Joel Johnson

I have a friend going through a really tough time. He’s personally failed his marriage. He knows it and is humbled by it. While reading through a devotional book he came across a prayer written long ago by one who understood personal failure.  My friend starts his day with this prayer.  I am inspired by his longing to seek God in his weakness.  He’s experiencing spiritual renewal. The prayer has blessed me and I’ve passed it along to many others and decided to share it with you as well.

Puritan Prayer
Thou hast struck a heavy blow at my pride, at the false god of self, and I lie in pieces before Thee. But Thou hast given me another master and lord, Thy Son, Jesus, and now my heart is turned towards holiness, my life speeds as an arrow from a bow towards complete obedience to Thee.

Help me in all my doings to put down sin and to humble pride. Save me from the love of the world and the pride of life, from everything that is natural to fallen man, and let Christ’s nature be seen in me day by day.

Grant me grace to bear Thy will without repining, and delight to be not only chiseled, squared, or fashioned, but separated from the old rock where I have been embedded so long, and lifted from the quarry to the upper air, where I may be built in Christ for ever.
-Author unknown, from the book Valley of Vision

May the Lord separate me/us from the old rock where I/we have been embedded so long.

With Open Hands,

Joel

I want to say two things in response to last Sunday’s services at Westwood. Last Sunday I taught from Romans 12:1-2 and God used the text to speak to me personally and powerfully.  It’s still resonating with me days later.

The first thing:  Your body matters to God.  I said it Sunday and I want to emphasize its importance.  Paul says, “offer your bodies as living sacrifices.”  For thirty years I have invited people to offer their lives to Christ and to invite Christ into their hearts but I don’t think I have ever said, “Offer your bodies to Christ.” But I should have.  I missed it.  Because when God has your body, He has you. One of the reasons we may have confusion about God’s good, pleasing, perfect will for our lives is that we receive Him into our hearts but disconnect Him from our bodies.  We think, ‘I’ve received Christ. I have salvation. I know my soul is saved.”  But then we do with our bodies what we want, not realizing that our very bodies may yield to forces that keep us from seeing God’s will.

On Monday, I received an email form a Westwooder who has been reading Oswald Chambers classic devotional My Utmost for His Highest.  The entry he read on Sunday was the very thing I taught on.  He sent me the reflection called The Temple of the Holy Spirit”

 . . . only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you —Genesis 41:40

I am accountable to God for the way I control my body under His authority. Paul said he did not “set aside the grace of God”— make it ineffective (Galatians 2:21). The grace of God is absolute and limitless, and the work of salvation through Jesus is complete and finished forever. I am not being saved— I am saved. Salvation is as eternal as God’s throne, but I must put to work or use what God has placed within me. To “work out [my] own salvation” (Philippians 2:12) means that I am responsible for using what He has given me. It also means that I must exhibit in my own body the life of the Lord Jesus, not mysteriously or secretly, but openly and boldly. “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection . . .” (1 Corinthians 9:27). Every Christian can have his body under absolute control for God. God has given us the responsibility to rule over all “the temple of the Holy Spirit,” including our thoughts and desires (1 Corinthians 6:19). We are responsible for these, and we must never give way to improper ones. But most of us are much more severe in our judgment of others than we are in judging ourselves. We make excuses for things in ourselves, while we condemn things in the lives of others simply because we are not naturally inclined to do them.

Paul said, “I beseech you . . . that you present your bodies a living sacrifice . . .” (Romans 12:1). What I must decide is whether or not I will agree with my Lord and Master that my body will indeed be His temple. Once I agree, all the rules, regulations, and requirements of the law concerning the body are summed up for me in this revealed truth-my body is “the temple of the Holy Spirit.”

Second Thing:  Read the Bible every day. I encouraged you to not believe the lie that the Bible is an old book that’s not relevant to your life.  There is no book more relevant than the Bible.  Take your Bible off the shelf and read it 15 minutes a day and one year from now you will be wiser, having more of the mind of Christ.  A young man came down after the service and asked if I had a source that would allow him to read through the Bible in a year.  Here’s a source that will help:  http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/readingplans/

I’m glad we get to share this journey together.  If you want to respond to how your body matters to God or how the Bible is relevant, please do.

With Open Hands,

Joel

One of the goals we’re highlighting this week related to Westwood’s future is:
Spiritual Invasion - Ignite a passion for discipleship where increasing numbers of people place primary importance on learning how to be what Jesus calls us to be and to do what Jesus said to do.

Sometimes it’s hard to carve out time and energy to listen to the inner voice of the Spirit leading us. Yet, it’s been critical to the life of my own personal faith journey, and I am convinced it’s essential for yours as well.

Prayer is just one of the wonderful expressions God gives to keep our souls awake to His presence and purpose in our lives. I like what E.M. Bounds says in his book called the “Weapon of Prayer”:

“Everything secured by Gospel promise, defined by Gospel measure, and represented by Gospel treasure are to be found in prayer. All heights are scaled by it, all doors are opened to it, all victories are gained through it, and all grace distills on it. Heaven has all its good and all its help for men who pray.”

When we speak of spiritual invasion we are speaking about spiritual renewal. It’s walking with God convinced in mind that His presence is with us. A simple definition: the spiritual renewal of heart and mind that knows the will of God. Romans 12:1-2 gives us the picture of life transformation, growing faith, and God’s will being worked out through our surrender to His leadership in our lives and church.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Renewal is something we desire for every Westwood attender. Renewal is what the Spirit does as we avail ourselves to walking in the Spirit. Helping people to know how to walk with the Spirit is the life of renewal. The need to develop spiritual pathways is necessary if we intend for people to grow in their journey of faith. We have worked diligently to create SEASONS, a spiritual road map for Westwood. See the seasons of spiritual growth and ask, “where I am today and where would I like to be.”

It’s important to note that Renewal has a sister whose name is Revival. We not only want to grow in faith but also see the work of Revival break out that would change our communities. But where renewal has much to do with our abiding and obedience, our practices and disciplines, Revival is primarily the work of the Holy Spirit.

Awareness of God’s presence is not enough because that awareness will not change us. The Evil One is well aware of God’s presence but he is by no means changed. What we need, along with that sense of awareness is submission, a total surrendering of the self to the will of God. Unless we surrender, we are not changed, and if we are not changed we cannot even speak of revival.

Before Pentecost the disciples had experienced joy, and happiness, and had seen and even performed miracles in the name of Jesus. They even cast out demons, but after Pentecost they were turned into witnesses. After all, that is what Jesus promised: “You will receive power, and you will be my witnesses…to the end of the earth.”

The Holy Spirit is in the business of saving people, not performing a show for the personal enjoyment of well-fed Christians. So we see overlap within renewal, release and reach. I hope you agree that no change will happen in God’s way without prayer.

Let’s pray, with open hands,

 
Joel

For years I’ve kept a one dollar bill in the top drawer of the desk in my home office. It reminds me of the joy of generosity. The dollar was given to me by Todd, a then nine-year-old neighbor and close friend to our son. We were in the campaign to raise money for Westwood’s new building in Chanhassen. He had heard all about this by being around our family.

One day Todd came to the front door. I thought he was looking to play with our son who was not home at the time. He said, “No, I was looking for you. I want to give a dollar to your new building.” Todd didn’t attend Westwood, he just was inspired by what God was doing and in his simple way, wanted to be part of it.

To say the least, this gesture moved me deeply. When you sense or believe that God is doing something special, you want to be part of it. Something is happening at Westwood these days – lives are being changed all around us. There’s no doubt that it’s all being done by God’s power and all for His glory. But we get to be part of it all. Amazing! What joy!

One of the Paddles in the waters of Westwood’s future is this goal:

Generosity Explosion: Accelerate generosity by cultivating a culture of generosity through inspiration, instruction, impactful small groups and intentionality.

Generosity is one of the expressions of getting the love thing right. It’s who God is – generous. That’s why our vision states that we will be a community ‘with open hands receiving from God all that He wants to give, believing He wants to give us a lot; and with open hands giving it away, believing we cannot out-give God.’ When we do get the love thing right one of the first expressions is generosity; people are blessed, whole families are renewed, entire communities are transformed, and a message of hope gets sent to the world.

Look at this 3.5 minute word about generosity from Francis Chan – he’s spot on!

http://www.generouschurch.com/francis-chan-on-generosity

With Open Hands,

Joel

Join the conversation  #WCCGenerosity @WestwoodCCinfo

I love to lead. But I also know that I will never lead well until I first learn how to follow. When Jesus called His disciples he said, “Follow me.” To be a Christian is to put Jesus first. It is to believe and behave in ways that value Jesus Christ more than the things of this earth. If I do this, then I will gain the wisdom to lead in the direction of His will. And that’s where we all want to go…in the direction of His will.

I’m writing a blog on each of Westwood’s six goals that will guide us into a healthy future for the next generation. This week’s goal is:

Leadership Expedition: Continue to strengthen leadership capacity through Wellspring, with emphasis on spiritual growth, discovery of giftedness and connection passions to ministry.

Wellspring is Westwood’s leadership pipeline. By the way, everyone’s a leader. Leadership is about influence and everyone influences someone for something. So ask yourself, “God, what is it that you want me to influence?” John Kotter says there are capital “L” leaders and small “l” leaders, the difference lies in the size of the mountain you need to climb, the number of people you manage, the scope of the problems that you long to get on the solution side of, etc. But everyone’s a leader.

Whether you attend Westwood, work for a company, or are a member of some kind of club, you’ll see that people want answers to the three great leadership questions.

1.  Do you know where we’re going?
2. 2 Do you know how to get us there?
3. 3 Will you love me along the way?

The first question gives us confidence that we are going in the right direction. The second question gives us insight as to how we’ll get there. The third question gives us a sense of value that I’m needed to help get us there. I like what Maya Angelou said concerning the importance of valuing each other as we move forward: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” When we feel valued, usually we’ll do all that we can to contribute.

No one has valued us more than our Lord Jesus Christ who went all the way to Calvary’s cross for you. It means that you’ve never looked into the eyes of someone for whom Jesus didn’t love or die for. What joy it is that we get to lead (influence) by following His lead. Who has ever led better?

Peter Drucker says that one of the essential characteristics of a leader is their ability to define reality and then do something about it. There are plenty of people who define reality, but it’s the doing something about it that makes the impact. Last fall I returned from my study leave with a proposal to our Leadership Board to finish the 23,000 square feet of our Phase 2 building. We could really use the space. But once we pressed the numbers we felt it unduly increased our debt load and put God’s vision for our church in jeopardy. Through the prompting of God and the godly counsel of Westwood leaders we shifted our focus to reduce debt and increase ministry impact through existing space. Worship in the Link is one of the outcomes of that decision – creatively using existing space in order to respond to ministry opportunities.

It thrills me to have a ministry team of high capacity lay leaders running Wellspring, Westwood’s leadership pipeline. It gives us the means to discover and develop leaders for today and well into the future. To learn more about how you can lead at Westwood, contact Bob Lippert at 952-380-4902 or b.lippert@mchsi.com.

With Open Hands,

Joel

 I want to be a learner for life. And this past week I got an education about a word that I use but now am more mindful about its meaning. The word: Assimilation.

This is what happened. As a Trustee at Bethel University I chair the Co-curricular Committee and last week we hosted a dinner for students of color from the undergrad, seminary, and post-graduate programs. A front burner concern for Bethel is to become more culturally diverse. It was a great evening.

One of the questions I posed was, “Bethel has a vision for greater diversity and assimilation of students of color in the fabric of community life and learning. What trails are being blazed that you see will contribute to this vision becoming a greater reality and what obstacles will make it a challenge?” One of the students, a lawyer and seminarian, said, “The words ‘diversity’ and ‘assimilation’ don’t belong in the same sentence. Rather than ‘assimilation,’ use the word ‘acceptance.’” He went on to explain, with all the students nodding their heads in approval, that assimilation means ‘come, but be what Bethel is,’ rather than ‘come, and be who you are in order to enrich Bethel.’ Great distinction! I learned something and am better for it.

Westwood holds high the value of being trans-generational. That is, we desire to be a church with people of every age. If Westwood is to remain a healthy church in the future we need to better integrate the 20-30 some-things and the maturing audience that is over 55 years of age. Not that they become what we are, but that they bring their unique presence and contribution to enrich our community.

We’re serious about it. The Leadership Board recently approved a job outline for a Young Adults Pastor and is now doing the search process for that person to join our team. We believe this leadership will give sustainability to the effort of including young adults in community life and leadership into the future. In fact, we are actively passing the baton of various leadership positions to this audience right now. Young Adults are living in our communities – many with little desire to attend local churches. We want to change this pattern by inviting them to help shape compelling ministries that impact the Kingdom of God.

The Mature generation is a growing population as well. Today’s maturing adults want to make significant contribution to God’s work. They have and are, but we have only scratched the surface of potential. We must, in this chapter of Westwood’s journey, invite their voices, wisdom and influence in order to fulfill the mission of the church.

Every generational voice is important. We simply want to do a better job allowing the personal passions, gifts, skills and voices of these two generations to be lifted higher than we’ve experienced in the past. That makes tomorrow look like a very good day for God’s work through Westwood.

How do you see these generational voices making a difference in Westwood’s future? Weigh in by commenting on this blog post.

Joel

In a speech delivered at Stanford University, Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple Computer and Pixar Animation Studios, said:

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

Steve Jobs, the biography by Walter Isaacson, went on sale this past week. Isaacson comments on the effect Jobs’ cancer had on his life focus. He said he no longer wanted to go out, no longer wanted to travel the world. He would focus on the products. He knew the couple of things he wanted to do, which was the iPhone and then the iPad. The impact of both products is global and monumental. He planned for this, strategized for it, and expected it.

Something happens when we focus on the essentials. Thinking about death brings that focus into great clarity. So much so that we set aside what we “could do” and elevate what we “must do.” Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom”. In other words, think often of your dying. Wisdom comes as we think of the shortness of this life and the infinite length of the next. Wisdom is the gift from God that helps us to know what to do and when to do it and how to do it.

See, God has His own plan, His own strategy, His own expectations. I have clarity about this for Westwood. I know that what we must be about most is reaching people with the love of Jesus Christ. It’s urgent not because it’s my plan or Westwood’s plan. It’s God’s plan. I’ve experienced firsthand and will be forever grateful for the people God put on my path to help me see His plan of grace for my life.

God’s love motivated His plan to send Jesus Christ to save us from our sin. His strategy is to make this good news known to the world through His church. His expectation is that we will be so undone by His love that we’ll want to joyfully, deliberately, voluntarily share what has happened to us with others.

The Westwood Leadership Board has identified six goals that will take us into the future. I believe in these goals and am excited about where God will take us through them. We call them the “six paddles in the waters of Westwood’s future.” One of those Goals is:

GROWTH EXPECTATION: Prepare for and expand ministry reach through completion of the Phase 2 addition, church plants, multi-site and multi-venue settings.

The implication is personal. We hope that you will grow in your desire to love people in your sphere of influence who don’t know Jesus Christ and that you’ll seize the opportunities to make Christ known to them.

The implication is for Westwood. We will not let the walls of a building infringe upon growth. That’s why we started Westbrook Community Church in September. That’s why we added the Elements service four years ago. We will continually look for creative and compelling ways to reach people with the love of Jesus Christ, even at personal cost, inconvenience and sacrifice. Whether it’s in children or student ministries or expanded worship venues, our vision is to enjoy God through reaching people with the love of Jesus Christ. It’s what God planned. We are His strategy. He expects it. This is what is truly important: To know God and to make Him known.

By the way, Steve Jobs and the leaders of his company have contributed to the Great Commission. As Rome created roads that allowed Paul and Jesus’ disciples to bring the message of the Gospel to far-reaching states and towns, so has this man’s genius built a new road to the world that has allowed the Gospel to travel to the outermost edges of the world where God’s good news is being shared.

Jesus said, I will build my church, and the gates of death will not overcome it. Expect it! Better still, join Him in making it happen.

Where does the Gospel take you, and do you let it take you there?

The All In campaign will give us the freedom to continue connecting resources to the goal of reaching people. I continually ask God to keep our hearts focused on this since it’s so easy to turn inward and miss the best expressions of our faith. If we do this together, then I know we will put a smile on the face of God – how great is that! Thanks for caring for what God cares for. You make being the pastor of Westwood a total joy.

Under the Mercy,
Joel

Last week was quite a week. Keri and I celebrated 30 years in marriage. She is God’s great gift to me. I love her and am thrilled for the life we have shared together, and we’re blessed that 16 of these years have been with Westwood.

Also, I spent Tuesday and Wednesday in New York City where I had the privilege to speak before participants in a Jews for Jesus evangelism campaign. On Tuesday I spent the afternoon on the streets of Manhattan with one of their teams observing them share the gospel. It’s been many years since I’ve participated in this kind of strategy of sharing the good news. I admit I was not always comfortable–most of my sharing happens through relationship building. But I was deeply impressed by the desire of Jews for Jesus for others to know God’s love through faith in Christ. Their knowledge of the scriptures is inspiring. Their gentleness in conversation was compelling. Most people walked by with no interest of dialogue, some were offended and cursed them, but some stopped to inquire further. Dozens “took their hands off the steering wheel” of their lives and prayed to receive Christ. What a joy!

During my study leave I have been reading a new book called “The Ethics of Evangelism” by Elmer John Thiessen. He asks great questions: Why do religious people attempt to persuade others of their beliefs? What are the current objections to the religious practice of proselytizing? Is proselytizing an ethically defensible practice? Are there kinds of proselytizing activities that are ethically questionable? He responds to questions like these in an effort to provide a philosophical defense of evangelism as an ethical practice. Thiessen examines and refutes current cultural and academic objections to religious proselytizing and offers a thorough ethics of evangelism. It’s been a helpful read in light of knowing that many Christians shy away from sharing the love of Jesus Christ with people. It’s a difficult time in America to be bold with one’s faith. Yet, many people are ready and eager to believe, if someone would simply come alongside and help them understand God’s love revealed through Jesus Christ.

This I know. God used people in my life to explain the Gospel and showed me how to enter into a dynamic relationship with the risen Christ. That’s why Romans 1:16 is a theme verse in my life – I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe. I desire to lead people to the living Christ and to do so with gentleness and love, and sensitivity to their reality. I long for our church to continue to grow in this as well. It honors God, it helps others and it brings joy.

I’m curious about your feelings, struggles, ideas and awareness of sharing your faith with those who are in your sphere of influence. Take a moment and comment. When I return to Westwood on August 14 I would like to share some of your insights, experiences and challenges.

With Open Hands,

Joel

Last Sunday I went to a church to worship and hear my good friend David Clarke of Bethel University speak. He presented an excellent defense for how we can know that the Bible is credible for life, faith and practice today. It was academically and theologically sound, as is everything that David presents. He was also refreshingly honest about seasons of doubt he personally experienced concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and the authority of the Bible and its “voice” in his life. But what most captured my attention was his application. He told us that while he was growing up his dad taught him to read the Bible a certain way. In so doing, the Scriptures came alive to David as well as being helpful when working through the seasons of doubt that occasionally hovered over his path. I commend the words of David’s dad to you as you read the Bible—ask as you read:
• Is there a promise to claim?
• Is there a command to obey?
• Is there a sin to avoid?
• Is there a calling to pursue?

My study leave is going well. I appreciate your prayers as I travel to New York City to speak for the Jews for Jesus gathering in Manhattan on Tuesday and Wednesday morning of this week. Then next week I will tuck away alone at a cabin for a few days of focused writing. Pray that what I plan and prepare for Westwood and its ministry is exactly what God wants for us as we serve His purposes.

I am encouraged with the messages the team is bringing you each week and the reports I am hearing from all the ministry teams serving in our own backyard and around the world. What a joy to see how God is at work transforming lives with hope and promise.

Below is the picture of Moose, the chocolate lab puppy we recently welcomed to our home. He’s a BEAUT! We’re having fun with all that “puppy life” in the home.

I enjoyed the services yesterday immensely. The worship was great and many of you told me how meaningful it was to “burn your sins” following our communion experience together. As I promised yesterday, I am including in the blog a summary of my teaching yesterday on prevailing against sin and expanding some thoughts and including verses on what happens when a Christian continues in sin. If you didn’t hear either of the messages on May 29 or yesterday, I encourage you to listen.

You Can Sin—But You Won’t Be Happy. Sin no longer “fits” your life. Sure, you can “wear” sin for a while, but it’s like wearing old clothes that are three sizes too small. You can do it but you won’t be comfortable, you won’t feel right, and frankly, you won’t look right either. Sin no longer “fits.”

Coming to Christ is like getting a whole new wardrobe. What fits now? Love, joy, peace fit.  Compassion and mercy fit. Justice and concern for others, holiness and righteousness fit. Those spiritual clothes are tailor-made for you. And those sins you used to wear so comfortably? They just don’t fit any more. But what if you go back to the closet and put those old sins back on anyway? What happens to a Christian who chooses to sin? Let me give you four things to think about in response:

1. You won’t feel right.  You’ll sin, but you won’t receive any personal satisfaction.  You may have temporary happiness in the flesh – people wouldn’t sin if it didn’t satisfy “something.” But you won’t know ‘soul’ happiness – the deepest joy we can experience.

2. You won’t grow spiritually.  Because when you sin you are not looking for God to act in your life, you are consumed with yourself. The release of the Spirit is hampered by self concern.  Your appetite for the sweetness of Christ and the Word of God is diminished. And without responding to the Spirit or being in the Word, we won’t grow spiritually. Eventually we become joyless.

3. God will stop you.  If you refuse to surrender your body to the Lord, but uses your members for sinful purposes, then you are in danger of being disciplined by the Father. It’s a discipline of love much like a parent who disciplines their children so they understand what is right, noble, and pure. Those whom God justifies, He sanctifies. That is, He grows us to conform to the character of Christ.  If we persist in sinning, He will certainly arrange the circumstances so that your sin eventually turns out to your own disadvantage. If you persist, He may even take your life prematurely (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:29-30;  Hebrews 10:26-31; 1 John 5:16-17; Hebrews 12:5-11).

4.  If you persist in sin in a way without a direction change from sin to sanctification, it may demonstrate that you were never truly saved. You will change if Christ is in you and it will affirm your salvation.

Jesus said, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). We have been delivered from sin and set free indeed through Jesus Christ.

Let’s prevail together through Christ who gives us strength to live for His glory and resist temptations to sin that diminishes joy. Remember, you are able not to sin!

What has happened in your experiences when you have continued in sin? What has God used to set you back on a path of growing in the likeness of Christ?