Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson

something to help you laugh and think about life with Christ

Tag: Bible

a soothing aroma — August 6, 2026

a soothing aroma

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Our granddaughter is in second grade and she is ridiculously cute.  Her auntie found a sweat shirt at an estate sale that she thought she might like.  Her grandmother, whom she calls Mammo, ran it through the washer and then gave it to her.

The top was too big for her, but she chose to wear it to a school event anyway.  When asked why by her mom, she said, “I like the way it looks, and it smells like Mammo.”

She treasured the familiar smell of someone that she loved.  Did you know that this is true of God as well? 

In the Old Testament era, God’s people would present “offerings” to Him.  The offering might be for the purpose of covering sin, or restoring fellowship with God, or maybe a freewill offering solely to demonstrate one’s love for Him. 

A variety of gifts were offered: bulls, goats, lambs, oil, grain, even wine.  But the offering always represented a heartfelt financial sacrifice made by the presenter. 

The offerings were placed on an altar of fire and as the smoke rose to heaven, the Lord metaphorically inhaled it and regarded it as a “soothing aroma.”    

The first instance of it in the Bible is found in Genesis 8:20-21.  Global sin was the order of the day, and God reluctantly brought global judgment because of it.  Noah and his family were spared, and once the waters had receded, we read, “Noah built an altar to the Lord. He then took some of every kind of clean animal and clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled the soothing aroma and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of humankind.”

God found the offering to be a soothing aroma.  An aroma is a fragrant scent that is pleasant to the nose.  To soothe is to calm a person’s emotions, to relieve, or to refresh them.  Noah’s offerings did that for the Lord.  

But then the phrase “soothing aroma” was used 38 more times in the OT to describe the burnt offerings that were made and the way they were received by the Lord.  When something is repeated 38 times, it must be important. 

It fascinates me – that a person is capable of giving to God, something that soothes and pleases Him – something that inclines Him to look upon us with pleasure.    

Does God still enjoy a soothing aroma?  He does. 

The Lamb of God became an offering for us.  Of Him Paul wrote, “…Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.”  Ephesians 5:2   

Christ offered Himself.  He satisfied the wrath of God that had been directed toward us.  He saved us and God regarded His offering as a fragrant, soothing aroma.     

Now as we stand in Christ, we have the opportunity to offer gifts that please the olfactory sense of God.   Consider Philippians 4:18. 

Paul was in the process of writing a thank you note to the Philippians for having assisted him financially in his ministry.  He wrote, “For I have received everything, and I have plenty. I have all I need because I received from Epaphroditus what you sent—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God.”

The financial sacrifice given by that church was received as a wonderful fragrance, very pleasing to God.

As I pointed out, the offerings of the Old Testament were many and varied, but the thread than ran through each – was sacrifice.  When a sacrifice was made on behalf of the Lord, it was received as a soothing aroma.

We sacrifice today when we financially support God’s work, or we give of our time to serve God’s purposes or even to lay our pride at His feet.  He receives any sacrifice, made with the right motive, as a soothing and fragrant offering. 

So, when the Lord sniffs your way – what does He smell?

A PRAYER: Oh God, our hearts want to bring you joy.  Teach us how to do that

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture passages are from the NETBible ®    

Won’t You Forgive? — July 29, 2026

Won’t You Forgive?

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Something different this edition – a song about forgiveness to make you laugh. 

Check out the link below. 

settlers — July 22, 2026

settlers

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Life has conditioned many of us to be settlers – to be content with much less than what we potentially could have.

My teenage son was ready to get behind the wheel – any wheel.  I promised to match dollar-for-dollar any money he could save toward the purchase of his own vehicle. 

He quickly earned $500.  With my matching $500 he thought he had enough to buy a car.  I tried to reason with him, but he actually found a pick-up truck that he could afford.  So, I played along.  I figured he would learn soon enough how little $1,000 could buy.

The truck was parked in a grove of pine trees, but it would have looked more at home in a junkyard.  The paint was splotchy, panels were dented or missing, and the tailgate was gone. 

We got in and found that even the dashboard was missing and there were holes in the floor.  I was surprised that it started. We took it for a test drive.  He was clearly excited.

But then the truck began spewing a cloud of smoke.  I quickly stopped and the smoke completely swallowed up the truck.  Was it on fire?  I couldn’t tell but I was not going to be held responsible for the death of that piece of junk, so we raced back to the house. 

I approached the pine tree parking space and began to brake, but the pedal dropped to the floor.  We had no brakes and I was headed for a passle of pine trees.  By God’s grace the truck began to slow and come to a stop. 

I sat there and trembled and silently thanked God for barely saving our lives.  My son, however, broke the silence and said, “Dad, dad – can we buy it?” 

He was so willing to settle for a piece of junk. 

We laugh but are often prone to do the same thing.  We have become comfortable with junk – with fractured marriages, and unmanageable debt, and unmotivated kids.  We limp along depending on alcohol or chemicals, or the elusive hope of winning the lottery.    There is emptiness inside of us that we just can’t fill

And we assume that the way we feel is how everyone feels.  We scratch away to find a little pocket of satisfaction.  But we don’t find it, so we adjust our expectations down, “Well I guess that’s just the way that life is!”   

But Jesus says, “No, that’s not the way it should be.  He said, “I have come so that they may have life and may have it abundantly” – John 10:10 NETBible ®.

He says, “Don’t settle.  I want you to have an abundant life.”   So, what is that?

I met a woman in her thirties who recently discovered the abundant life.  She had never been to church and knew nothing about Jesus or the Bible.

She had been a settler for a long time – a broken marriage, a questionable boyfriend, and she was a functional alcoholic.  She did well at her job – maybe the only bright spot for her.

But then she went to church one day and wondered if God might have more for her.   She invited Jesus to be her Savior and Lord. 

And things began to quickly change.  The man she was living with, also turned to Christ.  They were married.  They both gave up alcohol and didn’t miss it a bit.  The children wanted what they had and began to do church with them. 

She and he both were beaming with joy as they told me how rich and satisfying their lives had become.

They went from being sad, confused settlers, to being cherished children of God and they are thoroughly enjoying the privileges of the abundant life today. 

That’s what the Lord intended for them – and for you!

A PRAYER: Lord, help us introduce the settlers in our community to Jesus

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

chip heaven — July 8, 2026

chip heaven

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There is one chip that is much better without the dip – that would be the one in my credit card. 

It is called an EMV chip and it is essentially a minicomputer.  Unlike the magnetic stripe – it is alive.   It generates a brand new unique cryptographic code for every single purchase and will do so for 10-12 years.   

However, I tried to use my card recently and it was rejected.  I happened to notice that there was a bright red box on it where my chip once lived.  The chip had somehow fallen out. 

But though my credit card was dead, the lost chip was still very much alive, and the finder could now tap it at the cash register at Wal-Mart to buy a bag of chips (of the Lays variety). 

We might think of our souls as EMV chips.  Though the body of a Christian should die, their soul lives on.  Jesus said to His friend Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies, and the one who lives and believes in me will never die” – John 11:25-26.  That’s as clear as it gets. 

There is a curious story of life after death that took place in 1 Samuel.  King Saul and his nation were facing a Philistine invasion and Saul desperately needed the wisdom of God.  God’s mouthpiece to Saul had been the prophet Samuel but he had died. 

So, Saul did what was forbidden in the Word of God and covertly sought out a medium who could purportedly communicate with the dead (1 Samuel 28:7). 

He asked her to contact Samuel that they might talk.  She called for Samuel but was shocked when he actually appeared.  She expected a typical demonic counterfeit.  This was an extraordinary event over which she had no control. This was not her typical pretend ruse.  For an extremely unusual reason, God caused this meeting to take place.

And there he was.  2 Samuel says, “Then Saul realized it was Samuel, and he bowed his face toward the ground and kneeled down” (28:14).Though he had died, Samuel continued to exist.

“Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up” (28:15)? The prophet still had the ability to speak.

Samuel said, “The Lord has done exactly as I prophesied! The Lord has torn the kingdom from your hand and has given it to your neighbor David (28:17). Samuel had memories of what was spoken when he walked the earth, and he was quite aware of what was happening with Saul at that time. 

And then Samuel looked beyond the present and said, “Tomorrow both you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also hand the army of Israel over to the Philistines!” (28:19). The future is known only to God and to those He chooses to reveal it to.  Samuel was with God and in communication with God.  And it all came true just as Samuel predicted. 

Obviously, this was a unique situation that involved the anointed King of God’s chosen people.   Saul was wrong in what he did, but the Lord gave him an audience with Samuel to shut him up.   

So, don’t bother trying to contact your loved one who has moved on. You’ll hear nothing but crickets. 

But there is one thing we can draw from this quirky story: physical death is not the end for the people of God. This privilege is guaranteed to we who trust in Jesus.  Again, He said, “The one who believes in me will live even if he dies.” 

So, listen, if you get to heaven and you happen to find the chip from my credit card – just pitch it out.  I won’t need it because my entry fee has been prepaid by Jesus.

A PRAYER: Lord eternal life will be amazing as we spend it with You

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

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Scripture is quoted from the NETBible ®

marriage math — June 24, 2026

marriage math

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There is a mathematical formula for a healthy marriage!

You start with 1

Back in the time of beginnings, God made multiples of every living thing except for man (Genesis 1:24-27).  Why did God make just one?   Maybe because being a man, Adam lacked the relational IQ of a woman. He needed to go without, in order to realize that he needed someone.

So in marriage math, God added 1 + 1.

The day came when Adam finally realized that he was alone.  Genesis 2:20 says,

“But for Adam no suitable helper was found.”  

Adam said to himself, “There’s no one that thinks like me, feels like me – who might be able to care for me.  This was God’s cue. “So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh.”(Genesis 2:21-22)

The Lord administered anesthesia to Adam.  While he slept, God took a rib and perfectly fashioned it into the woman that he needed.  And the only way to get that rib back was to marry her.

She was called a “helper.”  The Psalmist wrote, “God is my help” – same Hebrew word (Psalm 54:4). This elevated a wife to an exceptionally high status. She became a powerful life partner, without whom Adam could not succeed.  

She was “suitable” for Adam which means that she perfectly corresponded to him.  I get it!  My wife and I are like 2 jagged pieces of a broken plate being joined together to make a functional piece of dinnerware.  We were made to complement each other.   So, we have 1 + 1 which typically equals 2, but

In marriage math – 1 + 1 = 1

Genesis 2:24 says, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”  This union became the template for all marriages to follow.  They would first need to leave the emotional/material comforts of their homes and choose to depend on each other instead.

When a couple does this, they become one in body and soul.  The Hebrew word for one is “ehad.”  Moses wrote, “Our God is one.”  Same Hebrew word.  (Deut. 6:4)

It’s a mystery how God can be one and yet exists in three persons.  Also, a mystery, says Paul, how a husband and wife can experience a similar type of metaphysical oneness (Ephesians 5:32). So far, our marriage math has taught us that 1 + 1 = 1. 

But it’s not really a marriage unless there are 3

In Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Solomon touted the fantastic benefits that 2 people give one another. They produce more than one, plus they can rescue, defend and provide for one another.    

And then Solomon abruptly concluded with this thought, “A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart” (4:12b).  He says 2 are great, but 3 are necessary.  One cord will break under stress; even 2 are insufficient.  But braid three cords together, so that they lock in and grip each other, then you have a rope that cannot be broken.

This implied third strand is the Lord.  The strongest and best marriage is one that includes the Lord.  Why?  Because marriage was designed by God for us and His Word is the ultimate marriage manual. 

And because creating a healthy marriage is not hard, it is virtually impossible.  Put 2 even modestly selfish people in a home together and sparks can fly.  But the couple that loves God, drinks from His Word, that prays and worships as a couple – they will find that selfishness diminish.

And that is God’s mathematical formula for a healthy marriage.

A PRAYER: Lord, we invite you to be that third strand in our home

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you always

Scripture passage are from the NIV

the gift that stays given — June 17, 2026

the gift that stays given

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They say that money speaks.  It does.  Mine often says goodbye!  

But there is more than one way we can lose what we have.  There is always the Indian Giver.

It was not uncommon in colonial America for a native American to offer a gift to a colonist.  If the gift was not regularly used, the giver might expect their gift to be returned.  It was a cultural practice that was misunderstood by European settlers.  

Which is why, a colonist who welched on their gift giving came to be known as an Indian giver. 

The term is obviously offensive to native Americans partly because of things like the Indian Removal Act of 1830.  Ironically, this law stripped tribal peoples of land that had been previously given to them and forced them to relocate out west.  The journey was called the Trail of Tears. 

Scripture says, “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” – Romans 6:23   Though eternal life is God’s gift, is it a gift that He might potentially recall.  Would He take it back if it goes unused?   Might we forfeit it by some misbehavior?  Could there be a Trail of Tears in our future?  Not according to the Scripture…

– Jesus promised to keep us secure. 

He spoke of those who believed saying, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from my Father’s hand” – John 10:27-29.  

– We were sinners before He saved us, and remain sinners after He saved us

John wrote, “If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.  If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us” – (I Jn 1:7-8)

 Sin does not condemn the believer to hell, but it sours our relationship with Jesus.  We certainly want to remove that barrier as soon as we can, which we can do through confession (1 John 1:9).

– We have been born into His family.

 Jesus told Nicodemus to be “born again.” (John 3:1-3).  John wrote “But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name—he has given the right to become God’s children” – John 1:12.  The Christian has been born into the family of God.  So, “What can we do to be unborn? 

Suppose there was a rebellious son, who got into lots of trouble and did everything he could to dissociate himself from his dad.  And one day

he said to his father, “I hate you and I wish I were never born into this family.” 

The father could possibly say, “Well, I’m sad that you feel this way, but I have a friend at the courthouse who can fix this.  You can change your last name, and the record can be altered so that you will never be connected to our family again.” 

It may be possible to alter the record, but does it really matter?  A child just can’t be unborn!  The verbiage can be changed, but not the fact that a birth occurred. 

Even so, if we were that rebellious son, we could never be unborn from God’s family but there would be consequences for our rebellion at the judgment seat of Christ for sure. (2 Corinthians 5:9-10; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15; 1 John 2:28)

God loved us into His family, and He loves us while we are in His family.  The apostle Paul told us that there isn’t anything that is able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord – (Romans 8:39).

The only trail we will eventually travel will take us to heaven.

A PRAYER: Lord we are grateful for such security.  Help us to live worthy of it

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture is quoted from the NETBible ®

the Magi Postal Service — June 3, 2026

the Magi Postal Service

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Evidently, we are all very deserving.  The lawyer on the TV promises to get us the settlement we deserve.  Football great Joe Namath told us to get the healthcare benefits we deserve.  McDonalds once told us that we deserve a break today.  

The dentist tells us we merit a better smile.  We are even told that we are worthy of premium toilet paper.  

But, honestly, there are times that I don’t want what I deserve.  

The budget for the youth ministry at our church was 50% of nothing.  So, I came up with a fun fundraiser. 

I asked our church to forgo mailing their Christmas cards to each other.  Donate the postage to the youth ministry instead and let us deliver the cards.

So, the congregation brought their cards to us.  We marked them with our official Magi Postal Service stamp and then delivered them on a Saturday morning. 

But that same afternoon, I received a threatening letter from the U.S Post Office informing me that only authorized postal service employees can place mail in a mailbox.  

I was told that I had committed a federal offense and the fine was $5,000 per piece of mail and 3 years in jail.  Oh my!  We delivered over 200 cards.  I literally owed the government a million bucks and I was soon to transition from youth pastor to prison inmate.

I most definitely did not want to receive what I apparently deserved. 

This is also true with sin.  Like the postal service, God has issued a warning.  Paul wrote in Romans 3:23, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

God said, “Do not bear false witness” but we have told little white lies.  He said, “Do not steal” but we have stolen time from our employer.  God told us to love our neighbor as ourselves.  Well, that has rarely happened!   

If there is a shred of honesty in us, we would have to agree that we have sinned and have fallen short of God’s expectations for us. 

Unfortunately, there are cosmic consequences.  Paul wrote, “the wages of sin is death” – Romans 6:23.  He spoke of an eternal state of separation from God – a perpetual process of dying.   Jesus Himself referred to this hell as a place where, “the fire is not quenched” – Mark 9:48

I am thinking that a fine of 1 million bucks would be nothing compared to the terrors of hell.

Fortunately, God sent someone to pay that penalty for us.  Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”   

If my wife were dying of cancer, I would, if I could take that cancer from her and bear it myself so that she might live.  That’s essentially what Jesus did for us. 

Because He was a man, He was able to die, and because He was also God, His death has a divinely powerful impact.  He suffered the consequences that we earned and deserved.

But each one must decide whether to do business with God or not.  John 1:12 says, “…to all who received Him (Jesus) to those who believed in his name, He gave the right to become children of God.”  

It is the free gift of God (Romans 6:23) but it must be received.  Suppose that a postal employee showed up at your door with a package instead of a threat.

He wants you to sign for it. So, you take out your wallet, but he says, “Oh no, someone else has paid for it, you just need to sign and receive it.”  That’s how God has taken care of our sin.  We need to believe in the giver and humbly receive what He gives.

He withholds what we justly deserve, when believe in Him and receive His gift.

Why don’t you take a moment now and ask Him for that gift?

A PRAYER: Oh God, thank you for withholding what we truly deserve. 

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture passages are taken from the NIV

uncommon sense — May 27, 2026

uncommon sense

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It is uncommon to have common sense.

There was a goodhearted guy who volunteered to serve in the church bus ministry.   He was out solo, learning to drive when the bus stalled in the middle of an intersection.  I pulled over to help. 

It rested on a level spot in the middle of a hill.  I suggested that we push it off center and get it rolling down the hill.  He pointed up the hill and said, “But I want to go there!”  I said to myself, “In your dreams!”

I offered to push from the back while he pushed on the passenger side next to the door of the bus.  If we could get it rolling, he could then jump in and take the wheel and steer it. He agreed.

I pushed and the bus began to rock, when suddenly he joined me on the driver’s side.  I said, “Hey if this thing starts rolling, whose gonna guide it? 

A guy pulled up in a pickup and offered to tow it.  He told the bus driver to put it in neutral and then steer it as it was pulled.  The bus driver got behind the wheel and gave the thumbs up sign. 

The pickup driver gave it the gas and his tires spun furiously in place.  The bus was still in gear, so I slipped away at that point, very much afraid for my life.

The bus driver was a common-sense casualty!     

Can a person address common sense deficiencies?  Sure!  We can learn from parents, or “how to” books, youtube videos and life experiences.  They all have much to teach.

But the best, most comprehensive resource is the book of Proverbs.   The book was written by Solomon in order to teach his son how to live wisely.   Here is a sampling of his sage advice. 

– DEBT: “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender” (22:7).  Solomon tells us that the debt we incur steals our freedom and makes us slaves to those we owe.

– CONFLICT: “Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; abandon strife before it breaks out!” (17:14).  Resolving a conflict is harder than gathering up spilled water.  Best to manage it beforehand.  

– SPEECH: “A gentle response turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath” (15:1).  Careful, gentle words are always the best especially in a time of conflict. 

– WORK: “In all hard work there is profit, but merely talking about it only brings poverty”  (14:23). Proverbs has much to say about how we work, and the benefits that come from it.

– DISHONEST GAIN: “Stolen waters are sweet, and food obtained in secret is pleasant!”  But they do not realize that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave” (9:17-18).  Solomon honestly discloses the temporary benefits of dishonest gain, but also the enduring consequences. 

– TEMPER: “Like a city that is broken down and without a wall, so is a person who cannot control his temper” (25:28). Solomon should have posted my picture next to this one.  This was once a big problem for me, fortunately much better now because I have digested such Proverbs.

– SAVINGS: “Go to the ant, you sluggard; observe her ways and be wise!  It has no commander, overseer, or ruler, yet it would prepare its food in the summer; it gathered at the harvest what it will eat” (6:6-8).  Saving for the future is always wise.

– FRIENDS: ”There are companions who harm one another, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (18:24).  Loyalty is a hallmark of friendship

Proverbs is bursting with everyday practical wisdom.  Read one of the 31 chapters each day for a good infusion of common sense. 

Is there an appropriate Proverb for my bus driver buddy?  How about this.  “It is dangerous to have zeal without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily makes poor choices.” (19:2) Amen!

A PRAYER: Oh God, help me in my foolishess.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

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

Scripture passages are from the NETBible®

the preemergent — May 20, 2026

the preemergent

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I would occasionally tease my wife and tell her that our house was a hospice for plants – it’s where they come to die.  But we have vastly improved our gardening skills over time, at least until last year when a noxious weed invaded our flower beds. 

I took the offender to my local plant care expert, and he told me that the weed was a Chamberbitter (and bitter it was to deal with).  I asked what I could do, and he said “Nothing – once it has taken root, it just spreads like wildfire.” 

But he gave me hope.  He explained that the plant goes to seed each fall and then completely dies out.  In the spring the seeds emerge and start the process all over again. 

He told me I needed to use a preemergent the next spring.  A preemergent creates a chemical barrier in the topsoil which kills the weed seedlings as they germinate.  “Weed seedling!”  Try saying that five times fast.

So the next spring, I got out the spreader and did what I was told to do – and it worked really well.

This prompted me to think of the many spiritual weeds that can infest a soul.   

Sin often has its temporary reward.  It meets some superficial emotional, psychological or even physical need.  But once it takes root, it is notoriously difficult to eliminate. 

So wouldn’t it be great if there was a spiritual preemergent – something that would attack the temptation and keep it from germinating into full-fledged sin. 

Martin Luther was known to speak of temptation and say, “You can’t keep a bird from flying over your head, but you can stop it from building a nest there.

I am happy to report that God gave us such a preemergent.  This is how it works!

Breathe:  As you start each day, exhale – confess any sin from the day before that you might have ignored.  Then inhale!  Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you again and guide you throughout the day (Colossians 1:9).

Browse the Word:  The Psalmist wrote, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” – Ps 119:11.  A daily intake of the Scripture is super important.  Scripture defines sin but it also empowers us to resist it.  It is a living sword according to Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Bridge with others: Our journey was designed to be traveled with fellow believers.   Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.” We need to be in church, and part of a small group, and it would be extra wise to have an accountability partner.  It seems that pastors today are falling into sin at warp speed.  I am certain that few of them have any accountability to another.  

Beseech the Lord:  Jesus told His disciples, “Pray that you enter not into temptation” Luke 22:40.  I don’t think the Lord could be any more explicit.  And finally… 

Build Walls: We need to create barriers between us and the sin opportunities that pull at us.  Paul advised us to “Flee immorality” – 1 Corinthians 6:18. For instance – avoid the flirt at work and make sure someone else is in the room when you are using the computer.

Take your spiritual lawn spreader and sprinkle these things on your soul for nearly a weed free result.  

A Prayer: Lord, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer” – Ps 19:14.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord be with you.

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version.

black or blue — May 13, 2026

black or blue

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My wife told me I needed to change out of my faded blue jeans for black ones.  We were going to a funeral after all.   I obeyed (as per my wedding vows). But then she looked at me and barked, “I said black!” Evidently, I chose a darker blue pair.

She made me try again.  Strike two! Somehow, I ended up with a different pair of dark blue pants.  She asked me to change again – which made me bluer than my pants.

So, what is my problem?  Well, my color discernment is impaired. My name is Jim and I am color blind. 

As I lamented my malady, I started thinking that there are folks today who lack discernment when it comes to Scripture. They read it but somehow end up with conclusions that don’t seem to match the words that they read.  They look at blue but see black. 

For instance. Jesus said, “If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out! It is better to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched” – Mark 9:47-48.

Christians from the first century until today have understood Jesus to teach that there is a place called hell, reserved for the unrighteous – a place of eternal torment and unquenchable fire. 

And yet there is an entertainment celebrity today who is well known for his sincere devotion to Christ.  And yet, this man read this passage and yet somehow concluded that the unrighteous simply cease to exist once they die. 

Paul, in 2 Timothy 2:15, spoke of “rightly dividing the Word of truth.” (KJV) In other words, a person needs to be discerning and accurate when it comes to the Word of God.  We need to be able to distinguish the black from the blue.  So how do we do this? 

– We can start by laying aside any personal agenda. Let the Scripture freely speak without any preconceived notions.  There was a guy whose mother died but he wasn’t sure if she ended up in heaven.  He eventually discarded his former conviction and came to believe that the unrighteous cease to exist when they die.  His personal preference directed his interpretation of Scripture. 

– We should ask the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our study. He was given to us to do this very thing (John 16:13).

– Consider the literary context of the passage. Read what precedes and follows it, to get the fullness of it.  Look at the whole of Scripture to see what it teaches on the subject.  If our friend had done this.  He would find much evidence that hell is painful and unending (Matthew 25:30; 41; 46; Luke 16:22-24; Revelation 14:9-11)

– Consider the genre of a passage.  Is it poetry like the Psalms, or prophecy like Daniel, or maybe history like Acts. The genre affects how we understand it.  Our Mark passage contains straightforward teaching from Christ. 

– Consider the cultural/historical context of a passage. The word for hell (Gehenna) was also the name of the local Jerusalem garbage dump, where a fire burned 24/7.  

– Prefer the most obvious understanding of the passage. Read the Scripture in its normal literal sense, unless it is obvious that figurative language is used.  Scripture was not written for the benefit of theologians but for all of us.  When an interpreter makes excuses in order to harmonize a passage with their interpretation – then it’s likely that they have erred.

– Give weight to every word. Jesus spoke of a fire that is never extinguished.  It burns for eternity meaning that it will be fueled for all eternity.

I want to know what God wants me to know – no matter what.  I cannot increase my ability to discern color, but you and I can do lots to sharpen our minds as we explore the Word of God. 

A Prayer: Open our eyes Lord, that we may see.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickelheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture passages are from the NETBible.com