Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson

something to help you laugh and think about life with Christ

Tag: life

a note from a bass player — July 9, 2025

a note from a bass player

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Our band had just finished an evening of music ministry at a summer camp on the shores of Lake Erie.  It was a phenomenal time with several kids having given their lives to Jesus that night. 

We happily tore down our equipment and packed it into the trailer.  As we pulled away, there was a disturbing crunch that was heard.

Our bass player cried, “Oh no!”  He jumped out of the car and found his bass guitar beneath the wheel of the car.  He had leaned it against the car while we were loading and had forgotten about it.

We backed up the car and surveyed the damage.  The old wooden case was completely annihilated – nothing left but splinters.  No doubt, the guitar, within was wrecked as well. 

But our bassist picked at the splinters and found that the solid body Silvertone guitar was in excellent condition.  It was a miracle of sorts.  He even played a tune for us, but it wasn’t in one of the flat keys. 

The case was pulverized but the guitar was preserved.

That sorta sounds like my life these days.  My case is degrading.  Three years ago, I was on zero medications.  Two years ago, I started my first two.  Last year I added two more.  

At a rate of addition of two per year, I am going to be a mess if I make it to my 80‘s.  Plus, I’ll have to take out a loan to pay for it all. 

All this because my body is wasting away. 

In fact, here is my personal lament to aging – to the tune of These Are a Few of My Favorite Things. 

– Dropping my phone but I can’t bend to get it; Needing to buy my prescriptions on credit; Searching the house, cause I misplaced my teeth; These are a few of my least favorite things.

– Sweeping the floor and pulling a muscle; Missing one piece from the whole jigsaw puzzle; Growing a gut while my hairline recedes; These are a few of my least favorite things.

– Making a list of all my prescriptions; Finding a spot that defies a description;  Getting my news from the AARP magazine; These are a few of my least favorite things.

– Gigantic toenails, I can’t reach to trim them; Trying to dance but losing the rhythm; Sneezing and finding that I sprung a leak; These are a few of my least favorite things.

– Trying to say diverticulu-titus; 3 crooked fingers from raging arthritis; Learning to walk on my transplanted knee; These are a few of my least favorite things.

– Finding a town where there’s no Cracker Barrel; Shopping and finding no modest apparel; A grandkid who tells me my car’s an antique; These are a few of my least favorite things.

– Calling and talking to another computer; Sharing a bed with a spouse who’s a tooter; Getting new glasses but still I can’t see; These are a few of my least favorite things.

– Wrinkles that rival my beloved Shar Pei; Using a map app, to help find my way; Trying to learn how to work my TV; These are a few of my least favorite things.

Yes, aging can be agonizing.  The case in which we are enclosed is falling apart at an alarming rate.  BUT the essence of who we, like that bass guitar, is still in perfect shape. 

The apostle Paul said, “For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in, is dismantled, we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens” – 2 Corinthians 5:1. NETBible ®

Our temporal earthly house is crumbling but we are not – and one day we will be housed in a body fit for eternity. 

Hey, I left out the chorus to my song parody.  It goes like this: 

No sense raging, that I’m aging, cause it’s not the end; Cause Jesus awaits me, in heaven up there, and things will be better then

A PRAYER: Lord, help me hang on, as my case falls apart.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

Mrs. Lee’s Garden — March 5, 2025

Mrs. Lee’s Garden

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Mrs. Lee and her husband were blessed with wealth, so they bought a little getaway just south of Gladewater, TX.  She thought it would be nice to plant some flowers there, so she ordered a box of Jonquil Daffodils.

There was a mix-up, however, when they were ordered.   The day of delivery, she received not a box but a boxcar, a railroad boxcar full of daffodil bulbs. 

For you nerd’s, a boxcar has a volume of about 7,300 cubic feet.  Boxes of bulbs can be purchased 100 to a box of 1 cubic foot in size.  Which means Mrs. Lee bought approximately 73,000 individual bulbs at today’s cost of $1,460,000.  An inundation of daffodil bulbs.

She was shocked by the delivery and yet also delighted.  She hired a crew of 40 workers to plant the bulbs.  Fortunately for us, she left her property to East Texans as a legacy – a 4-mile, drive-through trail of dazzling gold.

I recently read her story, and I just had to laugh.  I thought about what it might be like to have Amazon deliver a boxcar full of the coffee we often buy. 

On the other hand, when you really think about it, many of us have had a Mrs. Lee experience.

On that day we were considering Jesus, we said to ourselves, “Yes, I think I’ll have a box of that.”  But what He delivered was a boxcar of blessing. 

When we said yes to Jesus, our sins were expunged, past, present and future – “once for all” says Peter. (1Peter 3:18)

The suffocating blanket of guilt was removed so that Paul could say, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” – Romans 8:1.

That same day we were “born again” (John 3:7) The old broken incapable person that we were, was crucified with Christ and replaced with a new nature that Scripture calls a “new creation” – Galatians 6:15.

We were given a “Helper” at that time, the Holy Spirit who teaches us, guides and directs us, and is instrumental in refining the way we live (John 14:16). 

Jesus removed our insecurities by promising that He would always be with us (Matthew 28:20) and Paul assured us that nothing, absolutely nothing could ever separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38-39).  We are His forever.

The Lord adopted us into His amazing family.  We have people in our lives who are genuine and authentic.  We have nothing to hide because Jesus took care of our disgrace.  They pick us up when we are down and encourage us to strive for our best.

For most, the Lord gives us a spouse and children – and because we have been shaped by His love, we are able to properly and deeply love them and they respond and love us with God’s love. 

He imbues our lives with purpose and meaning.  We are situated on this earth to serve Him and bless others.

Before Jesus we endured life defectively.  Jesus gave what He called “life abundantly” (John 10:10).  This is life that is jam packed with joy.  I personally remember my early days in the faith where each day seemed to be ten times richer than those before. 

We have the guarantee of His temporal care in this life.  Food, drink, shelter clothing – all the essential He pledges to make ours.

Of course, we have the hope of heaven, an eternal blissful existence in the presence of God.

As we drove through Mrs. Lee’s Gardens, I was asked if the bulbs were perennial.  Of course they are!  They have been popping up every spring for well over 70 years now. 

The blessings of God also keep popping up – every year, every month, week to week, daily, moment by moment we have them to enjoy.    

A boxcar of blessing is what we possess.  Like Mrs. Lee, maybe we should make sure that others can enjoy it too!  

PS: The daffodils are currently at their peak at Mrs. Lee’s Garden

A PRAYER: Lord, you overwhelm us with Your goodness. Thank You 

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®   

step on the crack — April 3, 2024

step on the crack

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I was walking recently when it occurred to me – since my mom is now secure in heaven, I am now free to step on the cracks in the sidewalk.  What a relief!  

That is a crazy superstition – probably generated by an ancient obsessive compulsive.  And yet most of us once cautiously hopped over many a crack on the way to school.

So, what is a superstition anyway?  It is a belief or behavior which is irrational and grounded in the fear of the unknown.  It’s the understanding that certain events or things will bring either good or bad luck. 

Now did you know that there is superstition in the Scripture?  Wait a second!  Let me explain. What I mean is that the Scripture sometimes tells stories about superstitious people. 

Consider Acts 28:3-6, “When Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.  When the local people saw the creature hanging from Paul’s hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer! Although he has escaped from the sea, Justice herself has not allowed him to live!”  However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. But they were expecting that he was going to swell up or suddenly drop dead. So after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.” – NETBible ®

Paul became a snake handler – not by choice.  The Maltese natives regarded the snake as a sign that fate was meting out justice to Paul for a former crime.  When he shook it off unscathed, they changed their minds and promoted him to a god.

At another time the people of Israel turned the Ark of the Covenant into a rabbit’s foot.  They believed that by carrying the Ark into battle, victory would be guaranteed. (1 Samuel 4:3)

Judge not, because we also have our little superstitions.  Some of us believe a four-leaf clover will give us fantastic luck.

I recently watched a basketball team of Christians duke it out on the court.  One player stepped up to the free throw line and put an unusual spin on the ball before he took his shot as if it would help him score.  He performed this ritual with every free throw.

Some of us have a lucky shirt, or pair of shoes that must be worn to seal a business deal, or to golf a respectable game.

At other times we are concerned that we might accidentally do something to put ourselves in jeopardy like have a black cat cross our path or pass beneath a ladder. 

Shayna refuses to talk about her mother’s cancer because she believes it will hasten her death.

The truth is this: God is in complete control of all things.  Fate, chance and luck have no power over us or impact on us.  They are concepts that do not exist.  Proverbs 16:33 states a liberating principle: “The dice are thrown into the lap, but their every decision is from the Lord.”  

If ever fate had power to impact us, it would be in throwing of the dice.  But Solomon tells us that the Lord even controls how the dice roll.

Romans 8:28 tells us that “He works all things together.”  He commands everything in our world and the universe at a large.  He is behind it all, working it all together. 

So, what then does God think about our superstitions?  He says this, “reject those myths fit only for the godless and gullible and train yourself for godliness.” – 1 Timothy 4:7.

Forgettaboutit!  When things are good, know that God is refreshing you. When they are difficult, know that He is refining you.  Either way it’s all God – the same God who so thoroughly loves you.

A Prayer: O God help us to transfer our faith from the frivolous to You.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Scripture passages are from the NETBible (R)

presuming on the provision of God — March 12, 2024

presuming on the provision of God

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When you need encouragement, you can’t necessarily count on a Bible scholar to give it!

I once had an opportunity to speak with a published professor from a Christian University. He seemed to take an interest in me, and asked what I thought my next step in life might be.   I told him that I was planning on studying at Dallas Theological Seminary where I would prepare to do ministry.

He immediately reacted , “How much money have you saved?”   This was not the kind of question I expected from a man of faith!

With embarrassment I told him, “$1,000.”  He shot back again with an authoritative tone, “Don’t go!  Don’t go until you have lots more saved!”   The implication was, “You won’t make it unless you go loaded.”

I began second guessing my goal.  The man had a doctorate in the ways of God.  He also had wallet wisdom.  He happened to be footing the bill for his son who was a student at DTS at that time.

Who was I to disregard his admonition – and yet – God put it in my heart to study there.  And I took His promise literally. “And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19

In early August I gathered up my goods, my wife, two kids, and my thousand bucks and headed to Dallas. I didn’t have the money yet to pay for my first semester’s tuition or buy books or to rent an apartment.  BUT by the first day of class I did.

God miraculously provided.  And I continued to have what I needed before each term began.  I graduated on time with no debt.

So, here’s a question!  Did I presume upon the provision of God?  Did I make a decision which forced God to cover it.  I don’t believe I did.  He directed me to go to Seminary and I have learned that, “God funds what God wills.”

That money was necessary to do His will.  So, He supplied as promised.

Is it even possible to presume upon the provision of God?   It is! 

We presume upon the provision of God…

– when we go where God does not will. 

If He wanted me to stay home and be a plumber, He would not have made it financially possible to do Seminary.  God does not fund what God does not will.

– when we confuse our wants with needs. 

He promised to provide for our essential needs.  According to the Sermon on the Mount these needs are food, clothing and housing.  (Matthew 6)

– when we expect God will fund our every financial decision. 

         Let’s suppose that 80% of my budget goes to needs, and 10% to wants. (setting aside 10% for giving.)  But I decide to buy a bigger house with a much bigger mortgage payment.   

Is God then obligated to increase my income to fund that decision?  No! It means that now 88% of the budget will go to cover needs, leaving 2% to spend on wants. 

– when we cheat on God.

         The promise God made to the Philippians was premised on that fact that they were generous givers.  They supported the ministry of Paul to the point where they impoverished themselves. (Philippians 4:10-18)  

God does not require a tithe from the New Testament believer, but He does expect us to give.  Paul wrote, “Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver.  (1 Corinthians 9:7)

It really is foolish to presume – like the time I naively asked one of our ladies at church when her baby was due.  Hey, take it easy on me.  Her top looked like maternity wear.

You, however, are much wiser – so be careful about presuming on the provision of God.   

A Prayer: Lord sometimes the distinction between faith and presumption is not clear to us.  Please give us the wisdom we need.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. 

Scripture passages are from the NETBible ®