From My Heart and Mind

Michael Jordan, undoubtedly one of the best basketball players ever and one of the best athletes the world has ever known said this about failure:   "I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." The story is well known that Michael Jordan didn't make his high school basketball team.  I grew up playing baseball.  I love the sport.  I could walk to Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California as a kid (it was a long walk admittedly) and grew up loving the Angels, played Little League and dreamed of a playing professional baseball.  At the time I didn't realize how much failure was involved in being a baseball player.  And I got cut from my high school team in my senior year.  I still love baseball though.  Instead, I took up golf which has become a much better adult sport. The

My son Kyle got married this week.  Because of the threat of rain we had to move both the ceremony venue and the reception venue with only hours notice.  Weddings can be crazy anyway let alone moving venues at the last minute.  The original plan was to have the wedding at 4:30 on the beach at Sand Harbor State Beach, Lake Tahoe.   This is an absolutely stunning place. On a sunny, warm, summer day it is a place hard to beat for beauty.   But the forecast was ominous—steady rain, thunderstorms, hail and high winds.   The forecasts were correct.   It rained most of the day and the beach was a wet mess.   The day before I wandered into a beautiful church right in the middle of Incline Village.   I waited until after the Sunday service and went to try to find the Pastor.   There were only a few people left and I found a small group of people in a hallway. I recognized one of the guys in this small group and said to him, “I know you….” He said, “I recognized you the moment you walke

As of this month, I am finishing a 13-month term of being the Interim Pastor of the church we have been attending for the last four years.  I was asked in April of 2013 to commit for six- to twelve-months to be the Interim Lead Pastor by the founding Pastor and wife who were moving back to the midwest to be closer to their aging parents.    It has been a different kind of ministry assignment than I have ever had before.  I consider myself a strong leader and a visionary.  An Interim (like a substitute teacher) is there to keep things going, help in the "in between" and not alter the DNA too much.  That's tough for me.  I like to get my hands on things.  I like change.  I like momentum and growth and dynamism.  I also followed a very loved and long-term founding Pastor and wife couple who were the glue of the church.  They had been there fifteen years.   Overall, the experience for Sallie and I was positive.  I was able to lead, speak most Sundays and be active in mi

Proofs for the Resurrection by Pastor Bret Johnson The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is either the greatest event of human history or the biggest hoax ever pushed onto the human race.  Here are several proofs that show it is the greatest event in human history: Crucifixion --  The Romans were very good at executing people and knowing when they were dead.  Any question about it?  Run a spear up into the heart sac.  Jesus was dead.  Why is this important?  Some critics of the resurrection say Jesus “swooned” and revived in the tomb, moved away the stone and appeared as the Lord of life.   The Stone -- a 2-3 ton stone was set in place when a tomb was built.  The stone would be “set” to roll down hill and lock into place.  It could be opened but only with difficulty and with several workers using a fulcrum to move it up hill again and re-set it.   Roman Soldiers -- Roman soldiers were sent to guard the tomb of Jesus at the request of the Jewish leaders.  They thems

I need some advice from my friends.  Far and near.  Young and old.  I don’t care.  I just appreciate your input.  For many years I have been a Pastor and have a close relationship with a lot of people.  For a long time I was a youth Pastor and a Pastor of a church that had many young people.  As is customary (ha), these young people grow up, fall in love and want to get married.  When that time comes I sometimes get a phone call saying (almost always similar):  “Pastor Bret, we are getting married!! And we would LOVE you to perform our wedding ceremony.”  I almost always say the same thing: “Wow!  Congratulations.  I am so excited for you.  Let me check with my schedule, my wife and get back to you.  But I am honored you would consider me to lead out on such an important day.”   Most of the time I am able to accommodate people in their wedding plans as they are working months, if not a year ahead of time.   Here’s where I need advice.  Oftentimes the couple will ask me:  “So, what

A week ago or so I took a 2-mile walk and listened to this podcast from Mark Driscoll.  It has really messed me up (in a good way) and challenged me.  Please take the time to listen and feel free to comment. Mark Driscoll on the call to Resurgence, American as Post-Christian and a Challenge to Men