Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson

something to help you laugh and think about life with Christ

Tag: food

a lemon without the law — September 3, 2025

a lemon without the law

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A man bought a new car, got it home and checked the trunk.  He was shocked to find that the tire-jack had been replaced by the Jaws of Life.

I wonder if that’s how Israel felt when they arrived at Canaan land.  The Lord promised them a bountiful land flowing with milk and honey (Leviticus 20:24) but that was not exactly what they found.  It was actually a really tough place to live. 

The western boundary was seacoast.  This could be a plus for international trade. But the waters of the sea carried sand from North Africa and left it on their shores so that they lacked deep water ports.

There were lots of worthless rocks but few valuable minerals.  They even had to import wood for building.

It was tough to travel – a land of random hills, valleys, swamps, and desert and smaller than New Jersey.

It is earthquake prone.  There is evidence of several cities that were leveled by quakes.   2/3 of the land was arid waste. The coastal areas were swampy.  3/4 of the land was mountainous.  Farming was a challenge.

Caanan was 100% dependent on the rain.  Every bit of the water in the Jordan River came from rain that had fallen in the land.  If it didn’t rain, they didn’t eat.

Because of the thickets and mountains the land was haunted by lions, bears, jackals, hyenas, leopards and wolves – challenges when trying to work the fields or tend the flocks.

Canaan is the primary intercontinental bridge that connects Africa with Asia and Europe.   Therefore, it was and still is the most strategic point of real estate in the Middle east.   In those days Egypt would march through Canaan to assault Mesopotamia and visa versa.   Canaan land would be assaulted and sacked when they did.  

So, God asked Moses and the Israelites to leave the rich bountiful Nile Delta region to move to a place that was poor for shipping, trading, mining, traveling, logging and especially farming.  The place was rocky, swampy, rain dependent, overrun with wild beasts and frequently ravaged by war.

So why would God provide that kind of home for the people He treasured?  He tells us in Leviticus 26:3-10.  

“‘If you walk in my statutes and are sure to obey my commandments, 4 I will give you your rains in their time so that the land will give its yield and the trees of the field will produce their fruit. 5 Threshing season will extend for you until the season for harvesting grapes, and the season for harvesting grapes will extend until sowing season, so you will eat your bread until you are satisfied…”

God described an extremely prosperous and bountiful place – plenty of rain, fruitful trees, ripened fields, and luscious grapes – each year every year (26:10).  But, He prefaced His promise with an if, “If you walk in my statutes and are sure to obey my commandments…”

He went on to say, “and you will live securely in your land. 6 I will grant peace in the land so that you will lie down to sleep without anyone terrifying you. I will remove harmful animals from the land, and no sword of war will pass through your land” (26:5b-6)

If they were to walk in His statutes, He also guaranteed that they would sleep in peace.  He would manage the wild beasts and stop the marauding nations at the border. 

God wanted them to live in a healthy state of tension.  If they were to obey it would be a fantastic home.  If they deserted Him, it would become a lemon of a land.  They had to live by their faith or languish without it. 

We too would like a milk and honey experience in life, but sometimes we taste vinegar instead.  This may be God’s gentle way of correcting us.  He disciplines the child that He loves (Hebrews 12:6-11).  It may be time to turn back to Him. 

A PRAYER: Teach us the Lord the way in which we should go.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord be with you Scripture passages are from the NETBible

a matter of the heart — October 23, 2024

a matter of the heart

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A week ago, they checked me into the ER and I had to answer a barrage of questions.  I found out later, when reading my chart, that they mistakenly listed my race as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.

Hmm!  The last time I looked in the mirror I was Caucasian.  I didn’t know that they could medically change your race – not that I wouldn’t mind being a Native Hawaiian with their beautiful bronzed skin and superb surfing skills

But there I was in the ER with telltale chest pain.  The cardiologist found that my enzymes were up, and they needed to quickly perform a heart cath. 

Two stents later I woke up to a nurse asking me, “What is your name?”  I groggily replied her, “James Johnson.”  She asked, “Do you know where you are at?”  I said, “Yeah – the Whitehouse?”    She looked at my wife Sharie with alarm who assured her I was kidding.

Yep, I had me a heart attack.  It was quite a surprise!   Each year I would get a physical exam and my numbers were always good.  Cholesterol was in check and blood pressure good. My primary doc told me “Whatever you are doing keep it up!”   I replied, “You mean not eating right or exercising?”  (I really said that.) 

As I lay in the ER room groaning with pain, I was glad to have my sweet wife by my side as well as my wonderful daughter.  They laid hands on me and prayed. 

I was also comforted knowing that my Jesus was with me.  I was not afraid – in pain yes, but not afraid.  In fact, that verse from Philippians kept skipping through my mind, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” – Phil 1:21. NIV

I have preached to others the significance of that verse.  I have quoted it and explained it at many funeral services.   I wanted folks to know that the most fearful thing is not death, but a prolonged life on this planet locked into a degrading body.  Death is God’s merciful way of releasing us of that burden and ushering us into a much sweeter and better existence with Him. 

Ah, but of course it is easy to talk about such a transition, another to travel it.  So, there I was, not sure where the next few hours would take me.  But, in looking back, I am pleased that my thoughts were on my Lord. 

And He sovereignly decided that I needed to stay on for a bit longer and experience the words, “to live is Christ.” 

Thanks to Jesus and my daily dose of baby aspirin my heart sustained no permanent damage.  This was truly welcome news. 

But the episode was certainly an inconvenience.  I am semi-retired, but I am busy with ministry.  I care for folks as Hospice chaplain; I still preach and teach some; Sharie, Brenda Waskowiak and I are busy singing the praises of Jesus 3-4 times a month.  So, I wondered why the Lord would put all that in jeopardy. 

He had His reasons.  I suppose it was something like this, “Jim I still have a good deal of work that I want you to do.  You need to take care of your body so that you’ll be around to do it.” 

I was released from the hospital the day after the stents – and the day after that, I went for a brisk 30-minute walk.   I may also have to reduce my intake of Bluebell. 

Thanks to those of you who found out through the grapevine of my heart attack and inquired and prayed.  Thanks also to the excellent team of health care professionals at Longview Regional Hospital.  

Oh, and by the way – if a week goes by, and I have not posted another installment of pickleheavenpress, either I had a senior moment or I have moved on to that place of gain – and you can be happy for me.

A PRAYER: God I am thankful for an extended opportunity to serve You.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord be with you always.

food for the ages — February 15, 2023

food for the ages

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What joy does every earthling share that we will continue to enjoy in heaven?  Eating! 

I did a study on heaven and was shocked to find that food will be a major part of our heavenly experience.  Seriously!

Jesus was astounded by a gentile centurion’s faith which prompted Him to say, “I tell you, many will come from the east and west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.”  – Matthew 8:11. The faithful will dine with the patriarchs of Israel in the Kingdom of Heaven.  

It was at the last Supper that Jesus, “…took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”  – Luke 22:17-18.  Jesus made it clear that He would enjoy wine again in His resurrected glorified body.   

But dining is not a one-time deal.  Jesus also said to His disciples, “I grant to you a kingdom, just as my Father granted to me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”  Luke 22:29-30.  Jesus promised to reward their faithfulness by including them at His heavenly dining table.

Of course, there is also the marriage feast of the Lamb.  Revelation 19:9 says, “Blessed are those who are invited to the banquet at the wedding celebration of the Lamb!”   

So what will we eat?

We probably should cross off devil’s food cake.   Actually, Isaiah tells us that the food will be amazing.  He wrote, “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will hold a banquet for all the nations on this mountain.   At this banquet there will be plenty of meat and aged wine – tender meat and choicest wine.” – Isaiah 25:6   He looks to the onset of eternity in the Millennial Kingdom.  At that time God will make sure that His people have plenty of choice, tender meat and aged wine on which to sup.   

Where will it come from?

Jesus transformed water into wine at Cana, so it won’t be a problem for Him to cater a heavenly banquet.

Who will prepare this food?

Jesus is familiar with cooking. After His resurrection, He met with the disciples at the Sea of Galilee and prepared a breakfast of fish for them.  He said, “Come, have breakfast” – John 21:12.  I assume that He ate with them as well.  (I may pass on the fish for breakfast and put in an order of bacon and eggs.) 

My wife thoroughly enjoys cooking.  This is good because I thoroughly enjoy eating.  I am pretty sure she would be delighted to help prepare meals for the Lord and His people.  I am certain that meaningful work will be a part of our heavenly experience – and that would be hers.  

I know it’s hard to comprehend, isn’t it?  In heaven we will have glorified bodies.  Like the resurrected Jesus, we will be able to pass through walls.  (John 20:26)  This creates a few hard to answer questions like; How does a glorified body eat and drink?   

And how does a glorified body process what we eat?  Will the roast ever be burned?  Are there calories in heavenly food?   Will we like everything on the menu?  Don’t know? 

Will they do Chinese and Greek foods?  I assume that the Chinese and Greek believers would appreciate that.  Will we need Weight Watchers in heaven?  I’m pretty sure that’s a no. 

But listen – what is of ultimate importance here is to understand that Jesus so loves us that He prepared a place for us – with a kitchen – so that the joys of earth become the amplified joys of heaven.   He makes it possible for us to eat and drink and fellowship with Him and one another at His table forever.

A PRAYER: God I am excited to see what’s on the menu.  Thank you for your kindness.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavepress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Scripture passages are from the NETBible.com