One is a sunrise. The other is a sunset. Can you tell which is which? How can you tell if you are at the beginning of something or at the conclusion?  In both the light is just on the edge.

 

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait in expectation. (Ps 5:3).

 

May my prayer be set before you like incense;

may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice (Ps 141:2)

 

Whether it is Sunrise or Sunset let our awe and admiration arise to our Creator, our Father, our Friend.

 

Steve and Pam Johnson

https://landingstripenterprises.com/

 

 

 

 

 

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me;

for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.  Mt 11:29

Meek rhymes with weak, and antelope rhymes with cantaloupe. How easy to mix our words and meanings! There is no correlation between meekness and weakness. A well-trained horse is a “meeked horse.” The horse still has its great power but its frame is under control. When released to charge a war-horse is a picture of power.

Let there be no confusion of the meaning of humility. There is a fallacious image of humility which looks like a cowering, subjected weakling in the face of intimidation. Humiliation might look like that but not Humility. Humiliation is when one more powerful takes a weaker person by the back of the neck and forces them to the ground. Humiliation is forced on the vanquished. Humility is always a voluntary state of meekness.

The humble do not show off their wisdom, strength, authority or winning plan unless it is essential to accomplish good. The person who has no accomplishments has no need for humility. The gifted and accomplished may use humility put people at ease and honor others as worthy of credit and admiration.

The fierce warrior in battle is admired as humble when he speak in respectful and honoring tones. The celebrated scientist, actor or business person is considered humble when they speak to others as equals, even as superiors.

WHO ARE THE HUMBLE?

Suppose an army commander said, “We are going to rescue the prisoners held by the enemy in that fortress.” Would one answer, “I’m far too humble to run against a hail of bullets and rescue people I don’t know?” To boldly go into a righteous fight is a sign of humility toward higher values and noble commanders.

If the Lord tells us be salt and light, and go disciple nations, dare we answer, “I’m too humble to obey You, Lord?” Would not the Lord reply, “Your ‘humility’ is a charade. You are cowardly and disobedient.”

I’ve come to see that audacious boldness is one of the true signs of humility.

Donald J Trump may be the most hated and loved President we have ever had.

Some see Trump as a vain, narcissistic man who talks too bold, swaggers too big and accomplishes too much. They cannot pair his brash confidence with humility.

I see him as one of the humblest leaders our land has known.  

Consider what a high-rolling, luxurious life he gave up in order to receive daily harassment from the press and political enemies.

Some money-grubbers go into politics to become millionaires. Donald Trump has forfeited millions to be president. He did not take a salary. His enemies are incensed that he cannot be bought.

He doesn’t host cocktail parties like other Presidents because he doesn’t drink. This is galling to those who like to lubricate others to their advantage. I wonder if President Trump knows Proverbs 31: 4-5.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, 

it is not for kings to drink wine, 

or for rulers to crave strong drink,

lest they drink and forget what is decreed, 

depriving all the oppressed of justice.

President trump puts in 18-hour days. Those are volunteer hours! Most of us think we are doing well when we volunteer a few hours a month. If most of us were to copy President Trump we would put in eight hours at work, then volunteer ten hours to the nation, daily. The President’s volunteer hours are distressing to those who have great salaries but serve themselves not the people.

Many have said, “Trump should be humbler.” Perhaps they are right. But when saying, “Trump should be humbler” are they saying “Trump should have my level of humility?” How is it that many are aware of the bad breath of others but insensitive to their own body odor and passed gas?

I’ve never heard someone say, “President Trump should be less bold and courageous.”  Some mistakenly think, “A truly humble man cannot be courageous, and a truly courageous woman cannot be humble.” Humility is not opposed to courage! What thinkest thou?

If someone were evaluating your life would they say,

“You need to humbler?”

Would they say,

“You need to be more courageous?”

 

While President Trump steps off the stage for a few moments I urge you to realize that boldness will be your truest sign of humility.

Today I was connecting with people at our city hall. What kind of grass-root action plans are you working on?

 

Donald J Trump has spoken of “our” accomplishments over the past four years. There has been media silence on this point. There will be no “credit due” granted, The American people deserve to know that great good has been accomplished by this president. Our President’s accomplishments have magnitude as well as numbers!! Note a list of them below.

Steven C Johnson

LandingStripEnterprises.Com

 

THE PRESIDENT’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS

One Hundred And Twenty One Accomplishments By President Trump And His Cabinet.

Here you go. Easy to Google and double check. Checking for yourself is always best. This list is not all inclusive.  There are more to add to this list every week.

1. Trump recently signed 3 bills to benefit Native people. One gives compensation to the Spokane tribe for loss of their lands in the mid-1900s, one funds Native language programs, and the third gives federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians in Montana.
2. Trump finalized the creation of Space Force as our 6th Military branch.
3. Trump signed a law to make cruelty to animals a federal felony so that animal abusers face tougher consequences.
4. Prior to the recent violent Antifa protests, violent crime has fallen every year he’s been in office after rising during the 2 years before he was elected.
5. Trump signed a bill making CBD and Hemp legal.
6. Trump’s EPA gave $100 million to fix the water infrastructure problem in Flint, Michigan.
7. Under Trump’s leadership, in 2018 the U.S. surpassed Russia and Saudi Arabia to become the world’s largest producer of crude oil.
8. Trump signed a law ending the gag orders on Pharmacists that prevented them from sharing money-saving information.
9. Trump signed the “Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act” (FOSTA), which includes the “Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act” (SESTA) which both give law enforcement and victims new tools to fight sex trafficking.
10. Trump signed a bill to require airports to provide spaces for breastfeeding Moms.
11. The 25% lowest-paid Americans enjoyed a 4.5% income boost in November 2019, which outpaces a 2.9% gain in earnings for the country’s highest-paid workers.
12. Low-wage workers are benefiting from higher minimum wages and from corporations that are increasing entry-level pay.
13. Trump signed the biggest wilderness protection & conservation bill in a decade and designated 375,000 acres as protected land.
14. Trump signed the Save our Seas Act which funds $10 million per year to clean tons of plastic & garbage from the ocean.
15. He signed a bill this year allowing some drug imports from Canada so that prescription prices would go down.
16. Trump signed an executive order this year that forces all healthcare providers to disclose the cost of their services so that Americans can comparison shop and know how much less providers charge insurance companies. When signing that bill, he said no American should be blindsided by bills for medical services they never agreed to in advance.
17. Hospitals will now be required to post their standard charges for services, which include the discounted price a hospital is willing to accept.
18. In the eight years prior to President Trump’s inauguration, prescription drug prices increased by an average of 3.6% per year. Under Trump, drug prices have seen year-over-year declines in nine of the last ten months, with a 1.1% drop as of the most recent month.
19. He created a White House VA Hotline to help veterans and principally staffed it with veterans and direct family members of veterans. VA employees are being held accountable for poor performance, with more than 4,000 VA employees removed, demoted, and suspended so far.
20. Issued an executive order requiring the Secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs to submit a joint plan to provide veterans access to access to mental health treatment as they transition to civilian life.
21. Because of a bill signed and championed by Trump, In 2020, most federal employees will see their pay increase by an average of 3.1% — the largest raise in more than 10 years.
22. Trump signed into a law up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for millions of federal workers.
23. Trump administration will provide HIV prevention drugs for free to 200,000 uninsured patients per year for 11 years.
24. All-time record sales during the 2019 holidays.
25. Trump signed an order allowing small businesses to group together when buying insurance to get a better price.
26. President Trump signed the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act that provides funding for states to develop maternal mortality reviews to better understand maternal complications and identify solutions & largely focuses on reducing the higher mortality rates for Black Americans.
27. In 2018, President Trump signed the groundbreaking First Step Act, a criminal justice bill which enacted reforms that make our justice system fairer and help former inmates successfully return to society.
28. The First Step Act’s reforms addressed inequities in sentencing laws that disproportionately harmed Black Americans and reformed mandatory minimums that created unfair outcomes.
29. The First Step Act expanded judicial discretion in sentencing of non-violent crimes.
30. Over 90% of those benefitting from the retroactive sentencing reductions in the First Step Act are Black Americans.
31. The First Step Act provides rehabilitative programs to inmates, helping them successfully rejoin society and not return to crime.
32. Trump increased funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) by more than 14%.
33. Trump signed legislation forgiving Hurricane Katrina debt that threatened HBCUs.
34. New single-family home sales are up 31.6% in October 2019 compared to just one year ago.
35. Made HBCUs a priority by creating the position of executive director of the White House Initiative on HBCUs.
36. Trump received the Bipartisan Justice Award at a historically black college for his criminal justice reform accomplishments.
37. The poverty rate fell to a 17-year low of 11.8% under the Trump administration as a result of a jobs-rich environment.
38. Poverty rates for African Americans and Hispanic-Americans have reached their lowest levels since the U.S. began collecting such data.
39. President Trump signed a bill that creates five national monuments, expands several national parks, adds 1.3 million acres of wilderness, and permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
40. Trump’s USDA committed $124 Million to rebuild rural water infrastructure.
41. Consumer confidence & small business confidence is at an all-time high.
42. Prior to the COVID shut down more than 7 million jobs created since election.
43. More Americans are now employed than ever recorded before in our history.
44. More than 400,000 manufacturing jobs created since his election.
45. Trump appointed 5 openly gay ambassadors.
46. Trump ordered Ric Grenell, his openly gay ambassador to Germany, to lead a global initiative to decriminalize homosexuality across the globe.
47. Through Trump’s Anti-Trafficking Coordination Team (ACTeam) initiative, Federal law enforcement more than doubled convictions of human traffickers and increased the number of defendants charged by 75% in ACTeam districts.
48. In 2018, the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismantled an organization that was the internet’s leading source of prostitution-related advertisements resulting in sex trafficking.
49. Trump’s OMB published new anti-trafficking guidance for government procurement officials to combat human trafficking more effectively.
50. Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations arrested 1,588 criminals associated with Human Trafficking.
51. Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services provided funding to support the National Human Trafficking Hotline to identify perpetrators and give victims the help they need.
52. The hotline identified 16,862 potential human trafficking cases.
53. Trump’s DOJ provided grants to organizations that support human trafficking victims – serving nearly 9,000 cases from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018.
54. The Department of Homeland Security has hired more victim assistance specialists, helping victims get resources and support.
55. President Trump has called on Congress to pass school choice legislation so that no child is trapped in a failing school because of his or her zip code.
56. The President signed funding legislation in September 2018 that increased funding for school choice by $42 million.
57. The tax cuts signed into law by President Trump promote school choice by allowing families to use 529 college savings plans for elementary and secondary education.
58. Under his leadership ISIS has lost most of their territory and been largely dismantled.
59. ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi was killed.
60. Signed the first Perkins CTE reauthorization since 2006, authorizing more than $1 billion for states each year to fund vocational and career education programs.
61. Executive order expanding apprenticeship opportunities for students and workers.
62. Trump issued an Executive Order prohibiting the U.S. government from discriminating against Christians or punishing expressions of faith.
63. Signed an executive order that allows the government to withhold money from college campuses deemed to be anti-Semitic and who fail to combat anti-Semitism.
64. President Trump ordered a halt to U.S. tax money going to international organizations that fund or perform abortions.
65. Trump imposed sanctions on the socialists in Venezuela who have killed their citizens.
66. Finalized new trade agreement with South Korea.
67. Made a deal with the European Union to increase U.S. energy exports to Europe.
68. Withdrew the U.S. from the job killing TPP deal.
69. Secured $250 billion in new trade and investment deals in China and $12 billion in Vietnam.
70. Approved up to $12 billion in aid for farmers affected by unfair trade retaliation.
71. Has had over a dozen US hostages freed, including those Obama could not get freed.
72. Trump signed the Music Modernization Act, the biggest change to copyright law in decades.
73. Trump secured Billions that will fund the building of a wall at our southern border.
74. The Trump Administration is promoting second chance hiring to give former inmates the opportunity to live crime-free lives and find meaningful employment.
75. Trump’s DOJ and the Board Of Prisons launched a new “Ready to Work Initiative” to help connect employers directly with former prisoners.
76. President Trump’s historic tax cut legislation included new Opportunity Zone Incentives to promote investment in low-income communities across the country.
77. 8,764 communities across the country have been designated as Opportunity Zones.
78. Opportunity Zones are expected to spur $100 billion in long-term private capital investment in economically distressed communities across the country.
79. Trump directed the Education Secretary to end Common Core.
80. Trump signed the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund into law.
81. Trump signed measure funding prevention programs for Veteran suicide.
82. Companies have brought back over a TRILLION dollars from overseas because of the TCJA bill that Trump signed.
83. Manufacturing jobs are growing at the fastest rate in more than 30 years.
84. Stock Market has reached record highs.
85. Median household income has hit highest level ever recorded.
86. African American unemployment is at an all-time low.
87. Hispanic-American unemployment is at an all-time low.
88. Asian-American unemployment is at an all-time low.
89. Women’s unemployment rate is at a 65-year low.
90. Youth unemployment is at a 50-year low.
91. Prior to the COVID shutdown we have the lowest unemployment rate ever recorded.
92. The Pledge to America’s Workers has resulted in employers committing to train more than 4 million Americans.
93. 95 percent of U.S. manufacturers are optimistic about the future— the highest ever.
94. As a result of the Republican tax bill, small businesses will have the lowest top marginal tax rate in more than 80 years.
95. Record number of regulations eliminated that hurt small businesses.
96. Signed welfare reform requiring able-bodied adults who don’t have children to work or look for work if they’re on welfare.
97. Under Trump, the FDA approved more affordable generic drugs than ever before in history.
98. Reformed Medicare program to stop hospitals from overcharging low-income seniors on their drugs—saving seniors 100’s of millions of $$$ this year alone.
99. Signed Right-To-Try legislation allowing terminally ill patients to try experimental treatment that wasn’t allowed before.
100. Secured $6 billion in new funding to fight the opioid epidemic.
101. Signed VA Choice Act and VA Accountability Act, expanded VA telehealth services, walk-in-clinics, and same-day urgent primary and mental health care.
102. S. oil production recently reached all-time high so we are less dependent on oil from the Middle East.
103. The U.S. is a net natural gas exporter for the first time since 1957.
104. NATO allies increased their defense spending because of his pressure campaign.
105. Withdrew the United States from the job-killing Paris Climate Accord in 2017 and that same year the U.S. still led the world by having the largest reduction in Carbon emissions.
106. Has his circuit court judge nominees being confirmed faster than any other new administration.
107. Had his Supreme Court Justice’s Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh confirmed.
108. Moved U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
109. Agreed to a new trade deal with Mexico & Canada that will increase jobs here and $$$ coming in.
110. Reached a breakthrough agreement with the E.U. to increase U.S. exports.
111. Imposed tariffs on China in response to China’s forced technology transfer, intellectual property theft, and their chronically abusive trade practices, has agreed to a Part One trade deal with China.
112. Signed legislation to improve the National Suicide Hotline.
113. Signed the most comprehensive childhood cancer legislation ever into law, which will advance childhood cancer research and improve treatments.
114. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law by Trump doubled the maximum amount of the child tax credit available to parents and lifted the income limits so more people could claim it.
115. It also created a new tax credit for other dependents.
116. In 2018, President Trump signed into law a $2.4 billion funding increase for the Child Care and Development Fund, providing a total of $8.1 billion to States to fund childcare for low-income families.
117. The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) signed into law by Trump provides a tax credit equal to 20-35% of child care expenses, $3,000 per child & $6,000 per family + Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) allow you to set aside up to $5,000 in pre-tax $ to use for child care.
118. In 2019 President Donald Trump signed the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support Act (CARES) into law which allocates $1.8 billion in funding over the next five years to help people with autism spectrum disorder and to help their families.
119. In 2019 President Trump signed into law two funding packages providing nearly $19 million in new funding for Lupus specific research and education programs, as well an additional $41.7 billion in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the most Lupus funding EVER.
120. Another upcoming accomplishment to add: Trump signed the first major anti-robocall law in decades called the TRACED Act (Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence.) TRACED Act will extend the period of time the FCC has to catch & punish those who intentionally break telemarketing restrictions. The bill also requires voice service providers to develop a framework to verify calls are legitimate before they reach your phone.
121. US stock market continually hits record highs.

*Trump did all of this while fighting flagrant abuse and impeachment charges and a 97% negativity reporting by major media.

 

LISTEN TO THIS BLOG HERE

Don’t leave the stadium until the game is over. Don’t walk off the field before the clock stops. Even now, heaven’s Referees are reviewing the last plays. The clock is not working against us but for us!

Really, the end of the game for me is not January 20th or even 5, 10 or 13 years from now. I’m in the game until my time is over, or Christ returns. I’m in the game if things go South or North in our nation. I’m in the game to win!

The American Revolution lasted 7 years. What if Washington had said, “I’ll give it 13 months. If it doesn’t work out I’ll give up, let them hang me, and let the colonies go into subjection”?

 

MY TWO RESOLVES FOR THE YEAR

My first resolve this year is to seek, and find, the face of God in new dimensions. Join me in this, the greatest of all “Treasure hunts.”

My second resolve for 2021 is to be a Challenger. Challenging moments demand counter-challenge. If others cow before circumstances I must not. This is a year for me to contend!

 

WHAT MAKES PEACEFUL AND VIOLENT REVOLUTIONS?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.” John F Kennedy.  The moral is that we can have peaceful revolutions by hearing one another out. We feed the likeliness of war by failing to listen to grievances.

Do you remember the Boston Tea Party? The Colonialist did many things which would certainly be in the press today as rude and crude – damaging loyalist property, stealing, tarring and feathering, and such. The revolution was messy. Nearly every war is messy, often with atrocities on both sides.

If the Colonies had had a hearing from England, and their complaints had been sensibly responded to, there would have been no rebellion. Refusing to hear out those who have complaints of voter fraud is certainly the stuff that fuels rebellions.

 

INTERFACING WITH THE PROPHETIC

I do not remember any prophets in the Revolutionary war. As far as I know no one was proclaiming “Victory is guaranteed,” or predicting a date the war would end. The stakes were high and uncertain. They would have to fight to the end, whenever that might be. There were some in the revolution who said, “I quit,” and walked home. Others valued freedom too highly to quit. We own them a debt.

One of our fleshly tendencies is to seek a great prophetic word, then sit on our hands until it is fulfilled. I like prophets who will tells us what we will read in the paper tomorrow. But we need “call to action prophets.” Then we need “This is how we build it” Apostles to guide us. We want to follow Christ so closely that our lives become news-worthy.

A prophet may prophesy the future abundance of my garden, but if I fail to till and plant, to water and cultivate there will be no crop.  A prophet may prophesy blessings for our nation, but if we fail to care for the nation and contend for its health it will become a barren weed patch.

Haggai and Zechariah basically exhorted, “Get building the Temple of God! Put first things first.” These are the prophets we need today. The people were galvanized to action. Zerubbabel and his compatriots got their hands blistered and dirty. A nation was turned, the temple was built and God’s blessings were restored.

PRACTICING OUR VALUES

Our value systems dictate whether a war is worth fighting, a garden is worth planting and a house worth building. Jesus value system was built around the preciousness of people. May our value systems harmonize with His!

Jesus’ great “capture the flag” game was to reclaim paradise and the precious ones meant to inhabit it. He “tagged” us free. Now that we are out of prison we are in the game with Jesus to rescue our former cell-mates.

Will you stay in the game till it’s over?

“But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”  Luke 18:8

 

Washington, in the midst of the toils of war spoke, “Our cruel and unrelenting Enemy leaves us no choice but a brave resistance, or the most abject submission; this is all we can expect – We have therefore to resolve to conquer or die: Our own Country’s Honor, all call upon us for a vigorous and manly exertion, and if we now shamefully fail, we shall become infamous to the whole world. Let us therefore rely upon the goodness of the Cause, and the aid of the supreme Being, in whose hands Victory is, to animate and encourage us to great and noble Actions – The Eyes of all our Countrymen are now upon us, and we shall have their blessings, and praises, if happily we are the instruments of saving them from the Tyranny meditated against them. Let us therefore animate and encourage each other, and shew the whole world, that a Freeman contending for Liberty on his own ground is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth.”

Steven C Johnson

LandingStripEnterprises.Com

“BUMPY” OCEAN AND SMOOTH SAILING (a dream)

I was at an ocean beach with very choppy water. I went out on the water in a small boat. It was fascinating that my boat was moving smoothly as if on calm water. A  few others were also out in small boats. They were moving calmly, untossed, in spite of the chop. Their boats did not bob and toss as if they were in choppy water.

I looked out in the water and saw three tall, colorful giraffes walking in the water. They moved calmly with their legs under water as if they were walking on solid footing, but they were out from the beach certainly in deeper water. 

REFLECTION: We are going to see some “Bumpy waters” but our experience in Jesus will be calm. Our eyesight will be raised and we will gain higher insight.

 

Christmas messages are packed away after the holiday. Jesus is boxed up with the tree and ornaments till next year. Good parents raise their children to adulthood. Packing the baby away in a crate is regarded as infanticide under other circumstances.

God compressed himself into a space above the mercy seat, over the ark of the Covenant. In the greatest “communication” God compressed Himself, “voiced” himself, into human flesh, showing up as man. What powerful mystery! Even the Apostle Paul declared the flesh-God a profound mystery.

1 Tim 3:16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:

He appeared in a body,

was vindicated by the Spirit,

was seen by angels,

was preached among the nations,

was believed on in the world,

was taken up in glory.

Our Mystery is substantial, not ethereal! Our auditory, visual, and tactile senses discern the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us.

1 John 1:1-2 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked atand our hands have touched-this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.  The life appeared;we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.

I prefer calling Christmas “Incarnation Day.” The primary message is, God became incarnate among us wearing human flesh to save creatures made of flesh. “Incarn,” means “in flesh.” All of us are born with flesh, but how exceptional for God to show up wearing it!

Heb 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death–that is, the devil–

The story of Christmas is a rescue mission, a purposeful heavenly strategy to redeem us from death’s dominion and restore us to life! God’s war strategy utilized a virgin, a baby, a cross and tomb, and a few other items like hosts of angels. These weapons decimate death and hell and all their powers! Some babies come as “surprises.” Jesus’ birth was all about Heaven’s intention.

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the worldis to testify to the truth.”John 18:37

Have you noticed how stealthily, subtly, the Grinch has operated? Each Christmas the radio sings more “Santa and sleigh-bells” and less “Christ-has-appeared-among-us.” The message of incarnation has been watered down to dissolve its potency. Nativity has been replaced by naivety.

The anti-Christ is the Grinch who steals “Today in Bethlehem is born for you…” not just from one day, but from the other 364.

    Who is the antichrist?

Most people think of the Antichrist as a man who is a really bad dude. “We’ll have to watch out for him when he shows up.” The far greater danger is the spirit of Antichrist, which is already in the world. If we cannot discern and overcome that spirit we will be cannon fodder for individuals who operate as antichrists. Many Christians have been decimated by the subtleties of the spirit of antichrist. The Apostle John warned us:

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spiritsto see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the fleshis from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now it is already in the world.1 John 4: 1-3

 

      What is antichrist’s malicious, seductive, intent?

Satan doesn’t want earthlings to know Jesus walked among them in flesh.

Antichrist reduces Jesus to a vague, warm, but powerless, spiritual feeling.

He clouds the realization that Jesus is physical, tangible, concrete and touchable.  

He obscures Jesus physical incarnation and His ultimate tangible, sizzling, dazzling return.

He muddles the reality that Jesus raises us physically at the resurrection

 

      Antichrist slanders Jesus, saying:

“Jesus only appeared to have flesh.”

“Jesus can’t relate to you because he doesn’t understand your fleshly struggles.”

“Jesus is powerless to help you in your day-to-day fleshly world.”

“Don’t expect Jesus to do anything world-changing. He will only grant you an indistinct ‘spiritual’ comfort.”

“Don’t expect to live a life of overcoming sin because nobody who has flesh can overcome.”   

“Don’t expect much from Jesus because there is not much to Him. He’s insubstantial.”

The spirit of the anti-Christ is fine with us “spiritualizing” everything. This deceiving spirit is fine with otherworldly ideas of our Jesus, but not striking moments of awareness of His felt presence.

 

      YOU MAY HAVE BEEN SEDUCED BY ANTICHRIST IF:

You divide the world into “spiritual” and “material.”  

You have an abstract, theoretical, or hyper-spiritual image of Christ.

You are more interested in going to heaven than seeing heaven tangibly transform earth.

Your hope is in dying and going to heaven rather than the resurrection of the dead.

You settle for Jesus healing the “spiritually” blind and deaf  but don’t expect Jesus to heal the blind and deaf physically.

You don’t expect to see tangible answers to your prayers.

PRCLAMATIONS FOR CRUSHING THE ANTICHRIST SPIRIT

Sometimes we must shake ourselves and speak out loud the reality of our substantial Savior. Here are words for your to start with to crush the nay-saying antichrist!

 

I am a Christian materialist!

There is no division between spiritual and physical.

Jesus pre-existed eternally and “incarnated” as a baby for me.

Jesus solidly, physical lives for me.

He knows the pain of my stubbed toe, and personal rejection.

He knows what it is to be exhausted and feel hunger.

He knows the pleasures of family and friends.

Jesus connects with me because he became like me.

Jesus touches me in tangible ways, not just vague mystical ways.

When I pray I expect my Lord to respond with tangible answers.

He delivers and heals my flesh.

Jesus Christ is solid!

 

My Lord Jesus:

Was born in the flesh

Lived among us in the flesh

Ministered to mortals who wear flesh

Died in flesh

Rose in flesh

Ascended in flesh

He reigns in Heaven in flesh. [What does that tell you about heaven?]

He is returning in flesh, to our material world.

The antichrist was overcome at the cross. I will no-longer allow the antichrist to slink around. I uncover and expose Him! I certify the victory!

 

My Lord Jesus crushes antichrist because He is

Pro-substance

Pro-truth

Pro-hope

Pro-intimacy

Pro-security

Pro-power

Pro-impact

Pro-anointing

 

 INCARNATION BULLETS FOR YOUR GUN

 

Scriptures are bullets for our spiritual guns. Take the following incarnation passages to pow, bang and rat-a-tat-tat against the power of the antichrist.

But before you start shooting remember, we Christians do not quote Scripture like magical incantations. Jesus said, “If you abide in me AND my word abides in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be given to you.” John 15:7

Abide in our dearest Lord Jesus and let His word abide in you. It is open season on Giants. Happy hunting!

 

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. 

 

Isa 9:6-7 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

Mic 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

though you are small among the clans of Judah,

out of you will come for me

one who will be ruler over Israel,

whose origins are from of old,

from ancient times.

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Rom 8:3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful manto be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 

Gal 4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law

Phil 2:5-8 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death-

even death on a cross!

Col 1:15-20 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginningand the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

2 Cor 5:19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Heb 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Heb 1:6 And again,when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”  

Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

1 John 4:2-3 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the fleshis from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

2 John 7 Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.

Rev 21:3-4 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

Steven C Johnson

LandingStripEnterprises.Com

 

 

In a dream I found myself in a house holding a loaded and pumped pellet gun. I was thinking of discharging it to unload it but did not want to damage the house or things in the house. I looked at a large box of cleaning supplies and thought of shooting it there.

My interpretation:

I have a spiritual gun loaded and pressurized by Holy Spirit. My aim should be to activate cleaning solutions! 

There are cleansers for dishes, laundry, windows and walls, toilets and carpets. God has “Solutions” for us! When we look into God’s box of cleansing agents here is what we find:

Blood Cleanser

Water Cleanser

Holy Spirit Cleanser

Fire Cleanser

Scripture Cleanser

Stripes Cleanser

Christ’s Appearing Cleanser

 

     Blood Cleanser

“These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Rev 7:14

“In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Heb 9:22

“How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death so that we may serve the living God!”  Heb 9:14

     Water Cleanser

Both blood and water were used in the temple service for cleansing.

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:22

 

     Fire Cleanser

“For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.” Mark 9:49

 “…anything else that can withstand fire must be put through the fire, and then it will be clean.”Num 31:23

“They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.” Acts 2:3

 

     Stripes Cleanser

God will use lashes and wounds to cleanse us. Physical chastenings and hard knocks in life cleanse us.

“Lashes and wounds purge away evil, and beatings cleanse the innermost parts.” Prov 20:30

 

     Scripture Cleanser

“…Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”Eph 5:25-27

 

     Spirit Cleanser

“The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion: He will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by the spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire.” Is 4:4

 

     Christ’s Appearing Cleanser

 

The appearance of Jesus brings a harsh, caustic scrubbing and a fiery smelting. The good news is that Saint’s willing to stand this scouring will present their offerings in righteousness!

“But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness.”

 

WHAT SHOULD WE CLEAN TODAY?

Let’s start by cleansing our hearts and thoughts.

“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8

 

     PRAYERS FOR CLEANSING

Lord God, please show me (and your Church) what you would like us to clean up today.

“Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” Psalms 51:2

“Cleanse me with hyssop [dipped in blood and sprinkled], and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7

 

     FATHER PROMISES CLEANSING

 

A loving father cleans his baby’s bottom. Our heavenly Father goes farther!

“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean: I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.” Exe 36:25

 

DEEP CLEANING GRAVEYARDS

 

 

Jesus does a more dazzling job at cleansing than “Mister Clean!” Our Lord comes to renew the face of the earth. Every lonesome grave and every massive boneyard will be made clean!

Outside the Eastern wall of the old city of Jerusalem there are hundreds of thousands of graves. Many religious Jews wish to be buried there so they may be among the first raised when Messiah comes.

On the other hand, Muslims also have graveyards near the Eastern Wall and the “Golden Gate.” These are a “strategic” attempt at preventing the Messiah from coming. They believe the Messiah would not contaminate himself by coming through a cemetery. Putrefying flesh and dusty bones are considered unclean.

How can Jesus walk through a contaminated cemetery? By raising the dead!

How can Jesus make a cemetery plot holy? With resurrection power!

“The whole valley where dead bodies and ashes are thrown, and all the terraces out to the Kidron Valley on the east as far as the corner of the Horse Gate, will be holy to the LORD. The city will never again be uprooted or demolished.”  Jer 31:40

We have a part in the cleansing process but God finishes the job because of His mercy in Christ!

 

     OUR PART IN CLEANSING

“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:8-10

The following verse has been called “The Christian’s bar of soap.”

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9.

 

     GOD’S PART IN CLEANSING

God can wash places we cannot reach, like the middle of our backs and the center of our hearts. Praise His Holy name, because in Christ Jesus His Son He washes us white as snow!!!

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.” Is 1:18

 

Steven C Johnson

LandingStripEnterprises.Com

 

 

 

HOLY MOMENT

“All creatures great and small, The Lord God made them all.”

The day started cool and wet. It was still dark and a drizzle required wipers for visibility as I drove through rural Washington. Arriving at my destination I found the back deck covered in big drops of water beading up like miniature puddles. It felt cold and unfriendly and I moved back to the warmth of the house.

A few hours later I went outside to check the temperature and found a honey bee struggling to survive. It was wet and cold having landed in a puddle and had stopped trying to escape. In fact, it did not move at all. I looked for a tool and found a leaf to scoop it up. It hung on and I knew what to do.

i placed it in the sun and went inside to find a food source. No honey, but I could dissolve sugar in a spoon. I placed the bee near the sugar but it did not respond, so I dripped a little on its mouth. It immediately began sucking up the sweet stuff. Awwwww!

I had done all I could and returned to my work. An hour later when I looked the bee had flown. Restored to return home!

For me, this was a Holy Moment.

Pamela Johnson

 

FIGHT OR STARVE?

If thieves were coming into your home to steal your food pantry, would you fight them to the death?

It’s probably unfair to ask people living in modern Western nations this question. Most of us would say, “It’s not worth the fight.” We’d step aside. A few might willingly share their food. Others would give up their food to appease. The next day we would go to the grocery store to restock the refrigerator.

Near Eastern people have had different circumstances, attitudes and practices.

Gideon warred to save the barley harvest

Boaz slept at the threshing floor to protect the wheat harvest.

Shammah fought to save the lentil harvest

Biblical characters would build watch towers in their fields to house their harvests. They would post lookouts on them to watch for marauders who wanted to loot their wealth by raiding their pantry. Food was the measure of your bank account as well as the measure of your longevity. Houses were built with the food stored in the back room so raiders would need to come through the living area, “over the owner’s dead body” to capture the family’s supply.

Consider the heroic stand of Shammah. “Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.”  2 Sam 23:11-12

It might be good to know “Shammah” means The LORD is there! He must have realized the Lord was present that day in the field of lentils!

Months later families could say, “We are eating tonight because Shammah saved the lentils.” Failing to defend the food supply meant slow and painful starvation. One might die fighting to defend the staff of life, but it would be a quick death. If they died fighting they would not have to watch their children starve. Defending the food supply was defending their family’s lives.

Going to the modern grocery is a marvel. Most of the world does not understand our abundance. When I walk through an American grocery store I am so amazed at the plenty! I often worship God in the grocery store, giving thanks for the wonderful access to food we enjoy.

Just a hundred years ago many of us still took in the crops, sacked, canned and dried the food, and stocked the larder. Ben Franklin as a youth helped his parents pack out the year’s foodstuff into the pantry. In his young tongue-in-cheek way, he suggested they could pray once for their food for the year. In different days having a year’s supply of food was not hoarding. It was basic planning. Albertsons, Safeway, Tom Thumb and Walmart would not be open that year. Today we save money to buy food. Before modern groceries we just saved food.

Biblical characters were willing to die to save their pantry. They were not defending the few contents of an icebox or cupboard. They were defending supplies to sustain their lives for the year!

In those days food was not easily gained with bonus discount coupons. Their backs and blisters produced it from the earth. Farming people were known for their faith and hard work.  Some suffered anxiety when it came to planting. If seed was taken from the pantry to sow the field would there be enough food remaining till the harvest? Would they grow enough to restock the pantry for the next year? The reassuring prophetic word to the farmers was, “Those who sow in tears will come again reaping in Joy.”

The lion protects its kill. Dogs jealously gauard their bones. Bees fight to protect their hives.

As an FYI – Fema on food and water preparations

A SPIRITUAL APPLICATION

It may be totally appropriate to defend your physical food supply in a life or death battle. But, are we willing to fight tooth and claw to defend truth, integrity and righteousness? Solomon said, “Buy the truth and do not sell it.” I agree! Don’t sell out on truth regardless what you are offered, or threatened with. We can share truth freely without cost but we must never sell out on the truths which sustain our lives. God’s word, our daily bread, is worth fighting for! Our lives depend on it!

 

CHRISTIANS WHO DON’T VOTE

I’ve heard three out of four Christian don’t vote.

Can we also say, Three out of four Christians don’t

Pray?

Witness?

Give?

Study?

Fellowship?

Serve?

Can we say, “Three out of four Christians – are not?”

“Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” James 2:17

 

PREPARATION

 

Question: What does a spare tire, fire extinguisher and gun have in common?

Answer: It’s nice to have them but you hope never to need to use them.

 

A HYMN FROM MY YOUTH RINGING IN MY SPIRIT

Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
to serve the King of kings.

Rise up, O men of God!
The kingdom tarries long.
Bring in the day of brotherhood
and end the night of wrong.

Rise up, O men of God!
The church for you doth wait,
her strength unequal to her task;
rise up, and make her great!

Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where his feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
rise up, O men of God!

Steve Johnson

[email protected]

 

 

YOU MAY LISTEN TO THIS BLOG HERE

 

My childhood was very pleasant up to the time I entered grade school. Our family was loving and I felt like I was a pretty normal kid, managing life well and getting along fine with others.

1^st grade began and life became problematic. When it came to academics I discovered I wasn’t quite normal. I was the kid that just didn’t get it. I didn’t understand the alphabet or numbers. They didn’t make sense to me. I began to see I was not like the other kids.

I was last in first grade learning my ABC’s and my 123’s. I remember missing recess as I tried to write my numbers in order copying the shapes from the blackboard. I remember being held back from recess in the second grade doing the same. Why was it so easy for the other kids? I felt frustrated. I felt stupid. Stupid and shameful became my identity. When it came to academics I was the kid whose lightbulb was dim.

I remember trying to become invisible so the teacher wouldn’t see me and call on me with a question. I didn’t want to be embarrassed again, and again. I was the last in class in every subject. I remember getting knots in my stomach at the end of the school year wondering whether I would be advanced to the next grade. I don’t know why but they passed this “D” and occasional “C” grade student to the next level yearly.

In the Fourth grade I saw I was going to be dead last in learning my multiplication tables. The title for “last” would go to a girl in the class or myself. I put out a great effort practicing diligently with the flash cards, and broke a barrier. I came in second from last! What a relief not to be dead last again. Math was my strong suit!

In the sixth grade the unthinkable happened. I got an A on a ten-word spelling test. I don’t remember ever getting a B, let alone an A before. My parents had been out of town for a few days. I was staying with an Aunt and a cousin. Over three days with perhaps up to six hours of repetition they worked with me on the ten spelling words. I remember being totally amazed when I discovered I had spelled every one correctly!

I squeaked through the seventh grade but did so with a break-though. I realized I could copy two or three letters at a time from the chalkboard onto my paper rather than one letter at a time. At times I could copy whole words. It broke a speed barrier!

My father was a physician and was studying a learning disability called dyslexia. I apparently had it. P’s and d’s, b’s and q’s  looked the same to me. Even today I confuse them when writing, along with other letters like Z and S. Phonetics helped a little but I could never trust them  because I was always stumbling on the exception to the rule and creating my own ‘fonedik’ spellings.

By blessed fortune my parents were able to hire private tutors and finally send me away to a private boarding school in the eighth grade. There were small classes, intense tutoring and four hours of study hall a day. This was where I first prayed. “Dear God, my Dad and Mom want me to do well in school. Help me do well so they will be pleased.” I prayed this frequently, sometimes many times a day.

It is a testimony to the all-wise God, my loving parents, caring teachers and the power of determined effort. At the end of the school year I was a straight A student. The earth shook with wonder! I was learning that by depending on God and using all my effort I could succeed. That was the year by providence I accidentally picked up number four pencils rather than the standard number two pencils. I realized I had to give greater effort to make a clear mark with the number four pencils. The greater physical effort of pressure on the pencil while writing math questions drove the sense of mathematics deeper in my mind!

I’ve had many “moments,” and those moments still visit daily. In the eight grade I could not remember how to spell my middle name. “Craig,” after all is a challenging name to spell. You’ll be glad to know I practiced and learned how.

The mighty grace of God took me through college and on to graduate school. I was able to keep a B average though school, which I think is an accomplishment.  There was a moment in grad school where I was writing a paper and needed to write the world “of,” but could not remember how to spell it. I tried “uv” and “ov” but it just didn’t look right. I was embarrassed to ask a fellow student how to spell “of” so started looking for it in the dictionary. After 20 minutes trying to figure it out I realized if I read a book, in time, I would come upon the word “of.” It worked!

I found when studying Greek that if I worked two or three times longer than fellow students I could do as well, or nearly as well, as others. The willingness to work twice as hard as others became a key for achieving.

 

I am so grateful for the good fruit which has come to me because of this little handicap!

By the grace of God, I have been able to shake off the title “stupid” and the feeling of shame.

I have compassion for others who struggle with mental handicaps. They are my peers.

I’ve gained creative techniques for learning and have come to realize reading, re-reading and then reading again will help me understand a sentence or paragraph.

Even though many speak faster and come up with amazingly quick quips I’ve learned I don’t have to compare myself to them. I realize that in my own way I’m quite smart, even if I sometimes speak slower looking for words.

I savor accomplishments which require hard work more than naturally gifted people do.

I am able to be patient with others because I realize thinking can take a lot of time and effort. 

There are still times when I cut a board at 69 inches rather than 96 but most of the time I’ve get it right and have successfully applied math in many practical situations.

Every time I write a page I have to look up spellings because my spellcheck has no idea  what I’m trying to say. Still, my third-grade teacher would be amazed. I’ve written lots: Sermons, Bible study lessons, newsletters, a couple books and hundreds of blogs.

I keep learning to lean on God in my weakness, and ask His help.

Do you have a handicap which you have overcome?

What fruit have you been able to grain because of it?

Steven C Johnson

LandingStripEnterprises.Com

 

 

 

 

I was listening to The Danish National Symphony Orchestra’s outstanding performance of The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. This has become a go-to song for inspiration. It stirs me deeply. Apparently, millions feel the same way.

Scrolling through the comments I read: “My neutered dog heard this and his testicles have grown back.” I laughed with tears for five minutes! It was good for the eyes.

I wonder, What it would take to grow back testicles on emasculated men?

 

 

It’s been said, “Our culture has taught young boys to be good little girls.” How many young men are wobbly about what it means to be a man? No wonder our sexual confusion. Boys are taught, “Men are rude and violent. You don’t want to be one of them! Men abuse women. You don’t want to be one of them. Men start wars. You don’t want to be a man.”

Some boys are neglected and become feral. They may become aimless and unrestrained, become abusive and violent, or cowering hermits. But the education many boys get today is almost worse than neglect.

 

 

Modern social innovators teach boys to be sensitive, to quench their rambunctious ways, to be passive, not damage the china or clang the tableware. In our pursuit of taming men, we have turned lions to sheep and eagles to chickens. In our taming the “savage beast” of manhood we have removed their fight for greater things, their courage to contend for a noble cause. And many seem proud of this accomplishment.

 

     

Who will teach boys to harness their masculine powers for good, rather than the bad and ugly? Boys need to be taught self-control, to play within the boundaries, and fight fair, but Lord have mercy on the ones who would steal away sport and sparring and rumble from hearts born to possess it!

 

 

May boys be raised again to have tough sinks and soft hearts. May boys harness their sanctified manhood to protect the vulnerable, to contend for the right and to pursue high-heaven ambitions! Boys should be inspired to yoke their masculine powers for The Good, The Glorious and The Magnificent!

 

 

Perhaps a listen to The Danish National Symphony Orchestracould help bring healing for young men robbed of manhood.

WHATCHA THINK??

Steven C Johnson

LandingStripEnterprise.Com

 

 

 

 

“I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves,

so that when it is gone,

you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” Luke 16:9

Carolyn Grogan Graduating mana cum laude!

 

LISTEN TO THIS BLOG HERE:

 

Pam’s Mom, Carolyn, passed into eternity last night, 7/9/2020. It would be hard to find a Saint more eager and excited to be with her Lord. She is receiving a royal revelry! Carolyn is a woman who made many great investments. “Welcomed into eternal dwellings” rightly describes heaven’s scene!

I used to tease Carolyn over an agreement we had. “Carolyn, if you die before me I’ll come up with something nice to say about you. And if I die before you, you scratch your head and come up with something good about me.” She would laugh. So, I’m under obligation. But no head scratching necessary.

Carolyn loved to laugh! She would find any excuse to do so. Joy characterized her life as brightness characterizes the sun. Sometimes I thought she laughed too much, but I don’t think heaven was offended by her joy and the faith behind it.

Carolyn was an evangelist, a good-news-er! I recall times when we were together and she met a stranger. She would ask in various words, “Do you know my Lord Jesus?”

We wrote a book about our daughter’s resurrection but didn’t have much money to see it published. Carolyn volunteered to help with expenses. When I told her we did not know how the book would sell of if we would be able to repay her, her reply was, “I’ll take it in souls!”  I know for a fact that thousands came to Christ though that story and the TV and radio interviews which carried it around the world!

Carolyn pitched in strongly to make the prayer meetings go to new levels. Most of her prayer was early in the morning with marked up bibles, inspirational books, prayer lists and worship music in the background. She is famous in our family for praying her immediate and extended family members into The Kingdom.

Carolyn delighted in her children, grands and greats! She had many qualities which make for a great Mom and grandmother. Fun, adventure, and celebration, sewing, cooking canning, and more. I prize a beautiful thick, warm sweater which she made for her husband, Frank, which I inherited.

     A sweater Carolyn made

She was a God-send helping with our kids and concerns in Ellensburg and Goldendale, WA. She also enjoyed living with us in Sevierville, TN, and would adventure out on foot with her hat and stick to enjoy the beauty and see if there was a conversation to strike up.

As she aged the wrinkles always went upwards. The last leg of her race was a challenge as she struggled with memory loss. None-the-less her spirit always leaned toward the finish line where her Lord, standing at the tape, was cheering her across.

Many of us are jealous for her arrival and the joyful pomp and circumstance of reunion! May God bless each of us in our respective races, and give a special grace for strong kicks to our runs as we cross over!

Steven C Johnson

Landingstripentprises.com