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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

 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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]