Broken and Beautiful

I’d like to start to start this post by saying I’m not exactly sure where this one is going. So let’s find out!

So I work at this rad church full of good people, great people, and I get to spend a lot of time there. The backdrop is straight out of a movie. Tropical perfection, consistent and refreshing cool breezes, huge trees that are decades old, and just down the road, not just one, but many world class beaches… There are worse places to live. J

Anyways, in the back of the church, where all the trees are, we have this old beat up basketball court. A long time ago, the roots of these trees got under the cement and cracked its once smooth surface, making a proper game of ball ridiculous at best. What’s more, these trees like to shed their leaves all over the surface, leaving it not only broken, but messy and dirty too.

In short, the court is a mess and no one really uses for anything. Until just recently…

As of late, two little blond girls about eight or nine years old have been visiting this broken dirty court, playing and pretending. For example, I walked past them the other day, one of them pretended to be a photographer, snapping pictures of the other little girl pretending to be America’s next top model, walking a line like a catwalk, full of confidence and strength.

It was amazing! They love that court! So I let them do their thing and keep walking.

I guess what I want to say is that on one hand, I’m surrounded by beauty: beautiful scenery, beautiful weather, and beautiful people. But on the other hand, I’m surrounded by brokenness: the broken court, broken families, broken people, etc.

Last night, some friends and I went camping out at Polihale (which if you don’t know, is one of the most epic beaches in the world). It’s located on the Westside of the island; so naturally, it boasts some pretty extraordinary and often very moving sunsets.

The weather all day was perfect. No clouds. Then about the time the sun was going to set, the wind picked big, and blew in a lot of clouds. I was bummed!

We continued to watch the sunset, and then everything just went epic. The rays of the sun penetrated the clouds and out came SO much different shades of different colors! It was so beautiful! So much better then just a normal sunset. So much better then what I was hoping for.

I guess God knew what he was doing. He definitely knew better then me.

God not only uses the epic beautiful things, but also, and mostly I think, He uses the broken things for His glory. He makes foolish the wise and the wise foolish. He gives grace to the humble, but stands against the proud. He says the greatest must be last and the servant of all. He is close to the broken hearted and sets the captives free. He is.

When you truly love, then anything is beautiful.

God knows what He is doing. I hope we are wise enough to be want to be a part of it.

He knows better then us.

Grace and peace

Ernie

ALIVE?

"To have the Spirit of God dwelling within the heart of someone who chooses a domesticated faith is like having a tiger trapped within a cage. You are not intended to be a spiritual zoo where people can look at God in you from a safe distance. You are a jungle where the Spirit roams wild and free in your life. You are the recipient of the God who cannot be tamed and of a faith that must not be tamed. You are no longer a prisoner of time and space, but a citizen of the kingdom of God - a resident of the barbarian tribe. God is not a sedative that keeps you calm and under control by dulling your senses. He does quite the opposite. He awakens your spirit to be truly alive."

- Erwin McManus, The Barbarian Way

2 WEEKS AND COUNTING

Just saying...

WE ARE PENN STATE

-A loyal fan

p.s. God is SO much more epic and fulfilling then this... and coming from me that's a big deal.

Though I kind of wish had a video of this many young adults, screaming, and believing with all their hearts, "We are the Church."

Then lived it out.

Take the Plunge!

Have you ever felt like you were on the verge of doing something big? You ever stood at the edge of a cliff psyching yourself to jump or like the kid in the picture, contemplated the sheer awesomeness of what could be?

I know I have.

In my neighborhood we have a hill that was pretty big and pretty steep, maybe not quite so steep as the wild child above, but big, steep, and curvy. Growing up, we used to fly down this hill with our bikes and skateboards.

One day, cruising at the top of the hill with our bikes, someone said, “What if someone went down that hill with no hands and just conquered it?” Everyone was stoked, but no one really wanted to do it.

No one but me.

I eyed that hill, volunteered, and before anyone could call me out, started to peddle. Once the hill’s arc, momentum overtook me, I let go of the handlebars and was coasting! I felt home free. That is until I hit the first turn.

I leaned into the turn, felt the speed wobbles, lost control, and hit the road hard! As I lay there hurting, my friends rode down to me laughing!

So just to prove I wasn’t scared and wasn't defeated, I got up, walked my bike back to the top of the hill, eyed that hill, fully committed, and went for it again!

I hit that first turn perfectly and started to pick up speed. I was pretty much at the bottom and was stoked. Everything was fine, until I started to get cocky, lost my concentration, and went down. I scraped my face pretty bad that second time. But I didn’t care.

I didn’t even care that I didn’t make all the way down. I conquered that sucker. Even my friends were pumped.

With fall comes a new season for many of us. Some of us have graduated high school and are going to college, while others may still be in college but are now older and wiser, ready for something new. Still others of us might be entering into a new job or are quietly looking for the next big adventure. Whatever part of life you may be in, consider your situation, and dare to jump into something big! I know some of us feel like we are on the verge of something BIG. What are you looking at?

The Bible says if that we have faith as big as a mustard seed, we can move mountains! Some of us just need to step up, commit, and jump! And if you mess up or fail, it’s okay! You can get back up!

Woody Allen said, “If you’re not failing every now and again, it’s a sign your not doing anything very innovative.”

Life is for LIVING. Jesus wants us to have life to the FULLEST. Life ABUNDANTLY. Take a risk. Rise up and challenge yourself. Find a dream and reach for it. Be deliberate and don’t let life make your life decisions for you.

Sometimes you try something and you fail. But at least you tried.

Other times, you step out and by grace, you find you’re not made out of glass, you’re stronger then you give yourself credit for, you rise out of your failures, and you conquer.

The Knot

About a month ago, I got to be a part of a week long sports camp the churches put on for the kids every summer. I was a basketball coach and my team of boys dominated the competition! But that’s not the story I want to tell. I mean so what if my boys could physically pounded the opposition into the ground!

The story I want to tell is about a little boy with a little problem.

One rainy morning, it might have been a Tuesday, a little boy with sandy blond hair and a few missing teeth came up to me and grudgingly stuck out his shoe and said, “Coach Ernie, can you help me untie this knot! UGH. I can’t get it out.” He was visibly frustrated.

So I bent down to help him and realized this kid must of used all his strength tugging on that shoelace, because the sucker was as tight as a snare drum. I realized this was going to take some effort. I had the boy take of his shoe and give it to me. From there, it probably took me about 5 minutes to loosen the knot and untie the shoe.

I gave the shoe back to the kid and asked him why he didn’t just ask for help in the first place. To which he replied:

“I thought if I just pulled hard enough I could do it myself.”

Laughing to myself, I imagined this kid yanking that knot into submission, unbeknownst to himself, that with every pull, he further ensured his own failure.

You ever just fight with God? You ever stood toe to toe with God, looked him the eye (figuratively of course), knew exactly what He wanted you do, and whether you felt it was too hard, would cause too much sacrifice, or would take too much of your own time, you just flat out refused or simply ignored Him?

I know I have.

So we try our best to solve our problems, our way. We hold on to what we should let go of. Maybe God calls us to do something or live a certain way, and we feel we just don’t live up to the call. It just seems too hard. And instead of trusting that God will pick up where we fall short, or believing God will replace (in His own way and His own time) what He calls us to give up, we just keep living the way we always were. As if we believed that if we just tried harder, we could make it work or do it ourselves.

We’re just pulling the knot tighter and tighter.

Then after we pull till we can’t pull anymore, and that problem is as heavy as we can stand, we finally give up, give it to God and say or maybe even beg, “Please help. Please fix it.”

And you know, God does. But, all the while, God is just wishing you would just trust Him and let Him help you.

So you carrying something? You pulling at a knot you just can’t seem to untie, and you find it getting harder and harder?

Why not just surrender, stop trying to do it by yourself, and let God handle it.

Aloha,

Coach Ernie

Lions, Tigers, and Bears... Who's Next?

Much like the man who built his house on the Rock, another young man defied the defiant and unrelenting storm, and defeated the undefeated and unrepentant giant. In utter confidence, he stood tall amongst the cowed, a man fearless among the fearful.

One wonders what inspired in him such confidence? I’ve heard it said, “When you find yourself crippled by fear, simply pretend you are brave and act accordingly.” Such was not the case for this young man. This man did not pretend. Bravery was already deeply sowed within his heart. His confidence and valor already tested many times over. This giant, this goliath was simply next on the list.

But what was the secret to his valor, the mystery behind his confidence? This young man didn’t grow with sword in hand. He was no warrior, not even close. The young man grew up with staff and sling, guiding his sheep. He was the youngest in his family. The lowly shepherd boy.

Though young, untested this boy was not. Time and time again, alone in the wilderness, he defended his sheep from attacks from lions and bears. Without fail, the LORD gave the young man victory. The shepherd began to realize, “The LORD is my shepherd, and I have everything I need.” “The LORD is my rock and foundation, why should I be afraid?” Defiant in his confidence in the LORD, the heart of the man knew, “If the LORD was with him, there was no reason to fear.” Before long, this up and coming warrior would know the LORD was also his sword and shield, and nothing could stand against Him.

Later, the young man found himself at a battle many believed he was too young to face. A boy among men, his faith character showed true. When all of the men were too fearful to face the giant, the shepherd boy stood before the king and said:

David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."

And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth."

But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father; and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and smote him and delivered it out of his mouth; and if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him and killed him.

Your servant has killed both lions and bears; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God."

And David said, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."

And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!"*

So our hero went and faced the giant Goliath. Fearless and full of faith he stood before him. Here is the account of the battle:

And when the Philistine looked, and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, ruddy and comely in appearance.

And the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field."

Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin; but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down, and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD'S and he will give you into our hand."

When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.

And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone, and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine, and killed him; there was no sword in the hand of David.**

Today I face my giants. As many of us know, it seems easier to run and hide from our hardships, allowing them to rule and taunt us. But I know that even though the future seems bleak, just as the LORD delivered the shepherd from the lions, bears, even goliath, so He has brought me through my own struggles. Today I face my goliath. I will face my fears. My God will bring my family and I through our hardships.

I will face my goliaths and see them fall. Then I will ask, “Who’s next?”

In His grip,

Ernest Walter Johnston Jr. – My father’s son.

* 1 Samuel 17:32-37 (NSV)

** 1 Samuel 17:42-50 (NSV)

*** Picture Credit: http://drawn.ca/wordpress/wp-content/images/ltbe.jpg

I’m Back on the Wagon: Emmanuel

About a month ago I got a phone call that completely shattered my world, and I figured this blog was going to be one of its many casualties, just another thing I would leave behind. But as it turns out, life, though forever changed, continues to move forward. Transmissions of Transitions is not dead. I was just thrown off the wagon, thrown hard and far. If anything, I have more to share now. Everything has changed. It’s like I have new eyes as I see, new ears as I hear, and a new mind as I take everything in. Things might not ever be the same again, but I know that one they will be good again. I’m back on the wagon. I just hope my wounds and scars will act as bridges to other’s broken hearts. I also hope and pray that my family will be made whole once more.

About and hour ago, I sat down to write, I decided I wanted to listen to happy music that would give me hope. As I searched through my itunes library for the perfect playlist, almost by accident, my eyes struck gold, Christmas Music! What’s happier then singing about the birth Jesus Christ, the Hope of the world? Mix Christmas music with the musical genius of Shane and Shane and you’re in for a good time.

One song hit me hard and gave me such hope, “Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel.” The first verse goes something like this:

Oh come Oh come Emanuel

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appears

REJOICE REJOICE EMANNUEL

SHALL COME TO THEE OH ISRAEL

The lyrics describe a nation trapped, enslaved, exiled, desperate for help, desperate for hope., and ends with command to one’s self to REJOICE! Not once, but twice does the lyricist call trapped, hurting, and captive Israel to REJOICE!

Why should they rejoice? What reason could they have? They are beaten and conquered. They are people without a land, exiled. However bleak, they hope, they have a defiant hope because EMMANUEL, GOD WITH US.

I can imagine the old faithful, though beaten down, gathering their people and telling them, “Remember what LORD your God has done. Remember how He brought us out of slavery, through the desert, and into the land. Remember the LORD is with us and will bring us back. Remember.”

I am reminded of the answer the LORD gives to Moses after Moses questions the Lord, “The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come through for you.”* God is with us even now. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for the Lord is with me. Nothing is too hard for him. I am confident He will bring my family and I through.

I am confident that He will bring you through your storm as well. “Every scar is a bridge to someone’s broken heart.”** Even now, God is with us.

Emmanuel,

Ernest Johnston

* Numbers 11:23

** Thrice Lyrics: Vheissu