive to the Word. 

But here’s the thing.  The condition of the soil of my backyard changes.  At this moment it has been hardened by a draught.   Then there are the fibrous roots of oak trees, that are making it impossible for the roots of my sod to penetrate and properly grow.  And of course, if I were to let my lawn go unmown for a few months it would become choked with weeds.

So if the soil in my yard can change over time, how much more so the soil of my heart?  

I, however, aspire to be the good soil.  Jesus said, “But as for the seed that landed on good soil, these are the ones who, after hearing the word, cling to it with an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with steadfast endurance.” –  Luke 8:15

…and Lord, if I am not there at this moment, please send me a cold shower! 

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

All Scripture references are from the NET Bible ®