Terry Johnson

Working thru the answers to the most important question ever asked: What is truth?

[The Biblical Man @Biblicalman]

A Wall Street executive once told me shepherds were the ancient world’s janitors - bottom-feeders who couldn’t get real jobs.

I told him that’s exactly why God chose that metaphor.

He laughed. Said I was romanticizing poverty.

I said no - I’m exposing how badly we’ve neutered the most violent leadership metaphor in Scripture.

Your greeting cards show gentle Jesus carrying lambs. Your pastors preach green pastures. You’ve turned wolves into sheep.

Ancient shepherds didn’t carry lambs because it was cute. They carried them because the lamb’s legs were broken - BY THE SHEPHERD - to stop it from wandering into death.

They slept outside with predators circling. Real ones with teeth.

David killed a lion and bear with his hands. A teenager wrestling predators to death because one sheep mattered that much.

Their bodies were maps of scars. Every wound proof they stayed when hired hands ran.

They smelled like dung and death. Temples wouldn’t let them testify. Society’s absolute bottom.

And God looked at kings, priests, warriors - and said:

“I’m like the guy who sleeps with animals.”

That’s not beautiful. That’s scandalous.

We turned shepherd’s rods into walking sticks. They weren’t. They were clubs with nails. Skull crushers.

Shepherds knew which sheep had infected wounds. Which would bolt. Which would lead others off cliffs.

Daily. Manually. Fingers in wool, checking parasites.

Your pastor doesn’t want to know you like that.

“The Lord is my shepherd” - The Creator comparing Himself to society’s rejects.

“Valley of the shadow of death” - shepherds actually walked through death valleys. Went first, rod ready.

“Your rod comforts me” - the skull-crusher comforts because your shepherd will get bloody for you.

That’s not a greeting card. That’s a blood covenant.

Jesus says “I AM the Good Shepherd.” Then distinguishes Himself from hired hands who run when wolves come.

Your accountability partner? Hired hand watching hired hand.

Your prosperity pastor? Hired hand.

They run. Always.

Ezekiel 34 - God says shepherds fed themselves while flocks starved. Then:

“I am against the shepherds.”

Against.

Modern shepherds build buildings while souls starve. Never fought because never loved anything enough to bleed.

Show me your pastor’s scars from real fights for real sheep.

Can’t? Because we replaced shepherds with CEOs.

Your grandfather’s faith had callouses. He knew shepherds die before letting wolves near you.

You traded that for life coaches who smell like cologne instead of sheep.

True power comes from protection, not position.

The shepherd’s authority: he stood between sheep and death.

Not title. Not education. Scars.

Every scar said “I stayed.”

Modern men can’t lead - never fought for anything. Want authority without scars.

The Good Shepherd builds to crucifixion.

Literal death. The Shepherd between wolves and you.

The cross wasn’t leadership principle. It was losing on purpose to win.

He entered death’s valley alone. Let it swallow Him. Broke its teeth from inside.

Your binary choice:

Jesus enters death’s valley for you, or you enter alone.

No third option.

What kind of man are you? Run when wolves circle? Or have shepherd scars?

Shepherding isn’t calling, it’s choice. Daily. Sheep or self.

The rod isn’t for walking. It’s for war.

We made shepherds therapists when they should be warriors.

Jesus carries lambs because He broke their legs to save them, now carries them until healed.

Uncomfortable? Good.

Love looks like scars.
Leadership looks like staying.
Shepherding looks like war.

I don’t want hired hand accountability partners.
I want shepherds who smell like sheep and fight like David.

That executive was right - shepherds were bottom-feeders.

Exactly why God chose them.

Rock bottom teaches comfort is protection’s enemy.

Your move.

Follow the Shepherd with scars or explain to wolves why your accountability partner couldn’t make it.

[Colby Badhwar @ColbyBadhwar]

❗🇺🇲🇺🇦 Damage Control:

Multiple US officials tell CNN they aren't concerned about escalation, they just want Ukraine to focus on Crimea because they have a limited number of ATACMS.

How stupid do they think we are? 1200 expired missiles in inventory, 500 new ones coming off the production line. There are more than enough.

The Administration, including the President himself, has said countless times on the record that they are concerned about escalation. Do they really think we're going to buy this?

Link in alt text.

[Terry Johnson @tsrnns]

@JenniPlaster @tesla_tulsa … spearhead the effort to begin to lure a vulnerable NFL franchise to Tulsa? OKC managed to lure the previous Seattle SuperSonics -who became the Thunder. Why not replicate the effort to bring the Panthers to Tulsa? I’m retired and live out of state, but still love my hometown.

[Terry Johnson @tsrnns]

@JenniPlaster @tesla_tulsa Jenni - it’s been a few years since the Tesla excitement - don’t know if real estate is still your work, but someone needs to light the fuse for the Carolina Panthers to look at Tulsa as their new home. Obviously need to build a stadium-which needs lots of $$. Wonder who might

[Terry Johnson @tsrnns]

@JMNR Try harder, my friend.

[Terry Johnson @tsrnns]

@mcoleyyy Just to be clear, it seems that you are equating home schooling with some sense of a "privileged" mindset - specifically from an "evangelical" perspective? I welcome your clarification. Thx.

[Terry Johnson @tsrnns]

@swbtsDocOs Looking past the mask (OK, hard to do 😳) I see you must have my old copy of "Doctrines of the Christian Religion" (top shelf, dark green hardcover) - or did I just forget where mine is . . . 😉

[Terry Johnson @tsrnns]

@drantbradley Experience is not an adequate test for truth.

[Terry Johnson @tsrnns]

@bencblackwell Maybe none of those. Perhaps "altogether other-ness." Attribution: Dr. Arthur Travis, freshman NT, Houston Baptist College (then) 1967-68. Have never forgotten his description of our Lord's love for us.

[Terry Johnson @tsrnns]

@WacoSymphony John Gary at Sharpstown Dinner Theater in Houston. Though I'd rather have been quarantined with my date that night. Now, if I could just remember who that was . . .

[Terry Johnson @tsrnns]

@LivedTheology So in Glory one day soon . . . I think I’ll have a conversation with Peter about “sword rights.”

[Terry Johnson @tsrnns]

@swbtsDocOs When in pastoral ministry in the local church I used to (half) joke “Well, I’m paid to be holy” to make a point about my frailty. Never did excuse my golf game, though. 😳

[Terry Johnson @tsrnns]

@steveweaver Done

[Terry Johnson @tsrnns]

@FreakCountry76 @elonmusk @Tesla Might want to read the actual decision of SCOTUS. Only affects criminal prosecution. Property rights not in question or even in view.

[Terry Johnson @tsrnns]

@JenniPlaster @Tesla Always glad to see folks promoting my birthplace/hometown. Just noticed that the offices of @JenniPlaster sit literally on the soil I grew up on: 4103 S Rockford in the 50s; then Bolewood Gardens apts. 4105 was our neighbor next door. Miss that place!

[Terry Johnson @tsrnns]

@mooroobee @wholemars @elonmusk Neither does the Tulsa site - the nearest rail line maybe 1 mile away. But their ocean access via the Port of Catoosa is ~15 minutes away via truck.

[Terry Johnson @tsrnns]

@swbtsDocOs I think I left something in that office in ~1975 . . . probably in trouble with Dr. Kiwiet for some issue systematic theology-wise 😳

[Terry Johnson @tsrnns]

@mooroobee @wholemars @elonmusk The Austin site has lots going for it. But I can't locate the rail access (assuming we're looking at the Harold Green Rd plot) for the Martin Marietta Ready Mix Plant there now.

[Terry Johnson @tsrnns]

@caseycease (1) My ongoing research into human nature; (2) “Enjoy” is such a relative term; (3) Absolutely nothing (see #1) above

[Terry Johnson @tsrnns]

@GovStitt @elonmusk @Tesla So glad you took our advice on a site visit. Kudos to @GovStitt & team for their work. Curious that @GtBynum isn't pictured ... maybe committed to honoring our fallen police officer.