I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:24-25 A couple weekends ago we had a men’s retreat through church. It involved various activities and competitions, tying in some spiritual lessons along the way. The theme was “Reload”. We were given an empty shotgun shell when we arrived, which was loaded up […]
Author Archive: Brian Johnson
A Brief History of the University
It’s hard to believe, but it was one year ago today that I arrived in Jerusalem to study at Jerusalem University College for a semester. A new group is already there now, following in the same footsteps that I did a year ago. Amidst all my studies, I had the chance to learn a little of the history of the little plot that the school sits on, which makes for an interesting story in itself. I mentioned before that what is called the Old City is the section of Jerusalem that is walled. This is about 225 acres, of which […]
Who’s Side are You On?
Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” The commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did […]
A Time to Mourn
On the tenth day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard, who served the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He set fire to the temple of the LORD, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down. The whole Babylonian army under the commander of the imperial guard broke down all the walls around Jerusalem. Jeremiah 52:12-14 Sunday, July 29 is Tisha B’Av, a day in the Jewish liturgical calendar that marks the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem. They were […]
Project Management
Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’ ” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. But the LORD said to […]
Rain, Rain Please Stay
Be glad, O people of Zion,   rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you   the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends you abundant showers,   both autumn and spring rains, as before. Joel 2:23 It’s been a dry summer around here (and a large portion of the United States). It’s been a month with very little rain here. It was a joy to see rain fall today. Israel is a country highly dependent on rain. It doesn’t rain in the summer. I remember my first experience of rain there last fall. It was exciting! The ancient Israelites were […]
Teaching
Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly James 3:1 This morning at church I had the great opportunity to preach the sermon. I’ve been up there a handful of times with my pastor, passing the metaphorical torch back and forth to bring the message. Today was my first time up there alone on a Sunday morning. It was an amazing experience. The Lord has certainly been teaching me as I prepared it. It was a joy to receive positive feedback afterward. Surrounded by the […]
Do you Want to Change the World?
Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water, or do you want a chance to change the world? Steve Jobs to John Sculley Steve Jobs was looking for a new CEO for Apple Computer in 1983 and found John Sculley, the CEO of PepsiCo. Jobs wasn’t ready to take the reigns of Apple himself yet and needed someone to run the company. He found Sculley and wooed him to Apple. Jobs saw what he was doing as world-changing. In many ways, he was right. Jesus was walking on the shore of the Sea of Galilee […]
Success in Failure
The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You are not to reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day.” When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, and they said, “May the LORD look upon you and judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” Moses returned to the LORD and said, “O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I […]
So Many Questions
Any questions? [pause] You have no questions? You are so lucky; I have so many questions! Dr. Gabi Barkay Archaeology is a tough subject. You dig up some object in the dirt; it’s often broken and partly decomposed and you have to determine its function. Biblical Archaeology Review, a magazine that covers archaeology of the Biblical world, often has a picture of an object with multiple choice of what the object is. Taken completely out of the context it was found with no size information, it is often challenging. Debates often take place over various objects, structures, and even identifications […]