Author name: Carl Johnson

I’M STILL CONVINCED that humans can write better than A.I. can.We’re still more compelling, quirky and interesting. That mysterious thing we do when we express our elemental creativity is surely a gift to the world. A continual reminder of what it means to be uniquely human. COULD YOU IMAGINE Martin Luther King Jr. running his […]

I can’t help but offer a Christmas reflection every year. It’s a tradition of mine that started some 15 or 20 years ago, arriving in the form of a letter, sermonette, or online blog. The month of December always invites me towards introspection. The warmth, magic, and mystery of the Christmas message—reflecting on Christ, the

When you were young, and barely knew anything yet, you started to embark on a series of adventures, ranging from small to great. Whether it was learning to walk, your first job, your first kiss, a new relationship, or starting college, you were embarking. It was scary, you had a little practice, and were probably

Think about the creation story.How the foundations of time began, as poetically recorded in the scriptures. “Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.”—Genesis 1:2 It allows for one’s imagination to wander. As an

I’ve started reading my friend Alex McManus’ book called FutureU: Forging a Path to Your Most Heroic Self. In one section, he discusses how essential the bundle of purpose, meaning, and hope is in our lives. Many people struggle to find meaning and purpose, and thus hope becomes deficient (or non-existent) as a result. “The

July 4Happy 4th of July, everyoneGreetings from the streetsOf innocence at duskWhere kids roam freeAnd summer vacation stretches on forever.Life starts to feel more solemnAs it creeps closer to AutumnThe burnt orange paletteLike cinnamon and nutmeg, is warm—Welcomes you like an old friend at the doorBut still a reminder, life is always changing.You lost your

The other day, I was reading my friend Dr. David McDonald’s book called “Broken Teeth and Pretty Smiles.” It’s a daily devotional for men and women who serve in Christian Ministry (primarily for pastors, but not exclusively). Anyways, the entry for June 21 was titled “Things I wish my kids knew.” Things you’ve got to

Rarely does there come along a debut album as great as Boston’s first album. Boston Boston as my good friend Ben calls it. A classic from start to finish. A greatest hits album unto itself. The opening song, “More Than a Feeling”, will forever be embedded in popular culture from one generation to the next…not

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” —Psalm 119:11 When pondering this verse, I have always considered it to be a declaration. An admission or position for future events. Sure, it’s applicable for the present, but I always think future. The psalmist has already pre-determined within himself

These are some thoughts I scribbled down last Friday at 7am, while drinking my morning coffee. They spilled out, in this order, in a matter of minutes. A few things I’ve learned about myself, over a lifetime of observation and practice. A manifesto of sorts. I have never coasted. I believe a combination of reappearing