Have you ever desired to go in a certain direction, down a certain path, but found the way to be blocked?
Paul had that same experience (Acts 16:6-7). He desired to go into certain regions, certain places to preach the gospel to those who were lost. But the Holy Spirit did not allow him to.
I don't know what places, jobs, cities, states, neighborhoods you have been trying to go to. But it may be that the reason (or at least a reason) the Holy Spirit (H.S.) has not allowed you to move to that place, or to get that job is because He has sent you where you are right now or is going to send you somewhere else for the purpose of reaching non-believers with the good news of Jesus.
So, if you find that your path is being blocked and you end up in a place that you did not originally plan to be and you know the H.S. led you there, then you should see that as the place where He desires for you to speak and live out the gospel of Jesus.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
Summertime!
It's summer time, ya'll. I am amped because we are about to roll out in our Adult Bible Study program, called Intersect, what I believe to be some pivotal classes for our church. Here is what's coming up at our church, beginning Sunday, June 14th:
The Gospel
Class Length: 2 weeks
Class Description:
More than likely you have heard this term “The Gospel.” Some people talk about the prosperity gospel, or the health and wealth gospel. But, in truth, there is only ONE Gospel. This class will help you understand what the Gospel is and, more importantly, WHO the Gospel is about.
The Bible: God’s Story of Redemption
Class Length: 2 weeks
Class Description:
Many of us know bits and pieces of the Bible. But do you know that collectively the 66 books of the Bible actually tell of ONE true story? This class will help you to connect the dots, so that you can see the Bible’s big picture: God’s Story of Redemption.
Beyond the Sound
Class Length: 3 weeks
Class Description:
We all like music, right? Well God does too. Do you know He is more concerned about what Christian songs are saying than what they sound like? This class will help you to learn to look beyond the sound to ensure that the lyrics of the songs you listen to or sing are Christ-centered and biblically accurate.
With it being summer, and the reality that many people travel during this season, we have intentionally made the classes shorter in duration.
We pray and hope that people will see Jesus and their lives will be changed through these classes.
Intersect...Changing the Direction of Your Life.
The Gospel
Class Length: 2 weeks
Class Description:
More than likely you have heard this term “The Gospel.” Some people talk about the prosperity gospel, or the health and wealth gospel. But, in truth, there is only ONE Gospel. This class will help you understand what the Gospel is and, more importantly, WHO the Gospel is about.
The Bible: God’s Story of Redemption
Class Length: 2 weeks
Class Description:
Many of us know bits and pieces of the Bible. But do you know that collectively the 66 books of the Bible actually tell of ONE true story? This class will help you to connect the dots, so that you can see the Bible’s big picture: God’s Story of Redemption.
Beyond the Sound
Class Length: 3 weeks
Class Description:
We all like music, right? Well God does too. Do you know He is more concerned about what Christian songs are saying than what they sound like? This class will help you to learn to look beyond the sound to ensure that the lyrics of the songs you listen to or sing are Christ-centered and biblically accurate.
With it being summer, and the reality that many people travel during this season, we have intentionally made the classes shorter in duration.
We pray and hope that people will see Jesus and their lives will be changed through these classes.
Intersect...Changing the Direction of Your Life.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009 - The Day that Changed my Family's Life
My father, Ed Johnson Jr., was diagnosed with cancer and had begun undergoing chemotherapy in the latter part of 2008. Everything was looking pretty good...that is until March/April 2009. I received a call from my mother around that time stating that my father's health had taken a turn for the worse.
I immediately left Dallas and headed home to Austin, TX. It was not until I saw my father that it dawned on me how bad his condition was. It broke my heart to see my father - always a healthy, vibrant, and active man - unable to walk a few steps without becoming extremely fatigued, eventually becoming bed-ridden.
As I stayed by my father's side and saw him begin to lose his appetite for food and drink, it became apparent that Jesus was taking my father home. One of the hardest things was to accept that fact. Believe me, we prayed and believed God to heal him...and we knew He could. But we also knew that God is sovereign and that no matter how much we prayed, "thought positive thoughts" (as one of my relatives said), etc. His will was going to be done.
So, on Thursday, April 30, 2009 at around 12:10 p.m., while I (and my mother and a few other relatives) was in the room, my father took his last breath and passed away. Even as I type this, I am tearing up because, although I have hope that because he and I believe in Jesus we will see each other again at the resurrection, losing my father hurt. My father was the first in my immediate family to pass away. That day truly changed my and my family's life.
On Saturday, May 9, 2009, I preached at my father's homegoing celebration. It was tough, but God the Holy Spirit gave me strength. My father, because he served over 23 years in the military and was honorably discharged, received full military honors.
I thank God for the 78 years of life that he gave my father and the 32 years that I had with him. I miss him dearly. I will always cherish the moments we had together. Outside of Jesus, he was the greatest man in my life. He was my mentor. He was my teacher. He was my friend. He was...my father.
Because of this it has taken me a minute to post on my blog. I am sure you understand. In all honesty, helping my mom and family care for my father in his last days, ministering to my family during this time of bereavement, and just personally dealing with my father's passing, has taken alot out of me.
If there is anyone still following my blog, thank you for being patient. Please pray for me and my family as we seek the comfort and direction of God in learning how to live life without my father being present.
Proud to bear my father's name,
Ed Johnson III
I immediately left Dallas and headed home to Austin, TX. It was not until I saw my father that it dawned on me how bad his condition was. It broke my heart to see my father - always a healthy, vibrant, and active man - unable to walk a few steps without becoming extremely fatigued, eventually becoming bed-ridden.
As I stayed by my father's side and saw him begin to lose his appetite for food and drink, it became apparent that Jesus was taking my father home. One of the hardest things was to accept that fact. Believe me, we prayed and believed God to heal him...and we knew He could. But we also knew that God is sovereign and that no matter how much we prayed, "thought positive thoughts" (as one of my relatives said), etc. His will was going to be done.
So, on Thursday, April 30, 2009 at around 12:10 p.m., while I (and my mother and a few other relatives) was in the room, my father took his last breath and passed away. Even as I type this, I am tearing up because, although I have hope that because he and I believe in Jesus we will see each other again at the resurrection, losing my father hurt. My father was the first in my immediate family to pass away. That day truly changed my and my family's life.
On Saturday, May 9, 2009, I preached at my father's homegoing celebration. It was tough, but God the Holy Spirit gave me strength. My father, because he served over 23 years in the military and was honorably discharged, received full military honors.
I thank God for the 78 years of life that he gave my father and the 32 years that I had with him. I miss him dearly. I will always cherish the moments we had together. Outside of Jesus, he was the greatest man in my life. He was my mentor. He was my teacher. He was my friend. He was...my father.
Because of this it has taken me a minute to post on my blog. I am sure you understand. In all honesty, helping my mom and family care for my father in his last days, ministering to my family during this time of bereavement, and just personally dealing with my father's passing, has taken alot out of me.
If there is anyone still following my blog, thank you for being patient. Please pray for me and my family as we seek the comfort and direction of God in learning how to live life without my father being present.
Proud to bear my father's name,
Ed Johnson III
Monday, April 13, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
What are YOU preaching?
Bishop Quayle says, “Preaching is not the art of making a sermon and delivering it. Preaching is the art of making a preacher and delivering him.”
Monday, March 23, 2009
It has been a long time...
since my last post. I feel bad that it has been over a month since I have paid any attention to my blog. Wow, what can I say? I will try to do better. I am going to try to commit to posting something on my blog every Friday. We will see how it goes. Stay tuned...
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
He could've (and He would've), but didn't!
On the night that Jesus was betrayed by one of his disciples (Judas), Peter, in an attempt to fight off those who were coming to arrest Jesus, took a sword and cut off the ear of one of the servants of the high priest.
Here is a part of what Jesus said to Peter in that moment, "Don't you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?" (Matthew 26:53-54, NLT)
Have you ever thought about what Jesus could've done and what his Father would've done in response, and how if he had - if he had put himself before us; if he was more concerned about safety than salvation; if he was more concerned about being harmed than helping us; if he was more concerned with escaping the pain of suffering than securing the possibility for us to be pardoned of our sins - all hope for humanity to be brought back into a right relationship with God the Father would be lost...forever?
Thank you, Jesus, for not doing what you could have done.
Here is a part of what Jesus said to Peter in that moment, "Don't you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?" (Matthew 26:53-54, NLT)
Have you ever thought about what Jesus could've done and what his Father would've done in response, and how if he had - if he had put himself before us; if he was more concerned about safety than salvation; if he was more concerned about being harmed than helping us; if he was more concerned with escaping the pain of suffering than securing the possibility for us to be pardoned of our sins - all hope for humanity to be brought back into a right relationship with God the Father would be lost...forever?
Thank you, Jesus, for not doing what you could have done.
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