Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson

something to help you laugh and think about life with Christ

Tag: faith

the burden of the booth — June 4, 2025

the burden of the booth

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It was dark and foreboding as I knelt there in that claustrophobic little confessional booth.  I was feeling trapped both by the booth and the burden upon me.  Then the small door to the other side slid open.  I could see the dim outline of Father Missimi through the screen. 

That was the cue for this little 8-year-old to begin.  I said, “Bless me Father for I have sinned.  My last confession was 1 week ago.”  And then it was time to unload my sins. 

But what could I say?  For the most part, I was a good little boy.  I was obedient to my parents, and I got good grades in my Catholic school. This created a quandary for me. 

I feared my teacher, Sister Mary Cletus.  She was hovering outside the booth expecting me to confess my sins.  Father Missimi was on the other side patiently waiting to hear them. But I couldn’t think of any sins to confess. 

And if I went to confession without confessing a sin, would that not be a sin in and of itself?  So, I decided to cooperate.  I needed to fabricate a few sins. “Go with the ten commandments,” I thought.  “Father, I took the name of the Lord my God in vain, and I did not remember to keep the Sabbath day holy – oh and I coveted my neighbor’s goods.”

And then I thought, “Wait a minute – I am presently bearing false witness.  I am lying about sins I did not commit to a holy priest, but I can’t tell him about it because then he would never believe my confessions in the future, and I will therefore be forever unforgiven. 

So, I finished up with my false confession, and he uttered his words of absolution and then ordered me to pray 10 Our Fathers, 10 Hail Mary’s, 10 Glory Be’s and to light a candle and give some money to the poor.

Oh, and by the way, Father Missimi, this post is my official confession of my bogus confession. – Smiley Face!

Confession was so difficult and confusing back then but much simpler now. 

According to 1 John 1:9-10.  John wrote, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.”

When we violate the expectations of God, we put a kink our relationship with Him.  He does not cease to love us, nor does sin imperil our salvation.  But sin muddies our relationship with God. 

When I took my dad’s hatchet without asking, and then lost it, he was not happy with me, but He didn’t disown me.  My standing as His son was always firm.  I had wounded our relationship, however, and that needed to be addressed. 

Likewise, our forgiveness is founded on Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.  His blood washed us legally clean, but ongoing confession removes the spiritual, emotional distance that sin creates.  It cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

When we injure our relationship with God through sin, we need to confess it.  And we don’t need a booth to do it.  God is omniscient and knows where we are, what we’ve done and what we need to do about it. 

Neither do we need an intermediary in a dimly lit cubicle to assist.  We are to confess our sins to Him, the Lord Himself, according to John.  And the Father will promptly forgive us and restore the sweetness to our relationship with Him.

Silly me!  I once fabricated fictional sins to confess, yet John says, “If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us.” – 1 John 1:10. A really honest person doesn’t have to manufacture sins.

Well, I have left the dim booth for the light.  And the weekly chore, I once abhored has become a sweet time of reconnecting with the Father, whom I so deeply love.  He waits to hear from you as well. 

A PRAYER: Father, forgive us, for we have sinned!

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Scripture passages are from the NETBible®

destined for dog food!    — May 28, 2025

destined for dog food!   

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Harry de Leyer was on his way to the horse auction.  He needed an additional steed for the use of his riding students.   But, due to a vehicle breakdown, the auction had closed by the time he arrived.

This had been the last hope for the horses.  The unpurchased leftovers had already been loaded and were bound for a Pennsylvania slaughterhouse where they would be processed into dog food. 

Harry rapidly surveyed the neglected animals.  He spied a bulky, broken down, white horse who had spent his life pulling an Amish plow.  He pulled him out of the truck and walked him around.  They seemed to connect. 

Harry bought the horse for a meager $80.00 and gave him the apt name Snowman.

Snowman found new life on Harry’s farm.  Without the burden of a plow, the horse took to the air.  He loved to jump.  Harry recognized his talent and cultivated it.   With Harry in the saddle, they made their way to competitions and were soon beating out horses who had been bred to be jumpers.  

By 1958, Snowman had become a champion, winning the Triple Crown of jumping.  He continued to beat out his competition for many years after.

Like Snowman, we Christians have been plucked out of an auction of sorts.  The Bible portrays an unsaved person as being a slave to be sold.  The Scripture employs the word “redemption” to describe the process, using three different Greek words that help us to understand what it means to be redeemed.

Our journey begins at the slave market.   My only exposure to a slave market has been through the movies.  I remember seeing, half naked people, with an emptiness that seemed to seep through their eyes.  They possessed nothing, not even control over their own bodies. 

It’s a gruesome but fairly accurate picture of our situation.  Potential bidders poke and prod us hoping to take possession of our souls.   But Jesus sees us and decides to buy us.  This is the first word for redemption, “agoradzo” which means to buy.   It is found in 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For you were bought at a price.”  Jesus gave His life blood on a cross to purchase we who were formerly slaves to sin. 

The second word is “ekagoradzo” which mean “to buy out of.”  This word is used in Galatians 3:13, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.”   This carries the idea of first buying and then removing us from the market.  Once Jesus purchased our souls, we would always remain His, never to become available to be resold to another.

The third word translated as redemption is the word, “lutroo.” This carries the idea of removing the chains from a slave and then giving the slave their freedom.  This word is used in Titus 2:14, He “gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness” NIV.

Snowman was destined to become dogfood.  We also were headed to the slaughterhouse, to spend an eternity in the unquenchable fires of hell (Mark 9:43-45)

Snowman was overlooked by every other buyer at that auction.  Likewise, Jesus saw us not for who we had been but who we could be. 

Snowman was acquired for $80 when the average cost for a jumping horse at that time ranged from the thousands to the tens of thousands.  But Jesus paid even more – the ultimate cost – His laid down His very life to save us. 

Liberated from the plow, and saved from the slaughterhouse, Snowman was then free to do what he enjoyed the most, running and jumping with His Master in tow.   And we the redeemed are also free indeed (John 8:36).  We have the privilege of joyfully serving and doing life with the sweetest, kindest, most benevolent Master ever.

– a way better destiny for us than dogfood!

A PRAYER: Lord, help us to better understand what it means to be redeemed.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture passages are taken from the NETBible ®

Photo by VentnorNJ – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=107870915

oops! — May 21, 2025

oops!

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The street crew may have started well but then fell asleep on the job.  The center line they left painted on the street looked like the work of a myopic monkey or by me.

There are two things I want etched into my headstone.  The first is, “I should have gone to the doctor when my wife told me to.”  The other is, “I hate to paint.”   

I start a painting task with the very best of intentions.  I move the brush slowly and carefully.  And it doesn’t look half bad.  But I am not a slow and careful person, and the job quickly becomes tedious for me.  So halfway through I am painting quickly and sloppily – leaving more paint on the carpet than the wall.

What if God had approached His work with such a warped work ethic?  What if God had been impatient or careless or even lazy with creation?  What if He had made the earth but didn’t set it to spinning – no sunrise – no sunset.    

What if He spent all His energy on making Adam, leaving nothing left over for Eve?   Where would we be?  Well, we wouldn’t!

If God had not been diligent, we might have three seasons instead of four.  (However, losing a Texas summer may not be so bad)

But that’s not God, is it?  He was thorough with every detail to the end, leaving us with a marvelously balanced, beautifully detailed and self-sustaining world. 

We see this quality in Jesus as well, His peers considered Him and said, “He had done everything well” – Mark 7:37.  Everything that Jesus did, He did really well.  I wonder if He ever had to paint? 

And the Lord continues to work with such diligence today especially when it comes to you and me.  Paul wrote, “For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” – Philippians 1:6.   That’s good news.   He has grown me much, but there is still lots of ground to cover.  I am so glad that He is committed to seeing it through.  He finishes what He starts.

Now, as a person made in His image, I am thinking He would have me to do as He does.  In fact, I am sure of it.  God through Solomon had this to say in Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might…”    That is God speaking to us.  “Work with all your might,” He says! – everything you got.

Diligence is a quality that God expects of us.   To be diligent is to be careful and conscientious with the work that we do.  We are exhorted in the New Testament to be diligent about various things approximately 10 times.

And then there is this truth that Paul left us that in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord” (NASU).

We are to work, being motivated from the heart, regarding every task as an assignment from the Lord. The idea is to offer Him our very, very best – to give attention to every detail, to do it skillfully, and to finish the task in a timely way, and to do it with a good attitude.  It is to do the kind of work that causes those who watch us to direct their attention to the God we serve.

We need to bring these qualities to bear on our occupations and marriages, and parenting and certainly our service to the Lord.   “Whatever we do,” says Paul.

When we work in this way, we have something satisfying to look upon with a sanctified sense of pride.  Others find value in it as well.  Proverbs 22:29 says, “You have seen a person skilled in his work, he will take his position before kings…”

Wow, I feel like I need to go and repaint that wall. 

A PRAYER: Lord, help me work better, to better please You.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture passages are from the NETBible.com unless otherwise noted.  

who tempted the devil? — May 14, 2025

who tempted the devil?

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Lucifer was created as a beautiful holy angel, but he sinned and fell from his lofty position and became Satan the diabolical tempter.  But who was it that tempted Lucifer to sin? 

There was not an evil entity that preceded him – no one to poke and prod him to sin.  Evidently, it was his own independent self-will that set itself against the Lord.  The devil made the devil do it!

This caused me to wonder about Gethsemane.  There, Jesus asked God to remove the cup He was expected to drink.  The cup was a metaphor that represented the trauma that was to quickly come.

There would be the betrayal, the mockery of a trial, the whip lashing, the crown of thorns and the nails in his hands and feet.  On the cross He would suffer an insatiable thirst and find it extremely difficult to catch a breath.  Only then would He die.

Worst of all – the sins of the world, past, present, and future would be piled upon Him so that for the first time in eternity the Father would turn away from His Son causing Him to cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” – Matthew 27:46.

Jesus knew it was coming, and he dreaded it. Three times He prayed, “My Father, if possible, let this cup pass from me!” – Matthew 26:39.

He was honestly struggling.  Should we call it temptation?  It seems like it, but is this the devil’s doing?   Maybe not?

In the Gospels, we find Satan and his crew showing up on many occasions.   He took center stage when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4).  Jesus often interacted with demons who opposed Him (Matthew 8:31-32; 9:32; 12:22).

When Peter defied the Lord, Jesus recognized the influence of the evil one and said, “Get behind me Satan” – Matthew 16:23.  And then in John 13:27, we find Satan actually entering Judas.

It surely seems that if Satan was responsible for the traumatic struggle at Gethsemane, it would have been apparent.  But the narrative mentions only Jesus.

What was going on?  Well, the beauteous mystery of Christ is His incarnation, where Almighty God took on human flesh while remaining 100% God.

Paul described it this way, Jesus “who, though he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature.  He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross” – Phil 2:6-8.

This was an incredibly unselfish act and very necessary.  The holiness of God was needed to atone for man, but an eternal God could not die to provide it.  A man, however, could die, but had no holiness to offer.  So, God emptied Himself and took the form of a bondservant to redeem us.

Gethsemane then was the supreme test of His humanity.  He became flesh to redeem man, but when the time came, would He in His humanity choose to freely suffer to make it happen?

He didn’t need the devil to manipulate him, He had His own flesh to contend with.  Ironically it was during this test that He found His disciples sleeping instead of watching and He reminded them that “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” – Matthew 26:41. Could Jesus have been speaking out of His own struggle?

How glad I am that His threefold plea to the Father was also underlined by His submission.  He prayed, “My Father, if possible, let this cup pass from me! Yet not what I will, but what you will” – Matthew 26:39.

He defied His very human inclination for self-preservation and humbly submitted Himself to the severe will of the Father.  Shortly thereafter, He peacefully surrendered to those who would crucify Him.  How fortunate for us that He did!

A PRAYER: Lord – thank you for freely grasping that cup and drinking of it for us

This has been Jim Johnson and picklheavenpress.com

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

Scripture passages are from the NETBible.com

all authority — April 30, 2025

all authority

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We finally reached the age where we needed a large-print edition alarm clock.  The numbers on it were 2” tall and it was loud too.  I awakened to the sound of garbage-truck backing into my bedroom.  It was an annoying authority.  It told me when to go to bed, and get up, and leave the house for an appointment.

There are annoying authorities but then there are beneficial ones as well like the policeman who protects us and the doctor who helps to heal us.

Jesus, however, is the ultimate authority – of the best variety.  He demonstrated it over three very different but important realms in Mark 1.

“Then they went to Capernaum. When the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people there were amazed by his teaching because He taught them like one who had authority, not like the experts in the law” (vrs. 21-22).

There in Capernaum, He spoke with authority.  His words were powerful, accurate and penetrating, issued from the author of all truth.   He often said, “You have heard it said….but I say to you.”   His words corrected falsehood and could be fully trusted.

There was a sign on the hand dryer in the restroom at work.  It read, “Push here for a word from the boss.”  Maybe, but when Jesus spoke, He wasn’t blowing hot air.  The people understood the difference.

We find another demonstration of His authority in verses 23-28.  There was a man in the synagogue who was indwelt and controlled by a demonic power.  When Jesus arrived, the demon spoke through the man – opposing Jesus and everything He stood for. 

Then this happened, “But Jesus rebuked him: “Silence! Come out of him!” After throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him. They were all amazed so that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching with authority!” (vrs. 25-27).

There was a time when ignorant people would drill a hole in the skull of a living person who was suspected of being possessed – an escape hatch through which to expel a demon.  Foolishness for sure.  Jesus on the other hand, by His authority alone, as the Son of God, could speak a word and the forces of evil were vanquished.

There is yet another evidence of Christ’s authority in Mark 1. 

The Sabbath service was completed, and instead of heading to the Olive Garden for lunch, Jesus and crew went to Peter’s home.  There they found his mother-in-law suffering with a fever.  Jesus responded, “He came and raised her up by gently taking her hand. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. (vs. 31)

When Jesus acted, the feverish sickness instantly subsided. He demonstrated His authority over sickness and disease.

The people of Capernaum recognized and were amazed by Jesus’ authority when He spoke and when He cast out demons.  But when He defeated illness,

They were prompted to submit themselves to His authority.  Mark wrote, “When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered by the door” (vrs 32-33).

Jesus’ authority is not limited by place, or time, or by the size of the problem.   He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” – Matt. 28:18.  When I need to get up in the morning, I heed the authority of my alarm clock.  With every other problem, I need Jesus.

Does Jesus have the authority to help me with my problems? Can His servants give me counsel that will make a difference?  Can His Word give me some clear instruction?  Is He able to supernaturally intervene to help? The answer is yes to all the above. 

Make an appointment with Him today.  Bring your issues to Him in prayer.   He has the authority to make a difference and He will do it for you.

A PRAYER: Lord, You are a great God, greater than all our problems.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Scriptures passages are from the NETBible.com ®

the Big Tex tragedy — April 16, 2025

the Big Tex tragedy

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Big Tex is the king-sized animated cowboy who has welcomed people to the State Fair of Texas since 1952. He was born in Kerens, TX as a 49-foot Santa Claus but later was reconfigured as a cowboy. In 1951, he became Big Tex.

He was clad in blue jeans and a plaid shirt and wore the face of Will Rogers. He would greet fair visitors with a wave and a wink and a booming HOOWDEEE, FOOLKS!!!”   The two million annual visitors to the state fair made it a priority to do a selfie with the icon.

Sadly, I was there with my family the day that Big Tex died. We were near the midway when sirens began to wail. We had no idea what happened until 2 hours later we were forced aside to make way for a funeral procession.

A large tractor slowly and respectfully pulled an exceptionally long trailer. Big Tex was stretched out upon it. He was still and silent, and wrapped in a makeshift body bag.

As he passed, the cheerful sound of the throng fell to a whisper. Big Tex was dead! An electrical fire had started in his right boot and worked its way up throughout his fiberglass body.

There was genuine sadness among the fairgoers for their beloved Big Tex.

It was sort-of a silly and yet surreal experience. I thought about the irony of it all. The flesh and blood Jesus also died but received almost no sympathy from the crowd.

He had presented Himself to Israel as their Messiah, and His approval rating was stellar. For 3-plus years He had circulated throughout His homeland healing, delivering, and preaching a stirring message of hope. 

He acted selflessly, spoke courageously, and did harm to no one. If cell phones had been in existence, 99% of his contemporaries would have had a selfie with the Savior.

But He was opposed by a manipulative and powerful minority who arranged to have Him pinned to a tree. And there He hung, just outside the city, along a major thoroughfare.

Matthew’s Gospel described what happened, “Those who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are God’s Son, come down from the cross!” In the same way even the chief priests—together with the experts in the law and elders—were mocking him: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the king of Israel! If he comes down now from the cross, we will believe in him! He trusts in God—let God, if he wants to, deliver him now” – Matthew 27:39-43.  NETBible ®

There was little grief for Jesus, just cruel and heartless mockery. Jesus died! His adversaries assumed it was all over. His body was packed away in a cold stone tomb. But 3 days later, He shattered their foolish expectations.

They had said, “If He comes down from the cross, then we will believe in him.”  Well Jesus was still alive when they said that. Yes, that would have been somewhat of a miracle if He would have set himself free from the nails and escaped.

Instead, they made quite sure He had died and was entombed. He lay lifeless for three days – and only then – only then He set Himself free – from the graveclothes, and the tomb and the iron grip of death.

Texans also assumed that they had seen the last of our beloved Big Tex. But he was secreted away and made bigger and better. He gained 6,000 pounds and was strengthened to withstand 100 mile an hour winds.  He then took his rightful place at the State Fair in 2013.

Jesus is more than Bondo. He truly lives and is clad in His resurrection body and has taken His rightful place in heaven to one day judge the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:5).

Praise His mighty name!

A PRAYER: Lord, our present grief is for the many who do not acknowledge You!

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you!

pick-me-up — March 26, 2025

pick-me-up

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She was elderly, lived alone and felt quite lonely and depressed.  She didn’t want to be – but she was.  She was usually able to tread her emotional waters by thinking on her favorite verse of Scripture – Isaiah 41:10. 

The Lord said through the prophet, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” – KJV

She was challenged by the words “be not dismayed.”  Hey, I will celebrate my birthday dis-May, but that’s not what this word means.  It carries the idea of being anxious.  The Lord tells us, however, that no matter our circumstances, we don’t need to feel that way.  

OK you cannot tell a person how they should feel can you?  I used to try that with my kids, “You will eat those Lima beans and be happy about it.”  It didn’t work.  But God can say such things to us, because He has His ways of dismantling dismay.

In this verse He promised to strengthen us.  A depressed person is locked into a diminished emotional state but the one who crafted us knows us and is able to address it.  He may not remove the underlying problem, but He lends His strength that we might bear it. 

Isaiah said He would uphold us by His right hand.  I was caring for a hospice patient recently.  He could not get out of his chair to get to the bathroom.   He asked me to put my hand on the small of his back and nudge him a little to get him up and out.  With trepidation I did it, and he made it. 

With my hand I strengthened his effort and that’s what God does for us.   

I have an old picture of my skinny 3-year-old nephew.  It appears that he had lifted a barbell with massive weights over his head.  The bar stretches beyond the borders of the picture. Impressive! But what you don’t see are my 2 brothers who are holding up each end. 

We may not always see God in the picture, but He is always there upholding us.

God said, “I will help thee.”   This is an all-inclusive promise of assistance.  Pick a problem – it doesn’t matter.  He promises to help.   Can he help with your finances?  Sure!  But can He pick us up from depression?  Yes, that too!  

The sweetest part of this passage is where He says, “I am with thee.”   

I was just with a clerk at the convenience store.  His presence didn’t do much for me.  If he were the last person on earth, we might hang out.

On the other hand, we find great satisfaction and comfort in being with people who we know care for us – a parent, a spouse, a child, a friend.  Those are the people we want with us when trouble comes.

But God, God cares for us like nobody else.  He has demonstrated that.  The fact that He is all powerful and all-knowing is a considerable bonus.

Isaiah 41:10 always helped my friend’s depression in the past, but not today.  She decided maybe she needed a distraction – a good novel to read.  She found one in the facility library that piqued her interest. 

She got it home and flipped over to page one.  She found a large bookmark stuffed there from a previous reader.

There were some words in a 24-point font printed on it – Isaiah 41:10, ‘“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

God personally delivered His message to her.  She was not alone.  And the realization of it dissipated the fog in her heart. 

Hey – He is there for you too! 

A PRAYER: We don’t know how You do it Lord, but we are sure glad You do.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you

useful — March 19, 2025

useful

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She was leading a Bible club at church.  There was one little girl who was completely lost when it came to memorizing the books of the Bible.   She didn’t grow up in church.  She didn’t know the difference between Deuteronomy and a tonsillectomy.  But the leader patiently persevered and the little girl joyfully mastered the task.

The child was blessed with a richer knowledge of the Bible.  Her leader, however, was astounded that God could use her so effectively in the child’s life. She felt nearer and dearer to the Lord because of it.

God uses us to achieve His purposes if we will allow Him!  

In 2 Tim. 2:21 the apostle described Christians as being useful.   He said, “So if someone cleanses himself of such behavior, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful for the Master.”

So, is this a desirable thing?  Absolutely. If we are Christians, then we are on the team.  Now when I was a kid, I played on a basketball team, or I should say I watched from the bench.  The coach almost ever sent me in, maybe because he wanted the team to win the game. 

Nevertheless, it was terrible to sit on the bench, to feel like I had nothing to contribute – like I didn’t matter.  The coach didn’t even get my name right in History class.

But God, He wants to send us into the game.

– sometimes God uses our natural abilities  

The early church was experiencing some upsetting management issues.  A man named Philip was one of seven chosen to take charge (Acts 6:3-5).  This was because he had a good reputation, he was a spiritual man, and because he was also wise with managerial expertise.  

Perhaps he was a businessman or a supervisor with the government.  He brought his natural skills to bear on the Lord’s business and the problem was effectively managed.

– sometimes God equips us in supernatural ways 

Persecution had broken out in Jerusalem so the believers, including Philip, fled town.  He ended up in Samaria where the folks had never heard of Jesus, so the administrator began to address the crowd.  And no, it was not a dry, boring message.  In fact, Acts 8:5-8 says, “the crowds were paying attention with one mind to what Philip said, as they heard and saw the miraculous signs he was performing.”

He found himself among folks who had not heard the Gospel, so he volunteered to fill the need and speak, and God was pleased, and He chose to supernaturally empower him to cast out demons and heal the sick.

Philip decided, “If there’s no one else – I will do it, and God happily equipped him to get the job done.

– sometimes we are aware that He is using us

Later, Philip was directed by the Lord to meet with a spiritually minded Ethiopian man.  Philip obeyed and told the guy about Jesus, who then surrendered to the Lord and was baptized (Acts 8:26-38).  He understood how the Lord desired to use him, and he cooperated.

– at other times we are unaware of how He is using us

The last time we meet Philip in the Scripture, he opens his home to some weary travelers – Paul and Luke and the rest of his companions (Acts 21:8). Philip fed and sheltered them as ambassadors of the Gospel.  It was a simple kindness he extended.  Yet according to Jesus he probably had no idea how significantly he was used by God (Matthew 25:35 and 40).

God uses us and when He does, there is an interesting and incredible chemistry that forms between us.  We get the sense that God values our work.  He allows Himself to depend upon what we can do.  He chooses to need us.  Our big old all powerful – do anything kind of Father needs us.  That is both astonishing and affirming.

Hey, make yourself available and He will use you too!

A PRAYER: Lord, put me in the game – please!

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

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

Scripture passages are from the NETBible®

the longest 5 seconds — February 26, 2025

the longest 5 seconds

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The longest 5 seconds of my life took place at the ballpark.  I was there to spectate as my middle son was on the field – right field – the one with cobwebs because the baseball so seldom arrived there.

Musical genes in my family run rampant, but the athletic ones are as rare as hen’s teeth.  And of course, he was also hindered by an attention deficit that mirrored the national debt.

I was always there to support him.  I wanted him to succeed.  I really did.  But it was lonely out there in right field.  He saw less action than the nerdy boy at the Middle School dance.

The game and the season were only one out away from ending.  Our team was up by one run, but the visitors had a heavy hitter at bat and the bases were loaded.  The tension was thick.

Suddenly the crack of the bat split the sky, and the ball rocketed towards right field.  The noise jarred my son awake.  He saw the ball and was positioning himself to snatch it.  If he blew it, the game would be lost.  To catch it would be a mighty victory. 

For five infinitely long seconds, I was sweating bullets.  I had been in that position myself a few times and usually fumbled the ball or missed it all together.  But I badly wanted better for him.  My prayers ascended as the ball descended.

I watched as the ball finally smacked the center of his glove – and he held onto it.  e defied our expectations The coach went bezerk – so did I. 

Like most fathers, I wanted my kid to succeed.  But for some strange reason, when it comes to our heavenly Father, we sometimes suspect that He is indifferent when it comes to us.   

He doesn’t care about how we do at work, or about our grades at school.  He yawns at obstacles that stand in our way.  We aren’t sure He really wants to help.  Some of us think of Him as that dad that never attends the game when we play.

But in reality, God wants success for us.  

Check out what He once said to us through Zephaniah the prophet.  “The Lord your God is in your midst; he is a warrior who can deliver.  He takes great delight in you; he renews you by his love; he shouts for joy over you” – Zephaniah 3:17.

We understand here that God is in the stands cheering us on.  “He takes great delight in you; he renews you by his love; he shouts for joy over you.”

But He also does something that I could not do for my son.  He enters the playing field and intervenes.  “The Lord your God is in your midst; he is a warrior who can deliver.

How does He intervene?  The Lord gave Nehemiah favor in the eyes of the King so that he could pursue his passion to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:5).

The tabernacle in the wilderness was waiting to be constructed.  So this is what the Lord did, “So Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person in whom the Lord has put skill and ability to know how to do all the work for the service of the sanctuary are to do the work according to all that the Lord has commanded” – Exodus 36:1-2.  The Lord gave skill and ability to those people to give them so they might succeed at their task. 

And then there is this; Proverbs 16:3, “Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”

God truly wants us to succeed in what we do, although sometimes He will stand in the way until we realize that its by His enabling grace that we are able. 

So be encouraged.  Our Father is in the stands rooting for you and on the field working for you.  You have what you need to succeed!  

A PRAYER: Lord, remind us that we are never ever alone in this life.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture passages are from the NETBible ®

something to remember — February 19, 2025

something to remember

/pickleheavenpress

Our trio performed a Christmas Concert at a nursing facility.  Afterwards, a lady who was a resident there, came to speak with me.  With tears cascading down her cheeks she said, “You remind me of my father.”  I said, “Well I sure hope he was a better man than I am.” She replied, “He was a drunk.”  A drunk?  Uh, OK – maybe my last song was a little too much. 

Well, she went on to explain.  He was actually a mean drunk – but each Christmas Season he would mellow.  He would break out his guitar and lead the family in the singing of carols.  As I led the singing that day, that memory was revived and it warmed her heart.   That’s what she preferred to remember about her daddy.

We tend to remember the things that deeply, emotionally impact us – that which is exceedingly good or incredibly bad.  Most of us would hope that any memories of us would be bathed in the warmth of good thoughts. 

The apostle Paul reveals how that might be possible.  In Philippians 1:3-5, he wrote, “I thank my God every time I remember you. I always pray with joy in my every prayer for all of you because of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.”

Paul often thought about the Christians in the town of Philippi and the way that they had participated with him in his Gospel ministry.  Those memories fostered joyful thoughts.   

But what did he mean by “participation?”  Well, the book of Philippians was Paul’s version of a thank you note.  He used the letter to express his gratitude for the generous way that they had financially supported 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” – Philippians 4:18.

They provided the resources that Paul needed in order to do his outreach ministry.  Paul mentioned elsewhere that they gave out of their “deep poverty” (2 Cor 8:1-2).

As Paul carried the Gospel from town-to-town, he often remembered that it was those sweet brothers and sisters at Philippi that made it possible.  They selflessly pared back their own standard of living to support him.

So sometimes I wonder what people might remember about me.  What do they remember of my ministry as a pastor, besides the fact that my shirt tail was always on the loose?   

Maybe it was my pulpit ministry.  After all I spent 10-15 hours each week preparing a sermon – working through the Greek, making sure each message was accurate.  I prepared a video file to go with it.  I even rehearsed the message.  I figure I spent a cumulative total of about 17,940 hours over 23 years of doing sermon prep. 

And yet the only sermon people seem to remember is the one where I almost fell off the platform

People tend to remember other things!   She remembered the time I showed up at the hospital and prayed over their newborn.  That Deacon remembered when I cranked up my lawnmower and mowed his lawn because he wasn’t able. 

My associate remembered how I would always drop what I was doing when he needed to talk with me.  Then there was that man who remembered the grace and forgiveness he received when he came to me for counsel. 

It was those personal, considerate acts of love and service that they remember – things that anyone of us could and probably should do. 

Of course, being remembered, is not what motivated my ministry.  Not at all – but it is heart-warming to know that I have had some positive impact on the lives of others – and it is remembered.

If I had it to do all over again, I think I would spend less time parsing Greek verbs and more time loving people. 

A PRAYER: Thank you, Lord for good memories

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 ®