20

Jump Start # 3639

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3639

Matthew 14:6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod.”

Today is my birthday. I am out of town preaching on this day. I guess other than being with my family, my next favorite choice of what to do would be to preach. There are a couple of birthday parties found in the Bible. One is our verse today, which led to the beheading of John. Another is found in Genesis, when Pharaoh threw a feast for his servants on his birthday. That led to the hanging of the baker. In both of those birthday bashes, someone was executed.

Another year older, that’s what birthdays mean. There are certain milestones that are important. Being old enough to drive is a big one. Being old enough to vote. Maybe hitting that age when your parents said, “When you are older you’ll understand.” And, now you do. Old enough to retire, which more accurately is, ‘saved enough to retire.’

The more numbers that one puts to their name, the less excited one becomes about getting older. And, the reality is, the sand is running out of the hour glass and one realizes that more years are behind him than there are ahead of him. Some just ignore that fact and plow ahead as if they’ll live on eternally on this planet. But others reflect. They realize that some dreams will not come true now. It’s too late. Some regret that there are items on that bucket list that will not be crossed off. It’s too late.

But it’s not sadness that fills the eyes of the believer. He realizes that he is one day closer to seeing the Lord. In Philippians, the apostle said, “having the desire to depart and be with Christ for that is very much better.” And, in Corinthians, “we prefer to be absent from the body and to abe at home with the Lord.” Being with the Lord excited them. Being with the Lord was a grand anticipation. There was no dread in facing death.

But as another birthday rolls around, here are some thoughts.

First, I have been blessed to live here another year. Each year is filled with ups and downs. Things we never want to forget and things we hope to never remember again. It has been another year to thank the Lord for His grace and mercy. It has been another year to encourage the friends of God. It has been another year to grow in faith.

As some get older, they tend to become grumpy, mean and complaining about everything. But others, seem to get kinder and sweeter as the years go by. Why is it that way? Some get better and some become more sour? It has to do with the direction one is traveling. It has to do with following the Lord.

Second, as a believer, when one gets closer to the end, they become more excited about the next place they are going to. Concepts such as: eternal; raised; new bodies; new heavens become much more fascinating. Our story doesn’t end. It never ends. Death doesn’t have the final word. There is no “The end,” to our lives. We live on and on as the hymn states. Anticipating, like a child awaiting a trip, so is the believer excited about what He is about to see.

Third, after a certain point in life, age becomes just a number. There are some old people who are not yet forty years old. They look old. They act old. Then there are some in their 70’s who seem very young. Age is a number and with what talents God has given us and what open doors are before us, we continue to serve the Lord and help others. Spiritual maturity is something that God wants in all of us. Growth is how we get that way.

Through the years a person will see a lot of changes—some good and helpful and some not so good. A person will also see that the Lord has been good and blessings are too many to count. Joy is not being in a certain place. It’s not being a certain age. It’s not doing just fun things. Joy comes from within. It’s knowing who you are and who you belong to. It’s knowing that the future is only going to get better and better.

If the Lord allows, all of us will enjoy yet another birthday this year. Make the most of it. Be thankful. Use the opportunity to do good.

Roger

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Jump Start # 3638

Posted on August 19, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3638

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue. And those who love it will eat its fruit.”

It started out as a wonderful Saturday. I was home and we had no company. The weather was nice. So, it was a day to spend outside working on the yard. I mowed, pulled weeds and then got the weed eater out. I was nearly done. The place looked great. Behind our house is a massive woods. We have every kind of bug, spider, cricket known to mankind. As I was weed eating something bit me. I thought it was a horsefly. They can do that. But this hurt, really hurt. I’ve been stung by wasps, bees of all kind before. Then, there was a sharp pain above my elbow. Then another one on the back of my knee. I had hit a nest of yellow jackets. They were swarming out of the ground and I was the target. I dropped the weed eater and ran to the house. I don’t know how many times I got stung, but man they hurt. They really hurt. I called for my wife who is a nurse. She put stuff on it and I had just a little wasp spray left and I went back and used up all I had. I then went to the store and got a two can pack of hornet spray. I used one whole can spraying into the hole where they came out of. I finished weed eating and then took some charcoal fluid and sprayed that heavily on the ground and tossed a match. For a moment I thought I might start a forest fire. About four hours later, I sat down for dinner. I was still hurting bad. When I went to bed that night, it had been eight hours and I still was in intense pain. My sweet wife was putting all kinds of stuff on the stings. I last looked at the clock around 2 A.M., twelve hours later and I was still hurting. I prayed, a lot. How could something so little hurt so bad? And, why was it still hurting so many hours later?

The Bible talks about stings. Death stings. It hurts. It can make us cry. And, the pain doesn’t go away quickly. But another sting that happens so often are words. Our verse today reminds us that death and life and in the power of the tongue. Words like gossip, lying, insults, character assassinations, name calling all sting. We were told that sticks and stones break bones and words never hurt us. But that’s really not true. Long after the broken bones have healed, we remember the mean things that people have said. For some, they remember for a lifetime. Growing up, you may have been told that you couldn’t do anything right. You may have been compared to an older brother or sister, which only created resentment. You may have had a spouse say the cruel words, “I no longer love you.” You may have been stung by the mean words of a brother or sister in Christ. They ought to know better, but acting out of selfishness, they have said things that have made it hard for you to return to that congregation.

Stung…stung by the words that come from cruel hearts. Now, for me, I nuked those yellow jackets. Smoked them out with fire and the spray of death. But you can’t do that to someone who has said unkind things to you. What are we to do when someone has stung us by words?

Consider these thoughts and I hope they help:

First, it doesn’t accomplish much to get into a verbal argument with someone who is mean and intent on hurting you emotionally. Like a couple of three-year-olds, you can jump into the “no I’m not” and the “yes you are” exchanges. But that never turns out well. Some are not interested in the truth, the facts or what really happened. They just don’t like you and want to sting you.

Second, God knows the truth. You know the truth. Much of the insults and complaints are not factual. They are said to turn people away from you. True friends will find the right answer. True friends will stick with you. And, as long as God knows, that’s really all that matters.

Third, by dwelling upon the stings, you continue to hurt yourself. Things were said. It hurt you. If they are true, then make the changes that you need to make. If they are not true, which happens most times, don’t allow that to set your course of action or direction in life. The righteous of God have been mocked, ridiculed, insulted and persecuted. Why should it be any different for us? Some of the worst things said comes from our own family. People who should love us the most, actually hate us the most. Put those hurts in an unmarked grave and do not leave flowers there. Do not go back and visit that grave again. Surround yourself with people that love you, support you, and have the heart of Jesus.

Stings hurt. They can really upset your plans and your day. One good thing about my encounter with the yellow jackets is that I was to teach a group of teens the next evening. I was looking for something to talk about. Boy, the Lord gave me a lesson—stings in life. I only wish the Lord gave me just one good lesson, instead of so many.

Stings—they hurt but they don’t define us nor destroy us.

Roger

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Jump Start # 3637

Posted on August 16, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3637

Hebrews 11:7 “By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”

Noah prepared the ark. He did all that God commanded. God had told him what was going to happen.  In Genesis six, Noah is told by God that “The end of all flesh has come…I am about to destroy them with the earth” (13). Again, the Lord tells Noah, “I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life” (17). In the next chapter, God states, “I will blot out from the face of the land every living thing that I have made” (7:4).

Noah knew. There was no surprise or secret. There was going to be a massive flood. All living things were going to die. The salvation of the world rested in the hands of the Lord and what was in that boat. I think it is easy to imagine that the preparing of the ark meant the construction and supplying of the ark before the rains fell. But, as I thought about this, I think there was more to the “preparing” than simply sawing boards and building the ark. And, when we put some thought to this, it helps us as well.

First, there was an emotional preparation that Noah had to struggle with and deal with. A day was coming when every human he interacted with outside his family was going to die. Did Noah have relatives still alive? It would be hard to see the innocent and young facing this outcome. Did Noah tell them that they were going to die?

Emotionally, it’s hard to prepare for death. I’ve been walking through this with a dear family in our congregation. A loved one is soon to pass through the doorway of death. A wonderful believer in our Lord, we know the angels will be coming. We’ve talked about that. We’ve talked about funerals. We’ve talked about the good times. There are physical steps one can take such as making arrangements, buying burial plots, having a will and talking about these things with the family, but that emotional component is hard to prepare.

I wonder, as God closed that door on the ark, if Noah stood there with tears in his eyes.

Second, there was a spiritual or faith preparation for Noah. What God was asking was HUGE. Would there be enough food? Would the ark leak? How would they know where they were going if no one was steering the ark? There wasn’t a helm. And, unlike you and I, Noah didn’t have pages and pages in his Bible to lean upon. Daniel saved from lions hadn’t happened yet. No parting of the Red Sea. No prison doors opened. No dead raised. No Psalms to comfort. No church to encourage. Noah trusted God. The Lord said and Noah knew it would be ok. It would be ok, because the Lord said so.

And, what a contrast to us. We have the Messiah, Jesus. We have pages and pages of Bible history that shows fortified walls coming down, demons fleeing and blind eyes being opened. We know the compassion of Jesus. We stand upon the promises and hope in God. We have so much and I wonder if our faith is so little compared to that of Noah.

Third, there was the commitment preparation. Busy day after day, building the ark, gathering animals and supplies. Preaching as he worked, the days were filled with so much to do. But, then came THE DAY—the time to enter the ark and not to leave it. Emotionally, mentally, spiritually, this was it. There were no more days to do things. There were no more days to walk among the trees of God. No more days to have a conversation with a neighbor. This was it. No going back.

We have moments of preparation as well. A surgery is scheduled. Papers have been filled out. Blood work has been done. Prep has taken place. Now, sitting on the hospital bed, you are rolled down the hallway heading to surgery. This is it.

A bride has a moment like this. Plans and plans and dreams of her wedding have been filling her days. So much to do and then it becomes “the day.” Family and friends show up. Everything is set. And, there is a final moment before she walks down the isle. Excited. Scared. Hopeful. This is it.

A believer has a moment like this. He has been reading and reading his Bible and talking to others. Questions have been answered. He needs to be baptized. He knows now is the time. Excited. Scared. He’s ready to cross the line and become a disciple of Jesus.

Noah prepared the ark. As he was preparing, a world around him was having a blast in selfish sin. Noah was ready. The world was not ready. And, from this, we need to see the lesson for us. Jesus is coming. Am I ready? There is an appointment we have with death. Are we ready? The world is laughing all the way to destruction.

Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. Noah prepared. Have you?

Roger

15

Jump Start # 3636

Posted on August 15, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3636

Luke 9:17 Ands they all ate and were satisfied; and that which was left over to them of the broken pieces was picked up, twelve baskets full.”

Our verse today comes from the miraculous feeding of the 5,000. It is the only miracle, aside from the events at Calvary and resurrection of Jesus, that is found in all four Gospels. That’s fascinating. It was a miracle that involved the most people. Many miracles were upon one person and everyone else watched. In this miracle, everyone participated. They all ate the multiplied food. Matthew tells us that the men numbered 5,000. Count women and kids, and easily could have been 10,000-20,000 people there. The multiplied food, as Mark states it, was distributed by the apostles. That would take some time to feed that many people. Back and forth, the apostles must have ran to get more food and then hand it out to the crowds.

I used this story recently in a class on grace and forgiveness.

  • Many of Jesus’ miracles involved emergencies that were life and death situation. A violent storm. A twelve-year-old girl that was dying. But this miracle wasn’t like that.
  • This miracle did not fall into the realm of the impossibility. Sure, multiplying food is, but taking care of hunger is not. Cripples walking, demons fleeing, lepers cleansed were all impossibles. No one else could deal with those things. The crowd could have gone home hungry and then eaten.
  • This miracle did not involve life changing events. The blind seeing was life changing. Lepers cleansed was life changing. This crowd of hungry people would be hungry again the next day.

From this, there are a handful of take-a-ways about grace (favor) that we learn:

First, grace doesn’t always involve spiritual things. It didn’t here. Jesus had compassion and favor upon the people and provided physical food. Favors are like that.

Second, Grace doesn’t always involve big things. It can be common things, even little things. Providing something to eat is not on the scale of raising the dead or walking on water. Opening the door for someone. Allowing someone to go first. Being kind and thankful. Everyday little drops of blessings can make a big impression upon a world that is selfish and always in a hurry. Put a smile on your face. Compliment. Be the reason others smile. Go out of your way and do the unexpected.

Third, Grace can be for just a moment in time. It’s favor for now, but it doesn’t have to endure to be worthwhile. Jesus fed them. They ate. Their bellies were full for the moment. Jesus didn’t take away hunger. He fed them one meal. The next day, they all would be hungry again. Grace doesn’t have to endure to be helpful and useful. In the moment, kindness extended. In the moment, you helped out.

Fourth, Grace can involve doing what others could do. Now, no one could multiple the food, but they could go to a store or go home and find something to eat. The request of the disciples at this event was to send the people home. That was possible. No one was going to die of starvation. How many times do the kids in the back seat of the car, cry and scream as if they are on their last breath, but somehow they can make it home and be given something to eat.

A person doesn’t have to be in dire circumstances in order for grace to be given to them. They do not have to be out of all options before you can step in. Jesus fed the people. That helped for the moment. What they didn’t realize was that Jesus was willing to give them eternal grace that would save their souls. He didn’t come down to earth to fill bellies or obliterate starvation from the planet. He came to save souls. The crowd was interested in their bellies. Shallow and superficial are how many are. Even with that, Jesus cared and helped.

John six reminds us that the next day the people showed up again looking for more food. The only food Jesus would give was Himself. They didn’t want that. They left. They went in search for something that would satisfy their bellies while their souls remained empty.

And, through this simple lesson left in our Bibles, we learn that we can extend grace and favor to others.

Roger

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Jump Start # 3635

Posted on August 14, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3635

2 Corinthians 10:10 “For they say, ‘His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.”

The Corinthian critics spoke. What they said about Paul wasn’t kind, true or encouraging. Kick a guy when he’s down, is what they were doing. Notice how others word this:

  • CEB: his speech is worth nothing
  • Phillips: his actual presence is feeble
  • Peterson: he’s a weakling and mumbles when he talks

These are not the words we’d think fitting for a leader in God’s kingdom. Dynamic. Charismatic. Energizing. That’s what we’d expect. Even the ole’ prophet Ezekiel had better things said about him. The people said of Ezekiel, “you are to them like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not practice them” (33:32). Even Paul’s contemporary, Apollos is said to have been “an eloquent man” and “mighty in the Scriptures” (Acts 18:24).

But, for Paul, many viewed him as a dud. And, that made me think of something I read the other day. It was titled, “I’m not everyone’s cup of tea.” It read:

  As a preacher, my delivery is far from “polished” and I often speak from the heart. God willing, it’ll be a heart full of His word, but it’s from the heart nonetheless. I love preaching and it motivates me to be a little “animated” in the pulpit. As a person, I’m somewhat introverted and my humor can sometimes be misconstrued. Like I said, I’m not everyone’s cup of tea. Further, my appearance isn’t very appealing. I can put on a suit but I’ll still be a short, chubby, balding guy whose excitement can sometimes make me talk a little too fast. I suspect there are others like me who feel wholly inadequate to preach such glorious news. There will always be those who can find something wrong with me as a preacher; I’ll be the first to admit I’ve got many faults, but I hope they find something right, too.

 

We preachers sometimes get tongue-tied. Our illustrations can fall flat, and the clock can seem to move ever so slowly when the sermon seems dry, dull and boring. We preachers do not have a team of writers who pick out just the best words to say. We don’t use telleprompters so that every sentence is perfectly perfect. No, we can fumble and drop the ball, use the wrong word, misspell things and get our references backwards. But we are preaching from our hearts. We are not trying to be professional speakers, but rather show you Jesus.

Here are some things to remember:

First, no critic is harder on the preacher than himself. He’ll pick up on mistakes that you never did. Remember that. Remember the golden rule. Be kind as you point out things. Try to help and not destroy.

Second, as soon as Sunday ends, the process fires up again for another sermon. There isn’t much time between Sundays, especially when you toss in a few classes to teach, blogs to write, podcasts to record and visit so many people. When a person gives a Wednesday night invitation about once every five months, it’s easy to think that he has this preaching stuff down. He doesn’t. And, if all the preacher had to do was write one sermon a week, he’d be more polished. But he is racing through things because there are so many things to be done.

Third, the preacher knows that he is not everyone’s favorite. You don’t need to tell him that. How’d you like for the preacher to tell you, ‘You’re not my favorite member’? He would never do that, so you shouldn’t. Learn to learn from your preacher. Bring a Bible. Bring a pen. He’s teaching you the word of God. Become your preacher’s cheerleader. Support him. Encourage him. Spend time with him. Discouragement will cause him to move sooner than he should or quit faster than he ought to. I don’t think I’d want to stand before the Lord and have Him ask me why I discouraged one of His servants. I don’t think that would go well.

And, when others start complaining and nit picking about the preacher, don’t participate. In fact, stop it. He’s trying. He’s trying hard. His best may not be what you think it ought to be, if he is speaking the truth and putting the Lord before your eyes, bless him and don’t discourage him.

A young preacher asked me years ago, “Do you ever think about quitting?” I told him, “Every Monday.” But Tuesdays come along and I have things that need to get done, so I get back to doing things.

I wonder if Paul was around today and we announced that he was preaching Sunday, how many would groan because they don’t like him. We’ve put more emphasis upon the package, the preacher, than we have the message, the Word of God. Maybe it’s time we reversed that and put a greater emphasis upon what is said rather than how it sounds.

I’m not everyone’s cup of tea—yep, I get that. Wish I was, but I’m not. All I can try to do is be the best that I can be.

Roger