As Bold As Lions Podcast

Thus says the LORD to you “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s”.  2 Chronicles 20:15 When the people of Judah face a fierce opponent in 2 Chronicles 20, there is a right response made by King Jehoshaphat.  Even as he is afraid of the enemies of Moab and Ammon, the king calls for a fast over the land.  His prayer in verse 12 is one of the most honest prayers in all of Scripture:  "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”  The Lord does end up answering the prayers of the people and the king.  The enemy is routed.  Judah experiences peace and fear of their nation grips even other nations beyond them.  This week's podcast realizes that even though we face daily battles, those fights belong to the Lord.  We must stand in obedience and wait patiently as we give the fight over to Him.  Furthermore, we must worship as we go into the battle.  As praise goes up, His presence leads us.  Finally, as we fight we know the enemy has to run when God shows up.  May we take courage and may go into each situation knowing that we can operate from a place of victory.  Christ has already won the fight!  

In the Book of Judges, a sad thing happens to the people of Israel; God's chosen people for His promise:  they fall into sin and disobedience.  After the years of being delivered, crossing the Red Sea, and even settling into the Promised Land, the people have done the very thing God warned them not to do.  They fell for the gods and idols of the people who surrounded them.  Into this, they ultimately forgot what God had done for them and forgot the legacy that was theirs to claim.  If we are not sharing the faith with our kids and making it a daily aspect of our lives, the steps that lead us (and them) from the Lord are not far.  In one generation, faith can either be solidified and built up OR it can be torn down and dismantled.  It's up to us to talk about the things of God as Moses declared in  Deuteronomy 6:6-9.  From there, if the generations that follow us have heard, it is their choice to listen and obey.  Today's podcast takes us down this trail of thought and uses the Israelites' experience as one we can learn from.  

As we follow Christ, there is a tendency that can always creep in to lull our hearts away from Him.  This temptation can take various forms.  Sometimes we can ask "If I am doing all of this for the Lord, where is the payoff for me personally?"  This can be very subtle and an idea that grows over time.  We see that in other aspects of life, hard work = reward.  But often the rewards we seek in the faith are not in this life but in the one to come.  As we follow that temptation and our hearts are drawn from the Lord, we can easily fall into the trap of "the gospel of me."  Today's podcast unpacks this thought a bit further as we look at the origins and characteristics of a me-focused gospel.  May we rejection this notion at every turn and may we find our rest and hope in the Lord!

And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days.”  Joshua 6:2,3The battle of Jericho was a unique battle in the timeline of Israel's history as a nation.  Having taken fresh steps into the Promised Land, Joshua leads the people to conquer Jericho.  The battle plan was unconventional but yet it needed to be followed in detail.  In carrying out the plan, Israel would open the door to further victories.  Those victories would establish them in the new land.  From this battle we can draw many parallels to our own day.  May we continue to march around the Jerichos in our lives knowing God has the power to topple the walls and giants we face.  

Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”  After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.  John 18:37,38The question posed by Pilate to Jesus "What is truth?" has always been  a question that stopped me dead in my tracks when reading about Jesus' trial and crucifixion.  It's a big question.  It's definitely a question a seeker of truth would ask.  If Pilate could have known Who he was asking this question to, the answer would have opened his eyes.  Still, we can know Jesus as the embodiment of truth and that His very words are truth.  From there, we can know the truth because we choose to follow Jesus and live in the freedom He brings.  May that message stir your heart once again, not only at Easter but throughout the whole year.  

On March 11, 2014 my (Derek's) debut album Carry On was released.  It is amazing to think it has now been 10 years since that release date.  A lot of life has happened in that space of time.  This podcast episode is a slight detour from our normal content, but it's purpose is to celebrate and give God glory through what He has done.  Carry On was, in many ways, a first step into ministry and music for me.  It has opened many doors and in God's providence, the story of many songs and thoughts treasured up were able to be shared.  Join me for this retrospective podcast in which we dive in deeper and look at this album now turning 10!  Listen to Carry On on these streaming platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5T10h7kXZh91qrBAVoKiio?si=w7sH3tNYQDqbB6EwPJEBvwApple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/carry-on/836420634Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/xBg2W5vHnHbAmazon Music:  https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B00IX6BIQI?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_Q280kvfLyQJPNiNag2kh0YV0DCDs available for purchase here:  https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/product/284877YouTube acoustic versions:King Of Glory https://youtu.be/0bWJ15Zt3yk Prodigal https://youtu.be/OwH-lNUvIQUCarry On https://youtu.be/kcKO5wpMkMkCity On The Hill Music Festival:  https://cityonthehillmusicfest.com/Tommee Profitt wikipedia page:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommee_Profitt

The second in this 2 part series on The Hiding Place, this episode finishes out the story and pulls some more themes together.  Through the extraordinary faith of Corrie and her sister Betsie, they are able to see the love and grace of God despite the dark circumstances they encounter.  Both go through months of imprisonment because they were part of the Dutch Resistance.  But they have the opportunity to lead Bible studies and encourage other prisoners; even to serve as witnesses to guards and officers.  Finally, a theme of forgiveness is readily present as Corrie must grapple with how to forgive those who did much harm to her and her family.  Through Christ, we see an example we should follow.  Links for items mentioned:The Hiding Place (original movie — free on YouTube):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zNDe30_eKwThe Hiding Place (2023 movie):  https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CQ6VK4T1/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_rHiding Place museum:  https://www.corrietenboom.com/en/homeThe Hiding Place Book (35th Anniversary Edition):  https://a.co/d/d4hImFm

In this first part of a 2-part series, Derek takes a look at favorite book:  The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom.  The Hiding Place is a story of extraordinary faith and trust in God's plan during one of the darkest periods in history:  World War II.  The story of Corrie and the ten Boom family is remarkable.  Through their efforts, it is estimated some 800 Jews were saved.  In this podcast, the effort is made to not just make this a "book review."  Really it's an examination of faith and an opportunity to ask the question:  would we be able to do the same as Christians if we were placed in a similar scenario?  Would we be willing to take the risk to save lives even if it might cost our own?  This first episode in the series examines a life that surrendered to God and was willing to take the risks of faith, no matter the cost.  Links for items mentioned:The Hiding Place (original movie — free on YouTube):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zNDe30_eKwThe Hiding Place (2023 movie):  https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CQ6VK4T1/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_rHiding Place museum:  https://www.corrietenboom.com/en/homeThe Hiding Place Book (35th Anniversary Edition):  https://a.co/d/d4hImFm

This week's episode takes a look at the concept of a hardened heart.  We see this throughout Scripture and really it's a posture we can knowingly or unknowingly fall into if we aren't in right relationship with the Lord.  Certainly we see the hardening of Pharaoh's heart in resisting God's call to free His people.  We also see Israel itself hardening its heart when it came to carrying out God's plan to enter the Promised Land.  And in the New Testament, there is an audience that was warned against making those mistakes -- even many had tasted of Christ but had not fully committed to following Him.  For these audiences the warning is clear.  For us it is as well:  do not harden your heart to the Lord.  

Coming to the end of Jonah, we look for a tidy wrap-up and conclusion to a short book that has many twists and turns.  But perhaps the question we want answered most, "What happens to Jonah?" is left unresolved.  We see through this chapter that Jonah still has a deep sense of pride and contempt in regards to the Ninevites.  We see that God provides something for Jonah (a plant), only to take it away.  At this, he is angry and upset with God.  Overall, we see that God has a heart for the lost and pokes at Jonah's "rights" to be upset with how He [God] acts.  Do we have any blindspots within our faith that keeps us from reaching out, just like Jonah?  This episode concludes our series but there is still much we can ponder and pray through as we ask the Lord to help us not run from, but fulfill our call in Christ.  

By Jonah 3, we see the prophet hearing the call of God, reinstated, and ready to go to Nineveh.  We know Jonah went into the city and preached repentance.  We know also that everyone in the city, from the king down to the citizenry, repented and fasted.  By the end of the chapter, we see that God relents from His decision to destroy Nineveh.  From this chapter alone, we learn much about how God feels towards the lost.  As believers in Christ do we have this same care and compassion over those who do not know Him?  Join me once again as we dive in and look at this amazing story!

In this second installment of Jonah, we see Jonah praying a prayer in an unlikely place:  within the belly of a fish.  We know from the first chapter, Jonah's disobedience landed him here.  But even as this place has brought him to his knees, Jonah's plea is not rejected before God.  Through the 10 verses of Jonah 2, there is a Psalm-like longing and hope within Jonah.  By the end, we see he has a heart of repentance and a desire to once again be reinstated for God's call.  It's a call we experience too as we fully submit and surrender to God's will.  

This is the first episode of a 4-part series on Jonah.  This series looks at the life and ministry of Jonah in regards to his reluctant obedience as a prophet of God.  In this first episode (corresponding with Jonah Chapter 1), we see Jonah's flee from God's call.  We see his disobedience causing consequences for Jonah and even the men on the ship (innocent bystanders to what Jonah has done).  We also see God's care and compassion for the lost.  This first episode is the springboard for where the rest of the book will take us.  Encourage you to listen in and please share with someone who you think will be impacted by this message.  

For this year, spending some time in meditation in December led me to a word I don’t often think about or even use on a regular basis.  But it’s a word that has profound meaning.  It is the word attune.  I believe God is calling me/calling us to be attuned to Him in 2024.  I had to do some digging to figure out what attune/attuned means.  Even though I’ve used it before and had thought I knew the word’s meaning, I wasn’t sure.  Here’s what I found:attuned/attune — aware of and attentive or responsive to somethingSensitive to somethingAble to understand or recognize something Able to understand or recognize a particular soundRelated words = empathy, identify, relate, sensitive, understanding, communicate Join Derek for this kick-off episode for the new year as we learn how to be attuned to the Lord.  

As we wrap up 2023, we take a moment to pause and reflect upon this year and the meaning of Christmas.  We consider it all afresh again and what it means personally for our lives.  We also take that posture into the new year; knowing that 2024 will bring its own challenges and difficulties.  How will we pull away and continue staying in a place where we quiet our souls in rest with our Maker?  Lots of questions to ponder as we end 2023 with this episode.  Have a journal or notebook handy!  Jot down some thoughts and use this episode to prepare your hearts for this busy holiday season as well as the year that stretches out before you.  Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.  Ecclesiastes 7:8

This week is a bit movie review and a bit Bible study.  With the famous Christmas movie, It's A Wonderful Life as our backdrop (the BEST Christmas movie BTW), we look at the spiritual applications of our own lives (the presence or absence thereof).  George Bailey got a rare chance:  to see what it would be like if he had never been born.  Do we consider the weight of our lives and would there be a void if we were not in the world?  Furthermore, who has heard the message of the Gospel because we are alive and able to tell them?  Listen in today as we discuss the movie and draw some Biblical applications we can make.  

OK, it probably needs to be said if you haven’t picked up on it by now:  I love Christmas music.  I start to listen and even share Christmas-music-related things in November...could even start as early as October.  Yeah, I'm that guy and you can call me crazy.  For me, this year was the opportunity to finally get some of these songs recorded and released out into the wild.  A 6 song EP titled GLORIA! released in November and it was a fun project I got to complete this past summer/fall. Today’s podcast turns us towards some of these songs to highlight their message and the overall theme of this album.  There is still a richness in the songs we sing around Christmas and something that points us back to the Gospel saving message of Jesus Christ.  Links mentioned in the podcast:Hymns That I Love - Christmas Edition (Angels We Have Heard On High)Silent Night (Songs Of The Season) blogSilent Night (Songs Of The Season) podcastIt Came Upon The Midnight Clear (Hymnary.org)Links for streaming GLORIA!Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0FjskM6rVZWGEvgBc8KJfN?si=33tjyb6mTMiZY1A4m5gHEQApple Music:  https://music.apple.com/us/album/gloria-ep/1715359135Amazon Music:  https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0CMRS7VJW?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_pe06IwUSK4Le27DyFG74pOyIBPandora:  https://pandora.app.link/ng98CwH17EbDeezer:  https://www.deezer.com/us/album/510340581Link to buy from my website:  https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/album/2639278/gloria

Is it possible to see the miracles, signs, wonders, and conversions seen in the early Acts church today?  Today's podcast seeks to find the key that unlocks these things; assuming they are real and still for today.  When we walk in the Spirit, we live with the ability to listen to the Lord's voice and obey.  As we do, we must know Scripture well enough to stand on the truth and proclaim it to those who are in darkness.  Finally, as we walk in the Spirit and in obedience, we should expect signs and wonders to follow.  This was the pattern, especially in Acts 8 (our backdrop passage for today).  If we walk in the Spirit, we can expect God to do amazing things.  To reach those "desperate enough for Jesus," are we listening to the Lord's heart?  

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  Colossians 3:16Last year in November, Derek did a series of episodes titled "Things I'm Thankful For..."  Today's episode is an extension of that thought, turning it around and asking "What are you thankful for?" knowing that thankfulness plays a big role in our faith.  We are commanded to be thankful in all circumstances, our thankfulness flows from a life of worship, and when we are thankful, Jesus gets all the recognition.  Hope this episode will bless you in this season.  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  Listen to Thankful Heart by Petra:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYMJ74odU20

Apathy is a word meaning "lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern."  Spiritually-speaking, it is a dangerous road to go down.  There may be seasons in which we feel a pull towards apathy in our lives.  Left unchecked, we can succumb to a number of things.  But if we recognize those seasons, what are some ways we can be spurred on to grow in Christ?  Today's episode outlines some ideas and practical steps that can help us avoid or pull out of apathy.  The bottom line is also addressed:  apathy stems from a place of loneliness and that loneliness is birthed in a lack of intimacy.  So if we are apathetic, it follows that our intimacy with the Lord is not where it should be.