UPDATED TRAINING

 Recently I attended a training seminar sharpening my skills as a chaplain and minister. The training was centered around working with groups in disaster situations. Emotional trauma is huge and usually overlooked. Mental and spiritual health are so important as we walk through this life! I was reminded of how blessed I am with a wonderful family and support group. I am so thankful for the healing that has taken place in my life when I walked through the darkest days just a few years ago.

We all need help and training in some form or fashion. I have had the privilege to work with several small companies in training their teams for more effective work and team building. I am now honored to work with a Chick-Fil-A store training managers and the the team as well as coaching the owner/operator. So many positive results in such a short time.

I am looking forward to working with many more Chick-Fil-A stores in the future reenforcing the Chick-Fil-A Culture during these awful covid, monkey pox days.

I am available to help your team, large or small, to add value to your business through leadership training and team development. Businesses as well as churches have had to adjust so much these past couple of years. The old strategies just don't work. A new paradigm is needed. The ONLY thing that has remained unchanged is God's plan of salvation for every man, woman and child. His plan is not affected by our trends and seasons. We can always count on the Lord and His Word, the Bible.

I hope you will be blessed today!

From the heart,

BR Johnson

Wow! So much has Happened in a Year

 I can't believe it has been over a year since I posted an update. This past Easter I celebrated one year as Senior Pastor at Faith Baptist Church in Madison, TN. Pastoring during COVID has been challenging but God has blessed. Our attendance and giving is up! A wonderful spirit among the people. We are so blessed in serving the Lord!

My business, BR Johnson Solutions, LLC., a business in leadership training, has started back up. I look forward to serving many companies in need of leadership development training and coaching. I have expanded a little into Church Consulting as I have served churches for over 40 years. So many churches need encouragement these days.

I continue serving the United States Secret Service through chaplain ministry. Not much I can truly say in this area except I really appreciate the opportunity to serve agents and their families.

I am still training chaplains in disaster relief. I am now able to train for Tennessee Baptist as well as Alabama Baptist (when needed). I am passionate about chaplain ministries and know that God uses so many during times of tragedy and loss. We really help people at their worst times in life!

More exciting news! Our second GRANDCHILD is due the first of November!! We are so excited as our family grows. Please pray for our daughter and her husband as they welcome into the world their first child. We are ecstatic to say the least.

I am blessed to be connected to you and I greatly appreciate you taking the time to read this blog. I look forward to sharing more along this journey called life!

From the Heart!

BR Johnson

New Ministry

 Praise the Lord! 

That is what first comes to my mind as I reflect on the greatness and goodness of God. Today I am setting up my new office at Faith Baptist Church Madison, TN as the new Senior Pastor. God opened a door of ministry for Charlene and me that we weren't really expecting. HE placed in our path the opportunity to lead this wonderful church in HIS direction.

I simply ask that you pray with us and for us for God's voice to be heard as we seek Him. We want His will for Faith Baptist. We want to reach so many for the cause of Christ. We are praying that God would grow this church beyond our expectation.

Thank you for your prayers as we journey with GOD!

Blessings,

Pastor BR 

Why Train? Don't We Already Know Enough?

 Training... brings back some positive and negative thoughts. School was a training ground in which you were graded OFTEN! Every test, every quarter, every semester, and every year you were measured to see if you passed. If you made the grade then you got to "move up" into the next grade which was to be even more difficult. Your self image was on the line because if you failed, you left your classmates for a younger group. You had to REPEAT a grade. If you passed, you continued the race to get to the head of the class, #1 if you really cared about such positions. I was just glad to pass because it meant I was one step closer to getting out!

Training for improvement in a job or skill can be so rewarding. Such training is designed to help to not repeat mistakes but find a better path towards success. Motivation is such a key in this type training. To be "inspired" is more positive than being "graded." Inspiration moves us forward with dreams and ideas of how we can be and do better. 

Training IS very important. We NEVER know enough! We may have the present somewhat figured out and feel good about our present position. However, we know there is always room for improvement. The question is, "Do we know enough for tomorrow?" What about the next stage, challenge, curve-ball coming our way. I am sure that at the beginning of 2020, many had dreams, plans and goals. Then a MAJOR curve-ball was thrown. A few hit it out of the park, some got a single, double, or even a triple. Others may have fouled the ball. Most probably struck out! The difference? A process that could endure and make necessary changes quickly.

It has been said that a goal is planning on one-time success, a process is repeated success. 

An adaptable process is planning on success in changing times. Changing times and adaptable processes can generate new successes never dreamed of previously! How many fast-food restaurants knew the full value of drive-thru service? How many changed how they did drive-thru service in order to be more efficient and thus profitable? Those that used an adaptable process saw success when other restaurants were closing.

What works well now will be challenged tomorrow! Churches experienced the same quandary. While Truth and the Bible never change, processes can and often must. If a church's vision was based only on the size of their facilities, they are hitting fouls, or worse, striking out! Filling a building vs engaging a community is truly a Vision question. Filling a building is a goal where engaging a community requires an adaptable process. This is where training is vital!

Training in new ways to apply truth and engage the community is a planning for repeated success! I pray that you and your team will move forward in training in order to hit a Home Run! 

BR Johnson

To Rebuild or Build New?

  When tornadoes and hurricanes bring destruction, we take the opportunity to analyze the damage in order to build better structures. We look at the power of the destruction and how we might be able to change codes and guidelines in order for structures to thrive. During this pandemic, we have seen major destruction among businesses, schools, economics and churches.

Church life has truly been challenged. Many churches ceased meeting, some closed permanently, others declined drastically. Churches were, and are, looking at how to "make it" through these times in order to rebuild later. "Should we be seeking to rebuild the church and ministries back to pre-pandemic forms and ways, or is God calling us to something new? Churches that thrive during adversity and challenges. Churches that truly disciple in small groups. We must pray and seek the Lord for how HE wants the church to be. Maybe “church” moving forward is to be more holy and pure." This was my FB post of thought.

Maybe we should go back and look intently into God's heart and design for the church. Remove our "additions" and start from His blueprint. Are there "things" we added for our luxury and connivence? Have we misplaced our mission in order to make us "feel" successful and holy? Have church leaders compromised in order to please crowds and keep salaries? I don't know the answers to these and many more questions, but I feel we must be asking.

The early church actually thrived during great times of persecution. They have strong discipleship meetings and shared everything together. Their "building" wasn't elaborate but effective. No smoke and mirrors, no stage of fame, no "stars" but Jesus. Fashion wasn't important, God's presence was. 

Should we be looking to rebuild what we had, or should we take the opportunity and seek God through His Word and build NEW His plan? Our organizations and structures have been challenged and many have fallen, but I know that the Word of God lasts forever. 

From the Heart,

Pastor BR 

A Little Pain Goes A Long Way

 I am much too old for this! That was my thought when my dentist said I needed my remaining three wisdom teeth removed. I couldn't imagine getting rid of WISDOM! Nor the painful process of removing teeth I have had for so long.

A couple of weeks ago, I sat in the oral surgeon's "chair" to take a little "nap" while he removed three teeth that had served me well.Most people have them removed during their teenage years. I skipped that right of passage as mine were doing just fine thank you! I had heard horror stories about adults having this procedure so I was not really looking forward to the event.

I am glad to say that the removal went well, so they told me, and that I should recover just fine. And I must say that I am, except for one little spot. A SORE spot. One small place where some small bone fragments decided to eject themselves. Praise the Lord for Oragel! 

This tiny spot of pain makes the whole mouth feel sore. Ok, maybe my head sore. But I am not a wimp! I have had way too many surgeries in the past few years and have dealt with major pain. This will pass for sure and I will be just fine.

So why write about this? I am reminded that just a little "spot" or "pain" can affect you if not taken care of. Soreness can travel all over the whole body. That one little spot can raise its head and slow you down. It's that small thing in your life or business that you need to deal with that is becoming more and more debilitating. If left unattended, it will fester into a major stumbling block. 

What's holding you back? What are you neglecting or putting off that is causing you to function at less than 100%? You can put some temporary pain reliever or bandaids on it for a while but dealing with the source is the only solution. Don't let things fester!

Blessings,

BR

Something New

 I've been thinking about it for a long time. I don't have it all worked out as yet, but I am on the journey. I want what I say and do to matter to people and for the Kingdom of God. I want to help others heal and add value to their lives. I want to train and encourage leadership to step up to the next level. I want to motivate, teach, lead, stretch, push, challenge, and most of all vision with others. 

With this in mind, I have been thinking about the direction of this blog platform. It originally begin with the publishing of my first book, Simple Living In A Complex World. With time, it grew into more of a "pastoral" blog focusing on mostly spiritual insights. As I grew through some major challenges, it morphed into a "help for healing" encouragement. All these previous emphasis followed my path of growth, what I needed at the time. This brings me to today!

It may sound like ramblings, but I think the direction of this blog needs to pull all these elements together and give help practically, spiritually, mentally, for individuals and businesses. I want to offer helpful insights and challenges to motivate people to grow and really make a difference in this world. It will not be a political blog in any way, shape, or form. I will leave that area to the other guys! It will be from the heart with a biblical basis and practical application.

So, welcome to my NEW BLOG! Feel free to share it with others when you feel it can be of help. Not every topic will hit you personally but I'm sure you will find some nuggets along the way. You might even enjoy some of the humor I hope to share! Most of all, grow from "journeying" with me.

One final thought: A throne has only ONE seat. Be careful who you let sit on the throne of your life!

From the Heart,

BR