As Bold As Lions Podcast

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=w7sH3tNYQDqbB6EwPJEBvw
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/carry-on/836420634
Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/xBg2W5vHnHb
Amazon Music:  https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B00IX6BIQI?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_Q280kvfLyQJPNiNag2kh0YV0D

CDs available for purchase here:  https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/product/284877

YouTube acoustic versions:
King Of Glory https://youtu.be/0bWJ15Zt3yk
Prodigal https://youtu.be/OwH-lNUvIQU
Carry On https://youtu.be/kcKO5wpMkMk

City 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_eKw
The Hiding Place (2023 movie):  https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CQ6VK4T1/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r
Hiding Place museum:  https://www.corrietenboom.com/en/home
The 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_eKw
The Hiding Place (2023 movie):  https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CQ6VK4T1/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r
Hiding Place museum:  https://www.corrietenboom.com/en/home
The 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 something

• Sensitive to something
• Able to understand or recognize something 
• Able to understand or recognize a particular sound
• Related 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) blog
Silent Night (Songs Of The Season) podcast

It Came Upon The Midnight Clear (Hymnary.org)

Links for streaming GLORIA!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0FjskM6rVZWGEvgBc8KJfN?si=33tjyb6mTMiZY1A4m5gHEQ

Apple Music:  https://music.apple.com/us/album/gloria-ep/1715359135

Amazon Music:  https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0CMRS7VJW?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_pe06IwUSK4Le27DyFG74pOyIB

Pandora:  https://pandora.app.link/ng98CwH17Eb

Deezer:  https://www.deezer.com/us/album/510340581

Link 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 3:16

Last 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.  

He [Jesus] entered Jericho and was passing through.  And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.  And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature.  So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.  And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”  So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.  Luke 19:1-6

With a desperate and broken world, there are many who, like Zacchaeus, will do anything to catch a glimpse of something real, something true.  Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus.  Those in despair around us ultimately need to see Him too, even if they don't recognize that it is Jesus that they are missing.  Today's podcast episode tells us of the need that is there and gives a roadmap of Christian living in these days to maximize our witness.  Many are so close to making a commitment to Christ.  Are we willing to stand in the gap and pray and step out obediently when we are called to share Him?  

 "Each of us is given the exact same amount of seconds, minutes and hours per day as anyone else. The difference is how we redeem [them]. … You cannot count your days, but you can make your days count.”   Billy Graham

As we finish this "Raising The Standard" series, we are stopping at an important category...and one that the greater society can often neglect.  The retirement years, the graying and elderly years; these are important years to see Christ modeled and displayed.  For a man in this period of life, he must not assume his experiences do not matter.  We need to hear about successes, mistakes and all.  He should never just "hang it up" or live out the rest of his days on the golf course.  And he should realize how he ends serves as an example to those around him.  To see a godly man not compromise and not water down his faith is an amazing thing.  To see him finish and pass onto eternity is a testimony to what God has done. 

Mentioned in this episode:

Retirement blues: Taking it too easy can be hard on you article

Moving along through the path of a man's life, we next stop at the years of "career and family man."  The point at which this phase starts may change from man to man.  But the years are marked by marriage, raising a family, holding down a job, buying a home, and many other important milestones.  This is most likely the majority of where a man will spend his days.  It is important to not just focus on his own wealth and accumulation of "stuff."  To serve his family and others well.  And to stay pure and holy especially in terms of the issues of lust and sexuality.  This is an important stage of life to make sure the foundation in Christ remains solid.  Retirement and the last phase of life lies right around the corner...

Mentioned in this episode:
 
Be Generous podcast series -- 
BE GENEROUS - Stewarding Money & Resources
BE GENEROUS - Giving Of Our Time & Talents

“Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.”  John F. Kennedy 

As we work our way through this series, we are first stopping at the age of men youngest and most impressionable:  those young adult (high school/college) and single men.  Yes this is a large age group to cover.  Yes a lot happens in these years.  But there are some common tenets these younger men must adhere to; certain traits they must develop in Christ.  We see a firm foundation of truth must be laid.  We see an avoidance of the world's trappings and temptations (and necessary boundaries/preventative measures established).  Finally we see that in charting a course in life (finding a career, a spouse, a calling) involves seeking the Lord's heart and following His lead.  This is a crucial part of a man's life.  This is a time to either press in and put down roots OR waste and squander the potential we have. 

I pray this is an episode that will minister to young men in this stage of life.  Please feel free to share with those who you think might need to hear this teaching. 

Mentioned in this episode:

Whom Shall I Send? - Isaiah 6 (Prayers Of The Bible) blog article

Every Man’s Battle by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker (Book on Amazon)

He raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, “I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.”  Acts 13:22

We are spending the next several weeks on the podcast talking to a specific audience:  Christian men.  If there is a demographic within the church that I have felt most specifically called to reach, it would be Christian men.  To seek a path in life that brings the Lord glory and is directed by Him.  To tell them to lead well as husbands and fathers; in a Christ-honoring way.  To come to the end of life knowing you led well and you have much left to impart to the generations that follow.  This series attempts to hit all of these areas and cause men to consider the weight of the call they have in Christ.  We model David, as he in turn modeled Christ:  he was a man after God's own heart.  This episode serves as an introduction and sets the stage for what follows.  Will you join me?

Mentioned in this episode:
 
Song "100 Years" by Five For Fighting:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDKjX7YMJ6w

Are Young People Really Leaving Christianity? article

Where Are All The Men?  Exploring The Gender Gap In Church article