THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS
by Dan Johnson, Jr. 8 May 2001
(verse 1)
Nothing at all is hidden in your sight
You see through the darkness of night
You know my deeds, you know them well
You have the power to send me to hell
(bridge 1)
I don't know how you do it
In my wisdom I can't explain it --
(chorus)
The message of the cross is foolishness
To those who are perishing
But to us who are being saved
It is the power of God
(verse 2)
I was sitting over there right under that tree
When you sent him to come talk to me
It took a while before I could see
You knew the message of the cross was meant for me
(bridge 2)
It's clear that my ways
Are not your ways
It becomes clearer every day --
(chorus)
You have humbled me time and again
Because you want me to repent of my sin
(chorus)
Tuesday, April 29, 2003
Without a Trace - Nana
It was the first time this Christmas season that they all went shopping. Really it wasn’t quite like any Christmas that they had ever had before. For one thing, they were all older, but the big thing this year was that Nana, or Dan’s Mom, was living with the family. Dan, Jennie, and Keisha welcomed their Mom, who moved up from Texas, back in October.
“I need to go back home to get my wallet,” Dan said. “Otherwise I can’t drive.” They had been using Carl and Sheila’s car to get around, since Sheila was at home on bedrest. After Keisha got buckled in, Dan strapped himself in, and they headed back home.
Dan pulled into the driveway, stopped the car and pulled the emergency brake. “I’ll be right back,” he said as he got out. Inside the house, Jake, their nine-month old puppy greeted Dan. He found the jacket that had his wallet and put Jake in his cage.
“You know,” he said, climbing back into the car, “the way this car is on the driveway reminds me of a roller coaster heading to the top of a hill.” The rest of the family agreed. Dan put the car in gear and headed for the Meijer in Englewood.
“Let’s park right there,” Jennie said pointing to the open space next to the cart corral. They got out and started briskly walking toward the store entrance. Keisha, Jennie, and Nana all went to the ladie’s room first.
“Anyone want something to drink?” Dan asked as they all walked inside the store. He knew that Keisha probably did, and he felt he needed some caffeine to help him stay awake. “I’m okay,” Jennie said. “Me too,” said Nana.
So Dan and Keisha each got a pop, and they looked for a single-use camera. “That’s so that we can take pictures of each other while inside the store.”
After they bought their sodas and the single-use camera, Dan and Keisha stopped to open their soda bottles and the camera. “First, we’ll take a picture of us,” he said to Keisha. So they each took a drink of their soda as Dan aimed the camera and shot a photo of them.
“Good. Now let’s go find Mom and Nana. But let’s be real careful, so that we can sneak up on them.” They headed toward the back of the grocery area to the dairy department, looking down each aisle for Jennie and Nana. Then Dan spotted them in the dairy aisle and said, “Okay Keisha, let’s sneak up on them from behind.” Needless to say, Jennie and Nana weren’t that pleased to have gotten their pictures taken.
“Okay, I think that’s about everything,” Jennie said, as they headed away from the grocery section of the store. She spotted some hearing aid batteries at the pharmacy. “We need some of these.” Nana and Jennie each had their own carts. Dan noticed that all the pharmacist’s licenses were posted on the wall in front of the pharmacy. Keisha stuck by Mom, and Dan was left pushing Jennie’s cart.
A little while later, they headed down the back aisle toward the general merchandise area of the store. “I wanna read some books,” Keisha said, heading toward the children’s book section.
“We’ll be able to look at lots of books tomorrow when we go to the library,” Nana replied.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” Dan said, helping Keisha put the Caillou book back. Jennie and Keisha headed out of the children’s book area, while Dan took the rear, pushing the grocery cart.
“Where’s Nana?” Dan asked later, as they headed toward Toy City. They decided that perhaps Nana had gone into Toy City to look at the toys. Keisha loved Toy City. Dan loved Toy City, too. They all loved Toy City.
“C’mon, Keisha,” Jennie said, “let’s go find Nana.” They all headed toward the front of the store. Dan wanted to got to the electronics area to price MP3 players, but he decided against it, especially since they needed to catch up with Nana.
“Do you see her?” Dan asked Jennie, who was also looking around the check out area. “Me neither. Okay, let’s do this. Keisha, you stay here with Mom and see if Nana turns up. I’ll retrace our steps back around to the grocery area.”
Dan took off back toward Toy City, looking down every aisle. This was a big store, but not big enough for someone to get lost that easily, he thought. As he trotted past the books and the pharmacy, he still didn’t see Nana. Hmmm. He thought. Well, maybe she was trying to find us and headed back through the grocery area. So he walked down every grocery aisle. Still, no Nana. He made his way toward the checkout area, feeling a bit apprehensive. Where could she have gone? It was as though she was right there with them, and then she wasn’t.
“Did you see her?” Dan called out to Jennie.
“No. Did you?” Jennie asked.
“No.” Now he was feeling rather anxious. “Let’s go back to the pharmacy area.”
Back at the pharmacy area, they asked the pharmacist on duty if they’d spotted Nana. “She’s about 4 feet 11 inches tall. She’s wearing a jean jacket.”
“We can page her for you, if you’d like” the pharmacist said.
“Okay, sure. That’s fine.” That should work Jennie thought, since they’d already heard a couple pages for other people. It was the Christmas season and the store was rather full of shoppers getting ready for the holiday.
“Attention Meijer guests, if there’s a Margie Wilcher in the store, please come to the pharmacy to meet your party.”
“No! It’s Welker. W-E-L-K-E-R. Welker.” Dan knew that they would probably get the name wrong. He was really starting to feel anxious now. He looked at the time. Nana had been missing since 8:30 PM, and it was already 9:15. He also knew that he really needed to take his medicine.
Then he saw someone who looked like store management. “Excuse me! Excuse me!” he called out to the manager. “Can you please help us?”
“Yeah, what can I do for you?”
“My mom and all of us got separated. We haven’t seen her in over 45 minutes, and we’re starting to get worried.”
“Did you try to have her paged?”
“Yes, but she hasn’t responded. Do you have any in-store security people that may be able to help out?”
“Yes, and we’ve also got in-store video. I can call Englewood police if you’d like, too. But why don’t you follow me to my office?” the manager said.
A half an hour later, they were still sitting in the manager’s office. They’d talked with Englewood police, too.
Where could she be, Dan thought. It was cold and windy, and she’s not really used to this weather up here. Could she have gone on her own volition, or was she kidnapped? He didn’t like that thought.
It was the first time this Christmas season that they all went shopping. Really it wasn’t quite like any Christmas that they had ever had before. For one thing, they were all older, but the big thing this year was that Nana, or Dan’s Mom, was living with the family. Dan, Jennie, and Keisha welcomed their Mom, who moved up from Texas, back in October.
“I need to go back home to get my wallet,” Dan said. “Otherwise I can’t drive.” They had been using Carl and Sheila’s car to get around, since Sheila was at home on bedrest. After Keisha got buckled in, Dan strapped himself in, and they headed back home.
Dan pulled into the driveway, stopped the car and pulled the emergency brake. “I’ll be right back,” he said as he got out. Inside the house, Jake, their nine-month old puppy greeted Dan. He found the jacket that had his wallet and put Jake in his cage.
“You know,” he said, climbing back into the car, “the way this car is on the driveway reminds me of a roller coaster heading to the top of a hill.” The rest of the family agreed. Dan put the car in gear and headed for the Meijer in Englewood.
“Let’s park right there,” Jennie said pointing to the open space next to the cart corral. They got out and started briskly walking toward the store entrance. Keisha, Jennie, and Nana all went to the ladie’s room first.
“Anyone want something to drink?” Dan asked as they all walked inside the store. He knew that Keisha probably did, and he felt he needed some caffeine to help him stay awake. “I’m okay,” Jennie said. “Me too,” said Nana.
So Dan and Keisha each got a pop, and they looked for a single-use camera. “That’s so that we can take pictures of each other while inside the store.”
After they bought their sodas and the single-use camera, Dan and Keisha stopped to open their soda bottles and the camera. “First, we’ll take a picture of us,” he said to Keisha. So they each took a drink of their soda as Dan aimed the camera and shot a photo of them.
“Good. Now let’s go find Mom and Nana. But let’s be real careful, so that we can sneak up on them.” They headed toward the back of the grocery area to the dairy department, looking down each aisle for Jennie and Nana. Then Dan spotted them in the dairy aisle and said, “Okay Keisha, let’s sneak up on them from behind.” Needless to say, Jennie and Nana weren’t that pleased to have gotten their pictures taken.
“Okay, I think that’s about everything,” Jennie said, as they headed away from the grocery section of the store. She spotted some hearing aid batteries at the pharmacy. “We need some of these.” Nana and Jennie each had their own carts. Dan noticed that all the pharmacist’s licenses were posted on the wall in front of the pharmacy. Keisha stuck by Mom, and Dan was left pushing Jennie’s cart.
A little while later, they headed down the back aisle toward the general merchandise area of the store. “I wanna read some books,” Keisha said, heading toward the children’s book section.
“We’ll be able to look at lots of books tomorrow when we go to the library,” Nana replied.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” Dan said, helping Keisha put the Caillou book back. Jennie and Keisha headed out of the children’s book area, while Dan took the rear, pushing the grocery cart.
“Where’s Nana?” Dan asked later, as they headed toward Toy City. They decided that perhaps Nana had gone into Toy City to look at the toys. Keisha loved Toy City. Dan loved Toy City, too. They all loved Toy City.
“C’mon, Keisha,” Jennie said, “let’s go find Nana.” They all headed toward the front of the store. Dan wanted to got to the electronics area to price MP3 players, but he decided against it, especially since they needed to catch up with Nana.
“Do you see her?” Dan asked Jennie, who was also looking around the check out area. “Me neither. Okay, let’s do this. Keisha, you stay here with Mom and see if Nana turns up. I’ll retrace our steps back around to the grocery area.”
Dan took off back toward Toy City, looking down every aisle. This was a big store, but not big enough for someone to get lost that easily, he thought. As he trotted past the books and the pharmacy, he still didn’t see Nana. Hmmm. He thought. Well, maybe she was trying to find us and headed back through the grocery area. So he walked down every grocery aisle. Still, no Nana. He made his way toward the checkout area, feeling a bit apprehensive. Where could she have gone? It was as though she was right there with them, and then she wasn’t.
“Did you see her?” Dan called out to Jennie.
“No. Did you?” Jennie asked.
“No.” Now he was feeling rather anxious. “Let’s go back to the pharmacy area.”
Back at the pharmacy area, they asked the pharmacist on duty if they’d spotted Nana. “She’s about 4 feet 11 inches tall. She’s wearing a jean jacket.”
“We can page her for you, if you’d like” the pharmacist said.
“Okay, sure. That’s fine.” That should work Jennie thought, since they’d already heard a couple pages for other people. It was the Christmas season and the store was rather full of shoppers getting ready for the holiday.
“Attention Meijer guests, if there’s a Margie Wilcher in the store, please come to the pharmacy to meet your party.”
“No! It’s Welker. W-E-L-K-E-R. Welker.” Dan knew that they would probably get the name wrong. He was really starting to feel anxious now. He looked at the time. Nana had been missing since 8:30 PM, and it was already 9:15. He also knew that he really needed to take his medicine.
Then he saw someone who looked like store management. “Excuse me! Excuse me!” he called out to the manager. “Can you please help us?”
“Yeah, what can I do for you?”
“My mom and all of us got separated. We haven’t seen her in over 45 minutes, and we’re starting to get worried.”
“Did you try to have her paged?”
“Yes, but she hasn’t responded. Do you have any in-store security people that may be able to help out?”
“Yes, and we’ve also got in-store video. I can call Englewood police if you’d like, too. But why don’t you follow me to my office?” the manager said.
A half an hour later, they were still sitting in the manager’s office. They’d talked with Englewood police, too.
Where could she be, Dan thought. It was cold and windy, and she’s not really used to this weather up here. Could she have gone on her own volition, or was she kidnapped? He didn’t like that thought.
Tuesday, April 01, 2003
Important Note from Dan Johnson crossposted to all my blogs
Hello, readers of this weblog! For the past year, this blog has grown in enormous popularity on the Internet, as illustrated by the number of hits. I am proud to inform you that this blog, along with the others that I maintain, have been trademarked! So, look forward to seeing the ™ symbol behind the blog title!
It's great when you can become so well known that something like this is possible.
It's all thanks to you guys, the readers and visitors to this blog.
Dan Johnson
Update: This was my... um... poor attempt at an April Fool's Day joke. Thought you'd like to know.
Hello, readers of this weblog! For the past year, this blog has grown in enormous popularity on the Internet, as illustrated by the number of hits. I am proud to inform you that this blog, along with the others that I maintain, have been trademarked! So, look forward to seeing the ™ symbol behind the blog title!
It's great when you can become so well known that something like this is possible.
It's all thanks to you guys, the readers and visitors to this blog.
Dan Johnson
Update: This was my... um... poor attempt at an April Fool's Day joke. Thought you'd like to know.
Sunday, March 23, 2003
He Set Me Free
In December 1994, I came up with twelve presents to give my wife Jennie for Christmas. The last present was to be an engagement ring. I wrote the poem below, rather quickly, in fact, to be one of those presents.
He set me free
From all my guilt and sin
From my despair and hopelessness
From the chains that bound me tight
He gave to me
A chance to start anew
A purpose for my life
A life with so much fullness
A love that never ends
He's changing me
I'm not the man I used to be
I'll never be the same anymore
He's changing me more and more
His Spirit at work within my heart
I'll cling to him
It's the least that I can do
I wanna show him more and more
I love him so much
I'll never leave him
He set me free
In December 1994, I came up with twelve presents to give my wife Jennie for Christmas. The last present was to be an engagement ring. I wrote the poem below, rather quickly, in fact, to be one of those presents.
He set me free
From all my guilt and sin
From my despair and hopelessness
From the chains that bound me tight
He gave to me
A chance to start anew
A purpose for my life
A life with so much fullness
A love that never ends
He's changing me
I'm not the man I used to be
I'll never be the same anymore
He's changing me more and more
His Spirit at work within my heart
I'll cling to him
It's the least that I can do
I wanna show him more and more
I love him so much
I'll never leave him
He set me free
Wednesday, March 12, 2003
Friday, February 28, 2003
Monday, February 24, 2003
Society for Technical Communication - SouthWestern Ohio Chapter
I met a gentleman from this organization yesterday, and he gave me some information, most importantly of which was this URL. I know that this is a creative writing weblog, but this appears to be a pretty good networking organization for technical writers. I'm sure that anyone visiting this weblog may either be themselves or know of technical writers who would be interested in learning more about this organization.
I know I am.
I met a gentleman from this organization yesterday, and he gave me some information, most importantly of which was this URL. I know that this is a creative writing weblog, but this appears to be a pretty good networking organization for technical writers. I'm sure that anyone visiting this weblog may either be themselves or know of technical writers who would be interested in learning more about this organization.
I know I am.
Sunday, February 23, 2003
Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Words as Weapons, Sharper Than Knives
(Use
Kiddie Gloves --
He
can't handle
too much.)
I hate being weak because
those whom I've trusted
in the past
have walked
all over me
when
I've trusted them
("So-called" friends.)
I don't like
being ill and
expected
to perform
up to par.
(Can't afford it.)
(What
have you been doing
with your life,
you bumbling idiot?)
Harsh
words
Mean
words
Hurting
words
Words
from myself
To myself
Words
To cut down
not to build up
Words
of frustration
and anger
Self-inflicted
words
Words
that kill
the spirit
(Use
Kiddie Gloves --
He
can't handle
too much.)
I hate being weak because
those whom I've trusted
in the past
have walked
all over me
when
I've trusted them
("So-called" friends.)
I don't like
being ill and
expected
to perform
up to par.
(Can't afford it.)
(What
have you been doing
with your life,
you bumbling idiot?)
Harsh
words
Mean
words
Hurting
words
Words
from myself
To myself
Words
To cut down
not to build up
Words
of frustration
and anger
Self-inflicted
words
Words
that kill
the spirit
Sin and Punishment
God doesn't want us to sin
He listens to us attentively
God is upset when we treat sin
(in ourselves and others)
lightly
God refines and tests us
Boast about God:
O Lord God Almighty
Great are your deeds
Awesome in power
Grand in splendor
Your name is to be praised
All through the day and
All through the night
I rejoice in knowing you, my Abba
My cup of blessing overflows
You've been so merciful
You are holy, righteous,
A God to be feared
Let me never take you for granted.
Thanks for everything
based on a bible study I had on Jeremiah 8-9 on August 2001
God doesn't want us to sin
He listens to us attentively
God is upset when we treat sin
(in ourselves and others)
lightly
God refines and tests us
Boast about God:
O Lord God Almighty
Great are your deeds
Awesome in power
Grand in splendor
Your name is to be praised
All through the day and
All through the night
I rejoice in knowing you, my Abba
My cup of blessing overflows
You've been so merciful
You are holy, righteous,
A God to be feared
Let me never take you for granted.
Thanks for everything
based on a bible study I had on Jeremiah 8-9 on August 2001
Tuesday, February 18, 2003
Wednesday, February 12, 2003
Who are you blogging for?
This question has come up around the blogging world lately, and it's one I have to ask myself often. Am I blogging to get the attention of several people, so that they will visit my site and maybe link back? Am I eager for someone 'important' in the blogging world to comment about something I've written?
I have purposely refrained from adding comments to my "Letters to God" blog because my intent is to focus on writing to God, not to get some kind of reaction from someone who might read it. I have, however, recently, noticed myself checking my other blogs too often to see whether someone has noticed something I've written.
I need to remind myself the original reason why I started blogging: for myself. Miles Davis said, "An artist's first responsibility is to himself." And it was Toni Morrison who said
This question has come up around the blogging world lately, and it's one I have to ask myself often. Am I blogging to get the attention of several people, so that they will visit my site and maybe link back? Am I eager for someone 'important' in the blogging world to comment about something I've written?
I have purposely refrained from adding comments to my "Letters to God" blog because my intent is to focus on writing to God, not to get some kind of reaction from someone who might read it. I have, however, recently, noticed myself checking my other blogs too often to see whether someone has noticed something I've written.
I need to remind myself the original reason why I started blogging: for myself. Miles Davis said, "An artist's first responsibility is to himself." And it was Toni Morrison who said
There's a difference between writing for a living and writing for a life. If you write for a living, you make enormous compromises, and you might not even be able to uncompromise yourself. If you write for life, you'll work hard; you'll do what's honest, not what pays.I pray that I keep these thoughts in mind as I write.
Friday, February 07, 2003
Wednesday, February 05, 2003
A Relentless Passion
Three dollars rest on the table, each folded in half. The finished lunch dishes, on the light green tray have been pushed to the other side of the table to make room to read and write. An opened quotation notebook sits nearby, the ink drying -- recent treasures gleaned from the wisdom of others. His Men's Devotional Bible, with many accidentally dog-eared pages from years of rough handling, sits to his right. The cover would no longer close all the way. A 5-by-7 index card lays just inside the front cover. It's this index card that maintains his present focus, for it describes thoughts written down at a turning point in his life:
Another, smaller 3-by-5 index card marks his current page in the Men's Devotional Bible. A few inches away rests the library book that was his current muse. He'd have to return it by next Saturday the 15th. He wasn't quite halfway through it yet. Each chapter and verse were being meditated upon. He was, after all, learning from the wisdom and experiences of others, and he was yet more inspired to become a writer.
Well he already was a writer and has been for some time. But it was the measure of success he desired, to be published, to experience the joy of knowing that others valued his work enough to pay him for it.
He is an artist and the written word his artwork. He recalls the wisdom of the late Miles Davis: "An artist's first responsibility is to himself." The words of one Benjamin Disraeli also remind him: "When I want to read a good book, I write one." And finally, the late Oscar Wilde chimes in: "I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train." Whether on the train or somewhere else, the work lies within him and it will indeed soon emerge, as long as he continues to write.
He grew up with hurts, just like anyone else, and effects of them continued with him throughout his college years and into the early years of his marriage. Then, some years after their first daughter was born, they attended some foster parent training. That's when the bubble burst. All the gushy, sappy feelings for wanting to foster-to-adopt in the first place were, in a way, violated by the realities of abuse and neglect.
As he listened intently to the descriptions, the definitions of abuse and neglect, and the illustrative examples, he felt the pain in the core of his heart begin to rise. Damaged emotions, never allowed to heal, were making their way back into his consciousness. He didn't want to feel the pain. He tried to deny that this was going on. He wanted to be able to forgive, forget and move on.
But he couldn't. He found a blank 5-by-7 index card and quickly scribbled his thoughts, his brief memories, and, especially what he knew was right -- he'd need to surrender these feelings to God.
Another, smaller 3-by-5 index card marks his current page in the Men's Devotional Bible. A few inches away rests the library book that was his current muse. He'd have to return it by next Saturday the 15th. He wasn't quite halfway through it yet. Each chapter and verse were being meditated upon. He was, after all, learning from the wisdom and experiences of others, and he was yet more inspired to become a writer.
Well he already was a writer and has been for some time. But it was the measure of success he desired, to be published, to experience the joy of knowing that others valued his work enough to pay him for it.
He is an artist and the written word his artwork. He recalls the wisdom of the late Miles Davis: "An artist's first responsibility is to himself." The words of one Benjamin Disraeli also remind him: "When I want to read a good book, I write one." And finally, the late Oscar Wilde chimes in: "I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train." Whether on the train or somewhere else, the work lies within him and it will indeed soon emerge, as long as he continues to write.
Planet Relish E-zine | Meet the Editors Chat
Check out Jennifer's blog, the Tuesday, February 4, 2003, post for the link to the chat session, which will be this Friday, February 7, 2003 at 10:30 PM EST. Why not check it out? I must consider this myself.
Check out Jennifer's blog, the Tuesday, February 4, 2003, post for the link to the chat session, which will be this Friday, February 7, 2003 at 10:30 PM EST. Why not check it out? I must consider this myself.
Tuesday, February 04, 2003
Nulla Dies Sine Linea
Oh, that's right, you don't speak Latin. Neither do I. I'm not even sure whether that phrase is Latin. Whatever the case, I just found another snippet of good advice on how to write every day. And, since you're really interested now, 'Nulla Dies Sine Linea' means 'never a day without lines'.
So, write every day. In a handwritten or computer journal. Record your memories. Create characters; dispose of some. Keep it private or make it public. Let's all do it.
So, write every day. In a handwritten or computer journal. Record your memories. Create characters; dispose of some. Keep it private or make it public. Let's all do it.
Tuesday, January 28, 2003
Idea Generators
There are perhaps times when one is at a loss for ideas about which to write. Jen has written some articles about this, which are well worth reading! Also, some of you may know that I am a regular contributor to the Topics Blog. Rasmus, a cool dude from Denmark, has developed a tool to help stimulate your writing senses, called WriteThis.
There are many, many reasons to write, just as there are many things about which to write.
There are perhaps times when one is at a loss for ideas about which to write. Jen has written some articles about this, which are well worth reading! Also, some of you may know that I am a regular contributor to the Topics Blog. Rasmus, a cool dude from Denmark, has developed a tool to help stimulate your writing senses, called WriteThis.
There are many, many reasons to write, just as there are many things about which to write.
Thursday, January 23, 2003
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)