Stillness© 2008
By Ronnie Johnson
Be still and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10a (KJV)
I was traveling east only days ago. The strong northerly winds were pushing through the West. A big weather front creates micro bursts of giant winds and stirs up the dust and the snow in its path. This storm came with a vengeance of cold, northerly winds close to a hundred miles per hour. Some cars and trucks were along side the interstate as I passed them.
At time it seemed as though an incredible giant was taking a shovel, and lifting up snow along the shoulder of the interstate; then throwing this white powder into the air as I traveled my way. Tumble weeds were dancing across the interstate as though they were being spanked by each and every burst of wind behind them.
It was a cold air that was relentless and down right mean. When I got out of my car to fill up before my trip, I felt the power of this cold, heartless wind in my face. Anyone in his right mind would trade this brutal weather a peaceful, sun shiny, summer day by the lake in July at this point.
As I drove along this interstate, hardly anyone was stirring on this Sunday morning. My friend was the awful wind. It actually seemed as though the wind was attempting to battered and bruise the earth itself, and anyone or anything in its path. As I arrived at the little country church I was invited to speak at, to my amazement it was filled with people. I must say that my faith had waned before this point; I didn’t expect a soul to be there.
I thought to myself how wonderful it is to know that in this great nation there are still God-fearing people who worship him in spirit and in truth. There are people who will brave even the worst of cold winter winds, and such nasty weather to attend His House and talk to him in faith.
In the rush, in the trend you are in, in your haste and pace to be successful and productive, never forget to slow down for God. In the face of life’s turbulent storms and violent gusts of cold, frigid wind, Be Still before him. Be quiet in his presence. Take your shoes off, as The Lord of Hosts told Joshua to do. Slow down….real slow. In fact, stop in your tracks. Have an urgency in your spirit and soul to be motionless before your Creator and Maker—let him talk. Let him communicate his messages to you. Be still and know that I am God.
Remember, historians tell us that the people who stopped and worship God during the great days of the Gold Rush, got there before the others who raced against time. Find a room. Close the door. Get into a closet. Be…....you know. Give God his moment with you, and your moment with him.
Perch yourself in a remote room alone and away from all the noise, all the gibbering and jabbering of life. Be with God. Be in solitude with him; and only him. Sh-s-s-s-s-h! Be still and know that I am God. Why? Because He is.
Down the road ...
Ronnie Johnson
The Seasons of Life © 2008
By Ronnie Johnson
Out of whose womb came the ice?
And the hoary frost of heaven,
Who has gendered it?
Job 38:29 (RKJV).
Remember, be here now.
—-Ram Dass
I walked out into the cold air. From the comfort of a warm office building into the cold, miserable air of the winter, I stepped into a season that is soon to end. But for now its petulant presence is on its throne. The strong breeze of a lasting winter’s punch hit me right in the face. Although it was March, the winds still made their presence known with a damp, cold, blow to my body.
The seasons of life are so remarkable. The incredible wonders and powers of nature give us that sense that no one but no one is in control, but our Father who is in heaven-The Almighty, the Sovereign God that he is.
As I felt this cold I knew in my heart that this strong breath of late winter’s gusts were something to take in before springtime raises its head and takes over.
To every thing there is a season,
And a time to every purpose under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV).
The cold air seemed to knock at me with steady winds coming at my face head on. Winter has its own kind of vengeance. And yet with the cold air blowing in my face, strangely enough, there was a sense of comfort in these airs that reminded me of the Navigator of this Winter Ship. Seasons come, and they go. Now the small buds are showing their faces on trees and bushes. They are raring to blossom out and make their own presence known. But these cold airs are at the helm for now. They are still with us in the Seasons of Life.
Sometime I feel as though the seasons themselves are talking to you and me. They are shaking their finger in our face at times, and then on other occasions they are reassuring us with their soft, gentle ways and actions that give us a calm and sense of recuperation and restoration. And yes, The Seasons of Life come and go, but with their presence is the reality of which season rules.
It must have been a moment of the greatest drama and most incomparable scenery as the Lord scooped up those mountains and dug those ocean pits and formed a world of light and breath and living creatures. However he created this entire universe and other universes, I do not know, but he chose to sprinkle with this green earth those Seasons of Life that are still our friends, and of course, can be our foes as well. The wise Solomon is so right when he says, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.”
On this day The Season of Life opened up to me a refreshingly cold, windy experience I chose to bathe my face in. I simply stood still in the parking lot by my building momentarily, and just allowed the wind, the frigid winter wind to hit me again and again. I chose to deposit a memory in my mind forever…I hope. It was the revealing magic and wonder of winter, of another Season of Life, the awesome Architect gave to you, and to me.
Down the road ...
Ronnie Johnson
WHAT A STORY! © 2008
By Ronnie Johnson
And as they led him away, they lay hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
St. Luke 23:26 (KJV).
What a story! This whole God-thing about the Messiah and the miraculous birth of a child by God Himself is too much for most people’s intelligence. And then there is this resurrection business—where the Son of God is raised from the dead. None of this makes sense. Not really! It just does not add up; or have any logic to such a historical claim. And yet throughout this world, there are symbols of this cross, spiraling steeples, cathedrals and churches everywhere acknowledging the reality of this great story.
In the middle of this heroic redemption plan I think it is so interesting that during the life story of Christ and the march to his death is a folder with another story. It is about a man the Roman soldiers lay hold of to help Jesus carry his cross to Calvary. I cannot help but think about this man who is just standing in the crowd observing all the turmoil and sadness of this man about to be nailed to a Roman tree.
But they secure his help. He picks up a cross many theologians say could have weighed up to 200 pounds. Up this hill to Calvary, up the way to death, up the path to a gruesome, horrible crucifixion of anguish and pain these two figures trod along. This father of Alexander and Rufus, friend of others, and no doubt a man with a strong physique, was compelled to bear a cross that history has never understood; and yet millions have accepted as the hope of all hopes. What A Story!
Interestingly enough Simon the Cyrenian carried a cross for the world; for all humanity. He lifted up that awful piece of wood; he placed his body under a tree of death for you and me. And then in return, the Christ allowed his own body to be placed on this cross for all mankind to know the ‘peace that passes all understanding.’ He, in fact, gave himself for this Simon of Cyrene, too.
Going to Calvary with the Savior must have been an incredible view as the African man carried this cross for the Lord. Their eye contact, their body language, their two lives walking side by side up a hill—What A Story! It changed history forever.
Later no doubt, he would tell his children and his children’s children about the greatest story on earth; about bearing an old rugged cross that he dragged to hill for a man people wanted to kill. The people of Libya, Africa, that ancient Greek Cyrenian town, would pass on many stories and ideas about this famous universal story-journey. It was a story-journey that their own citizen, Simon the Cyrenian, had a role in. Somehow in the mind of Almighty and the creativity of the Divine, He allowed this man just a peep into the Redemption Story; a short role into the death of His only Son.
It tells me that we are all a part of the theatre of this story in life. The drama hasn’t ended. We all have a role in the Greatest Story Ever Told. Our role is now. Our role is a story of faith. We have a choice. You and I are still on that stage. It is up to us now to pick up our own cross and carry it for Christ. It is a cross just as real as the wooden one Simon carried up the hill to Calvary. Sometime I feel as though it is even more real than the cross he bore for our Lord. It is a cross of belief, of faith and hope. It is a cross of responsibility and accountability. It is a cross where you and I lay our heart upon the table. It is a cross that we will not or never will, recant the story of this Messiah who gave his own life, his own blood for our sins. No cross, no hope! No cross, no abundant life! No cross, no unspeakable joy! No cross, then no Simon the Cyrenian!
WHAT A STORY! How about you? How is your faith? How healthy is your belief in this story? Are you in? Or, are you out?
Down the road ...
Ronnie Johnson
TRAPPED © 2008
By Ronnie Johnson
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
—Romans 8:35
Each day that I am able to, I race out the door of my building, usually around lunch time. I walk a brisk mile or so and get some fresh air and sunshine. This day as I raced out of my building I was extremely moved by a man that I saw upon a gurney. The two paramedics were doing their best to roll the man into a neighboring building. However, he was so huge and obese that they could hardly push him up the handicap ramp into the building.
As I observed this scene I realized that this man had to weigh close to a thousand pounds, perhaps more. He was the largest individual I personally have ever seen before, and no doubt, the largest I ever will see again. It also dawned upon me that he was totally trapped in his body. He could not walk if he had to. He was so large and overweight that he was inhibited within a mass of flesh that disabled him from going any where without the aid of a gurney. No wheel chair would be a fit for a person this size.
Strangely enough later in the day I also saw two people across the street at the same building. They were attempting to make their entrance into the building, but with a lot of frustration. As they stumbled around the many doors of the building, they could not find the right doors to get inside. As I looked closer before another pedestrian helped them open the right doors, I realized that they both had their white canes in their hands. It appeared to be a husband and wife trapped in their blindness.
It dawned upon me what the Lord was saying through this real life picture—we are all tapped in some way in this world. Some are trapped by their physical handicaps, and others are trapped by their mental and emotional handicaps. Some are trapped by deceit and immorality. When I came home my wife shared me how the young, governor of New York had been caught up in a national and international prostitution ring. I suppose you could say unquestionably that he is trapped, too. The governor went before the press and admitted his wrong and foolish mistake to his family, state and nation.
Do you feel trapped? Are you behind the bars of your own imprisonment? Are there skeletons in your closet? I believe we are all tapped in some way. Some people allow themselves to be in a deeper cave or hole than others. It’s all about choices. We all need God. We all need His help. We all need one another. We all need freedom from our entrapments? Don’t we?
Thank God that ‘even while we were yet sinners, his Son died for us.’ There is an English proverb that says, “Faults are thick where love is thin.” There is no thinness with God’s grace. He loves the sinner even though he hates the sin. God loves us whether we are big or small, blind or able to see and yes, he loves this governor of New York just like He loves you and me. He loves us perfectly, eternally, passionately, unconditionally and empathetically. He loves us even though we are all trapped—jailed by our own wrongs, and feeble and frail ways. There is nothing and no one however, that can trap God’s compassion and care for you and me. He loves you more than any love you will ever see.
Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you.
Jeremiah 31:3 (RKJV).
Down the road ...
Ronnie Johnson
THOSE COLORFUL ROCKIES© 2008
By Ronnie Johnson
I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help. Psalm 121:1 (KJV).
Love all God’s creation, The whole and every grain of sand in it. —Father Zossima (In The Brothers of Karamazov)
There is a wonder in captivating scenery I think. Imaginative. Sensational. Arresting. As I traveled to the northern area of Colorado recently I beheld those ostentatious Rockies peeping at me with their white heads. This was the first day of really warm weather after a very long, bitter season of cold and snow. As I traveled up the interstate I could not help but notice on this very clear day just how stunning those Rockies are. Those of us who live around these mountains and see them everyday often take them for granted. But this Tuesday I could only envision those dynamic mountains close by shouting out at me, “Look at us! Look at us! Look at our purple steeples and white peaks.” And I did.
The more I gazed at these tall mountains the more I realized how great and glorious this state is, and the sheer beauty that many people can only dream of experiencing. The Rockies this day just shined and sparkled in the glimmering rays of the Colorado sun. They appeared as some giant, monstrous western fence shutting out any and everything except their own snow-covered peaks. It was as though I could reach out and touch each mountain, too. After such a long winter of being shut in by cold and snow, and by little sunshine this day along the Rockies added to an even greater exhilaration and excitement as I stared at their loveliness and glowing summits. These white tents appeared to follow me as I drove along this interstate. I could not help but ask myself, “Does Almighty himself live in these huge, panoramic-pees? Mountains talk, too. At least, they did to me on this Tuesday. In the face of all the negative, unnerving and disparaging news we hear each day on the news, it is so inspiring and encouraging to see and hear mountains talking to our soul. This is a reminder to me that Someone else is in control. Don’t you think so? Ever whipped out a mountain or a sea? Of course, not. At least not one by you and me.
Somehow as I turned my eyes again and again at these Rockies on this most gorgeous day I knew that I had been the privileged one; to see what our founding fathers once saw centuries ago. And Now I know. You know. Why many settled along this picturesque scenery of glorious mountain peaks, and never left their shadows; and never will.
Down the road ...
Ronnie Johnson
IN A FOG © 2008
By Ronnie Johnson
I am the way, the truth and the life….
John 14:6a (KJV).
Only recently Jean (my wife), and I were traveling to a speaking engagement I had. The day started out rather normal with an overcast sky. A very big snow storm had already been predicted for the latter part of this weekend according to our favorite meteorologist; this was on a Sunday morning at the time we were traveling.
As we were zooming along down interstate 70 the sky began to change to a darker color. Finally, in just no time it seemed, we found ourselves in a fog; in a very serious, thick, dangerous fog. The visibility became almost zero, too. I suddenly found my 75 miles per hour change into a creeping, crawling pace down this interstate. We traveled in this horrible weather for over an hour, too; extremely frightening to say the least.
Over the years Jean and I have gone through many unwelcome, ugly storms on trips we have taken, but this was by far the worst we have ever experienced. I think it was the most dangerous, too. In Texas we have traveled through awful ice storms, dust storms, violent rain storms and lightening storms. In Colorado we have traveled through snowy white-outs, falling rocks (even a boulder hit our car once), strong windy, sleet storms, unbelievable hail storms, wind storms and every other kind of storm your mind can conjure up—we’ve been there.
But this storm was a ‘cut above.’ Huge 18 wheelers never slowed down. Other motorists raced on through the fog. Now I understand why I see on the news multi-car pileups on our highways; it is certainly no mystery to me anymore. I found myself driving a vehicle that placed us in a no win situation: if I traveled too fast I was endangering our lives because of a lack of visibility, if I traveled too slow I was worried about some motorist hitting us in the rear of our car.
Do you find yourself in life like this at times? In a fog? Not real certain which choice to make? Not at peace with the tempo of your place and purpose in society? Not totally convinced which direction your marriage is going? Not completely convinced which way your business is headed? Not comfortable with the progress of your nation, your country? Not at ease with your walk with God, and how He really feels about you and your life? Are you in a fog? Are you in a fog about anything?
In the world there is no real peace or assurance in a thick, overshadowing fog until you get into the sunlight. In a fog is danger. Suspense. Questions. Anxious moments. Troubling fears. Scary visibility! And furthermore, there is incredible mental and emotional exhaustion until you get back into the Son light.
I’m convinced that most people live in a fog: uncertain of where they have come from…. unsure of why they are here…...and totally in a fog of where they are going. It is so comforting and restful for us who know, and have personally experienced the Lord; to know Who is the way in a fog along life’s highway.
Down the road ...
Ronnie Johnson
THE SIMPLEST OF SOURCES© 2008
He Feeds You
By Ronnie Johnson
There is a lad here…
St. John 6:9 (KJV).
With God there is always a lad around. He employs the simplest of sources to accomplish his tasks. God is really not into the glamorous, and the famous, and the most ostentatious sources. He astonishes with the littlest of subjects. He feeds us with the five loaves and two fish all the time. He makes our lives better by and with the simplest of sources on hand. Man wants the exotic, the spectacular, and the greatest—not God.
I stood in Israel upon that hill overlooking Galilee now called the Mountain of Multiplication. That hill, that large awe-inspiring scene was home to one of our Lord’s great miracles when he walked this earth. But where did the miracle come from? Who had the loaves? Who had the two small fish?
In their disgust and frantic thoughts those disciples saw the Lord perform a miracle from the only food on hand. Their consternation was, where? How can we feed so many? There is a lad here. This lad, this kid had only five loaves of bread and two little fishes. The five thousand people on hand had forgotten all about food. They had already been fed—spiritually. And that spiritual bread from heaven had so nourished them, they had forgotten all about a real meal…a real meal deal.
Remember our Lord talking to those two disciples on their way home to Emmaus following the resurrection? The Christ appeared to them and fed them God’s word. Both these disciples had given up on Jesus—they just knew he would save Israel; but he had been crucified. However, they were so stirred by his words, so moved by his message that their best expression of being filled with his spiritual food was, “Did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? (St. Luke 24:32 KJV).
The simplest of sources is always from a lad or from someone or some influence right in our backyard. You do not have to go to heaven to experience heaven—there is heaven all around you and me when God is in control. He can operate on the simplest of sources. It’s the little things with God that counts most. Don’t look too hard for God’s mighty hand of grace. There is a lad here, near you. There is a child ready to guide you. “And a child shall lead them.” The phenomenon with God is in the simplest of sources. His supernatural power is close by. He employs a child, a small, insignificant and unknown person that can change five thousand people from hunger to being full. He can fill you. He wants to feed you and fill you. And then you, too, will be so moved that you will say, “Did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us by the way…”
Take note, There is a lad here….the simplest of sources right before your eyes. Look around you today. Look close by, not far a way in the sky.
Down the road ...
Ronnie Johnson
The Risen One© 2008
By Ronnie Johnson
He is not here, but is risen.
St. Luke 24:6 (KJV)
The mystery of life itself is troubling at times. We all wonder about our existence upon this earth, this unique planet in orbit—our habitat. We all have in the back of our minds the wonderment, the puzzlement and the sheer incalculableness of our universe and our place in space. And then this resurrection matter has added even further to the challenge of human thought, intellect and astonishment.
When the Christ-child came, the Son of God, and the Messiah for all mankind, no one had a clue at just how much he would change this world, this universe and our place in space. But he did. He radically changed the thoughts and beliefs of all people in all languages, and countries, and cultures. The world has never been more of a mystery, a puzzlement and incalculable state since the Master graced life’s theatrical stage.
Now we must decide upon the Savior’s reality and authenticity. Was he, or wasn’t he who he was supposed to be—God’s own Son? Did he actually link us directly to our own Creator? Or, was this Miracle–maker just another impostor upon life’s theatrical stage?
The angel or angels declared that, He is not here, but is risen? Was he risen? Is he risen? If so, he is exactly, correctly and precisely who he claimed to be. He is also who the prophets prophesized hundreds of years before he came, the living, resurrected Messiah of this universe, God’s very own Son. The Risen One.
HE IS NOT HERE, BUT IS RISEN.
Down the road ...
Ronnie Johnson
FROM A PRINCE TO A PAUPER© 2008
By Ronnie Johnson
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away.
Job 1:21 (RKJV).
Failure is not sweet, but it need not be bitter.
—Copied.
Losing is the worst of experiences in this life. To have it all and then lose it all is even more excruciating and hurtful. I keep a picture of Silda, wife of New Governor, Eliot Spitzer, in our garage to remind me of how quickly a fall can come about in this life. I also keep the picture there to pray for her and her husband. She and Eliot are what I would call and the “Up and Outers.” They have gone through the ringer of great loss. Her husband, of course, is the dethroned governor of New York who was caught in a high-end national and international prostitution ring.
The touching picture of this lady standing by the side of her once famous governor husband is now standing before the press in shame and finger-pointing blame. How quickly the tide can change!
It is one thing to have nothing and virtually lose nothing in a loss. It is a totally different matter when you have everything, and then virtually lose everything you have all at once (or, in a matter of seconds you might say).
Remember Job? He had it all. And then he lost it all. One day he was a prince of the east. The Next day he was a pauper pleading his case before his friends and with God Almighty. God affords us many blessings in this life. He showers us at times. But then we all experience those very difficult, gloomy, horrible days, even years where we struggle to survive and cope with extreme dilemmas.
Job had wealth. He had seven thousand sheep. He had three thousand camels. This prince of the east as I refer to him had five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she asses and a large household. But it all went down the drain…..and his fame. He went from good health to poor health. He went from the good times to the bad times. He went from the sunlit summit to the darkest of valleys.
Some weeks ago I went to help feed people at the Denver Rescue Mission. Some of these people who I met were at one time on the top of their game—successful, cheerful and hopeful of an even better life. But drugs, alcohol, addictions and other misfortunes have brought them to a pauper’s position in life. You could just tell how some people carried themselves, how they dressed even in second-hand clothing that they were educated, and out-of-place because of their great losses in life.
Every day is a gift. Every breath of life is a gift. Every talent and opportunity you and I have are gifts from God. Every day I list things I am grateful for; for the experiences and happenings from the previous day. I learned this from Oprah Winfrey; she lists her blessings that she experiences each day in her journal. I call my journal, My Grateful Book. Whatever you own, whatever possessions the Lord has afforded you and entrusted you with never take them lightly. One day we, too, could be like Silda Wall Spitzer—have it all and then lose it all.
Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.
—Charles Dickens
Down the road ...
Ronnie Johnson
