What’s in season in this season of life for Lonnell Johnson?

[Lonnell Johnson]

Recently I have been rather reflective as I have been looking back over my life, having reached that marvelous milestone of sixty-six this year. I happened to think of the first question asked of Adam, when he heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in cool of the day, as He asked Adam, "Where are you?" Since that time, humanity has been trying to figure out "Where am I?" What follows is a teaching which I prepared but did not have a chance to give, so I'm posting it as a blog that offers insight as to where I am at this time in my life. May you blessed as you read and perhaps have a better understanding of me and perhaps of yourselves, since we are probably not that different in so many ways.What’s in season in this season of life for Lonnell Johnson?I am continually looking to the Word of God to see how it applies to my life at this present time, as I endeavor to see more clearly who am I and ascertain where I am at this particular season of my life. The First Psalm is one of the “first words” of my life and verse three has particular significance at this time:Psalm 1:3: And he shall be like a tree, planted by the rivers of water. that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.In my attempts to full grasp the significance of this verse from the First Psalm, I have become more aware of the season of life in which I currently find myself and recognize what is the “fruit” of this season.Right now I am in the autumn of the years and apples are among the produce that are currently in season. The idea of harvesting produce in their season is to pick the fruit at the peak of their flavor—not too soon, when, in this case, the apples may be hard and not be sweet enough, and not too late when the fruit may be overripe and begin to spoil. I read this statement from an orchard that is known for its tasty apples: “One of the reasons that Ela Orchard apples are so good is that they often pick the apples later in their season than most orchards. This increases the flavor of the apple although it means that there is more risk of apples dropping off the trees.”Most remarkably, I also came across this endorsement from someone who had sampled the apples from, of all places, “Farmer Johnson Apple Orchards” in Washington State. The individual comment, “I have had the opportunity to try all the varieties of Farmer Johnson apples, they are the best apples I have ever tasted. Fresh, crisp.... the perfect apple.” I couldn’t help but smile, as I reflected upon my desire to be “neither barren nor unfruitful” but to be productive and highly fruitful in all my endeavors.Just as apples are now in season in the natural at “Farmer Johnson’s Apple Orchards”, so in the spirit patience is the fruit I am endeavoring to perfect of this my season. James reminds us in Chapter 1: “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” He goes on to speak about patience in Chapter 5 which I find particularly applicable in my life at this time, in light of my personal identification with “Farmer Johnson.” Indeed, the poem “I Sing in My Garden” opens with these lines:I sing in my garden and reap the good,The bounty of living sixty-five years.Each note seems to evoke a stream of tearsThat fall, not because of some somber moodBut flow from a heart filled with gratitude.The folksong of the farmer thrills my earsEach time plowing, planting or harvest nears.In that light the passage from James 5:7-11 has taken on even deeper significance at this time:Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.9Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.Since patience or perseverance is a fruit that seems to be an important part of my life at this time, I would like to briefly examine one of the words for “patience”--hupomone--a compound word derived from hupo, meaning under and meno, meaning “to stay, remain, abide”, literally abiding under. The verb hupomeno means to stay under (behind), i.e. remain; figuratively, to undergo, i.e. bear (trials), have fortitude, to persevere -- abide, endure, (take) patient(-ly), suffer, tarry behind.The root idea of the noun hupomone is that of remaining under some discipline, subjecting one’s self to something which demands the yielding of the will to something against which one naturally would rebel. It means cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy -- enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting). It is a bearing up in a way that honors and glorifies our heavenly Father, not merely to grin and bear it. Hupomone is used 32 times in the New Testament and is translated: endurance seven times; patient enduring once; perseverance twenty-one times; and steadfastness three times.James 5:11 provides an excellent example of both the verb hupomeno and the noun hupomone in a particular individual who embodies the character trait of patient endurance. The King James Version offers this rendering containing a familiar phrase that encompasses a character trait most often associated with Job:Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.The Book of Job is a classic example of the principle of first usage and first spiritual principle, but this is not apparent in the arrangement of the books of the Bible in most translations. It is believed by Bullinger and others that the first book written was the Book of Job, believed to be composed by Moses. Job, whom *Chuck Swindoll described as a “man of heroic endurance,” was, indeed, a real person, and his story is one of the first demonstrations of many spiritual principles. One of the spiritual principles that the Book of Job demonstrates is that God is “full of compassion and tender mercy” and that he rewards those who demonstrate “patience.” A number of years ago I composed a little song for the Ambassador Academy based on the character trait “perseverance”, another word for patience:Never give up! Keep your chin up!Never give up! And you will findThe strength you need to give it one more try.Never give up Keep your chin up!Never give up! But realizeYou’ve got to go “through” to get to the prize.So never give up! Keep your chin up!In the end perseverance always pays.In the end perseverance always pays.Although it is said that “Patience is its own reward,” God also rewards patience, as so clearly demonstrated atthe end the Book of Job. Recall Job 42:10:And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.In reality when we respond to God in faith, we find that “without faith it is impossible to please God. For hethat comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Indeedwe see that the Lord is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.” Verse 11 of Psalm 103also states, “For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him.”Not only must I know what season I am in but I must also know where I am in thatseason. Recently I heard a discussion that indicated that as fellow believers, we are in Gilgal on the way to Jericho, and I modified my location on my journey by saying that I’m on the way to from Gilgal to Jericho to Jerusalem, going all the way to Mount Zion, the highest elevation in that "Beautiful City of God." Implicit with the character trait patience or endurance or perseverance is the idea of “waiting”—steadfastly bearing up under and remaining faithfulwhile waiting. I would like to close with an original poem which captures the essence of where I am and what Iam doing at this season in my life.Waiting in GilgalIf a man die, shall he live again?all the days of my appointed timewill I wait, till my change come.Job 14:14Waiting in Gilgal. . .In the midnight harbor, place black as a raven,Yielded and still in this new place of transition,Seeking to do God’s will, in ready position,To be launched from here to my desired haven.Waiting in Gilgal. . .Groaning, travailing resounds from this place on earth,In the birthing room where thoughts rise to the sublime;Prolonged moments extend toward the fullness of timeWhere agony precedes ecstasy in childbirth.Waiting in Gilgal. . .To be raised from the tomb, released from the cocoon;Exhausted, I yearn to escape and touch the sky,To be freed from these quarters of the butterfly,Where to be transformed at last can come none too soon.Waiting in Gilgal. . .This place demands sacrifice and obedience:Not like Saul in Gilgal, foolish and immature,But like Caleb, who with age, had strength to endure,Fulfilled all God’s will and claimed his inheritance,Waiting in Gilgal. . .As I have been thinking about who I am and where I am at this present season, my thoughts have gone to the Book of James which has a great deal to say about “patience” or “endurance” which is translated from “hupomone”: meaning to bear up under. Chapter 1 opens with this exhortation:James 1:2-4My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.I have also expounded upon verses 7-11 from Chapter 5 which describes farmers who wait patiently for the harvest, and of course, we are all familiar with the patience of Job, which is rewarded. It has been estimated that all of Job’s trials and hardships lasted about nine months before he entered his new season. Not only is patience its own reward, but God also honors and rewards patience. Similarly God recognizes and rewards those who patiently wait on Him.Just as apples are in season on Farmer Johnson’s orchard in Washington State, so patience is the fruit of the spirit that is in season in this season of Pastor (Farmer) Dr. Lonnell Johnson’s life. The scriptures offer this reminder: “You have need of patience, that after that you have done the will of the Lord you might receive the promise.” Amen!

[Janis Lang Johnson]

God bless you in the name of Jesus Christ! As I read your tremendous work of love and thought and praise and hope I grew misty as i never had the opportunity, til now, to know you. Ahhhhhh....my brother Lonnell we will meet on Mount Zion and labor with our Master til the next season comes.

That was a wonderful work, and I would like to copy it and keep it in my notes, and perhaps share it, if time be fitting, may I?

Janis

[Billy Britt]

Lonnell,
It is sweet to remember your voice as I read your blog. Years ago your poetry was a beautiful agent of blessing to my mind and soul. You are a wonderful teacher, healer and man. Thank you for sharing your season, it gives me reason to take stock of my own.
B