Pastor James L. Johnson
teacher on Soul Break, 98.3
Listen to Soul Break Monday to Friday at 12:30 p.m. during the lunch break and 10:30 p.m. each night on KDAR FM, 98.3, "The Christian Station." For a live feed: Click on www.kdar.com and click on "Listen Live." Please find recent blog postings below. To listen previous broadcasts, check the downloads below.
"Soul Break" on KDAR 98.3 FM Monday through Friday, 12:30 p.m., during lunch, and 10:30 at night.
This Month on Soul Break May 3-7, Mon-Fri, "Who Jesus Is" Series
"Karate Birthday Cakes"
(Philippians 1:6-11)
May 10-14, Mon-Fri, "Who Jesus Is" Series
"Hanging on like Laura"
(Hebrews 10-12)
The Story of Soul Break
Soul Break began in 1992 when I was a young pastor in northern Minnesota. I was serving Calvary Free Lutheran Church in Fosston and our little church was growing. But some people were hesitant to visit our little church house on the edge of town. We were small and relatively few people "knew us." In a small town, it takes a lot of courage to try a new church -- what will people say? -- so growth was slow.
My mentor Mike told me our little ministry should begin to expand our borders and reach out beyond our four walls. At the time, our church was happy and healthy and feeling satisfied with 100 people coming to church every Sunday. I wanted to see the church grow, but didn’t know how to help the church grow beyond its barriers.So with the encouragement of Mike, a veteran pastor who reached thousands of people in a radio ministry in eastern South Dakota, we started.
Our little program, “The Vine and the Branches,” aired on Q-107 in Fosston, Minnesota, for a half hour on Sunday mornings at 7:00 a.m. After serving for three years in Fosston, and being encouraged by the power of preaching and teaching over the radio, I laid aside that ministry while serving as dean of the AFLC Bible School in Minneapolis. My life was too busy as dean of that school to consider adding more responsibilities to my 70 or 80 hour work week at AFLBS, so I focused on my college students.
But since taking the call to Good Shepherd, a newer church in Camarillo, I prayed for another open door for preaching and teaching through radio. God opened the door in Fall 2007. Our church board felt a peace about pursuing a ministry at KDAR, 98.3 FM. Ventura County’s most effective Christian talk radio station. Oddly, the cost of airing a program in Ventura County, among 1 million people, was about the same as airing a program in northern Minnesota, among 100,000 people, between 1993 and 1996.
The radio ministry here, I believe, covers a high-density area of 900,000 people – and reaches, at noon, I estimate, around 2,000 people during a typical broadcast. I believe that 500 more listen during the 10:30 p.m. slot. Maybe you're one of them.
Thanks for taking the risk! Biographical Sketch: James L. Johnson
Pastor Jim Johnson has been working in church planting since 2006. Prior to moving with his family to Camarillo, CA, he and wife Linda worked with college and high school students for 10 years in Minneapolis, where he was dean of Association Free Lutheran Bible School. He was senior pastor of Calvary Free Lutheran Church in Fosston, Minnesota, from 1992 to 1996.
The long-time pastor has a heart to reach the next generation. “I love watching new believers grow,” says Pastor Jim.
Jim and Linda currently make their home in Village at the Park, in Camarillo, California, where Jim is senior pastor of Good Shepherd Church, a new Free Lutheran plant 55 miles northwest of Los Angeles. He previously served a growing church in northern Minnesota before moving into a college ministry for 10 years. The Minnesota native was elected to be dean of AFLBS in Minneapolis in 1996. The college-level school of the Bible enrolled between 100 to 185 students during his tenure there.
Jim and Linda have a heart to help people become followers of Jesus Christ and to build up hurting families. They have devoted most of their ministry to evangelism and encouraging parents. The heart for family ministry came as he served in a small town and watched Jesus do miracles in families. “In my ministry I saw that so many community problems and social problems could be dealt with when people surrendered their lives to Christ,” explained Jim, 46.
“My biggest joys were seeing people on the brink of hopelessness, far from God, coming to peace with God and being used in significant ways to help others turn to Christ,” he said. “Some of these people today are models of love and character – even though at the time they seemed hopeless and helpless. Ever since, my wife Linda and I have devoted ourselves to helping people, couples and families turn to Christ.” Jim grew up in Bloomington, MN, and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1987 with a degree from the School of Journalism. Before entering full-time ministry, he studied to become a sports reporter. He has written for the Des Moines Register and the Miami Herald and has been published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and several other newspapers.
Jim and Linda have nine children: Elizabeth (age 21), Hannah (19), Lydia (18), Benjamin (15), Grace (13), and Seth (11), Miah (9) and Isaiah (7) and Titus (5).
What Drives Pastor Jim's Heart...
People come to this page sometimes to find out what motivates a pastor and a ministry team. For me, there were no dreams and visions, no thunderbolts or voices from heaven. As a teenager, the Lord captured my heart at an evangelistic event, and I gave my heart and sin to Jesus Christ. After being mentored by a veteran ministry couple, and encouraged by loving Christians along the way, I attended Bible school, earned a degree in journalism at a Big Ten University, and worked in newspapers until I sensed the Lord's call to be a pastor.
I graduated from a school called "The Free Lutheran Seminary" in Minneapolis, where six loving and stable Bible teachers mentored me in ministry and trained me to be a shepherd. Linda and I served a church in the Seattle area (Elim, Lake Stevens) for a year at the end of seminary, then moved to a small town near the Canadian border (Fosston, Minnesota) and learned to love and lead souls closer to Jesus Christ.
I served as director of a college-age ministry for 10 years, the Free Lutheran Bible School in Minneapolis, before sensing God's call to plant and establish a new family-friendly church here in Camarillo, California, where we now love and care about the people of Good Shepherd Church.
Listen to Soul Break Monday to Friday at 12:30 p.m. during the lunch break and 10:30 p.m. each night on KDAR FM, 98.3, "The Christian Station." For a live feed: Click on www.kdar.com and click on "Listen Live."
Thanks for clicking on Soul Break! You're investing in your soul -- you're either a listener of our daily radio ministry, or you're hoping to learn more about what Good Shepherd Church cares about. Keep seeking the Lord.
During the month of August, we're completing our 13-week series on "Character: Deeper Hearts, Better Humans, Real Disciples." As we walk through this study -- primarily this month in the book of Proverbs -- it strikes me that some of you may not yet know how to begin the process. That is, how to be "born again" -- the words that Jesus used to a wise, but spiritually uninitiated Jewish leader named Nicodemus. The following may help you come to know what it means to be saved personally.
More than anything else, it's my greatest wish for you all. That Jesus would live in your heart.
How You Can Be Saved By James L. Johnson, August 3, 2010
Have you ever thought about the way of salvation?
Perhaps that's the question that led you to click on "SoulBreakRadio.com" today. You heard the radio message and something inside of you -- I believe it was the Holy Spirit Himself -- said to you, "click on that tab."
Maybe today is the day when you finally reach out and embrace the gift of grace that God is offering you today: forgiveness for all your sins through Jesus Christ! If that's you, the following steps might be just what you need right now. To begin, take the following three steps, and read what Jesus said in John 6:37, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”
He wants you!
1. Confess your sin. The Bible says that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23)
2. Acknowledge Jesus as Lord. Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, was born in Bethlehem 2000 years ago. He died on a cross for our sins 33 years later — then rose again and lives today — soon to return to earth as King and Lord (See Matt. 24). The Bible says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9)
3. Receive Jesus today. Pray to the Lord and ask Jesus to forgive you. He will enter in! John 3:16 says, “Whoever believes in Him will be saved.”
If today you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior, tell a believer, or someone you know has been praying for you. Start reading the Scriptures by looking for John 3 in the New Testament, and re-discover what Jesus shared with that sage but unsaved leader named Nicodemus. Find a church in your neighborhood that believes the Bible and lifts up the name of Christ, and start attending regularly. Tell a key ministry staff person there what has occurred in your heart. If it's a good church, they'll know how to help you. Or call Good Shepherd at 384-9243, or write me at PastorJim@goodshepherd-church.net and I'll send some helpful resources to you at no cost.
Then stop and praise Jesus, the Savior who has entered your life and has become your Lord today!
This is a great new start for you, and I congratulate you for responding to the Lord's action in your life.
Pastor Jim Johnson, Camarillo, California
Remember who He is By James L. Johnson, May 6, 2010
Who is in charge?
This is how Isaiah the prophet answered that question: “Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news. Lift up your voice mightily, O Jerusalem, bearer of Good news; Lift it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Judah, ‘Here is your God.’” (Isaiah 40:9). The words that follow tell me about His rule – both dominating and gentle: “Behold, the Lord God will come with might, with His arm ruling for Him… Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs,” it says, in Isaiah 40:10-11.
Jesus is in charge.
I know.
It doesn’t always seem that way.
Jesus sometimes runs behind in the exit polls. But don’t be fooled. The high and the mighty will one day bow. They will bow to the one who regularly loses elections. But Jesus didn’t lose the important one where voter turnout was perfect: From eternity, God the Father chose Jesus, the Son. He elected to send Him to rescue the world: One vote to nothing. Jesus never stepped down.
So today the people choose. They pick their leaders. They forget. Jesus stands on top. The king up there became lowly down here. He ascended on high and will return to Earth. In the flesh. He lives all around you. He always matters. He stays in touch. He knows the constituency, remains relevant and true. The leader who became weak on the cross is still crucial. So says Paul, who wrote what you might call an impressive series of intriguing blogs. You’ll find his unforgettable description of the incumbent at www.philippians.chaptertwo.com.
In Chapter 2:8-11, Paul writes: “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
He’s Jesus of Nazareth: still in charge. He rose from the dead. He is still in office. His name recognition might waver. His job approval rating may ebb and flow. But don’t forget. He works just the same – perfect and with power. The people change their minds. Like so many “undecided voters,” they don’t know if they believe him or not. But He is constant.
I need to remind you. Rally around Him, hear his message and believe. Because unlike so many aspiring candidates, Jesus is not just in the running – He’s a sure thing. He’s here to stay. He’s not seeking higher office. He’s staying in the one He earned. He won’t run from responsibility, and He will not step down. He is not conceding. He governs the world. He runs to save you. He runs every day and never quits, the majority reject Him but He always comes back…two years, four years, six years later. He’s not out of favor, and He won’t go away.
In November, the winners smile: “The people sent a message.” The losers shrug: “We fought a good fight.” But no one sends like Jesus. No one fights like Him. We’re breaking into your daily programs. We’re cutting in with the latest news. I write from Minneapolis to ask you: Did you hear what just happened? God said He won’t concede. He won’t retire. You can’t impeach Him and He’s not going to resign. The speech I’ve written came to me after months of following candidates. It refreshed me to remember that Christ is my representative. I’ve entitled the message: “Remember the Supreme.”
Remember who He is By James L. Johnson, May 6, 2010
I know the ruler. He’s God. He’s Supreme.
He knows your past and he knows your preferences.
He knows Barack Obama and he knows Vladimir Putin.
He knows Wen Jiabao and sees him in China.
He understands Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan.
He knows the number of the hairs on your head;
He knows the sites you view on the net.
He knows how many tickets you wasted in the lottery.
He knows the faith you placed in the Powerball.
He knows the faith you one day may place in Him.
He knows your heart. He knows the day of your birth;
He knows the date of your death.
He knows where you are and he knows where you go.
He knows what happened to make you ashamed.
But there is something new happening in your life.
He is happening. He wants to take you along.
He may take you to India for January. He may take you to Brazil for a lifetime.
He may take you to Mongolia for the summer.
He may take you to heaven for eternity.
He may want you to be a missionary in Riga.
Or he may want you to be the support to an urban ministry in Los Angeles.
There will be no false promises. He gets the job done.
He wants to use you.
He’s changing you and making you. He has a plan.
He hates your sin and wants to deal with it.
He knows your deficit and will pay it back.
He takes you in his arms; He holds you like His lamb.
He holds back the waters.
He welcomes the vanquished, the rejected, the stripped.
He turns back the terrorists, the treacherous, the traitors.
He can pay the $200 a week for your groceries.
He can pay $75 million for the Gates complex on Lake Washington.
He pours contempt on nobles; He disarms the mighty.
On Judgment Day He will pick you out of a crowd;
At the Wedding Feast, he will hold you in his arms.
No Y2K bug bugs him; No computer crash crashes him.
You don’t gun him down in school; you don’t blow him away with a shotgun.
You don’t park your SUV in front of his primary market square,
You don’t threaten him with a vehicle loaded with propane and explosives.
You don’t have to latch him down when a hurricane hits Jacksonville.
He’s not intimidated by gangs and he does not fear cancer.
He counts every vote. He always wins Ohio. He carries the South.
He has yet to lose Alaska. He owns New York.
And now this Almighty is showing himself to you.
He believes in you.
A provisional vote means nothing. He wants you to register.
He doesn’t want your money; He wants your debt.
Come to the booth and lay down your sin. Fill in the circle.
Say to the world, "I want Jesus for my King."
Put your ballot in the machine. It works. It’s accurate.
Walk out of the voting booth and into His arms.
He is the Supreme. And He has made His choice of you.
You ran a good campaign, but it’s over.
You ran a good race. But the numbers are in and Jesus waits for your call.
He won a new position for you at the cross.
Will you concede?
Please also find below, at bottom, a list of resources that may help you find "the real Jesus."
Finding the Real Jesus...
By James L. Johnson, April 1, 2010
You want to know Jesus, don't you? That's why you're here. I'm glad you're seeking Him. He's worth the effort. Your exploration of Him will lead you to great discoveries.
For that reason, then, during the next 12 weeks on Soul Break, we're working our way through a series called "Who Jesus Really Is." In my perspective, people struggle with God, with themselves, and with their own destructive addictions, hurts and hangups because they don't understand the person, purpose and nature of Jesus Christ. In the past half year, we have completed a study on the nature of prophecy, the history of Israel, and the promises of Christ's Second Coming. If you've joined us during that study, you likely have begun to re-connect the dots. God is in charge, governments come and go, and Jesus, alone, in the end, will stand as King.
But knowing the time line and understanding God's sovereignty doesn't mean, necessarily, that you know who Jesus really is.
And so, we embark on a three-month series on the person and personality of Jesus Christ. During the next few weeks, we'll examine Luke 19, Matthew 5, Hebrews 4, John 20 and Matthew 15 -- along with a myriad of other records from the primary source documents on Jesus Christ.
For those of you who are looking for some great source materials to augment your study, I'll recommend the following four. I'll refer to them during the next weeks of broadcast, and I believe you'll find them exceptionally helpful. Though we aren't able to ship them through our radio ministry, I'll encourage you to search on line, and use one of the Christian web suppliers, a site such as Amazon.com; or your local Christian bookstore.
For the salt of the earth Soul Break listener...
1. Just Give Me Jesus, by Anne Graham Lotz (Word Publishing). This 350 page book, written by the daughter of Billy Graham, offers a devotional, personal and well-written look at the person and nature of Jesus Christ. Few can write like Anne Graham Lotz, so it's easy reading, and sound theology.
For the graduate level Soul Break bible student...
2. The Two Natures of Christ, by Martin Chemnitz (Concordia Publishing), translated by J.A.O. Preuss. A foundational classic written by the first-level student of Martin Luther, Chemnitz's seminal piece walks you through the fascinating facets of the humanity and divinity of Jesus. There's no book like it. Chemnitz, born in 1522, trained at Wittenberg and Konigsburg, joining the faculty of Wittenberg in 1554, some say most of us wouldn't know the first Martin if the second Martin had not come along (Si Martinus non fuisset, Martinus vix stetisset). He died in 1586, but navigated, carefully and painstakingly, the waters of biblical Christology. Serious students of the Word should journey through this 608-page work. It may cost you $30 to buy a used copy, or $80 to $150 to buy a hard copy, but what's that in return for a classic study on the doctrine of Jesus Christ.
For families with children...
3. The Jesus Storybook Bible, by Sally Lloyd-Jones, Illustrated by Jago (published by Zonderkidz). I've never seen a better child-focused study on Jesus, nor a better illustrated one. Jago, an illustrator who has won a Macmillian Award andan AOI Silver Award, hails from Cornwall, England -- not far from the home town of writer Sally Lloyd-Jones. But it's the content of the book that makes it invaluable for our family and church. Few children's resources move beyond the "Be Jesus's Little Helper" approach to theology. This one walks you through the Old and New Testament, and teaches children how Jesus permeates the entire story of the Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation. The 350 pages of the well-written biblical study are punctuated by illustrations that your kids will find unforgettable.
For the Soul Break listeners without a copy of the other classic Luther work...
4. Luther's Small Catechism, a study that uses the Q and A style that Biblical students with Scandinavian and German backgrounds have known for years, it might be perfect for you. Luther wrote the catechism as a "primer" for pastors, families, fathers and children, so they could get the Bible basics on the mainstream doctrines. The result, for people who use it, is a strong-spine background in basic Christianity. Aimed at young believers and seekers around the age of 12 to 18, I still read it today. The study it offers on the basics of Jesus can keep you grounded. You can find it at any Lutheran publisher, but I will recommend two of my favorites: Ambassador Publications, through the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (AFLC), and Faith and Fellowship Press, through the Church of the Lutheran Brethren (CLB).
Call if you have questions, or write me at pastorjim@goodshepherd-church.net.
Thanks for clicking on the Soul Break blog today!
Pastor James L. Johnson in Camarillo
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