Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson

something to help you laugh and think about life with Christ

Tag: Forgiveness

lead pipe popgun — October 1, 2025

lead pipe popgun

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Bitterness is like a lead pipe popgun!

Let me explain!  We were kids and we were bored.  One of us decided we should make a bang.  So, he took a piece of lead pipe about 8” long and capped one end. 

He then dropped in some gun powder, packing, and a ball bearing and lay it on the ground.  He lit the fuse, and we ran.  There was an earthshaking explosion and the ball bearing rocketed into the forest.  That was expected.

What was unexpected, was that the lead pipe rocketed the opposite direction – whizzing right between us.  A cold sweat overcame me – knowing I could have been killed.

It strikes me (no pun intended) that bitterness works a lot like that.

When we are hurt by others, we get angry.  The smart person calmly discusses the matter honestly with the offender and the issue is often resolved (Ephesians 4:25-26).  But too often we stuff the anger inside and let it fester into a toxic bitter mindset.

Oh, sure there is a morbid pleasure we get when we punish our offenders by ignoring them, but the cost to bitterness is steep – like a lead pipe popgun careening towards us.

There are physical consequences such as headaches, ulcers, sleeplessness and heart attacks.  There are emotional consequences such as anxiety, panic attacks, tension, and depression.  

There are social consequences.  The bitter person loses the respect of others and often drives away those that are closest to them.  There are spiritual consequences as well that affect our relationship with God (Mark 11:25-26).

Jesus has something to teach here by example.  His ministry was hounded by the Pharisees.  In Luke 5:21 they labeled Him a blasphemer.  In Luke 5:30 they criticized his association with sinners.  In Luke 6:1-2 they accused Him of being a lawbreaker.  

If I had been Jesus, I would have been quite angry and certainly suspicious of every Pharisee.  Yet, we read in Luke 7:36, “Now one of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table.” 

Weird!  Dining together was a high and holy concept in the ancient middle east.  To sup with another was a positive core relational experience.  So, Jesus, knowing that the Pharisees had it out for Him, still gave that Pharisee an opportunity to speak with Him and perhaps believe. 

He did it again in Luke 11:37: Another invitation to dine – another fresh start – no animosity from His past, no ugly suspicion, no bitterness.  And yet his Pharisee host criticized Him during that meal (11:38-40). 

Surely Jesus eventually learned to avoid the Pharisees.  But then we read Luke 14:1, “Now one Sabbath when Jesus went to dine at the house of a leader of the Pharisees, they were watching him closely.”  He had forgiven and forgotten the past once again and accepted their invitation. 

We can conclude only one of two things – either Jesus was not very perceptive, or He was smart enough to lay aside yesterday’s hurts to give a man a new chance today.  

Perhaps the most phenomenal display of this heart came at Calvary.  The Pharisees watched as He hung on the cross where they had arranged for Him to die.  It was there that Jesus looked upon them and said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” – Luke 23:34.

Jesus was free from bitterness.  I wish the same could be said of us.  Who is it that makes your blood boil when you think of them?  Who do you work to avoid?  Who rates as unforgivable in your book? 

Let it go!  Jesus said, “…if you have anything against anyone, forgive him…” – Mark 11:25.

Booker T. Washington, a former slave put it this way, “I will never allow any man to destroy or denigrate my soul by making me hate him.”  

So let it go!

A PRAYER: Forgiveness is a divine work.  Lord, give us the grace to do it.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of the Lord be with you.

Scripture passages are from the NETBible ®

Krispy Krime! — September 23, 2025

Krispy Krime!

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I was fraught with donut guilt. Not from eating them, but from stealing them. 

You see, my friends and I had morning paper routes when we were kids.  As we biked our way at 4 a.m., we noticed a Krispy Kreme truck that was making its daily deliveries.   

The driver would hide boxes of donuts in various places so that the retailers would have them when they opened in the morning.   

It seemed like a fun game, so we tailed the truck and watched as the donuts were stowed away in cars and various nooks and crannies.   

And we then confiscated and consumed many of those donuts.  Proverbs 9:17 says, “Stolen waters are sweet.” This was especially true of donuts.

We enjoyed our donut feasts.  We longed for some milk as well, but the milkman didn’t deliver that early.

But then, several years later I found myself twisted up with guilt over the many poor choices I had made in my brief life – including the donut thefts.  My guilt finally found its way to the cross, where Jesus paid my way to heaven – His blood shed for my sin. 

Theologically and experientially, I was born again.  I was free of the burden of my sin and its oppressive guilt, and I wanted the world to know it.  So, I took my guitar and sang of God’s grace and mercy.   

But one day it occurred to me that I was not completely guilt free.  If the manager of the Krispy Kreme should have shown up at the church where I was singing – it would have dropped a load of condemnation all over me. 

I wondered if I needed to make things right with him.  So, I studied the Scripture.  

The idea of making restitution was first discussed in Exodus 22:1-15.  For instance, the man who stole an ox needed to repay the person from whom it was stolen.  Granted, this is from the Old Testament and we Christian are governed by the New.

But I also I found Romans 13:8 where Paul wrote, “Owe no one anything.”   Technically speaking I owed many folks for the things I had stolen.   

I also remembered the example of Zaccheus the tax collector, who used the system to steal from people.  When he found forgiveness from Jesus, he knew that he needed to repay those folks from whom he had stolen (Luke 19:8).

I was convicted. I needed to settle the account. So, I wrote a letter to the manager of the donut store.  I told him what I had done and explained that Christ had changed the course of my life and that I wanted to make restitution.  I also enclosed a check.   I did the same thing with anyone from whom I had stolen.  

Not long after, I began to receive letters in response to my letters – each one thanking me for my confession and restitution and each one granting me forgiveness.   I still have those letters. 

This one came from Krispy Kreme: “Dear James, Thank you very much for the letter.  You are one in a million who would admit this.  I am glad to hear that you have met your Savior and that He has forgiven you.  We at Krispy Kreme sure can do the same thing.  Thanks again.  Come in any time.” P. Lockhart, Mgr.

How refreshing and liberating.  I understand now what Paul meant when he said, “I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience” – 2 Timothy 1:3. (NASU)

And I have to say that I so enjoy having a clear conscience, that I am prompted to quickly make amends with the Lord and others when I stumble in the present.  My sins these days are not theft related, but they still stain my conscience until I make it right. 

You may not have a donut debt, but you may have a debt of another kind.  Perhaps it’s time to make things right!

A PRAYER: God, give us the courage to clear up the past

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture passages are from the NETBible® unless otherwise noted.

lip prints — September 25, 2024

lip prints

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There is an oft repeated story about some middle school girls in Oregon who discovered lipstick. They would sneak it out of the house each morning and apply it in the bathroom at school.  They finished by pressing their adorned lips to the mirror leaving behind dozens of glossy lip prints.

Eventually the principal summoned them to the bathroom for a lecture.  She introduced the janitor and told them how tough it was for him to remove the mess each day.

He was asked to demonstrate.  So, he took out a long-handled brush, dipped it in the toilet, and scrubbed the mirror clean. 

So clever!  The principal stole the shine from their prank with a stark dose of reality.  Fortunately, God has done the same thing for us with the story of King David.  

David is one of the greats of the Bible.  He was visionary, a phenomenal political leader, a celebrated musician, a military genius, and certainly a spiritual giant.  But he was not perfect. 

God gave instructions for men like him who would rule Israel as King.  He said, “Furthermore, he must not marry many wives lest his affections turn aside” – Deuteronomy 17:17.

David the King was clearly a man who valued God’s Word, and yet he avoided this verse.   He came to possess at least 7 different wives to produce sons and many female concubines to provide sex (2 Samuel 5:13).

It was this craving for the sensuous that caused him to lock his eyes on Bathsheba as she bathed on the rooftop of her home.   This led to an adulterous liaison with her, a pregnancy, and then the cover up, including the manipulated death of her husband. 

He had an appetite that was consuming him. So, Nathan the prophet confronted duplicitous David outlining 3 dreadful consequences to his sin. 

1. Bloodshed would become David’s legacy.  2 Samuel 12:10-12

         Nathan said, “So now the sword will never depart from your house. For you have despised me by taking the wife of Uriah the Hittite as your own!”  (10)  David introduced bloodshed to eliminate Bathsheba’s husband.  His son Absalom would later come to slay his brother. 

2. David’s household would be violated  

Nathan said, “Right before your eyes I will take your wives and hand them over to your companion. He will go to bed with your wives in broad daylight!  (12:11) David brought his lusts into his home and those lusts would infect those in his home.  His son Amnon would rape his sister.  His son Absalom would lead a rebellion and take David’s throne and violate his concubines. 

3. The whole mess would be public. 

Nathan went on, “Although you have acted in secret, I will do this thing before all Israel, and in broad daylight” (12:12).  David conducted his sin in secret, but Absalom would violate David’s concubines in public on the same roof from where David ogled Bathsheba.

Welcome to the restroom!   The janitor has just washed the mirror with toilet water.  By honestly revealing the details of David’s story, we can see that sin brings devastating and disgusting consequences.  God intended this for us as a warning to avoid sin and to respond in obedience to every portion of His Word.  

But what about the past?  Is there still hope?  There is! “Then David exclaimed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord!” Nathan replied to David, “Yes, and the Lord has forgiven your sin” (12:13).   God is incredibly gracious and merciful to the one who is honest enough to face their sin. 

According to the apostle John, we can do the same thing today.  He wrote, “But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing” – 1 John 1:9.

The mirrors in that middle school were never smudged again with lip prints. The girls learned their lesson.  May we be as wise.

A Prayer:  Lord, sin looks so good but leaves us feeling so bad.  Help us please!

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®

an offensive gift — April 17, 2024

an offensive gift

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I have a sweet friend who happily teaches at an elementary school.  Ladonna posted a note, not long ago on Facebook.  She said, “Throughout my years of teaching, my students have brought me little gifts from time to time. It may be a rock, a picture they’ve drawn, or a bracelet made from a pipe cleaner.”

“Today I received another sweet gift.”  She included a picture of this gift.  It was a container of Secret deodorant!  She concluded by asking, “Do you think this student is trying to tell me something?” 

I bet you a hundred bucks she smelled her pits that day just to be sure. 

I’m sure he meant well, but regardless it was kind of a goofy, maybe even an offensive gift.

Ironically, Jesus also lacks tact when He gives His gift. 

He offers us the gift of salvation, but He first must make us aware at how desperately we need it.  He lets us know that…

– Without Him we are incapable of doing what He considers to be good. 

He said, “Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.” – John 15:4. 

– Without Him we don’t even have a desire to be good.

Again, He said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” – John 6:44

– and without Him we don’t even understand what that good is.

Jesus said, “Although they see they do not see, and although they hear they do not hear, nor do they understand.” – Matthew 13:13

We have proven Him correct by the many and varied ways we have chosen to sin.  It’s as Paul said, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23.   

We treasure the idea that Jesus loves us.  But this same Jesus regards people as being totally corrupt and possessing nothing that makes us attractive or acceptable to God.  Basically, He says, “We stink!”

We mock the preacher in dowdy dress, who stands on the corner with a sign that says “repent.”  And yet Jesus freely used the word as well.

– He said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” –   Luke 5:32

– He held people responsible for failing to repent.  “Then Jesus began to criticize openly the cities in which he had done many of his miracles because they did not repent.”  – Matthew 11:20

– He predicted a terrible outcome for those who did not repent. He said, “Unless you repent, you will all perish….!  – Luke 13:3

OK Jesus we get the message: we stink. Though we don’t usually think of ourselves as being sinners – You do.  And in the end its your judgment that matters. 

So, what do we do?  I was a lazy teenager, I didn’t shower as often as I should have, but I frequently slathered on deodorant.  Is that TMI?

We need more than that.  Paul said, “You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God.”  – 1 Corinthians 6:11.

That will take away the stink – a good washing.  Jesus provides it for those who go to Him.  Our sinful past is washed away by the flow of His blood shed at Calvary.

He then gives us His Spirit – His version of Ice Blue Secret.  The Spirit helps to keep the stink from returning. 

Are you aware at how desperately you need Jesus’ gift?  Have you noticed the odor yet?   Jesus has, and He offers you the help you need.

It’s not too late to acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of a Savior.  Whisper that to Him in a prayer.  He will hear and He will save.

A Prayer: Save me Lord – from my sins and myself.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture passages are from the NETBible ®

a fire to forget — April 24, 2019

a fire to forget

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Jim Johnson – 768 words

I was 17, had my own car and I was pretty cool.  I was also delusional because my car was a used-up 1960 Plymouth – the kind my grandma drove.  But – it was my car, and I was going cruising.  I cranked the windows open, hit the push button that said Drive, and then watched the bar graph odometer track my speed.  (It was a crazy car.) 

Because I drove a 1960 Plymouth, I felt I seriously needed to improve my cool factor, I, therefore, began smoking.  So, there I was on the interstate with the windows down, the radio blaring and a cigarette hanging from my lips. 

I finished my smoke, and even though there was a perfectly fine ash tray conveniently located in the dash, I threw the cigarette butt out my window. (It was more cool that way)  Minutes later I began to smell smoke.  The breeze blew the butt back into the car and my car seat ignited!!!

60 miles an hour, in the center lane of a 3-lane highway thick with cars – and my seat was on fire.  Where’s a rest stop when you need it?   One hand gripped the wheel, while the other frantically beat down the flame.  It finally died but the fire left a big smoldering crater in my fine upholstery.  

Being cool became more complicated after that.  It was hard to find a date that was willing to sit in a charred crater.

That was a fire I will never forget!

Peter also had a fire he would never forget. 

It burned in the courtyard of the high priest on a chilly evening while Jesus was being bullied by his captors.  John was careful to call it a “charcoal fire.” (John 18:18) 

Charcoal is the residue of wood that has been burned in an oxygen deprived environment.  To produce it, you would build a teepee of logs, kindle a fire in it, cover it with soil and then let it smolder for five days. 

The impurities would burn off leaving pure black carbon.   Charcoal was valued because it was 1/5th the weight of wood, created a controlled burn, produced greater heat and it was smokeless.   The cost of the labor involved, however, made it a commodity that only the wealthy – such as the priests could enjoy.

The scent of the roasting charcoal filled Peter’s senses as he warmed himself that night.  It was in the glow of that fire that Peter denied knowing Jesus.

The rooster call exposed his duplicity and reduced him to shame.  There could be no forgiveness for such disloyalty.

Peter began to move away from Jesus.  He was absent at His crucifixion and even His burial.  The resurrection should have changed everything, but it didn’t.  In fact, Peter decided to leave the life of a disciple and go back to commercial fishing. 

He and the others spent the night fishing but caught nothing.  A silhouette from shore told them to cast the nets on the other side of the boat.  They did, and they caught enough to sink it.

Peter sensed it was Jesus and that He seemed to be reaching out to him despite the past.  He moved toward Him, but as he drew near, he was stunned to smell that familiar odor again.  “When they got out on the beach, they saw a charcoal fire ready with a fish placed on it, and bread.”  (John 21:9) -NET Bible®

The experts say that odors evoke memory better than any other trigger.  The smell-analyzing part of the brain is near to the region that handles memory and emotion.  And don’t we know it!  The smell of fresh baked goods takes us back to grandma’s happy kitchen, while the smell of sweaty socks evokes the angst of 7th grade gym class.

Another charcoal fire!  There are only 2 references to this specific kind of fire in the Bible. Peter was present for both.  This was a divinely devised set up!

The sight and scent of that fire smelled like failure to Peter which is what Jesus intended.  It was a necessary prelude to reconciliation.   Jesus asked, “Peter do you love me or not?”  Peter contritely backspaced over his three denials by offering three affirmations of his devotion to Jesus.  “You know I love you.”

Reconciled!  Peter then went on to become a fierce and faithful witness for Jesus.

The Lord went to considerable trouble and expense to jar the memory of his erring child – to see him reconciled.   Could He also have a charcoal fire kindled for you?

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Treat yourself to this classic song of reconciliation: Man After Your Won heart: Gary Chapman (not Doctor)

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