From the Editor
Behind You the Whole Way!
By Andrea Johnson
Uncle Willy had just warned my husband, Denny, and me that although the hike up the mountain we were on was safe, there was one section of the trail that went over a ridge with drop-offs on both sides. It was his kind way of saying, “Don’t let your kids run pell-mell up the path!” He had noticed our youngest’s tendency to leap without looking. Nonetheless, he assured us that the waterfall at the top of the trail was worth the climb.
Uncle Willy’s calm nature and gentle spirit endeared him to nearly everyone he met. In his 60s, he was tall and fit and appreciated the outdoors. Even though he struggled a bit with asthma, he still loved to hike. Although those of us in Iowa missed him dearly, his home in Montana with his dear, close-knit family fit him perfectly.
My husband, Denny, and I had been looking forward to this trip to enjoy nature and family in this beautiful part of the country. Even though Denny had never met Uncle Willy before, he immediately clicked with him, as did our four kids, who ranged from around seven years of age to fourteen.
However, our son Caleb overheard Uncle Willy’s word of caution. Around eight years of age, Caleb concluded the climb was dangerous and determined he was not going further up the mountain. Neither Denny nor I wanted to stay back with him, and there was no way we could leave him by himself, so we did what most parents would do. We tried coaxing him; we tried ordering him. Although I love the fact that Caleb cannot easily be talked into doing something he thinks is unwise, at that moment we were flummoxed.
Then Uncle Willy offered, “Would it be ok if I talked to Caleb for a minute?”
“Sure,” we both said, not knowing what he could possibly say to convince a child whom he had met just the day before. I mean, we were his parents and our persuasive powers had failed miserably.
Wrapping an arm around Caleb’s shoulder, Uncle Willy led him to the side of the trail where they could talk privately. A few seconds later, Caleb happily scrambled up to the trail without hesitation, Uncle Willy calmly in step right behind him. Denny and I just stared at each other.
Later, I asked Uncle Willy what he had said to convince our son. He said, “I just told him that I would really hate for him to miss out on this hike, that I would like him to come with us, and that I would be right behind him the whole way.”
Caleb knew Uncle Willy had climbed the trail hundreds of times and wisely perceived he was someone who could be trusted. We were so glad he did! The scene at the top was magical – the clear, cool water rushing around silky, smooth stones on its headlong tumble over the edge of the cliff to the stream below. And guess what? Caleb is now grown and reminds me so much of my uncle!
The whole scenario reminds me of the Lord’s instruction to Joshua:
“Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”
(Joshua 1:9, NLT)
God had promised to give the Israelites land for their home. He promised He would guide them to that home, but He didn’t promise to transport them instantly. Just as Uncle Willy didn’t carry Caleb up the trail, the Israelites had to do their part. They had to physically make the trek, fight the battles, and clear the land. The Lord didn’t promise the journey would be easy. If it would have been easy, He would not have had to caution them against letting fear and discouragement win.
Not all the Israelites took possession of their land. In Joshua 14:14-16, we note that the descendants of Joseph complained to Joshua that they didn’t have enough land for the many people the Lord had blessed them with. Joshua responded wisely, basically saying, “If you are a great people, then go and get the land for yourself; fully occupy what the Lord has given you.”
They had been allotted enough land, but they were afraid to go in and possess it. They were fearful of the Canaanites and their “iron chariots.” Maybe they had thought that God would instantly make all their obstacles vanish before their eyes and carry them to their new home. Thus their complaint: “They are too strong for us.” They were right. The Canaanites were too strong for them, but not too strong for God. Had they forgotten who their God was?
Have you felt God has given you a promise? Have you ever felt discouraged or afraid that promise would not come to fruition? Don’t give up. God is with you, and He will not fail you. Keep pressing on until you see your promise fulfilled!
About the Author
Andrea Johnson, a credentialed Open Bible minister, is the managing editor of the Message of the Open Bible. A graduate of Open Bible College with a major in theology/missions, she has edited and co-edited several books, including Servants of the Spirit: Portraits of Pentecostal Pioneers, We Believe: Core Truths for Christian Living, and We Believe for Kids! Her goal is to reveal Christ to those who are searching for Him. In her spare time you will most likely find Andrea enjoying time with family and friends or hiking. She and her husband, Dennis, are blessed with four children, three of whom are married, and eight grandchildren.
My life was forever changed a few years ago when I read a book called The Insanity of God. Written by Nik Ripken, a missionary who has given his life to take Jesus to some of the darkest, most dangerous corners of the world, this book calls Western Christians out of the casual faith many of us enjoy. Ripken asks irritating, important questions like:
I found myself convicted by how little of my life I had given up for Jesus and how resistant I was to become uncomfortable for Him.
“Does God really ask us to sacrifice everything?”
“Is God at work in the hard places, and does He expect us to join Him in those hard places?”
“Isn’t it possible to love God and to pretty much keep living the life I already have?”
Ripken freely admits that he doesn’t have answers to all these questions, but he challenges his readers to remember that following Jesus means saying “yes” even when it hurts.
“We have the high privilege of answering Jesus’ call to go,” Ripken says. “But let us be clear about this: we go on His terms, not ours.”
Reading this book felt like being shaken awake after a long sleep. I found myself convicted by how little of my life I had given up for Jesus and how resistant I was to become uncomfortable for Him. (How ironic that is, when He became incredibly uncomfortable for me.) I began offering up a new kind of desperate prayer, begging God to make my life matter. To make me willing to go anywhere, do anything.
Lord, let my life be a sacrifice.
That’s a dangerous prayer. It’s a prayer that has led to my saying “yes” to assignments and callings that scare me: serving as a staff pastor at my previous church, becoming the new editor of Message of the Open Bible, and most recently, uprooting my family from our home of twelve years and moving to another state to plant a church.
The comforting thing is, I’m not alone in trying to live this kind of radically obedient life. I stumblingly follow in the footsteps of the Hebrews 11 heroes of faith, who “obeyed and went” even when they didn’t know where they were going (vs 8, NIV). Heroes who “conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised” but also “faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment” (vs 33-36). I walk alongside others in the Church and within Open Bible who are saying “yes” to difficult and daunting things. You’ll read about many of them in this issue, and I hope you will be challenged and encouraged by their stories.
To walk in obedience is to walk hand in hand with Jesus.
In truth, none of us is alone when we say “yes” to a God-given assignment. Let’s not forget that directly after the biggest, scariest assignment was given to Jesus’ disciples, the one that would take them to the ends of the earth and would include hardship and suffering for many of them, they were also given this promise:
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt 28:20).
To walk in obedience is to walk hand in hand with Jesus. That’s a reward worth even our most frightening “yes.”
About the Author
Hannah Bemis
Hannah Bemis currently serves as the Editor and Director of Message of the Open Bible. She’s always wanted to do too many things when she grows up and God has been kind enough to let her do most of them in different seasons. After seasons of mothering, teaching, writing, and staff pastoring, Hannah’s most recent adventure is planting College Street Church in Newberg, Oregon, with her husband, Jordan. After Jesus and all her favorite people, she spends the remainder of her passion on pizza and dark chocolate, in equal measure.
By Andrea Johnson
Writing my last article as editor of the Message before I switch gears caused me to think back a “few” years. Open Bible College was my introduction to Open Bible Churches. Randall Bach was president of the college when I was a student. I was privileged to travel in musical groups for which he and Barbara, his wife, were sponsors. We got an inside peak into their private lives, which were led with the same integrity as their public lives. (On those trips I learned how to play Rook from Barbara!)
After college, when my life took some turns I had not planned on, Randall and Barbara lovingly reached out to our family. And then, throughout the last 26 years in which I have served at this office, they have been a major influence – on me and on my family. Even though part of that time they were serving in East Region, I watched them interact with all kinds of people in all kinds of situations rejoicing with those who were rejoicing, weeping with those who were weeping, and lovingly counseling and even correcting those in need. I love hearing Randall pray. He always seems to hear a person’s heart, not just their words. (I’m guessing that’s the Holy Spirit’s anointing!)
Randall’s message that has stuck with me most is called “The Sweet Spot of Anointing.” If you get a chance to read it, you should! [Read Article]. He would often say that your goal should be to stretch yourself, to aim for something beyond your own abilities to the point where you can succeed only through the Holy Spirit’s anointing, and then be quick to acknowledge that glory is due the Lord, not yourself.
His prayer at the end of “The Sweet Spot of Anointing” is this:
Lord, help me to hear and heed your voice, striding with boldness wrapped in humility. I acknowledge I can do nothing apart from you while thanking you that, through Christ, I can do all things! “
Randall A. Bach
It was with that mindset that I accepted this position as Message editor when Randall offered it. Looking back, I’m surprised that I even attempted the task. I KNOW it was the Lord directing, giving me the “desire” to do it (Psalm 37:4).
Throughout my years as editor, God has always provided what we needed when we needed it. I have gotten to work with an amazing office family. And as Randall worked carefully to build a whole team for communications, I have had more fun than a person ever should have at a “job.” Collaborating with them has been the best! Have you ever been excited to get to work? I have!
I appreciate Randall for taking a chance on me, for his support, patience, and sound wisdom. I also appreciate Jeff Farmer, Open Bible’s former president, for encouraging me and giving me so many opportunities to stretch. Both have been incredible mentors to me in so many ways. I appreciate our proofreaders, who have kept us from many a blunder.
I am especially grateful for our incredible writers, busy people who have been kind enough to share through their teachings and testimonies the powerful ways God is working in their lives. We can have the tendency to be quiet about what God does through us or through our churches, not wanting to come across as boastful. But I strongly believe that we need to joyously share what God has done for us and those around us, not to praise a specific person or church, but to give God the glory He deserves. That is our aim for everything. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus” (Revelation 19:10, NLT).
For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.
Revelation 19:10, NLT
I want to thank you, our faithful readers, who are kind enough to overlook our occasional mistakes and concentrate on the messages we are attempting to relay. And I certainly want to thank my husband, Denny. Without him I could never have followed this dream.
I am so grateful that my mom made every effort to teach us proper grammar and modeled a love of reading. (She also gave all five of us “kids” the initials A. P., paying homage to the Associated Press.) I appreciate having grown up in a small town, where my uncle published the local newspaper and featured a column called “Good Things.” I always read his column first.
Although Denny and I are officially “retiring,” we plan to continue many of the things we do now: spend time with family and friends, volunteer, travel, and write – just without rigid deadlines!
God has been so good to me, and I am beyond grateful. He is so faithful and so kind. When so much of our waking hours can be filled with disturbing news, I have been tasked with focusing on good things that are happening, and there are many!
And you know what? You do not have to be “in publishing” to spread joy. We all can, and we all should!
Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts. I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy of your righteousness.
(Psalm 145:4-7)
About the Author
Andrea Johnson, a credentialed Open Bible minister, is the managing editor of the Message of the Open Bible. A graduate of Open Bible College with a major in theology/missions, she has edited and co-edited several books, including Servants of the Spirit: Portraits of Pentecostal Pioneers, We Believe: Core Truths for Christian Living, and We Believe for Kids! Her goal is to reveal Christ to those who are searching for Him. In her spare time you will most likely find Andrea enjoying time with family and friends or hiking. She and her husband, Dennis, are blessed with four children, three of whom are married, and eight grandchildren.
By Andrea Johnson
I must have been about eight or nine years old, old enough to know better, when I walked in on a conversation with my grandma, who lived with us, and three of her friends all standing by our front door about to leave. In our neck of the woods, we are known for our long goodbyes, and this was no exception. The nice ladies got to listing off all their ailments, each “one-upping” the tale told before her. The scene struck me as comical, and I burst out laughing, right there in front of these sweet matriarchs. Horrified, I fled to the bathroom and tried to stifle my giggles.
I stayed in my self-appointed little cell until I thought for sure the gals had gone, fearful about facing my grandma and receiving a well-deserved reprimand. Indeed, Grandma was waiting for me when I emerged, but instead rebuking me, she looked at me with a sheepish grin, chuckled, and said, “I guess we did sound pretty silly talking about all our aches and pains, didn’t we?”
Talk about grace!
I wonder if God thinks we’re pretty silly, constantly airing all our complaints about the world. The other day I was reading in Nehemiah about a remnant of Jews who had returned from exile to Jerusalem, their homeland. Though facing extreme opposition, they had rebuilt the temple and city walls and were in the process of returning to their worship of the Lord God. After hearing the words of the law, the people realized they had failed God miserably. Repentant and fearful of judgment, they wept. They were right to first be repentant, but Nehemiah knew they needed to move on. Failure was not to be their legacy. He told them,
Go and celebrate. . . . Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”
Nehemiah 8:10, NLT
So, we are not to keep lamenting our past failures? We are not supposed to go around bemoaning the state of the world? Apparently not! We are intended to walk in the joy of the Lord. And like the Jews, we have every reason to be joyful when we grasp what God has done for us. Although the people felt sad at first as they became aware of their own sin, they could now walk in joy because God had restored their relationship with Him. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus did the same for us.
Our emotions are not beyond our control; we can make the choice to rely on the “joy of the Lord” even when we do not feel like it. We can walk in joy because we know who God is.
Joy originates from the Lord. He is not up in heaven wringing His hands, wondering what He’s going to do about the state of our world. He is and always will be in control. He has perspective; He knows Himself. As we get to know Him better, we know we can trust Him as well.
Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Bitterness, self-loathing, and anxiety are not.
Walking in the joy of the Lord is so important that the Lord made sure people were appointed to the purpose of praising God and thanking the Lord. In 1 Chronicles 16:4 we find that David appointed “some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, even to celebrate and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel.” Again, in Nehemiah we find that Levites were to “take part in the joyous occasion with their songs of thanksgiving and with the music” (12: 27). Appointees to this role needed to keep this mindset before the people because sadly it is not our nature to be thankful or joyful.
But what if? What if the first words of our day were words of praise and thanksgiving? What if those things that bring us joy were the things we thought about as we quiet our brains at night? What if we shared our joy with others?
Throughout the Psalms we are instructed to rejoice and given reasons for doing so:
Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth!
Worship the LORD with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the LORD is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
(Psalm 100, NLT)
Our joy is not dependent on circumstances. After the apostles in Jerusalem were arrested twice, beaten, jailed, and ordered not to preach in Jesus’ name, they returned home. But instead of bemoaning the fact they were targeted because of their faith, they rejoiced because they had been counted “worthy of suffering disgrace for the name of Jesus” (Acts 5:41).
A grateful outlook improves your health and makes you more fun to be around. It also changes your appearance! “Praise is becoming to the upright” (Psalm 33:1, NASB).
I challenge you today to start thanking God verbally for little things, like the fact that you found your keys or that you had a hot shower. Thank Him that He gave you a creative answer for that work challenge. Thank Him for His faithfulness, for His grace. Thank Him that even though He knows EVERYthing about You He still loves you.
Walking in joy does not mean we ignore other people’s burdens or our own. It means that we pray in faith with joy because we know our God is well able to handle any situation we experience. Jesus was able to “die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy He knew would be His afterward” (Hebrews 12:2, NLT).
Start thanking God for things He has already done and watch your faith (and your spirits) soar. Consider who God is, think about His attributes, and your heart will swell with praise (and your body will relax). Quit giving Satan the fear he craves. Give God the praise He deserves! You will find yourself “happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy!” (1 Peter 1:8. NLT).
Of all people, Christ followers have every reason to be joyful. We love and are loved forever by the one true all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present God. The joy of the Lord is our strength!
About the Author
Andrea Johnson, a credentialed Open Bible minister, is the managing editor of the Message of the Open Bible. A graduate of Open Bible College with a major in theology/missions, she has edited and co-edited several books, including Servants of the Spirit: Portraits of Pentecostal Pioneers, We Believe: Core Truths for Christian Living, and We Believe for Kids! Her goal is to reveal Christ to those who are searching for Him. In her spare time you will most likely find Andrea enjoying time with family and friends or hiking. She and her husband, Dennis, are blessed with four children, three of whom are married, and eight grandchildren.
