Travis Johnson

I just finished a root canal.  Dr. Victor Garcia was the artist that tickled my ivories.  I have never had a painless visit to the dentist.  I don't respond like a normal person to Novocaine.  I have always felt everything when my teeth were drilled.  When bits of tooth hit the roof of my mouth, I knew precisely where that piece of tooth came from.

When I was in middle school, I had to have four cavities filled.  I told them not to waste their time with the shots because I didn't want my jaw to hurt from the needle.  So, they drilled my teeth like they did in the old west.  I just thought pain went with those procedures. 

Dr. Garcia is a genius.  I felt nothing during the procedure.  However, I'm at home now with the blinds shut.  The nerves in my jaw and head are in an open assault on the rest of my body.  A personal poignant lesson that I'm learning right now is that pain follows the event.  The most painful events in my life often come long after the bone-headed decision that caused it.

Fortunately, the event was a root canal therapy.  Through it I faced my fear and experienced temporary pain for a long term win.  For the truly good things in life, you've got to be in it for the pain if your want to make it to the victory.

Now, where's the Tylenol?

Here's a well deserved plug for Jesse's blog... a real heartfelt challenge for you to prepare yourself for a corporate gathering where we worship Jesus.  Check it out.  He also makes a slight correction on the pronunciation of his nickname (apparently, a kind-hearted dig at us gringos).

Todd Rhoades pointed out a research project by LifeWay that indicated over half of Southern Baptist Pastors believe in a Private Prayer Language.  I am curious about what the implications of those results are for the NAMB.  I follow a lot of that developing story via Wade Burleson's blog, which at times reads like a well-written soap opera.  I enjoy following his blog and see much of what he does as a road map for reform for the denomination with which I am affiliated.  While my blog is not focused on that agenda, it is very much my heart to see our organization become a more mission affirming group.  I have most of those discussions in another forum.

Now, if you want to see my perspective on the Charismata and more specifically a prayer language, you can do so here.  Have fun.

I'm inspired when I see people rise above their hurdles, their handicaps.  I've mentioned before that Ela Ortega is a person like this.  There will always be excuses for why a person cannot serve in ministry, succed in life, befriend people, or smile. Ela's breathing condition keeps her out of church most Sundays.  It doesn't keep her from calling all of our guests to say thank you for attending.

A handicap also did not keep Bryan Gaynor from being the star of the night on "So You Think You Can Dance."  I watched it for the first time last night.  I think I'm hooked.  I also think I'm more inspired than ever to eliminate excuses from my life.  If Bryan and Ela can succeed in spite of their situations, so can I.

I believe in Hitler but I'm not a Nazi.
I believe in Ghandi but that doesn't make me a Hindu.
I believe in Mussolini but I'm not a facist.
I believe in Lucifer but I'm not a Satanist.
I believe in girls but I'm not a feminist.
I believe in Jesus but that doesn't make me a Christian.

About a month and a half ago, my life group (Palm Isles) broke off into about 3 other groups: one at Marbella Bay, the Redlands, and one near the theater.   Some of those groups had nothing more than a prepared life group leader/facilitator.  To be honest, I was concerned that a couple of the groups would survive because they really didn't have the critical mass that they should have had.  What they did have were strong leaders. 

Last night we had 11 in our group and three very strong groups meeting elsewhere (I think the Redlands group is doing better than us).  This summer, we'll break from our groups and have a church-wide gathering for leadership development.  Our goals are:

John Maxwell says, "Everything rises and falls on leadership."  I believe that is true.  At this point in my ministry, I have to do a better job developing our leaders.  We are putting all our eggs in that basket.

We're watching this together.  I haven't seen it all yet.  But, I'm posting it and would like to have a conversation about how we present AND represent Jesus.  Did Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort do a good job?  Without being a "homer" (one who always critiques in favor of the home team), share your thoughts.

Mark Batterson, movie pastor/blogger extraordinaire said this:

Thanks, Mark for the tact-filled stone hitting me squarely between the eyes.  I find that when I am under some type of pressure, I am prone to have an exaggerated sense of courage and an underdeveloped sense of tact.  Like an animal backed into a corner, I am ready to lash out against inequity, mean people, injustice, bullies, institutionalism, and other people who seem to threaten me, my church, or friends. 

My goal? Cultivate courage by developing a greater sense of love for others, tact, positivity, optimism, humility, and a heavier dose of reliance on God's presence in my life.

The whole Mark Driscoll vs. People Against Fundamentalism (PAF) mess has me thinking about conflict.  By nature, I thrive on conflict.  I believe it is an area in which I've grown and still have some growing to do.  Here are some of things I've learned on a much smaller scale than Driscoll.  Of course, that doesn't mean that I've mastered those principles.

CONFLICT OBSERVATIONS

I am learning daily how important it is to handle conflict well.  Our approach to conflict is as important or more important than the outcome of conflict.

Barbarians of the New Dark Ages is posted by Meldenius at Trespassers Will.  It is the text from Dr. Matthew Melton speaking at Thursday's Lee University chapel service.  I hope the audio is available soon.  This is a MUST READ for every Christian that is leashed to technology.

tagged: Matthew Melton - Lee University - ipod - pda - technology

 Tomorrow, we face the concept of the Disciplines in our Origins series.  It is not a popular message.  We like the concept.  But, the application of the concept of disciplining our minds and bodies is challenging.  We find that "the flesh is willing but the spirit is weak."  Prayer, fasting, stewardship, bringing our bodies and minds into subjection to the nature of Christ challenges even the most mature believer.

But, peace in our walk with Christ cannot truly be experienced until we choose to be disciplined and to discipline ourselves to walk in the Way of the Master.  Converting to Christ without following Him is like being born and refusing to breathe. The new birth takes place but death follows.  In my opinion based on my understanding of Scripture, Christians who choose not to proceed beyond new birth are neither dead to themselves nor are they alive to Christ.  Marc Vandersluys frames it up well when he said:

Prayer, fasting, self-control, stewardship, and the taming of habits which run in rebellion to Christ must be made as integral to life as the receiving of grace, foriveness, healing, restoration, and prosperity- all gifts we actively seek and freely receive.

Technorati Tags: stewardship - prayer - fasting - discipleship