Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson

something to help you laugh and think about life with Christ

Tag: music

love that will not let me go — July 30, 2025

love that will not let me go

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Why does Sarah cling to that stuffed lamb she was given as a toddler?    Why does Eric guard that ratty T-shirt he earned way back in his little league days?  And why does my wife stick with me?   It’s been almost 49 years, and my bones creak, and my bladder leaks, and my face looks like my great Grandpa’s.

My answer is this, once you have deeply loved someone, or even something, you just don’t want to let go. 

Sarah cuddled with her lambie pie every night.   She wore the fleece off the poor beast.   Eric’s team were the champs that year.  He proudly wore his T-shirt until his biceps burst the seams. 

I purchased a classical guitar when I was a teen.  I strummed it in bars and coffee houses before I came to know Jesus.  When I got redeemed, so did my guitar.  I went right back to those bars and coffee houses and sang about Jesus – ‘til they bounced me.

The guitar was used to influence several hundred souls to come to Christ.  I used it to sing my wedding vows to my wife. 

But the day came when it was so old and cracked and brittle that it was impractical to use – so I sold it to a friend and bought another one.   

Oh my! I was quickly overcome with sellers’ remorse.  I loved that guitar and it sorta loved me back.  I called my friend, and he graciously understood and sold it back to me.

I then hung the guitar on the wall of my home.  Over time all three of my children picked it up and taught themselves how to play it.  Now all three want that guitar bequeathed to them when I die.   To date I have owned that guitar for 57 years and I ain’t gonna let it go again. 

So why should you be interested in all this? 

Well, only because you have been loved, deeply, thoroughly, loved by the Lord Jesus.  God says so.

He spoke through the prophet Jeremiah saying ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love – Jeremiah 31:3.An everlasting love – that’s the best kind. 

And then there is Galatians 2:20 where Paul made God’s love for him very personal.  He wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.”   The Son of God loved me and gave himself up for me.    

Now because He has loved us, He refuses to lose us!

Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 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 10:28-29.

Even when we are at our worst, He holds on.  The Psalmist confessed, “My spirit was bitter, and my insides felt sharp pain. I was ignorant and lacked insight; I was as senseless as an animal before you. But I am continually with you; you hold my right hand” –   Psalm 73:21-23.

because He has loved us, He refuses to lose us!   Our fleece may be wearing thin, but His love persists and sees us in the best light.  Our seams may be bursting but His love covers us.

Matt Redman put it this way, “Oh no, You never let go, through the calm and through the storm. Oh no, You never let go, in every high and every low;

Oh no, You never let go – Lord, You never let go of me.”

How sweet it is to know that God’s love for us will never ever let us go. 

A PRAYER: A Lord, thank you for your relentless love for us.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Scripture passages are from the NETBible ®

I, me, mine — June 18, 2025

I, me, mine

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These 3 may be the most overused words in the English language.  As toddlers, they were our first attempts at communication.  “Me do it!”  “No mine!”  And we carry them with us all the way into our twilight years, “Gertrude, I want the thermostat set on 86.” 

In fact, I was thinking about my prayers as an infant Christian.  At age 19 I offered up a lot of, “I, me, mine” prayers like, “Lord, my acne has broken out and I have a date.  Would you help me please?”  Or “Lord, could you transfer my acne to that guy that’s picking on me?” 

When we have the “I, me, mine” disease, it makes those around us sick – – of us.  No one appreciates a fussy, demanding child.   People run from egocentric adults, and they barely tolerate even the elderly mother who has run-on complaints about her health.

The Beatles once recorded a song called, “I, me, mine.”  It was written by George Harrison as a bold self-disclosure of the infighting going on within the band at that time.  

The lyrics lamented the self-centered orientation of humanity.  Ironically this was the very last song that the Beatles ever recorded. That mentality was responsible for the end of what was probably the most influential rock band ever. 

And that’s what it does to rock bands, friendships, churches, business partnerships, families and marriages. 

As a pastor I did a fair amount of marriage counseling.  Like other counselors I discovered that financial disagreements were often the fuel of marriage conflicts and divorce situations.  And it wasn’t whether a couple had money or not.  The conflict was over how the money should be spent.  I was an “I, me, mine” problem.   

And what about churches?  I did a study of the New Testament Epistles. I found that the churches at Philippi, and Thessalonica and Colossae and all the rest had some kind of serious conflict going on – all fueled by the “I, me, mine” mentality.  The church today is in no worse shape than it was in the first century.

The Spirit of God understands this problem, which is why He gave Paul these words for us,

“Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well” – Philippians 2:3-4. NETBible.com

He gave us a “you/yours” solution to the problem.  Let’s just tackle that one phrase, “treat one another as more important than yourself.”

I found that when I act as if my agenda, is the most important, then it pushes others to do the same.   When I expect my demands to be met, others react by asserting their counter demands.  When I think of myself as being number one, others must either accept that they are number two or aggressively compete with me for the number one spot.

Scripture tells me that the better way is to begin with a number two mindset.  My opinion, my will, my agenda need to be set aside on behalf of that other person. 

I have found that when I defer to others, they very often respond by deferring to me. When I enter a public building, I will often hold the door for that person behind me.  If there is a second door, they will typically hold it open for me.

“Treat one another as more important than yourself.” 

If I practiced this in my marriage, I would just put on a sweater when my wife cranks the thermostat down.  If we had this attitude at church, we would include a hymn or two for the older folks. 

If we were to do this at work, the productivity of the team would dramatically increase.   If we were to practice this in Congress, well, well that would be a miracle, wouldn’t it?

A PRAYER: Lord, I know we can’t do this without your enabling grace.  Help us.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

a pink slip or a pat on the back? — June 26, 2024

a pink slip or a pat on the back?

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“Everybody is smoking grass.  Should I take my youth group home?”

Let me explain.  I was a desperate youth pastor.  My teens would never make the cover of Christianity Today.  Going to church was slightly more pleasant to them than a tooth ache. 

They were obese with knowledge but emaciated in their faith.  To them, Christianity was about ethical principles rather than the person of Jesus.  So, I put them to work.  I created challenges for them that were so difficult they would need to turn their heads upward.

I invited John to join the Christian band I was forming.  He wasn’t a super spiritual guy, and he didn’t play guitar, but I promised to teach him.  He signed on, and then he recruited others until we had ourselves a band.

We worked hard, even wrote our own material, and began to sing it.   Our equipment was janky and our skills jankier.  But when the boys sang for other teens, the kids really listened. 

After each concert, kids would seek out band members and ask questions about God or ask them for prayer.  My guys realized that they were in over their heads, and it pushed them to seek the Lord.  They were definitely growing!

But then John signed us up to sing at a fundraiser.  We followed our map to the end of a dirt road to a makeshift amphitheater.   We settled in and listened to the bands that preceded us.  Church this was not!

One band sang, “If you got bad news, you want to kick them blues, cocaine.”  Band after band was singing their hedonism with all their hearts as the acrid scent of marijuana wafted over the crowd.

I was thinking, “Oh man the parents of these kids are gonna throw a fit. There is surely a pink slip in my future.”  So, we huddled up and I told the boys that we didn’t belong there, and the crowd would never tolerate our message anyway.

But the boys, to a person said, “No this is exactly the kind of crowd that needs to hear our songs.”   Oh my!  I created a monster – or at least helped to cultivate a monster faith in those boys. 

So, it was finally our time.  Most of the bands were old and grizzled, ours had peach fuzz faces.  But they set those faces to proclaim the Gospel.  We started with the song, “Jesus is the Only Way” and several folks found another way – they left the concert.

We did a song called, “Oh No” about a boy who resisted the invitation to have sex with his girlfriend.   Most of the crowd was shocked but they listened with extreme interest.

The multitude was polite and they clapped after every song.  Soon after, we packed up for home.  I wanted to Fabreeze the boys but couldn’t find any.

A couple of weeks later, a stranger recognized our drummer from the concert.  He told him that he had recommitted his life to Jesus that day because of what we did.

Our guys beamed with sanctified pride over what God did to them and the way God worked through them.   I am happy to say that 35 years later those men are still doing life with Jesus. 

So how about you?  Could it be said that you too are obese with knowledge but emaciated in your faith? 

We typically lack in the faith department because we avoid situations that require faith.  We settle for security and comfort rather than risking something for Jesus.  And yet the author of Hebrews wrote, “Now without faith it is impossible to please Him” – Hebrew 11:6.  – NETBible ®

Move out of your comfort zone into a realm that requires faith. Teach the Junior high class; go on that mission trip; share your faith with your neighbor.  Pray as you do, and your faith will be met with wonderful fruit and a sweetened intimacy with Jesus.

A PRAYER: Lord, please push us out of the nest and help our faith to fly.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

a second-hand gift — December 13, 2023

a second-hand gift

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My daughter and I had a fun relationship when she was in high school.  (junior high – not so much)  We were once in a thrift store just a week before school started.   I stood in the checkout line with a cart full of used treasures. 

I decided to tease her a little.  So, in an obnoxious, exaggerated, redneck voice, I said, “Girl do you need any of more of them thrifty back to school underwear?”  She smiled and said, “No daddy I’m good.”

Our family has always enjoyed thrifting – looking for used treasures that others have rejected.  I think most of us are OK using used things.

On the other hand, we might be offended to receive a cast off as a Christmas gift.  And yet that’s kinda what God gave to us.  You see… 

– God promised a gift to Israel. 

An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:20-21

God went Christmas shopping and settled on Jesus.  He chose to send Him to earth to save His people from the consequences of their sins.  He would eventually assume the throne of David and usher in the glorious Kingdom that Israel had forever anticipated.  What a wonderful gift!

– The gift was delivered

 Jesus was born in Bethlehem and nurtured in Nazareth in quiet anonymity.  Then at age 30 or so He removed the wrapping and revealed Himself as the promised Messiah and King.

Many considered His claims.  He offered Himself to the common folk and to the wealthy political/religious leaders of the land. 

They initially asked sincere questions about Jesus, trying to truly determine whether He was the Messiah sent from God. They even witnessed His divinely produced miracles.   But after due consideration…

– God’s gift was rejected

 Jesus wasn’t the right fit for them.  They wanted a Messiah that conformed to their narrow and rigid thinking.  They wished to ignore their sin and focus on politics instead.  So, they declined to receive God’s gift.  When Jesus was tried before Pontius Pilate, the leaders cried, “Crucify him!”  (Matthew 27:21)

– So, God gave His gift to another.

Israel outrightly rejected God’s gift and murdered Jesus for even offering it.  So, God took His precious gift and then offered Him to the gentiles.  The apostle John described it this way, “He came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him. But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name—he has given the right to become God’s children.” – John 1:11-12

God’s gift to you and me in Jesus Christ was originally intended for another.  Hence, you and I have been offered a second-hand Gift.  It is a wonderful gift, but a second-hand gift none the less.

– So does this mean that this gift is less valuable? 

Not to me.  Two of my favorite guitars were preowned.  I don’t care who had them before me, I am just glad that they are now mine.  And that’s how I feel about Jesus. 

– Does this mean that we are less valuable?    

No, it doesn’t.  Paul once said that God chose us before the earth was formed.” (Ephesians 1:4-5)  So, what appears to be plan B, was actually God’s plan A all along.  He long ago determined that even the gentiles should enjoy His gift.  One more question….  

– Can I refuse the gift if I want?

 I guess you can.  God isn’t going to force Jesus on you.  That’s not how gifts are given.    But why would you want to pass it up? He offers an abundant life now, and a future forever life full of joy. 

God’s second-hand gift is a first rate, priceless, possession!

A prayer: Lord my hands are extended and ready to receive your gift.   

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture passages are from the NETBible ®

dis-concert-ed — March 24, 2021

dis-concert-ed

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I was in the home of a friend who was approaching the end of his life.  It was my privilege to be with him, and to encourage, and read Scripture, and pray and sing for him. 

So, we were sitting in the kitchen facing each other, while I serenaded him with my voice and guitar.  

As I sang, I happened to spy a Texas sized roach as he scrambled forth.  This guy was brazenly bold.   It was a brightly lit inhabited room.  No scampering in the dark for this guy.

He stopped under the chair of my friend.  He then cocked his head upward and focused his attention on me as if he was listening to the concert. 

I didn’t know whether he was flattering me or needed to be flattened by me

As I launched my second song, he scampered off.  Simon Cowell could not have been more cruel.

____________

Music has always been a blessing to me, so I have tried to use it to bless others. 

And the Lord has given me a few ego inflating opportunities.  I have sung before a couple thousand at one time, had a song that I wrote recorded in Nashville, and I preached and sang in Haiti and had it broadcast by radio to the whole nation.  Those were the kind of opportunities I lived for – until I met Christ. 

Once I met Jesus, I took my guitar and laid it at His feet and told Him it was His to do with as He pleased.  He seemed to say “Go ahead and pick it up and use it for me.  Tell folks what I have done for you and what I can do for them.  And when it is all said and done, I won’t be interested in the far-flung places that you sang, or the large crowds at your concerts.  I will only want to know if you had been faithful – faithful with every opportunity – big or small.” 

At least that’s what I heard when I read Luke 16:10, “The one who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much.’”  NET Bible®

I, therefore, have tried to ever be faithful especially with the little.  These days I do several concerts each week for crowds of one – individuals who are facing their last days and need encouragement from sweet old hymns like “His Eye Is On the Sparrow” and “When We All Get to Heaven” 

My friend in the kitchen lost the use of his eyes long ago.  And he didn’t get started with Jesus till, as he says, “It was too late.”  So, he doesn’t have a storehouse of truth to rely on.  But he savors the truth filled hymns.  He ponders the words after each is sung. 

As for me, I get more pleasure from that, than from singing to a sea of unknown faces. 

In conclusion…If my friend had gotten up and exited the kitchen, leaving the roach behind to listen, I suppose I would have continued to sing.  Maybe he needed the encouragement too. 

On the other hand, I hope there aren’t any roaches in heaven. 

So, what is your “little” and what are you doing with it? 

A PRAYER: Lord I really desire to hear you say to me, “Well done Thou good and faithful servant.”  May it be so.