Hiatus

Hi Friends,

It has been so long that I've blogged that I had to do the "long" sign-in process. As many of you are aware, I've been getting ready for a missions trip to Africa. I will be taking an extended hiatus from this blog through the end of the summer. I know that this kind of tact is a "blog" killer, but that is how things are right now.

I'm running pretty hard these days, figuratively and literally.

There are also some changes on the horizon with this place I've called home on the Internet the last couple of years. You'll know when I know about those changes - for the better - when they happen. Thanks so much for reading over my thoughts about life during this time, and I look forward in September to sharing with you about my latest escapades on the Faith Journey Adventure!

Blessings,

Pastor Mike Johnson

Plan the Work and Work the Plan

It was the last day of school for my kids today. Now I'm thinking that the "real" education begins - summer as a teenager! I'm trying to figure out who is going to get the knowledge, the kids or the parents...

I've been scrambling to get details done for my up coming trip to Burundi and Kenya where I'll be teaching in a couple pastor's conferences and one with the equivalent of our "Fortune 500" for business leaders in Kenya. I'm getting pretty excited about the impact this time will have not only in the lives of the pastors we'll serve, but on the congregations that they lead. In every sense it is "nation building." Myself and my cohorts will have opportunity to help move the body of Christ ahead for a nation.

What an utterly humbling privilege...

In the midst of the planning and running around (yesterday was my visa disaster - I had forgotten to get the process going with the Burundian Embassy), I'm also chasing after our two son's sports. Our oldest is in two football combine/camps this weekend in the Willamette Valley, and the youngest is playing junior golf. He played today and beat his youth pastor...OUCH! Kyle has his first tournament on Monday and seems to be taking to the sport like a fish to water.

On top of this schedule, I'm still putting my Africa sessions together and preaching/teaching a series at Faith on last days Bible prophecy. Yes my head is spinning a little bit.

I'm reminding myself again that if I don't take time to spiritually replenish my batteries that none of this great activity will matter in the end as I will have missed the point of it all. I'm reminded of Bill Hybels, pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois. I heard him speak at a conference in about 1990 where I talked about running his life at such high RPM's that he was flaming out. He was running all over the country talking about the great things that he was doing at his church that he literally caught himself burning the candle at both ends.

Yup, that candle eventually meets in the middle...and then you're toast...

It seems to me that the only thing that should get toasted in this life are the marshmallows we put on the end of a stick and hold over the proverbial flame because we've got our feet up and relaxing. I've discovered along the Faith Journey that I've spent too many days working when I should have been playing more...with my wife and kids. I'm working at the whole balance thing in my life, something I'm certain will always be a struggle in some form or another. But right now I am in one of those cycles and I feel the squeeze is on. I can make all kinds of promises that things will be different after this trip is over, but frankly that just won't do. We need to plan the work and then work the plan.

If only we all did this more...

Position

Hi Friends,

I've had trouble with internet access and work schedule. The post following this one is from last night.

I have an update for those who follow this blog. After one week of practice, my son Kyle made the cut to join the Central Oregon Junior Golf Association. He's pretty excited and so are we. He's doing something that he's clearly better at than his brother.

No more shadow...

In the five hole qualifier, he hit the green three times off the tee. His only problem was that he couldn't putt to save his life, making his score incredibly close to not making it. It makes sense though. He had a total of 20 minutes time learning how to put exactly two days before the qualifier. Watching him that evening I knew it clearly wasn't enough time.

We can fix the putting thing. What doesn't need to be fixed is the smile on his face. I can already feel the joy he's going to have when he gets his older brother out on the course this summer. He's going to give him a beating that the older brother will long remember.

Yes, the older boy is THAT bad at golf...

I have good news and great news about our oldest son as well, a junior in high school. Zach was selected second team all-league at second base. That's the good news. The great news is that he doesn't play second base. In essence, he's a utility player. He can pretty much play anywhere on the field with excellence. A great baseball player, they started moving him around like this during his freshman year. It has been frustrating to never have a position. That's why he wants to play football in college.

And probably will...

Thinking about having position, our position in Christ does not change unless WE want it too. He loved us first, with arms spread wide on a cross 2,000 years ago. It's my decision whether or not I want to be on His team - not anyone else's. It is a marvelous thought to have position in His kingdom! My function on His team is all about how He has made me. Christ needs for me to be the best "me" I can be - with His help.

I'm so glad God calls us to play a position that we were "made" for...

Commodities

Tami and I went to a barbeque for the varsity baseball team at my kid’s high school. It rained like I was living back in the Seattle area, where I grew up. We only get about 15 inches a year, max. Sunshine is the great commodity of Central Oregon – that’s why we live here.

Grace and mercy are among the valuable commodities of the Kingdom of Heaven. Just for one of those reasons it is worth serving Christ. The great news is, the Kingdom of Heaven has many more wonderful commodities for life. It’s like winning the lottery without buying a ticket…

He paid it all…for all who’ll believe.

The Heavens Part and the Angels Sing

My youngest son Kyle decided last week that he would like to try out for the Central Oregon Junior Golf Association. It is really a wonderful opportunity to get to play once a week with other golfers his age and of similar skill level. There's just one problem though - he's only played one round of golf in his life.

That was one long day...

We were on vacation last summer in the Klamath Falls area and went to a small par three course. My boys and I went out and hit. Kyle actually was beating his brother through six holes of the nine hole adventure when the older one "shifted" his younger brother's psyche with taunts and other "brotherly methods" to get both of his feet firmly planted between his ears. Yup, down four strokes Zach came back and beat Kyle by two over the last three holes.

The best part was all the laughter that comes with a dad and his boys out having a good time...

Both swing the clubs like baseball bats. Instead of getting their hands up on either end of the swing, their trained muscles consistently revert back to the game that they've both played for years. That is what has made this past week so interesting with Kyle as we've spent several nights out at the driving range and practice putting green. Every bad shot he hits is a baseball swing, every good one a golf swing. Fortunately he's starting to make more golf swings now, but it takes him a minimum three practice whiffs before getting into the right spot to address and hit the ball. But that is so much like life. If we have the luxury of a few practice whiffs against the air before we hit, things can be a bit simpler. I wish practice could guarantee success every time, but it doesn't. Kyle still takes those practice swings and then can switch back into "baseball mode" in a split second. But he's getting better at it. Of course yesterday was a banner day. Near the end of his bucket of balls he hit a hybrid two iron about 250 yards. He just stood there and watched it with a bit of amazement to which I grinned because I knew he was hooked. It was as if "the heavens parted and the angels were singing."

All it takes is one good shot to bring you back to this difficult game for life...

Take your cuts in life. Eventually you'll hit the sweet shot that makes things worth while. Remember that this life is a journey - that's why I call my walk with God the Faith Journey Adventure, because IT IS. I wish that I did everything perfectly, but I don't because my flesh gets in the way. But I take my swings and eventually "the heavens part and the angels sing."

Oh what a feeling!

As for Kyle, I want him to make the cut at this weekend's evaluation tournament. But even if he doesn't, I think I've found a golfing buddy for life. That IS the best part of this chapter of my Faith Journey Adventure...

Memories that Last

It's a baseball weekend for us at the Johnson household. There is a huge tournament that happens every year all over Central Oregon. Literally hundreds of youth baseball teams will converge here, boosting the economy and making memories that will last a lifetime.

Our oldest won't be playing for the third year in a row - he'll be umpiring two handfuls of games. This will be his last go-round on this annual event as next year he'll be a soon-to-be-graduating senior. Our youngest on the other hand, will be playing for the last time as next year he'll be umpiring like his older brother.

We will remember these days the rest of our lives.

We remember landmark events in our lives. I remember playing soccer when I was five, playing football in Junior High and nearly everything I want to remember about High School. I also remember growing up in church, all the retreats, events and church services that stand out. They formed the spiritual foundation for my present life as a minister of the gospel.

My kids don't have to be pastors. But wow, do I pray for such memories in their lives...

Life's Little Adventures

Couldn't sleep last night. Well, actually not true. I slept soundly from 10 PM 'til midnight, then saw every half hour marked on the clock until getting up at 6 AM, and tossing some clothes on to go to my men's breakfast (Pastor's Posse).

No, the 'Posse' wasn't impressed by my appearance, but were very pleased that I wore clothing...

I wore a University of California hat the entire time to cover up "bed hair." I have no allegiance to Cal-Berkley, except that this cap is in a long line of what I affectionately refer to as "vacation hats." That means I find a hat I normally wouldn't wear at a truck stop for five bucks while on a trip, and wear it to throw away later. The truth is "later" never comes. I think my favorite is a Washington Redskin's hat I bought 15 years ago. Paisley bill on that cap. COMPLETELY ugly. I think that's why I like it the best...and my wife hates it the most...which of course makes it even more appealing to me.

Got to keep her on her toes...unfortunately it's my gift to her that keeps on giving...!

After the meeting I went home, hit the elliptical machine (20 minutes on '6') and then showered. As I write it's 9:30 PM and I'm desperately trying to stay up until 10 PM; just a little longer to go. I have to drive to Salem tomorrow for a denominational meeting and I want to be sharp for the drive over the pass and back. If needed I can always sleep through the board meeting. Speaking of that scenario have you ever mastered the ability to sleep with your eyes open? Sometimes I think I see is on Sunday mornings during church, but then again most of our folks who sleep through service have no pride - they just lean their head back and go for it. Sure wish there were more flies and little gnats in church on Sunday mornings... Okay, I digress. Besides, these bi-monthly board meetings are actually pretty good.

Insomnia, vacation hats and long drives aside, life keeps coming at us; sometimes quickly and other times over a long slow season. There is so much to laugh about and find joy in the little things (as a general rule, a mirror is a great place to start). I'm so glad that God provides these little joys in His Creation. Otherwise we'd just have to come up with those things on our own. It just makes more sense to lean on the Designer of it all...

A Cataclysmic Spiritual Cacophony of Revitalization

These are definitely some kind of days we're living in right now...

I was reading in Revelation this morning about the seven churches of Asia Minor. While they were several decades removed from the death and resurrection of Christ, by today's standards they were still within a generation of the event that continues to gather Christians around the world to church each Sunday. As one reads you are gripped by the complacency of most of these churches in some form or another. Churches that had once thrived were now veering from their original path. There was a demand by Christ Himself for a return to a vibrancy of faith. We know from history that these churches eventually fell for the most part, into ruin and death.

Sociologists tell us that we live in a post-Christian culture. It means that we've moved well past the moorings of the churches of Revelation at the time of that writing. Frankly it doesn't speak well of us. We live in a time where "each man does what is right in his own eyes." We blame others for our compromise and make the church our scapegoat. It's all about "me" and my feelings and a whole lot less about what is ultimately true, regardless of what you or I think. That's why I'm believing for a revival - a cataclysmic spiritual cacophony of revitalization of Christian faith in our churches, communities, states and nation. Instead of "post-Christian" can we dare to begin to think "pre-Christian?"

Yes.

As depressing as things seem right now in the midst of a difficult economy, compromise among Christians and a severe decline in our nation of Biblical morality, there is great hope. All things are possible with God and according to the Revelation, the overcomer wins.

Sign me up!

I am grateful that God's economy is different than that of this world. I pray I grasp that more and more each day.

May we all quickly come come to the end of ourselves...before we come to the end.

Heads Lifted and Hope Rekindled

Yesterday was a marvelous Sunday at Faith! Worship was intense, marked by a strong sense of God's presence. I spoke for a short period of time about positioning ourselves for God's blessing in our lives. And then we invited the people (any who wanted) to come forward for prayer.

That was when heaven came down...

The overwhelming majority of the congregation participated, coming down the center aisle to the front, through a gauntlet of about 18 of our leaders. They were prayed over to receive God's favor and blessing for their lives. After passing through this prayer line, they had the option of moving to a member of our prayer team who were positioned across the front of the church to pray for individual needs.

Our main focuses were jobs, our workplaces, relationships, healing and finances. Deschutes County where we live is in the throws of 19% unemployment. Many in the church have been affected in some form or another. And so we prayed...

During this season the worship team continued to sing, interspersed with prayer for specific businesses in the community and for those who were jobless. It was powerful.

We need times like this in our lives, moments where the heavens seem to literally part and you can hear the heavenly host singing. It was emotional with many tears shed, heads lifted and hope rekindled. God is bigger than all of our circumstances and in the way that seems best to Him, meets all of our needs.

I'm so glad that the biggest problems I have can be given over to Him.

New Post at our Weight Loss Blog

For those who are interested, there is a new post over at our weight loss blog, "The Biggest Winner." You can access the site by clicking here, or by clicking the link in the right column.

Communication Gap

This is a strange blogging cycle for me. I wrote one yesterday that I didn't post because after reviewing it six times, I didn't want to do that to anyone...

It was hilarious - for me and me alone. It was all about foul language, movies and what I thought about that. And then today I listened to an acquaintance of mine talk about the Person of my livelihood in the form of a noun...over and over again...like the elevator never came to the top that I could possibly think anything about that.

Nope, his elevator didn't make it to the second floor...

You need to know that I'm smiling right now. It's not that wry, sarcastic one that I've been working on getting rid of. You see, the fellow is my friend, though not a good one. He's quite well-known in our community and I'm thinking that I'm going to start praying for him. I would love to see this guy be radically transformed by the power of God's love.

Now I'm smiling and nodding my head...in irony.

I'm on the road tomorrow, on my way to the East side of Oregon to a little burg called Vail. Our sister church is there in need of repair and we have a team of folks over there working on it. I'll do whatever on Thursday and on Friday drive to Hermiston in Northeast Oregon for three high school baseball games (oldest son playing).

This afternoon I was concluding three very frustrating phone calls with Kenya Airways. They speak English on the other end of the line, but it's not the variety that those of us living in the Pacific Northwest can understand very well. But these folks are ever patient and put impatient Americans like me to shame. That's why after each call that in the end left me a little beside myself, the end of the last one was sooooo sweet. The gal on the other end of the line figured out exactly what we needed to get done and made it happen by going the extra mile. It cost me a little more money, but wow, worth every cent.

Life is like that sometimes; you know what needs to get done but can't because of a communication gap. I've recently stepped into the middle of two other situations like that, trying to translate for these parties. I still believe that two of the folks think I'm speaking a foreign language.

The Bible tells us that Christ died for all of us. In our preoccupation with ourselves we to often think He is only referring to a race, location or nationality. It's just our nature to have the orbit of a grape (seedless please). But when I step back and think about those airline agents from Kenya Airways, they must think that the white fellow from Central Oregon sure talks strange and doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

At times, they're absolutely correct!

One thing I do get right is this; God is so good, even when I am not.

Sometimes We Don't Realize...

I'm getting ready to go back to Burundi, the small war-torn country located in Central Africa. I'll be doing a couple pastor's conferences. One of the things that I vividly remember were the green and clear crystals sticking out from the side of the mountain on a long drive. I mean they were just sticking out for anyone to take. But no one was touching the formation. I guess they were so used to the stuff that it wasn't valuable to them.

Sometimes we don't realize what we have...

I thoroughly enjoy my early Wednesday morning meeting with some great men from Faith. For the most part it is a 'mature-in-Christ' group. And yet I'm reminded that even being the lead pastor of the church does not mean that I don't learn something when I'm out trying to sharpen those around me. I've found that if I pay attention, the Holy Spirit teaches me through the lives of these great guys.

I've come to know something about the Holy Spirit in this regard. As we go through this life with an ear inclined toward the heart of God we'll find that He is always speaking by way of the Spirit. If we're willing to listen we'll find that He speaks to us through a variety of vessels - mostly human I might add. I listen to my friends talk on Wednesday mornings and often thing out loud, "I'm going to use that one Sunday!" No, those windows of wisdom and insight don't always make it to the pulpit on Sunday - but nearly always they lead to some wonderful, glorious-God-perspective that opens up a window of heaven.

I wish I could take credit for that stuff but desiring to maintain integrity, admit that I cannot. The humor is that for the most part the guys don't even realize the great wealth that I'm mining from their lives. I find myself exceedingly wealthy as a result.

When we position our ear toward heaven, we grow in ways we never realized were possible...from places that we might never expect. I'm guessing that my friends don't even realize the jewels they are...sticking out the side of the mountain...of God.

Sometimes we don't realize what we have...

New Weight Loss Blog Entry

For those who are interested there is a new post at our weight loss blog ("The Biggest Winner") titled, "Habits & Patterns: Motivational Thought for the Week." You can access it by clicking here or by clicking the link in the right column.

Joint Account

I heard about some family the other day. My relative is in her retirement years. Between her and her husband they accumulated a measurable amount of wealth to provide for their retirement years. Sadly, her husband died of cancer when they were making the transition into retirement. She had a friend who had also lost his spouse. About a year later, they married. This fellow also had a good amount saved up for retirement. Now they have three accounts; his, hers and theirs. It makes sense in our culture. Upon their respective deaths their direct family members will receive an inheritance. The joint account is for what the couple does together.

Thinking about this I’m wondering about my account with God. Do I have one that is mine and one that is ours? Wow – I hope not. A joint account with God not only features an eternal inheritance but one that I can enjoy the riches of God’s favor, now.

How many “accounts” do we have in our relationship with the Ruler of the Universe? Be wise and close all others, leaving one “joint” account.

Counting the Cost

I enjoyed my first "real" ice cream tonight since last May. Wow was it good! I don't ever remember it tasting that good. And before you start thinking about scolding me in a response to this post the two scoops were all of 310 calories.

I counted them in every bite - and boy were they sweet!

There is a cost to following Christ, one that must be counted as well.

Right now in congress is a proposed "hate crimes" bill that has just passed the House and been sent onto the Senate. The crux that is near and dear to my heart is that it makes preaching from the Bible about what it says concerning homosexuality a hate crime.

I don't hate homosexuals. I don't agree with the lifestyle of the community, but I don't hate them. However, my disagreement will be deemed "hate." God classifies homosexual acts as "detestable," (look the word up in a concordance for the New International Version and pick one of many). But we're also reminded that God loved the world so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins...and that includes homosexuality. God doesn't hate people, but this sin brings separation and will not be tolerated.

Neither will habitual, "un-yielded to God" sin in my life either...

If God hated people there would have been no reason to send Christ; I mean, what's the point - why save the world from itself, it's own wisdom and own vices? I can almost hear the conversation - "Let it all burn up! Let it rot itself from the inside out."

Oops. Some cultures in history have done just that. God has left it alone to run its own course...

Further if there were no sin, Jesus wouldn't have needed to come under that circumstance either.

If the bill passes in its present form and there are vigilant people within said homosexual community, tens of thousands of pastors will be arrested for preaching the Bible. I for one am not looking to go out of my way to preach such passages just to make a point - unless there is a national passive civil disobedience event staged by my colleagues across our land. But I am one of those "expository" preachers. That means I teach and preach through the Bible, book-by-book.

I don't skip the hard stuff, just because it's hard.

And yes, I won't skip this stuff either.

We've got to count the cost of following Christ. Sometimes it's sweet like ice cream and other times it's all about having to stand up when our nation has crouched so low and call it what it is - a national shame. How far from our moorings we've sunk from as a nation when speech is taken away because truth or even traditional thought is deemed illegal.

Lord...please help us...help me...

Power Snivel

Yes, it is April 29th and yes, it did snow again last night for the second day in a row. It's cold and wet and...and...all I can think of right now is having a good "power snivel."

Wait until it's triple digits here in Central Oregon...you'll here yet another version of the 'snivel' again.

Why are we like that?

Bob & Ramona

I'm heading up to Pasco, Washington today for that state's annual meeting for the Assemblies of God denomination, of which I serve. I'm taking one of my key guys with me from Faith. I'm looking forward to laughing a lot, having lunch with a couple pastors in Hermiston and seeing some old friends.

The purpose of the trip is to be in a service tonight to honor some mentors. Bob and Ramona Griffin have been very special people in my life. In fact, our youngest son is named after Bob - "Kyle Robert." These precious people whom I served under in Corvallis in my last associate pastor role are being honored this evening for 50 years of ministry.

I remember enjoying a meal and playing Rook at their home on numerous occasions. I recall "learning how" to drink my first mocha at the local and legendary coffee shop in Corvallis - I thought the first one put new hair on my chest. But I remember most those near daily times of getting coffee that we sat around and dreamed some of the finest dreams every 'thunk.' It was great fun with lots of laughter - before arriving at some of the coolest ministry ideas and adventures that I've had the pleasure of being part of. Bob Griffin has a way of drawing those kinds of things out of you. It is hard to believe that so much time has passed and here we are at this pivotal time of honoring them.

This evening it will be a privilege to see my friends in front of a large crowd, being applauded. The young pastors won't even know who they are, nor remember the great heart of these folks and the little things that make them so incredibly valuable to the Kingdom and Jesus.

I guess what matters is that people like me who have been impacted by being in their presence will never forget...

Weather & Seasons

It's the 28th of April and it's snowing in Central Oregon. 'Supposed to snow tomorrow too. One of our staff loves the snow. She must be really excited today.

Maybe we'll lock her in her office...

We've lived here over ten years now. Twice it's snowed on the fourth of July. And then only a week ago it was 80 degrees.

Sometimes is rains, sometimes it snows...and sometimes the sun comes out and thing heat up. Regardless of the weather and the season of our lives, the Son is out (think tomb!) and God is good!

The Rock

It's Monday and my "face" is already turned toward Sunday. I've had a change in direction for this weekend and am looking forward to sharing it with the awesome, wonderful and outstanding people of Faith Christian Center.

Yes, I'm pretty excited about what I'll be sharing! In fact, it will likely have ramifications in present and future resources in the homes of those who call Faith their place of worship. Friends - there is a Rock, a place of firm footing from which we stand when all around us seems like sinking sand...

I've been sharing more and more about the difficulty that is going on around us in our county and country in messages by way of illustration. Sadly here in Oregon we are in the top five nationally in unemployment with Deschutes County (where we live) near the top of that equation in our state. However I cannot escape the fact that God has a purpose and plan for us. Through the prophet Jeremiah God spoke the following:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

The idea of "wholeness" has also been translated as "prosper." It ever there was a time for us to prosper, it is now! And so, here we stand...

New Post at "The Biggest Winner"

For those interested, there is a new post over at our weight loss site. You can access it by clicking here, or on the link in the column at right.